Blaugust 2026 #3: Garden Report
I wanted to make a list of everything that I grew in the garden this year and whether or not I would grow it again...and if I would, what changes would I make.
I'm working with a northern hardwoods forest type zone - so short growing season, freezing snowy winters.
GARLIC - yes!
RED ONIONS - yes!
DAKOTA ONIONS - yes!
WALLA WALLA ONIONS - yes!
LEEKS - yes!
SHALLOTS - maybe. i forgot to label and can't tell the difference to the red onions lol
UTAH CELERY - gosh, i grew SO MUCH of this, it hurts my brain to think about. i won't be needing to grow any next year but would definitely recommend. grows so well here.
RUSSIAN KALE - yes! the chickens love this stuff.
CURLY BLUE KALE - yes! lasts for ages, for the whole season and more.
LACINATO KALE - i would grow for the chickens, not for me. the bugs like this too much and get to it too quick.
BELSTAR BROCCOLI - yes!
SKYWALKER CAULIFLOWER - sigh...i don't think i'll try cauliflower again.
BRUSSEL SPROUTS - well, these take forever! first year for me and they are just now forming up. but we'll see if they are worth it in the fall when i harvest. I think so!
RED CABBAGE - yes!
SAVOY CABBAGE - yes! Stunning, gorgeous, love it.
TYPHOON CABBAGE - NOPE. lol Bugs love this and doesn't come together as well as the savoy and red cabbage.
DANVERS CARROTS - yes!
NANTES CARROTS - yes!
LITTLE FINGER CARROTS - yes!
PAC CHOI - yes! Literally ready a month after planting seeds!
RED SAILS LETTUCE - yes!
D'HIVER LETTUCE - yes!
MARVEL LETTUCE - yes!
LITTLE GEM LETTUCE - wouldn't grow again - not for me.
FRENCH MARIGOLDS - always.
SWEET ANNIE WORMWOOD - always.
PEPPERMINT - always.
SWEET ALYSSUM - unsure. it's gorgeous, great ground cover but also an annual and dies quick though it comes back after...
THYME - always.
LAVENDER - always.
LEMON BALM - always.
CHAMOMILE - always.
CALENDULA - always.
TULSI BASIL - always, every year forever, most delicious tea :)
TOMATILLOS - no, not worth it, the slugs LOVE this plant.
EARLY JALEPEÑOS - great crop but not sure i'll grow again since i don't eat too many of them. think i'll go back to my cayennes next year.
PIMIENTOS - didn't grow hardly at all. perhaps not suited to my area or i didn't take care of them as well as i should have.
KARLO PEPPERS - NO. i don't know why i grew these but not doing it again.
UKRANIAN TOMATO - yesssss, so yummy :)
SPECKLED ROMAN TOMATO - nope.
JUBILEE TOMATO - no, would not grow again - the taste isn't for me.
HONEY CHERRY TOMATO - i'll tell you when i get some lol.
GREEN MACHINE ZUCHINNI - not as machine like as I expected however, still a reliable producer. quick to start.
GOLDINI - so cute! yes, would grow again.
BLUE LAKE BEANS - yes. yes. yes! no strings, wide, flat, yummy, grows quick and prolific. after the first couple runs, does degrade quickly so succession planting is ideal with this.
SEYCHELLES POLE BEANS - take a while to produce but prolific when they do!
MAXIBEL BEANS - no way. never again. don't taste good and are stringy.
WHITE SCALLOP SQUASH - this was kinda a one and done plant so not sure if it's worth it to grow next year for me. perhaps i didn't feed enough, but they are cute though.
EARLY CROOKNECK - yes! really strong stems, might be vine borer resistant, doing great! slow to produce but it's still working hard.
CHEESE PUMPKIN - supposed to be vine borer resistant. it's still growing so i'll report back later.
GARLIC CHIVES - a perennial. did okay this year but i didn't harvest before they bloomed so i didn't try them yet.
BLACKBERRY BUSHES - put two of these in giant whiskey barrels. first year, got them this spring. hope to have fruit next year perhaps!
BLUEBERRY BUSHES - I have four, all different varieties. it's only their first year after planting last fall (2025) and didn't get any fruit, but perhaps in the coming years. i need to feed and mulch better perhaps this fall.
SUMMERCRISP PEAR - YESSSSSSSSSSSSS
BOSC PEAR - this only exists in my garden to pollinate the summercrisp.
GRAPES - I need more. something likes to eat the leaves though.
WINE CAP MUSHROOMS - YESSSSSSSSSSS. Every year I will be adding more, feeding the beds, keeping it up - because these are so easy to grow and sooooo delicious! I don't buy mushrooms at the store anymore :)