Today, I planned to give you the “grand tour” of all the gardens here. But it’s too hot and muggy outside! It’s the kind of day when sweat stings your eyes. I can’t have you running around with smudged mascara, John. So instead of galloping from the Boxwood Garden to the Whatever Garden, perhaps we should limit our time to the Kitchen Garden:
As you might recall, last month I mulched the this garden’s 12 veggie beds with some bagged straw. The straw was pricey — $20 per bagged bale — but I didn’t mind the expensive. For the material was “specially heat-treated” and free of weed seeds.
But two weeks later, this “miracle” sprouted 8, 246, 357 weeds.
I’m glad you weren’t around to hear the curse words that leaped from my lips.
I pulled up every trace of that sordid straw, and dropped it in my wire-mesh compost bins. Then I raked up some shredded leaves left over from last year, and used them for mulch.
Autumn leaves, if you are willing to shred and save them, make the best mulch. Here’s the proof.
Shall we open the gate and step inside?
The garden’s entrance is marked by 4 long, narrow beds. These are filled with ‘Purple Prince’ zinnias. At least, that’s what the seed packet said. The plants are actually a mixture of various zinnias, all within the purple range.
They are tall zinnias, too. Nearly my height. I recently staked them with bamboo sticks and green Velcro “garden” tape, just to keep them from toppling over during rain storms.
Let’s visit the veggies!
Sweet Potatoes are one of two experiments for me this year. I don’t know what kind of crop I’ll get, but the vines certainly look happy. So happy in fact, that they’ve decided to explore other areas of the garden. I’m giving them free reign.
Another bed is devoted to bell peppers. I use the fruit for an awesome French/Spanish saute called Piperade. Piperade belongs in every cook’s repertoire. Here’s the recipe.
And do you remember the asparagus I planted from tiny crowns back in April? They’ve turned into a green, ferny forest!
The asparagus has produced lots of edible green spears, too. Alas, the spears can’t be harvested until the plants have grown for 3 years. That’s the rule.
The onions got a late start this year, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a good harvest. And I’m keeping my toes crossed for a cookbook deal. The agent sent my proposal to publishers in late May. So far, I’ve heard two “nays” and one “maybe.”
Meanwhile, the leaves of autumn-planted garlic are turning brown. This means the bulbs are ready for digging. Once dug, I’ll cure and store the crop.
The tomatoes have responded to the high heat by scrambling, like Jack’s beanstalk, to the top of the wooden trellis. I’ve already harvested lots of fruit…
Also teeming along is this lovely crop of leeks. Leeks are a staple of my winter diet. I especially love them in this Rustic Bacon and Leek Tart.
Well. Let’s get out of this blazing heat! Shall we head down the hill to the little herb garden beside the house? We can enjoy some refreshments there.
As we nibble these chocolate cookies with fresh mint…
And as we sip our homemade Limeade…
I hope you will tell me what’s happening in your own veggie patch.
And if you don’t have a veggie patch, feel free to discuss a different topic. Perhaps you’d like to chat about your love life. Or your vacation plans. I’m all ears, dears.
Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s email updates.
Elke Richard says
Absolutely gorgeous Kevin!!! Make mine a Mojito please. ;). We put in raised beds (nothing as lovely as yours) this spring and they’re doing really well, especially the spaghetti squash – a real bully in the squash patch. Tomatoes are…meh but the dukes and beans are gangbusters! Congrats again on your lovely kitchen garden.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Elke Richard – I will absolutely make a Mojito for you!
Karen says
I can’t believe any publisher said “nah”?!?! I can’t wait to get a copy of your cookbook!! My garden is hit or miss this year. Squash, leeks, potatoes, carrots, peas and lettuce are doing great. Peppers not so much and tomatoes are struggling. Either way I enjoy whatever I get out of the garden! I hope your gardens will be open next year for the tours – I’d love to see them! Good luck on the cookbook and in the meantime I will continue to enjoy your blog!
Judy says
Thanks for the tour. It all looks lovely but we know it took some effort to make it look that way.
