A reason that has motivated me over the years to go out and do a little each day in the garden and borders is never wanting to deal with an insurmountable task. And that — as most of us know – is what comes when things are not tended.
Unfortunately for me life happenings managed to get in the way of regular habits at least 4 times since Bill died in 2015.. Being as slow as I am makes getting things back to where they should be take a lot longer than if I walked normally as before I broke my leg in 2018.
By April this year, the garden was looking pretty good and for the first time since Bill died (nine years ago) I was getting back that “old excitement” that once came as the growing season progressed.
The. Garden in April. Mache is seeding in the row at the bottom. Above that is lettuce. I’ve removed its winter protection. A section of garlic growing above the lettuce.. The tall green clumps are various cover crops that have not yet been cut. And at the very top right are 20-plus-year-old blueberry bushes in bloom.
Blossoms on the blueberry bushes. Can you find the bumble bee? He’s about an inch down from the top center. (Click on the picture to enlarge.)
They’ve Finished their Life
Last year these bushes, planted more than 20 years ago, indicated they had finished their life span.
I’ll remove them this year.
Fortunately I have 3 early-variety bushes outside the garden that are producing well. They’re maybe 11 years old. So while new bushes establish themselves there should still be berries.
I eat them fresh everyday during the season and freeze many for eating in the winter.
Glad Strawberry Harvest Was Completed
As with blueberries, I eat them fresh daily and freeze many for smoothies during the summer and winter.
Blueberries and strawberries taste fantastic together.
Strawberries this year were delicious and bountiful.
Gallons of strawberries every other day in mid-May.
I Missed Out on the Blackberries
Blackberries in bloom May 22.
The first days of July I got a few tastes of blackberries right off the plant. The day before I ended up unable to walk I picked a pint. That will be all those delicious blackberries for me until next year. Boo Hoo.
Was able to Harvest the Early and Late Crop of Figs for Freezing
What Makes Gardening Easy
I’ve always had what most people would consider a LOT of space to tend. It never seemed a problem to me once nature showed me her 3 keys. That – coupled with doing things little by little consistently – sometimes makes me feel that I’m not doing anything but planting and harvesting.
Even when I broke my leg in 2018 and was on my kitchen floor for 4 months while healing – the condition of the garden when I got up was not all that bad. It took time to get it back to what it was of course. But it wasn’t emotionally overwhelming.
This Year’s Experience Was Different – Might Have Been the Rain
The entire month of June was dry. But it seemed to start raining the minute those boxes fell and knocked me off my feet July 7th.
August 6th I was able to walk again (with my crutch) and headed for the garden.
I was shocked and horrified at what I saw. It must have been all that rain!
Morning glory vines for the first time in twenty plus years covered every inch of the fence from top to bottom around the 2500 square feet of garden.
More upsetting were the invasive trees from the neighboring property.
They had sprung up all over the garden from the top end to the lower end. Many had already grown 5 feet tall with young trunks at least an inch to one and a half inches in circumference.
All in only ONE MONTH!!
The roots of these trees are NOT your normal tree roots!
Why and How They’re Invasive
These roots cobweb through the soil from the top of the soil down deep into the earth. Every shoot that branches from the main root sends out another shoot from every foot it grows. And that keeps happening on each of the hundreds of branchings.
Hopefully you can imagine this and now understand why these trees pose a problem unlike commonly grown trees .
As they push through the soil new trees grow from the roots. These are ones that have grown 5 feet or more in a month,. Getting these trees out totally is next to impossible. And any piece of root that remains will grow.
Seedlings can also come up from seed that blows in. Those will pull out easily – roots and all. They only achieve a height of 2 feet in a month.
It’s been an ongoing battle over the years to continually dig out what I can as they push their way through the soil hundreds of feet from their source. And it gets worse every year.
Constantly cutting the ones that have entwined themselves into the part of the fence that is below ground is an unwanted but an often and necessary task.
Different When We Moved Here
Just so you’ll know – when we first moved here the fellow who owned the property that adjoins ours had cleared that woods. We had no problem. Then he sold it to people who could care less and allowed these monster trees to take hold again.
