The Garden is put to bed for the forever winter

As gardeners, we intuitively know there is a time for renewal.  There is definite life cycle, sprout, seedling, production, decline, then finally off to the compost heap. 

Almost two years ago, I started with two blogs,  A Midwest Garden, and I Hope You Are Hungry. I have enjoyed every minute of every post, but at times found myself off track and off topic.

Later, I started a Facebook page under The Gastronomic Gardener name and the growth there has been gratifying albeit sporadic.

As my interests and focus has changed, I feel I have outgrown these platforms, so I am putting A Midwest Garden  and  I Hope You Are Hungry  to bed.

Blogger has served me well, I’ve entered the world of blogging and made some new friends; but the season is now at an end.  It is time for me to bid farewell to Blogger. I look back and can see how far I've come in terms of quality content and photographs. It is a fine platform as thousands of fellow bloggers can attest.  It is just time for me to move on.

But this is not goodbye – but rather, as I said above, a renewal!

I am happy to announce I am re-launching GastronomicGardener.com! 

As new plants in spring are nourished by last years composted growth, it will have content from both A Midwest Garden, and  I Hope You Are Hungry. Several series are in the works designed to help and encourage folks learn to garden as well as try out different techniques.  There are plans for tools to help in garden planning, planting schedules, and more!

I look forward to sharing what I have learned, to continue learning from my readers and begin fresh with new focus and fervor!

Please join me over at GastronomicGardener.com!  Take a look around and let me know what you think!

I’ll see you there.

David P. Offutt

The Gastronomic Gardener

Big Changes - Before and After x 3

Last post I made some comments about changes coming to the garden. I was needing a day off work to, you know, work.

The last two days have been glorious weather  - cool and breezy which is perfect for some hard labor.

I gave myself some forced deadlines. For example I called the mulch yard and asked for 3 cubic yards of garden mix - (50% soil - 40% mushroom compost - 10% sand) to be delivered to as early as possible Friday morning and dumped at the end of the drive. Knowing the Student would be home by 6:00, pushed me to get this done. Halfway up the drive, you can see some of the material I had already removed from the bed.

The plan was to remove two perennial beds and prep them for conversion to boxed raised beds. I want to preserve as much as possible in terms of plant materials by repurposing them in the front yard, which, as a friend told me "...is pretty sad for someone who thinks they are a gardener."

Ouch, but the truth hurts. 

I've always enjoyed the aspect that the garden is in the back and not visible from the street, my very own "Bijou Caché." It is a surprise to pull up to the very unassuming house, walk down the driveway, and turn to see a vigorous garden. But, as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. If I was going to save those plants they'd have to move. And I might as well tart up the front of the house a bit.

I spent the morning ripping out the East bed, here is the before and after.

Then I moved the soil out of the driveway. It may not look like much, but three cubic yards takes some time.  I did in fact finish before she came home from work. I'll show you what we came up with at the end of the post. I was exhausted by the end of the day - 12 hours of removing plants and shoveling soil will do that to you. I'm afraid I wasn't good company at the German restaurant for Oktoberfest. Oh, the beer and Jager Schnitzel were delicious, but by the time I was finished I was almost falling asleep. A few aspirin before bed and hopefully I would not be too sore the next day to continue.

Surprisingly I felt pretty good! Up at 6:00, took dear daughter #2 for some driving practice, a stop at the local greenhouse (their perennials were all on sale for only $2 each!) and I finally could procrastinate no longer. While clearing out the west bed, I did feel bad as there were some plants I couldn't save. Oh well, if you want to make an omelet.. you gotta break some eggs.

All I need now is to build the boxes and fill them, shred all the material I pulled out of the garden. Won't happen today as it is raining a lovely soft gentle rain, perfect for the new plants in front.

This still needs mulch, and is a little tatty but will be better after wintering over, I'd say it is big improvement. Whew! I need a nap.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Update on the garden. - Plans for expansion

It's almost mid September and I'm already looking ahead to next year. This year I had 2 @ 4'x7' and 2@ 2'x8' Squarefoot garden beds, 3 Growboxes and a few buckets that my wife AKA "The Student" grew.

After visiting a few other gardens,  and getting a year of SFG under my belt I'm already planning to expand. It will require some good old fashioned hard labor, as I'll be moving some perennials to the front and side yards and converting more of the back to boxed raised beds.

Here is a birds eye view of the whole back:

It isn't very big and my garage to the left is to the east so that back doesn't get sun until late. At this point I'll leave it well enough alone.

So let's see what will be expanded. On the right side, I'll move some iris, coreopsis, lilies, knock out roses, echinacea and russian sage. The clematis I'll leave, and the trumpet vine I'll start what I suspect will be a multi year effort to eradicate. Seven or eight years in and no blossoms. Forget it.

I have not decided how to divide that space up but I suspect a narrow bed against the fence, a walk way and then another bed.