After all the plans for so many things I wanted to grow, well, I have tomatoes and sunflowers.
Maybe next year!
Cary Bradley says
Beautiful, Kevin. Everything looks fabulous, congratulations. I’m wondering where you’re hiding those beautiful savoy cabbages and also what tomato varieties you’re growing, if you please.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
That’s terrible about your straw mulch, Kevin. Nothing like bringing on more work for one’s self.
I make my own “straw” using the faded fronds of several types of tall ornamental grasses. They are cut down each February or March and we run them through the 5HP chipper. The resulting finely textured tan straw is bagged until needed for mulching vegetables. It’s a great use for the ornamental grass. When the growing season is over, it’s raked off beds and goes into the compost bins as “carbon”. Garden visitors ask me over and over where I got that mulch. I favor its light color for reflecting sunlight, too, moreso than darker mulches. My garden birds like to use pieces for nesting, too, and I am happy to oblige.
******Reminder: Now is the time for you to check your stand of Primula japonica’s for their precious dried seed pods and maybe stick the seeds into the winter jugs next year.*******
We made your Spiced Plum Cake yesterday – mouth wateringly delicious.
I saw your blog mentioned on the Garden Design Magazine teaser sent to my Inbox yesterday! You’re FAMOUS in so many ways.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Cary – Savoy and red cabbage are in the little herb garden. And my how they’ve grown! As for tomatoes, it’s the usual heirloom suspects…’Rose,’ ‘Cherokee Purple,’ ‘Big Beef,’ and ‘Prudence Purple.’ Also one hybrid — ‘New Girl.’
Hi Beverly – Thanks for the tips regarding dried, chipped ornamental grasses for mulch, and Primula japonica. So glad you enjoyed the Spiced Plum Cake!
Meg says
I use dried old ornamental grass leaves and fronds in my veg garden too. Only I just lay them down in my paths without chopping. They last at least a year of weed-free walkways. I use chopped leaves on the raised rows after a top dressing of compost from the chicken run. A great combination for a less-work, no-till garden.
Rosie S says
Wonderful pics! Love all the bounty. In Minnesota, we are getting lots of tomatoes, yellow squash, and cukes! As far as mulch, I volunteer at an arboretum, and was introduced to Marsh Hay there. The seeds do not sprout in our climate (4b) and soil conditions, the hay covers beautifully, smothers weeds, and decays to add organic goodness….there are other hays available here, but need to ask specifically for MARSH. It is not as coarse as the yellow hay, and actually looks more grass-like. Another GREAT thing, it is just about $8 a bale. WE have a large easement area that is 80 x 10 feet, and it cost just $24 to do the WHOLE thing, and with plenty of coverage. (Bark mulch would have been about $300.) It IS hard to find, but worth the hunt, if it works in your area. It is usually harvested around this time, so our stores are getting more of it in.
Durf says
Yikes, I know what you mean about that straw. I’ve been using it for mulch in my shrub border and I get some weird weeds. But I don’t know if I prefer those weeds to the normal ones I usually get there. I did want to thank you, however, for the tip on smothering weeds with newspapers before laying mulch. It’s worked out incredibly well in most of the border.
I’m now using shredded leaves as mulch there. Wow, it takes a lot of leaves. I might have to ask my neighbors for theirs. Only problem is I’m not thrilled with the look. Oh, well, we all have to compromise on some things.
Liz says
Hi Kevin, I have two questions. First, how do you shred your leaves for mulch? By hand? Sheets? Second, how do you preserve all your veggies? Canning? I’m curious how long the drag onions last. My husband and I have put in two raised beds this year but have only done tomatoes and cucumbers. I’m a newbie gardener. Thanks for your advice.
Liz says
*sheers not sheets
Louise McGrattan says
It seems that the only thing growing well in my yard is slugs. I picked 22 off my snowball bush after a 3 day rest from the morning slug walk. I have started taking a bucket of CLR and water and just throwing them in. I tried Dawn dish detergent but they just crawled out shiny and clean.
