Strawberry Season and More... {May Garden Update}

in Natural Medicine3 years ago

May 2021 Garden Update.png

I never get tired of fresh strawberries. When they are in season of course. I am absolutely "spoiled" by seasonal produce. Eating seasonally--such a simple and ancient concept, but so many of us miss out on the pleasure of plucking a fruit straight from the vine and enjoying the explosion of flavor. We may still not be anywhere near self-sufficient to eat completely from our own soil, but as always, I'm forever grateful to live in a climate that provides year-round.

With that, it's time to share how our latest garden endeavors are going! As you can tell from my cover photo, we are indeed still in strawberry season. In our second year of fruit, we are definitely getting more berries and many are larger than the ones in my hand. However, after a few days of incessant rain I am in an all out war with the slugs and pill bugs to pluck these juicy morsels before them. I don't begrudge them their dinner, but come on guys, leave a gal a few. At least we were able to make it for a day of picking a few weeks ago to truly satisfy my voracious berry appetite...

IMG_20210420_104807350.jpg


Back to our garden, besides the berries we have our tender lettuce that made it through the storms. The downpour of rain on Monday and Tuesday had beaten it up pretty badly, but now that the sun is out it seems to be bouncing back nicely. We may have overcrowded the raised bed a bit, but being the first time we grew this variety we had no idea how much of it would make it to maturity. I am happily clipping some more days than not to put into lunches and dinners!

IMG_20210506_125741289_HDR.jpg

The other tub planters are also looking quite abundant in two different varieties of kohlrabi and a parsley plant that has become quite the monster. Though I suppose we'll let it go to seed to have some to save.

IMG_20210506_125656212_HDR.jpg

I'm quite pleased with how good the kohlrabi is looking. A few are starting to show the beginning of the bulb forming. One of my friends came over on Saturday to enjoy some porch sitting and was surprised to find out the base is above the ground and not below like beets and radishes. I had no idea what the plants looked like until we started growing them, either! The greens are edible, as well, so if they start going crazy I can trim some back and enjoy those in meals while we wait for the rest of the plant to mature.

IMG_20210506_125847628_HDR.jpg


The next item that may bear fruit is our zucchini! I think we should get some of both varieties we planted--patty pan and a more traditional type. Though we have been fighting the good fight against the pill bugs in this bed, as well. Luckily the plants sprouted up pretty quickly as it got warmer, so the bases seem to be sturdy enough to withstand some nibbling for now. I got some neem oil to try to deter them from munching away on the leaves, though we're not sure if it's doing much against that particular nemesis. 😂

IMG_20210506_125646538_HDR.jpg

We still have quite a few watermelon plants that are coming along, as well. There have still been some cool nights here and there, so I imagine once the heat really comes on these will start to explode. We'll let them climb up out of the box and trail through the backyard if need be to let them really thrive. If I have my way we'll have melons and squashes trailing all over the place!

IMG_20210506_125559313_HDR.jpg

Speaking of, more squash and melon seedlings are almost ready to be transplanted. The melons are more of a cantaloupe variety, and I believe the squash might just be pumpkins. We had to start more cucumbers after the tender seedlings got eaten up earlier in the season, and are trying out planting those in containers on the porch so they can use the existing trellis to grow. More beans are also started since the bugs enjoy those, too. Oh, and more eggplant seedlings are popping up! Lots in the seedling stage right now.

IMG_20210506_125445866_HDR.jpg

The tomatoes are also getting quite happy, so @dksart just started working on supports for those. Luckily my farmers with hoop houses have some that are much further along than ours because after drooling over @fionasfavourites' summer haul, I can't wait to bite into a fresh tomato! We'll see if the squirrels leave ours alone this year.

IMG_20210506_125619387_HDR.jpg


I think that about covers the high points. Some other dribs and drabs, and plenty of herbs, but I'll leave something for the next round as everything continues to explode. Plus, @riverflows said only 10 photos, and I don't want to get nettle-slapped for going over. 😉

Thanks for stopping by and taking a virtual stroll through the garden with me! Next time you might need some of my homemade insect repellent as the mosquitoes come out, but for now it's quite pleasant when it isn't raining...




Banners by @woman-onthe-wing and @dksart

Join The Best Natural Health Community on Hive

Sort:  

Very nice! :)
!LUV

 3 years ago  

Thanks dear! 😘

Posted using Dapplr

Your garden is amazing. Love the strawberries. Mine never had that much fruit on them back in Sark as my boys would eat them as they turned red. They were more of a daily snack haha.

Your veg looks fantastic too and are those blue tubs with the Kohlrabi a type of wicking bed? I'd love to know more about them.

It was a pleasure to see your gardening flourishing. 💚🤗🌸

 3 years ago  

Thank you @holisticmom! Sometimes I get frustrated with the setbacks (like the bugs eating all of our first batches of eggplant and cucumbers), but writing up a post like this makes me all the more grateful for the abundance that we do have! And the weather really has been tricky this year so far, so I don't think we are really that far behind given the conditions.