To the left,

Again things to move, creeping phlox, iris, sedums,  salvia. I will also be severely pruning back the roses. They may not bloom next year though I doubt I'll kill them. The root structures must be vigorous after all these years.  I also think I can probably squeeze in another bed or two where the bench and bird bath are now.

So what do you you think? Sound like a plan? are you expanding/making changes? I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Harvest between the storms

We've got a series of showers and thunderstorms rolling through but I managed to get out and get 13lbs or so more of produce yesterday morning.

The plum tomatoes to the left are from the Growboxes. They are still neck and neck with the Squarefoot gardening technique (17 and 18 lbs respectively) except...

...there are only two plants in the grow box, versus 3 in the Squarefoot garden! So the Growbox appears to be 1/3 more productive. It's looking like next year more of the Growboxes will be devoted to tomatoes in order to maximize yield.

In other news, there at least a couple butternut squashes that are growing. I hope there is enough time for them.

I also spotted a tiny acorn squash and an even smaller watermelon. I don't think the melon will make it before frost but we'll see.

A globe eggplant is growing nicely. In my limited experience, eggplant do very well at the end of the season.

I am already planning to expand for next year, but that will require the relocation of some of the perennials to the front or donating them to friends.

Now I'm off to do some tidying up. There are parts that are completely out of control heat and rain aren't just good for the vegetables. But that is a different post.

I leave you with an "art shot."

Future pickle

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Garden Update

It's been a busy couple days in the garden. The heat has finally broken and I can get outside without melting. What's Happening?

One Growbox is done, the zucchini and cucumbers succumbed to powdery mildew, there were no blossoms active so out they came.

In the Squarefoot bed, the squash is turning into "Frankensquash." The normal stem has  turned more ribbon like and there is a large cluster of tiny squashes. Have yours done this?

I cleaned out some "squares" and added more soil mix (1/3 each by volume, peat, vermiculite and manure). I got a nice little surprise when cleaning out one of the squares that I had grown green onions. These little treasure were hiding under the soil.

I put in carrots, beets, radish, lettuce, bush beans,kale and bok choi. Hopefully we'll get something from them. Here's a couple squares.

We've been getting good harvests and the cucumbers in particular keep on coming. Almost to 50 lbs from three plants. Well, two plants now. I know  it's normal, but I still am thrilled to pick a few pounds one night, go out the next and get another three plus pounds. It makes me happy.

Picked some peppers yesterday. I'm a little paranoid to let them go all the way on the vine. Seem like when I do, some critter gets to them or they rot or in some way become unusable. Not happening this year. I'll pick a little early and be sure to have something to eat.

These peppers are big. In my hand for scale.

I also picked a couple of the giant marconis. The big one is 8" long.

Are you planting fall crops? When are your frost dates?

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Tuesday Harvest 15 lbs of goodness

I suppose it is the IT  manager in me that wants to measure, to compare, to categorize. Maybe some day I  will be able to be a bit more mellow about it and roll smoothly with good and bad instead of hyper-analyzing what is happening. But as it is only the second year, I think it'll have to wait.

Tonight was a good harvest. The tomatoes are coming in fast. Sadly the Dark Prince seem prone to splitting, while the Celebrity are not so much. There has been some BER in the Romas but it has not been terrible. The romas are clearly determinate, they are coming all at once. Sauce or salsa is in the immediate future.

By the way tonight had 5# 11.4 oz of tomatoes from the SFG, and 5#6oz from the Growboxes. They continue neck and neck.

Anyway, here is the bounty.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Growing method Comparison - Early August

When we last looked at the different growing techniques, there was not a big difference between between the Growboxes and the Squarefoot gardening methods.

As of this weekend, there is also not a huge difference in production, but there is a surprise.

The Growboxes are still lush but the cucumbers seem to be slowing down and yellowing.

Growboxes do require daily filling of the water reservoir in hot weather. The tomatoes are doing pretty well but I'm finding there is some BER which is a little surprising considering there are nutrients in the covers.  One thing I have learned is next year I will have to stake them up. The jalapenos are loaded and flopping over as well.

The square foot garden is going like crazy!

The cucumbers show no sign of slowing down.

I have no pictures of the veggie plot but it is a neglected mess. But it's not all about looks. It's about production.

So far to compare the tomato production:

Squarefoot garden:   8.28 lbs
Growbox                   6.90 lbs
Veggie plot                8.81 lbs

Grow box could catch up with two tomatoes, they are big. The veggie plot, I'm harvesting them green as any that start to ripen rot, or are pillaged by some critters.

So the verdict is still out.

In other news, the Brussels sprouts are sprouting.

I removed the last of the carrots, radishes, and beets. I'll be putting in some fall crops this weekend.

How does your garden grow?