Mary in Iowa says
Love the tidiness of the raised beds and wide paths. What are the dimensionsof the area? I was so impressed with how beautiful the straw looked last month, even though it was pricey. I get roughly the same look with free pine needles. Looking like an eccentric, 70-something bag lady, I zip 4 blocks up the street rolling a 96 gallon bin and a rake, to harvest the huge needle drop that occurs in ealy fall. The home owner is delighted to have her yard, sidewalks and street cleaned up, and I get beautiful, fragrant mulch. Can’t tell you how great that smells going through my shredder. I use them to top off the first layer of shredded leaves. No weed seeds at all.
I went with all the volunteer tomatoes this year, so they’re later, but probably the stronger for it. So far just cherry and paste tomatoes are ripening. Lots of peppers, mostly poblanos so far, zukes, broccoli, raspberries, and strawberries. July planted bush beans are starting to bloom. Peach tree is nearly ready to break with the bounty, can’t seem to keep up with it. There is nothing so delectable as a juicy, sun-warmed peach, eaten right there under the tree with the juices running everywhere. Bib needed. The first apple picking made for a nice pie this week. Have seedling baby savoy cabbages, kale, tat soi and sprouts ready to go in the ground for late fall harvest.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Liz – My leaf-shredding routine is described in this post. Click on the category “preserving the harvest” (see left-hand column of this page) to see my various veggie-storing tactics.
Hi Mary in Iowa – I’m a big fan of pine needles, too. And you are lucky to have peach and apple trees on your property!
Mary in Iowa says
Four years ago I planted dwarf apples, peaches, pears and cherries. The peach tree astounds me with its vigor. First year-1 peach; 2nd year-140 after thinning to spare the young tree too heavy a crop; 3rd year, nada. The “polar vortex” winter that refused to give up delivered a frigid (for fruit blossoms) stretch in the low 20s in April that killed all the blossom buds. This is the 4th year, and I’ve thinned and thinned to the tune of several hundred tossed into the yard waste bin, and have hundreds that are threatening the tree I fear. Branches are touching the ground. Find a place to call your orchard and plant some dwarf fruit trees, Kevin. You will never regret it when you bite into a peach running juice down your chin. My variety is “Intrepid”, chosen because it blooms later than most peaches and thus avoids late frosts here in Zone 5a–except in 2014. It also has good texture and is delicious.
myrtle miller says
Nada is happening in my vegetable patch because to ensure you didn’t inspire me I gave my shovel away. Gardening and lumbar stenosis don’t mix. What I have done is purchased a wok and plan on cooking lots of healthy stuff in it. I think you should have your own cook show. You should try by getting someone to film you cooking and giving garden tours then sending it to all the different t.v. stations. My favorite part of your facebook page is the garden tours. Seeing the zinnias reminds me of my Aunt Beulah and talk of the leeks reminds me of when I use to take care of my great-aunt. Her son would go crawfishing and come back with crawfish and wild leeks. So I’d make crawfish etoufee with leeks for a side dish. I hope you get your cookbook but think you should have your own show.
Arden Rembert Brink says
Didn’t get much into the garden this year for some reason, but have enjoyed a few sweet cherry tomatoes and a couple of lemon boys (they’re volunteers from last year!) and looks like I might well end up in the fall like last year with lots of unripened tomatoes.
I took your advice last year about ripening tomatoes indoors and enjoyed fresh home-grown tomatoes until nearly Thanksgiving! It was wonderful.
Ironically, my mint which normally takes over the huge pot it’s in died off this year, go figure, but your cookie (and limeade) recipe inspires me to see about planting some more, even at this late date!
Love seeing your garden, as always!
Jody Mandel says
Kevin,
Sorry to hear that the straw had all those weeds. It must have been a lot of work removing all that and replacing it with leaf mulch.
I purchased a bag of Miracle Gro organic potting mix and it was full of fungus gnats!
I didn’t realize this at first, since I was potting outside, and they didn’t appear all at once. But, I saw them when the plants were inside. I should have repotted them with new mix, but I put up the sticky traps instead.
