Putting Our Garden To Bed...

 

Man, we worked yesterday. We were outside for about three hours, pulling plants and cleaning up three of the four garden beds. Handsome did all the heavy shovel work and pulling, while I pulled the simple stuff and drove our yard tractor.

These are the last of the veggies we harvested as the beds were cleared. All of them are minis. We were giggling about the size of the last of the carrots and green peppers.

 

I planted the squash later than I thought I should, but someone on IG said July wasn't too late. Those are little delicata and long neck squash, which should be much larger at harvest. Lesson learned. I'll be planting our squash much earlier next year. I also guess I'll be buying delicata squash from the farm stand this weekend, too. (I've already planned to purchase local potatoes when I go to Portage for Craft Day on Saturday.)

I also learned that you never have a surgical procedure with after-care restrictions in the middle of growing season. The weeds took over, but thankfully our plants were established enough to not be affected by them. However, those weeds are the reason it took so long to clean out the beds. their roots were deep, and of course, we needed to removed roots and all so they don't return in the spring.

All in all, our first year as real gardeners since we were first married has been a learning experience. Handsome and I are thinking that we may not expand our plot next year much more, as this year provided plenty of work for two folks our age (including preserving our harvest). My mind is certainly willing, but our bodies are saying, "Take it easy. You aren't spring chickens any more." I'll draw up some plans over the winter, and we'll see where we are once the weather starts to warm up again.

 

We still have one bed to clear, which we'll do today. Then I'll add the amendments for the beds (compost, etc.) so that I can plant garlic very soon. It will rest all winter in the bed, covered with a straw mulch, and then sprout after first frost in the spring. At least that's what I've learned from other gardeners. Time will tell. I think I'll take my Tramadol before we go out to work today. Better to be ahead of the aches, rather than playing catch up when we come back in.

Oh, and don't worry. I'm doing my best to follow doctor's orders, and I have my guardian, Handsome to remind me if I get a bit carried away. Thankfully, it's only one more raised bed. We're heading outside to finish our work to get this task accomplished. Once I'm back inside, I've promised myself a hot shower and a nice, relaxing cuppa...and taking it easy the rest of the day.