Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, Harvests, and a Zero Waste BBQ
Home from our trip and the garden greeted us like a small green miracle. I worried—there were heatwaves while we were away and someone watered a couple times a week—but everything came through just fine. Only one flower didn’t make it and some herbs bolted. Small price to pay: herbs are quick to replant, so I’m not losing sleep over it.
Embracing the Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In
Our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In showcases the resilience we’ve seen this summer.
Problems and fixes
Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In Strategies
Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In Insights
- Caterpillars on kale and pak choi: I’ll spray neem oil and inspect each plant to remove caterpillars and eggs by hand to stop further damage.
- Bolted herbs: harvest what I can, save seeds if worth it, and re-sow fresh seedlings.
- Dead flower: into the compost it goes—no waste.
What we’re harvesting (patio garden miracle)
- Vegetables: green beans, sugar snap peas, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, pak choi, kale, Swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber
- Herbs: mixed fresh herbs (dill, lovage, arugula, scallions, etc.)
- Fruit: strawberries (so many!), red & black currants, rhubarb
The success of our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In was a delightful surprise this season. The heatwave made me concerned, but the garden thrived, showcasing the resilience of our efforts.
Meal plans Bella and we’re are having a BBQ tomorrow for dinner that will be veggie heavy:
- Main: grilled something simple (whatever’s in the freezer or local meat/veg)
- Sides: French-style warm potato salad with arugula, sugar snap peas; tomato-herb salad; lots of fresh greens
- Dessert: fresh strawberries (we’ll also use some for jam or freezer storage), maybe a simple cake or whipped cream on the side
- Extras: plenty of raw berries for snacking
Fresh potato salad recipe Ingredients
- 800 g firm/new potatoes
- 14 sugar snap peas
- 3 spring onions (scallions)
- 25 g arugula
- 1 small bunch dill
- 0.5 dl olive oil
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt, black pepper
Method
This Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In is a testament to our dedication to sustainable gardening.
- Wash potatoes and boil in salted water until tender. Drain and dice.
- Trim sugar snap peas and slice lengthwise. Slice spring onions and radishes. Roughly chop arugula. Slice lovage or chop dill.
- Make dressing: whisk olive oil, mustard, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Toss potatoes with snap peas, spring onions, arugula and herbs. Drizzle dressing, toss gently, adjust seasoning, serve warm or room temperature.
As part of our ongoing Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, we plan to use more fresh ingredients from our garden.
Zero waste notes
- Compost trimmings, dead flowers, and spent plants.
- Freeze excess berries, or make small-batch jam so we have homemade jam for dessert, toast and crepes all winter long.
- Reuse pots/soil where possible and save seeds from worth-keeping varieties.
- Handpick pests before spraying to minimize treatments.
- Liam will for sure use part of our fruit and berry harvest to make his amazing fruit leather
During this Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, we also focus on minimizing waste and maximizing flavors.
I’m feeling grateful, patio gardening continues to surprise me with how much food it can produce. More updates after the BBQ (and once we’ve eaten our weight in strawberries).
This season has truly been a Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, with unexpected yields and valuable learning experiences.
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In our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, we emphasize the importance of fresh herbs in our recipes.
Reflecting on this Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In allows us to appreciate the garden’s resilience.
This journey of our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In has taught us valuable lessons about sustainability.
As we move forward with our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, we will continue to explore new recipes.
We invite everyone to join our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In and share their experiences.
Join us on this exciting Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In as we cultivate more than just plants.
Through our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, we strive to minimize waste while enjoying our harvest.
As we continue our Patio Garden Comeback: Heatwave Check‑In, we are excited for future harvests.