I think my boyfriend wants to get more of those tubs, so I'll have to get him to blog about it when he does. But I am pretty sure he filled them with branches and sticks at the bottom to allow for proper drainage, before adding soil and lots of compost at the top. The laundry jugs down below catch the drained water to reuse in the rest of the garden as needed. He is definitely a fan of using found items or figuring out his own way of doing things on the cheap!

I hear you! Cats being my setback right now oh and the cold lol.
Hopefully, this year will bring abundant produce. Fingers crossed.

Oh, that would be cool if he does a post on them. I did something similar with my spud tub. Lots of twigs and sticks in the bottom as a sort of tub hugulkulture thing. I like the idea of the jugs catching the drained water. That's a fabulous idea. your man sounds like a male version of me. if it can be sourced and repurposed, done cheaper then I am all for it!

Hugs xx

I don't think anyone can get enough of the strawberry, they are delicious.
Your garden is magnificent, what a joy to be able to eat a fruit from your harvest.

 3 years ago  

They really are a delicious fruit! Nothing beats a fresh berry. Well, anything straight from the plant, really!

Posted using Dapplr

Hi @plantstoplanks, you were just shared some LUV thanks to @dksart. Holding 10 LUV in your wallet enables you to give up to 3 LUV per day, for free. See the LUV in your wallet at https://hive-engine.com or learn about LUV at https://peakd.com/@luvshares https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmUptF5k64xBvsQ9B6MjZo1dc2JwvXTWjWJAnyMCtWZxqM

Oh, strawberries looks really great and tasty! Your garden is awesome, they are growing very well!

 3 years ago  

Thanks @sreypov! So excited for the season to really be getting into full swing!

Posted using Dapplr

What abundance! I have to say that we are blessed, too, with a climate that - if we plan and do properly...ahem - we have produce all year round. If we could always have tomatoes...

We also have bugs and and critters (some two-legged) to deal with which is more than annoying. I am scheming (in my head for the moment about how we The Husband could construct a tunnel or two.

I am hoping we shall have strawberries next season. I have planted them among the roses. Good companion plants.

It always amazes me how tje garden bounces back after rain and am looking forward to seeing how ours does after two days of rain. Seems to have stopped. For the moment.

You are so going to enjoy those 'matoes....🍅🍅🍅

Posted using Dapplr

 3 years ago  

That's where we still falter sometimes--the planning. Spring/summer we're pretty good on, but not always so great transitioning to other months. Though I have dreams of a hoop house some day...

I will be hawking the market for the first tomato sighting. I did see some zucchini and yellow summer squash that should be there tomorrow. 🤤

Posted using Dapplr

Is that tall one the parsley?? Holy cow!!! I've never seen one that big before! And here I was just going to grow some in little pots like I always do.

Do pill bugs eat squash? Bugger, I didn't know that. I know pill bugs are helpful for removing heavy metals from the soil, if it gives you any hope! I've seen them in the plant beds where the community garden is going to be before, so perhaps I need to edge my section with some diatomaceous earth - luckily I have some! :)

Also, aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhmigahds your strawberries look delicious. I'm not even a huge berry person, but just every once in a while, a nice juicy one, dusted with sugar ...mmmmm.

 3 years ago  

Yes! That parsley is entering kindergarten at this point. 😂 I guess it really likes that bed. That and despite loving herbs, sometimes they do get away from us and I forget to harvest enough to keep it in check, haha.

I'll take that as a plus about the pill bugs. We tried diatomaceous earth, too, but it keeps raining so it washes away. There are just sooo many! They at least seem to mostly stick close to the ground, so the new growth seems fine and fingers crossed they leave my actual zucchini alone once it starts growing.

I'm in strawberry heaven right now. The buckets were from a local farm where we go picking every year, but I am pretty happy with how our little backyard plot has progressed. We've done a little pruning on the plants, but otherwise just let them be so they're easy to keep up!

Posted using Dapplr

 3 years ago  

HAAAAHAHAH - well, no nettle slaps for you! It makes me laugh that everyone is freaked out over the ten image rule - I feel bad for setting it but there's only so much my scrolling hand can handle!

I can't believe how much your garden has grown. An abundance of strawberries already! Love the red brick wall of your house. Everything looks absolutely bursting to life - stoked for you!

 3 years ago  

Haha, no I totally get it. And it made me realize I get a little too happy sharing photos sometimes. I do need to get better about my formatting, too, and remember how to resize them for easier scrolling. 😂

It really has popped in just the last week or so. Always amazing how it seems like overnight everything just explodes. Now I go out every morning just to see what's changed. Truly is a balm to the soul. 💚

Posted using Dapplr

Stunning @plantstoplanks! Such healthy plants. Two things struck me....not what you would expect. A brick house and GRASS!! Here we have shale and have struggled to get a teeny patch of lawn going for the kids. Water is required in amounts we can't spare. Here in SA we mostly build with brick but my memory of living in the States was not of brick. I love your idea of using the concrete blocks for the tomatoes!

