Even though we’ve made the intentional decision to scale back our garden this year, there is just something in my soul that keeps looking for ways to add just a little more. You know how it is—once a gardener, always a gardener!
We’ve been busy making a few purposeful additions to our backyard patch, focusing on perennials that will give us a sweet bounty for years to come.
Expanding Our Vines
First up, we decided to add to our grape collection. We’ve planted three different varieties of seedless grapes, and I am already dreaming of the harvests to come. There’s something so timeless about a grapevine climbing along a trellis; it adds such a classic, cozy feel to the property.
Our Blueberry Patch
It was also a major goal of ours to expand our blueberry bushes this year. We’ve been gathering them from a few different places, and I have to say, we’ve learned a thing or two about where to find the best deals:
- Lowe’s: We picked up some bushes last year that spent the winter tucked away in pots, resting until it was time to plant.
- Sam’s Club: We found some tiny, promising little plants there to join the mix.
- Tractor Supply: This was our best find by a long shot! The bushes were only $15 each—such an economical choice—and they were beautiful, healthy plants that actually already had berries on them when we brought them home.
That brings us to a total of nine blueberry plants now. To make sure they thrive through the heat, Larry did a wonderful job running irrigation lines directly to each bush. It’s a huge relief to have that handled, especially with the severe drought we are currently battling.
From the Garden to the Kitchen
I am already looking forward to that first big harvest. My plan is to freeze plenty of these berries so we can enjoy blueberry muffins and fluffy blueberry pancakes all year long. I’m also planning to try my hand at canning blueberry syrup—there is just nothing like homemade syrup on a slow weekend morning!
We’ve planted a nice variety of bushes, and I’m looking forward to tracking how each one performs throughout the season. I’ll be sure to report back and let you know which ones take to our soil the best!
Check out our favorite muffin tin, electric griddle, and pancake spatula. These are some of our most used kitchen products!
We always add this to the freshly dug holes when planting new plants , especially peppers and tomatoes. Blood meal promotes green growth and lush foliage.
We include this along with blood meal sprinkled in the freshly dug holes and on the root ball of each plant. Bone meal promotes strong root systems, vibrant blooms, and increases fruit and seed yields.
One of our “must haves” in the garden. It is a powerful organic option that boosts plant growth while simultaneously improving soil health and structure.
