Volunteer Nasturtiums. 7.21.2021

This year I didn't get around to planting nasturtium seeds. It didn't matter. There were lots of volunteer plants, sprouting from seeds that dropped off of last year's flowers. I just let them grow and do their own thing. The leaves also have a great, peppery flavor.

Dahlias In Bloom. 7.21.2021

Dahlias add a lot of joy to a vegetable garden. Most of mine were saved over the winter as dry tubers, in the garage.

Letting a Lettuce Plant Go To Seed. 7.21.2021

 I let this Black Seeded Simpson lettuce plant go to seed.  It will still need a month or so before I harvest the seed head.  This is the second generation in my garden.  More reliable, sustainable, self reliant, and frugal than buying the seeds next year.

German Cucumber Salad. 7.21.2021

 There were leftover cucumbers, onions, and dill do I added salt, pepper, lemon juice, yogurt, tomato, to make a German cucumber salad.  It was very good.

Cucumber Harvest. Making Fermented Pickles. 7.20.2021

 The pickle cucumbers have been producing quite a few cucumbers.  They all add up.  I try to harvest at 3 to 5 inch size, but some are sneaky and grow larger before I see them.  Most of these are from the seeds I saved last summer and planted this spring.  Also, dill, garlic, onion, grape leaf.  Add brine, mustard seeds, celery seeds, turmeric, and I set up two batches of fermented pickles.  I also added some sugar to one, to see if that would speed the fermentation, and added so e uncooked sauerkraut juice to both as a starter.