Vegetables Battle in Small Space Garden

Photo by Jerry Apps

In my many years of gardening, I’ve never seen anything like it. I have a tiny little garden back of my house, only 4 x 8 feet. I also have a much larger garden, but the little garden is close and handy. It’s a raised garden, with a four-foot fence all around it to keep out the hungry bunnies.

Last May, in my little garden, I set out four struggling tomato plants that I started from seed. I planted a few feet of leaf lettuce, two short rows of climbing beans, two hills of zucchini, and a hill of climbing cucumbers on either end. The lettuce came up and took off. The tomatoes looked like they were going to die. The beans came up but just sat there, not growing. Same for the Cucumbers and zucchini. We harvested beautiful leaf lettuce, three or more times. The lettuce flourished. By early June, I wondered if maybe lettuce would be my only crop.

The weather turned hot. The other garden crops took off. Within a few weeks, the beans had climbed up the fence and then along it. The tomatoes grew four feet tall, the cucumbers climbed the fence, and the zucchini took off as well.

And then the fight began. Soon the lettuce was snuffed out. The green beans and the tomatoes declared war on each other. The cucumbers stuck their little vines outside the fence to avoid the fight. And can you believe it; the zucchini met its match—no zucchini so far. Such is small space gardening in the summer of 2020.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Sort of fun to watch vegetables fight for dominance.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My books, including Garden Wisdom, which has recipes for the various vegetables, are available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s. Say hello to Jana and look at their great selection of my books or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.

Blackcaps in Abundance This Year

Blackcap photo by Jerry Apps

My mother called them blackcaps. These little wild black raspberries grew in abundance on the home farm. My two brothers and I picked a bunch of them during the hot and sticky days of mid-summer. Wearing long-sleeve shirts to protect us from the inevitable scratches from the berry bushes, and a feeble attempt to keep the mosquitoes at bay, we picked these little black beauties.

Pa found old belts to strap around our waists—we wore bib overalls at the time. He said to run the belt through the handle on the buckets and in that way we could pick with both hands. And so we did. The berries are small, so it took lots of patience to fill a bucket, but fill buckets we did.

Back home, Ma preserved jar after jar of blackcap sauce, many little jars of blackcap jam, and always saved enough to make a berry pie or two.

This year we have an abundance of blackcaps at Roshara. They seem to be everywhere--alongside the woodshed, at the edge of the tractor shed, along the driveway, on either side of the trail to the pond. The warm and wet spring and early summer proved ideal for them. For too many years, a dry spell in early summer meant no berries. But not the summer of 2020.

My daughter-in-law, Natasha takes the prize for the best blackcap picker in the family. She has picked several small buckets of them. And like my mother, made them into jam.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Don’t overlook the bounties of nature. They are often there for the picking.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.
Check out “Old Farm Country Cookbook” for jam and jelly recipes. It’s available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s. They have a great selection of my books or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.

Remembering the Importance of Little Things

Daylily beauty—hybridized by my brother, Darrel Apps. Photo by Jerry Apps

During this summer of lost dreams and failed promises, with most county fairs closed, family reunions canceled, travel restricted, incomes lost, and fears of catching the virus in the background, it’s easy to feel down. To let worry take over.

I’m reminded of World War II, 1941-1945. True, there was no pandemic then, but there were shortages and turmoil. There was rationing, and there was worry. When will it end? Will my cousins return from the fighting? When will we be able to buy sugar again?

At the time, we had little of what we take for granted today—no electricity, no indoor plumbing, woodstove heat. We milked cows by hand and farmed with horses. I was in grade school then, attending a one-room country school where we also had no electricity until I was in third or fourth grade.

The little things I remember that helped us through those dreadful war years —fresh vegetables from the garden, wild berries from the woods. On Saturday nights in summer, we’d drive to Wild Rose in our 1936 Plymouth for supplies. Pa would buy a half-gallon of ice cream. Once home, he’d take a butcher knife from a kitchen drawer, and cut the ice cream into five pieces. What a treat it was. My mother always had a few flowers, hollyhocks I remember most. They added a little color to a dreary, worrisome time. Little things that made a difference.

Most of all, those tough times brought our family together as it brought the neighbors together, everyone ready to help each other.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Do the best you can with what you’ve got.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My books, including Garden Wisdom, which has recipes for the various vegetables, are available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s. Say hello to Jana and look at their great selection of my books or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.

Fourth of July Garden Report

Daughter, Sue, and daughter-in-law Natasha, hoeing in family garden. Photo by Jerry Apps

Daughter, Sue and daughter-in-Law Natasha helping with weed control. Photo by Jerry Apps

Time for my Fourth of July garden report. Here is an appraisal of our family garden, located in western Waushara County sand country. I am always interested in how other vegetable gardens are doing this year with all the heat and a fair amount of rain as well. Send me a note.

Red potatoes-A. White Potatoes-B (Potatoes really don’t like high temperatures)
Onions-A. Tomatoes-B (My tomato plants are uneven, several in blossom, some with small tomatoes, some plants merely surviving. String Beans-A, Lettuce A+ (Best lettuce we’ve grown in years).

Sweet corn-B (Some waist-high, some less than knee-high). Kohlrabi-A (Have harvested some of it—so good raw). Radishes-F (Nothing, worst crop ever. Not one decent radish). Beets-A. Carrots-A. Zucchini- B+. Winter squash-B. Pumpkins-B. Cucumbers-B.

Peas-B (Harvested last of them, pulled the pea vines and planted the row to sweet corn, if we’re lucky we’ll have some sweet corn in September).

Cabbage-B. Broccoli-C (Struggling, mostly because a bunny found the plants).

Sunflowers-C (Don’t know what their problem is, but they are growing oh so slowly).