Assessing the Situation
I stood at my unopened entrance gate and assessed things. Never in over 40 years of gardening had I ever needed a tool to clear a path before I could enter.
It was discouraging to think of all the time it would take to once again get things in order. (Especially since the day before the incident with the boxes – I was thinking how close I was to getting things back to where they should be.)
The invasive trees are the biggest concern and the most difficult to deal with.
Something Simple Offsets My Loss of Enthusiasm.
Disheartened, I chose a simple strategy.
I turned to my side border (a/k/a my clothesline border) to give my eyes and brain something “easier to focus on”. This is a border that I’ve been closing down except for a few plants and some areas that I’ll keep for extra plants that won’t fit in the garden area.
Tool in hand the first thing I did was take up the few pieces of grass that had come up in the part I keep edged. Not sure how that made me feel better, but it did.
I was more ready to accept what had to be done in the garden. Eventually it would be back to the way I like it: easy to keep.
Unexpectedly, this border ended up providing something for me to eat when I was on the floor unable to walk.
Fortunately, I had planted two Big Beef tomato plants, several cucumber plants, and a couple of honey nut squash there. A little past mid July the tomatoes and cucumbers were producing. They were easily visible and accessible (my garden was not) by a friend who harvested them for me.. They were something I would readily eat. (A good thing since I was getting very thin.)
Clothesline border – The cucumbers are the light/bright green close to the edge.
To the right of where the above picture ends is the tomato plant pictured below. I regret I didn’t think to take a picture before I harvested over a dozen beautiful red tomatoes in mid September. It was a beautiful sight.
Tomatoes in side border.
Honey Nut squash don’t show in the other pictures. They’re behind the cucumbers.
Below are two more that are fully ripe. If they have any green on them when harvested they’ll be without that wonderful sweetness they’re known for when baked.
Unfortunately, once they’re separated from the vine they won’t continue to ripen.
Honey Nut Squash fully ripened.
My Next Step was to Look over the gate at the upper end of the garden and see if the couple of watermelon plants made it.
As I approached the gate at the upper end – the first thing I saw is in the picture below.The melon vine had threaded itself through the fence and produced a beautiful melon (not yet full size) outside the garden.
Sugar Baby Watermelon outside the garden.
I counted a dozen more inside the garden! Not having grown watermelons for at least 35 years, these were a real treat.
They ripened over a period of time in late August and September. One regular sized and two small half-sized remain in the garden.
A Nod to Spring and Early Summer Crops
Potatoes in June.
I have potatoes growing in various spots throughout the garden.
Harvested about 5 pounds in May and June.
Not yet able to make my way to the sections with potatoes since being back on my feet.. But I feel confident they’ll be waiting for me when I get to them
Daylilies
Lots of beautiful day lilies in the garden. This one was a real show stopper this year.
June 11 daylilies
Managed to save some Carrot Seed
These are blooms from the only carrot that remained from last year. I was able to save some of the seed in late June.
This year’s Carrots
Spring plantings (3 of them) this year did not germinate well. None from the first planting and only a few from plantings 2 and 3. Disappointing, as I had planted delicious and beautiful varieties, Kuroda and New Kuroda.
Sadly the voles had gotten to those while I was on the floor
They left about 3. And those had already gone to seed. So I guess the weather had fooled them into thinking it was their second year.
Hopefully I’ll get back out to them in time to save their seed. (To explain why I might not get back to them: If I can stay in one area when working the garden, I can get more done. Moving so slowly takes a lot of valuable work time. Thus, I don’t always get to every place I’d like to.)
Even though it’s late I’m going to plant carrots again. If they germinate I may give them some winter protection. If they don’t, I’ll hope to see them come up in the spring.
Crops I depend on to Volunteer and a Problem that may be Encountered this Fall
Dill
You’ll recall my writing about a new method I tried this year to have fresh dill longer into the season. By sowing seed bountifully in 12 inch diameter circles it lasted longer for fresh eating. I still had it short and beautiful the first of July. Wish I had been able to see how long after that it lasted.
It was in a section close to the garden entrance. Thus, one of the first things I looked at when I got out there.
Only saw one little new seedling. But didn’t see any signs of mature dill that had gone to seed.
