2022 Shared Garden

 

We planned the garden when there was still deep snow on the ground, ordering a variety of seeds.

Donna started a number of plants indoors again this year. She also had a bunch of mulch delivered so that we could fence around the garden to keep the rabbits and deer away better. We also added some rows of sturdy chain link fence to support the tomato plants.

This year's plan

We had a good growing season and took the garden out in the first weekend of Oct. Don't be afraid to pick a bunch of green tomatoes- they've been ripening reliably inside.

Tons of Butterkin squash

Roasted tomatoes

Butterkin pancakes

Pie from butterkin puree

Orcharding

 Last year we planted two different dwarf cherry trees. We got about 10 cherries, since the deer got to them (the deterrent spray was not enough). This year we've fenced it all the way around, with an extra chicken wire wrap that brings it to 8 feet tall, and we hope to get more cherries.

Northstar Cherry

Evans Bali Cherry-closest to garage

We lost two big trees in the front yard last year, so this spring Andy planted 4 dwarf apple trees.

Honeycrisp, Haralson, Newtown Pippin (George Washington's favorite apple)

Bramley (popular cooking apple from UK)

Raspberry bushes

We got our first cherries in July, although a small quantity.

Addendum:

In August, Andy "couldn't resist" buying a Zestar tree from a local garden center, which he added to the NE corner of the front lawn, along with replanting the Bramley to the front yard as well. The Haralson has a few apples on it, but many of them have worms, despite the plastic bags Andy protected them with. An expert at the State Fair suggested a reusable mesh plastic "fruit protection" bag like this.

Zestar, Honeycrisp, Haralson, Newtown Pippin, Bramely (East to West)

May 2023:

We had a hard winter with a ton of snow, and the Honeycrisp didn't survive. Andy picked up another U of M-developed variety, a Snow Sweet.

Planting the new Snow Sweet

Fall 2024

The Zestar produced in late August, big, firm, very delicious apples. There were a few with bruised or bad spots so I cut those away and made crockpot apple butter.

Small batch crockpot apple butter

• 1.5 lbs apples, about 4-5, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1/4 c brown sugar (recipes also called for 1/4 c white sugar which I omitted)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp grounds clove
• pinch salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours. Remove lid, stir, cook uncovered another hour until thickened. Bend with an immersion blender. Stir in vanilla. Source

Apple butter