This raised bed is the first one I plant in early spring. I use this space for all the cabbage varieties and a couple cauliflower plats too. On each corner I plant one large baking potato as well. I keep it covered with a white netting so that the cabbage butterflies can't lay any eggs on the cabbage.
The plants get plenty of light and the rain gets through very easy too.
I had to remove the netting to take out this tall plant that came back from last year. It was pushing the netting up, so I decided to cut the top off. Then I dug out the root which ended up being a parsnip, lol. I peeled it and cooked it, but it was too woody to enjoy. Once the cabbages are harvested, I will plant carrots, parsnip, and turnip in this frame.
The pepper plants are all putting on flowers and starting to get some height to them now that the weather is warmer.
The zucchini in the pots and grow bags are placed throughout the garden area offering me a little more space to grow in.
I prepared some more soil for two more grow bags; I had rooted some purple sweet potato slips and it is warm enough for them to be planted out.
They don't look like much right now, but the vines will take over the garden before long. Last year I put one slip in that was given to me and got a lot of sweet potatoes from it.
The onions seem to be coming along in the two new beds. I harvested the Cilantro because I could see a couple flowers forming.
I will see if it sends up new shoots before the weather gets too warm for it to grow well. I pureed the Cilantro in a little water and put it into ice cube trays. Having frozen cubes to toss into a dish works out well for me.
In the small towers the Parsley and Italian greens were ready to harvest.
I did the same thing with the Parsley and froze that too. I will have fresh to use all summer long for different dishes. The frozen will work well in cooked dishes at a later date. The Italian greens got sauteed with onion and I will put them into an omelet for my husband; his mother made it like that for him, and he loved it.
The Radicchio in the large towers were large enough that I could harvest the outer leaves and sauteed them for dinner that night. This is the first time I have grown this vegetable, and I must admit that we both enjoyed the slight bitterness of the greens.
When the Radicchio forms a tight head, I plan on grilling them to try something new.
The only thing left in the greenhouse are the two #hydroponic floats with lettuce and Asian spinach. I've used the largest leaves so far and within a week or so I will be done with the floats until cooler weather in the fall.
The paste tomatoes are taking off; I am standing on the outside of the fencing to show you a different angle. The netting is 6' high to keep the deer out of the garden, and it keeps our dog Mika safely inside the yard.
This is the entire space that I have for growing vegetables for my family. It may be small compared to many gardens, but it gives us plenty of food throughout the growing season.
In the Northwest corner off the back porch, I have lettuce, nasturtiums, and a patio cherry tomato growing. The red lettuce has become one of my favorites and I will continue to grow this one yearly.
Lastly, the strawberry plants have a few berries on them in the large tower garden. I doubt I will get too many for the first year, but next year the plants should produce very well.
That is a wrap for this week's garden update concerning the veggies growth. I hope your gardens are doing well and look forward to seeing your progress.
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