Food It Yourself Garden 2024- It Is Planted

Yes, I have planted the Food It Yourself Garden for this year. Astoundingly, I almost followed the plan I made for myself. I am just as amazed as you are.

Behold my raised beds. The right side is planted with (front to back) string beans and sunflowers, and herbs, turnips and leeks. The turnips are a departure from the previously shared plan. However, I had turnip seeds available, so I used some. The second from the right beds are planted with Roma tomatoes and basil. I had 18 tomato cages and, surprisingly, 18 tomato plants. I am very pleased with this coincidence. The left-side picture shows where I planted seeds, so you just need to trust me that, clockwise from the top right, I planted six cantaloupes and six butternut squash, carrots, nine zucchini and nine yellow summer squash, and 18 pickling cucumbers. Mr. Food It Yourself has gone two years without homemade pickles, and I can not wait to remedy that.

And here is the result of thinning the fruit on my fruit salad tree. On the one hand, I was sad to have to strip so much fruit off of the branches. Particularly, the apricots were well pollinated, and I had to remove many of the emerging fruits. On the other hand, I know that I will end up with larger fruit from stripping the extras. Also, I will protect the limbs of the tree from damage. My understanding is that stone fruits trees do not survive damage. I have been dreaming of owning fruit salad tree since the late 1900’s when I saw them in garden catalogs. Now I have one and I want to protect it.

Side note- I dumped the stripped fruits where my chickens can not reach them. Apricot kernels are toxic to chickens. Always protect your flock.

The growing season is just getting underway in central New England. Mr. Food It Yourself and I are looking forward to a season of learning and eating! What new or challenging crops are you growing this season? If you are wrapping up your growing season, what were your triumphs and trials? Share in the comments sections.