Mumsy's Romantic Garden Advice

[MumsyII]

Spent the day processing the vegetables I harvested yesterday looking for perfect specimens to enter at the fair. Carrots, beans, beets, and leeks put up for winter enjoyment. Baking some Majestic Purple and La Soda new potatoes for dinner tonight. They melt in the mouth they are so creamy at this new stage. Husband mentioned he had eaten his fill of fresh cucmumber and wouldn't mind something different so I sliced up some carrots for him. I love summer!

So much time getting spent in the Potager garden, it's easy to miss what new is blooming in late summer. So I took a quick stroll through the garden with the camera.



The Scarlet Starlet marigold goes from red to dark orange with highlights. A stunner. I like it mixed with zinnias.


I saved seed today.


The Rudebeckia (Black eyed Susan) is making a show even in the crowd I can see it amongst the Shasta daisies and Monarda (bee balm).


Liatris is a root/bulb I plant in the Spring. It starts blooming with the glads late summer. Here is is making a good show next to the Monarda, Nastursiums, and Sweet Peas. Purple Cone flower is just finishing up. I mix perennials, annuals, and bulbs together to get the biggest bang for my buck in a small space.


Perennial white Phlox is a favorite. It self seeds but is never really invasive. It smells divine!


This is what we call Rose of Sharon. Really it is a Hibiscus syricus shrub. I love it. Looks tropical but it's not. Very hardy.


The shrub in full bloom late summer. Suckers from the base.


One of my hydrangeas. It's been neglected for decades so has small blooms but I still love it in August.


I planted the Macrophylla variety next to the lace cap one. I love them both. Both plants are tough and hardy.

 

[AletaG]

Touring your garden always makes me feel better. Thank you

 

[MumsyII]

Touring your garden always makes me feel better. Thank you

Your welcome. Flowers do a person good some days.

 

[mlowen]

Just beautiful! I wish I could see it in person.

 

[flitter]

I've been lurking for a bit and thought I'd pop in and say how much I am enjoying the pictures and the conversation!

 

[armorfirelady]

Love love the pictures Mumsy. Your rosé of Sharon looks like ours. And those hydrangeas are stunning. I really hope my grows as well. I planted it next to the coop to provide shade from the summer setting sun and disguise the coop

How do you store your root vegetables and potatoes for winter. I have my potatoes in a dark cupboard sitting on a wire shelf. I don't have a lot but hopefully next year I will have more. I know if I store the store bought ones in their plastic bag in the dark cupboard their eyes grow and have read not to store in the fridge,

 

[MumsyII]

Thank you Mlowen. This thread is as close to sharing it day by day that I possibly can. Wish I had 'smell' option. On days like today the sweet peas, honeysuckle, and Phlox are a heady aroma. I stay out side as long as possible.

Welcome to the conversation flitter.

Nice for you stop by.

I will probably keep as many of the new potatoes in the crisper in the old frig in the garage as long as I can and use them up.

Last year I dug out a small root cellar in the greenhouse. I was able to keep sixty pounds of russet potatoes and twelve acorn squash through the winter with no rot. It is hard for me to crawl into it so we need to figure out something better this Fall. Potatoes are something I cook every day. I even canned forty pounds last year. We still ran out. I never have enough to last the whole year. That's why these new potatoes are so special. I waited months to bake the first of the season tonight for dinner.


The root cellar as we began to dig it out last year. We took it down another couple feet and built steps down into it. I'm looking for pictures of it finished but can't find them. We put a top on it and pocket door. I keep a thermometer/hygrometer in it so I can keep track of how cool and the humidity. My potatoes last year were in a metal crate and set on bricks off the ground. I piled insulating bales of hay ontop of the lid to it to help insulate in the coldest months of Jan and Feb. The potatoes and squash kept well until we used them all up.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have a room off my celler that I call the pantry. It was there obviously when I bought the house. It had shelves in there when I bought the house and I use it store my extra non perishable food stuffs, paper products, food I canned, etc.

My basement is normally damp but slowly I have been trying to fix the problems. I normally have a dehumidifier down there (my last one died)

Could I store them in the pantry all winter? Its always cooler there most of the year. My furnace only heats my basement and I rarely have it over 56 unless I am working down there. Or do they need to be stored somewhere cooler?

 

[MumsyII]

I have a room off my celler that I call the pantry. It was there obviously when I bought the house. It had shelves in there when I bought the house and I use it store my extra non perishable food stuffs, paper products, food I canned, etc.

My basement is normally damp but slowly I have been trying to fix the problems. I normally have a dehumidifier down there (my last one died)

Could I store them in the pantry all winter? Its always cooler there most of the year. My furnace only heats my basement and I rarely have it over 56 unless I am working down there. Or do they need to be stored somewhere cooler?

That would be a perfect place to store apples. Generally speaking root crops like potatoes, beets, and winter squash need higher humidity and a bit lower temp. Above freezing but nearer high to mid 40's. Things like garlic, onions, apples, and other things can take a little more temp and lower humidity. You might try storing the potatoes in a crate on the floor in the coolest and darkest corner. Move a thermometer/hydrometer around the area. Remember air flow around the vegetables. The crate raised off the floor and some room between the walls and other crates. If you can keep it dark and cool, and only slight humidity, this could work. Test it out and keep an eye on things. Check the potatoes for softness and sprouting once a week.

 

[armorfirelady]

Thanks for the info Mumsy....I will see what I can do.

A friend gave me a magazine yesterday and as I read it at work today I saw this tucked in a corner...

"root cellar must haves"
apples & root vegetables such as potatoes and turnips can be stored much longer if maple leaves are packed around them. Place the fruits or roots in wooden barrels or boxes, between layers of leaves, then store the contents in a root cellar or basement"

I wonder what the maple leaves have that preserve the fruits & roots?

Interesting article about growing fruits & veggies in straw bales as well. Might just try that next spring....it says you can get everything in a month earlier....I am intrigued