 3 years ago  

Haha, oh yes, grass seems a bit frivolous, but so common here in the US (at least our part of it). Though it is definitely nice for kids to play on! The boyfriend sure does dislike having to mow it. 😂

On the other hand, he would love more brick! The base of our house is brick, but then halfway up it switches siding. The brick holds up a lot better and needs less upkeep than the siding. Where did you live when you were here?

Grass is common here too...but definitely not in our area! Water is used to water animals and the food for both animals and people! I wouldn't call it frivolous. If we could I would definitely have a huge patch of it.

I was there a long time ago. Over 20 years ago. In MA, just outside of Georgetown. About an hour's drive from Boston. I love New England

 3 years ago  

Oh nice! I really enjoy visiting New England, as well. We went up to Boston then up into New Hampshire and Maine a few years ago. I have been wanting to get back ever since. So much beauty to explore up there.

I was thinking frivolous more in our "perfectly manicured lawns at all costs" mentality that is common here. 😂 One of our neighbors has a shady area that they tried sodding no less than three or four times before they finally gave up and planted some shade-loving plants.

Posted using Dapplr

So much beauty! My favourite time of year in the US was Fall. Those colours are special. I only went to New Hampshire a couple times. To ski. We don't get that much snow in SA - just on the mountaintops if at all. So skiing was an amazing experience

 3 years ago  

Fall--Swoon! We don't get much snow down here in Georgia either, so snow still always seems magical to me. Though I don't think I could live where it snows all winter, haha!

Beautiful garden, the photography is beautiful, its colors and nature are unique, extraordinary harvest, how rich that climate must be and that it also favors planting those strawberries


Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

 3 years ago  

Thank you @rubenmedina182! We truly are lucky with how many different species can grow here. It's always fun to try out different heirloom varieties from year to year to see what we can cultivate!

I imagine that in your climate you can grow peaches or grapes? it would be great.

 3 years ago  

Yes! Peaches are very common here. They'll be at the farmers market in just a few months. My sister has a tree in her yard. Muscadine grapes are very common here, as well.

Posted using Dapplr

Great, I think if I lived in a climate like that, I would plant non-stop to produce a lot of fruit.

The fruit is important for us everyone.we can sell in the Market and give us health for body.

 3 years ago  

Totally agree!

Posted using Dapplr

Your garden is certainly coming along nicely @plantstoplanks! We had to give up on some of our crops becaue of the pesky monkeys, we never got around to putting in any monkey proofing! I'm very interested to hear about your mosquito repellent as they worry us all the time, the downside to having a lush garden and being near a river! Enjoy your crop.

 3 years ago  

Those darn monkeys! 😂 We don't have any of those here, but the squirrels here get pretty darn bold.

It doesn't keep us from every nibble, but I make a spray with a witch hazel base with citronella, peppermint and tea tree oil as a repellent. Definitely one of the few downsides to the garden. The boyfriend has also talked about making some bat houses for a while now since they'll help keep the population down, but hasn't quite gotten around to it yet. 😜

Posted using Dapplr

Thank you for sharing this amazing post on HIVE!
  • Your content got selected by our fellow curator @priyanarc & you just received a little thank you via an upvote from our non-profit curation initiative!

  • You will be featured in one of our recurring curation compilations and on our pinterest boards! Both are aiming to offer you a stage to widen your audience within and outside of the DIY scene of hive.

Join the official DIYHub community on HIVE and show us more of your amazing work and feel free to connect with us and other DIYers via our discord server: https://discord.gg/mY5uCfQ !

If you want to support our goal to motivate other DIY/art/music/homesteading/... creators just delegate to us and earn 100% of your curation rewards!

Stay creative & hive on!
 3 years ago  

Thank you!

Posted using Dapplr

Congratulations @plantstoplanks! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

You made more than 14000 comments.
Your next target is to reach 15000 comments.

You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!

Oh my gosh! It's the time of year again! I am always amazed how soon your strawberies grow and so is everything else! We are still dealing with frost at night here!

 3 years ago  

That garden is looking mighty fine. I think you faired the storm pretty well. Those strawberries are looking really good, I would be as selfish as possible with those beauties.


@NaturalMedicine supports wellness of body, mind, soul and earth on HIVE.
Come say hi via Lotus Chat or drop by our Hive Community - we'd love to have you!


Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

 3 years ago  

I think we're over the hump now! It got pretty chilly again last night after more storms moved through, but today was so gorgeous I got sunburnt being outside before I even realized it. Oops! The first tomato blossoms are just popping up, along with the first zucchini so hopefully we'll really be cooking out of the garden soon!