The gardens are overflowing, and it’s not even the end of June yet! Already I’m up to my elbows in canning and freezing. When the plants were so tiny, it seemed like a good idea to plant a lot of them. There was so much space between them in the garden that I couldn’t imagine them filling it in. Even Chris commented that I hadn’t over-planted this year and there was actually space to walk between the rows. I was proud of myself for my restraint, but with two gardens to fill, I didn’t feel the need to shoe-horn stuff in like I’ve done in the past. This year would be different. A spacious garden, everything in it’s place, perfectly placed rows — I could picture it in my mind.
Then came lots of rain and hot sunny days, and the garden took on a life of its own. I think I must have bought my bean seeds from Jack, and the cucumbers too. The vines are reaching for the sky. I keep piling them onto up-side down tomato cages to give them something to climb on and still they grow. I’m thinking in investing in a bunch of extension ladders to line the garden rows so everything can just keep growing and growing and growing.
I thought a variety of squash would be fun this year — butternut, acorn, spaghetti, etc. Again I exercised such restraint. I only planted about four plants of each. They were barely a few leaves tall, with lots of space between each plant. Now, the garden is so overgrown with vines that it will take a machete to fight my way through to harvest them. What was I thinking?
Already there are cherry tomatoes, peas, beans, beets, zucchini, cucumbers, broccolini, scallions and spinach. Even if we were vegetarians, we wouldn’t be able to keep us with what is coming in — and so every other night or so, you’ll find me in the kitchen freezing and canning… canning and freezing. There’s nothing better than seeing the freezer fill up, or hearing the mason jar lids ping when they seal. And maybe this winter I’ll be glad I apparently over-planted the garden, but for right now… I’m not so sure.
No Rhyme or Reason Farm 
You have quite the garden, congratulations on your success. A friend of mine could not believe how his garden has taken off too. The weather seems to have been kind in this area. Not sure much in the PNW.
LikeLike
Thanks! It’s out of control!
LikeLike
Its that farm fresh horse manure! Looks good ! Save me a red beet!
LikeLike
Well — not “fresh” horse manure — “aged” horse manure — well composted and tilled in. But it sure grows some big beets!
LikeLike
Well, you have never been one to do things in half-way measures. You and Arianna might have to open a roadside stand just to get rid of the excess.
LikeLike
If a roadside stand could fund my retirement, I’d do it! But these probably aren’t much of a cash crop — just enough to keep me busy and keep the freezer full.
LikeLike
WOW! Incredible! I don’t have any tomatoes on the plant you gave me yet, but I do have flowers. You should have a little farm stand out front with an honor system for paying (and a camera wouldn’t hurt either) but then also you could give a lot of stuff to your relatives, LOL !
LikeLike
Time to get a few cows so you can have a real meal of protein and veggies.
LikeLike
I can’t convince him to get a dog — so a few cows is probably a stretch. Our eggs are protein, and chickens are a bit more manageable that a couple of cows — but a steak would be so much more appealing!
LikeLike
Am besten wird es sein, wenn ihr ein Gemüsestand an der Strasse eröffnet. Schönes, frisches Gemüse in Hülle und Fülle, das macht doch Spass!
LikeLike
My lone squash plant is slowly blooming! Look at that harvest! Wonderful! It looks so great!
LikeLike
I think we will be over-run with squash this year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your garden! I’ve failed at the peas twice now so good job. I’m so jealous. We can everything under the sun too 🙂 I think its an addiction.
LikeLike
It’s definitely an addiction!
LikeLike