How did I do?

[ursulas_alcove]

Early on, I set goals for this year's garden. I didn't expect a family member to get cancer. I didn't expect skunks to invade my backyard during daylight. I didn't expect a tree to land on my garage, preventing us from trimming trees. I didn't expect the ground hog to dig more holes under my garage. There was a late season drought which is still going on. What I did manage was to fence off the front yard "mandala" garden to keep some creatures out. (Not all. Something is eating the sweet taters leaves.) A lot happened on this year's journey.



The goals were set between what should be possible and what I have achieved in the past. Things with an asterix are not done growing yet. In theory, we have two weeks of growing season left. There are nine grow bags of potatoes in the driveway. There 3 more small butternut squash, a Lakota, a honeynut, and 2 Long Island Cheese pumpkins. That will be the bulk of the weight, plus more apples and quinces on the trees.

Long boring list:
Asparagus 3 lbs. goal 4.26 lbs harvested
Basil 1 lbs. 0.1 lbs
Beans 3 lbs. 2.78 lbs
Dried Beans 1 lbs. Didn't plant.
Beets 1 lbs. 3.35 lbs*
Blueberries 2 lbs. 0
Cabbage 5 lbs. 0*
Carrots 10 lbs. 0.35 lbs*
Celery 10 lbs. 0.4 lbs
Cucumbers 20 lbs. 10.97 second crop failed
Figs 2 lbs. 0*
Goumi Berries 3 lbs. 0 tree on top of them
Leeks 3 lbs. 0*
Lettuce 8 lbs. 3.00 three crop failures
Onions 5 lbs. 0 squirrels dug up
Mulberries 5 lbs. 0
Rhubarb 5 lbs. 2.8 lbs No one wants to eat more than this.
Parsnips 10 lbs. 0.4 lbs bad germination
Peas 2 lbs 0.6 lbs
Potatoes 30 lbs. 12 lbs * Nine more containers to harvest
Pumpkin 20 lbs. 8.28 lbs *
Spinach 3 lbs.2.52 lbs
Squash (summer) 15 lbs. 5.93 lbs
Squash (winter) 20 lbs. 62.87 lbs *
Swiss Chard 3 lbs. 3.32 lbs
Sweet Potatoes 5 lbs. - Have not harvested yet.
Tomatoes 120 lbs. 60 lbs
Apples 1 lbs. 6.5 lbs *
Quince 3 lbs.14 lbs *
Pears 3 lbs. 0
Raspberries 5 lbs. .04 lbs
Rose Petals 1 lbs. 0.26 lbs
Strawberries 2 lbs. 3.4 lbs

Goal Total 325 lbs.

Not on the list:
Watermelon 2 lbs harvested
Total 211.3 which is 64% of my goal



My best guess is about 275 lbs when we finish. We are working on filling the pantry and freezer. Some of the butternut split when it rained. I carved and roasted squash today. Chrono roasted beets. The squash got thrown in the freezer while the beets will get pickled. I canned tomato sauce earlier this week. Tomato jam is next. Future projects include pressure canning tomato soup and squash soup. Chrono will be making quince paste. Although there are figs, they may not have time to ripen. If they do, that's another project for Chrono.



I made a roast in the solar oven. It didn't go so well. The carrots are very fibery due to the drought. I have a few more beets in the garden, no where near ripe. From my todo list earlier this week, I did pick up meat. Yes, I had sticker shock. OMG. The freezer is nearly full. I will try growing some lettuce inside in the basement if I can get anything to germinate. The lack of greens has been disheartening. If I can get them to grow now, they will be ready just after Thanksgiving. Generally, the farmers grow for Thanksgiving but there is nothing for a few weeks after that. It's best to plan for that. Lettuce has a 12 week seed to bolt cycle. It's generally best to plant every 3 weeks.

The other thing I'm doing is saving seed. I need to go through the various plates and paper bowls on top of my fridge. There is squash, tomato (several), peas, maybe beans, and cucumber seed up there. It's been dry so I think I can label glass jars and store them. I use old baby food jars, jam jars, and honey jars. Some people use paper envelopes but I have a mouse in the house.

Comments

[sister_raphael]

That is a pretty decent amount of produce. We have to pay for water here, if there are no water restrictions) so it makes high water plants very expensing to grow. You really have done well on the canning and preserving too.

[ursulas_alcove]

Thanks. It is a lot of work.