https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-04-07 https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/2025-march monthly 0.5 2025-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/5ecc2775-72c5-44db-a8b1-0c3204133187/IMG_4928.jpg The Pantry Garden - 2025 - Early March - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/spring-planting-flowers-amp-vegetables monthly 0.5 2021-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623958486201-4I3BNPUQW1V56K83XC1W/File_000%2B%252873%2529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1625950125577-6P8VI3B4XJL9ULZY0BC4/File_000%2B%252891%2529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623963848899-YWKP5T24TAUGA2EWGLU1/File_000+%2868%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623970362690-QY7QEMOYHOMT825ZT8E1/File_000+%2876%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623955843389-ZTG4B7UKZE28P89OTAX7/File_000%252B%25252871%252529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623971007615-8PK2AQ3AK3Y3JL8WC2DS/File_000+%2869%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623955801464-JR7BFOGVMIPL6T94USJ3/File_000+%2870%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623955818713-QINW9LPDSFCWXCIDKYVV/File_000+%2865%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623969013965-DL06IVEGHYQZBKIOY8IN/File_000%2B%252874%2529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1625949181590-MPFWYXW98ESRXBDLF9IL/File_000%2B%252887%2529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1625949767379-70NX6EYZF0XJNCWCSKFF/File_000+%2890%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1625949209803-RGKDXL99KMWAMKN5OHB4/File_000%2B%252889%2529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623955746853-RYL7Y0Y59RA4B4DMHW6U/File_000+%2864%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Spring/Early Summer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/before-the-pantry-garden-is-complete monthly 0.5 2021-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623045469168-YR944C3UFJVFHHNDK54T/File_000+%2856%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out We borrowed a trailer from a friend to bring leaves to The Victory Garden. I forgot to take a picture of it, but believe me, we hauled ALOT of leaves to the garden. After all, The Victory Garden is 35 ft by 35 ft — that is alot of square feet! My Victory Garden partners decided that since the asparagus & strawberry sections had been producing for almost 2 decades, their production had decreased over time & that we should rototill them over. They just weren’t producing as much as in previous years. I was a little sad, but I knew we would make the most of this newly created space and plant vegetables we had never grown before. We had to rototill The Victory Garden twice because of the root systems & the compacted soil. Then we spread about 2 inches of dry leaves to most of the garden. Then we rototilled one more time to incorporate the leaves. Then I raked the weeds and tossed them onto my yard waste heap. (I don’t compost weeds because my compost pile never reaches 131 degrees which is the temperature needed to kill them & their spores. Maybe I need to create a hot composting bed. I can do that next year I guess - hahaha). I needed to save some leaves to continue my composting so I didn’t apply 3 inches as I did in The Pantry Garden. It is more important to continue my aerobic & anaerobic composting. I will use this gardening gold to augment the holes in which I plant, a thin layer around the top and then another top applications in mid-July. It took about 4 hours to rototill both gardens, but it will be worth it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1621119897013-HE5Z831BAMMH5B9YAT0K/File_000+%2842%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623038618085-O6A09YCMLMT83BKN3QZG/File_000+%2844%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623038821430-SYMBZHPXTVG4JT43Q9F1/File_000+%2846%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623044231121-IIRJHKFCC89W64EVTN5G/File_000+%2848%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623045202923-WD2D0RZPYFUP07U58VJD/File_000+%2855%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1621119948539-6A9UXLFX6HAEAJK13ADL/File_000+%2843%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623044270891-SJHFMPQ6C63WE5OFM27G/File_000+%2850%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623045162261-NM8ISR4X7PDB45DW3PG9/File_000+%2857%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1621120190039-D3FQ182F7UFNQTJFQ9WS/File_000+%2840%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623038745919-QT4BF5QOT9YFKC8VKAB4/File_000+%2845%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1621120134206-YFHWGSE7A4U07563BQN1/pantry+garden+best+before+roundup.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1623038861905-9CPCSCHZM4N4GIXSCUDB/File_000+%2847%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Ta Da - The Pantry Garden - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/drumroll-pleasethe-pantry-garden monthly 0.5 2021-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619642454011-ONLDWZOPH0RDWEV6KF32/compost+ready+to+harvest.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience - This is the 2nd bin of my 3-bin open air compost system that I started in the fall. I spaded it, threw away sticks that were accidentally put into the pile, and put vegetation that wasn’t quite decomposed into the 1st bin to continue decomposing. This picture is what is left - perfect compost! