I like growing my own vegetables and plants and find it relaxing and enjoyable all the way through: Planning, preparing, planting and the last 'P', the produce. I've had failures, done things wrong, or maybe I should say in a sub-optimal way, but generally what I've planted and cared for has thrived. It's a hobby, one of my many, and one of the better ones as I get to eat the results that come from it.
Over the last few weeks I've been eating cucumbers I've grown myself, egg plant, capsicums and cherry tomatoes as well and were they tasty? You bet your ass they were tasty!
Unfortunately I don't have as much time as I would like to spend in my garden, I'm busy with work and other things and have been absent from it for a little while so yesterday I put some time aside to check on it, pull some weeds, clip some plants here and there to promote more growth and produce and generally have a look at how things are going; the images in this post were taken during that time and as you can see it's all looking pretty good.
This year I'm looking forward to a nice harvest of almonds; I did reasonably well with them last year but they weren't as plentiful as I would have liked so it's encouraging to see a pretty decent crop this year and the husks are beginning to dry out and split which means they're not too far off. I'll have more lemons than I know what to do with and a decent haul of oranges coming along too. The apples are lagging a little, but I'll get enough to make a couple apple pies and it'll taste that much better knowing I grew the apples! As for my tomatoes, (Roma this year), there's many of them and they're looking good...they'll ripen up soon and I can't wait!
With gardening a person tends to get out of it whey they put into it whether growing fruit and vegetables, flowers, the perfect lawn...any plants really. It takes continual effort and care which sometimes pushes the boundaries of my available time but I always find the time because the reward of being out there doing it, and the produce itself, is so high.
Feel free to tell me about your own gardening efforts, or even failures if you like; I'm interested to hear what's worked and has not and what you feel the rewards of your gardening efforts are; the produce of process?
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
Me... Gardening
I own a tree 🎄🌴 Farm...
But yes, your veggies do L👀k tasty 😉👍
Gardening with a chainsaw...the only way to do it bro!
Harvesting slippery elm bark, right? LOL!
Slippery when wet.😉
Actually we are cleaning up from Hurricane Idalia & a logging crew thinning harvest. Double whammy!! I will be cleaning up for the next two years with my crazy trucker lack of home time. Stop by I have several chainsaws. 😆🤣😂
Love the picture! I only have 5 plus a pole saw, so you're ahead on points, ROFLOL.
I just posted about removing a 16" diameter limb off of my Son's roof, might be the same storm....
And I have a 30" oak tree on the homestead that I had to cut down because it died, that I still need to cut up. You should come play, LOL.
Actually, if you come by, we'll go fishing and forget the trees!
👍💙🙏📖🙏💗🤔🤠😋🎉🥳🎉👌
Here we are sliding into winter. Nights are in the 20 somethings or low 30 somethings, but the days still get up in the 50s for a while longer....so not the worst yet.
Yuck !
But seeing your sunny spring produce makes me happy. I haven't done as much gardening the last few years, so much harder to keep tended than it used to be. I kind of miss it though and every year I think about how nice it would be to have bunch raised garden beds all over that might be easier to tend.
It's true that everything always seems to taste better when you grow it yourself.
Is there a chance for some raised beds? I guess even some pots would be good to grow some things, I actually do that for some of my tomatoes to increase how many I can have. I know you're coming into some cold weather...but that's perfect for planning what you'll do come spring.
Probably not on the raised beds, but that's ok I guess.
no... no.... cold weather is not perfect for anything !...LOL....
Good for snuggling.
ha ha.... it could be if you have someone to snuggle with !
I envy you your citrus, we get too cold for conventional plants here. I may try some, when the green house are done. We're also moving into winter, so the garden looks inviting!
The cucumbers will make great fermented pickles. It's a skill I'm working on.
I have found dehydrating cherry tomatoes cut in half, is a good way to preserve them. You can put about 8 pounds (4 kg) in a quart jar that way, and keep their nutrients intact.
These are also vacuum packed, I don't want to risk wasting them!
This is a before:
They taste like sun dried tomatoes. I soak them to rehydrate them, and put them on pizza!
Love your garden!
👍💙🐾🐶🐾💗🤔😁🤠🙏😋
I've done a little preserving, not much at all though I guess and it's something I want to get into some more. I generally trade my excess stuff with friends, milk, eggs, other vegetables and fruits, and I also give them away. We have a fairly healthy trade scene here though and it works well.
Preserving is important for SHTF use. I'm pressure canning, dehydrating, vacuum packing, fermenting, and pre-freezing dry goods.
