Mid June Update

I haven't posted in forever, mostly because we have been crazy busy.  Between my changing jobs, my husband's case load and the various boards we are on we are lucky that we even got things planted!  But get things planted we did, just barely.  We were also annoyed by the very difficult weather.  First it was extremely warm for the year, that shockingly cold.  This has left us with some stunted plants. 

None the less I am hopeful for the year to come. 

Our fruit trees are doing well, both the peaches and the plumbs are likely to produce more fruit than we are able to handle.  Additionally our cherry trees and bushes are growing like crazy and are finally producing a few of the cherries we have been so hoping for.

This is our tart cherry bush, or one of them.  If you only have a small amount of space I recommend these, the cherries are delicious and they are producing well.

Our tart cherry trees are producing as well, although they are not growing as fast as the bushes.  We have a large amount of tart cherries mostly because we love them fresh, dried, in things or as juice.   Eventually we may have enough!

The sweet cherries are newer to our yard, and are getting ripe more slowly. 

The tree is growing well, and we are hopeful for the future (behind the tree we have garlic growing, we may have enough for one year).

 

In addition, we have restarted our raspberry patch.  The ones that were here when we moved in produced only once and then were done.  Given that there are raspberries that produce throughout the season, and that we love the fruit so much, we have put in new bushes. 

 



They are producing well and we are enjoying raspberry breakfasts each morning (non will make it to winter)

Our last fruit is the grapes we have growing on the chicken area.  It is shocking how well these have grown.

It will only be a year or so before the whole fence is covered.  I'm also excited this year to see what grape flowers look like:

 

I'm pleased to say there should be a large number this year. 

 

Our vegetables are not doing as well.  Only a few of our asparagus came up, and they are not looking as strong as they should. 



 

I am forced to conclude that they do not get enough water and that this may not be the best plan.  Instead we have included additional melons and squashes in the area.

These include spaghetti squash

and water melon.

We have also increased the number of tomato plants we planted, and while they are not looking as good as they would have without the month of 60 degree weather, they are doing well.

We are also increasing the number and types of peppers we are growing this year (including several which are indoors and have already given us over 80 habaneros).

For our other vegetables we are changing strategy, instead of a large variety we chose to plant only our favorites. 

Beans, both the pole and bush variety

Corn, surrounded by more beans, squash, and cucumbers. 

Brussel sprouts (there are more in another section but they are harder to see as they are surrounded by the spinach ground cover) 

Beets and carrots 

And more corn.

 

For potatoes we have taken yet another tactic.  We have found that every year we seem to miss a few potatoes during the harvest, which then means more sprout up in that location the next year.  Instead of rotating potatoes from here on out we have decided to intentionally leave potatoes in, and create a perpetual potato patch.

 

Lastly our animals are doing well.  The bees have one of the "suppers" already full of honey, and the younger hive is growing remarkably.

 

The chickens always enjoy the warm months more, as there are weeds for them to eat (why throw them away) and sometimes bugs.  In an attempt to improve their lives even more, Peter has built an area for wheat grass, which they should not be able to pull up, but will allow them to eat it all year, as well as any bugs who should decide to make it their home.

 

All in all, despite a very busy, and cold, start, the garden is looking good for the year.