Saturday, September 14, 2019

Deck Garden September Wrap-Up

It’s September (Can you believe it?), so it is time for a deck garden wrap-up. It has been a garden friendly summer. For the most part temperatures have been moderate, rain was plentiful early on, and everything grew like mad. You know that your garden has been a success when neighbors become wild-eyed upon seeing you; faint strains of “no more tomatoes” hang in the air, as they turn on their heels and flee. I think half the neighborhood is suffering from acid re-flux as a direct result of consuming too many tomatoes.
I never thought I would say this, but I am sick of tomatoes, tired of cutting up peppers for the freezer much less eating them, most sorrowful at all of the green beans that went bad because one can only consume so many, and wishing I had a lot more flowers. 
The Cathedral Bells climbed everywhere, teasing me all summer, but didn’t bloom until this morning when I was greeted with the most amazing purple flower. Here’s hoping something will become of the small bird sitting out in the plant so that I can reap rewards for all of my hard work and dedication. This variety is Cobea Scandens, and those seeds can be found here.

The herbs did marvelously, and I did well, I think, growing nothing more than mint (in its own pot), and a big pot of basil, chives, and parsley. With few exceptions, I didn’t find I needed much more. Next year I will add lemon balm, because I do like that in a nice cold brew tea. Note made.
I learn things every year when I garden, but I think the most important lesson learned this year was to carefully read seed packets. I was so charmed by the thought of growing gourds, that it never occurred to me to CAREFULLY read the packet. Had I done so, I would have discovered that I’d purchased seeds for miniature gourds only destined to be 2 inches long. They are adorable, but not exactly what I was hoping for.
Speaking of which, once I harvested the gourds and pulled up the vines, the ruffled pink morning glories that I had forgotten I’d planted (in the hopes of them entwining themselves in a beautiful gourd/flower display) began to grow and bloom. I absolutely love this variety, and will definitely grow them next year. Many people have inquired about this variety. These are Split Second Morning Glory, the seeds can be found here.
Another thing that I learned is that no way do I need as many peppers and tomatoes as I grew. The same goes for the cherry tomatoes. Not that I’m complaining, they provided me with a lot of wonderful, crunchy, flavorful little fruit, but enough is enough. My refrigerator is full of bowls of them, and I just can’t take it anymore. The jury is still out on the cucumbers.

I am letting the big boy tomatoes continue — they look quite lush —but long ago pulled down their trellises, so, while they are vining all over the place, they are providing me with wonderful tomatoes, that I am turning into the best ever marinara sauce.
The ginger is still doing well, and will go into October. 

My notes for next year are this; grow fewer vegetables and more flowers. I didn’t need the 50 jalapeƱos that I harvested in one week. While I love the peppers, one plant will do, if that, and I’m not going to grow jalapeƱos. They are easy to grow, and quite prolific, but next year that pot is going to hold either flowers or lemon balm. One of my great joys this season has been all of the butterflies and hummingbirds that have visited.
Next year I hope to have more. I don’t mind planting zinnias, solely for the enjoyment of the goldfinches, who holds onto their strong systems, plucking each petal from every flower head, one at a time, in order to get to the fresh seeds. It’s adorable.

What did your garden do? And what will you do differently next year?


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7 comments:

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

I enjoyed watching the goldfinches holding onto my zinnias while they plucked each petal like he loves me , he loves me not, to get that seed at the center, but then they started to favor my favorite colors of the zinnias which I was hoping to harvest seed from for the following year. I started to shoo the little finches away from the zinnias whenever I would hear them out there. It made me feel like an evil doer, but then I saw that the confetti-ed petals were still appearing all around the zinnia flowers. The finches wake up much earlier than I do, so they had a fair share of seeds after all.

Your vegetables did great this year. I love that ruffly pink morning glory. Are its blooms very large? I also love the heavenly blue morning glories, but my husband usually weed whacks them by mistake.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Patti,
Thank you for this detailed post. I am amazed at what you were able to grow on your deck. It sounds like you had a farm!! I have never had luck growing any vegetables in pots on my deck. I grew herbs this summer and a meager amount , just enough to keep us happy but none to freeze. I would love to know how you do this and what the containers look like and what they look like with the plants in full bloom. This is truly amazing. Wish I was your neighbor for tomatoes!!!

Linda said...

I have loved every post about your garden. I'm just blown away how prolific it was. I agree with you about jalapenos. I pictured endless salsas and pickled jalapenos, but there were too many and they were too hot. I've not grown a decent cucumber since 2000 - how about that! Your tomatoes are gorgeous, as are your peppers. YES on the flowers. I planted a full plot of zinnia seeds just for the butterflies and bees. I plan to buy more seed for next spring.

I did purchase an electric canner two years ago that has been worth its weight in gold, but we didn't have enough tomatoes this summer to put it to any use. :(

I told my husband I am rethinking the huge garden theory. Our garden just burned up this summer, no amount of water was enough, and things that grew the last two years didn't grow at all. I'm taking notes on your deck garden, plus I'm considering a little raised bed area. Looks like we won't need our tractor tiller next year! Hah!

thepaintedapron.com said...

You really had a bountiful crop Pattie! Too funny about your fleeing neighbors :) How wonderful to step out on your deck for fresh produce!
Jenna

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Linda, you turned my head with t he words "electric canner." Now you have got me thinking.

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Ladies, thank you for all of your lovely comments. I will be doing another post on how I did it and what products I used. One thing I will tell you is that I am totally sold on the tomato variety called "Husky Cherry." These are the size of Roma tomatoes, extremely prolific (I picked six this morning), and grow on a dense, compact bush.

sandy said...

I don't have a garden but my son up in Washington has a huge one - and I love visiting and sitting at the table in the morning with coffee where it sits right in the middle of the garden . Love all your photos and what you said about what you grew and what you won't grow next time and how you will invite me over for .....let's say a month retreat at your house meals included. Yeah, that's doable for me.