Seedlings Planted Out

I had zero germination of the edaname seeds planted a few weeks ago in the traditional row garden #3. After loosening the block of space, I planted out the green bean seedlings started in the hoophouse on July 12: Earliserve, Tenderette and Kentucky Wonder (left to right).

I still have peas, broccoli, brussel sprouts, swiss chard, lettuce and arugula seedlings ready to fill vacant garden spaces.

The container green beans should be ready for harvest in a few days. 

The seed potatoes planted in these containers on May 8th, nearly eleven weeks ago, are dying back. 

Red, Yellow and Green

Today's harvest came in colors of red, yellow and green -- Independence Day tomatoes, yellow squash and zucchini!

Throw Aways

Many of the squashes, cucumbers and morning glories have been suffering badly from wilt.  It could be attributed to the high temperatures and humidity of late, but I am now certain insects or fungus are having a field day. I have chosen to pull them out from their containers or garden beds and dispose of them at the dump.

Tomatoes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Tomatoes are beginning to mature in full force. Lots of Independence Day and Sungold tomatoes are ready for the picking and a few Marglobe and Principe Borghese tomatoes as well.  I've increased my rating of Independence day from 6.5 to 8. The longer they matured on the vine the sweeter they became. Unfortunately, animals still have an interest in the nearly ripenened heirlooms.  The cage around the raised bed has helped, but I reluctantly accept the fact that produce will be shared with critters.

In addition to animal issues, a few tomatoes (particularly those in containers) have developed blossom end rot and others are badly misshapen due to erratic watering.  Fortunately, I overplant tomatoes and will have plenty for storage and daily use.

Caprese salads are the way to go since basil is available in the garden, too!!  Tomatoes, basil, mozzarella cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and cracked pepper, all beautifully displayed on a plate.  I usually follow the "Pioneer Woman's" recipe found at http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/caprese-salad/.

New Watering Can

A new watering can has been added to my collection.  It's almost too nice for everyday use!

Life Cycle of Alyssum

The photo below shows the sweet alyssum plants in their full glory last week. Within a week, they decided to go to seed and finish their first cycle of the season. Rather than cutting them back and waiting for new growth, I will use the containers for another purpose (yet to be determined). The alyssum planted in the ground are still going strong and should last through the summer into the fall. 

Company's Coming

I am using most of this week to finish some of the major gardening chores that are necessary through the end of July. Family is coming on Thursday for ten days and the priority will be to enjoy meals, a wedding, a baby shower and other family gatherings.

Oppressive Humidity

The oppressive humidity between yesterday and today has created white, fluffy fungus around the fennel in the hoophouse raised bed and in various containers. I skimmed the fungus off the soil and will hold off any watering until it totally disappears.

There was a big gap in the flower garden at the base of the hill. I had trimmed back the oriental poppies back to ground level. Inbetween the poppies, I transplanted Queen Sofia Marigolds from various gardens to fill in that area. Marigolds are so hardy and can take a transplant most any time of the season. Ahh, much better!

Pesky Pests

To my chagrin, I picked off fairly large caterpillars from the Waltham broccoli and brussel sprout seedlings. They destroyed all but one of the broccoli seedlings and only six brussel sprouts seedlings remain. Apparently, the white moths found their way into the hoophouse. The only brassicas in the yard that have been spared caterpillar damage are the kale plants in traditional row garden #4 and the cabbage and broccoli plants in the bed near the electric meter.

Early Run to Lowe's

I hoped to finish the weed and feed today so an early run to Lowe's was in order. I am always their first customer at 6:00 am. My HH cared for my mother until my return.  Thanks, HH!  I bought more pelletized organic fertilizer and epsom salt to finish up the mid-month weed and feed. I should have enough "finished" compost by August 1st to feed with compost tea and compost as a top dressing through the end of the growing season.

Having this blog sure keeps me true to my gardening schedule!

Who Dun It??!!

Two big bites were taken out of two big Cherokee Purple tomatoes last night! Ouch!! Not sure if this will be a one time occurence or a repeat event. I have some screening in the shed that can be used to fortify the tomato raised beds, if need be.

Postscript #1 - Thinned the beets, spinach and turnips in the hoophouse.
Postscript #2 - I significantly cut back the lobelia in the gray urn.  The quality of the flowers declined over the past few days.

Mid-July Weed and Feed

One of this year's goals is to weed and feed the gardens every two weeks. The first feeding was on July 1st and today, July 15th, marks the second feeding of the month.  I finished about half the job and should, hopefully, finish the rest by the end of the week.

Photo Journal Update

I wanted to use the large planters in which the radishes were growing for green beans, so the remaining radishes were pulled a bit early.

We should have Blue Lake Bush Green Beans in a few months. 

The Tiny Tim tomatoes are plumping up; they are not as tiny as I thought they would be. Just the plant itself is demure!

My first attempt at growing carrots in containers is still looking good.  We will find out in a month or so if it was successful. 

I woke up this morning only to see holes in the arugula seedlings.  Usually I don't have any insects interested in arugula!  Never know!

Glad to see the Principe Borghese tomato plants fruiting.  Anxious to do a good job this year sun drying tomatoes for winter use. 

The cucumber beetles are munching less frequently on the cucumber plants. Thank goodness, I was writing off pickles this year. 

How much fun it is to have fresh herbs at my disposal for cooking!!

I am hoping the morning glories fill out soon. It looks rather thin right now!

Still no figs, most likely not this year.  The nasturium add good color to this corner. 

The lobelia is still one of my favorite flowers. 

The potted morning glory is working it's way up the baker's rack. 

The okra has finally taken a turn for the better.  Was almost writing off any okra this year since the okra in traditional row garden #3 is doing poorly. 

The cucumbers are climbing up the gazebo as directed. Supposedly, beans and cucumbers are complimentary crops. 

And here is her sister plant on the other south corner of the gazebo!

Traditional Row Garden #4 - kale, peppers, green beans and sweet potatoes. 

Traditional Row Garden #1 - green beans, zucchini, yellow and butternut squash. 

Guess what's for dinner!

Traditional Row Garden #2 - corn and butternut squash

Traditional Row Garden #3 - onions, tomatoes, green beans, okra, edaname, leeks, watermelon, cantelope, delicata and hubbard squash, cucumbers and Lebanese squash

Looking from another view - wish the squash in the front row would get their act together!

The dirt is filing in around the leeks.  Looking forward to potato and leek soup this fall. 

There are many gaps in the pole beans row; I am thankful for what was left behind by the slugs. 

More gaps is this bed of bush beans

The mystery tomatoes are doing great.  May know what a few of the varieties are in a week or two. 

Blocks two and three of the onions are doing very well. May have a good amount of onions after such a weak start.

The back yard gardens bring such joy, especially when I can make fresh baby food for my grandsons!

The coleus urns like their location in the yard. I keep pinching off the seed heads that keep appearing every three weeks or so. 

Not much wilting yet from the container potatoes.  Would love to see lots of good size potatoes in a month or so. 

Capped off the new beds with grass clippings.

The hoophouse takes on different configurations each week.  

The Green Arrow peas are enjoying their new home. 

Glad I chose to place extra onions in the hoophouse.  Covering my bets to harvest at least some onions this fall although the ones in the fields are doing much better than I though they would do.

The beets have germinated in the hoophouse.

The turnips, too, have germinated in the hoophouse.

No signs of stress with the climbing tomatoes in the hoophouse. 

The parsley up top in the photo keeps up with my demand for tabouli and bean salads. 

This is the third or fourth year of the raised beds in the hoophouse and the soil is absolutely terrific!

What is that growing beside the kale!!  Looks like cucumber seedlings!  Did I plant them?  I guess I did! I will move the kale to make room for potential cucumber plants. 

Better do something with the dill. Maybe herb bread. I'll have plenty of dill seeds for pickles!

The white hibiscus is much smaller in size this year.  It is much appreciated; it's far easier getting around the tomato plants. 

The oval tomato garden.  All determinant tomatoes; should only get one foot taller, if that. Let's see if I'll have to eat my words!

Lots of grapes this year. I've been pinching off the fungal diseased ones with some regularity. 

The tomato raised beds up on the hill. 

Yummy kiwi yellow raspberries. 

Picked the first handful of kiwi raspberries this week.  The squirrels and birds are leaving them alone for now.

Scarecrow is a fun feature in the garden. 

The upper garden raised beds - the vacant spaces need to be addressed soon before I run out of growing time. 

The horseradish plants, looking better but not great.  It's what lies below, however, that matters!

Livingston Pie pumpkin plants

So this is what a shallot looks like, or so I guess!  

The herb raised bed with onion sets growing behind it. 

This is what's left of the small crop of green beans.  Will convert this raised bed into storage carrots soon. 

The eggplants (rear) and peppers (front) are getting "greener", yes?

Need to get my act together and root the many strawberry runners.  

I plan to sow many more wave petunias next year and be sure to bring them up front in the garden bed. 

Will likely cut back the potentilla cinquefoil soon.

Next year I am going to sow far more dahlias.  They are candy to the eyes in the flower garden.

These two flowers, black eyed susans and shasta daisies, compliment each other, don't you think?

The Empress Nasturiums are very brilliant in color. 

The morning glories are sure taking their time climbing the lamppost. 

Pleased to see no gaps in the alpine strawberry border flanking the brick path. 

The alpine strawberries are quite large this year and especially sweet. 

The window boxes look a bit tired, but won't trim them back till the end of the month.

The asparagus are looking more fernlike every day. 

Lookoing forward to the Mammoth Sunflowers behind the cabbage and broccoli.

Still have half a dozen apples on the apple tree.