I'm also thinking about building a freeze drying unit, because they are too expensive; and not that difficult to build.
I have mylar bag storage, but I haven't used any yet...time is the limiting factor!
I'm so glad you have a community there to rely on. I'm building one with my family based on Keystone Lake for transportation. We own four homesteads on the lake, and will communicate by ham radio.
👍💙🙏📖🙏💗🤔🤠😋
That looks amazing. I hope one day I'll be able to have a garden like that. Right now I'm trying to grow some tomatoes on my balcony but it hasn't been going too well haha.
I'm not sure of your balcony situations but if there's not enough sunlight that'll be your problem. I've grown tomatoes successfully in pots so that's not an issue if the potting soil is good enough, but without sunlight tomatoes are generally doomed. Balconies; great for Romeo and Juliet, not so great for tomatoes. 😜
Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it.
Haha ok, that's good to know. I do get some sunlight but I guess it might not be enough for them to grow properly. I'll have to wait for when I have a proper backyard.
You could try some grow lights, but that's getting quite complicated. It might be best to find a good farmers market and get your tomatoes from there until you have a place of your own to grow in.
Yes I think that would be difficult. I already have limited space out on the balcony sadly. The farmers market will have to do for now.
You really took it to the extreme though! You've got a wide variety there!
They likely differ in size from what one gets at shops and stuff or are they more or less the same size? I've heard somewhere that if you plant seeds and take the seeds from those you planted and do it three or four times over... you know planting the seeds from the produce you harvest. They say then the seeds eventually fallback to what it was before it was genetically modified.
Although I can't confirm this, I only started dabbling with plants about two months ago 🤣🫠
I usually have more but have been so busy at work I've not had the time to prepare the beds; that'll be happening soon though and I'll have some more stuff in quick smart.
My produce is generally as large and good looking as the supermarket varieties although I look for heirloom seeds, that is, old-school non-GM seeds so the produce actually has taste and that means there can be some visual impairment; fresh produce doesn't always look perfect. I also keep seeds and use them in the following year. I have a place I get small seedlings also, grown from heirloom seeds, which means I can expedite the growing process.
Good luck with your journey, it can be addictive but is very enjoyable.
Wow, you have a different assortment of produce there. How do you deal with pests? I frequently find snails and other insects eating my plants. I have sour fruits like lime, guava, and mangoes that I sometimes harvest. I've tried planting vegetables like bokchoy, lettuce, and cabbages, but it has been difficult to balance the heat and water, as well as protecting them against pests.
I've not got as much in for this planting, I just didn't have the time but soon I'll have some more in, lettuce for instance and be eating it all summer, it grows quickly here. It's all going well though, and I'm really looking forward to my tomatoes.
With the pests, it's mainly slugs. I put a small container into the ground and fill it with beer. They go it and don't get out. Deals with them pretty effectively.
Beer, eh. I'll try that out and see if it works for me as well. Thanks.
Tomatoes are awesome. They are a good side dish, or you can make tomato juice.
Use a fairly shallow container, quite wide in diameter though. Sink it into the soil so that the top edge is slightly above the dirt. They creep in, get drunk and that's all she wrote, no more slug.
Imagining that was funny; drunk slugs. Thanks for the tip, will try it out.
The song now sings... "What do you do with a drunken snailer..."
sailorHaha! Yep, them snails get on the turps anytime they can. I don't mind as long as the fuckers leave my vegetables alone.
There is alwsys a bliss to eat self grown fruit anb veghies....they looks so fresh, and chemical less. There is no match for my Guava and Mangoes .....yesterday, I too went on to discover a heavy gourd in my backyard. It is 15-18 kg approx.
Are you serious? That'd be enough to feed the whole village, what are you feeding that plant?! 😁
Haha that is treu, enough for a village...it grows on soil and cow dungs..(village style)*.....it grown too much now so we are keeping it for seeding for next year.....
Seeding next year...good plan as I guess it might not taste so good now it's so big?
That's true....The quality was good as we rest of it. So keeping them for next year is not a harm.
This is one of my goals when we have our own home. My mom has a small garden as well and now that she has retired from her job after 40 years, she can finally focus on taking care of the garden. We were able to use some green onions, okras, eggplants, and malabar spinach.
For me, gardening requires patience and dedication. Taking care of plants without really knowing if they'll thrive or not can be challenging. But when you do see the produce, it feels rewarding and positively overwhelming.
Patience and dedication, yes for sure they're two things one requires for gardening; passion too.
I wonder what you'll hope to grow when you finally get your garden.