Fortunately, I have plenty of seed from last year if I need it.
Dill in early summer.
Arugula
Arugula in bloom and setting seed on April 11
I missed saving the seed from this arugula. Hope it dropped seed over a broad enough area that seed/seedlings won’t be buried under so much piled plant residue to prevent their germination/growth.
I was looking forward to having this new variety come up b0untifully this fall. (Have to look for the package to find the variety since the id marker has disappeared.)
Cilantro/Coriander
Coriander the seed of Cilantro
I love lots of this plant in my garden. As with all herbs it’s great for beneficial insects. I save seed each year but have yet to plant any. It volunteers. Hopefully it will again.
It’s another herb with lot of health benefits. Rich in antioxidants, Vit. A, D and K. You’ll find even more if you do a search.
Purslane
In 2022 the seed I bought of purslane finally germinated and gave me enough that year for snacking while in the garden.
I noted the spot and tried to keep it clear so the plant would show up in 2023. It did but was small and skimpy. I still held its spot.
This year it came back as a large plant that provided a lot of enjoyment and healthy snacking.
It’s rich in antioxidants, anti inflammatory compounds, omega-3 fatty acids, and is even said to protect against neurodegenerative diseases. If you do a search for its health benefits you’ll be amazed.
I hope it sets seed and will return even bigger in 2025.
Purslane
Russian Kale
Russian Kale volunteer in June
I don’t usually plant Russian Kale anymore, but depend on a few volunteers to add to salads and eventually set more seed.
Currently, the path to this plant in the garden is still obscured. Hopefully, it’ll still be there when the way is cleared.
Parsley (no picture)
As far as I’m concerned one can ever have too much parsley.
It seldom reseeds for me. I plant lots of it in the hopes of having it come up everywhere – since usually half of what I plant disappears.
If it enjoys winter protection you can have it through the winter, although not as much as during the growing season.
It’s a source of Vit A, C, K, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and a variety of antioxidants.
Like curley parsley the best. Dislike the flat leaf although will use it if I don’t have curley.
I read somewhere long ago that cooks “in the know” use only the flat leaf. Wonder how that was determined?
What I Found in the Garden once I Got In
Beets
Didn’t get enough beets planted before I ended up on the floor. The few leaves I was able harvest to add to salads were delicious. Not enough for a side dish of steamed beet greens though.
Harvested what I had in August. So good!
Will plant more for fall when a spot is cleared for them.
Beets in June
After Entering the Garden this Cantaloupe is what I wanted to get to the most.
Cantaloupe
This was a beauty but I had to wait for it and another to ripen. Delicious.
Had I been 2 or 3 days earlier I could have picked a ripe one, but it had started to decay the day I finally got to it. And two smaller ones never finished growing.
Butternut Squash Volunteered
Harvested 4. Sadly, after I discovered Honey Nut Squash the Butternuts are not appealing anymore. But I have them just in case.
Butternut Squash
Snap Beans
I usually plant snap beans three times. A dozen beans per spot is all I need. Those 12 beans grow and cover an area 4 feet across and give an unbelievable amount of beans.
By the time I got to the garden each planting had already produced beans. So they were past prime.
When you don’t harvest continually you don’t get as many beans.
In spite of that I did get a few meals of these beans after I “cleaned” the plants of the overly mature beans.
Bush Beans – only 12 grew to cover a 4’x4′ area.
Christmas Limas
I planted this seemingly small amount of Christmas limas in May. The clump -as shown below is now taller than I am and well over 5 feet by 5 feet across. But no beans yet. I’m thinking I didn’t plant in time — but if the weather holds I might still get beans.
I’m especially anxious to save their seed and keep them going into the future since a very dear friend shared them with me.
The big mound of green in the top center are the vines of my Christmas Limas.
Cabbage
I planted cabbage last fall. One over wintered. I ate it in August when I got back to the garden. It was my favorite variety – Kalibos – shown below.
Red Kalibos planted last fall.
In spite of planting several varieties that looked healthy in June, none remained in August.
It’s my intent to plant again this month. (I know it’s late – but one thing is for sure — if I don’t plant I won’t get anything.)
