The Start of the Harvest

@JudyEv (338682)
Rockingham, Australia
February 24, 2016 5:06pm CST
We have never claimed to be good gardeners. We did enjoy making some raised beds which were to become vegetable gardens but once we had the beds made we didn't actually plant much in them. However this year I planted butternut pumpkin (squash) and watermelon in one big round bed. It is watered automatically every day and half the time we forget the melons are there. So they have been doing their own thing: they made runners, flowered, made some fruits and today I picked the first of the butternuts and melons. They are not particularly big but that isn't really important to us. We haven't cut the watermelon yet but one is in the fridge cooling off. There are more to come but at the moment we are looking forward to trying these.
33 people like this
37 responses
@cacay1 (83334)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
25 Feb 16
So nice of you.These fruits look so sweet and organic.They are good for the body.They contain much fiber.Nice post,thanks.
5 people like this
@cacay1 (83334)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv I love to eat golden melon like yours there in the picture.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
I'm looking forward to eating these.
4 people like this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
25 Feb 16
I love to plant vegetables. I don't claim to be a gardener, myself :) It's wonderful to actually see fruit, vegetables when they grow!
3 people like this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv Yes! I remember years ago I got to see how potatoes grew ... I was amazed ... I was the best potato picker-upper they had! I felt like I was on an Easter egg hunt ... I ran here, there .... picking those potatoes up ... I was in awe at how many, how big they were ... and they all grew in the ..... ground!
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
@GrannyGee One year we had a really good garden. I'd go out and just need three carrots but I always had to see how big the next one was and I'd come back with about a dozen.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
It's a great thrill isn't it? We had a lovely crop of potatoes once. It was like digging up buried treasure. So much fun!
3 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
24 Feb 16
Sounds like a good use of your time and it is enjoyable when you can eat from your own garden, enjoy.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
It is nice to grow some of your own food if you can.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv It is and the food seems to taste even better.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
@Marcyaz That is true too. I think home-grown tomatoes always taste different.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
25 Feb 16
I think you are just modest Obviously this is a good harvest and it is so nice to have a garden to grow more plants.
3 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
26 Feb 16
@JudyEv Look forward to seeing your harvest next year
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
Haha. Thank you. Next year I might plant more things as it's been fun growing these.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
24 Feb 16
watermelon in the fridge cooling off?please explain on this?
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50080)
• United States
25 Feb 16
They are cooling it down to eat. It tastes good cold.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
Marie is right. When I picked the melon at lunchtime it was quite warm. We think it tastes better when it is cold so we've put it in the fridge.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
25 Feb 16
How fabulous to have watermelon from your own garden- I would love that and the butternut squash- you'll have to tell me how they turn out!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
We might and cut one shortly - a watermelon that is!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
@MarymargII The watermelon tastes good although it doesn't look quite ripe. It sounds hollow when tapped and the curly was dry so it should be okay. I won't photograph it. I'll wait for a better one.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv Haha! the watermelon and how about some baked squaah with butter and a touch of cinammon- I'm making myself hungry at 5:30 am. haha! But don't worry I'm headed back to bed. Way too early for me.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
25 Feb 16
The watermelon in the fridge will surely delight you. And those squash are cute! It is always delightful to harvest from your own garden.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
I love pumpkin so am looking forward to cooking some soon.
1 person likes this
@iamshane487 (1139)
• Manila, Philippines
25 Feb 16
I've missed planting vegetables. I can't plant in my cemented yard.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
Can you perhaps have a tomato plant in a pot? They usually grow well.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
25 Feb 16
I have a lot of veggies growing. Today I cooked up a whole bunch of spinach and tomatoes from my garden and baked some eggplant which too is from my garden. I want to grow some honey dew melons and watermelons this season.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
It is very satisfying to be able to get a meal from your own produce.
1 person likes this
@ida123 (6206)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
25 Feb 16
Now, you can taste the fruits of your endeavor. I love seeing the pictures of your squash and watermelon, it seems, they are calling us to eat them, ha, ha.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
I have cut the watermelon and it is very nice. Great on a hot day.
@Ladypeace (2028)
• Singapore
25 Feb 16
You are living my dream, I hope one day to live by the country and grow my own vegetation, harvest them and eat them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
I'd really like to grown more but we're away quite a lot.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 Feb 16
I like watermelon too, especially cold ones.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
They're great on a hot day aren't they?
2 people like this
• Philippines
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv yes. So refreshing.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3212)
25 Feb 16
They look pretty good to me! I like plants that take care of all the work :)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
These were pretty troublefree! They mostly looked after themselves.
2 people like this
@AkoPinay (11542)
• Philippines
25 Feb 16
I consider my dad as a good gardener :) we have these too when he was younger :) I love watermelon even it's not cold and I love pumpkins cooked in coconut milk with crustaceans or smoked fish :)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
I haven't had pumpkin cooked in coconut milk but it sounds nice.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
25 Feb 16
Every February I buy seeds at The Dollar Tree store--I have no luck with the veggies but I have flowers blooming all year round! :O)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
That must be really nice to have flowers all year round. I would like that.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Feb 16
oh yum! i'll be right o'er to help ya eat 'em :D i miss a big garden myself - filled with all sorts'f melons, pumpkins, okra, maters, corn, cukes 'n the like. nothin' more satisfyin' than eatin' the fruits'f yer labor :D big hugs 'n congrats! last watermelon we grew got tended to by a pack'f coyotes, lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv yes ma'am, they truly do. had a chessie who was fond'f watermelons's well. he was kind 'nough to cabbaged onto one 'n eat'n on the back porch. i'd get home from work 'n there he'd be, gnawin' 'n the rind'f what was left. i'm purty sure they do such coz they're missin' some nutrients?? i don't reckon i'd thought'f the kangaroo eatin' pumpkins? don't reckon that's far fetched though. i'd sure love me a good 'n ripe'n :D
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
Animals seem to like watermelons - and pumpkins. The first year we planted the latter the kangaroos ate them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
@crazyhorseladycx Not sure what a 'chessie' is. You'lll need to enlighten me. :)
1 person likes this
• Midland, Michigan
25 Feb 16
looks and sounds yummy. I thought at first the yellow ones were spaghetti squash, have you ever had those before? Most people around here eat them instead of noodles with spaghetti sauce, but i prefer them with some butter and parmesan cheese instead. The melons look plenty big too me.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
We call them butternut pumpkin but I think in the US they're called butternut squash. I don't think I've ever seen spaghetti squash.
1 person likes this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
25 Feb 16
Enjoy your harvest feasts
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
Thanks. I'm hoping the butternuts will keep us going for quite some time as they usually keep well.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
25 Feb 16
wow, they look very nice. I am not much of a gardener myself. I have never anything that looked that good. But, I keep trying
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
That's all you can do really. Keep trying. We have a few tomatoes growing as well.
2 people like this
@RaineyR (213)
25 Feb 16
Wow well done! The watermelon looks so tasty!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 16
We haven't tried it yet but might do so soon.
2 people like this