by Texas Homesteader
Well true to schedule the weather has turned hot here in Northeast Texas but thankfully the garden is still growing well. I’m pretty excited that I finally got to harvest my first tomatoes of the season.
Really there’s nothing more special than that first tomato plucked right off the plant, still warm from the sun. I also harvested jalapeno, onion and garlic at the same time, then came inside and made homemade salsa in just minutes. Love it!
I’ve never grown grapes before and I’m pretty excited to see a few bunches of Concord grapes showing up this year.
I planted heirloom green beans and they’re growing well though there’s nothing to harvest yet from the plants. Since these are vine beans and not the bush beans I’m used to I needed support for them. We incorporated some old electric-fence push poles and used baling twine for support. How’s THAT for using what you’ve got??
It’s working great and I weave the bean vines in/out of the strings as they grow. It not only lifts the vines off the ground for easier maintenance but the beans will be easier to see & harvest as well. Hey, I’m all about easier in the garden and it didn’t cost a cent to implement.
My yellow squash is doing well, although something is taking my plants one-by-one. I’ve been diligent eliminating squash bug eggs so there is not an onslaught of squash bugs killing the plants this year, so I don’t know what’s going on here. Maybe something digging underground? Hummm…
In the meantime we’re harvesting squash daily and still have plenty to share with neighbors and friends at church. I usually harvest enough to donate to a small retirement home in town as well, but sadly the center closed a week or so ago.
My miniature apple tree is also putting on a few apples. Although they’re still small and I’m only looking at maybe five or six apples overall, I’ve never harvested them before so I’m pretty excited about it.
Also growing like gangbusters are my jalapenos, pablanos and oregano. It’s now time for me to harvest my red potatoes, onions and garlic.
Be watching soon for a “Preserving The Harvest” post on how to preserve your garden’s garlic for future meals.
How is your garden doing?
~TxH~
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Our garden is doing well. We are having cooler than normal temperatures, so things seem to be producing late this year. ‘Love fresh veggies from the garden! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
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Ours is doing ok. We have some kale that won’t quit, and that makes me really happy. We’ve had some blossom drop though with our tomatoes and one of our cucumbers. I’m hoping our zucchini will do ok. We’ve planted a lot of it.
I’m glad you’re getting a few apples! Handy tip about the beans, and I hope they prove as easy to harvest as they look!!
Sam, I’m starting to get one or two beans now and they are very easy to see and reach so I’m pleased with the system. ~TxH~
Oh your garden is doing so well Tammy! Thank you for sharing it at the party this week. I am featuring it on my Facebook page and have pinned it to the You’re Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest 🙂
Wow that’s awesome Kathe – Thanks! ~TxH~
Your garden looks wonderful! I have always wanted to try growing grapes. Up here in Oregon we finally have temperatures that are getting the garden growing. Your produce looks beautiful! 🙂
Thank you April – what a sweet comment! ~TxH~
I just started two baby grapevines this year. One is alive and one is not BUT I had a concord grapevine years ago at my old place and I still remember how much the bees loved it and also how the entire house smelled like heaven when I was making grape juice! Enjoy! 🙂
Oh Debra, i can’t wait! ~TxH~
Your garden looks awesome! Mine is pathetic, but I live in the Pacific Northwest, so we don’t have the same hot weather as you do!
Rachel, if history stands true the garden will take a turn for the worst now that the triple digits are hitting with such frequency! ~TxH~
How exciting to have apples. We planted 2 trees this year so it will be a while before we have some.
I love this time of year, even though most of my time is spent preserving food. We’ve put up salsa, bread and butter pickles, canned and frozen corn, and tomato broth. We’ve also dehydrating tons of cherry tomatos to grind to use as seasoning in soups and rice. Today we’re going to see if the wild grapes are ready and if they are it’s jelly and juice making time.
Sounds like you’re certainly busy these days Angi. I dehydrated tomatoes last year for the first time and have been using it to thicken my garden salsa so all the juice isn’t wasted. I’ll certainly be dehydrating more this year! ~TxH~