Red Lake Currants: A Delicious and Bountiful Harvest

Aug 12, 2024

If you’re looking for a fruit that’s both tasty and abundant, Red Lake currants are a fantastic choice! Known for their vibrant red color and tart-sweet flavor, these currants have a rich history that makes them a beloved variety among gardeners. This year, we’re thrilled to be getting an exceptional harvest of these delicious berries, and they’ve been a joy to pick and enjoy.

A Bit of History

Red Lake currants were developed in Minnesota in the 1930s by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Agricultural Experiment Station. The variety was named after the Red Lake River area, reflecting the region where it was first cultivated. The breeders aimed to create a currant that was both hardy and prolific, capable of withstanding the harsh winters of the northern United States while producing high yields of large, flavorful berries.

Over the decades, Red Lake currants have become one of the most popular currant varieties in North America. Their resilience and excellent fruit quality have made them a staple in home gardens and small farms across cooler climates.

Why Choose Red Lake Currants?

Red Lake currants are prized for their large, juicy berries and prolific yields. This variety is particularly well-suited to USDA zones 3-7, where it thrives in cooler temperatures. The currants grow in clusters, making them easy to pick, and they’re perfect for fresh eating, cooking, or preserving.

Taste and Versatility

The flavor of Red Lake currants is a delightful balance of tartness and sweetness. They’re wonderful to eat fresh off the bush, but they also shine in various culinary uses. From making jams and jellies to baking into desserts or adding to savory dishes, their versatility is a major plus. One of our favorite ways to enjoy them is simply over vanilla ice cream—the combination is absolutely delicious!

Growing and Harvesting

Red Lake currants are relatively low-maintenance, requiring only basic care to produce an abundant crop. They prefer well-drained soil and a sunny to partially shaded location. Regular watering and mulching will help the plants thrive, and they’re quite hardy, making them a reliable fruit for years to come.

This season, our Red Lake currant bushes have been particularly generous, yielding plenty of fruit for us to enjoy. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, growing Red Lake currants is a rewarding experience that will bring both beauty and flavor to your garden.

If you haven’t tried growing Red Lake currants yet, consider adding them to your garden—they might just become your new favorite fruit!

Creating our High-Altitude Food Forest

Jul 11, 2024

🌱🌸 Creating our High-Altitude Food Forest 🌸🌱

I’m excited to share our journey of transforming our yard into a high-altitude food forest! At 8600 feet, in zone 5a, it’s been a labor of love and dedication. We’ve designed an entertainment and grazing area filled with a diverse array of plants that thrive in our unique climate, surrounded by native pines and aspens on our 0.75 acres of land. We also have a small garden cabin and a greenhouse to support our gardening efforts.

Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve planted:

🍇 Currants, plum trees, espaliered apple trees, elderberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes
🌻 Zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, nasturtiums, hollyhocks, wildflowers in an old wheelbarrow, snapdragons (both wild and cultivated), bee balm
🍅 Tomatoes, peas, potatoes, squash, asparagus, lettuce
🌸 Lilacs, pink and white honeysuckle, wild roses, peonies, horseradish, hostas
🌿 Rhubarb (already harvested some this year!), tulips, irises, borage, chives, thyme, wild/planted yarrow, succulents
💜 I miss my lavender – I lost all 3 plants a few years ago, so it’s time to plant more!

Our garden includes raised beds, 2 benches, a sitting area, and a deck with seating, a firepit, 2 hammocks, an umbrella, two storage bins, and rock and mulched pathways.

This project has been a labor of love with my partner Tim, who sadly passed away from cancer earlier this year. This is my first season without him, and I miss him dearly, but I’m so proud of what we’ve created together. I will continue to nurture our garden and add plants we talked about.

Creating this space has been healing and fulfilling, and I hope it inspires others to take on gardening projects, no matter the challenges. 🌿💚

For more information and inspiration, check out myBackyardHomestead.com.

