Your 2025 Garden

[R2elk]

I'll bet R2elk not only has them but they've been invaluable at times. Eh?

The only thing I use rebar for these days is to bend one end into a hook to stake down traps. I use a hacksaw to cut the rebar.

 

[NanaK]

Repaired the raised bed, but it's insect damage, ants. Not termites.

I had the same problem. Ant bites are painful and then itchy. They destroy the wood.

I have a bed beside my greenhouse that was originally built from landscape timbers 3 high with gutter spikes holding every thing in place.. I loved it at first until the ants moved in. I could not keep them out. It lasted about 8 years with repairs almost every year and many ant bites.

Photo from 2019

Over time I replaced it with concrete edging and have added pavers to help control grass crawling under. It took me a while but I did it with very little help. I was able to get some of the pavers second hand. That saved a few dollars.

I used this edging because I had it in other flower gardens nearby. It is right out my back door.
I have a friend who used concrete blocks and has had no problems. It has lasted at least 10+ years for him. He lives on the Pamlico River near Bath and gets storm surge flooding with hurricanes and nor'easters. The blocks occasionally need repositioning but are holding up well.

 

[tripletfeb]

Picked tomatoes and beans today

 

[fuzzi]

Planted!

Bed #2
Peas and turnips in the back, two varieties of beets in the front bed.

Bed #4
Collards on the left, Chinese cabbage on the right. I uncovered anothet ant nest on the bottom left corner, so I sprinkled more birth control granules and postponed transplanting the second collard plant until tomorrow. I covered its container with some dried mulch so it doesn't dry out.

Bed #1

Collards and Chinese cabbage in the back bed, carrots in the front bed. I love carrots.

Bed #3 is the one I repaired. I think I've got a second crop of peas and more turnips planned.

 

[NanaK]

Picked and shelled butterbeans over the weekend. They will need picking again in about a week. Lot's of immature pods and flowers. Saw lot's of bees!
Blanched and froze several more quarts yesterday.

Picked some yellow squash and 2 zucchini then pulled the remaining plants. Still getting cucumbers, picked 4 more pie pumpkins, some butternut squash and watermelons.

I need to get some more clean up done to be ready to plant brassicas.

Collards, Cabbage and Broccoli

 

[Sally PB]

I love your bean wall, @NanaK!

 

[Sally PB]

We got some rain!

I'm going to can some more tomatoes today. It probably won't be a full load of 7 quarts, but some of the ones I picked yesterday won't last until the next batch is ripe.

I don't mind doing a small batch. I used to think it was a waste of time to do just 3-4 quarts when the processing part took as long as for 7, but my feet and legs thank me. I can do them in my big sauce pot, so it doesn't take as long as 7.

 

[R2elk]

I can do them in my big sauce pot, so it doesn't take as long as 7.

I switched to a steam canner. Saves me lots of time.

 

[NanaK]

I love your bean wall, @NanaK!

Thanks!
Due to it's placement, the sun hits one side in the am and the other pm. I like to pick from the shady side when I can. Helps a lot!