 |
| What's left in my plot |
As you can see, my pretty sweet pea flowers are still going strong (behind the green watering cans), almost as pretty now as they were when they first began to bloom. Little pea pods are forming, but they are not edible. I've also got beets, kohlrabi, broccoli and leeks left in my garden. And I'll need to go out there and pull up weeds and prepare my area for next year's plantings. I took these pictures just a few minutes ago, so let's go discover what else is out there.
 |
| Pumpkin and my shoe on the left |
Remember that volunteer squash that showed itself in the community garden? Well, this is what came up from that: one HUGE pumpkin and lots of blossoms that didn't go anywhere. I put my Croc shoe on the left side so you can see how big it is. I don't know what we will do with it, but we will certainly harvest it at some point. There is also a cucumber plant that only has one fruit on it, but it's a doozy.
 |
| Well, hello there, big boy |
Ha! Just one, and so far nobody has picked it. Every time I go out in the morning to water the garden, I see this, smile, and wonder if it will be taken by someone. I'm not all that interested, but I must say I have a bit of envy when I look at Carol's beautiful onions.
 |
| Aren't these fine looking onions? |
I will definitely be planting onions myself next year, and these just make me want to sneak out in the dark of night and take one or two. I'll ask Carol if she will share so I can find out what this variety tastes like. I'm sure she will. Oh, and remember those artichokes in Nate's garden?
 |
| Flowering artichokes |
They are flowering now, which makes me wonder if they should have been picked when they were small, or if they will be edible after flowering. I know nothing about them. But when I came in to take a closeup, I saw that the bees are definitely happy to see them in flower.
 |
| Bee heaven |
There are at least three bees in that one flower, and they didn't pay any attention to me at all; they were too busy harvesting the nectar inside. And they smell good, too (the flowers, not the bees). And last of all, Nate's sunflowers are towering over all the rest of the garden. We discussed why they don't seem to be thriving; I suspect they need more water than he's giving them, but who knows? They sure are big, aren't they?
 |
| Nate's sunflowers |
Anyway, that's the state of the community garden behind my apartment complex in the middle of August 2014. It's been a good year so far, and I'm looking forward to having some time planning next year's garden. Garlic and onions for sure, and kohlrabi, broccoli and lots of lettuce.
:-)
KOHLRABI!!!!! UGH! darn it!
ReplyDelete:)
love nate's blooming artichokes. know nothing about them. just pretty!
Hi DJan, I saw an artichoke plant in bloom only about a year ago in a garden in Fredericksburg, TX. It looked just like Nate's. Fascinating plant... and I love artichokes! Just stuffed some this week for company.
ReplyDeleteYum. I love the mix of practical and beautiful. And yes, sun-flowers are thirsty plants.
ReplyDeleteI think a community pumpkin pie might be nice.
ReplyDeleteWill you plant any winter crops?
I had great success overwintering garlic last year.
loving the sunflowers....and wow, that would make one big pickle eh? smiles. just picked the last of my moms peas for her the other day....
ReplyDeleteThe only thing we're growing, in the line of food, is pumpkins. We had a dozen plants in total, lots of flowers and long runners, but no pumpkins! GGRRrr!
ReplyDeleteGlad your garden is coming along so well!
Blessings and Bear hugs!
The community garden is a great idea, but you all have to trust each other, right. The cucumber looks a bit sad at this point. I've only seen artichokes growing in California.
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty pictures! If you can plant them, try the sweet white onions. They taste best in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteYou grow some things I never try like artichokes! Of course, I never eat them. Pick the poor cucumber before it gets old and inedible. You raise some stuff that takes care.
ReplyDeleteThat is my first artichoke plant in bloom, I would have thought it was a thistle...lol
ReplyDeleteThe community garden is such a wonderful extension in your complex, a chance to meet neighbors and grow all that healthy produce.
You've really had a good growing year DJan, all that hard work and dedication has truly pasi off.
~Jo
Artichokes are related to thistles. To eat them you need to pick them well before they bloom. The bud stage is what you eat. But you can grow them just for the pretty flowers, and make bees happy!
ReplyDeleteSomebody needs to harvest the cucumber before it gets old and bitter.
It looks like people are having fun with their gardens.
DJan, you can take out the seeds from your pumpkin, dry them and use them next year and you could cook up the insides and freeze it and make pumpkin pie cookies, cake or pie filling and it would be right from your garden. I freeze some pints and mix a little in with my dog's supper. He loves pumpkin and it is so good for him. Aah, the end of the season is near - beautiful garden this year for you and for us too. WE are concluding International Festival (Calais Maine) and Chocolate Festival (St. Stephen) today, with a day packed with lots of fun things to participate in or watch. This morning there is the race box derby and later on The Wacky Cardboard Boat Race out on the river, which is only a few minutes from house. Then more chocolate tasting, vendors galore, music all day and fireworks tonite to close it all off for another season. I guess I will be a "fresh air" girl again today for most of the day. Have a good one :)
ReplyDeleteSunflowers need more water and perhaps some Miracle Grow or other plant food. Those onions look great! You all have quite a variety which is a good thing you can see what works in your plot and what doesn't. Have you thought about working up your bare spots and covering them in layers of wet newspaper to discourage weeds? It might work for you:)
ReplyDeleteYou guys could split up the pumpkin innards, for sure! I love seeing the garden. Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete...those artichoke blossoms look similar to a thistle?!!
ReplyDeleteIt's the state of the onion instead of union. Nice!
ReplyDeleteIt may be getting late in the season but your garden is still nice to look at especially with those sweet pea blooms. The artichoke flowers are gorgeous! But it's too late to eat them.
ReplyDeleteThat's an impressive garden. I think that pumpkin is going to be getting a lot bitter.. a lot faster now.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your garden, DJan. That is some pumpkin. I didn't know artichokes looked like that. It looks like a thistle.
ReplyDelete