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619642475262-X3ZIZT3F3HOZOOTMM7CU/compost+almost+ready+to+harvest.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience - This is some of the compost in my tumbler that was wasn’t fully decomposed. During the fall & winter I added about half of all our vegetable & produce scraps in the tumbler. I put the other half into the 1st bin of the wooden system. This sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. This is what happens when you are a composting nut. Most of the kitchen waste had already decomposed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619640025006-I8WHLR2BWQKH6SGO799V/auger.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619642998235-P7YZDE1DLDG6F2L4NR16/compost+added+to+bin.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience - This is the 1st bin which has been composting since the fall. It looks pretty good and I think it will be ready to harvest in the fall. Maybe some from the tumbler will be ready too. In the fall I will till the compost into the garden so that the soil has time to “mix & mingle” with it during the fall & winter while my garden is sleeping. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619641201485-VBOWHDF4C61ID0L5SEX9/pantry+garden+issues.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience First the auger to drill the holes. Then the post digger to place the poles. Then concrete to set the poles. Then water added to help set the concrete inside the dirt. Then while placing the fencing and gate we ran into some issues. The contractor had to buy some unexpected items and then it was supposed to rain next week. So building The Pantry Garden was put on hold for at least a week. But I “needed” to plant my root vegetables! I am planting the beets in The Victory Garden, but planting the kohlrabi only in The Pantry Garden. Last year critters snuck into The Victory Garden and ate the kohlrabi despite chicken wire on the bottom of the fence! We searched for holes but couldn’t find any. So planting the kohlrabi would have to wait a little longer. Since I have alot of compost to harvest, I decided to prepare The Victory Garden to prepare the beets. Drumroll please…time to harvest the compost! And you know how much I love my “gardening gold”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619640060112-Z3K24IM5UZ96ERYDS62K/pantry+garden+1+auger.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1619642975570-KVND7O9Y5WVS7TX5L524/compost+perfect+in+wheelbarrow.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Patience - This picture is the perfectly composted matter from the compost tumbler. I added it to the compost from the bin and took it to use in The Victory Garden. Hoorah! https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/building-the-pantry-garden monthly 0.5 2021-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1618777191231-PTWH8Y5TEHMT8K6HA22H/pantry%252Bgarden%252Bready%252Bfor%252Bthe%252Bfence.jpg The Pantry Garden - Building The Pantry Garden We spread as much topsoil as we could about 1 foot from each edge of the garden so that the posts could be installed. As you can see from the ridge on the left side, there is still plenty of soil that we need to move to level the garden. Once the entire fence is built we will move the soil where it belongs. And then, FINALLY, I can plant my root crops. I continue to pray for patience because patience is a virtue and that is one virtue that I seem to lack. So while you are waiting for the perfect temperature to plant, I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and the outdoors! This Spring will be especially sweet because the world is re-opening and we are regaining some of our personal freedoms. I hope your stores, restaurants, churches, movie theatres, and your other favorite spots are opening and that your life is becoming normal again. If you have already gotten your vaccine, that is fabulous! If not, be patient, as your time will be here before you know it. Stay well, and go play in some dirt! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1618773421954-5OIFGIJSX2DH7ZHN1GPU/pantry%2525252Bgarden%2525252Bdirt%2525252Bdelivered%2525252B2.jpg The Pantry Garden - Building The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1618776801845-EMG4EB0SK2EIMQ3ZJG6O/pantry%25252525252Bgarden%25252525252B12%25252525252Byards%25252525252Bof%25252525252Bdirt.jpg The Pantry Garden - Building The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1618768803796-XEP3FROI4WTGFTGBKXD4/pantry%252Bgarden%252Bdirt%252Bdelivered%252B1.jpg The Pantry Garden - Building The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1618776761544-WWJLCP8TOR6QM2SMD0OE/pantry%2Bgarden%2Btake%2Ba%2Bbreak.jpg The Pantry Garden - Building The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1618768203595-CMIZHIEYMTE61RXQCWT4/pantry%2Bgarden%2Btarp.jpg The Pantry Garden - Building The Pantry Garden https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/three-bin-composter monthly 0.5 2020-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1605652112360-0KPA800GN777M98CWH6L/IMG_2937.jpg The Pantry Garden - Three-Bin Composter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1605652307296-TP9UF34VWNG7X5N7CUWE/IMG_3060.jpg The Pantry Garden - Three-Bin Composter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1605653127610-VQK0CX6KXY1GWJLDAF1K/IMG_3104.jpg The Pantry Garden - Three-Bin Composter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1605652240447-9RN3Y5XN6UQ88EZXXCX4/IMG_2941.jpg The Pantry Garden - Three-Bin Composter https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/whats-next monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/challenges-at-the-victory-garden monthly 0.5 2020-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1598384998529-3CZPIO7Z0ENBL2I5HYBO/IMG_2510.JPG The Pantry Garden - Eggplants and Peppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1598902611832-KEQZ3PAFOE4SXKRVXN7Z/IMG_2519.