This has been our worst performance in 35 years of gardening. NOAA says to expect an early wrap-up to a summer that has barely started, and I believe them. Winter lasted into June and nothing would grow in the cold rain, then summer was Saharan and they shriveled in the sudden heat; here it is the first of August and the geese and starlings are flocking to leave a month early and the garden orb weavers have already set up shop.
Meanwhile we've eaten two cherry tomatoes.
But all is not lost. One of the apple trees is actually performing well; there will be loads of blackberries; favas, cabbages and kale have been spectacular, and there was lots of rhubarb. Potatoes will be small but plentiful, and there's plenty of sunchoke in the ground.
The key is: diversify. If you try everything you may actually eat something! Want some scrambled duck eggs with those fried zukes?
i was thinking today of how gardeners of our time will be considered in retrospect - having dealt with harsh and variable conditions often predicted but not often considered valid (i still hear folks all the time saying global warming is a farce). and it makes me wonder rather selfishly whether my tragic garden is due to inexperience, a late start, climate change, or something else entirely.
ReplyDeleteeither way, i still keep seeding things and plodding onward, sometimes happily and sometimes grudgingly. i did eat my first cherry tomato today, and was Thrilled about it. the peppers are finally starting to burn orange, and i have one beet of edible size.
it seems to me like i ought to try drifting in the direction of your tastes - greens and cooler season crops that can be tended longer and sown more often. your meal pictures always look so lovely.
p.s. i just posted something on my blog that i'm really excited about! take a look, i'm eager to hear your thoughts and any related memories, stories, ideas.
Edible weeds are doing very well here; unfortunately they are in the dogs' yard and no amount of washing would make me feel comfortable eating them. It's time to browse outside their yard.
ReplyDeleteSorry the weather hammered your garden so badly this year.
>hammered
ReplyDeleteHuh -- somebody's talkin' as knows th' word. [wry smiley face].
But it could be so-o-o much worse. We're harvesting. Many farmers have gone back to the bank with their tails tucked in, this year. Our heart goes out to them.
H: will do. :)