Debbie's Garden

Had some awesome collards and kale from my garden this past weekend, finished them off today! Nothing like growing your own food, picking it and eating it within a few hours time.  It tastes SO much better, you really can tell the difference.  Have lettuces, and more greens, broccoli, cabbages growing.....some under a shade cloth....keeps the frost from getting them   Everyone have an AWESOME Thanksgiving!!   debbie

 

Happy November, all! Hope this finds you in good spirits! Pulled up the tomato plants and gourd vines the other day, sad day but I'd rather do it than have the freeze kill them!  Green tomato casserole again....lol....and it is GOOD!!   Expecting to have my new dehydrator delivered today.....excited!!!  Hope you have a good week.  debbie

Can someone tell me why my tomato plants look so GREAT when they know the frost is coming? lol...I have more blooms on them now than during the summer!  For those of you with Green Tomatoes you need to use, there are some cool recipes out there.  Google for Green Tomato Cake, Green Tomato Salsa, Baked Green Tomatoes (Very yummy! A big hit at my house!!)....many more! Don't waste those tomatoes, you can make relish or even blanch and freeze them just as you would red tomatoes!

Enjoy your day!  debbie

Two things. One is Row Covers. They are great.....may have to put them back on if it heats up anymore....my lettuces don't like the heat!  Number Two is Beetles! Someone said they are "Kudzu" beetles....will they bother the garden I wonder? I've heard reports of them eating kudzu, wisteria, and other similar things....no one has said they eat crops....hope not because they are all over the place the past few days. Not being familiar with this type of bug, i am unsure what to do....maybe i'll just use the row covers!  Anybody have any ideas please comment...thanks!  debbie

My first salad from the fall crop that was COMPLETELY from my garden! (except of course for Newman's Own Vinaigrette!)  The sprinkling of nuts (Georgia pecans) even came from my yard! There was: arugula, purple cabbage, romaine lettuce, spinich, swiss chard, turnip greens, kale, and collard greens - eight tasty greens chopped and tossed together, with CHERRY TOMATOES from my garden, as well.  Wow!  So cool to be able to go outside and "forage" for lunch! LOL!  Next time I will try to remember to take a picture of it....lol.  We (including Grandson Tommy) are going to Cagles Family Farm in Canton, GA tomorrow, and expect to have a great time! I hope Everyone has a glorious Fall Weekend!  debbie

Another cool, sunny day! Got more bulbs to put in the ground later today, mostly flowers again. You don't know how many you have until you dig up your yard and move! lol  Have a great day everyone!

It's gonna be another beautiful fall weekend in North Georgia! I plan to hit a fall festival with my grandson tomorrow, then work on putting some more bulbs in the ground...daffodil, tulip, crocus, star of david, and the like....all of these were brought from Marietta in the move and I never got around to putting them in the ground at the new place.  However, I did finally get all the garlic planted, and some is already poking up! I've also been bringing some plants in, a few at a time - in anticipation of cooler weather to come! I don't want to be caught having to do them all at the last minute as I have in the past! And, it's so much nicer to have some organization! (I'm not good at that most of the time ) Everyone have a wonderful weekend!  debbie

Good morning, all, what a brisk morning it is here in Dallas, Georgia! My outside thermometer tells me 60 degrees, and the inside is 64! Might be time to get the furnace serviced..............lol.  Uncovered the broccoli, cabbage and lettuce this morning - hopefully can start leaving off the row covers. Took some photos this morning of the plants, and am trying to figure out how to upload on the blog....any advice would be MUCH appreciated! UNTIL THEN check out my facebook page, debbiesgarden

Everyone have a great day! deb

It's a bit chilly this morning, fall is DEFINITELY in the air! Maybe soon I will be able to take the row covers off the broccoli and cabbage....we'll see.  Definitely has been a plus using them, the plants are "bug free" and have thrived in the partial shade....Georgia late-summer temps are rather brutal on cool weather crops! Everyone have a great day!

The fall garden at my house consists of broccoli, cabbage, collards, sugar snap peas, and lettuce. Planted some celery, too, still waiting to see what that looks like!   I still have arugula, as it reseeds itself pretty well.  Still getting a few tomatoes and peppers, and green beans as I planted a late crop. A spaghetti squash is taking off across the lawn, too, but i'm not sure he'll make it before frost, we'll see.  I am enjoying the seasons here in Dallas, Georgia, and am looking forward to trying my hand at growing herbs INSIDE for a change this winter. Ya'll have a blessed day!  debbie

Garlic is IN the ground! I can't wait to see those little shoots coming up. I've never grown elephant garlic before, hope mine is HUGE! I planted shallots, red garlic, and a white garlic, as well.  Wish i could remember the varieties without having to look them up...sigh. My love for garlic has grown over the years to the point if can barely stand to use garlic powder or dried garlic anymore. Garlic is good for you, too, as it helps boost the immune system, and kills lots of germs.  I am not one to get sick often, and attribute it to the garlic consumption, among other things, like running when I hear someone is sick....haha!  Everyone have a blessed day and don't forget to eat your garlic!   debbie

Today is the day.....this is my weekend to PLANT GARLIC!! I will probably end up planting some more cilantro and greens, too....what are you planting??  Have a good weekend!  debbie

The collards, cabbage and broccoli are gaining on the kale now that the weather has turned a bit.  I think they've grown an inch or two since I last checked two days ago! Exciting! Everyone have a blessed day!  debbie

What a glorious day it was today....the weather so nice and mild, not too hot or too cool. Too bad it can't be this great every day! I spent most of it outside in the garden, weeding and harvesting herbs, mostly basil.  I hung a lot of it to dry, and some went into the oven on 170 for a speedier dry! Gathered lots of seed as well......mostly different varieties of basil....and the neverending hyacinth bean and lavender moonflower! It's been a great year for those, and I am having a sale in the localharvest store, buy one get one free, in case you need either of those. So very blessed to have spent the day working and relaxing in the yard. Happy Fall Ya'll!  debbie

Well, I am learning! It seems that the row covers help here in the deep south....when trying to grow fall crops of kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, and other various things....I experimented with not using them versus using them. The sun/heat killed the uncovered seedlings in ONE DAY! And it wasn't even 90 that day. So....i will continue to use row covers for the fall "cool weather" crops....hopefully I will benefit and reap the harvest! Anyone else have any other suggestions/advice for growing cool weather crops in Georgia in the fall, let me know! Everyone have a great day! debbie