I think the tiller might have been a good gamble. .

[Marina]

The garden is starting to really produce, though it's still relatively in the trickle in stage, not the heavy yield period and we're getting at least one 10 gallon bucket of produce a day! I'm canning, freezing, sharing, trading and we're getting our bellies full without having to limit how much anyone can have. I think we may have enough to sell some too! We're at the beginning of tomatoes, when you're getting one or so from a plant a day, but times that by 91 plants and you've got a bunch. I've gotten new plants just put in for a fall yield too.

We got over 200lbs of potatoes from that bed, and we're ready to plant for fall as soon as it cools a bit. It would have been higher but the "butter" fingerlings didn't produce much and that was a third of the plants.

There's a ton of butternut and acorn squash that will keep for a long time too, plus there will be a fall planting of that soon too. 3 plants produced 20 butternut squashes! I think I'll freeze the first yield and just keep the fall harvest.

It's a good thing too, because our financial situation is beyond bleak at this point. We were struggling before, and then our income was cut by a huge amount.

I am totally stressed about the freezer going out though, with so much work in it.

[xt]

I'm so impressed with your amazing and productive garden. I'd definitely say you put that tiller to good use.

[maryalene]

That is awesome Marina! You need to share pics! My garden is growing at a snail's pace. I think I'll at least get some tomatoes out of it, but everything else is up in the air, lol.

[Marina]

Thanks. It's just so nice not to have to worry about food, or feel guilt for putting them on the credit card, if even for a little while! Thankfully we have a long growing season too and someone gave us a bunch of old hay so we're going to build an insulated cold frame and hopefully keep a few things growing through the winter, or at least part of it.

Here are some older pictures:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/amity-ma...img-heavy.html

I keep trying to take new ones, but haven't managed yet. It's way more over grown now. LOL Making your way through is no longer going through neat rows, more like a jungle. Despite planting at the furthest suggested distance, it's just too close together.

[mamabear]

That's wonderful! I'd love to see new pics.

I bought that tiller. (guilty!) And my tomatoes are just starting to fruit. But in a month or so, look out! I have to weed and get them staked/trellised this week. I am SO behind! The garden is covered in weeds. Still, we ought to have tons of produce from the garden...

[Marina]

newspapers w/a layer of old/bad hay is awesome to keep out weeds! It makes it so easy! You can even put this down OVER weeds and grass to save work and time.

We did the Florida weave w/our tomatoes, but I can see that some varieties do better w/that method than others. Whoppers, which are turning out to be over 7 feet tall, needed their own stake, as well as big boy and some of the heirloom tomatoes which just fruit so darn heavy it they need some seriously strong support.

Canning tomatoes is on the list of things to do today. I wish I had your basement to store the jars. Canning is a time suck though. I've frequently found myself still up at 2am waiting on the canner to release so I can remove the jars and go to bed. I have to start later in the day, or else it's too hot.

[MamaNurse]

I remember your garden pictures from before. They're just dreamy to this garden lovin' girl....

I KWYM about being scared about a freezer breakdown. I mainly worry about a power outage. My MIL prefers to can almost everything, but dang it. Canning takes so long. I'm honestly not there. I've done it and I don't much care for it. Maybe it's the "baby stage" w/my kids. Maybe I'll enjoy it when I don't have to stress about having them around or waiting till they go to bed....

[simplespirit]

[quote=Marina;2600106]newspapers w/a layer of old/bad hay is awesome to keep out weeds! It makes it so easy! You can even put this down OVER weeds and grass to save work and time.
QUOTE]


This is the only way to do it! Not only does it block the weeds, it protects and builds precious soil!

[3boysnagrl]

Marina, your garden is so awesome! I can't believe you put in 91 tomato plants!!

[Marina]

Right now, I can't either. What was I thinking?

Canning, more canning, still more canning. I'm running out of jars though. crud. I'll have to freeze more I guess. The children might have to be forced to peddle them to unsuspecting neighbors from front yard.

Those seed packets? They have a *ton* of seeds in them! Once we had grown all these little plants, how I could I not plant them? They'd, you know, have died. . I tried to give some away, really, I did.

Morgan and I, when I could pry her away from Harry, just put up 14 more quarts of beans and 10 quarts of bread and butter pickles. Yes, there are lots of seeds in the cucumber packets too. Why do they put so many in there? I mean, if you can't save them from season to season. . you're forced to plant them all, right? She has informed me the tomatoes must wait however, as she is on the last chapter, and no amount of begging will get her away until she's done.

Too bad we can't exchange tomatoes for pineapples.

[Marina]

Amy, canning does take forever. And even when you aren't actively doing anything, you're still forced to babysit the kitchen. I've got lots of helpers, and no little ones under foot, or I wouldn't be doing it for sure. I just wouldn't be able to handle it. I'm also tied to my house, all day nearly 7 days a week most every week, with my children's work schedules, so I've got nothing better to do, other than cleaning (which I'd rather not do) or eat (which I don't need to do).

[3boysnagrl]

Originally Posted by Marina

Too bad we can't exchange tomatoes for pineapples.

lol... no kidding! Next week a friend and I are going to look for some pineapple plants. I've seen some on people's front porches... but need to find where to actually GET the plants.

[xt]

You can save them from season to season if you pop them in the fridge or in another cool, dry place. The germination rate will go down a little each year, but I mostly planted last year's seeds this year, and I have a happy (little) garden.

I envy your massive 'maters.