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants and Peppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1598902824272-X2I939O73483SCFFHK5Q/IMG_2466.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants and Peppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1598385385598-7QNSNCJR7B158WP95I9R/IMG_2507.JPG The Pantry Garden - Eggplants and Peppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1598385048987-AB5X9JBLUXYO5KSPRYYA/IMG_2511.JPG The Pantry Garden - Eggplants and Peppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1598902529366-HBR8X4HO8LFPAG899A4L/IMG_2518.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants and Peppers https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/garden-update-august-20th monthly 0.5 2020-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597606059235-YRKVM2ARH5ELYGO0QI8O/IMG_2432.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597605280556-GRILY72RN28X1FW0VGU4/IMG_2418.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes Every year I get a “boy” tomato. I don’t know why because nobody else gets one; not even my friends who grow tomatoes from my seedlings. Maybe it’s because I don’t have any boys of my own. It makes me laugh every year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597606554974-D5MXX8DQW108E2H256QX/IMG_2416.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes Then I add tomato paste to thicken the sauce. I let it simmer for about one hour without a cover so that it thickens. When I use it, I add some fresh basil. I also freeze some. Even though the sauce thins a little when you thaw it, that is OK, because I can always add more tomato paste or better yet, parmesan to thicken it and then simmer it again. I save parmesan rinds in my freezer (an old Sicilian trick) and sometimes add them. The parmesan attached to the rind melts into the sauce. Then I take out the rind (and nibble on any left over bits that don’t come off) and throw the rind away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597870280708-UTUIQ5WLWBMF7CNTCPOM/IMG_2472.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597606105801-89N59XWNWYWLUNEE7YSC/IMG_2433.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes OK, so we can’t eat fresh tomatoes EVERY day, so it is time to make some other tomato based dinners as well as save some for the cold winter months. I made a big pot of homemade tomato sauce the other day. It is simple dimple! Here is how I do it. I core and coarsely chop my tomatoes and put them in a big pot and cook them for awhile until they are “mooshy”. I use the skins & seeds too. I add some kosher salt, cracked pepper, oregano and garlic powder (I grow oregano just because I think I should but I only use it as a garnish because I think it is way too potent to use as an ingredient) and garlic powder and cook it on medium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597605425924-J16W10DAQ2UIFMDHWLVQ/IMG_2461.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes When I go to the grocery store, I always ask for their boxes, because I pick sooo many tomatoes at once. I also save plastic containers to pick my precious cherry tomatoes. We have so many tomatoes that we have been having a lot of bruschetta for dinner. My favorite bread to roast is Panera, but I also use ciabatta from our local bakery. I top the bread with whole milk ricotta (life is too short to use part-skim), then some imported prosciutto (I like prosciutto di Parma because it has a nuttier and saltier flavor than other types - well worth the extra money), and then top it with the piece de resistance - a mixture of different types of small diced tomatoes, a little cracked pepper, a little kosher salt and chopped basil. I hope you are growing tons of basil! I don’t use any balsamic because I think it masks the complex flavors. I inevitably make too much and so I just eat it out of the bowl later that night. My friend brought some home the other night and used it the next day on top of chicken. I never thought of that; she is so smart! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1597606607948-590M8MGDBWCUGPTGX7PF/IMG_2415.jpg The Pantry Garden - Tomatoes, Tomatoes,Tomatoes When the tomatoes are mostly wilted, I blend batches of the hot mixture and then add it to the pot. I do this until the seeds are completely crushed and the consistency I like. Then I strain it just to double check that there aren’t any leftover skins or seeds. Make sure to keep tasting it so that you like the flavor. https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/garden-update-july-24 monthly 0.5 2020-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596561200192-S7YCMZN00DX4XZOYBAHG/IMG_2172.