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.
18 comments:
Yes, even in my tiny patio garden, all ornamental except a container of potatoes, either plants have vanished -- my cotton, grown from seed and taken by birds, likewise the sunflowers. Or, like the daisies and zinnias are sro, and the honesty. I'm getting enough honesty seeds to give several friends. I guess our blistering weather has shown us who thrives.
Have you and Dan tried pickled okra? The only other way I like okra is in gumbo. Pickled green beans is another family favorite.
Liz, I think container gardens have extra challenges, such as it seems like the soil (pot) heats up more in hot weather. It's hard to keep them hydrated! But you're right about learning what plants can handle the heat.
Judy, yes! In fact, I still have pickled okra in the pantry. Mostly we like it oven fried as a side dish. Not keep on okra gumbo, although Dan likes that better than me.
What an interesting looking cuc! Those blueberries look so good, and that melon! Tomatoes are just blooming here and there are a few small green guys.
Your rodent situation is very troubling. We had one, Hubby found it a new home. As far as deer, not too much of an issue in the garden, but they do like nibbling all the new growth off of the fruit trees. I've made up a stinky solution that seems to be helping with that.
Rosalea, we have had our critter problems this year. Interestingly, I see very few insects.
I would be interested in your deer deterrent solution. I use deer-b-gone with good effect. I should try it on my sweet potato vines. It helped for a bit with the peas, but we had such a rainy spring that it washed off with each rain.
Oh, the critters do make it a challenge, don't they? Your tomatoes are gorgeous! I do miss tomatoes, and salsa, and ketchup. They don't agree with the hiatal hernia, so I had to give them up.
The heat has been exhausting, but we are fortunate that we can stay inside as much as we need to. My heart feels for those who must work outside (there are a lot of new roofs going on in our area and I can't imagine how those folks do that job in the heat). We have gotten over 4" of rain in the last two weeks, which we desperately needed, due to the drought.
Enjoy your harvest!
I miss Kentucky Cantaloupes... sigh
Daisy, you've reminded me to add salsa to my canning to-do list. Barring some disaster, we'll have plenty to do everything we want!
More rain in the forecast here. I hope you get some too.
Alex, there's nothing tastier than a good cantaloupe. :)
Observationally in my current space, beans, soybeans and buckwheat are all doing well. The tomatoes are slow growers, but I think that is because of my shade issues (they are producing some flowers). My corn is there, but also growing slowly.
My sweet potatoes were a complete bust. I thought my onions would be too, but I seem to have 5 or 7 seedlings.
TB, I've never grown soybeans before. I'm glad they're doing well along with a few other things. The first couple of gardening years in a new place are always a learning curve. It only gets better!
Putting used kitty litter near ground hog holes is supposed to scare them off, as it smells like a predator. Laundry detergent may work as well as it smells like people. It’s too bad that they’ve gotten so much, but you’re blueberries look terrific!
Anon, thanks for the ideas. I've tried things like tossing bricks into their dens but they just toss them back.
Just back from a four day mini vacation and getting caught up on blogging. Our garden/orchard has been very productive this year although we haven't been around to harvest some things like peas and cherries. Right now I am drowning in cucumbers, okra and peppers. After typing this, I will spend all day preserving excesses. We've also been eating lots of potatoes and parsnips which are still in the ground. Tomorrow I need to get up early to harvest our onions before they start going bad. I picked the first three red tomatoes off our vines last night so in a week, tomatoes will be ramping up just as the cucumbers hopefully start tapering off. It is a busy time of the year in my world.
Ed, welcome back. It sounds like your garden is wonderfully productive! You've got busy preserving days ahead.
Your garden seems quite lush and productive despite the little wildlife menaces attempt at a takeover. Those ocra plants look so beautiful with the variegated leaves!
Char, I have to credit good rainfall! It's hot, but we're fortunate with the amount of rainfall. The plants love that. Wildlife is always a challenge; we plant extra and hope for the best!
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