Veggie Sprouts

We're trying some cantaloupe this year. It's one of the boys' favorite melons.

We've also planted some cucumber. I'm hoping we'll get a decent harvest and I'll be able to can up some Bread-n-Butter pickles.

And the beets were a success so we're doing them again. Like the cucumbers, I'm hoping for a good harvest so I do some pickled beets.

We've also planted lettuce, carrots, peas, beans, and corn. I'm really crossing my fingers that the corn doesn't get blown over by the crazy winds we've been having (wind killed our last crop of corn).

Fantastic Food Friday: Roasted Veggies

I had to clear out some stragglers from the garden so I could replant. What to do with the odd mix of veggies at various stages of ripeness? Roast those beauties up.

I quartered the larger veggies, halved the smaller ones, and left the tiny ones whole. Drizzle with some olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme, and roast in a 400 degree oven for 45-60 minutes till fork tender. Yum. These veggies ended up being a nice fresh dish for leftover night.

Click here for more great recipes.

O is for Orange Blossoms

Our dwarf orange tree has flowers!  I'm really hoping we get some fruit this year...and that the boys don't pick all the budding oranges before they can mature!

My Li'l Garden

This box is doing wonderfully, everything green and growing.

We lost the tomato plant during the freezing weather around Thanksgiving despite wrapping it.

The lettuce and onions are still doing well, so not a complete fail.

My Garden

Lettuce

Onions

Tomatoes

Beets

Spinach

Cauliflower & Broccoli

I have some doubts about the tomatoes maturing as it's starting to cool off here in the high desert. Though, if the tomatoes get a little bigger, I can always cook up some Fried Green Tomatoes -- Yum.

Tomatoes

Here's hoping the boys don't mess with them and they mature!

Let There Be Green!

Yay...the first sprouts of my fall garden are up!

Even the one tomato plant that didn't completely wilt and die in the sun has come back with some flowers. I hope a few of those flowers will actually manifest into fruit. Also planted Cauliflower (have a couple sprouts), Spinach (have one wee sprout), and two types of onion.

When the sprouts are a bit bigger I'll thin them out which is a ton easier than saying, "No, I can do it faster without your help," to Robbie during the planting process.

How does your garden grow?

We spent the first day of spring planting. Starting with this Dwarf Orange Tree (in a pot in case we have to bring it inside to protect it from freezing).

Garden box #1.

Starting with the back row: Rosemary and Corn

Second to back row: 2 Beans and Oregano

Middle row: 3 Pickling Cucumbers

Second to front row: Lemon Thyme, Onions, and Cabbage

Front row: Lettuce, Garlic, Elephant Garlic, and Tarragon

Garden box #2

Starting with the back row: Garlic Chives, Roma Tomatoes, and Basil

Second to back row: Carrots, Beefsteak Tomato, and Japanese Cucumber

Second to front row: Carrots and Beets

Front row: Spinach and Asparagus

A strawberry pot with strawberries (both June and Ever-barring) and an Artichoke in the top area.

Green Seedless Grapes. I know it doesn't look like much now but it's alive and well and should start blooming in a few weeks.

Concord Grapes.

My Aloe Vera plant made it through the winter and -- now that it's warm enough at night -- is back in it's spot on the patio.

I'm going to make a new label and call this "homesteading" thanks to my friend Maria Zannini who inspired me to start recording this stuff, LOL. My hope is to be able to can some pickles, make up some grape jelly, and freeze any other extras we might have after eating our fill of the fresh. Of course, some things like the asparagus and artichokes we won't see results till next year. Both the boxes are planted based the the Square Foot Gardening idea along with companion plants.

And we'll wrap this wonderful spring day up with a BBQ dinner! Life is good.