Monday, July 7, 2014

HARVEST MONDAY JULY 7 2014

Every Monday, Daphne's Dandelions hosts "Harvest Monday" where bloggers can post their harvests.  Click her link above to see what others are harvesting and see below for what we harvested.

After a rainy first couple of days of the long weekend, I was finally able to get out to the farm Sunday and check things out.

First up herbs...
Herb basket harvest
Got another nice batch.  The two basils, some oregano, chives, and marjoram.  We used up all the last harvest batch, so I didn't get to dry them.  But I think this batch will be put into the dehydrator tonight.

Then veggies...

Vegetable basket harvest
Here is the vegetable haul.  Not too bad!  Quite a few cherry toms and a bunch of jalapeƱos.  There were only two regular tomatoes this time but still quite a few green ones on the vine.  Whatever was eating the others can't reach up to the level these were at so that's good.  Then lastly, quite the load of tomatillos.  And they are huge!  Need to figure out a use for those soon.

The eggplants are producing, they are small but there are two small eggplants already and a bunch of flowers.  Ant problem is overcome.  The only problem we see is that the tomatillo plant (wished I had gotten a picture) is SO huge, it is starting to tower over some of the tomato plants.  A note to us for next time is that the tomatillos need their own bed.  They just grow too well, too fast and leave the tomatoes competing for light.

Still, as the garden this first year is an experiment/test to see what works and what doesn't (for us), this is not a bad harvest.  I can only imagine if we were there daily to water by hand...sigh.  That's coming someday!

Vegetable harvest:  3 lb 6 oz
Herb harvest:    9 oz
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Total harvest YTD:  7 lb 8 oz

Happy Harvesting!

Giveaway update:  I will post the result when I talk to Ball brand jars company because I am asking them a question about something regarding the contest.  Hope to hear from them today.

33 comments:

  1. My husband's the gardener! He has harvested tomatoes, onions, sweet green peppers, banana peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, fresh Persian herbs, basil, mint and lettuce! The garden has done wonderful this year due to more rain and less heat!

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    1. That's quite the haul, awesome!!! And the less heat would be nice here, ha.

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  2. those tomatillos sure grow high. i had them last year and i think they were 6 feet tall.

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    1. Wow, I might have to trim or something. Next year, they will be in their own spot. :-)

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  3. Very nice harvest, and yes, tomatilos tend to take over the area so we don't plant them - we only need a few a year and it doesn't make sense to waste space. Yum on tomatoes and peppers!

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    1. Thank you!! We like them but I had no idea they would get that big. Big note for next year, ha. The tomatoes are (were, ha) SO good. No comparison in taste to store bought huh?

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  4. Lovely harvests. I would imagine it would be easier to grow things in the spring and fall than in the summer where you live. Summer must be hard especially since you aren't there all the time.

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    1. You know, you are reading our minds. We've been talking about that. Started a bit later this year (still earlier than last year when it was all a disaster). We're thinking of late February early March here and then we DO have a Fall gardening season in these parts. This Fall will be the first time. I need to read up on the start dates. Thanks for the reminder.... :-)

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    2. Oh and thank you for hosting the harvest monday's!!

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  5. 1st Man,

    Beautiful 1st harvest!!! Have you tried planting lettuce or spinach? Both grow fast, and make for a great harvest. Congrats on the give-away, I've been away from the computer for a while and missed this awesome giveaway. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Hmm, will they grow in this heat? I love that idea. I mean, if they grow fast, I could plant them one weekend and harvest in a couple/three? Thanks!!!!

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  6. Good harvest. We're just starting to get a reasonable amount out of ofe garden now. It makes all the hard work worth while.
    Shame those jars couldn't be sent across the pond! hope you had lots of entries!

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    1. I wished they could be sent there too. They are pretty!! Awesome you are getting some stuff from your garden as well. Definitely a sense of satisfaction huh? :-)

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks, it's our experiment in remote gardening. I know you can relate to not being there regularly and trying to keep it up. We're hoping this works (and so far, not too bad) and then maybe we can do better for the Fall.

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  8. Wonderful harvest! The tomatillos look great.

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  9. Gorgeous harvest - I'm still waiting on those first ripe tomatoes, so whenever I see them on other blogs it just makes me that much more impatient.

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    1. Ha, they will be worth the wait, I promise!!!

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  10. Great weekend harvest! And another gorgeous produce picture!
    Those tomatillos would be good in a Mexican green sauce - the kind you get in a Mexican restaurant that is served with chips.

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    1. Definitely leaning toward the green sauce. Been scoping some recipes. Thank you!!

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  11. 1st Man - for a couple of "city boys" you guys sure are doing great with your garden! that's an awesome harvest and considering you guys only get out there on the weekend - wow!

    as for the ball jar give-away - can my name be added and then sent to my friend SciFiChick? she does a lot of canning, she would love those jars. i just quickly checked and she hasn't entered. i will send her an email and tell her to enter.

    anyway - again congrats on such a good harvest! much love to you and 2nd Man! your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Not too bad huh? thank you, it's a test in remote gardening, LOL.

      And please tell SciFiChick I did use your comment that you posted as her entry (since it was already closed). So she was in the bowl. Alas, she didn't win but never fear, going to have some more giveaways soon!! :-)

      Much love to YOU BOTH!

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  12. When I bought my old farm (where I previously lived) I gardened there a couple of years before I moved there. It was a challenge to say the least, and I'm sure you know that all too well. It sure is easier when you are living there and can check on things more frequently.

    As for the tomatillos, I remember the last time I grew them they vined all over the place. And then, I had volunteers coming up everywhere the next year!

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    1. It isn't easy is it? But we look at it as sort of practice of course, learning what works and doesn't now (in our climate) and then preparing the beds and and garden area as an infrastructure investment in the future too, ha. Volunteers coming up everywhere? Hmm, I'll have to nip that in the bud (so to speak, ha). Thanks!!!

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  13. Congrats on your harvest. I have never seen tomatillos before. Could you perhaps prune the tops off to stop them getting to high? I trellis my tomatoes by having a tall frame over them then dropping string down from that frame. I tie the string to the base of the tomato and then wind the tomato plant around the string for support. The tomatoes often get higher than the support. Once they get too high, I simply prune the tops off. The tomatoes keep growing and producing from side branches. Would this work for you tomatillos?

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    1. I am not sure. They aren't related to tomatoes but that's a good point I should read on how to prune them (if you can). I like the idea you have for trellising. Might have to try that next time. Thank you!

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  14. For Houstonians in particular, there's a clear answer to the tomatillo question:
    http://www.homesicktexan.com/2007/01/salsa-salvation-ninfas-green-sauce.html

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    1. Wonderful! Thank you for the heads up! (and as a Houstonian, we LOVE Ninfa's).

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  15. Replies
    1. Thank you, it's a basket full of a couple of meals (or side dishes, ha) anyway. :-)

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  16. Congratulations on a beautiful harvest!!!!

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