How annoying is that?
Thank you for the idea to put mint in cookies. I grow mint and freeze it so I can make mint infused water, which I drink all year. I have found that freezing the mint makes the taste stronger, so I get a stronger infusion than if I used the mint fresh. I use Chocolate Mint variety. I think this variety makes a great-tasting infusion.
I love reading your blog and learn so much. I hope your book gets published!
Jody
Colette Sicotte says
Beautiful gardens! If you want a no effort, no weed garden with incredible results for your vegetables, fruit and flowers, watch the back to Eden film and then the back to Eden garden tour, both online for free.
Nancy says
Kevin have you tried pine needles? They are free in my garden and last a long time. When making a new garden I lay down cardboard first.
Nancy
Laura Johmson says
Down here in Georgia , we have had toooo much rain and toooo much humidity and tooo much heat! Weeds are thriving. Humans have to stay in the A/C! I do have tons of volunteer “Matt’s Wild Tomato” tiny little tasty thing! Reseeds it’s self – a lot! Some okra with spider mites and tons of ants harvesting the mites. Beans have given up, tomatoes have given up. New squash is planted. Vine borers murdered the first ones. Hoping for some Fall crops. Beans and some new tomatoes are going in now. Then the cole crops. Our last frost is close to Thanksgiving. So I might get something.
Ellen Korsower says
Maybe not all chopped straw brands are the same. This year we bought a bale of very compressed shopped straw sold as animal bedding on sale for $11 at a store called Tractor Supply. I’ve used it in my five raised beds with good results. The few weeds that have popped up are easy to pull because of the damp loose soil underneath. I thought I invented the idea of lining the paths between the beds using cut down ornamental grass stalks, but I see others do it too. It is a bit slippery at first but soon breaks down and works just fine at no cost. Next year I’ll try to remember to lay down newspaper first for even more coverage. Love your blog.
Ellen
Terri says
Hi Kevin,
I too am experimenting with sweet potatoes. The plants are growing like “weeds” and hopefully I will get some sweet potatoes. My regular potatoes are not doing so well, I was invaded by Colorado potato bug and they ate most of my plants. Maybe there will be potatoes under ground when I dig up the patch. Tomato plants are producing nicely, but the tomatoes are taking forever to turn red. I have read that the excessive heat we are having here in Delaware is the problem, causing the tomatoes to stop producing the necessary chemicals to turn them red. String beans, cucumbers, and pickling cucumbers all are doing well, have canned beans, made sweet pickles and enjoyed the English cucumbers in salad. Corn is growing but was put in late, hopefully we will get some fresh corn before winter comes. Pumpkins are growing, I use them for pumpkin puree and then pumpkin pie, bread come fall and winter.
Enjoyed your tour. Maybe on a day that is not so humid, you can give your readers a tour of the rest of your garden.
Thanks,
Terri
Elaine r says
I beg pine needles from friends and neighbours. In the pathways they last about two years but as mulch in the strawberry and raspberry beds I top them up about every three years. Not many weeds pop up there.i do broad row gardening and by harvest time the weeds are either shaded out or I catch them before they go to seed. Sometimes I think the worst weed is dill! Constantly pulling or deadheading!
Rae Fuller says
Hi Kevin,
Love you and all your posts. Have my fingers crossed for a book deal for you!!
Joanne says
Good morning, Kevin,
Your garden looks perfect. I came home from a 2 week trip to Spain, France, and the U.K. to a garden chuck full of weeds although the young girl next door did a wonderful job of keeping my planters watered. However it was worth it to have been fortunate enough to visit Monet’s garden and house at Giverny. My dream is accomplished. And in Spain all the beautiful gardens! We sipped wonderful sangria as often as possible and ate tapas, paella, fresh seafood, and local ham. I lost 7 pounds what with all the walking and trying to keep up with my 15 year old grandsons. A trip to remember!
P.S.
You need to provide us with a wonderful recipe for sangria.
