Zucchini & Cantaloupe at the end of June

The garden seems to be thriving in this heat wave. It has required a LOT of watering. The kids don't mind, especially when I use the sprinkler - because they get to run through it!

Above - the zucchini to the right is actually 3 plants. There is another plant in the kids' garden too. Just to the left are 3 rows of late planted beans 'Top Crop'.




Above - the left is the 'Contender' green beans. We've already pulled 2 harvests of this row. The early rows have given 4. To the right is the 'Ambrosia' cantaloupe plants. There are 3 plants (they were really small, but clearly they aren't now!) They've begun to trail nicely up the supports.

Status of the Tomatoes 6-26-09

Back on the 18th, I severely trimmed the tomatoes (just 8 days ago!) and see how full of fruit they are! Now if I could just stop the bunnies and whatever else keeps eating them!

The End of the Peas

Today we pulled up the pea vines (both the Wanda shell peas and Sugar Snap Peas). Both did fairly well even though they were planted a month late! Next year I'm planting earlier and separating them!

They had been providing some nice shade in the morning for the 'Armenian' Cucumbers, but that's over! I think I may put up new support and use it for the cucumbers.

The Progress of the Kids' Garden

The Kids' Garden was planted fairly late in the season (5-23-09), but seems to be doing pretty well.









Implementing a modified square foot gardening method, we crammed a lot into a 6' X 6' space. There is a 2' wide path across the middle.

The front row of the garden has:
Husky Cherry Tomato, 1 Row of Carrots 'Big Top', 2 Rows of 'Royal Burgundy' Beans, a 2nd Row of Carrots, Mr Stripey Tomato



The Back row has Watermelon and Zucchini.









Here's what it's looking like now!

We've had to support the watermelon with fencing. We've also had to fence in the 'Royal Burgundy' beans so they don't kill the carrots!


She helps take good care of her garden!

First Tomatoes Starting to Blush!!!

The first Marion Tomatoes are starting to blush after cutting them back and letting the sun in!

The Heat is Killing the Peas

We are hitting the mid 90's this week with very little rain and the peas don't seem to like it.

I put my peas in over 3 weeks late, so I expected this. However I was pleasantly surprised to get as many peas as I did.

Trimming Back My Tomatoes 6-18-09

I have always trimmed back my tomatoes. I find that they get way too heavy and the leafy vegetation prevents them from ripening. I also noted that when I started trimming, they produced much more fruit.

When people see how drastically I cut back my tomatoes, they are often shocked and appalled! Here's what the Big Beef, Sweet 100, Rutgers, the 9 Marions looked like after a serious trim!
Check back for the pics after a week or two!

Finishing the 2nd Raspberry Bed

We finally put in the 2nd Latham Raspberry Bed. There is a Heritage Raspberry at the end of the top bed in the pic (it's older and purchased locally). I'm hoping these guys survive the late planting!

My Tomato Obsession

Ok, I admit it. I have a problem. They say that admitting it is the first step. I planted WAY too many tomatoes!
I also took a risk and planted my 'Marion' tomatoes early and protected them with a temporary greenhouse. Unfortunately none are coming close to ripening. This happens every year. I see TONS of green tomatoes and just can't wait for them to ripen. Then all of them seem to ripen at ONCE!

This is the first part of the tomatoes. Running from left to right:
Big Beef, Sweet 100, Rutgers, Marion (9 plants set in early), Early Girl (2)


The above photo is that same tomato part of the garden from the other end. From this side you can see the Lemon Boy & behind it is the Pink Brandywine. Just past this is a German Queen, but I forgot to take her pic!


In the other bed Golden Jubilee & Mtn. Pride (2)


Top left - Bonnie Select Grape and Roma


In the children's garden the left on is Husky Cherry and the right is Mr. Stripey


Now PLEASE start ripening!

Tons of Raspberries

My order of Latham Raspberry finally arrived for a LATE planting, but because the plants were smaller than normal they sent 3 extra canes. That required another bed. Poor Josh thought he was done removing sod, digging and hoeing in amendments. Trooper that he is, he did one more bed!

2nd Harvest of Beans

My 'Contender' Bush Beans have already been pretty productive. We harvested last week and slow cooked the beans with some bacon like my mom did when I was young. They were tender and delicious, but probably a lot less healthy than just steaming them!


The 1st two rows were planted on 4-4-09. The last row in this bed was planted on 4-25-09. It's just starting to produce full size beans.


This is one of 3 rows planted on 6-6-09 of 'Top Crop' beans.
On left you can see the *tiny* lime basil seedlings planted at the same time.

Planting Blackberries (LATE!)

My 'Navajo' Blackberry canes finally arrived and were sunk today. The posts for support were put in, but we still haven't run the fencing across yet. Photos will be posted later.
We planted 3 canes for next year.

A Couple of Days of Rain & Heat...

Kids garden on June 5th.

A couple of days of good rain & high temps:
June 13th

The zucchini in particular seemed to explode!
The 'Mr. Stripey' tomato shot up too!

Looking Forward to Some Great Ingredients!

I planted Tarragon and love how pretty it is in the garden. I'm also looking forward to fresh leaves to use in the kitchen!

Ok, the romas are about the right size, but now I need them to ripen. I really want to get busy on some fresh sauces!

The basil is doing well. As a matter of fact, I went a little overboard. I have two good sized plants in the garden (one is up at the top right, but barely visible. The other is at the bottom left), but day before yesterday we planted several more varietities:
Sweet, Genovese, Mammoth, Thai, Cinnamon, Lime and Dark Opal.
I can't wait for the pesto!

New Plants in the Garden

I love to try growing new things in the garden. This year we planted some Stevia, although we separated it from the main beds cause we've heard its pretty invasive.


I also have had my first successful planting of peas. Typically I get them in too late or the bunnies get the seedlings. This year I planted English peas and some sugar snap peas. Unfortunatley they have so heavily intertwined that I'm not sure which is which! Anyone have a tried and true (& quick) method for telling them apart!

Ahh... Live and learn. Next year I'll separate them better!

More Shots of the Garden

The beautiful simplicity of a pea vine in blossom.


The zucchini is starting to spread out.


Look how quickly the Marion tomatoes have bushed back up!

Some Up Close Shots of the Fruit of the Garden

Some of the summer crops are starting to really develop. I thought I'd take a few shots of them.


The 'Sweet 100' is starting to put out a lot of fruit. Now, its only a matter of time until they are bright red and ready for eating!


This pepper is already rather large. It's a red pepper plant, so we clearly have a lot of ripening to go!


This hilarious looking 'Marion' tomato caught our eye. It's separate little piece, fully attached to the top of the tomato.


Both types of peas ('Wando' and 'Sugar Snap') continue to climb up the strings.


This is the first row of 'Contender' bush beans planted April 4th. They are looking nice, but need to fill in a little. Can't wait for the first batch!

The New Kids' Garden

Joshua and I laid out the dimensions, he then took off the sod so the soil could be worked and amended.



The kids planted the edge of the entire bed with marigold seeds. They also planted a 'Red Husky Cherry' tomato on the left, a row of 'Big Top' Carrots, 2 rows of 'Royal Burgundy' bush beans, another row of carrots and then a 'Mr. Stripey' heirloom tomato.

On the other side to mounds of watermelon were planted and one zucchini plant.

The white powder is actually grits. The ants have been bad this year so we put out grits which they eat. The grits then expand in them and poof - no ants!

The most recent picture of their garden on 6-5-09.

Petunias

These were transplanted in this planter on 5-24-09. Just yesterday the sweet alyssum has come up nicely!

It's hard to see in this pic, but the alyssum is quite thick.