Overall comments—about an average vegetable gardening year. I was most disappointed in the zero radish crop—I like radishes. I like to eat them fresh out of the ground.

I hope the rabbit problem doesn’t increase. Over 50 years of gardening, I’ve had few problems with rabbits at this location—jeez, they’ve got 120 acres with lots of lush stuff to eat, why my broccoli? Deer and wild turkey—well, that’s another story.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Every year is a good garden year; but some years are better than others.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My books, including Garden Wisdom, which has recipes for the various vegetables, are available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s. Say hello to Jana and look at their great selection of my books.., or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.

Fourth of July Garden Report

Daughter, Sue, and daughter-in-law Natasha, hoeing in family garden.  Photo by Jerry Apps

Time for my Fourth of July garden report.  Here is an appraisal of our family garden, located in western Waushara  County sand country.  I am always interested in how other vegetable gardens are doing this year with all the heat and a fair amount of rain as well.  Send me a note.

Red potatoes-A.  White Potatoes-B (Potatoes really don’t like high temperatures)

Onions-A. Tomatoes-B (My tomato plants are uneven, several in blossom, some with small tomatoes, some plants merely surviving. String Beans-A, Lettuce A+ (Best lettuce we’ve grown in years).

Sweet corn-B (Some waist-high, some less than knee-high). Kohlrabi-A (Have harvested some of it—so good raw). Radishes-F (Nothing, worst crop ever. Not one decent radish).  Beets-A. Carrots-A. Zucchini- B+.  Winter squash-B. Pumpkins-B. Cucumbers-B.

Peas-B (Harvested last of them, pulled the pea vines and planted the row to sweet  corn, if we’re lucky we’ll have some sweet corn in September).

Cabbage-B. Broccoli-C (Struggling, mostly because a bunny found the plants).

Sunflowers-C (Don’t know what their problem is, but they are growing oh so slowly).

Overall comments—about an average vegetable gardening year.  I was most disappointed in the zero radish crop—I like radishes.  I like to eat them fresh out of the ground.

 I hope the rabbit problem doesn’t increase.  Over 50 years of gardening, I’ve had few problems with rabbits at this location—jeez, they’ve got 120 acres with lots of lush stuff to eat, why my broccoli?  Deer and wild turkey—well, that’s another story.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Every year is a good garden year; but some years are better than others.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My books, including Garden Wisdom, which has recipes for the various vegetables, are available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s. Say hello to Jana and look at their great selection of my books.., or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.

Fourth of July Garden Update

Daughter, Sue, and daughter-in-law Natasha, hoeing in family garden.  Photo by Jerry Apps

Time for my Fourth of July garden report.  Here is an appraisal of our family garden, located in western Waushara  County sand country.  I am always interested in how other vegetable gardens are doing this year with all the heat and a fair amount of rain as well.  Send me a note.

Red potatoes-A.  White Potatoes-B (Potatoes really don’t like high temperatures)

Onions-A. Tomatoes-B (My tomato plants are uneven, several in blossom, some with small tomatoes, some plants merely surviving. String Beans-A, Lettuce A+ (Best lettuce we’ve grown in years).

Sweet corn-B (Some waist high, some less than knee high). Kohlrabi-A (Have harvested some of it—so good raw). Radishes-F (Nothing, worst crop ever. Not one decent radish).  Beets-A. Carrots-A. Zucchini- B+.  Winter squash-B. Pumpkins-B. Cucumbers-B.

Peas-B (Harvested last of them, pulled the pea vines and planted the row to sweet  corn, if we’re lucky we’ll have some sweet corn in September).

Cabbage-B. Broccoli-C (Struggling, mostly because a bunny found the plants).

Sunflowers-C (Don’t know what their problem is, but they are growing oh so slowly).

Overall comments—about an average vegetable gardening year.  I was most disappointed in the zero radish crop—I like radishes.  I like to eat them fresh out of the ground.

 I hope the rabbit problem doesn’t increase.  Over 50 years of gardening, I’ve had few problems with rabbits at this location—jeez, they’ve got 120 acres with lots of lush stuff to eat, why my broccoli?  Deer and wild turkey—well, that’s another story.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Every year is a good garden year; but some years are better than others.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My books, including Garden Wisdom, which has recipes for the various vegetables, are available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s. Say hello to Jana and look at their great selection of my books.., or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.

Memories of Fairs

Merry-go-round, Waushara County Fair, 2019. Photo by Jerry Apps

It’s a dark and dreary summer for those of us who love our fairs. Among all the stress and challenges the COVId-19 pandemic has caused, forcing our county fairs to cancel, as well as the state fair ranks right up near the top.

For so many years, a fair was the highlight of my summer—the years I was in 4-H, the years I helped manage fairs as an extension agent, the years I served as a fair judge and the years I just visited a fair. All gone this summer. The excitement of judging day and the challenge of competition. The look on the face of a 4-H member winning her first blue ribbon. The chance to meet people seen only once a year. The opportunity to sleep over at the fair.

Memories of the smells of the fair, everything from the smell of onions frying in a food stand, to the cattle barns’ smell. The sounds of a rooster crowing in the poultry shed, the crowd sounds from the grandstand during a horse race, the sound from the merry-go-round with its little horses bobbing up and down as it goes around. The cry of the Midway barker, “Three balls for a dollar—everyone wins a prize.” Or a few feet away, another carny yells, “Guess your age within three years.”

All of these sounds, smells and sights tucked away in my memory bank. COVID-19 may take away most of our fairs this summer, but it can not take away the memories. For me, they will remain forever.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When so much seems to be disappearing—our memories remain.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My booksare available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s.. They have a great selection of my books for sale, or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.