I'm in the Garden

Absence Grows Weeds!!

I feel a bit like the character McCroskey in the old movie Airplane! ‘Looks like I picked the wrong year to write a garden journal,’ to change up his quote a bit. I started out with great purpose and enthusiasm but life has a way of changing things up a bit. My father became ill and after a time in the hospital and hospice care he passed away. During his illness my sprinklers were put on a timer and my passion for the garden was set aside.

I continued to write on Janet's House including a recipe for salmon in dad’s memory. I’ve always loved being in my garden but it became overwhelming as the weeds flourished in the warm sun and the morning sprinklers.

But progress happens. My potatoes are ready for harvest, my Roma tomatoes are becoming a pinkish orange. The lettuce that I remembered to plant in two week intervals is keeping us salad happy and my wonderful basil is enjoying our late summer sunshine.

I know I have my first of the month picture coming up next week. My weeding will become frantic as I clean the beds and trim, tie and dig.  I’m back to writing both blogs so bear with me as I clean my garden for fall, and store, freeze and eat the harvest. Don’t forget to check out Janet’s House for recipes, crafts and places I find interesting.

Garden Notes- The Front Yard Garden

A neighbor has planted their vegetable garden in the front yard. Yay for them! It’s kind of a bold move but if the front yard has the proper sun, then sometimes you’ve just got to go for it.

Of course it will probably be pretty empty and muddy in the winter, but I’ll bet they won’t mind when they’re eating the corn they froze and the cucumbers they pickled.

Every summer I enjoy seeing more and more raised beds and tomato plants planted in the sun where they need to be.  It’s fun to watch pumpkins growing across someone’s yard, getting their orange on for Halloween.

 

My front porch tomatoes are probably less that front yard fashion but I love grabbing a couple of ripe ones on my way to the car. I also enjoy the smell of the vines as much as I do the scent of Daphne in the spring.

 

I just purchased a new blueberry bush for the front yard. I love blueberry bushes year round. This one has a few plump berries on it and my plan is to treat it right so it will rival the big blueberry shrubs in my neighbors yard.

 

 

Look over your yard and find the best sunny spot for vegetables then plan your garden based on location. If it’s in the front yard perhaps you’ll encourage someone else to take the same steps. You’ll also be the one people come to with their garden questions. After all you must know what you’re doing, look how bold you are!

Tomatoes

I thought about putting a question mark in my title because I'm just not sure whether or not we'll really get a crop of tomatoes this year. We've had beautiful weather lately, mostly in the high 70's which is perfect to me but not warm enough to rippen tomatoes. The smaller varieties end up ripening because they don't have as much growing to do. I do love to watch the way the Sungolds are ripening from the top down

 

 

 

 

 

I’m pretty sure I’m seeing a slight rosy color to my Romas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

The front porch tomatoes are pretty gangly but producing some nice little snacks.

We need more hot sunny days to really get those Romas red and ready for canning, freezing and salads. I figure Roma's are medium sized and might have a chance. I'm not even trying big juicy beefsteaks or the heirloom Cherokee Purples from a couple of years ago. The weatherman said it’s great weather for carrots, lettuce and beets. He thinks it may be a green tomato summer. Baaaaaah!!

August 1st

 

July is kind of a funny month. Everything is just working hard to grow. There isn’t a whole lot to do in the garden, except of course keep it watered and tidy.  When we left town last week I set up sprinklers to come on each morning at 6:30. Upon our return I notice that I don’t hurry out to the garden each morning for my watering ritual; therefore I’m not tuned into the grooming and weeding.

The weather has become more stable. Nice warm days; not too hot. The weatherman says it’s our first July since 1993 to not reach 90 degrees. Fine with me. Hopefully warm enough to ripen my tomatoes. Every time I brush past the bushes I am filled with their wonderfully summery scent and the promise of things to come. There are loads of hard green tomatoes and I’ve eaten a few ripe Sungolds.

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beets are coming right along. Fairly healthy looking tops.

 

 

 

I’ve pulled out all of the garlic and have it drying in the shed. I’ve added compost to the garlic bed and will let it sit. I also pulled out the last of the peas and have started a new crop with a bit more structure in place.

 

 

 

 

I am concerned that one of my asparagus plants appears to be female. She is full of hard, pea-sized seeds. I’ve talked to people at three nurseries and they were fairly vague about what to do or if it’s a problem.  It was suggested that I shouldn’t pull her out but I can cut away the seedy fronds before they burst forth in the fall. Any ideas or suggestions???

 

Things to do: Keep weeding

              Pull out onions

              Plant more radishes

              Cross fingers for tomato harvest