I want to grow eggplants and carrots as they are my favorite. I hope to grow onions and garlic as well though I don't know if the latter would grow here. My husband came from a family of farmers and I also hope my husband helps me learn to grow vegetables. I wish I could grow almonds, too but I don't think almonds can grow here in Cebu, Philippines.
Well, that's a good assortment of vegetables and I wish you all the luck in the world with it; I'm sure you'll do great.
Your harvest is looking all fresh and succulent. Jeez!!😅
I have a very tiny little garden in my compound. Usually there's pumpkins, water leaves, scent leaves, pepper. They always do well during the rainy season but it's very dry here now due to the harmattan and productivity is reduced although I water daily. It's still a fair harvest. I've never really faced too many challenges save for extreme weather conditions and weeds sprouting, which I can take care of.
Asides those, the bananas I planted about two months ago are standing tall. There's no fruit yet, of course but the tree is springing up fine. Everyday I awake, I go to measure (with my eyes) how many inches they've grown. Lol.
I also have a pear tree, coconut trees, pawpaw trees and plantains too. They all produce bountifully too.
But one time, I did try to plant tomato. It died. I don't know why but I dismissed it as the land not fertile enough to hold it in. I don't know but it's fine.
It's great that you're growing a few things when you can, I think it's an excellent way to feel connected to nature, even despite your weather/rain challenges.
I'm thinking that if you want tomatoes you may need to use pots and put them into a nice rich potting mix instead of straight into the infertile ground. Maybe give it a try; growing tomatoes is so rewarding, and they're tasty too!
I agree. Gardening and all that getting my hands dirty gives me some similar feeling as cleaning/tidying. I always feel very relaxed and fulfilled. Not to mention how reaping my harvest makes me elated. It's a wholesome feeling, I tell you. Do you get same feeling too?
Why hadn't I thought of using pots😏
Now am glad I spoke up. I'm definitely giving the method a trial. Whatever the outcome, I'll keep you informed. Thank youuu!
I feel the same when harvesting, there's a sense of achievement and also pride.
I have tomatoes in pots as I can move them around if I choose and it also allows me some more flexibility to stagger the planting and, therefore the harvest. I hope it works for you too.
The plants look good. And, I have to confess they look so edible... Hehe.
The p covers a lot, and I am glad you'll get to eat some soon. Watching your plants grow, watering them, and spending time with them is one thing I'd like to enjoy in life, and I hope that time comes soon.
I guess it's not for everyone, there's a bit involved and some just don't have the space either; I do though, and I enjoy growing things which makes it a good hobby don't you think?
Yeah, the space is what I lack. I believe it is not just a good hobby but a healthy one. Planting your food yourself is a good way to go seeing how some food we eat is grown or taken care of.
It's nice how you are eating healthy, I tried to plant a few vegetable in my back yard this year but my neighbour goats ate them all, I planted waterless pumpkin leafs and some scent leaf but all are gone now, I might try again next year, I just need to get the seeds to plant again
Maybe give it another try and see if you can gig up a fence to keep the goat out. However, goats are notorious for getting into places despite fences being erected. Good luck.
Thanks for commenting.
I did a little wiring fence with some sacks bit they always jump over it and eat up my plants, I practically gave up on it.
Maybe I will try again next year hopefully.
Yep, goats are sneaky buggers,
Yeah they certainly are
It's amazing to see that in this artificial era of farming you are still into organic growing of fruits and vegetables. Apples and almonds are looking young and lemon is showing it's golden yellowish colour. It's means you have nice climate over there which is suitable to almond and apples because here we have oranges, mangoes, sugarcane, strawberries and other fruits. Moreover, I have seen almonds in my university because the region where my university is located is cooler region.
Fortunately the climate here in my part of Australia is suited to many different types of growing although it's still quite seasonal and some tings have to planted at the right moment; even then weather conditions can take their toll, but I guess that could be said anywhere.
Do you grow anything personally and if so what experiences have you had, good or bad?
My personal experience is not from recent but from two years back when I was into gardening things. My mother and I were into growing everything which we were eating like if we were eating pomegranate then we used to throw those pomegranate seeds into our little garden at home. I still remember that pomegranate was growing but we have to left our home. We planted that pomegranate to a public place. I think I will go there tomorrow and I will capture a photo. But I am not sure it will be still there or not!
The pomegranate is a weird fruit but tasty. We used to have a tree back home when I was a kid and I always enjoyed eating those tasty little seeds. Maybe that one you planted is still there, it's worth having a look huh?