Debbie says
HI Kevin,
You have wonderful gardens….I live in central Florida and it has been super hot this year!! I want to make your lavender cookies but I have searched far and wide and nobody has edible lavender. Can you help me locate some? I also have a raised beds and am getting ready to turn my soil for fall planting. I learned a lot about which herbs hog the garden those that just sit there!!! Needless to say…I so don’t get the cookbook deal…what are they thinking? I will be getting one of your books when they go to print…hopefully soon they will say YES!!! All of the recipes of your I have tried and turned out superb…keep them coming!!!
CHEERS!
Deb
Helga G says
I always love taking a walk with you thru your kitchen garden Kevin. Today would be the perfect time to sip some Limeade and munch on one or two cookies.
Marcia says
I thought I had killed them all last year. But they showed up again. So I have two traps out complete with pheromone next to the smart weed which they like. But I have the traps hanging over a plastic garbage can with some water (4″) and a nice layer of vegetable cooking oil floating on top of the water.
Japanese beetles are poor flyers and dreadful at landings so taking advantage of that, any beetle that misses the trap and falls down gets a real surprise.
Marcia
Paula says
Loved your kitchen garden tour. Thank you for the heads up on the bad results with the bagged straw. I was going to buy some, but now am glad I was slow in doing so. I pulled weeds early this morning, but you’re right, it’s too hot for that now. I’m inside with a glass of lemonade right now.
Debbie says
Hi Kevin,
Here in KS we give our sweet potatoes a hair cut. Find you get more and bigger sweet potatoes that way. Lovely garden, thanks for the tour.
DL
Ginger says
Put me down for 3 cookbooks when they come out. I try everyone of your recipes and it’s always wonderful. I look forward to every week for your posts filled with so many delightful things and ideas. Keep them coming and soon you will be giving away a cookbook!
Ginger
Linda A says
Hi Kevin,
How about a blog post to explain why you can’t harvest asparagus spears for
the first 3 years? Sure, I can look it up but I’d much rather read about it in your
entertaining style!
And, while you’re at it, if you have any advice for how to rescue a blue spruce that is
looking very unhappy (here in dry California) – droopy with brown needles dropping all
over the place – I’d love some advice.
I’ve been watering it more and think maybe I should use some fertilizer spikes. Also,
it has landscape cloth all around it with rocks on top. Probably not getting enough nourishment? Should I remove the rocks out beyond the drip line and use leaf mulch? Seems like that would help.
Think I’ll go chew on some of your minty chocolate chippers and contemplate this problem…but would love to hear your thoughts!
Marjie T. says
I use leaves for my mulch and it works well..I get a truckload each year from the nearby village when they clean up the leaf piles by the curbs and let them sit all winter. By planting time, they are starting to rot and sort of fall apart. I pull from the top layers of the pile for immediate use and then the next layer down dries for next time. I suppose if your local trees have huge leaves, shredding might be needed, but not for trees with smaller leaves (maple, oak, elm etc.) The leaf mulch adds lots of nutrients to the soil and the worms in the garden get very excited about them. The worms say “meh” to the straw. This is a great way to build topsoil…all those worm castings…and grow your plants at the same time. You may have to renew the leaves part way through summer as the worms will eat them.
Kay Crichton says
I can’t believe that your cookbook hasn’t been snatched up yet. Those publishers are just wrong. You already have a good fan base.
I love your garden tours and wish I could replicate them in my own garden. I have raised beds too but it has been so dry here in the Pacific NW that I’m having a hard time keeping up with the watering.Hope this isn’t a sign of the future. Kinda scary.
Linda western Pa says
I like the idea if using the tall grasses for mulch. i go out at 3 in the morning and take bags of leaves from the curb that are destine for the dump. I put them in my compost pile for the winter and by the end of the summer have some nice leaf compost to add to the garden. I have a lot of leaves from my own oak trees to put all the beds to rest in the winter. I tried the bagged stuff directly on the beds, but sometimes I get a lot of funky stuff in there that starts growing in the beds in the spring.
