Harvest Log

Wow! Agricultura, that is a bountiful (and doubtless delicious) harvest you recorded. I like the way you kept track of how much you grew. It is a good way to determine if your gardening methods are cost-effective (e.g. value of produce > cost of materials). I tend to just make a quick note in our journal of what was successful and what was less successful at the end of our season. So much of our harvest never makes it into the house. Peas, beans, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, berries, apples – they are often devoured while they are still out in the garden. Weighing the harvest seems like a relatively easy way to keep better track of what we grow. I will think about trying that for next year.

-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi

Totally jealous

I planted about 47 pounds of green stemmy leafy tomato plants that yielded exactly ONE tomato that wieghed less then 4 ounces that was swallowed by the dog in less then 4 seconds.

I planted about 4 packages of various types of lettuce and after throwing a couple hundred gallons of water at it it yielded about 40 bushel baskets of the most bitter lettuce I have ever tasted, totally non palatable.

I planted a package of water melon seeds that yielded a bunch of billiard balls.

I got one good squash and it rolled off the back of the trucks tailgate and nearly crushed my big toe.

I planted several other vegatables but despite several desperate searches I could not locate them in the weeds.

-- Central northish Ontario

Fantastic yield from your garden. I admire your keeping the record of everything from your garden. As you sow so you reap.
Sharad

-- Bagwan-- “If someone feels that they had never made a mistake in their life, then it means they have never tried a new thing in their life”.-Albert Einstein

Thanks, all! Sorry to hear about your veggie gardening problems this year, Greenthumb. Did you have a hot summer up in Ontario (sounds unlikely, but I have to ask)? Bitter lettuce can be caused by too much heat or too much nitrogen fertilizer. Did your tomatoes not produce because of late blight? That hit here, but luckily I was able to get a lot off the plants before one was infected, and only the one ever was, although they were all taken out by it at work. – Bekah

It rained and it rained and it rained and it rained and when it quit raining it started raining again. The temperature was never hot either. Guessing that maybe thats not so bad because my “real” job was never ever so busy.

I have a greenhouse now, so next year, (God willing) I will get a head start. Mind you the glass guy showed and the glass was “incomplete”..................? but I trust he will be back soon to finish up as I have yet to pay him.

-- Central northish Ontario

Ah, just like the Northeast US. Makes sense. My friend who has been running a 40 acre farm in NYC almost gave up this season, also due to the weather.

What sort of greenhouse are you having built? My partner has plans for a small one using some louvered glass windows reclaimed from his aunt and uncle’s house.

The year before this, the garden produced so much that I took weekly trips to town and gave it those who are struggling. Typically our outside planting season is from May 24 through the end of September, with warm nights and hot days and the odd bit of rain.

My greenhouse was started this past spring and every few weeks I do a little bit. I built a “deck” fastened/bolted to the barn and supported at the other end by two 12” dia sono tumes down 5’. laid the floor and then used 6” x 6” posts and beams with a small kneewall as the snow can get quite deep. Its raised off the ground about a foot.

My “glass” guy putin sealed units on the walls and 1/4” tempered glass on the roof, with one roof panel opening on a temperature controlled pneumatic pistons. The glass guy was supposed to be here again this a.m. but so far…..........a no show.

I sprayed the floor with that two part catalized expanding foam insulation, rated at R7 per inch so the floor should be approx, R25.5…............nice to walk on as its one solid chunk of ridgid foam…..

Heres hoping next years weather is better then this year

-- Central northish Ontario

Wow, Greenthumb, that’s very impressive. Ours won’t be nearly so high-tech (or well-built), just sort of a frugal solution. Why does deep snow necessitate knee walls? I wonder what we can find to insulate the floor with… I hope next year is a better season for you, too! – Bekah

I’m impressed – and inspired! I hope I get a much better yield this year… way too much rain, as GreenThumb said…
but- silver lining: because of having green tomatoes that were going bad before ripening, I made green tomato relish and it is the best relish I have ever eaten. Adding that to my canning list for every year now! :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Kneewalls arent needed but its at the entrance to the shop/barn, an area where I drive the tractor to blow snow so I thought it would be better to have a kneewall so as not to break the glass. The exposed area of the kneewall is only 8 1/2” high on the inside, 24 on the outside so it shouldnt affect the sun from coming in.

the cost isnt bad as I bought the timbers at an auction, the posts and beams too, most of the parts that I had to buy is being paid for by the MIL as she enjoys a garden but is getting on in years and unable to spend much time tending a garden….....the glass was traded for a repair to a fancy dining table.

-- Central northish Ontario

Way to barter, Greenthumb. We’re talking about a coldframe barter: A gardening friend who is also a pastry chef and has a small jam and jelly business has a window and wants my partner to help her make a coldframe out of it in exchange for treats. I can’t understand why he’s reluctant! Of course, time is always an issue, eh? And easy for me to talk, since it would mostly be his project and his treats (I can’t eat most of her pastries because of the gluten).

if not for the barter system and the odd auction and the odd good neighbor and friend

I would be without a single penny

-- Central northish Ontario

What a good way to blog your produce Bekah.Good info for next year.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

That is a huge yield! How much time do you spend tending to your edible garden?
Shirley Bovshow

GardenWorldReport.com

-- Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker" www.ShirleyBovshow.com, www.EdenMakers.com, www.GardenCenterTV.com

Shirley, good question. During the height of the harvest season, I would say I spent at least an hour a day, if not more like two or three, harvesting and watering (we had a very dry July, and although it wasn’t hot enough in most microclimates to dry things out too badly, our bigger garden is on a very sunny, exposed corner and was therefore very thirsty). I should have recorded time as well as pounds of harvest! Next year.

Bekah