Without going into detail right now I have vegetable gardened most years of my life. I am surprised or should say amazed at how often things change some years. The big disappointment for me this year was pole beans, a lot of rain at the wrong time left me with huge plants and no beans to eat. I had thought that only fertilizing with nitrogen did that?
The most pleasant surprise was the rock garden for the peppers. I am still harvesting them and we are past the frost date in my area. the rocks are holding the heat. None of my friends have had peppers this year Lucky me. Over all I had a very good year with only a few plantings not taking root, but then I have a short memory for my failures and a long memory for success ;-)

Curt

I am never surprised by anything that goes on in the garden any more. A lot of successes or failures are because of the weather.

Last year we had a rainy summer and had a bumper crop of large potatoes and large onions, and mediocher crop of Tomatoes.
This year was hot and dry. We had a bumper crop of Tomatoes, but the potatoes and onions didn't do as well and were small.

My biggest surprise this year was winter melons aka wax gourd (Benicasa hispida). I tried them in the past once, and they didn't do anything. I planted 4 different kinds this year, two small long ones, a small round one, and large long one, and all four of them did well. I picked about 2 dozen of these on Sunday and put them in my garage for now. I hope I like them, I've never eaten them before. I tasted a small one raw, and it's very neutral, like zucchini, so I can't imagine it wouldn't be good cooked. They are said to last for up to a year in storage, due to the waxy coating on the skin.

This past year a lot of my garden failed (my fault; I was moving & neglected the tending) but my biggest (and most welcome surprise!) was my bell peppers! In past years the plants have never produced more than tiny nubs so I always assumed that is all I would ever get. This year, I planted 6 plants, as usual, did nothing to amend the soil & holy geez we are STILL pulling up bags and bags of large, beautiful bells. We don't know what the difference this year was but we love it! We have ivory, green, yellow, purple bells & don't want to see the crops end.
Also our Serrano peppers did wonderfully this year. Our jalapeno plant (which usually does well) only produced a very small amount then died back, but the serranos are still going strong. Oh yeah & our collards all took off. I can never get plants to start from seed but this year I had 6 collard plants grow (waaaay too much for a 2 person home) & even though we only cooked them about twice, we love the look of the plant, so they are still producing in ground. My coworkers have loved me bringing those in!
Beyond that everything else was awful. 6 tomato plants all looked diseased almost instantly & had awful end rot. Only had maybe a dozen medium-sized ones this year. Eggplants were a bust, as well.

Our biggest suprise was the watermelons and muskmelons. Which grew into fruit for the first time. Think it was because we put black plastic down around the plants to help warm the soil. Plus we had a warmer and earlier spring than normal. Oh and sweet potatoes.

Our disappointments were the corn and cukes. Didnt use the proper fertilizer at the proper time. Or something like that. LOL.

I finally got some melons after three years of trying! And the peppers went absolutely nuts. They usually do well in my yard, but this year was crazy. I already have bags full in the freezer, and a bunch more ripening on my ~15 plants, in addition to the ones we've been eating fresh all summer.

All things considered, I'd have to say my tomatoes were the biggest surprise out of my garden. Oregon had a very cool, cloudy summer, interrupted by two week long hot spells with near 100 degree weather. Mine took their time ripening, and I had a couple plants that only produced small fruit, but most of them came through quite well in the end. I can't tell you how many people stopped to remark to me that they hadn't gotten any tomatoes at all.

Thats great everyone, from this summary I know its a good thing to diversfy your garden along with your portfolio LOL. And I shouldn't think every failure is something I caused directly. Right now I have one 4x8 bed that has broccoli and one bed with brussel sprouts and the broccoli is taking off and the brussels are just not taking off they sprout then die so maybe its the weather I will try planting the brussels one more time before giving up and putting something else in. One adventure I just planted is Saffron I have a feeling I will be disappointed just because I know they are a tricky little bulb and I am not sure if I can keep up with them being (special). Thanks so much everyone for your stories.:o)Deanna

Been using clover as cover crop, can cut with weedwhacker or mower & planted squash with. Clover grew up around plants & had no pest in squash plus a good crop so that will be our squash garden next year. cukes got lost under clover, needed trellising. Peppers & eggplant did good with clover & maybe corn.

Mostly related to what you can grow in shady spots, cardoons, rutabagas, celery and chili peppers. The cardoons are magnificent, four feet tall, the celery very healthy, deep green with a tremendous flavor (one handful of chopped leaves flavored a whole chicken last week), and the peppers did not produce much, but I am amazed that they produced anything. I had extra pepper plants, else I would not have tried it.