So, today I went to visit this pomegranate plant. It's in bad condition because no one is here to look after this plant. Either say environment or humans have done this with plant.
Yeah, that one looks like it's fucked.
There is no better fruit, be it fruit or vegetables, than the ones you plant yourself, the taste is totally different, natural. I remember those old times that I know will come back soon!
I loved the pictures, I'm a big fan of citrus fruits and tomatoes, how delicious the almonds!
I recently rescued some cactus plants, a florist had thrown them away, and I can't let them die, so I put them in water and they already have roots! Today I will put them in soil and I was changing pots, one plant needed a different kind of pot, bigger, I'm sure it will like the new home I gave it.
Now I'm looking to prune rosemary, they are pruned when they are in flower, it's the right time.
Thanks Galen!
Out of all the plants I'd say that cactus are my least favourite although I think it's mostly because I don't really know much about them. They're fascinating plants though and I'd like to get to know them a little more. I've been thinking about getting one, something I can start off with with the view to getting some more although I'd only get a couple, and they'd be small ones. I'll do some research and see what I come up with.
I know you don't really have a garden large enough for a vegetable patch but also know you used to have a large one...you must miss it I guess.
I only have a small balcony... I only have a few pots but I did have a super huge garden, sometimes I miss it, but I know that it is very well kept and that makes me happy.
The cacti have very beautiful flowers, they don't last long but they are beautiful and they don't like water very much.
When I see your garden it brings back beautiful memories, and I see it in my mind. It is very nice
If I get a cactus I'll do a post...I'll have to be quick with the camera though, they bloom for such a short period for sure.
There are flowers that last only one day or two days.... that will depend on the cactus.
Give me a minute and I'll look for a picture.
I just took it from an analogue photograph I brought back from Argentina.
✅
Well, I have to improve in my gardening efforts. But I still grow my own pumpkins, mangoes, soursops, bananas.... And some medicinal plants and flowers. But yes, I must do more.
Your garden looks very healthy and it is a needed activity because it helps a lot to release tensions. After so many commitments and work, it is medicinal to take a walk in the garden and take care of it. 😉
The garden certainly has a healing/calming effect on me and with how things are in life, the pace at which I have to go to fit everything in, it's a welcome distraction...a tasty one too.
👍
Extra produce is great to hand out XD
Everything is looking pretty good to my untrained eye, in the delicious and healthy and aesthetic meanings :D
Well, I think everything looks like it is supposed to and that's always a good start. It's the tomatoes I'm most looking forward to, they taste so good when they come out of my garden rather than the supermarket. It won't be long now.
I think the weather there helps you a lot in growing this kind of stuff, in my town people aren't much interested in gardening stuff and they just go to the market to buy everything they need like vegetables, fruits or any kind of nuts.
I really appreciate your work.
Some like to benefit from the labour of others. and yet some like to feel like they're more self reliant; I'm the latter. That doesn't mean I don't go to the supermarket or farmers market though, I still do that.
Hmmm
I understand
And congratulations on 1-0 😉(it was a big margin)
Lol...yeah, we're one up...let's see how the second Test goes.
I think the weather there is good for your garden but not for Pakistan cricket players (😆)
Haha, yeah I agree!
The little vegetables look so lovely! But the satisfaction when eating them from your own culture is huge!
It's very satisfying eating food I've grown myself. 😊
Hopefully I'll enjoy the same feeling one day! Not sure if I can grow any of these at my apartment lol
This is lovely, the best fruits is the one grown in one's garden
You're right; they taste better and have often been grown without pesticides so are better for the health also.
Thanks for commenting.
wow you have a lot of fruits and vegie, cheers to self sustainability.
!PGM
BUY AND STAKE THE PGM TO SEND A LOT OF TOKENS!
The tokens that the command sends are: 0.1 PGM-0.1 LVL-0.1 THGAMING-0.05 DEC-15 SBT-1 STARBITS-[0.00000001 BTC (SWAP.BTC) only if you have 2500 PGM in stake or more ]
5000 PGM IN STAKE = 2x rewards!
Discord
Support the curation account @ pgm-curator with a delegation 10 HP - 50 HP - 100 HP - 500 HP - 1000 HP
Get potential votes from @ pgm-curator by paying in PGM, here is a guide
I'm a bot, if you want a hand ask @ zottone444
Yeah I agree, it is a smart way to go to move towards self-sustainability.
eating fruits and vegetables from own kitchen garden is always an fantastic feeling.
It sure is, I so enjoy gardening and get so much more than just the produce in return.
Congratulations @galenkp! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 105000 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Check out our last posts: