Year two is when a garden system stops feeling like a big experiment and starts showing you what actually works in your yard.

The first thing that jumped out during this garden tour was just how much growth had happened in a short amount of time.

The plants have taken off, the beds look fuller, and the whole garden has that exciting early-summer energy where you can almost see things growing from one day to the next.

On June 5, 2023, I walked through the garden to check on the plants, see what’s growing strong, and look at how the Mittleider gardening method is working so far this season.

A good potting bench doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be sturdy, useful, and cute enough that you actually want it sitting by the garden.

How to harvest without bruising the crop, how to cure potatoes properly, and the best way to store them once they’re out of the ground.

Pruning gives the plant a cleaner shape, improves airflow, makes harvesting easier, and helps direct energy toward fruit instead of endless leafy growth.

If you’re building from scratch, here’s how to set up a productive, tidy, easy-to-manage Mittleider Garden, from leveling the site to adding raised beds, custom soil, trellis posts, and wire.

Sweet and a little bit tart, these old-fashioned Pluot Preserves made with no pectin are simply fabulous. Remove the pits, simmer a pot on the stove, and you’ll have a couple of jars of beautiful, preserved fresh plums to enjoy throughout the year.

Candied jalapenos, often called cowboy candy, are sliced jalapeno peppers simmered briefly in a sweet vinegar syrup, packed into jars, and processed in a boiling water bath. The result is shelf-stable jars of spicy-sweet peppers you can keep in the pantry and pull out whenever dinner needs a little spark.

Tomatillos add a bright, tangy flavor to many dishes, especially in Mexican cuisine. If you have a surplus of tomatillos or want to save time by prepping ahead, freezing diced tomatillos is a smart way to preserve their freshness.

Brown sugar is a staple in many kitchens, prized for its rich flavor and moisture content. Yet, it often hardens into a solid block, making it difficult to measure or use. One popular home remedy to soften hard brown sugar involves placing a slice of bread in the container.

Frozen pluots are great for a variety of uses including baking, smoothies, and, especially, eating plain. I really like that I can freeze pluots now and then can them later when the summer is not so hectic.

Asian plum sauce is a versatile condiment that adds a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors to many dishes. Making your own plum sauce at home lets you control the ingredients, adjust the taste to your preference, and enjoy a fresher, more vibrant sauce than store-bought versions.

I really like using this recipe for the small pluots that aren’t really worth pitting but are a perfect bite-sized snack.

Canning zucchini pineapple is a delightful way to preserve the fresh flavors of summer for months to come. This combination offers a sweet and tangy twist on traditional zucchini recipes, making it a favorite for any recipe that you would use pineapple in.

Preserving eggs for long periods without refrigeration can be a challenge for many households and small farms. One traditional method that has stood the test of time is water glassing eggs using sodium silicate.

Combining apricots and jalapenos to create this deliciously sweet and flavorful apricot jalapeno jam was an obvious decision. I like to have a wide range of options in my pantry. By making my own jam, I can enjoy a greater variety than what our local grocery store offers.

The simplest product to create from the discarded raspberry remnants after making raspberry jelly, raspberry syrup, or raspberry lemonade is to dehydrate the raspberry pulp and convert it into raspberry powder.

Plum cardamom jam offers a delicious twist on a classic plum jam recipe.