It is nice you have so much space. My western Pa property is only 1/4 of an acre so I trellis a lot of stuff… pumpkin, spaghetti squash, watermelons. cukes…It keeps the critters from eating them as well. I have a giant pumpkin hanging from the trellis right now. The plants seem to know to grow a strong stem. Also found corn to make a great privacy barrier
!
Carol O'Sullivan says
Kevin, When you began your kitchen garden, did you dig up the sod? Can I make a “patio” area by covering the sod with garden “cloth” and then layers of mulch? The area is quite level now and I don’t want brickwork or concrete. I also want to plant a maple tree in this area and several crepe myrtles. Trying for future shade from the maple. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Susan Golden says
How dare any publishers say, “Nay!” to your cookbook! You just tell us who they were and we’ll take care of them, pronto! ~ As usual, your gardens look wonderful! After 2 years of blight in my tomatoes, I traveled to the far side of my yard and put in a raised bed just for them! I got them in a bit late, but as long as I got a few tomatoes without the yellow dropping leaves, it would be worth the effort. Guess what? The dang blight followed me! Oh well, I’ll buy a few bushels of tomatoes for canning. ~ Actually, I am focusing on my new nursery, Golden Gardens, which has celebrated its first year anniversary (no sales yet, just all prep work so far). I have 7 raised beds full of cuttings rooting, rooted cuttings growing in pots, and stock plants growing leaps and bounds, so I have all sorts of cuttings I can finally take from them! I also have 300 cuttings of boxwood rooting! Guess whose idea that was!!! Thanks Kevin! 🙂
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Carol O’Sullivan – I covered the existing sod with cardboard. More details in this post.
Hi Susan – “Golden Gardens” — I love the name! Good luck with your new venture!
Verla says
Greetings, love your blog.
You may have mentioned this before but I can’t find it and I have kept everyone of your Sunday Inspirations. What do you do with your onions? I know you can’t eat all of those and I was wondering how you saved them. I have hung them in panty hose and mesh bags but some keep and some don’t. So do you have a secret that you would share or if you have already please share again. Thanks (You could self publish and we would all buy one from you, just an idea.)
muspic says
as always this visit to your garden has left me green with envy but delighted at being allowed to see such wonders. I want to reassure you that waiting fo the asparagus is indeed torture buy OH MY WORD. When you taste your home grown spears you had better have a fainting couch nearbby. The taste is indescribeable! Worth the sacrifice!
John P. says
Hi Kevin!
Absolutely love reading your stories and sharing the recipes with my wife. Thank you!
Too bad about that straw! I would have definitely been madder than a wet hen and not sure my garden would still exist! 🙁
Anyhow- keep going! We love it!
Sheri says
Looking good Kevin. I had a couple surprises in the garden this year, my white onions didn’t do as good, some developed into full bulbs but most are small, elephant garlic is doing a-okay (last fall planted are better) but the smaller soft necks are very small, not worth digging up at all.
I will not look at your cookies…I will not look at your cookies…………Dang I’m still trying to get my winter poundage off!
Sheri says
FYI: Nothing and I mean “Nothing” is ever put down on the ground in my garden until it gets composted completely! Trust no one!
Molly says
Two nays and a maybe. What is with these people? Don’t they know a delicious, entertaining and irresistible cookbook when they see one? We are all waiting to have your excellent recipes available and sitting on our shelves in cookbook form. Whoever says yes out there in cookbook land will get a fat bonus for being so smart and snapping you up.
Theresa says
Every recipe that I’ve tried from your blog has been excellent…many I’ve shared with friends, or friends beg me to share the recipe…like your amazing tomato pie…or some of the blueberry recipes. YUM! A cookbook would be wonderful! Lots of pictures, please…
My garden is a sea of sweet potatoes and good looking peppers right now. Cucumbers did well earlier, tomatoes are struggling…maybe not enough heat (in the mountains of WV), onions did poorly, peas were late, but good. Kale is coming along, and basil is going gang busters.
