Beans and Lettuce

It has been a banner year for the green beans in the garden.

But then we have always had good luck with them.

Not good enough to freeze any though like this year - and they will taste so good in the winter.

What has been the biggest surprise to me though is the lettuce.

I have never grown it before and really didn't know what to expect with it.

The seeds were so tiny and they needed a major thinning once they all sprouted.

I always thought lettuce was a cool weather crop that didn't like the summer heat.

But I was so wrong.

We have had a continuous supply all summer.

The more I pick it, the more it grows.

I haven't had to buy any lettuce at the market all summer long.

That one little packet of seeds that I bought on clearance at the end of last season has served us well.

I will be sure to make lettuce a staple in the garden each year now - whether we get the seeds on clearance or not.

Planting Season Has Begun

The planting season has begun in our corner of the country.

We are declared officially frost-free as of May 31, but we have always put our seeds in the ground a week or so before that.

Once they all start coming up it is usually after that date anyway.

The plants will be going in the ground next week.

And what a batch a really beautiful plants we have this year.

My daughter started the tomatoes, eggplant, and basil from seeds a couple of months ago.

She only purchased the Heirloom variety seeds, and we are so excited to see how they produce.

She was very careful to watch out for those GMO ones - we are trying to stay away from them as much as possible.

She has some Quarter Century tomato plants, and they are the sturdiest, greenest, healthiest looking plants I have seen in a long time.

The plants are off to a great start and my fingers are crossed for a good growing season in the garden too!

Second Bean Harvest

The first harvest of our green beans in the garden was about two weeks ago.

And we got a lot of beans.

We just finished the second harvest, and we got more than the first one!

And there are still plenty of "little" beans and blooms left for another harvest.

This has been the best year we have had for these beans.

I think towards the end of the season, we are going to let some of them go to seed.

This was certainly a good batch of seeds, and we wouldn't mind another year like this one.

I love growing our own food - wish we had the space and means to do more.

 

Is Gardening Good Exercise?

We all know that is takes 30 minutes of exercise in order to gain the most health benefits from it.

But is gardening considered on par with walking or biking is my question.

I was pleased to find that it is just as good, and can even offer more benefits in different areas,

Areas such as increased flexibility from all the stretching that gardening offers.

It builds strength in the legs, buttocks, arms, shoulders, neck, back and abdomen. The tasks involved in gardening use a variety of muscle groups.

The joints are also strengthened with gardening tasks, and what is really good about it - there is no jarring of the bones - which you really begin to feel as you get older.

So the best thing about gardening is you get a full body workout - stretching, weightlifting, and a moderate cardiovascular workout - all in one!

And since most of us garden for the pleasure of it, the exercise it just an added benefit!

Gardens Are In

The vegetable gardens are finally planted for this season.

Since we have raised beds for them, they tend to dry out faster than the "in ground" ones do.

So the daily watering has begun.

I am hoping the plants get some good growth on them before the really hot weather arrives.

Establishing deep roots is the goal for right now, so that water is quite important.

I have read both that early morning water is the best and that evening watering is the best.

The morning one offers the plant a good long drink before the heat of the day, and the evening watering revives them after the heat.

We have always chosen the evening, but if anyone can honestly tell me the morning is better, I would love to hear about it.

Found a Flat

Yesterday I posted about the non-existent vegetable flats of plants for planting in the garden.

Well, I had some success with the Big Boy tomatoes and the Sweet Green peppers.

I really didn't want any big tomatoes, just cherry ones as I seem to have better luck with those ones reaching maturity.

Will have to stick with the larger ones for this year and hope for the best.

We couldn't find any cucumbers, so those will be going in as seeds.

Cuke plants are easier, but seeds have worked in the past, so we will give it a try.

Green beans are always put in as seeds, and we got some of those yesterday too.

The only splurge I made was for a pot of Sweet Basil.

One plant for $3.00, but it has always been one of my favorites, and once dried, I use it on many things.

I may pick up some basil seeds next time and put them in pots in the garden.

That way I can bring them inside towards the fall as they will never reach maturity from seeds in the ground now.

Hopefully today I can get the plants in the ground - I just love to have a garden!