Not pictured:
Cucumbers this year were fantastic and abundant through September. That’s a first for me.
Radishes – Germination was not good in the first planting. Second and third plantings were wonderful and abundant. The first of July one variety was starting to set seed. Disappointingly, I was not up and about in time to get the seed.
I had eatable radishes still growing when I ended up on the floor. I’ve not been able to get to that spot yet. Maybe I’ll be in time to save seed.
Peas – Germination poor this year. Still had some for the freezer.
Spaghetti Squash – is one of my favorite things. Have not grown it since Bill died. Sadly, it needed some tending while I was down and it didn’t make it.
Onions – I’ve found most of the bulbing onions. Had walking onions everywhere but so far have not found any. They’ll show up I think.
Sorrel – Only one plant to be found so far.
Lettuce for Fall, Winter, and Early Spring of 2025
Below is the first planting for fall. Rather than start it in a small container I started it in a large grow bag in the garden. It holds longer this way. I’ve transplanted half of what you see in the picture below.
I still need to plant lettuce two more times in order to have it last in abundance until next year’s plantings gets going.
Saved seed from last falls planting this spring.
Winter Density Seedlings in a large grow bag. I’ve already transplanted half.
Part of a September day’s harvest. Butternut squash, honey nut squash, Sugar Baby Watermelon, Big Beef Tomatoes
My roll of Oat Straw
This was suppose to be in the garden already. It’s gonna be a bit late.
Oat Straw
Purpose for the Post
The most popular posts are usually the seasonal garden reports. This one is so different because of the garden being untended and turning into a jungle.
But if you’re looking, there is a lot of information here that may help you take a more realistic approach to whatever happens over the course of any given year. And as Bert said in a recent comment – “every year is different.”
I received an email the other day from a long-time reader and friend, Ray from Canada. Diane of Diane’s flower Seeds referred Ray to TMG more than a decade ago.
Ray is an amazing long time gardener who at 90 years of age continues to garden and find easier ways to do things.
In his recent email he paid me a compliment that was/is dear to my heart. He writes: “Whether I (comment on a post) or not I always read your posts and wish all others would/could read (TMG) —- so they don’t go through the nonsense I did (when) starting (to garden) and the money I spent.”
I think Harold agreed with that when he said in a recent comment, “The only money I spend on gardening these days is on seeds, and a new tool if needed. With saving seeds even that cost is going down. Free food…. What a concept!!”
Especially with the state of things today it’s important to be able to grow your own food.
One Final Thought
My thoughts and prayers have daily been with the many people whose lives have been up-ended to one degree or another (or totally destroyed) by what they are “calling” Hurricane Helene.
My problems are nothing by comparison. And when I think of what these people are going through it puts all else into the proper perspective.
Our thoughts and prayers are more powerful than most of us realize. Not only can they have an effect on our life, but the lives of others as well. Collectively our consciousness (awareness, prayers, thoughts, and love) can bring about miracles.
Please join me in flooding the “air waves” with our collective prayers and thoughts for the benefit of all who need it. It WILL make a difference.
Much love to all,
Theresa
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Theresa, great post! Coordinated prayers are even more powerful.
How about everyone stopping at 7 am and 7 pm and spending a moment praying for the Helene victims? Here is a suggestion:
Heavenly Father, To all the people suffering from Helene, we bind their suffering, their hunger, their sadness, their illnesses, and their pain. We loose upon them Your peace of mind, Your sanity, Your courage, and Your hope for better than they lost. By His stripes, they are healed! And to all the volunteers, we bind all signs of tiredness and stress. And we loose upon them strength and endurance. We pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus, and for Your glory. Amen!
Thanks for the update Theresa, I always enjoy seeing what’s happening in your garden, and hearing your thoughts on the various crops.
Out of curiosity, may I ask the name of the neighbour’s tree that has rudely invaded your garden?
What an interesting post! It was fun to see what happened as nature worked to take over things. We can learn a lot from that at times. We can see what kind of grows “naturally” without any fuss from us, and what other things need our attention if they are going to survive.
