This had to be one of the very worst years to grow anything since I started. A late start thanks to having accumulate enough money to buy a weed-eater, lawn mower and rotary tiller. A decent start but several beat-down rains in June that kept the soil more than wet for three weeks. A July drought. Whitefly from hell infestation that is widespread. Very high temps in early August. A groundhog that I have not spotted in three weeks but keeps taking bites from my maters and broccoli.
What I won't grow next year:
Peanuts - a novelty crop I wanted to try; now I've been there, done that
Peas - what a waste of ground
Zucchini - Not a bad plant, but takes up way too much ground
Sorghum - see Peanuts
Legend/Siletz, Better Boy Tomatoes - not worth it, too many other types that do better
More than two Banana peppers - if I knew one would survive, it would be enough. Fantastically productive.
More than two cucumbers - see zucchini. A caveat would be if I can find a good Gherkin type of plant.
Keepers:
Delicious, Stuffer, Florida 91 and Red Zebra tomatoes. Probably add Celebrity, Biltmore, BHN 589 and a couple others.
Carrots - Had problems with them germinating but the ones that did are looking fantastic.
Onions - gotta have a few of these
Alpine Strawberries - Really looking forward to next year. I ate some last night and they were fantastic. They should be far more productive in their second year.
Calabrese Broccoli - just need to get it out earlier.
KY Wonder Pole Beans - about 8 feet of space provides more than a pint of beans per day. Then again if I preserve 60 quarts this year, I may skip them.
Swiss Chard - what a great plant. Nearly indestructible.
Black Simpson Lettuce - just gotta "burn a bed" - fill a space with twigs, branches, logs and set it afire. Only after tilling and raking it, but it will kill all the weeds. Then take the time to cover the area after the seed is sowed with a sheet.
Potatoes - hopefully they will not rot in the ground in the mass numbers they did this year. See the June Rains.
Peppers - got have some of them. Fish, Cayenne, Hungarian Hot Wax, Hot Banana, Jalapeno, Bell.
Tomatillo - A good plant so far; dozens of fruit have set on one plant.
Herbs - Basil and Cilantro. Lots of plants.
A Special Project
If I get to do the raised bed next year, the theme will be "A Beer and Beverage Garden"
Barley, Hops, Rice, Dandelions, Potatoes, Grapes, Corn, Juniper Berries, Sorghum, Rye, Wheat, Strawberries and to top it off, dwarf Apple, Peach, Banana and Lemon trees to make Schnapps. Arabica Coffee and some kind of tea plant will also be nice. It would also be nice to find some yerba mate seeds, for those who want caffeine!
Mike
What I won't grow next year:
Peanuts - a novelty crop I wanted to try; now I've been there, done that
Peas - what a waste of ground
Zucchini - Not a bad plant, but takes up way too much ground
Sorghum - see Peanuts
Legend/Siletz, Better Boy Tomatoes - not worth it, too many other types that do better
More than two Banana peppers - if I knew one would survive, it would be enough. Fantastically productive.
More than two cucumbers - see zucchini. A caveat would be if I can find a good Gherkin type of plant.
Keepers:
Delicious, Stuffer, Florida 91 and Red Zebra tomatoes. Probably add Celebrity, Biltmore, BHN 589 and a couple others.
Carrots - Had problems with them germinating but the ones that did are looking fantastic.
Onions - gotta have a few of these
Alpine Strawberries - Really looking forward to next year. I ate some last night and they were fantastic. They should be far more productive in their second year.
Calabrese Broccoli - just need to get it out earlier.
KY Wonder Pole Beans - about 8 feet of space provides more than a pint of beans per day. Then again if I preserve 60 quarts this year, I may skip them.
Swiss Chard - what a great plant. Nearly indestructible.
Black Simpson Lettuce - just gotta "burn a bed" - fill a space with twigs, branches, logs and set it afire. Only after tilling and raking it, but it will kill all the weeds. Then take the time to cover the area after the seed is sowed with a sheet.
Potatoes - hopefully they will not rot in the ground in the mass numbers they did this year. See the June Rains.
Peppers - got have some of them. Fish, Cayenne, Hungarian Hot Wax, Hot Banana, Jalapeno, Bell.
Tomatillo - A good plant so far; dozens of fruit have set on one plant.
Herbs - Basil and Cilantro. Lots of plants.
A Special Project
If I get to do the raised bed next year, the theme will be "A Beer and Beverage Garden"
Barley, Hops, Rice, Dandelions, Potatoes, Grapes, Corn, Juniper Berries, Sorghum, Rye, Wheat, Strawberries and to top it off, dwarf Apple, Peach, Banana and Lemon trees to make Schnapps. Arabica Coffee and some kind of tea plant will also be nice. It would also be nice to find some yerba mate seeds, for those who want caffeine!
Mike
