Summer harvest 2015; container gardening

"Eight Ball" Zucchini

I do believe plants do better grown in the ground if possible; however, My garden is small and I grow my veggies in raised beds or containers.  Why?  Poor soil, limited space, for better control, those kinds of things.  Here's the best of the 2015 summer garden, grown from seed, at Paz Casita.  These are Eight Ball Zucchini and Little Price Eggplant.  Both varieties purchased from Renee's Garden online; both varieties are great for container gardening.  As you can see, success!


Eight Ball Zucchini  These round-shaped zucchini are firm and have excellent flavor.  I have had great success in cooking them on the grill, marinated in Italian dressing; frying them after dusting with flour (I used Mochiko sweet rice flour) and then dipping in an egg batter; and also grated for zucchini bread.  Next I'll be putting up some zucchini relish.  Must say that I still have a whole refrigerator drawer full of zucchini; they just keep coming.

Little Prince Eggplant  It's mid-August and the fruit of this eggplant variety are now setting.  Pictured are two plants in a container purchased from Home Depot, which measures about 24" x 30" and about 14" deep.  There are lots of blossoms and I'm thinking there will be a bountiful harvest to come.  These eggplant are supposed to  reach about 3" in size; so far, mine are about 1-1/2".  I'm leaving them hanging to see how large they will grow before becoming too seedy

Gnomes, gnomes, gnomes

See what I mean?  It has gotten out that this is a gnome-friendly abode.  They are tucked in here, there and everywhere.

There be gnomes in her garden!

Gnomes are tucked in here and there amongst the flowers and potted plants.  There are a handful of these bearded fellows in my garden.  I wanted to create a magical fairy garden, but instead of fairies, gnomes appeared. Whimsical and charming, cheerful and hardworking; these fellows do not disappoint.

Bits and Pieces

Delphinium

Mrs. Beasley

Every morning I am in the garden, first thing.  Earlier this Spring, I did a number of plantings, bits and pieces of garden whimsy tucked here and there.  Mrs. Beasley has found a spot next to the yarrow patch, Coronation Gold.  The blue, blue delphinium are stunning, highlighted by white primrose plants, all of these harbingers of springtime. 

Springtime 2015

Has it been that long since my last gardening post?  Spring is here and I find myself back in the garden.