I’ve heard of the Honey Nut squash and thought about growing it. I’m not a fan of butternut and when I’ve grown it I end up with way too many and have to give away or compost and that kills me. I may try Honey Nut and see if I like it better.
I too have found myself contemplating the horror of “hurricane” Helene. Most people are unaware of what is going on there. Government “officials” stopping people from helping each other (pure evil, and I don’t want to hear “it’s for their safety” from anyone), the fact that much of the area destroyed in NC is where some of the only special quartz in the world is available to make the AI chips they are so excited about, and many other “interesting” factioids or “conspiracy theories” (like the evil lithium that’s available there as well to make dangerous lithium batteries to store all of their so-called “green” energy) that are all part of this. I looked around at my little place here today… my home, my little garden, my food, my car, etc and remembered that many of the people whose lives were destroyed overnight would give anything to have just one of the things I currently enjoy. That many of those same people watched loved ones get washed away or found them floating dead.
Besides contemplating the horrors of this disaster, I was also reminded of how imperative it is to *prepare*. We don’t have to be “preppers”, but we should always have extra food, water, etc. I grew up this way so I don’t know any different. Growing up on a farm/ranch in the middle of nowhere, you either “prep” or starve. People still laugh at me when I tell them they should take the ridiculous $1000.00 pickup payment they are making and buy food, water, etc “just in case”. Most people really believe that the federal (or any) government can “save them” when disaster strikes. It is *impossible* for government to save us! This is common sense to me! There’s 350 million people in America and even though the government is HUGE, they do not have the millions and millions of people it would take to instantly act in this, or any other, massive disaster. We *must* take care of ourselves, our families, and our neighborhoods. The government is *not* here to help! They never have been. When they do help, it’s too little too late (Most recently, a $750.00 check to “tide us by” while they print *billions* to send to blow people up in Ukraine/Russia, Israel/Palestine).
Sorry for the rant Theresa. I believe I’m preaching to the choir here.
Whether we live in an apartment, in a house, or on a farm, there is no reason why in America (for now) we still can’t stock up a bit of food, water, etc and *grow* some of our own food. Get to know your neighbors, or at least be cordial with them. We *must* get back to an America where communities cared for one another. I don’t know how we do that, but each of us can at least try.
Glad you are doing a bit better Theresa. 🙂
Always worth reading. Gardening is and should be personal, peaceful and hopefully fun. Personal because there is no one way to do it. If it works for you, it’s your right way.
TMG gives you a sensible way to do it without overworking and spending money. It is possible to start with an old tin can if you lack money so just buy a can of beans.
I offer the efforts of my dentist, who really wanted a garden but found he started too big and couldn’t maintain it so quit. I suggested he try a few containers, he did and was happy, so he succeeded in gardening.
I would rather garden in my soil, but no longer able, but didn’t want to quit. I tried container gardening using the same Theresa’s methods, am very happy and grow everything I used to.
Not a fan of raised gardens which are expensive so I went to cheap plastic containers and found some 5 gal. on the internet for free. I now have raised gardens I can reach with my scooter, seat turned sideways. There is always a way if you don’t give up.
Happy gardening, Ray Kent
Your positive attitude always makes me think. Thank you for that. As far as the garden this year, so-so. Some good, green beans, some bad, tomatoes. My biggest problem early on was rabbits. Then too much rain and the tomatoes suffered. My cabbages were full of slugs. We all survived and next year will be better. Now I’m going back outside to continue digging in the dirt. Take care Theresa.
Datgirl (Danita)
So glad you made progress & healed so you could get off the floor & make it to the garden. Oh, my I can imagine how you felt with so much needing your touch. So glad you found the things you did especially the cantaloupe & watermelons. My husband & I have reached the age we are not up to working in our garden anymore except for a few trips to check on tomatoes etc which our son planted for us. We hope he will learn to enjoy working in the garden as much as we did. Surely did miss working in the dirt but we have had a garden for 35 years & enjoyed many good vegetables. We especially enjoyed sharing with elderly neighbors who were not able to garden. God has been so good to us & hopefully our son will love working in the soil & raising good things to eat. We, too pray for the people in North Carolina & East TN. Hope you can continue to work in the garden for many more years Blessings, Betty
Theresa, thank you for sharing this beautiful post! I feel angry and overwhelmed on your behalf for those invasive trees and the overgrown morning glory (unfortunately I can relate with the latter), but also very excited and happy that you found so many treasures once you started looking! And I hope that most of the seeds you were not able to save will volunteer for you.
