Giving you an update of all the happenings in my garden this month.
I planted some peas a few weeks ago hoping for a fall harvest. Crossing my fingers it doesn’t get too cold or freeze too early this fall. I dream of freezing my own fresh peas to use on Thanksgiving day.
Here’s what the garden is looking like. I found out I am really great at growing Marigolds…they have taken over my garden. Next year I will plant them all around the outside of the garden instead so it doesn’t take up as much room.
I am harvesting green beans, tomatoes and zucchini right now, but not a whole lot else.
I am getting some green peppers growing again…hoping they grow big!
As for my Growing Potatoes in a Garbage can…there hasn’t been too much change. Although I did dig in there a bit..and found a big beautiful red potato growing! Super excited. I just am supposed to wait until all the green plants on top have died and fallen over the edges. Then it’s harvest time. I can’t wait for that day.
The only other thing I can think to share with you is that I started my first compost pile. Trying hard to keep it moist and turned..but the dog and chickens keep getting in it. I might have to make a bin instead to hold it all inside.
Yes, I know it looks pretty pathetic right now. It started out as a 3 foot by 3 foot nice looking pile. Sigh.
What I love most about gardening is how much I learn from year to year. It amazes me how much I grow from working in the garden. I am excited for next years garden already, dreaming and scheming about what I want to plant. I want to plant some corn for the first time. Popcorn would be cool to grow. Have any of you grown corn for popping? Any advice?
What are you harvesting in your garden right now (if you have one?)
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Karen says
You know, a lazier way of doing a compost pile that might (??) not be attractive to your dog & chickens is to dig a hole in the ground, and add your goodies, then cover it with the soil you dug out.
Is that what you’re already doing? I can’t quite tell.
It still needs the moisture, and dried vegetation mixed in, and being turned every once in awhile. Every time you need to add your food to it, just dig a little hole, put it in, and cover it up again. Then, when you have lots of dried vegetation (like fallen leaves in the autumn), add some in while turning, and put a thick layer on top to hold the moisture & be less appealing to animals.
With raccoons around every night, I was surprised that they never went digging in my compost hole.
Oh. What makes it faster is using red worms. I forget the proper name for them, but people use them for faster composting.
Good luck, and much fun!
Julianne Wyatt says
I am new here and I’m already enjoying your site. Dill (herb) also works well in the garden to keep bugs out too. I live in FL where mosquitoes are pests. We keep Basil (herb) planted around the gardens to keep them away naturally. I’ve planted in my spare time Okra at all sizes, pineapple, tomatoes, and green bell peppers. I would love to learn how to grow potatoes in a garbage can. Did you drill those holes in it? Great site!!!!
Karrie says
Hi Julianne, thanks so much! I was thinking about trying some dill next year, didn’t realize it was great to keep bugs out too. About the garbage can – yep, we just used our power drill and drilled some holes. Can’t wait to harvest them all and see how many lbs I got out of it.
Sarah says
You are living my dream. My hubby and I are trying to save up and buy our house and we have always said that we want enough land for a plot of potatoes, a green house and a chicken coop. His sister and her husband have enough land to keep 10 cows all year round, they are used for meat tho not dairy.
They garden, but the vegetable scraps and such don’t go to a compost bin, they go to the chicken. From the preparing of the meals during the day, any vegetable scraps get put in a bin and one of the kids brings it out to the chickens after supper. When corn is cut off the cobs for the youngest kids, the chickens get that which is a huge treat, carrot peels, seeds and the insides from winter quash, apple cores, pears, some bread crusts that the kids don’t eat. And other things. I can’t wait until I can have my own coop. Right now I just knit dishcloths and such and tuck it away for my future house.
Karrie says
We will get there Sarah…we just gotta keep on dreaming!
Sarah says
I’ve been dreaming, been looking into where we would buy chickens in my province (it’s a little far away) also looking how to start a garden in the winter, and actually garden in the winter. It’s really neat reading about people going out to their garden through the snow and get fresh lettuce for salads.
Right now, it is still a dream, but every day the dream seems to get closer, and I have to believe that we’ll get it.
Karrie says
I have family in Canada as well and it does get cold there and there are some limits as to what they can and can’t grow. Peas, corn, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes can all be grown there. You just have to use some plastic over things when it freezes and stuff I heard. Good luck! Chickens are so great.
Amber says
You are me! I just discovered your blog and you are totally me but you blog more often. I’ve been planning on getting chickens for my little lot in the city too. Next year eggplants. I’m not sure what zone you are in but my garden is just like yours and eggplants are growing great right now.
Kim- Marigolds are great for keeping bugs out of your garden.
Karrie- I’ve been using a spray bottle of cayenne and garlic and water to spray my plants with to keep bugs out. Good luck!
Karrie says
Hi Amber, I would love your exact bug repellant recipe please!! I did have some bugs and didn’t spray anything. Let me know…
Yoko says
Im so glad to hear that your potatos are doing well!! Mines were failed but id love to try to grow them in your way next year!!! Cant wait! I grew 10 corns couple years ago and it was a huge successe! kids loved them and ate the uncooked one right from the garden!:-D i love your chickens and their coop!! I wish i could have the wonderful little farm too!!! And congratulations on your first egg!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!:-)
Karrie says
Thanks Yoko!
Barb McKinley says
I always enjoy receiving your daily blog, you give me such inspiration and make things fun, sometimes I wish I could just reach thru and give you a big hug! Love your gardening and chickens too, thanks for all you do!
Karrie says
Awwweee, you are so sweet!!!!Thanks Barb.
Kim Fangman says
Hi there ~
What is the purpose of the Marigolds? Also, thanks for your amazing website! I love reading it and all of the good ideas!
Karrie says
They are to keep out bugs! Thanks so much Kim, so glad you like my site.
Rocquelle Gunter says
I don’t know how true it is, but recently I asked someone at a nursery about marigolds’ keeping away mosquitoes and such and was told that was a myth! Either way, they’re pretty, right?! 😉
Jen says
Just because that person works in a nursery does not mean he/she is knowledgeable about all insects. That’s actually not a myth. Mosquitoes do not like marigolds.