The rutabagas are of average size, but for a 80% shade spot, they are incredible. And the collards in 80% shade are two feet across.

Glib, I've been planting my collards and kales underneath smaller fruit trees (peaches, dwarf cherries) and grape trellis for a couple of years. They do fine there, and I think they actually are a little more tender and make a bigger leaf as they fight for the sun during the summer.

When Oct/November rolls around, all of the leaves fall of the deciduous plants above, and the sun hits the cole crops and they color up nicely as nature intended (IF they are the kind to do so).

This is my 2nd garden. First time for baking pumpkins. I got 30 so far and about a doz might still make it. Zucchini were slower than last yr but thats ok I still had 10 plants 3 of which are the baby round zucchini, great for stuffing.
My disappointment was the pickling cukes. They were bitter but the slicers next to them were great. No pickles but we don't eat many anyway.
Next yr I might skip planting corn and plant lots more potatoes.
Oh, cabbage would not grow. I even replanted them. I got about a dozen head from 1 row and the other 2 rows across the garden, only 1 head.

I have a about 250 sq feet of raised beds that I started this summer. My most suprising crops have been my Okra, Gretal and Ichiban Eggplants, bush limas as well as 3 variety of Cukes.

Out of 35 Okra plants I've already harvested close to 100+ pounds and they're still producing 2-4 pounds every other day.

My Eggplants have thrived and are still producing at an alarming rate.

The cukes are starting to slow down, but with just 3 plants I've had close 50 pounds.

Least successful were my squash, zukes and melons. Tons of male flowers and in the end I literally only had one of each. haha

Just my worst garden in 9 years!
I'm a bit surprised I got ANYTHING!So much cold cold weather! Fog til noon, then sun, then fog!
I did get some zuks. The gopher got the summer squash.
1 cuke
3 lemon cukes
Maybe 35 greenbeans at different times, not enough for a meal!
The only tomatoes I got were from the 1 store bought plant I planted, a sungold cherry tomato. I got some mealy shrimpy yukky tomatoes that looked like a cherry version of REAL tomatoes.
NO SAUCE!!!!!!!
I am still getting peppers for some reason (it's starting to get chilly at night) and eggplant. I'll have to remember these for next year when we might get some HEAT!
Just started planting for fall. That's another thread!
Nigh nigh! NT

BTW we DID plant Atlantic Giant Pumpkins this year (DH is a professional pumpkin carver) and got a couple of 200lb pumpkins!

Live and learn, Dennis. I just had no idea that brassica would do this well in shade. They are much better than many of the traditionally recommended shade crops. Of course, they have the clay that they prefer in those beds. They do far better there than in my sandy, sunny beds. Given that I eat collard and kale all winter long, no complaints from me.

Hi Deanna,
I know it is "slightly" off-topic, but my biggest surprise is the amount of Veggies I am getting out of this blessed garden.
Like Solidago said, it wasn't a great year for gardening in Oregon but you sure couldn't tell that by my garden, I gave 700 lbs to the FoodBank last year, and this year I increased my garden size by 200% so I figured somewhere around 2000 lbs to the FoodBank (if the weather cooperated), well as of Wednesday I am at 3575 lbs that have gone to the FoodBank ,this garden is still producing like crazy, last week was close to 500lbs and I never harvested any of the peppers or acorn squash ( which are so loaded,they would have pushed the total of last weeks harvest to 600 lbs)... anyway , quite the surprise, I feel so blessed ;-)

For those who may want to see the harvest record , I copied it here for you.

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Donated to the Josephine County Food Bank by Jon Hughes:

12 LBS oF Early Onions (from Fall Garden) 3-23-2010
25 lbs of Radishes 4-28-2010
125 lbs of Red and Green Lettuce 4-28-2010
29 lbs of Swiss Chard 4-28-2010
8 lbs of Spinach 5-5-2010
14 lbs of White Icicle Radishes 5-12-2010
4 lbs of Spinach 5-12-2010
6 lbs of Red and Green Lettuce 5-12-2010
2 lbs of Mesclun Lettuce 5-12-2010
12 lbs of Rainbow Chard 5-18-2010
42 lbs of Swiss Chard 5-18-2010 Poundage to Date 279.00 lbs
5 lbs of Snap Peas 6-5-2010
11 lbs of Swiss Chard 6-5-2010
3 lbs of Red and Green Lettuce 6-5-2010
14 lbs of Broccoli 6-5-2010
15 lbs of Cabbage 6-5 2010 Poundage to Date 327.00 lbs 16.35 % of 2000 lbs
24 lbs of Broccoli 6-14-2010
13 lbs of Green Cabbage 6-14-2010
6 lbs of Carrots 6-14-2010
5 lbs of Radish and Beet Greens 6-14-2010
25 lb Red Cabbage 6-14-2010 Poundage to Date 400.00 lbs 20 % of 2000 lbs
3 lbs of Radish and Beet Greens 6-15-2010
5 lbs of Carrots 6-15-2010
20 lbs of Broccoli 6-15-2010
12 lbs of Broccoli 6-21-2010
18 lbs of Cabbage 6-21-2010
8 lbs of Carrots 6-21-2010
6 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-21-2010
24 lbs of Radishes,Turnips,Various greens Poundage to Date 496 lbs 24.8 % of 2000 lbs
4 lbs of Broccoli 6-22-2010
15 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-22-2010
12 lbs of Carrots 6-24-2010
9 lbs of Swiss Chard 6-24-2010
29 lbs of Cabbage 6-24-2010
18 lbs of Broccoli 6-24-2010
4 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-24-2010 Poundage to date 587 lbs 29.35 % of 2000 lbs
16 lbs of Broccoli 6-28-2010 Total Poundage to 6-28-2010 603 lbs 30.15 % of 2000 lbs
43 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-29 -30 2010
4 lbs of Broccoli 6-29-2010
3 lbs of Swiss Chard 6-30-2010
8 lbs of Radishes 6-30-2010
9 lbs of Carrots 6-30-2010
6 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-30-2010 Poundage to date 676.00 lbs 33.8 % of 2000 lbs

Totals to 6-30-2010
112 lbs of Broccoli
79 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas
136 lbs of Lettuce
12 lbs of Onions
79 lbs of Radishes
106 lbs of Swiss Chard
12 lbs of Spinach
40 lbs of Carrots
100 lbs of Cabbage

9 lbs of Broccoli 7-1-2010
4 lbs of Garlic 7-1-2010
5 lbs of Lettuce 7-2-2010
4 lbs of Artichokes 7-2-2010
2 lbs of Carrots 7-2-2010
9 lbs of Carrots 7-8-2010
3 lbs of Summer squash 7-8-2010
4 lbs of Broccoli 7-8-2010
43 lbs of Potatoes 7-14-2010
14 lbs of Carrots 7-14-2010
43 lbs of Potatoes 7-14-2010 (2nd load today ;-)
30 lbs of Carrots 7-15-2010
10 lbs of Potatoes 7-15-2010 Poundage to date 856 lbs 42.8 % of 2000 lbs

Totals to 7-15-2010
125 lbs of Broccoli
79 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas
141lbs of Lettuce
12 lbs of Onions
79 lbs of Radishes
106 lbs of Swiss Chard
12 lbs of Spinach
95 lbs of Carrots
100 lbs of Cabbage
96 lbs of Potatoes
3 lbs of Summer Squash
4 lbs of Artichokes
4 lbs of Garlic
9 lbs of Summer Squash 7-19-2010
41 lbs of Red Cabbage 7-19-2010
4 lbs of Onions 7-22-2010
10 lbs of Squash 7-22-2010
8 lbs of Swiss Chard 7-22-2010
12 lbs of Beans 7-22-2010
7 lbs of Tomatoes 7-26-2010
19 lbs of Summer Squash 7-26-2010 Poundage to date 966 lbs 48.3 % of 2000 lbs
1 lb of Tomatoes 7-29-2010
5 lbs on Onions 7-29-2010
6 lbs of Cucumbers 7-29-2010
26 lbs of Summer Squash 7-29-2010
6 lbs of Tomatoes 8-2-2010
31 lbs of Summer Squash 8-2-2010
26 lbs of Cucumbers 8-2-2010
30 lbs of Red Cabbage 8-2-2010
2 lbs of Swiss Chard 8-5-2010
11 lbs of Tomatoes 8-5-2010
36 lbs of Cucumbers 8-5-2010
28 lbs of Summer Squash 8-5-2010 Poundage to date 1174 lbs 58.7% of 2000 lbs
16 lbs of Tomatoes 8-9-2010
24 lbs of Cucumbers 8-9-2010
41 lbs of Summer Squash 8-9-2010
28 lbs of Peppers 8-12-2010
35 lbs of Cucumbers 8-12-2010
12 lbs of Tomatoes 8-12-2010
50 lbs of Squash 8-12-2010
27 lbs of Bartlett Pears 8-12-2010 Poundage to date 1407 lbs 70.35 % of 2000 lbs
23 lbs of Tomatoes 8-16-2010
14 lbs of Peppers 8-16-2010
7 lbs of Pears 8-16-2010
31 lbs of Cucumbers 8-16-2010
54 lbs of squash 8-16-2010 Poundage to date 1536 lbs 76.8% of 2000 lbs
7 lbs of Peppers 8-19-2010
58 lbs of Pumpkins 8-19-2010
37 lbs of Tomatoes 8-19-2010
18 lbs of Cucumbers 8-19-2010
32 lbs of Acorn Squash 8-19-2010
35 lbs of Squash 8-19-2010 Poundage to date 1723 lbs 86.15 % of 2000 lbs
53 lbs ot Tomatoes 8-23-2010
26 lbs of Cucumbers 8-23-2010
23 lbs of Squash 8-23-2010
10 lbs of Acorn Squash 8-23-2010
25 lbs of Pears 8-23-2010 Poundage to date 1859 lbs 92.95% of 2000 lbs
9 lbs of Pears 8-26-2010
46 lbs of Corn 8-26-2010
61 lbs of Squash 8-26-2010
42 lbs of Tomatoes 8-26-2010
24 lbs of Cucumbers 8-26-2010 Poundage to date 2041 lbs WOO HOO ;-)
4 lbs of Swiss Chard 9-1-2010
16 lbs of Acorn Squash 9-1-2010
51 lbs of Tomatoes 9-1-2010
35 lbs of Cucumbers 9-1-2010
83 lbs of Squash 9-1-2010 Poundage to date 2230 lbs

109 lbs of Squash 9-7-2010
13 lbs of Pears 9-7-2010
49 lbs of Tomatoes 9-7-2010
83 lbs of Peppers 9-7-2010
35 lbs of Cucumbers 9-7-2010
78 lbs of Squash 9-10-2010
59 lbs of tomatoes 9-13-2010
30 lbs of Squash 9-13-2010
43 lbs of Cucumbers 9-13-2010 ……………………………………………. Poundage to Date 2729 lbs
16 lbs of Veggies for Compost Material
47 lbs of Cucumbers 9-16-2010
46 lbs of Tomatoes 9-16-2010
12 lbs of Squash 9-16-2010
7 lbs of Peppers 9-16-2010 ……………………………………………………… Poundage to Date 2857 lbs
83 lbs of Squash 9-20-2010
49 lbs of Peppers 9-20-2010
32 lbs of Tomatoes 9-20-2010
8 lbs of Cucumbers 9-20-2010……………………………………………………… Poundage to Date 3029 lbs
19 lbs of Tomatoes 9-27-2010
25 lbs of Cucumbers 9-27-2010
44 lbs of Squash 9-27-2010
162 lbs of Squash 10-5-2010
132 lbs of Cucumbers 10-5-2010
140 lbs of Tomatoes 10-5-2010
7 lbs of Peppers 10-5-2010
17 lbs of Swiss Chard 10-5-2010….....Poundage to Date 3575 lbs

Here is a link that might be useful: Jon's Wonderful Garden 2010

No worries Jon, its always a pleasure to see your garden and I know why its blessed, there is alot of work and love that goes into your feeding the less fortunate. I see you have already started with the hoops for cover, thats going to take alot of plastic. Take care :o) Deanna

Wow! Great gardening!

My surprising successes were pole beans (and I found out that scarlet runner beans are just as flavorful and good as other pole beans if picked early) and my "Music" garlic. I went out during the summer closeout sales and got lots of stakes for next year's bean teepees!

That's a lot of veggies Jon. I suppose it requires a lot of replacement material.

I had a surprise success ....An Orangeglo watermelon plant that nearly drowned out early has come on like gangbusters. It is planted in a fencerow [virgin soil basically without disease.] Today i hauled the fourth large melon in. That makes 121 pounds so far. There are 6 more that are some smaller out there yet.

This year brought a few pleasant gardening surprises, but I think the most surprising by far is how well our tomatoes did in pots! We had too many tomato starts, not enough space on the ground so we put 8 of them in pots. They were large (at least 5 gallon) pots. Each tomato in the pot had a brother/sister of the same variety that was planted somewhere else on the ground. The surprise was not only that they did so well, but the ones on pots were the most productive, and they did better than the ones on the ground!