2012 garden report

I know that I haven't been posting as frequently about the garden as I have in previous years {well, to be fair I haven't been posting as much here at all}, but I decided to keep the traditional "annual garden report" going. So this is a post is an overview of the 2012 growing season.

This was probably the most challenging growing season I have ever had, not only because we had a to start a new garden from scratch {that had really crappy soil}, but it seems that there was all sorts of diseases and infestations going around. A whole bunch of local gardeners that I spoke to had an over abundance of ear wigs, which is what hit us hard. They went to town on a shitload of our seedlings and young perennials, which my poor monkshood and mayapple never recovered from. :*( However, after a long battle and weeks of "trapping", almost all of the other victims flourished.

Below you will see how our annual edible/useful plants did {to actually get this post published, I am not going to bother getting into the perennials}. As with other years past, I am the 1 to 5 rating system, 1 being absolute shit, 5 being fan-fucking-tastic.

Arugula

5. Our New Sun arugula from Soggy Creek Seed Co. just might be bomb proof!

Beans {Bush & Pole}

4. Our Purple Peacock and Scarlet Runner pole beans did very well, as did our Orca, Contender, and Blue Jay bush beans; our Tanya's Pink Podded bush beans were rather stunted thanks to the dastardly earwigs.

Beets

4. For the most part we grew our beets in containers and enjoyed them for their greens, and after thinning them getting nice big roots. The ones in the ground didn't do so well...{yes, thanks to the earwigs}.

Carrots 

3. These guys were also mostly reserved for containers to avoid certain somebodies nomming them to shit. For the most part our carrots were piddly little guys.

Chard

5. We had a steady diet of chard all season long.

Corn

2. Just like other seasons past, my luck with corn is just not there. It is too bad, because I was really excited about the two heritage varieties that I got at last year's seed exchange, Pickaniny and Painted Mountain.

Cucumbers

3. Our Straight Eights had a set back thanks to you-know-who, so we didn't get to experience the prolific harvests that they are known for.

Kale

 5. We stuck to Red Russian and Dinosaur kale, which never let us down!

Lettuces

 4. We grew at least a dozen different types, and save for some bolting, all did very well.

Melons

1. These poor gaffers didn't stand a chance against the earwigs. They never made it past their first true leaves.

Mustard

 4. Some minor issues with loppers, otherwise our mustard did awesome.

Nasturtiums

 5. Both the vining and bush varieties grew like weeds.

Onions

 5. Old reliables.

Parsnips 

4. Had to start them a couple of times, but had a pretty good harvest.

Peas

5. We had a plethora of peas from Spring to Fall.

Peppers 

3. Another crop that had to be started over, thanks to the earwigs. Due to this we only got a small harvest.

Potatoes

 5. It probably would be fair to say that we had a bumper crop, especially with our Russets.

Pumpkins 

5. Our Small Sugars never let us down! For 2012 we grew them on trellises and that made a big difference with the powdery mildew, which we had some issues with previous years.

Radishes

4. Besides some bolting, they did well.

Spinach

5. Parfait!

Sunflowers

 3. I was so heart broken by the damage done by the earwigs. Once I saw that my sunflowers were being mowed down, it was war. I had to re-start them a few times, so they weren't as plentiful as they should have been.

Tobacco

3. Pretty much the same story as the sunflowers.

Tomatoes

5. We tried a few new varieties this year, but I think the Black Krim and Orange Blossoms did the best. 

Turnips

4. We mainly grew our turnips in containers and got lots of greens. The roots were a wee bit smaller than other years.

Winter Squash

 5. We grew a few varieties, mainly on trellises. I am in LOVE with Potimarron!

Zucchini

5. We tried a new variety called Summer Ball, which can be eaten as a Winter or Summer squash. Love them! Our Strange Zucchini from Outer Space did well too.

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Well, that pretty much is it. Now time to plan for 2013. ;)

Sláinte!

Laurel