The Garden Is In!

Have You Planted Your Garden This Year?
We just transplanted our rhubarb plant a few weeks ago and it appears to be thriving right between the flowering climates.
We just transplanted our rhubarb plant a few weeks ago and it seems to be thriving, right between the flowering clematis.

Finally ……. The cold weather is behind us!  I don’t know about you but, this winter, I heard more complaining than ever before.

It seemed as if everyone I know was, impatiently, waiting for the crisp scent of new growth that comes with spring.

It took Poo and I about two weekends to get our seeds into the ground but, alas, its done and we are starting to see the seedlings sprout up.

The Red Chinese Noodles are planted against the house and the 13 Jalapeno plants are in front.
The Red Chinese Bean Noodles are planted against the house and the 13 Jalapeno plants are in front.

One of my bonus daughters had sent us a catalog of heirloom seeds .  This company carries one of the largest selections of seeds from the 19th century, including European and Asian varieties.

Not exactly seeds you can pick up at your local hardware store. 🙂

My Bonus Daughter, Jess, with Dave and their two fur babies.
My Bonus Daughter, Jess, with Dave and their two fur babies.

 

We hoped to start our seedlings inside, before the last frost, but we waited too long so we forged ahead using the direct sow method.

We’re seeing growth with some of what we planted but it’s still a waiting game with others.

Nothing coming up yet in this bed.
Nothing growing here yet ………..

There were a few plants that we decided were not worth starting from seed and purchased those from our local store, like tomatoes and hot peppers.

Tomatoes are a must every year.

I grew up eating my Dad’s homemade spaghetti sauce every Sunday.  That was his day to cook.

He never used a recipe.  

His formula for homemade spaghetti was as follows:

  • canned tomatoes
  • ground beef
  • spices
  • onion
  • garlic
  • anything else from the fridge that needed to be used up before it spoiled

No measuring.

He would spend several hours in the afternoon tending to the sauce and, by dinner time, spaghetti was what was on our plate!

Almost every Sunday.

I think, as a result of this weekly tradition, many of my siblings make           “a mean spaghetti sauce,”  without a recipe as well.  I don’t know if mine would be considered as good as theirs but, I also make it.

Canned tomatoes worked fine when we were growing up and it was economical for a family of ten but, fresh homegrown tomatoes straight from the garden ………  well, you just can’t beat that!

And, homemade spaghetti sauce freezes so well.

My tomato plants this year are:

  1. Better Boy
  2. Big beef
  3. Beefmaster
My tomato plants.
My four tomato plants.
Hot peppers are also mandatory.  Every year.

I love jalapeños.  I don’t put them on everything but I do love them on pizza   and use them in my homemade soups and salsa.  I also use them to make hot pepper jelly.

Some small jalapeños that I already picked off of the plants.
I already picked these off of my little baby jalapeño plants.

I’m very excited about this years’ crop.  I have 4 varieties in the ground, three of which are red in color.

Jars of my homemade hot pepper jelly.
Homemade green hot pepper jelly in production last fall.

Normally I make green hot pepper jelly and I fully anticipate that I will be making a red jelly this year!

Sounds Christmas-see, right?

My homemade hot pepper jelly atop cream cheese. Great with crackers or pretzels.
My homemade hot pepper jelly on top of cream cheese.  Spread it on crackers or pretzels.  Yummm

I planted 13 small pepper plants:

  • Four Serrano – red in color
  • Four Jalapeno – green
  • Four Hot Portugal – red
  • One Hot Red Cherry – red
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalog.
You can check out their seed selections at www.rareseeds.com

We also planted the following from the heirloom seed catalog:  

  1. Peas
  2. Leeks
  3. Zucchini
  4. Eggplant Mitoya
  5. Ground Cherry Aunt Molly
  6. Bean Chinese Red Noodle.

I really hope the Chinese Beans do well as I bought a similar variety last year at the farmers market and they were, not only gorgeous in color, but tasted exceptional.

Picture of purple potatoes, brown eggs, green beans & purple pole beans
Farmers Market Produce

Just like the purple variety shown in the picture, the beans I planted will also grow to around 18″ long.  Oh my!

The Aunt Molly Cherry is also a crop I am juiced up about.   In pioneer times, ground cherries were one of the first fruits planted.  The sweet citrus flavor was appreciated for the use in jams, preserves, pies and sauces.

Yes ……. I’m thinking cherry jelly.

I can’t wait to try some of these new crops.  I pray they don’t disappoint!

“We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.”                                                                                                       –  Jenny Uglow

xoxo, Katy

 

 

 

 

Author: Katy

I am a business owner, a mom of two grown daughters, a wife, and lover of life! I am an active 50+ -er with many new developing interests. Physical activity has always played a role in my life. Sometimes, more ........and sometimes, less. As a "Baby Boomer," it has become increasingly important for me to navigate the aging process with grace and agility. Part of the healthy living equation is, of course, the nutritional aspect as well. This blog, first and foremost, is devoted to women over the age of 50 looking to improve the quality of their life by exercising and consuming a healthy diet. Cheers to a life well lived! *You can read more about me by visiting my Home Page.

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