Fruit & Vegetable July Harvest
Hey garden friends – you know what? Every year I forget how looooong it takes to harvest! Goodness, I think it took me an hour just to pick that bowl of blueberries you see.
What was I thinking planting twelve blueberry bushes? Only about five are big enough to get a full harvest from right now – what on earth am I going to do when all twelve are producing fully?
Maybe a roadside u-pick is going to be in my future…
July Harvest
Lettuce
I planted a row of mixed loose-leaf summer lettuces that are producing nicely – and not going to seed in the warm weather we’ve been having like the spring lettuces (butterheads are the worst- they bolt at the first sign of heat).
Brassicas
I also harvested the rest of the cauliflower and cabbage (I did leave the stalks of the cabbage, though, and have already got multiple little heads growing from earlier cuttings).
It wasn’t a good year for cauliflower. The heads are misshapen and marred by a major aphid attack. This is the first time I’ve ever had an aphid problem with cauliflower – usually they bother the broccoli.
Just when you think you’ve got it figured out…the gardening life is rarely dull, is it?
Carrots & Snap Peas
These are the first of our carrots – some are thinnings so the others can grow bigger. And the snap pea vines are loaded – I only picked a few for lunch because I ran out of harvest time {drat all those little blueberries!}. The rest will have to wait.
Blackberries
And aren’t those Marionberries something? They are my favorite blackberry and they are quintessentially Oregon – in fact they are named for the Oregon county in which they were tested: Marion County. Their wonderful flavor makes the BEST berry crisp!
Blueberries & Birds
The blueberries are still coming on strong. I have many different varieties in order to have a staggered harvest – my mature plants should produce through July.
I’m happy to report that the rubber snakes and the scare tape together are keeping enough of the birds away that I’m only losing a handful on each bush, which I’m fine with.
When I picked these yesterday, there seemed to be a bit more lost on one plant in particular, so I moved the snakes around a bit to see if that will help. I’m getting plenty, though, so I count the scare tape-rubber snake combo a success!
I am JEALOUS of your bounty!! And living in Texas, I can only get marionberries at the local health food store – frozen just isn’t the same!
Everything looks fabulous, but especially your blackberries and blueberries! (Probably because our blueberries bushes aren’t mature enough yet, so I have to buy my berries at the farmer’s market. š
What an amazing harvest! You are an inspiration! My garden this year consists of 1 pot of basil! We have very little sun and would need to do container gardening. Any suggestions for what I could grow in containers on my deck?
There are lots of things to grow in pots, Jennifer! Lettuce and salad fixings do great in pots and there are small versions of tomatoes (look for words like “patio”) that do well in pots, too. I know there are folks who grow most of their produce in pots if that’s all the space they have. Experiment and see what works.
My only suggestion is to use the biggest pots you can that hold a good amount of soil and water.
My sister grows both blackberries and blueberries and I know how much work it takes for the return. Enjoy every bite — you have earned it.
Amazing! The pictures are truly beautiful. I can’t wait to reach your level of gardening. I am making your fertilizer this weekend now that things are back to normal, so thank you again for the advice. I can’t wait to see how much my plants love it!
This week I am linking up my instructions on how to be the worst gardener ever and still grow food. š
20somethingallergies.com/how-to-be-the-worst-gardener-ever-and-still-grow-food-veggie-garden-update/
Thanks for your kind words, Jennifer! 20 years ago I was where you are…even discovering that some plants at least would produce food no matter what I did. š You’ll get there!
Thanks Jami! You’re such a great cheerleader. š
What an amazing harvest, especially with your cool summer. You’re so lucky to live in a fabulous growing climate.
What a wonderful harvest you have! Everything looks so delicious. Our gardens here are far behind you, but wild blueberries are starting to ripen now. Thank you for hosting.
Nancy
That’s a fabulous harvest! My 7 blueberry bushes have been producing ever since mid May!! I’m only picking every other day now, but through May and June I had to go out every morning and spend an hour picking — most mornings it was pleasant enough, but when the temps start hitting the mid 90’s and it’s stifling at 8 in the morning, an hour picking berries each morning becomes a chore! I can see why blueberry farmers usually run the farm as U Pick operations — it is so time consuming!
Let me go link up my fig jam post now . . . .
Well, after seeing your blueberry harvest, I’m not so anxious to link my blueberry post up. lol Everything looks deeelicious!
You have so much to enjoy! What a fantastic harvest and it all looks delicious š Thank you for hosting our party.
I love Tuesday! Thanks for the beautiful picture and all the fun links to check out!
Looks divine! Well done!
Wow, that purple cauliflower is amazing!
I love the harvest that you have. The berries look delicious. This is the first year that I have blueberries, and I just love them. I love your colored cauliflowers. Hope you have many more harvests to come.
Yael from Home Garden Diggers
eating myself sick on the fresh marionberries, can’t get enough of our Oregon berry! Your bounty of veggies is amazing.
A most colorful bounty you were blessed with!!! It’s wonderful to be able to eat from one’s own garden. Wishing you a fabulous week! xo HHL
Yum! What a gorgeous harvest! I’d been waiting for weeks for a cup full of blueberries from my 2 year old plants, and the stinking BIRDS ate them!! Gonna have to fix that next year! š
Get you some rubber snakes and scare tape. š Or netting – whatever works for you!
My goodness you had an incredible harvest this week!!!!
What a bountiful harvest! Looks like you’ve really worked hard in your garden.
Your fresh berries and vegetables look delicious!