To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow
~Audrey Hepburn
It’s been a very strange growing year on Cape Cod. We had a chilly spring. June brought us copious amounts of rain and the warmer summer temperatures did not really arrive until July. The garden has been confused. We seem to be harvesting later than usual and things have seemed to stall all summer long. This month, plants are finally beginning to bear their fruits and vegetables.
Last year fall on clearance, I purchased a small leafless bush that was marked raspberries. Well, low and behold- it was not raspberries at all. It was a blackberry bush and they are just coming into harvest! They are a very tart variety, probably best for a jam. I love to watch my family taste one-pucker-and return for more!
I pulled the onions, as their tops were dying off and turning brown. They are a bit tiny- more like a shallot size. They should have reached a 3-4 inch diameter. I think I might pickle these.
I was also a bit disappointed with the garlic harvest too! I placed the bulbs in the drying rack. Again, about half the size I am accustomed to.
I planted broccoli early in the season. It stalled too! I should have seen crowns by June. I didn’t and the plants still looked healthy, so instead of pulling them I left them in. I didn’t have much faith because broccoli doesn’t care for summer sun and heat. Yet low and behold, those plants are now pushing up the crowns.
Our first spear of Fall asparagus has arrived.
Baby eggplants are emerging.
My peppers are almost ready for picking.
My cucumbers are just starting to bloom and
my tomatoes are still green. Typically by this time, I have an overflowing abundance of both.
Even the delicious cipolinni onions are petite.
We did have wonderful abundant crops of lettuce, Swiss chard, kales and sorrel.
I am now in the process of planting the cold weather crops. I am a die hard optimist that could never imagine not having a garden. I am thankful for what we have been able to harvest no matter the size. This weekend, you can find me out in the back, by the raised beds up to my ears in seeds and chicken manure compost.
Photo Credits: Tilly’s Nest
2 thoughts on “How Does Your Garden Grow?”
It's been an odd summer here in the Midwest as well. There were heavy rains for weeks, then 14 days of sweltering summer heat…the rest of summer has been fall-like. Which is just fine with me…I'm not one to love that summer humidity! But I agree, it's had an effect on the garden…the tomatoes are still green, and peppers are oh-so tiny. However, zucchini and cucumbers are thriving, along with blackberries and flowers. We're all wondering what winter will bring!
I too am very nervous about winter. I saw my first woolly bear caterpillar here the other day and it was all black. I have a feeling winter might be rough.