When the critters overtake a corn patch, they can destroy it in no time but it seems like I foiled their plan this year. The electric fence deterred the deers and raccoons and the corn bags deterred the birds. My first attempt at growing corn has been a success. The corn had the chance to develop fully without any damage and was large and delicious. I've been giving some away to family and friends. I may try a corn relish recipe if I get the time.
The cotton bags did get some mildew stains on them but a good soak in a mild bleach restored them to like new and ready for next year.
Corn fresh from the corn patch.
My sister came for a visit today and I gave her enough corn for her and her daughter's large family, potatoes, green beans, squash, and tomatoes. She was very happy with the fresh veggies, then I brought some corn and other veggies to my granddaughter also. It feels good to be able to give food to those who don't have a garden.
I've been pickling all my large cucumbers and made 14 quarts and 30 pints of Lady Ashburnham pickles, and a small jar.
9 pints of beets, 12 pints and 1 quart of Bread 'n Butter pickles, 6 pints of spicy pickled beans, 5 pints of salsa, and a small jar, in all 79 jars...
I still have a lot of green beans to process and I gave some away also. My fridge is full. The harvest was heavy this year and we've been eating a lot of green beans., despite the groundhogs eating the first flush of blooms earlier. The plants became bushier and loaded with beans.
I'll be making some more spicy green beans to give away. My son and his friends love these. I'll admit that I love them too.
I made a batch of yummy salsa with the tomatoes I picked but didn't have enough for another batch. We usually buy a lot of salsa in the course of a year and I will definitely make a lot more when more tomatoes ripen.
I always take off the rims when I put the preserves away and put the rings back on when I open them, or when I sell or give away.
This is the damage the deers are doing to the cucumber patch at the farm. We usually have tons of cucumbers but this year, the deers have really damaged the whole patch and we had very few cucumbers in comparison to other years. They trampled the plants, chewed the stems and blossoms, and even ate the small cucumbers and many of the beets at the farm.
You can see deer tracks everywhere in the farm gardens.
This is the tomato garden. I picked all the red tomatoes and they are difficult to see as the plants are spreading far and wide, but there will be a lot more to come I hope. I go check them every other day.
I hope that you are all safe from the hurricane and are all doing well. We are supposed to get two days of rain.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Julia
you will not need many veggies all winter! how wonderful you get to share with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteCathy
How busy you have been!! Very smart plan to be sure to have corn! I know your family and friends are happy you are generous with the fruits of your labor!
ReplyDeleteWow - despite the depreciations of the deer your garden is sooooo productive - and you are making wonderful use of your crops.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is doing well, I'm glad those bags worked. Have you shown your whole garden? I saw the recent potato bed photo (huge!) and looked back a ways for photos of the rest and didn't see any. My garden output is pathetic again. Oh well, saves me the work of preserving it and trying to find canning lids.
ReplyDeleteBoy wish I was a neighbor and bringing home a load of fresh veggies. The corn looks delicious and you beat the birds.
ReplyDeleteYou have been so busy!!!! Even with our small garden, we find pleasure in sharing, so I understand. Those deer can definitely destroy things. They can’t get to our garden, but make up for it by eating and trampling the flowers. Take care and don’t work too hard.
ReplyDeleteWow you have been super busy canning ! It will all taste wonderful this winter ! I would like to be your neighbor too !!!! YUM !!!
ReplyDeleteI just love seeing harvest!! We made a Roasted Tomato Sauce. I plan to make salsa this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI also harvested my grapes and made grape jelly. I had not done that in long while.
I do enjoy harvest time.
Love, Carla
Holy moley!!! Your veggies are looking good. What a hoot that your corn bags worked. With the size of your tomato garden, you can probably give them to all your neighbors.
ReplyDeleteI just don't know how you do it all and deer? Nothing but giant rats ;-(
So glad the corn bags worked. Those ears look delish! Holy macaroni, you do have some fine veggies! I could eat green beans raw. Love everything. Janice
ReplyDeleteNo one needs ask how your garden grows Julia...it is obviously growing amazingly! Like the others, I wish I were in your neighborhood or family...absolutely NOTHING like fresh, home-grown veggies. Your corn looks fabulous...I need to try to get to the farmer's market to get a few ears to freeze. My favorite, though, are the green beens...love them fresh...and canned...right out of the jar cold or cooked. I'm curious about your "spicy green beans"?? We made "pickled" beans, but I have not heard of spicy green beans. I miss having canned tomatoes.... You are truly blessed. ~Robin~
ReplyDeleteI told Jack about your corn bags and he was sure the raccoons would get the corn anyway. I'll have to show him your post! I'm just exhausted reading all that you do! I don't have the gardens you do but ours have done well except for the green beans. We got one good picking and I canned them but now the plants are just wilting. Anyway I too have given away veggies and canning will go on for a little while yet. Congrats on your haul this year! You could feed all of Canada I think! I love making salsa too but I prefer fresh to canned so I make it fresh each time. Summer salsa of course tastes the best with fresh tomatoes! I'm heading to the orchard to get peaches to can and see how the apples are doing so I can do up some sauce. Have a good weekend. It's Labor Day holiday here on Monday and if it's there in Canada too..enjoy! Summer is really fleeing. It was in the 40's this morning and I'm loving it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a garden you have, despite the deer. I have never heard of bagging the corn and I will keep that in my memory for use next year! What a wonderful idea and the corn you grew is perfection itself. WHERE did you learn to can? Wow, 79 and counting -- that's a lot of canning and won't it be great during winter?
ReplyDeleteYour salsa looks delicious! I know another lady that did the sack thing with her corn and it worked well.
ReplyDeleteYour garden and produce sounds like so much work but so rewarding. I'm amazed at your green beans. I grew a different kind this year that grow purple, but turn green when canned. They have no flavor. I will go back to my favorites for next year.
I hope you are able to keep up with all your busy garden this week.
Hugs and love.