Debbie's Garden

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

Fall is definitely in the air. I finally got the nerve to cut down the gourd vines....they were about dead, and since they were on the deck it sure looked bad....got some gourds to show for it, and hopefully will have some birdhouses for spring!  Everyone have a blessed day! debbie

Wow...finally! It's been over three very hot weeks since we've seen rain....it started slow Sunday afternoon, with a few drizzles - the finally gave way to real rain last night! I know all the trees and plants are very happy to be drinking it in.  And, my new seedlings are happy too! Trying to grow some cabbage and broccoli under "shade" (row covers) - any advice from others would be appreciated as to row covers.  Also have some radishes, kale, collards going.....hope they do, we'll see! Georgia summers are pretty relentless, and it's hard to get cool weather crops to work in the fall, at least in my experience.

Everyone have a good Labor Day, remember to honor those who have served, and are serving, our country.  debbie

If you are getting rain, consider yourself blessed....we have not had rain fall in my area for over two weeks! And when it did rain last, it was a mere shower...nothing substantial. Even the grass is beginning to look parched! Grrr i'm over this Georgia summer....

Hi everyone! Haven't written in a while - been pretty busy what with vacations, grandkids and such....not to mention the garden!  Speaking of garden, I have baby collards, broccoli, spaghetti squash, spinich, cabbage and kale.... ! There is no time to rest yet; we still have food to grow!  Seed us coming in hot and heavy, the hyacinth bean and lavender moonflower are especially abundent this year. Also morning glories of unbelievably rich colors this year, and white cyprus vine and marigold.  My marigolds look like BUSHES, not plants, this year....turns out i planted them over the septic tank! ha! So that old rumour is true......! you can see some of my pics from my garden and produce on my facebook page, if you are interested. Look up and "like" debbie's garden in Dallas, Georgia. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/debbies-garden/70108898736  Everyone have a great day!  debbie

Well the move is finally over and we are pretty much "settled in" - still have boxes to unpack, but who has time for that when there's so many plants to be taken care? :)  I have corn up, green beans, squash (several kinds), tomatoes and peppers, lots of varieties...cukes....I just am so very blessed to have such a nice new home and ... BLACKBERRIES growing behind my house, and even a fig tree peeping out from under the briars.... time to pull out the machete and beat back the weeds! I hope to have another plant sale in the fall.....stay tuned for more updates!  debbie

Happy Spring!  We had some more rain last night, which we needed (don't we almost always need rain?)  Been digging up the yard for the plant sale.....I am reminding all the locals that the plant sale is this Saturday April 23, please see my page under events for more details!  Lots of perenniels and herbs.....can't wait to see you! :) Have a great Easter weekend!  debbie

Today was another glorious warm, sunny spring day! I was able to plant some moonvine, hyacinth bean, squash, nasturtiums and pumpkin seed.  Also transplanting more succulents and potting them up for the plant sale.  I have a lot more plants than i ever imagined, it's amazing when you dig up your yard how many plants there are after you divide everything!  I do need to hurry and pick some greens, as the little worms that are spiraling out of the sky on silk strings are attacking my collards! Have a great week, everyone, and enjoy the weather!  debbie

It's still cold. Brr. Someone please tell me it's going to be warm this weekend? I can't handle much more.....I want to be out in the garden...with the sun beaming down on me, warming my soul. Just saying that made me feel better :-)  Dreams of sunshine and the smell of dirt!! Have a blessed day everyone!

And it's another soggy morning in Marietta, Georgia! Some of you know I am moving to Dallas, GA in a month or two, about fifteen to twenty minutes northwest of where I am now in Marietta. After nineteen years, one can imagine there are quite a few plants growing on this small plot! Some are staying, some are being divided and sold, and of course quite a few are going to the new Dallas garden. We are all excited! There are TONS of daylilies (orange), irises (purple AND yellow), spiderwort, ajuga, tarragon, peppermint, spearmint, rosemary and various other perennials and herbs and succulents - it's funny how you don't really realize what you have until you have to dig it up to move it! :-) Raining today, so I won't get any digging done. Maybe tomorrow! Hope some of you can make the plant sale (April 23), or preorder and pickup, either way. Mention you heard about it on localharvest for ten percent off your total! Have a great day!  deb