Small yeilds

Since it wasn't unbearably hot today, I decided to skip swimming and instead focus on my planter boxes in my courtyard.  The boxes were filled with drying beans and potatoes this spring.  I grew potatoes for the first time in 2017, to great success.  I harvested so many potatoes in August before I left for Japan that I gave tons of them away.   They would have easily lasted our family all winter.  I've been growing beans for years.  I like to grow a variety of beans that all make fantastic bean soup and baked beans. 

I find both of these crops to be very easy to grow with high yields, which is always very satisfying.  They are great to grow with a kid because you can see changes and harvesting is so much fun. 

This year has been a serious struggle from the beginning.  I had to find quality potting soil without being able to read the labels of various bags, leaving me questioning my choice again and again.  I got my potatoes in late and beans started late because I wasn't aware I should be planting in February instead of March or April like I normally do.  There were periods of time when I had to water twice a day to keep the soil moist, otherwise my plants would wither super fast.  It was a struggle to keep them happy.

At one point I had someone reach over the fence and pull the tops off several of my potato plants.  As shocking as this was, I prefer to believe it was a curious child and not a malicious event. 

Both plants have shriveled up and died recently, indicating it is time for harvest - more than a month earlier than I am used to.  Last week, I pulled up all the bean plants and hung them upside down on the patio to fully dry the beans before I shelled them.  This way I don't risk spilling them as they lay drying on a sheet pan somewhere. 

Today, I dug up the spuds to find only a small amount.  I was shocked to see such a small yield. 

Then it came time for the beans.  One of my favorite parts of shelling the beans is the surprise of what is inside of each pod.  The bowl fills up with a diverse array of reds, whites, blacks, and browns.  I love seeing the full bowl.  But this year, the bowl was not even a quarter full.  It was so disappointing on several levels.  There isn't even enough to make 2 batches of soup!

I know that no matter what we will enjoy eating the vegetables.  And I am still learning about the differences of growing produce in Japan.  My husband tries to remain positive by saying "this is your learning year," but it still irritates me.  I'm good at growing things.  You'd just never know that here!