Baby Vegetables! (2012 Garden Update #4)
I’m always excited by the arrival of the first baby vegetables in the garden! |
Back in the old days when people would carry around photos of their kids and grandkids (instead of posting them on Facebook), I once had a friend suggest that I start carrying around photos of my baby plants. I never did go quite that far, but there’s no doubt that the arrival of baby vegetables is something I look forward to eagerly every year. I hope this post doesn’t inspire too much baby-vegetable envy among my readers and blogging friends, because this year it got warm very early in Utah, and because I was going on a long trip I planted my garden much earlier than usual. I thought if it didn’t make it, I would replant when I came back from the trip, but the weather gods were smiling on the garden and the veggies got an early start!
Cucumbers are something I buy as small plants, and they can be pretty touchy but this year the cucumbers are growing happily in the box next to the deck. They’ll get lots of sun there so I’ll probably be giving away cucumbers to all the neighbors.
These little guys are my beloved 8-Ball squash, a type of zucchini that you pick when they get barely bigger than a pool ball. They’re great for stuffing or slicing to cook on the grill.
I am quite picky about finding straightneck (not crookneck) yellow squash, because I like the smooth skins of the straightneck ones. These are the squash that are an essential ingredient in the famous Denny family “Creamed” Zucchini.”
I also have regular zucchini as well. This type of zucchini is the one I would use for making Julienned Zucchini “Spaghetti.”
The tag from the garden center just said Scallop Squash, so I don’t think these are going to be as colorful as the Flying Saucer Squash that I used a few years ago, but I bet I can still use them to make Marinated Summer Squash Salad.
I know I showed you a cucumber at the top of the page, but I couldn’t resist another photo of these two little cuties. So many great salads with cucumbers, which one to make first?
And although I have nine tomato plants, the only ones that have tomatoes on them are the Celebrity tomatoes, a type that grows very well in Utah. These little tomatoes are just slightly bigger than a cherry tomato, so it will be a while yet, but I have tomato sandwiches in my future!
How’s Your Garden Growing?
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden where you live, let us know in the comments if your veggies are making an appearance or how the plants are doing. (You can see all my Garden Updates since 2006 or the 2012 Garden Updates if you’d like to find out more about my garden.)
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13 Comments on “Baby Vegetables! (2012 Garden Update #4)”
I planted a small container garden of summer veggies from seeds. I have two young kids and they are enjoying seeing our seeds grow, but knowing what I need to do and not do and how to (eek) handle pests is a little intimidating!
Wow! Your garden is looking great!! I also only have one tomato plant that has set fruit out of 11. I have some zucchini/squash blossoms with some babies, but no cucumbers yet. Isn't it so exciting to see vegetables actually growing?
Your garden looks great! I just returned from a 2-week vacation and overjoyed that my garden doesn't look like a shrivelled mess! No baby veggies yet but my kabocha squash plants have like grown by 100x in 2 weeks… I am starting to think that 4 plants in a pot wasn't such a great idea after all… 😛
I wouldn't blame you one bit if you carried around pictures of your "babies":) They are all beautiful!
Ah, so cute, almost make you want to talk baby-talk to them!
Hi Kalyn,
Your garden looks great. I'm in Denver most of the time now and I've got loads of lettuce and kale growing which has been growing since March. I just picked my first snow peas yesterday and I have very large, carrot size, white radishes. My tomatoes that I planted in the Wall of Waters are going gang busters and have many tomatoes. I have been making lots of oregano pesto with the oodles of oregano. I love this time of year. Oh
I live in Ontario Canada, just planted my garden a few weeks ago. I started my tomatoes from last year seed at the end of April, have a long way to go till I see anything. Beautiful garden pictures.
Congrats, proud mama!
Your garden is way, way, way ahead of mine. My tomato plants have flowers on them, but no fruit. We've just got the basil and parsley into the ground. I love your garden photos and look forward to watching your garden grow.
Thanks guys. This is definitely the earliest I've ever had baby veggies and I am pretty psyched about it!
Hi Kalyn,
I'm amazed that you already have baby veggies on your plants!
My plants went in the ground about 2 weeks ago and still have a long way to go before giving birth 🙂
Cheers!
Bruno
My garden has been having a ton of trouble with cukes growing. I have ALWAYS been able to grow cukes but this year something(deer) are enjoying them very much! My tomatoes are growing well. Oh I forgot, the deer have also enjoyed my pole beans.I am planting whippoorwill peas this weekend so hopefully they will do better. Your garden looks so good!
Congrats on all the baby veggies! They are so cute 🙂