Sunday, July 1, 2012

Gardening Rewards

We planted a (late) vegetable garden this year as a joint venture between my mom and dad and us. My daddy especially likes to garden and so he has really used this as a teaching opportunity with Joy and Luke. (He did the same with Colt when he was younger). The best teacher is one that is passionate about his/her subject. And my daddy is that.  :)



Let’s see, we (actually my dad, Jason, Joy & Luke) planted cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, hot peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and okra.

Since Luke especially loves cucumbers, Pop (my dad) let him plant and tend to those. And the first yield of our garden was a cucumber, so Pop came over and got Luke so he could be the one to pick it, (and eat it).







And Pop was so excited to get Luke out there to show him the watermelons coming up. Those tiny watermelons…..aren’t they cute?



I do hope those tiny watermelons grow up fat and juicy for Colt’s sake because he sure loves his watermelons. He always has. As a matter of fact, we stopped by the store the other night and picked one up and dropped it by his apartment.

We’ve had a few cucumbers and squash so far (since that first cucumber).





 Jason and I really love fried squash. And squash is really good cooked in the microwave too. We just slice it long wise and add butter/onion or any other spices we might want. I also like Creole seasoning on it. Cook until tender – anywhere from 2 minutes on, depending on how big your squash is or how many you have in there. I just check it and add time to it if necessary. It’s a quick yummy fix for dinner!

It is SO hot here – temperatures over 100 degrees, so some of our plants aren’t looking too sporty. I really hope they make it! My dad put in a better watering system so we’re being optimistic.

What about you…….do you have a vegetable garden? If so, what are you growing?

Oh, and does anyone have a yummy and easy bread and butter canning recipe for the cucumbers? I have never done them but (I think) I would like to attempt it!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I really do appreciate your comments....they are always so encouraging to me.  And I feel so ashamed that I haven't been blog visiting lately.  Please don't give up on me!    And have a wonderful week!  :)

13 comments:

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

Hello Tammy! What a wonderful garden, and you have cucumbers already? Luke looks so proud with his first cucumber. How precious. I always Gardened with my 3 boys too. My youngest son (11 Yrs.old) likes to stake off a small square in the garden and start his own little garden from seeds. He tends to it and waters it. Our garden is a little slow growing this year and we had to replant a few things to do rabbits and other critters eating the plants. We planted tomatoes, 3 different kinds of onions, red, yellow and white. cucumbers, (my favorite) green bell peppers, peas, Dill, carrots & watermelon (my kids favorite) sure hope they grow. I didn't plant zucchini or squash this year because we have a terrible problem with bugs eating them. I can my own salsa, pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce. And I make the dill refrigerator pickles. Thanks for sharing your garden. Have a wonderful Holiday week!

sandraallen260@centurytel.net

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

Thats so great!! I planted a garden when my children were little and they loved planting it and watering and then picking all that they had grown!!

Lois Christensen said...

I love your garden!!! And how cute is Luke with his cucumber! I hope you continue to enjoy everything the garden produces!

Wendi said...

There are tomatoes, green beans, zucchini and cucumbers in my garden. We are also having temps over 100*. I am spending a big part of my day watering everything. there are baby cucumbers that we are anxiously waiting for.

Simply Quaint said...

Hi Tammy,
Isn't it wonderful how fun children love to see how things work and happen. My grandbabies are the same way they get so excited and are so amazed. We have a veggie garden, every year we plant something new in it to see how it grows, we have lots of tomatoes, I love heriloom tomatoes so we add them into our regular, roma, big girl, sometimes beef steak, we have a cherry tomatoe plant, red potatoes, blue lake green beans, onions, zucchini, radishes, lettuce and spinach didn't do to good this year, we have pickling cucumbers and regular, and our new first time growing is rock melon (canteloupe). I have a awesome refrigerator sweet pickle recipe and a easy yummy sweet pickle freezer recipe will attach in another post.
Hope you like them
~Rhonda~

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

I am amazed at how well everyone in the midwest and out your way..how your gardens are growing.we have lots of potatos, arugula, chives, herbs..lettuce, cabbage..and I was actually able to pick 3 strawberries before the sluggies got them..I have no pumpkins..they just aren't coming up..we had rain today and will again tomorrow..summer is offically the day after the 4th..we just don't get warm enough..oh and we have tomatoes..and some flowers..and we probably won't see any till september..have a wonderful week ahead and a happy and safe 4th,;)

Simply Quaint said...

Hi Tammy here are the recipes, I will try to make them short :)
Refrigerator Sweet Pickles
3 c sugar
1/3 c salt
2 c white vinegar
1 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp alum
4 quarts of unpeeled sliced cucumbers
2 large onions sliced
optional red and or green peppers
(I've never added them)
pour first five ingredients over vegetables, stir well. Let stand 10 minutes, stir again, keep in jar in refrigerator up to 6 months.
Enjoy!!

Freezer Pickles

16 cups of thinly sliced unpeeled cucumbers
2 medium onions sliced thinly
place in a large bowl, sprinle with salt, put in refrigerator for 3 hours
In seperate bowl
2 cups white vinegar
4 cups sugar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp alum
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp mustard seed
Mix well, remove cucumbers from refrigerator, donot drain, pour the above ingredients over cucumbers and onions, stir together. I then dip cucumbers, onions and juice into freezer quart bags, seal tight, I place them in freezer standing upright. Can keep up to a year, to serve just remove bag from freezer once thawed, I put in jar and keep in refrigerator.
These are so awesome and easy to do, my family loves thems.
Hope you give these a try.
Let me know what you think
Hugs
~Rhonda~

LynnMarie said...

Great garden! I love it when generations get into working together and teach each other this craft of gardening. Well done. We didn't do a garden this year, other things became more important. Oh well, next year...

renee said...

Hi Tammy!
I think it's great! I think Luke may just have some farming in his future! He likes tractors, gardening, and dirt! That is the criteria!
I tried watermelons here, but I think our season is too short.
I have beans, peas, cukes, peppers and tomatoes, squash and zucchini going. Hopefully, the peas and cukes will do something. I haven't had luck with the cukes and never tried peas.
Thanks for sharing. I enjoy your blog even if I don't always comment. Have a blessed July 4th!
Hugs,
Renee

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Sandra said...

What a great garden you have.

The horrid heat here lately has killed my veggie garden, I'm so disappointed as it was doing wonderful. Oh well :)

Virtual Essence said...

What a great garden! Even better is the experience for your entire family. I'm envious of you living near family and being able to do things like this together. You're creating such fabulous memories for your children! I loved helping my mum in the garden and when I visit I always sneak out there to snack around. :)

Sharon said...

How wonderful for you to have such a wonderful garden.
We are having temps in the triple digits here also!!!Things are drying up really fast.
Around here the irrigation systems can not keep up with the high temps and the high winds so the crops are looking a little sad.
Have a wonderful 4th