Currently browsing category

Fruit, Page 11

First Green Bean Harvest of 2014

Today was a busy day with the harvesting of green beans, weeding both green beans and corn, and more blueberries to pick as well.  I will have to finish setting up my bean poles so that my pole beans can start climbing up instead of attaching itself to anything it can find.  That I will do tomorrow if the weather is any good.

Tomorrow there is a slight chance of thunderstorms throughout the day and I decided that it would be a good idea to start harvesting the vegetables and fruit that were ready.  This included my beans and more blueberries.  I collected about two pounds of beans from my bush plants and three pounds of berries. (more…)

Three Zucchinis Picked and Some Blueberries Too

Today I had the opportunity to pick three more zucchinis that were well past ready and they are some of the biggest I have ever grown.  Two of them were about normal size while one of them I could barely hold it in one hand because of its large diameter.  It weighed five and half pounds which ended up being the heaviest zucchini that I have ever picked.  There are others that will be picked very soon as well.

Blueberries were picked recently and after a few more days with lots of sun many more blueberries were ready to be harvested again.  The ones that were close to ready the first time have now been picked on this second time.  I collected about a pound and a half this time.  There is still plenty out there which I can use to make some delicious desserts. (more…)

Staking Tomatoes Using Stretch Ties

Normally I would stake my tomatoes much earlier in the year about the same time that I planted them in the ground or just shortly before or after.  This year I happened to do this a little later, but nevertheless my tomatoes are still growing very well and with extra support they will ripen much quicker.

I used to use old jeans and rip strips and use that for supporting my tomato plants.  This year I decided to try something a little different and see if this makes a difference in the quality and lifespan of my tomatoes plants and the fruit it produces. (more…)

First Blueberry Harvest and Two More Zucchinis Picked

Today wasn’t such a busy day after all the rain we received yesterday from what was left of hurricane Arthur.  The entire garden received enough water for at least a few days and this is one less thing that I have to worry about.  The day before this large rainstorm (which was desperately needed) I was able to start the first harvest of blueberry season.

Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits and you can do quite a bit with them with some great recipes.  This first batch was not that big and I probably can’t do much with the amount that I harvested.  The first picking is usually the smallest as well as the last of the season.  In the next couple of weeks more bushes will ripen and I will pick more so that I will be able to use them and enjoy them for as long as possible. (more…)

Progress of Zucchini and Tomatoes

I wanted to keep you informed on the status of everything that I am growing in the garden which includes all vegetables, fruits, and flowers that I have added into the ground.  So far the only two plants that are producing include the zucchini and tomatoes.  They just happen to be the first of the season and soon I will have beans, cucumbers, cantaloupes, and many more with flowers.

The blueberries are on their way to harvest time with just some more sun they will soon be ready to be picked.  It doesn’t look like I have as much as I did last year, but I still think I will have a descent harvest for 2014.  While the blueberries are getting started the strawberries are finally winding down for now.  With a little care they will come back during the summer and at the end of the season harvest. (more…)

Zucchini and Some Tomato Flowers Pollinated

This morning there was a quick rain storm that came through and gave my plants just a good soaking that they definitely needed.  If there was no rain I would have watered them myself regardless.  I happened to check up on the zucchini that I thought might have been pollinated and wanted to see its progress.

Good news!  The zucchini is getting larger which means that it was pollinated when the flower first opened a couple of days ago.  Now I can look forward to watching this vegetable grow until it reaches the appropriate size that I want.  Feeding is what will keep these plants growing for as long as possible producing delicious food. (more…)

Third Strawberry Harvest With Zucchini and Tomatoes Flowering

Another harvest of strawberries was completed this week and this time I was able to get about two and a half pounds of these delicious berries.  I think this will be the most that I pick this year unless I have a very exceptional summer or late crop harvest.  The good news is that I picked more than last year which is always good news for any garden.

Some more great things are happening with some of my other plants as well.  Flowers are beginning to emerge from my zucchini and tomato plants.  The zucchini are actually starting to show signs of fruit which may or may not have been pollinated.  I always rely on bees and I try to stay away from pollinating plants by hand.  The only plant that I pollinate are the corn stalks when they are ready. (more…)

Transplanted Flowers, Herbs, and Some More Tomatoes

Setting flowers into the garden is best done at the same time that you are planting everything else.  Usually I tend to plant them once I get all the other vegetables and fruits set into the ground.  They will take some time to produce the blooms that you need to attract bees and insects.  The summer is where you should see them flowering and continuous blooms will come.

As previously stated I had some tomatoes grown inside after the first batch had begun sprouting or didn’t sprout.  I have added them into the garden and now I only have just a couple of more left that will soon go out probably by next week at the latest.  I also have a few more flowers that will go into the garden as well. (more…)

Picking Strawberries and Planting Last Section of Corn

The past weekend it was finally time to start picking the first harvest of strawberries of the 2014 season.  The best part about gardening is when you begin harvesting all your fruits of your labor because this is when all your hard work pays off.  Since these are ever bearing berries I will be harvesting them throughout the year as long as I properly care for them during the season.

I also completed the final section of corn and I can now start thinning out the plants that I don’t need.  I will most likely start with the first planting I did and remove what plants I no longer need and then I can give them some plant food.  They are heavy nitrogen feeders and I will be giving them exactly what they need during the next couple of weeks. (more…)