Thank you also for your inspiring positive attitude – it helps me put things in perspective.
I’m adding my prayers to yours, and sending more your way too.
Theresa,
I commiserate! This has been the hardest year for gardening I’ve ever had. Maybe age? The summer was brutally hot and humid and dry and Nature took over in the garden. My health is like a sheet in a strong wind. Add that to no taste/smell and you might see where I’m at. My enthusiasm for growing is at an all-time low. I’m hoping to get the garden back in shape this fall…we’ll see.
My hubby is a long-haul trucker and home 48hr befor he’s gone again, so much of the outside daily duties are mine. It’s getting more difficult.
So much for the moanings of a “professional” honest horticulturalist!!
I hope you can do what you need done and can be content with that. Me too.
Much dirtfolk love!
Sherrie
Beautiful prayer Janie. Thanks for offering it.
Michelle – years ago when we first realized the problem I did a lot of research trying to identify these monster trees. The tree I found that perfectly describes the one we’re deal with was the Tree of Heaven. (Should have been named the Tree of Hell.)
But someone (I think from the county extension office) claimed that was not the name of our tree. But they couldn’t identify ours.. As far as I’m concerned it’s as close to the Tree of Heaven as it can get.
Rob, other than looking like a small butternut, the Honey Nut is nothing like a butternut. I wrote about it here: https://tendingmygarden.com/honey-nut-squash-vs-butternut-my-review/ Just make sure it has no green color remaining when it’s harvested. Otherwise it will be bitter rather than sweet and delicious as they should be when baked with a little butter.
And as many people are unaware of what is going on with Helene — they are also unaware of most of what is going on in our country. Glued to MSM one will never know the truth.
The good news that you’ve probably already heard by now and that I pray is factual — is that in those counties where government “officials” are stopping people from helping each other – the sheriffs are threatening to arrest them if they don’t back off.
The other good news is that thankfully some counties are not experiencing that bad situation.
It is sad that many Americans just don’t realize the common sense in preparing for emergencies. And at this point in time, anyone who believes the government is going to help or save them is living in a fairy tale.
I have no one, and I can’t say it’s easy – but I make every effort to do everything I can do to take care of myself and prepare for what may come. Can’t do it to the degree I would like – but I do the very best I can.
Glad you posted your findings – as it may help those readers who are not aware.
Ray – the mistake your dentist made by starting too big – is very common with new gardeners. Having more than one can realistically handle is the cause of a lot of new gardeners giving up.
Having even a small plot that you can deal with is better than having nothing.
Thanks for telling the story and your recommendation to him.
Although I’m not a fan of container gardening — it sure beats not growing anything.
Danita, sounds like you may have had slug eggs hatch out in soil by your cabbages. I’ve written about that here: https://tendingmygarden.com/slugs-you-can-control-them/
Betty, seeing your comment was a nice surprise. Glad you and husband are doing ok. Sorry to hear that you’re not gardening.
Since I depend on my garden for food, that pushes me forward even in bad times. My grandmother was still in her garden at 100 – so since I’m a mere youngster at 81 I might have another 20 years before I have to give up eating.
Giulia, I’m glad you can only relate to the morning glories and not the invasive monster trees! Morning glories are nothing by comparison.
But as you mentioned, I was blessed to find treasures among the thorns.
Thank you for adding your prayers for others
to mine and praying for me as well. Needed and appreciated!
Sherrie,
Totally relate to what you said. And I too have had my enthusiasm for growing at an all-time low on several occasions over the past 9 years. It has only been hunger pains that have kept me “keeping on”.
But the two of us are tough “dirt-girls” as you sometimes call us and we’ll rise to the occasion and get the job done!
Hang in there, Sherrie, and think of me thinking of you and sending you lots of strength, energy, and good health.
Appreciate everyone joining the conversation!
Thank you.
Theresa