#HighAltitudeGardening #FoodForest #GardeningJourney #InMemoryOfTim #SustainableLiving #NatureLovers #GardenInspiration

 

Strawberries

Jun 11, 2024

Question: How do I grow larger strawberries?

If you want to snack on strawberries throughout the season, you need to plant at least 10 plants per person in your household. The first year, you should pinch off the flowers so the plants will focus on putting down more roots. More roots mean bigger fruit the next year. I’ve had a strawberry patch for several years, and here are a few tips based on my experience.

Variety Selection

There are many varieties of strawberries, and choosing the right ones can make a big difference in your yield and fruit size. Here are the main types:

  • Day-Neutral Varieties: These produce fruit throughout the growing season. They are ideal if you want a consistent yield over several months.
  • June-Bearing Varieties: These produce a large crop once a year, usually in late spring or early summer. They are great if you want a large harvest at once for making jams, freezing, or preserving.
  • Ever-Bearing Varieties: These produce two to three harvests per year, typically in spring, summer, and fall. They provide a good compromise between the other two types.

Consider Your Zone

It’s important to choose varieties that are well-suited to your growing zone. I’m in zone 5A, but I’ve purchased several different varieties that do well down to zone 3A. This way, I don’t have to worry about them surviving the winter. Make sure to check the hardiness of the variety you choose to ensure they will thrive in your local climate.

Additional Tips

  • Soil and Location: Plant strawberries in well-draining soil and a sunny location where they can get at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
  • Watering and Mulching: Consistent watering is key, especially during fruiting. Mulch with straw, pine needles, or black plastic to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the fruit clean.
  • Fertilization: Use a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, mixed into the soil before planting. Apply more during the growing season as needed, but avoid over-fertilizing.

By following these tips, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious, home-grown strawberries!

Spring Planting and Garden Preparations in Full Swing

May 26, 2024

As the nights begin to warm up, it’s the perfect time to dive into full-tilt planting! Today, we’re expecting temperatures in the low sixties, so while we’re not experiencing HOT days yet, it’s ideal gardening weather.

My goal for today is to spend quality time in the garden, starting with some much-needed fence repairs. The original t-posts are spaced too far apart to withstand the strong winds we’ve been getting, so I’ll be adding extra t-posts for reinforcement. First, though, I need to locate our two post hole pounders – I know they’re around here somewhere!

In addition to fixing several parts of the fence, I also plan to spray paint the reed fencing to extend its life for at least one more season. This should help maintain the garden’s aesthetic while providing some much-needed durability.

Watering the seedlings is another critical task on my list today. These young plants need consistent care to thrive and eventually produce a bountiful harvest. After that, I’ll be turning my attention to setting up the garden cabin, which will double as an art gallery. This space will be a creative haven, blending the beauty of nature with artistic expression.

Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses. Happy gardening!

Daily Log

May 4, 2024

Good morning, friends. Today is unexpectedly chilly for May. I woke up early, let the dogs out, and thought about heading to Home Depot to pick up more creeping thyme for the garden. In the past, Tim and I would eagerly rise early in spring for our plant shopping trips. Going alone just doesn’t feel the same. I finally got out of bed around 10:00, fed the dogs, and gave Lucy her medicine. Thankfully, she’s responding well to the phenobarbital, which is a relief because the CBD we initially tried wasn’t effective in controlling her seizures. Surprisingly, her bloodwork came back normal, so her vet thinks her age might be the underlying cause of her seizures.

It’s supposed to warm up later, but as of 11:45, it’s only 39 degrees. I’m planning to open the greenhouse soon and then head to Home Depot for the creeping thyme. One of my spring goals is to get it planted, so I can walk barefoot in the garden without the discomfort of stepping on pebbles.

Reflecting on memories, today marks a decade since Tim and I built an herb nautilus over an old stump, and it also reminds me of when I had to leave for Louisiana shortly after because I was caring for my parents.