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596564596666-1CUL0FGI274QQLG72CG6/IMG_2093.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596564283631-G09Y8GIYOW3GO8MSCIOK/IMG_2145.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596820969092-RI85UQC7I4UBRMJRBHZC/image-asset.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th Check these out! Thanks to Uncle Harvey, who graciously gave me some new varieties that he grew from seed with his “magic dirt” I am super excited to taste these. I am sure they are delicious. These are Wisconsin 55 . The other varieties from Harvey are coming in nicely as well! You can see where deer have chomped off a few of the branches. But tomatoes want to grow, and of course, other branches grew and are producing gobs of tomatoes. What are those pellets around the tomato base? The 1st week of July I put Preen down to prevent weeds. Preen doesn’t kill the weeds, it just prevents new ones from growing. I want to spend time eating my vegetables rather than weeding. Who doesn’t? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596821048209-DTUNEKIV4B6L1AV3XWP9/IMG_2334.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th Look at these beauties. Next time I am at the garden, I will cut off the yellowed branches that have a little blight. Why? By cutting them off, the tomatoes get more sunlight and don’t use the energy on these branches and can focus more on creating new buds! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596561137952-82U8IZ2U3QN3RPNFENO7/IMG_2169.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th I stir fried the bok choi with the other vegetables and added them to the sauce. I can’t wait to harvest my heirloom carrots instead of using store bought carrots. Their rainbow of colors will look beautiful and more delicious than those bought at the store! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596566384214-5WEVAH3YG13G8II1I813/IMG_2343.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596823151772-0U6AOVKE0U119GMQGHDD/IMG_2374.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th The Midnight Snacks are ready to harvest when the bottoms are red. You would think that that the whole tomato would be purple just like other Black/Purple cherry tomatoes. It takes what seems like forever for the bottoms to turn from green to purple! Apparently because the bottoms don’t get as much sun as the tops (obviously), it takes longer. I think it is this unique mixture of colors that gives it that unique taste. That is my theory, and unless I hear otherwise, that is my story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596565535129-HGSWBLYB9S3XXF01EKED/IMG_2168%252B%2525281%252529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596566445028-3X15JFJLRNYYNQON0EIJ/image-asset.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596822807278-C1KBVZ4N2TSDGQF8W6BL/IMG_2373.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - August 4th My Midnight Snack tomatoes are out of control! They grow like other cherry tomatoes hanging on clusters with about 10 on each. I must have 100 almost ripe with about 100 more that haven’t started to ripen. They look gorgeous in bruchetta and taste like Cherokee Purples with is perfect because those are just starting to ripen. What a great shortcut for my favorite flavor!!! https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/eggplants-flea-beetle-infestation monthly 0.5 2020-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596575931982-RYHPLGH943C3COAPTZ5Z/IMG_2309+%281%29.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants - Flea Beetle Infestation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596576049225-JBEGQBE03NR0V00UPX1O/IMG_2315+%281%29.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants - Flea Beetle Infestation That’s alot of damage! It happened almost overnight!!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596576647549-JU95QOFWZV054M3I5HPA/IMG_2318+%281%29.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants - Flea Beetle Infestation My beautiful Black Beauty eggplants all covered with Sevin Dust. In the background is the lovely well established asparagus patch that naturally goes to seed after the last harvest. In front of the eggplants is where my kohlrabi and beets used to be (we ate them all). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596575974736-I9GCMHAXMDKSMISXSIGB/IMG_2313.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants - Flea Beetle Infestation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596576873862-4WXG3SYHC8TMT1C5SB7E/IMG_2320.