Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Like most garden summers, it's been a whirlwind of activity.  Weeding is hit or miss with the recent downpours and storms here lately.  I can't complain for not having to water anything.  Somehow, in between storms, the mowing and trimming got done. (leaves are bigger than my hand this year- woohoo to a great crop) The Red Russian Kale I planted, did very well this year.  I harvested a pretty good lot already.  The kale we grow has a less bitter taste, and more favorable for fresh salads or topping a sandwich.  The frozen kale will be used for smoothies, soups, stews, casseroles, breakfast casseroles and anything I can add greens to add more nutrition. However, pint freezer bags are very hard to find in our area.  Just a few places sell them.  One year, I was lucky to snag a "bulk" box of them at a nearby Menards (not available this year). I am still getting a few more radishes, and the Swiss chard is doing great this year.  Everything...

  The heat remains muggy and in the 90's.  The air is very thick most days.  The rain has returned, and not left yet.  I took a look-see at the gardens, and weeding ( a lot of weeding)  will be top of the to-do list.  The tomatoes, that I tied up last Thursday, have grown another foot, and will need re-tied. Last Thursday, while working in the tomato patch, I thinned the radishes, but that's all that we are able to harvest so far.  One day the rain cooled the air just enough to grill burgers, but the bugs were a nuisance.  We are still enjoying pickled red onions.  I'll definitely keep a jar in the fridge on an on-going basis. Hot and Muggy ©  July 2025 by  Kristina  at  Pioneer  Woman at Heart

I went out to check on the radishes again.   To keep them fresh, if I don't use them the same day I pick them, I cut the greens, wash them, and place them in a damp paper towel.  Then I put that inside a container or reusable plastic bag.  Works like a charm. The ground hog who got away.  I think there are two now.  Sigh.  Gonna have to keep my eyes open now.  Can't lose my garden after all this work. A beautiful sunrise the other day.  We are entering into a very hot week this week.  AC filters were cleaned and temps turned down for the week.  Monday we reached 93°F. With the temps soaring, the chickens are getting treated with shaved ice this week. Woke up to a balmy, sticky 72°F at 5am.  I had plans to wash blankets and rugs.  Hm.  Yeah, that's not happening.

The rain finally gave us a break and a chance for my "Till Man" to till.  I got more planting done too.  The earliest seeds we planted in May are already producing.  My hot banana pepper plants have pretty good size peppers on them now. Check it out!  We finally have apples on one of our apple trees.  Our cherry tree died last winter, so I'll replant one next spring.  The plum looks terrible, so I'll whip up some neem spray and give that a try.  It still has fungus.  No peaches this year.  I'll have to be prudent with pruning this fall.

I spent the entire day in the garden weeding, then worked in the herb garden.  It was so dry, I had to water it first to weed it.  I am so glad it rained last night.  I am forced to work indoors today.  I just need to weed the carrots and then the green beans tomorrow (or the next dry day).

Despite the weeds multiplying here this season, I am still getting some new blooms in the flower beds.  I've been dodging the rain showers (and storms) and cutting flowers to bring inside. You can see the bees are very busy this year in the flower beds too.

Friday, Hubby had to get a required physical, to return to work (always some strings attached in that business), so I headed to the garden.  Lots and lots of work out there, so I took a nice big thermos of water, and covered my head with a hat and bandanna.  I went out there prepared to sweat. It is very reassuring to know I don't have to babysit chickens this summer, while I'm running around working.

Use your extra radishes for soups.  I am planning to dehydrate some here for just that reason.  My Farmer's Market neighbor told me this tip.  You could freeze them too, but she says they are great it soups.  One year I did this with my extra Kohlrabi. Update on the Refrigerator Radish Pickles - Hot!  Joke-ster Hubby was the first to taste, and graciously gave me one, saying, "These are crunchy, but they're not hot."   He lied.  They are hot.   I guess the amount of "heat" they would have, will depend on the "heat" that your radishes already have too. I do like the fact that they do last for up to 6 months in the fridge.  I can make several jars for salads, just eating, or what not.  Yum!

Refrigerator Radish Pickles

   . . . picked broccoli, radishes, and strawberries.  Sugar snap peas will soon be ready.  Picked some lettuce too. I made a pint jar of Refrigerator Radish Pickles, using a jalapeno pepper.  I've never made these before, and I see there are many variations.  I found my recipe in a library book. . . . potatoes are doing great! . . . spent hours weeding, and found that half the carrots and beets did not come up, so we replanted.  Some of the heirloom green beans didn't come up, and replanted those too. . . . got down to weeding the cauliflower and broccoli, and stopped due to a predicted storm. . . . still need to till between the peas and then weed the lettuce.  Half of the lettuce didn't come up either.  That second frost really did affect the garden this year. . . . all the peppers are weeded, but look at my cucumber mounds! Yikes!  That's next. . . .zucchini is doing pretty well, and the onions n...