It's Cold Out There...

Winter is upon us here in the Midwest. Just in time for P and I to get back from Miami. It was wonderful there. Eighty degrees with a cool breeze. We went to the Zoo, and the beach. We go engaged. Big news that! :D

Some photos from my trip:

Garden update!

Well, it's nearly the end of July, and all sorts of things are becoming ripe. Our Tomatoes have been doing good. So has the okra, pepper, and butternut squash. Sadly the summer squash, zucchini, and cucumbers all seem to be a disaster this year. We have not gotten anything from the plants!

The blueberry harvest was not nearly as good as it was last year, but the peaches, raspberries, and blackberries have all done wonderfully. :D We got to make a lot of muffins from them!

Hopefully we will also be canning soon.

Pictures from my Gardens!

This years garden!

To view full image: My Garden Chart

This year our actual tillage siz is smaller, but we actually have more plants, and more variety since we decided not to cultivate any corn this year. It was actually quite a disaster last year! It ripened really early, and went wormy almost immediately.

This year we are also trying a lot of varieties of heirloom, and hybrid tomatoes! And also a few types of plants that we did not try last year such as broccoli, watermelon and okra.

About our tomatoes:

Supersteak-American Hybrid. Medium to large red fruits. Good for salads, slicing, canning and drying.

Homestead- Heirloom. Large, meaty, red fruits. Heat resistant! Good for canning and slicing.

Celebrity-Hybrid. Medium, red fruit. Good for slicing, salads, canning and drying.

Mr. Stripey- Heirloom. Orange and red striped. Large fruit. Sweet and mild, they are excellent raw.

Yellow Pear- Commercial Heirloom. Small, pear shaped, yellow fruit. Good for Salads, and slicing.

"Old Germany"- Heiloom. Produce and orange/red/bicolor fruit that is large, flat/oblong and beefsteak shaped. Good for slicing.

Early Girl-Hybrid. Red, medium sized fruit. Good fresh (salad, slicing.)

Cherokee Purple-Heirloom. One of the first "black" varieties. They are often a dusky rose color. Large, beefsteak shaped fruit. Good for fresh (salads, slicking), canning, drying.

Amish Paste- Heirloom. Medium sized, red-orange fruit. Good for Canning, and drying.

Rome Patio- Determinate/ commercial Heirloom. Similar to Roma. Small, red pear shaped fruit. Good for Canning, paste, grilling, and salads!

Jet Star- Hybrid. Medium, red fruits. Good for Canning, slicing and salads.

Black Krim- Crimean Heirloom. A dark red or Brown. Good for Salads, slicing.

Black Prince- Siberian Heirloom. Fruits are a deep garnet color, medium, round, and have a rich flavour. Cold resistant. Good for canning, slicing, and salads.

Green Zebra- Heirloom/Hybrid. Green and yellow striped. Medium sized fruit. Tart taste. Good for salads, slicing.

Aunt Ruby's German Green- Heirloom (Tennessee.) Lime green, beefsteak shaped, medium sized fruits that are good for salads and slicing. And hopefully frying. They are slightly sweet and spicy tasting.

Orange Oxheart- Heirloom (Virginia.) Bright yellow/orange heart-shaped fruits that are a medium size. Good for Slicing and Canning.

Boxcar Willie- Heirloom. Medium/large, orange/red fruit. High yield. Good for Salads, slicking, canning, and juice.

Supersweet-American Hybrid Cherry. Small cherry/graped sized fruit that are re to red-orange. Good for salads.

Roma- Commercial Heirloom. Small, red, pear-shaped fruit. Great for making sauces and canning.

Our Egg Plants-

Ichiban-Hybrid. Long purple fruit.

Black Beauty- Heirloom. round, dark red fruit. Early harvester.

Dusky- Hybrid. Cylindrical fruit with black skins.

Out Peppers:

Pablano Ancho- Mild Chile Pepper.

Habanero-One of the more spicey varieties of chili peppers.

Banana-yellow wax pepper or banana chili, mild to moderately hot. Usually pickled.

Jalapeno-medium- to large-sized chili pepper. Hot, hot hot.