We didn't plan on a big garden this year, because of Dan's surgery. Of what we
did plant, tt seems that we've either gotten nothing or else we've got a
surplus!
Birds got all my cherries and mulberries this year. Pears and peaches are
taking a break (although I got enough peaches for a pie). Groundhogs ate my
snow peas, lettuce, and strawberries, so all of that was a bust. Also, they
keep eating the leaves off of my sweet potato plants which is worrisome. We've
had a heck of a time with them this year, more so than ever before. Dan
has caught and re-homed 5 or 6 of them so far and more have moved in to the
vacated den under the raspberry bushes. And built a new den in the
Jerusalem artichoke patch! Unfortunately, our next door neighbor feeds them.
And the deer. They're eating his garden too and he's even said feeding them
isn't a good idea, but he keeps doing it! Watcha gonna do?
So what's doing well?
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| Tomatoes |
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I have 3 varieties plus the volunteer cherry tomatoes
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1st batch of tomato sauce!
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Blueberries are going gangbusters. I've frozen 5 gallons so far.
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I have cantaloupes in the keyhole garden - 11 at last count.
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| Breakfast |
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I've only half-a-dozen okra plants, which is plenty for the two of
us.
Some things I plant just to eat fresh but not necessarily to
preserve.
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The variety is Jing. I think they are very pretty. They are green when
cooked.
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My sweet potato squash are producing well too. That's welcome because we
haven't
gotten many the past year or two. When fist size or
smaller, we eat like summer squash.
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I think we'll get a fair harvest of apples this year.
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And here's a new thing we tried - Indian Snake Cucumbers from
Baker Creek.
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This one is a little over 12 inches, but the description says they
grow
up to 4 feet! I'm going to wait till it's a little bigger to try it.
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The description also says they thrive in temps up to 95°F (35°C) which is
exactly what we're getting. They are holding up well. I don't know how they'd
do for pickles, but I don't need to can pickles this year. Flavor will
determine whether they're a keeper.
What's amazing to me is that everything is either producing nothing, or
producing an abundance. It's keeping us plenty busy. Between all the produce
and all the milk, every day is busy with food.
I know it's terribly hot everywhere. How are you all surviving? This hasn't
been our hottest summer (so far) but it's definitely hotter than it's been the
past several years. But we're doing good on rain, so I can't complain about
that.
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