A Seed Saver's Garden

[heirloomgal]

First sesame plant bloom!

'Canada Red' has been such a reliable rhubarb for me. Still harvesting tender stalks. Crumble is on the way.

Taller bush on the right is 'Coco Rubico'. Been impressed by how quickly it grows, compared to the others.

All the cucumbers have really spread out. Nice to see flowers appearing, wee cucumbers won't be too far off!

Loving the pretty blooms of 'Schweizer Reisen'. Most of the peas this year have snow white blossoms, nice to have a splash of colour in the vegetable patch.

So happy to have reached the 'coverage' stage with this bean patch so weeding is much reduced. Once a canopy forms only the footpaths need hoeing. I really like bush sticks for semi runner beans, they are plentiful, give no slivers and add a rustic feel to things. Easy to burn end of season too.

'Blue Jade' corn is tasselling and probably appreciating the plentiful rain and warmth over the last while. Haven't grown a new corn in years, so curious to see how this one will turn out.

'Black Russian' fava beans!

'Red Sails' leaf lettuce. I'm an iceberg gal through and through, but with all the bean transplants, I didn't get lettuce transplants started. Heirloom icebergs are the cats' meow of all lettuces, and here, they last all summer long. 'Ice Queen' is a favourite and nothing at all like the icebergs used in the fast food industry.

Last year's seed crop of 'Tom Thumb' popcorn. Somehow I forgot to pack this away after drying this winter, and found them in their drying box in an upper closet. I like glass for corn seed storage, but will have to figure out some other way with these.

 

[baymule]

When I grow up, I aspire to be a gardener like you! Your garden is so clean! Not a weed in sight! So many different vegetables, so many different varieties. I am so impressed by your beautiful gardens.

 

[heirloomgal]

When I grow up, I aspire to be a gardener like you! Your garden is so clean! Not a weed in sight! So many different vegetables, so many different varieties. I am so impressed by your beautiful gardens.

I just angle the camera away from the weeds

 

[Zeedman]

I just angle the camera away from the weeds

... or they hide when they see you coming.

You have inspired me to try favas next year. I never tasted them except for canned (which were gross ), maybe I will like them fresh. I just hope they will tolerate my summer heat.

 

[flowerbug]

bury the sticks.

 

[heirloomgal]

... or they hide when they see you coming.

You have inspired me to try favas next year. I never tasted them except for canned (which were gross ), maybe I will like them fresh. I just hope they will tolerate my summer heat.

It's been a long time since I had canned fava beans, but a friend showed me there is a way to cook 'em up and have them taste delicious. After I learned, I used to cook them weekly. It involved lots of garlic, some slightly spicy peppers, olive oil, and cumin. It was eaten with torn pieces of French baguette, no silverware.

 

[Zeedman]

It's been a long time since I had canned fava beans, but a friend showed me there is a way to cook 'em up and have them taste delicious. After I learned, I used to cook them weekly. It involved lots of garlic, some slightly spicy peppers, olive oil, and cumin. It was eaten with torn pieces of French baguette, no silverware.

You had me at "lots of garlic". That sounds interesting, but I'd probably serve it with soup.

 

[Blue-Jay]

@heirloomgal,

You took all the time to cut those beautiful bush sticks. I think I would store them somewhere for use again in another season. Burning them would seem like such a sad waste.

You should put that Coco Rubico Photo on the LEBN thread and tell us what beans are growing next to it.

 

[flowerbug]

...
Last year's seed crop of 'Tom Thumb' popcorn. Somehow I forgot to pack this away after drying this winter, and found them in their drying box in an upper closet. I like glass for corn seed storage, but will have to figure out some other way with these.
View attachment 41913

you don't have raccoon problems there when you grow corn?

we've never even bothered to try to grow corn here because the raccoons will make such a mess of it. they shred the field corn when the farmers grow it next to us to the south. this year they're growing soybeans and the deer and groundhogs are out there quite often eating those too.

i love the color on the pea flowers, and that is another reason why i like to grow the different varieties.

the soup peas i normally grow are white flowering. others i have will get those multi-colored flowers and i really enjoy those.

my rhubarb didn't do very well this season with the early heat and drought and i didn't pick it this year. now it is being stung by the bugs and i'll let it go as long as it doesn't go dormant. the challenge here is getting it watered as it is far out back. if i get a chance today it will get some of a drink.

 

[heirloomgal]

you don't have raccoon problems there when you grow corn?

we've never even bothered to try to grow corn here because the raccoons will make such a mess of it. they shred the field corn when the farmers grow it next to us to the south. this year they're growing soybeans and the deer and groundhogs are out there quite often eating those too.

i love the color on the pea flowers, and that is another reason why i like to grow the different varieties.

the soup peas i normally grow are white flowering. others i have will get those multi-colored flowers and i really enjoy those.

my rhubarb didn't do very well this season with the early heat and drought and i didn't pick it this year. now it is being stung by the bugs and i'll let it go as long as it doesn't go dormant. the challenge here is getting it watered as it is far out back. if i get a chance today it will get some of a drink.

I have never had anything go after my corn @flowerbug. We do have raccoons around, we see them very occasionally, but the only thing they've ever bothered with was grapes. I grew a huge crop of sorghum a couple years ago though, and the mice were poppin' for that stuff when we left some outside on the ground.

My rhubarb was attacked by bugs early in the season too, due to heat stress I think. Stripping most of the leaves helped. It regrew in much better shape. The answer to nearly everything with rhubarb is more water!