Mary Ann Durboraw says
Kevin:
My parents who farmed in Minnesota used to harvest asparagus from the road ditches. Turns out asparagus likes nutrients from salt. They raised great asparagus in the garden by pouring over salt on the soil every Spring. Anyone ever heard of this or researched this???
Carol Samsel says
Nice walk through your Kitchen garden and I didn’t sweat too much 🙂 Bummer about the straw and weeds. I buy bagged shredded straw every spring and have never had a problem with weeds. I do like the shredded leaves better though and this year have made arrangements with a couple of neighbors who normally burn their leaves. Now I won’t have to deal with the nasty smoke and I’ll have more leaves to throw into my wood chipper for shredding. ♥
PaulaK says
So jealous of your raised beds! Still gardening the old fashioned way in rows….no till. but fight weeds in aisles. Tried mulching with straw, leaves, etc. but we have Meadow Voles, those nasty little creatures that hollow out low hanging tomatoes and nibble at the beans. The more mulch the more hiding places…..frustrating. We have a lovely hawk but more voles than he can eat. Anyone know of a bush bean with the beans high enough to be out of vole reach? Sending good thoughts for the Cookbook, Publishers, don’t miss this opportunity!
Julie says
I had the same thing happen to me this year with the straw! I am still furious. How on earth did you get rid of everything that had sprouted? I’m not sure I’ll ever get rid of the grass…
Good luck on the book deal. I would so much like to have a cook book authored by you!
Julie
Ann says
The sweet potato leaves (and young tender stems) are also edible and very nutritious. Cook like spinach. My favorite is simply sauteed with garlic.
Marianne says
I enjoyed the mini garden tour especially the tomatoes. Gardening is a bit different here in Florida. I am so looking forward to a cookbook from you. I love the way you write the recipe in a humorous manner!
Tracy says
Hi Kevin, can you tell us how you store your leeks?
gina says
What fun from the comfort of my chilly bedroom during my insomnia
Helen says
Kevin, I love your posts, don’t get me wrong….but I tried to prove to my husband that he didn’t need to use RoundUp but to use vinegar instead. Went out and bought a new sprayer so it was specific for vinegar and sprayed all my weeds in pathways and sides of yard. At first they looked like it was working but within a week they were stronger than ever! I’m wondering since our yard has lots of shade if this is why it didn’t work. I live in Oregon and it is the hottest summer ever on record so no rain to wash it away. Why do you think this didn’t work for me?
Thanks!
Kay says
Kevin, here in SE Neb. the Sweet Corn & Garden Veggies are going strong! Farmer’s Markets are bursting! Our own garden enjoyed a coolish spring & early summer with plenty of moisture. I grew broccoli & cabbage for the first time and had/have enough to freeze for this winter. The potatoes have been dug and are enjoying the cool, dark basement. Onions are next and I will probably freeze and dehydrate those as they don’t keep as well.
We’ve had an abundance of yellow summer squash and cucumbers and jalapenos so far. The acorn squash looked very promising and then the squash bugs got it. Boo!
The kale was going good too and then the inch worms got it. I’m hopeful it will come back this fall when it cools off.
So now we are waiting for the glut of tomatoes, just the cherry & Romas have started ripening. We started our own plants this year and I’m looking forward to “Abe Lincoln” and “Cherokee Purple”. I’ll be replanting cilantro and basil this weekend for an extended young herb harvest. Those 2 are burning out now. I’ll repot my thyme and rosemary & enjoy them in soups all winter.
I’ve made sweet relish and Kosher dills from the cucumbers so far. We will can salsa & plain canned tomatoes and ds2 (31 yo who is my gardening partner/dictator) & his gf want to try Pasta sauce, Pizza Sauce and regular Dill pickles. I hope I have enough jars!!
Susanne Abrams says
Kevin, thank you for sharing your beautiful garden and great recipes. Wanted to share with you a cookbook to check out, it is the best one I have ever gotten ( yours is not out yet). It is called the Forest Feast by Erin Gleeson. Easy,fast, delicious recipes and extraordinary photos. Susanne