First Harvest Meal from the Twenty-five Dollar Victory Garden

Once again, this is not a video but I just had to show you my first harvest of note where I actually had a complete meal from the bounty. Everything in the garden is coming on strong now. Even the nasturtiums are blooming on cue. What you see in this bowl is over four pounds of veggies, all harvested in one day. Not bad for a total expense so far of $14.55. And the best part; we’re just getting started.

A new video should be up within a couple of days. Thanks for checking in.
JL

 

Comments

[Daphne]

Congrats on the first haul. That is one nice looking harvest. We still haven't gotten any warm weather yet, so we are still on greens and peas. How did you use all those pretty little cukes?

[Joe Lamp'l]

Hi Daphne. I know how you feel about a slow start. I had the same concerns in May after weeks of non-stop rain. But ultimately, it all worked out. It usually does. And regarding how I'm using all those cukes; I gave a few to my elderly neighbor and the rest--sliced up with some balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Fantastic!!! They don't last very long before they disappear in my stomach!

[Theresa Loe/GardenFreshLiving]

YUM! Looks good!

[rose]

What a Lovely harvest! My earliest nasturtiums are just starting to bloom now, and I was nibbling on the leaves while in the garden yesterday. The flowers are such a lovely addition to a salad. Enjoy!

[Caroline]

Gorgeous harvest. I covet your yellow squash; sadly, none of our container-variety blossoms have pollinated. We've had lettuce and cucumbers though: soo good. Are those wax beans I spy at the 10:00 spot?

[Joe Lamp'l]

Hi Caroline. Thanks. Have you tried hand-pollinating your container varieties? And those beans at the 10:00 spot are called simply "yellow pole beans" according to the seed pack from Renee's Garden. But whatever they're called, they were delicious! They matured way ahead of the other beans. It looks like the next variety I'll have ready are the "purple pole beans" followed by green which are lagging way behind.

[TC]

Very nice! What would the purchase price be at your local grocer?

[Joe Lamp'l]

Great question TC. That harvest in the bowl weighed in at 5.6 lbs. Is two dollars a pound reasonable to pay at the grocery store if you average? If so, I would have paid over eleven dollars for just what you see in the picture. Oh, and the nasturtium would be extra!

[Jeph Remley]

Wow, check out those cukes! Way ahead of mine! I just picked four squash (two yellow, two green) and a blueberry yesterday. I'm hoping to have more blueberries just right for picking this afternoon...

I don't get the excitement with eating nasturtiums. Too darn peppery.

[Verab]

Joe, BEE-YOO-TI-FUL harvest there!! Please give a bit more information on this "hand pollinating". . .I've never heard of it. Does it work for any plant? How do you do it?

I'm just beginning to get some pickings from my garden, too. So far, we've had some green string beans (bush beans) and some blueberries. Looks like I'll have some purple pole beans and some cucumbers to pick in the next few days. All of my squash plants have big yellow flowers! Yayyy! I have some small green tomatoes . . .the deer just took out another one of my tomato plants. Seems they are now getting bolder and coming out in the daytime more (when my radio is off). So, yes, now I'm pushing my hubby and 2 sons outside to do their part in saving the family's garden. :-)

Vera B.

[Verab]

I just want to cry!! Hubby and sons have been "whizzing" around the perimeter of my garden AND I've been playing the radio at night. Still, Bambi ate SIX (6) of my purple pole bean plants overnight!!! I was literally 2 - 3 days away from being able to pick them!! I am leaving in the morning for the weekend . . .will make up the little "cup traps" and post around to try to save the plants that are left. I suppose this is what happens when you build a house out in the middle of no where. :-(

The good news is: I picked my 1st cucumber (for this season) this morning. It was wonderful! I just sliced it up and ate it raw . . .shared it with the kids. I hope to be able to pick more on Monday.

Have a great 4th of July weekend!!

Vera B.

[Joe Lamp'l]

Verab...OH NO!! Say it ain't so!!! Now you've got me wanting to cry. Just goes to show you though, anything short of an all out physical barrier is temporary at best. I fully expect to be reporting the same sad news any day. Every morning I hold my breath in hopes that my garden is still there.

I know it's not much consolation but you had to love biting into that first cucumber! Congratulations on that. Now, put those traps in place and let's hope for the best. Keep us posted! Thanks for reporting in.

[Jeph Remley]

A friend reported he puts clear fishing line (or similar string) around the garden around 3 1/2 - 4 feet high off the ground. The theory is the deer don't really see it, but they bump into it, and it makes them uneasy because they're not sure what they're touching - so they don't intrude in the garden. Might be worth a shot?

[Verab]

Jeph, thanks for the economical suggestion. I put up some plastic poles with the fishing line about 3 days ago. So far, Bambi has not crossed it. I'm crossing my fingers, eyes and toes that this barrier holds for a while. :-)