Our garden is really growing great!
I LOVE the part of the growing where everything seems to double in size every week, it is just give me such a sense of progress and forward movement.
I can’t get too comfortable though because before I know it I will have more harvest then I know what to do with!
Here are some highlights:
Broccoli
Ok, I swear I planted broccoli seeds in this one pot at the beginning of the season and it started rapidly growing.
But, It didn’t look like broccoli.
Was it really broccoli?
If not, what the heck was it?
I had no idea so I took a picture and posted it on the Mother Earth News Facebook Gardening Group and ask for help identifying it.
This Facebook Group is a great resource for plant identification, there are so many experts in that group and they are all so helpful and excited to practice their plant identification skills! If you ever need help, go there.
SO what was it?
It was a highly invasive weed called Pigweed, or Amaranthe. I was advised that the leaves are edible and highly nutricious but whatever I do, do not let that plant go to seed!
I was told it will take over everything if I let it go to seed. I decided to just pull it out and dump it in my weed pile in the woods. I kind of regret not tasting it tough! Maybe next time.
Cucumber
They are coming!
So cute, they look like little pickles!
Zucchini
Every year we have had to battle blossom end rot with our zucchini plants.
I thought this year may have been different since we planted them in pots instead of in the ground.
Unfortunately, I noticed this week that we were having that same issue. After some research, I found out that this is due to a calcium deficiency. Several sources suggested adding eggshells as a natural remedy.
Why not try it?! I ground up some eggshells and threw it in the soil, I will let you know if it helps at all!
Lemon Balm
My poor lemon balm hasn’t been doing too great, which is weird because it is suppossed to be a really easy herb to grow!
The leaves started turning a red/brown, they aren’t dying but they are changing colors.
MY first thought was that they were getting way too much hot sun and so I moved it to a shadier spot. We will see.. I will let you know if there is any improvement.
Next Steps
We should be getting some great vegetables soon!
Also, our June berries should come in any day now!
They are such a treat!
Welcome to Wingin’ it on the Homestead! My name is Stephanie Leaf. I am a wife to a can-fix-anything husband, mother of two boys under 3, future expert gardener, lover of anything old and dusty, and inspiring homesteader. My family and I are new to this journey and loving every minute of it. Please join me in embracing a simpler life!