It’s been a few at least a month since I shared some garden progress with you so I thought I better get those pictures rolling. This is the first year we have grown pumpkin and I have to admit I didn’t check to see what kind I planted but from the looks of it, it’s not a pie pumpkin! My son Diego said we have to leave it for a couple more days so it gets a bit more orange and then he wants to take it home to carve. I cannot wait to roast the seeds! There’s nothing more frugal then growing your own food.

A trellis can be used to train beans, pumpkin, watermelon and squash or anything that has a vine. This is how I do my trellis for cucumber and beans. I would not use this type of trellis for watermelon or pumpkin as they are too heavy for this type of trellis. Start with tall wooden stakes, I bought these from Fred Meyer for less than a $1 a piece. I used 3 but you should really have at least 4 to 6 for the space I did. You will also need some twine, I used Jute twine because it was .89 cents each roll and had a cutter at the…

Your summer garden is coming to an end and you’ve produced a lot, you are probably thinking you are done for the season but there are many Fall crops you can plant in mid summer and early September to carry you for another 3 or 4 months. Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, collard greens, kale, turnips, beets, fava beans, carrot, mustard greens, cucumber, onion sets, radish, spinach, garlic, green beans, artichokes and some potato varieties grow well in the fall months. When planting for a fall crop you want to start your seeds indoor for faster and stronger growth. When they get their second set of leaves they are ready to…

  Outdoor entertaining is one of the great joys of spring and summer. Until, of course, the bugs invade. In place of spray and pesticides, try a cluster of mosquito-repelling potted plants. Grouped together near a seating area on your deck or patio, they make a pretty and lush addition to your outdoor landscape while also protecting you and your guests. Check out One Kings Lane’s article Easy Update: Mosquito-Repelling Potagerie for more information about how a trio of lush potted plants will have you saying good-bye to bug spray.

I planted these beds in early June and at the time they were just starts and I wasn’t sure how they were going to do because I started a few weeks late. I must say they are healthy and taking off real nicely. Pictured are watermelon, cantaloupe, an unidentified melon, butternut squash, patty pan squash ( it might have died actually, can’t remember), a yellow cucumber, I think we have a zucchini, a pickling cucumber and a pumpkin. Not pictured, we have lots of tomato plants (some heirloom), tomatillo ( purple and green), pepper plants, sweet bell peppers, broccoli, egg plant, onions, radishes, red leaf lettuce, and there’s probably a…

My sister and I rented a garden plot this year so we could share the bounty. Well, she hasn’t had time to take care of the weeds and they have taken over the plot. I have to admit when I got there I was a little overwhelmed but 3 hours later and we had some progress. We need more plants. Can you suggest your favorites?

About a week ago I posted a picture of potatoes I had let sit too long and they formed eyes. Several of you suggested I plant them and only a couple suggested I just cut the eyes off and eat them. In fact it seemed like cutting the eyes off the potatoes to eat the potato was extremely taboo on my page! I have to admit I was a little surprised by that and also concerned because our country once relied to heavily on agriculture that we would just know potatoes are edible even though they have eyes. It seems today’s generation has lost some of it’s farmers. I would…

I am really excited for this summer because I will be with a garden again. Last year we weren’t able to get a plot because they sold out and we had just moved into a tiny apartment with a back patio that blocks out the sun. This year my sister was able to get one of the community gardens that usually sell out too fast. It is a 20×20 plot and we both will be showing you how to grow a garden stocked full of the most important vegetables to feed a family year round. There will be introduction to seed starting, transplanting, keeping them alive, fertilizing, harvesting, and production…