In Giardino

We are doing very well in the garden this year.  We haven't had one in a few years.  When I was working I just couldn't keep up with it.  Although,  I admit we went too large with those gardens also.  Just bit off more than we could chew, so to speak.

White Japanese Eggplant

Now that I am a domestic engineer, I can keep a proper garden.  We started about half of the size and I thought that would be manageable.  I did my homework and put in the garden at the same time we were installing the new patio in our yard.  This was the first time I did cold weather veggies - kale, spinach, lettuce, and a nice leafy cabbage.  Everything did well except for the spinach.

Now we are into the warm summer months, the tomato plants are monsters.  I need to get bigger tomato cages next year.  The yellow cherry variety is heavy with fruit, the roma are ripening as well, and the purple heirlooms are a bit slower.  All are very tasty and I am pleased with my choices.

Look at them beans!!

After the cold weather veggies vacated their space, I planted some peppers, and two variety of small eggplants, as well as bush beans, and scallions from seed.  The beans are sprouting quickly, there are pretty purple flowers on the eggplants, but the scallions are a no show so far.

Tomatoes and nasturtiums, with some late kale making an appearance.

We also planted nasturtiums.  If you have never tried them, they are easy to grow and taste wonderful in salads.  The whole plant is edible and it has a peppery taste.  Some folks pickle the flower pods and treat them like capers.

Just for fun, I thought you might like to see a visiter to the feeder.

I just love being able to use produce and herbs I have grown myself.  They somehow just taste better knowing that your effort was rewarded.  I can wait for the beans to come.  I have never done beans before.

We are so pleased with our efforts, we feel good about extending the garden by another third.  This bed will be under the one tree in our property and get some shade.  I think the cold weather veggies will like it even better under there and I hope we can have a nice fall crop.  I am also going to put in a potato barrel and give those a go.

Until then, all there is to do is eat a lot of salads.  We have a bunch of lettuce close to bolting, so we had better eat like bunnies.  Another entry will highlight my herbs and maybe the new patio space.

Ciao!

Birdie in Cucina