22 Trees: Harvest Monday 4/9

Have been doing a lot of harvesting this past week. Almost got my summer crops in the ground, but the winter greens just keep on hanging on. TPW has been cooking a lot of beets, as well as beet salad. Turnips are almost gone, might not plant as many next year. Looks like we might get some rain mid week and then again at the end, late in the season, but I'll take it. Still getting lots of peas and herbs.

Two first and a last. Got my first carrot, I can't believe it! Seems like it has been forever since I put the seeds in. We cut it up into spears and enjoyed it. Also first strawberry, again cut up into 4 small pieces and enjoyed. If all goes well, I just might get enough berries to have a bowl full. Last Mandarin of the season, however all citrus have lots of flowers on them.

Saved up eggs all week so that we could use them for Easter.

Just a few of the different varieties of Iris that are planted.

Started the summer planting, below are the rows, box, and trashcan of potatoes. Have never tried them but figured I would give them a go. French fries and hash browns could be in the future?

Lemon cucumber and Straight Eight seeds planted, with the leafy greens in the background.

A little introduction.

We moved in on December 18th 2009, we are a 1/4 mile from a major southern california freeway, but are trying to make the urban homestead thing work. We have spent a lot of time getting things back in order. We have 22 fruit trees, hence the name, and a small plot set aside for a garden. We have 4 chickens: 2 Americauna, 1 Jersey Giant, 1 Barred Rock, and one 8 month old puppy named Maggie. With the help of the boys, and my very patient wife, I am trying to farm this little plot of land. We'll see...

7 comments:

Stoney AcresApril 9, 2012 at 7:59 AM
A very beautiful harvest again this week. I'll be sad to not see any citrus for a while. I has been fun for me to see you harvesting things that I can't ever dream of growing in my zone 5b garden.
Norma ChangApril 9, 2012 at 1:22 PM
When will the net crop of citrus be ready for harvest?
Mary HysongApril 9, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Beautiful carrot! Is that a Purple Dragon? I love how they are purple and orange, so cool looking. And I just love that red and yellow iris! If you have too many would love to trade/buy a start from you!
22treesApril 9, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Yep, Purple Dragon, good call. We have at least three more colors of Iris. When they open I will try to post pictures of them. Around here late Feb. through early May for all oranges, and grapefruit, lemons and limes are year round.
kitsapFGApril 10, 2012 at 2:50 AM
Carrots do seem to take a long time to get from planting to a harvestable crop. I have some winter sown carrots growing in pots in the greenhouse that are just now starting to get some decent top growth on them but unfortunately they took too long to get growing and now I need to remove them to make way for the peppers that will grow in those pots throught he summer months. Luckily the spring planted crop is starting to emerge and probably will overtake them anyway.
Daphne GouldApril 10, 2012 at 4:34 AM
My carrots are finally germinating (at least some of them). It takes them about three weeks to just come up this time of the year. Every year I think they won't then up they pop. Now it is the long wait until they produce. I'm glad you have your first one already. I hope to harvest in June sometime. If I'm lucky.
Prairie CatApril 14, 2012 at 5:41 PM
I love that you cut up the strawberry for everyone to enjoy. It looks like it was delicious!