I’m only 3 weeks behind posting this. Practically early for a change!
Some major changes that have happened since I made this movie that you’ll notice in upcoming garden posts: beets, peas, shallots, garlic and many greens have all been harvested and many of the winter crops are now in their place. I’ve also taken out all the nasturtiums because while we were on vacation aphids moved in and destroyed them. I’m now battling them on my squash plants and many others. Did you know when aphid populations get completely out of control they even take over chives? I didn’t. Here I’ve been reading for years that chive and garlic spray is a good deterrent for them. Good maybe, but not good enough.
One correction: I called it a hardy bamboo but I actually meant hardy ginger. You eat the shoots and flowers rather than the root and it is loving my moist clay part shade soil. I’m guessing you have some of that. You, in Seattle, with the tall trees surrounding your house. Why aren’t you growing hardy ginger and mushrooms?
Without furthur ado, my early July garden tour of the front yard.
Yum! Have you harvested any seaberries yet? I considered some for our yard, but saw the size and yield (was it up to 30 pounds of berries per bush?) and since we don’t know what they taste like…..?
Hi Myrnie,
It’s the first year for them so nothing yet. Hoping next year! I’ve heard they are super sour but I’m expecting to add honey…or use them in scones.
Question for you:
I’m trying to learn more about growing garlic and onions here in the mild northwest (Bellingham). Do you think that starting onion seeds in mid-August and garlic in October sounds about the right timing? When do you do yours?
Hi Anne, Lauriel,
I just noticed that my Walla^2 sweets are starting to set seed (July 25th). Since plants know ‘when’ to sow seeds without our help, just watch and see when the seeds are ripe. In my case, about mid-August sounds about right. I’m going to try it this year.
Lauriel I think late Sept/early Oct is when you want to plant your garlic and I like Grace’s approach to onions. Mine are starting to form seed heads now so mid Aug is about when the seeds would be dried. I think I had down 8/21 on my start schedule if I remember right.
Annette, I just love these video posts! I can’t believe that I just realized that you completely took out your lawn! How did I miss that before, lol! It looks fabulous! You are so making me want to take out all of my grass! My husband is going to kill me, lol! I think I’m going to do one of these video tours of my gardens for next week’s Simple Lives Thursday. I still haven’t planted anything for fall or winter, eek!! So behind, eesh! Fun post Annette!!
Great overview of the garden in mid summer! I love the variety of things you grow in your urban plot. Well done!
I finally broke down and got a flip camera. I love it! If only they had these when the kids were babies.
Diana we still have lawn in the back, that was just the south-facing front yard that we never used anyway. If you type my addy in google maps (5710 NE 56th St Seattle, wA) you can get an idea. Also check out the huge tree in the back that completely shades 4 yards in the afternoon. I do still have lettuce and strawberry beds back there plus currants, jostaberry, aronia, huckleberry, herbs, hazelnut trees, bay laurel, hops, mint, male kiwi and 1 plum. The chickens are back there, that is where the rabbit operation would go and I want to start mushrooms in the full shade beds.
Thanks KFG – still need arbequena olives and elderberry to complete my list…plus the mushrooms. My next door neighbor got the honeybees for now and we just got mason bees. Ah the list.