Potato Harvest

Potato Harvest    

It was a beautiful coolish, sunny day (still drought-y out there).  Perfect for potato harvest.  Potato harvest feels a little bit like Christmas.  You can watch the potato plants growing - sometimes they yellow, sometimes they flower, sometimes they are green and lush and you just know that there is magic happening.  That's what happened this year.  The potato plants just kept growing and growing despite 115 degree temperatures and drought.  My expectations were high and my excitement was that of opening a long-anticipated gift.  

It's always fun and somewhat magical to dig up potatoes. This year it was slightly less fun as the soil took more "busting" than usual due to dryness. I try to work methodically so that I don't accidentally pierce the potatoes or lose any of the small ones.  Large potatoes go into storage.  Small potatoes go back to the garden shed for re-planting.  

Potato skin is somewhat delicate when first emerging from the soil.  I accidentally scraped a few when trying to remove dirt clods.  The skin will toughen as the potato cures.  Potatoes prefer to cure in the cool and shade.  I usually give them a quick bath to remove most of the dirt but try to resist any sort of scrubbing.  They will need to cure for about 2 weeks in a well-ventilated area.  A garage or a basement works nicely if you have one. 

After curing, you can store in a cool, dry place (not your refrigerator) for winter.  As with all stored produce, check regularly for any signs of rot.  It is quite unpleasant to find a box of liquified potatoes.  I used to store potatoes and onions on the floor of my pantry and then I read that that is not a good combo.  Onions will actually cause them to begin sprouting.  Instead, I read to store them with an apple.  I have not yet tried this trick out as my potatoes seem to store just fine on their own in the garage.  

To check out a picture of my suburban potato harvest for 2021, click on the link below. 

Potatoes on Instagram 

To finish out my day in the garden, I added compost to the spot the potatoes came out and planted cabbage and peas. 

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What's Growing: April

blossoms on the plum tree

I knew I had slowed down on my gardening - life gets busy and full.  But looking back at what was growing April 2015 is a little embarrassing.  

https://likeatreeplantedoregon.blogspot.com/2015/04/whats-growing-april.html

Here's a comparison as to what I have growing in 2019.

Arugula - overwintered and transplanted.  I'm not sure if they will grow or bolt.

Asparagus - not up yet

Blueberry - flowering

Celery - planted from kitchen scraps but having trouble establishing.  The ones from last year didn't overwinter well.  I suspect varmints.

Garlic - overwintered and starting to come back. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuxNZtelYCf/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Grape - pruned, no buds

Kale - Didn't overwinter.  Planted in March.

Nasturtium - wasn't successful last year

Onion- planted in March

Oregano - overwintered and coming back

Pea - will plant in April

Plum - blooming

Potato - they won't grow! We even dug out the potato bed last year and took out a ton of tree roots.  The tree roots are back but I suspect some kind of varmint.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BluLPZzBm4z/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Raspberry - this year's canes aren't quite coming up yet

Rosemary - overwintered 

Rutabaga - the few that overwintered are being eaten by slugs. yuck.

Spinach - just planted in March

Strawberry - overwintered but weak

Thyme - overwintered but weak




New to this list:

Brussel sprouts - overwintered and gave some nice sprouts but are now bolting.  I will save seeds!

Chives - perennial herb 

Greenbeans - planted in March

Lettuce - planted in March

Marionberry and Loganberry - pruned but no new canes yet.



This will be my 7th summer gardening this land (mini-farm).  I have added and lost bees.  I have added and lost and added chickens.  We have cats and a dog.  I grow less seed crops and more perennials.  I have noticed seasonal clues to planting (like when the daffodils come up).  Each year is a bit different.  Each harvest unique.  All are enjoyable.  Planting is a passion I will not easily give up.  Cheers to 2019!  Let's see what the season holds.

Green Beans

This year was my first year growing green beans.  I grew bush beans (which don't need support) and climbing beans (which do need support and, therefore, are not usually commercially grown).  Green beans are great to grow.  They grow easily, add nitrogen to the soil and have a small footprint.  Every time I grow something new in the garden, I make a discovery.  What I discovered about green beans was very important:  I'm the only one in my family who likes green beans!  I don't know how this is possible.  They are not an offensive vegetable, but there you have it.  Beautiful beans, and I'm the only eater.  It's one thing if a veggie is easy to grow, but if it's easy to grow and no one eats it, then what's the point?  Lucky for me, I am resourceful when it comes to veggies.

Sauteed Green Beans
by Gretchen Gingerich

Green Beans

Chop green beans.  Saute in your favorite fat with salt.  Viola!



Frozen Green Beans
by Gretchen Gingerich

Green Beans

Chop green beans.  Dump into boiling water for 30 seconds (blanch).  Freeze in a double layer plastic self-sealing bag.



Dilly Beans
by Gretchen Gingerich
makes 4 pints

Everyone's favorite bean pickle!

2 lbs Green Beans
5 Cups white vinegar
1/2 Cup pickling salt
2 tsp red pepper flakes
8 tsp dill seed (not the green part)
8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

Chop green beans and pack into clean, warm canning jars with red pepper, dill seed, and garlic cloves. Leave 1/2 inch head-space.

Bring vinegar and salt to a boil.

Pour hot brine over beans leaving 1/2 inch head-space.

Process in a hot-water bath for 5 minutes according to conventional USDA canning recommendations.  Let the pickles rest and cure for at least 2 weeks before opening.