Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Around the Fall Garden














We have been enjoying a lot of damp, rainy weather over the last week or so, not the best for spending time in the fall garden. On Sunday the skies cleared a little bit, and I put on my winter hat and woolens, and headed outside to do a little work.

Garlic was planted, 96 cloves this year. It still won't be enough to get us through from one harvest to another, but it is something, and I do love growing my own garlic. It was then covered with a good layer of leaves and will get a layer of straw soon. The slugs did my pak choy in, so I dug it all out, and found far too many slugs hiding underneath. I think I got them all...fingers crossed. I also harvested the last of the radishes in the cold frame. We still have some growing in the tunnels to enjoy into the fall, and maybe winter.

The good news in the garden, the tunnels are doing great, everything is growing well, and the slugs, for the most part, have left them alone. Jack Frost has paid us a few visits now and they are holding their own, keeping our plants warm and frost free. We harvest a little bit here and there for our meals, leaving some for the long winter ahead.

The rest of the beds have been covered with leaves, and are officially asleep for the winter. It is so nice to have everything cleaned up for the winter, and ready for spring planting. This is the first year in a long time that we are so far along with clean up and spring preparations. A sign that maybe our little man is older and a little more independent, as well as interested in helping out.

I have just a few more jobs to do out there. The first, cut back the raspberries. I had planned to do it on Sunday, but did you see what I found when I went over there. Yup, a handful of berries, and there are still some ripening. I will leave it for another week or so, and then do the final cut back. And the herbs, particularly the stinging nettle, need to be cut back.

This fall garden is interesting in many ways, and we are learning so much. So far it has been fairly easy, only time will tell how we handle it all in the dark cold days of winter.

How are things around your garden?

28 comments:

  1. lovely update and I cannot believe you still have raspberries! that is incredible :) Our wee garden is waiting for my husband to remove summer vegetable plants. We are not in any hurry since volunteer sprouts are welcome.

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    1. I couldn't believe it either, especially with all the cool, damp days we have had.

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  2. What a great space you have for your garden! The greens look great. I've never planted garlic, I definitely am putting that on my next year's list.

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    1. Thanks Carlin. You should definitely plant garlic, so much fun to grow, and you can harvest twice. The first harvest are your garlic scapes, and then later your garlic.

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  3. I'm so jealous of your raspberries !!! Great gardening Kim...

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  4. What a nice surprise! I love that feeling of being on track with work around the home and for my family. Could be dishes and meals, or a dream garden like yours. Enjoy those greens! :)

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    1. It always feels good to feel like everything is getting done as it should. Thanks, we will!

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  5. My goodness your garden is heavenly!! Love how autumnal everything looks there (it's still 80 degrees most days here). We've been wanting to grow our own garlic but it seems a bit intimidating and tricky. Happy days to you!

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    1. Awe, thanks Summer. Autumn is definitely in full force here, and we are enjoying it, for the most part. Growing garlic up here is not so tricky, but I am thinking it might be for you, with heat all year round. It is possible, I just don't know how :)

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  6. Garlic and a few herbs are the ONLY thing I have planted right now. I really need to get some kale going, sigh, I am so far behind.
    Your garden looks amazing Kim, just amazing! Enjoy.

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    1. That is okay Tracey, you have a lot on your plate right now...your son's wedding! Not to mention your shawl. Once that is done you can get back to the garden. It will wait for you :)

      Thank you, we are enjoying it so very much! xo

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  7. How awesome is that....all that garlic, I love "anything garlic " Your garden looks great and what a great harvest you have had....so doing this next year.
    Ps. Another happy mail on it's way Kim :)

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    1. Pretty awesome :) We are garlic lovers too. Thank you, we are pretty pleased with everything so far.

      Yay, more yarn, I can't wait! Thank you!!!!!

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  8. Sorry about your pak choy... I know that our CSA farmers are also having issues. Your beds look like our, heavy with leaves. We can't even see the fall cover crops anymore. We will be turning everything in this week-end. We have only one cold frame still up and producing : Kale and carrots. I'm still picking calendula daily so that is nice. But the rest is pretty much done now. Time for planning again. As much as I love gardening, the planning is so much fun as well. Pre-ordered all my seed catalogs including the 400 page one from Baker's Creek. All times of year are good times of year for gardening as far as I'm concerned. xox

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    1. Thanks, never easy to rip out a crop, but the chickens were happy :) Most of those leaves I have put there, it seems they never fall on the beds, but beside them. I think it is the raised beds, the leaves get blown and then trapped between them.

      We are planning too, changing our minds about plans already made, and making new plans. Exciting times for sure.

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  9. Your garden looks so orderly and ready for the winter! I'm jealous of all your leaves for mulch. You've already had frost? Here in Oregon, it hasn't gotten below 50 yet, so we haven't put up any protection.

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    1. Thanks Angela! We have had quite a few frosts already, sad but true. Average first frost around here is late September/early October, and it was right on schedule this year. Enjoy those warmer temperatures for us :)

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  10. Oh, Kim, you inspire me so! I had inteneded to get a fall garden planted this year and it so did not happen. Perhaps next year (along with improved knitting skills- I hope!)! xo

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    1. Awe, you are too kind Shel, but I am happy to inspire :) There is always next year, for both gardening and knitting :)
      xo

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  11. Wow everything looks wonderful! Such good things to look forward to this time of year!

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  12. I'm ready for our leaves to start falling so we can get to mulching!

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    1. Shall I bag some up and send them down to you :) Hope they fall soon.

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  13. It's suddenly looking very Autumnal, but still wonderful and productive.

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    1. It is very much autumnal right now, and we are loving it :)

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