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt






http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Sunday Harvest(s)

I made a trip over to the veggie plot. It is terribly over grown and the only thing surviving are the peppers and tomatoes. Not sure what happened to the vines (zucchini, cucumber) but they are shot. The tomatoes, though over grown, are prolific. Sadly any ripe tomatoes were chewed and/or rotted. I picked almost 7 lbs of green tomatoes! We'll see if they ripen on the shelf.

When I got home it was finally cool enough (83F) to water. While watering I saw plenty to pick. So I did.

Here is today's haul. It's more than 13 lbs of produce. I'm pretty happy with that!

Meatless Monday should be a snap!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Chilies and first tomatoes

It was happy to have a cool breeze tonight after dinners as I  poked around the garden. What a break from recent days. Let's take a look at the peppers (or chilies if you prefer).

Cherry pepper

Early Bell - these are huge

Hot banana

Hot Red

Jalapeno

Any finally, the first couple pounds of tomatoes. Celebrity and Black Prince. The ones on the left asre from the grow boxes, one the right Squarefoot method. I'll be tracking production throughthe harvest.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt

http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Weekend Harvest

The day I returned from Tennessee I picked over 9lbs of cucumbers. More pickles or at least relish seems in order.

Today's haul included:

Three types of beets:  Chioggia, Cylindria, Detroit Red

Seems like a nice garden saute is in order.

Now if we can get some tomatoes to start ripening.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Tennessee Waltz

This is off topic so if you come back for the next one, I understand.

We made a quick trip to Bumpus Mills, Tennessee this week, 8 hours down, 35 hours there, and 8 hours back.  Ah, the things we do for love and family. 

While down there, I got  a chance to sit a spell on the rocking chair and let the breeze cool me down from the blast furnace that is the Midwest US these days.

Up in the Tennessee hills, away from the highways, you can hear the trees, the insects and the birds. And if you sit quietly, you may even see something you've never seen before.

Now I've seen Goldfinches, but these were fluttering so close, you could hear their wing beats.

Then they were joined, first by a Tufted Titmouse....

and then by a house finch.

And I've seen deer, though not this close.

But what I have never personally seen is an Indigo bunting. The first hints were blue smudges flitting about the first evening we were there. Early the next morning I managed to capture a few images. A little bigger  than the goldfinch, this brilliant blue bird was a thrill for me to see.

Off topic but I hope you enjoyed it.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener

Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Picture tour of Guido's Garden

A friend called this morning and told me of a garden tour being given by a garden club a few towns over. He said "You gotta see Guido's garden, it's fantastic!" I looked it up online and indeed, listed with having over 100 tomato plants I had to check it out. It's too hot to work outside, so I grabbed the camera, left The Student to her books and drove over.

The first thing you see as you approach the house is a grape arbor that spans the driveway (parking pad) between two houses.

I introduced myself, and Guido, a diminutive older Italian gentleman greeted me warmly. He said he's been gardening here since 1976, and all his work unfolded before my envious eyes.

The vines are huge, and they're loaded with grapes. Guido said he eats them out of hand, and gives many away - there are too many to eat by himself. He said he's made wine twice but wasn't happy with the result. So now he just eats them.

Walking up the drive one comes upon the fig trees and some enormous eggplants. Apparently the eggplants are from Australian seed.

As you step through the gate your gaze is drawn to a rustic greenhouse, made of recycled storm windows and railroad ties. Guido said he doesn't start plants out there, he uses his porch  for that but moves the seedlings out to harden off before transplanting.

Notice two things, one - the grass is incredibly lush. He must use a lot of water, and two - that bare stick was a fruit tree that was damaged in a recent storm, he won't pull it up until fall and after the arugula that is planted at the base is harvested.

Speaking of trees - he has all fruit trees. I overheard him tell a guest "Why would I plant any other tree than  than a fruit tree, I can't eat the leaves!" Looking towards the back of his lawn the fruit trees are many and all in fruit. He has pears, apples, Asian pears, quince and peach.

As if what I had seen was not enough, I realized that this was only the start. After all - he was advertised as having more than 100 tomato plants. "One hundred and one!", he declared with a twinkle in his eye.

Walking toward the rear of the property, a large trellis upon which grows a great wall of beans comes into focus.

I walked to the far end, through the gate and into the back garden; and oh what a garden!

Stretching out before me were the biggest onions I've ever seen in the ground, lush celery, eggplants and cabbages to the rear, a half turn to the left,

was the most orderly plot of tomatoes one can imagine. Pruned and staked, they stood tall and healthy in the hot sun.

The onions are far bigger than my fist.

Celery  growing strong.

I don't know what kind of basil this is, but some of the leaves are bigger than my hand.

 And the kohlrabi looks like  a spaceship.

I walked around a little bit more, listened to the charming Guido patiently answer tourists questions, then thanked him for his time and efforts.

I walked to my car, a little stunned by what I had just seen, appreciative of what 35 years of development can accomplish, and all the  more determined to continue developing my little garden.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener