August 31, 2012

The beans have been looking really ratty, so I decided it was time to pull the plants.  We've been getting fewer and fewer beans, and many of those were not well formed.  Note to self:  Next year, if I plant pole beans, I should start some bush beans around July 1.  Better yet, just plant only bush beans, planting a crop every 6 weeks or so.  Other note to self:  Don't forget the inoculant.  There were almost no nodules on the roots. 

August 30, 2012

Yeah!  I finally managed to put up a cover over the brassicas, or at least one of the beds.  It isn't very elegant, but it works.  Here it is.

I think next year I'll just do simple PVC hoops. 

I picked most of the black beans.  I got less than a pound.  Hardly worth the effort.  I don't think I'll do dry beans next year.  The Yin and Yangs are not dry yet.

August 28, 2012

I picked the first Green Zebra tomato today.  We had it in a Greek salad, along with an Orange King and a Stupice. 

My attempt to make PVC hoops for the broccoli bed failed.  We connected them with a ridge pole, but when we tried to put it up, they broke.  So I'm still trying to figure out a way to cover the two beds.  They need protection from the hot sun, but also protection from insects. 

August 26, 2012

I planted half a row of tatsoi where I pulled out the chard.  It may be too early, but we'll see.  I plan to do several succession plantings to see which one does the best.

I moved six small chard plants in the bed with the peppers. They were in the flower bed, which will need to be vacated soon so the new raised beds can be build.

The broccoli plants are bumping their heads on the shade cloth covers, so I think it's time to build some PVC hoops.  I sowed spinach (Olympia) among the cabbage plants. 

August 25, 2012

I decided it was finally time to pull out the rainbow chard.  We had lots of meals out of it, although we probably could have managed with half a row.  But the leaf miners had finally won, and there was very little left that wasn't damaged.  So out they came.  I think I'll try some tat soi in their place.

I dug the rest of the potatoes.  They weren't quite dead, but I have cabbage starts that desperately need a home, so I dug them up.  I got 9 pounds of Bintjes, mostly good-sized ones.

This one is my favorite.  Very voluptuous.

I got 6.3 pounds of the Rio Grandes.  Almost every one is a nice big baker.

Now that I have the rest of that bed free, I'll plant the cabbages and a couple of kales.  I also pulled some carrots (4 lbs. 3 ozs.) from the bed with the broccoli.  Both the broccoli bed and the Brussels sprouts/cabbage bed have shade cloth over them, rather than floating row cover.  It will keep the butterflies out and also keep the plants cool.

Oh, and I almost forgot.  I have a new toy -- a food dehydrator.  I think my first project will be zucchini.  I'm starting to get lots.

August 23, 2012

I pulled the last of the summer squash in the big pots (the Dark Star, which did quite nicely).  In it's place I planted more beets (sigh!), some Gourmet Blend and a few Early Wonders.

I trimmed a lot more of the Butternut Squash, keeping only ones that were at least 5" long.  There are 12 or 14.  We'll see which ones make it.  The Acorn Squash in the front yard (2 plants) have 6 mature fruit, plus several smaller ones, which I'll leave for now.  The ones in a big pot on the back deck (Also 2 plants) have 5 mature ones, with no new fruit coming. 

I picked two pounds of green beans, which I froze.  The beans appear to be taking a break, not many coming right now.  The heat from last week may have set them back temporarily.  We have lots of other things to eat, so we won't miss them for now.  The Yin and Yang and Black Turtle bush beans are just about dead.  There are lots of pods on them.

August 22, 2012

Today I pulled the Mexican grey squash and sowed some spinach (Bloomsdale) in the pot.  I also sowed some speckled trout's back lettuce in with the earlier lettuce I planted in another large pot.

I put upside down pots and saucers under the melons.  I counted 24 of them.  Of course, not all will ripen.  In fact, it's entirely possible that none of them will ripen.  I've noticed that they are now shaded in the morning by the big fir tree. 

We had a fun dinner today.  I made sweet and sour eggplant with two Rosa Biancas.  I made a fresh green bean salad and steamed the last Mexican grey squash.  And of course, tomatoes.