Last Summer

Here is the side garden where we have two raised beds for vegetable gardening.













Summer 2009 Vegetable/Fruit List:

Tomatoes (2 Brandywine, 2 cherry, 1 arctic heirloom): The brandywine tomatoes were very successful producing many large fruits. We did have many green ones left on the vine at the end of the season.

Potatoes (White fleshed): Many small potatoes per plant with 1-2 fist sized potatoes per plant. Tender and very tasty. I planted some behind the Sand Cherry tree, they grew well but were difficult to mound and harvest. I'm thinking of trying potatoes in containers this year.

Bush Beans: Abundant harvest and easy to grow. Must keep on top of harvesting them if they are to produce more beans.

Peas: Did not have much luck with the peas. I think the spot I chose was too sunny and I didn't give them enough extra water. Will try again this year.

Zucchini (2 green, 1 yellow): Extremely copious output. I will probably plant only one of each color this year. We gave away a lot of zucchini. Our friends and neighbours didn't want any more by the end of the season.

Cucumber (3): The right number of plants for us, enough to eat and give a few away.

Cauliflower (2): Takes up a lot of room in the garden, will probably not plant again.

Broccoli (2): Tasted wonderful but also takes up too much space

Brussel Sprouts (3): Really impressive looking plants, but there was a little white butterfly that loved these and they got eaten to bits. Also takes up a lot of room.

Bell peppers: The peppers grew well but didn't seem to ripen. Tasted bitter compared to peppers you buy at the grocery store. Maybe not hot enough for them here?

Asparagus: I planted tiny little seedlings at the beginning of summer 2009.

They looked like this. Over the summer they grew about 2.5 feet high, very bushy at the top. From my research I will be waiting 2 more seasons before picking any asparagus.

Strawberries (2 or 3 ever-bearing): Each plant always had 4-5 fruits on it. Really juicy and sweet. Wonderful for a treat when walking by the garden. Didn't really produce enough at a time to make a dessert or whatnot.

Lettuce (Baby Leaf blend, Parris Island, Sangria): The baby leaf blend was great, always regrowing. It was tender and tasty, not bitter at all. The Parris Island Romaine was good. Sangria (butterhead) did not do as well. It was tough to go back to grocery store lettuce come the autumn. There's nothing quite like a perfectly fresh from the garden lettuce.

Carrots: Will definitely need to plant more...carrots are a slow growing crop, but so worth it. My carrots were so...carroty. I don't know how to explain it.

Herbs (Basil, Chives, Dill, Oregano, Thyme, Tarragon)