Garden, first harvesting of 2009

Well, I'm still learning about gardening in the Pacific Northwest. The late start of the growing season and our unusually cool spring weather resulted in a huge accumulation of seedlings in my workroom awaiting planting. I planted some zucchini very early and had to cover it several times when the temperature dropped below freezing at night. The slugs appreciated the early treat and attacked the two seedlings vigorously and I thought I had lost them so I moved two more outside. The first ones made a miraculous recovery and I now had four healthy plants growing. A couple of long-time resident friends came by one afternoon and looked at the garden; I could hear them whispering "Didn't anyone tell him never to plant more than one zucchini?" We are now harvesting zucchini in sufficient numbers to start giving them away to the neighbors, so beware if you hear the doorbell.

The first spring we were in the house we rejoiced when we saw a large tree in the backyard loaded down with cherries. We went out and picked some and quickly learned that they were a small red plum. They have served us well as ingredients for some plum wine.

This year Sandra is using some of the almost-ripe ones to prepare a Chinese snack using salt, sugar, and dried plum powder.

I harvested our first cabbage today, it wouldn't fit in Sandra's basket; weighed in at 9 pounds 14 ounces. That's a lot of cole slaw.

You can tell from the leaves that we don't use pesticides, we try to be as "organic" as possible and actively compost throughout the year. We started the soil prep this year by digging in 300 pounds of steer manure; any volunteers for next year's prep work?

The tomatoes are almost ready to start turning color, the Japanese pumpkins and yellow squash are bearing as are the English and Chinese cucumbers. Our attempt at growing Sz Gua (loufa) and Dong Gua (winter melon) appear to be successful as both are blooming and preparing to set fruit. We are excited about the first fruit appearing on the ground cherries too.

In the wings I have about 8 goji plants started that will take another 3-4 years to start bearing. I am trying to be patient with some Szchuan pepper seeds that are reported to take up to 18 months to germinate, AFTER 3 months in the freezer. Oh, well, I may have a hard time finding a place for them anyway.