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants - Flea Beetle Infestation These are my Chinese Long Purple eggplants all covered with Sevin Dust. Behind the eggplants is my carrot patch which needs to be weeded. Also nestled within the weeds is some of my swiss chard. I have to admit that I have been enjoying full-time life at the lake, and so weeding has become less of a priority as the summer sun calls my name. Despite the weeds, I think The Victory Garden and my tomato bed garden look great and is certainly producing! (With the exception of my eggplant flea beetle infestation of course!) I believe the Sevin Dust will work. But will the plants produce more flowers which will produce lovely, shiny, delicious eggplants? I’m Sicilian, so I need to eat eggplants whether my family likes them or not!!! Stay tuned, hopefully I will have good news to report on my next blog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1596576008993-C0R020EHBVVT1LP0HODK/IMG_2311.jpg The Pantry Garden - Eggplants - Flea Beetle Infestation Gross! There must be more flea beetles hiding somewhere! They are called fleas because they jump from plant to plant. Luckily they don’t like the other vegetables I am growing; at least I think they don’t! https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/rhubarb monthly 0.5 2020-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1593279362952-0KU84ERB1U5W2517V7JQ/IMG_1974+%281%29.jpg The Pantry Garden - Rhubarb https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1593279612763-DIC8D9V9FE6ITCBZ7BZW/IMG_2103.jpg The Pantry Garden - Rhubarb https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/composting monthly 0.5 2020-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1592498305880-V3BUJY8905Z8QR79HVQB/IMG_1996.jpg The Pantry Garden - Composting/Gardener’s Gold https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1592433988268-DOV5W1OIGP6SSSNHI7AB/IMG_2037.jpg The Pantry Garden - Composting/Gardener’s Gold https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1592435271679-HIZZLPBTBCKPQUY941ME/IMG_1992.jpg The Pantry Garden - Composting/Gardener’s Gold https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1592435272610-AVCZAUOCDSY26WOQ3VSG/IMG_1993.jpg The Pantry Garden - Composting/Gardener’s Gold https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1592435280602-PNW5UTDP26K7RYW9EH4S/IMG_1994.jpg The Pantry Garden - Composting/Gardener’s Gold https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1592498500016-L03XVVWZYGS50C0DP3AN/IMG_2039.jpg The Pantry Garden - Composting/Gardener’s Gold https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/garden-update monthly 0.5 2020-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591831215320-H9H03KJNNTC0RRTF1WSX/IMG_1933.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th Same with my kohlrabi. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591906105485-BRR4J2ZXJZV6UAGOLAM7/IMG_1934.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th The Black Beauty eggplants are starting to flower. Hopefully the Chinese Long Purple will flower soon as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591906754046-B7VW0AE9XV6TV2CRLOE9/IMG_1920.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th I am pleased with my five varieties of peppers. It will be interesting to see how many peppers I get from both the red varieties that I obtained through my library seed swap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591904062818-T87NYIMLHLRAE2TESP0F/IMG_1935.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th I picked some yesterday for a delicious salad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591905465690-N1H008E62C07YCCJHJTK/image-asset.jpeg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th This is one of my Mortgage Lifter tomatoes which produces 1 1/2 pound tomatoes on large clusters. These heirloom tomato seeds were supposedly brought to America by an immigrant who paid off his home mortgage in one year. Hmmm, I need to calculate the net present value of each tomato. Still…isn’t it a great story? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591907051823-GXZEACNJBFZHHSV9EBYH/IMG_1961.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th I picked these today. The weeding I did two weeks ago paid off and I was able to see some of these smaller beauties that would have been hidden by the weeds, or worse yet, maybe choked off! This is an established bed; not started this year from seed, and so it will continue to produce these large delicious jewels until the end of June and many years in the future. They are the gifts that keep on giving. Pie anyone? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591896286467-3AH1T6JO8PKSV1KKQ8ZQ/IMG_1930.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th The beets are starting to crown so I know they are becoming nice and plump underneath. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591905266813-M8126N41G4VEFG908DX1/IMG_1921.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th These are just SOME of my tomatoes! They are all about one month ahead of plants purchased because they were started from seed. Of course, the wonderful weather helped too. Nothing like a homegrown tomato! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591903504714-ZBB1AI3EBCM4LCOIDV1L/IMG_1916.jpg The Pantry Garden - Garden Update - June 11th From right to left: swiss chard, beets, kale, kohlrabi, arugla, eggplants, and rhubard that was split and transplanted two years ago. https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/sowing-carrots monthly 0.5 2020-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591895924878-36SNJI1X1MH6C4OU4BTY/IMG_1959.jpg The Pantry Garden - Sowing Carrots https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591896062910-AVI6UPFHAIGYF0JW2TKL/IMG_1939.jpg The Pantry Garden - Sowing Carrots https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591734272893-KJ4L2366LZCABHCQD26T/IMG_1942.jpg The Pantry Garden - Sowing Carrots https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/planting-tomatoes-and-other-late-spring-vegetables monthly 0.5 2020-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591324575165-0CQDP3SAEU2Z6TM5R46T/IMG_1880.jpg The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591297401201-EEPMX0T75N4NIGQQ8CFM/IMG_1858.jpg The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590706962187-3ZXF9ER1NR8U0SA74CC9/IMG_1879%2B%25281%2529.jpg The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591237201033-5YBZBXH5SPO4MR6ACMNV/IMG_0068.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591324474346-KY0244F0RH9QLEQMDKOJ/IMG_1878.jpg The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590699996671-ZTFYSU393U6D3Y9VWVJN/IMG_1876.jpg The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591236920972-1GWGR79YJHYZF4DUML2E/IMG_0085.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591324224626-Q676NE21MGV4HNU13TMC/IMG_0065.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591324218228-CAI1HTDWU7AAYTPCNEKC/IMG_0050.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591324218506-HXUFTIY52TCYDL3ZOH7C/IMG_0083.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1591324225378-UK06Q7J9OW9Q9EZQ6G61/IMG_0084.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Late Spring Vegetables https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/planting-root-vegetables monthly 0.5 2020-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590446231155-KWU3XVMSS3IB01TO7HXL/IMG_1832.JPEG The Pantry Garden - Planting Early Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590445842187-J9UQW72VIGNCQ9MJOSI0/IMG_9684.JPG The Pantry Garden - Planting Early Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590700475099-KGIUD7593HXRS264LIKZ/IMG_1774.jpg The Pantry Garden - Planting Early Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590446009785-L4FMTXV0TMY7F933C7JB/IMG_1835.JPEG The Pantry Garden - Planting Early Spring Vegetables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590446419029-LXH6ZAEMV2JN8VDB1EU0/IMG_1838.JPEG The Pantry Garden - Planting Early Spring Vegetables https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/how-i-plant-my-seeds-AP0md monthly 0.5 2020-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590022576106-YLTI00NUEIXJPRJI3QHI/download.jpg The Pantry Garden - Transplanting Seedlings https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1590022255983-NX0KIBN6N4JE1C5VQI9Z/containers.jpg The Pantry Garden - Transplanting Seedlings https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/blog/how-it-all-began monthly 0.5 2020-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1589494335037-3L6ZFE3XYAMSS5LP9PA7/a9b062_35531bd478ac479aa024400f30f3689c%7Emv2.jpg The Pantry Garden - How It All Began/Planting Seeds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1589493749996-QGJ7RPVW68YD39LD93N6/a9b062_c819bd27c9544901b1e2c2ba4b147a42%7Emv2.jpg The Pantry Garden - How It All Began/Planting Seeds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1589493764720-D8YF45RS1O33QDNOTU2J/a9b062_e1013831e13e46f09204d7d47769e858%7Emv2.jpg The Pantry Garden - How It All Began/Planting Seeds https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/home daily 1.0 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1589494845982-ZWKEN418N6FG85ACI7NA/markus-spiske-nJtmd4ANdR4-unsplash.jpg Home - I am a stay-at-home mom turned empty nester who recently upgraded my garden from a small suburban Chicago plot to a rural Wisconsin Victory Garden! I hope you enjoy sharing my garden adventure with all of its twists and turns. I hope you are inspired to either start a garden, expand your garden, start planting seeds, or grow a new variety in your garden. Chances are that you are quarantined anyways, so what else are you doing? So go play in the dirt, touch a worm, and bask in the sunshine! -Victoria https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/the-victory-garden daily 0.75 2020-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1589931300147-HDHFAMYLZVQM7SCVEOMF/crocket+cover.jpeg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1589492740373-IZCTDE2E7HAKFPO7LQHP/EB8810ED-6EDA-45AB-94FD-E14D7636012A.jpeg The Pantry Garden https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-06-12 https://www.victoriasvictorygarden.com/the-pantry-garden daily 0.75 2021-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617385678037-C57VC8S0GQGSGZGWP29Q/File_000+%2812%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617390372372-2V3AIUPCDX0LYOQOV5LI/wwcanning2.jpeg.jpg The Pantry Garden Can you imagine seeing these pictures in LIFE Magazine and waiting patiently for your Victory Garden brochures from The US Government to arrive via snail mail? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617391972902-0DDQXK1YWLIMR7T76O0S/vgposter2.jpeg.jpg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617391853829-Y4UA3GCVVIR9BMPFHJGK/wwvgposter.jpeg.jpg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617383322738-ZQK52TCNYRCHBM2SCIWO/File_000+%281%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617384506545-E63OHA6ZF87L5AL0YDHK/File_000+%288%29.jpeg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617387204575-AI6XHH3JY4OOFBFKYP1N/seedlings1.jpg The Pantry Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ebdadbdbc7d4955c784d5eb/1617391075472-UMOCX1SYVCWLDHR2RSJ1/wwcanning1.jpeg.jpg The Pantry Garden