Two More Firsts

Yesterday I picked the first pole beans and the first aubergine.

The zucchinis are starting to get ahead of me. Right now I have nine in the refrigerator. I think I'll grate some and freeze them for zucchini bread later.

I decided it was time to braid the garlic. It wasn't hard, and I think it turned out OK.

Next I'll try the onions, but they aren't dry yet.

The squirrels have started in on the Orcas pears, so I picked them all. We got fourteen. They're much smaller than the Ubileens.

More Fall Planting

I sowed a patch of snap peas (bush type) in the squash bed. I also sowed a row of kohlrabi and a row of beets, one on each side of the asparagus bed. And I sowed the last two rows of carrots.

I've harvested the last of the cabbage. One head had split, but the rest are fine. I made three more jars of sauerkraut, plus I left some for cole slaw and stir fries.

The weather has become very summerlike, with highs mostly in the 80s. The cherry tomatoes are ripening, but so far no other tomatoes. There's one cucumber about three inches long and an aubergine about two inches long. And I found the first tiny green bean. I've had to extend the bean trellis with some string. I hope it's enough.

We're getting lots of zucchini now, and the Delicata squash is finally being pollinated.

Lots of Veggies In

We've had a few days in the mid-80s, so I was anxious to get things into the ground. I've planted eight tomato plants, eight pepper plants, and two aubergines, all in the rose bed. I've planted zucchini and delicata squash and cucumbers in a raised bed, all ones I had started. Two melon plants went into the bed along the back of the house, in front of the raspberries.

I sowed some pole beans along the trellis on the deck where I killed the clematis montana by pruning it too late. I hope the ground is warm enough for them to sprout. And I sowed another row of carrots. Something is eating the first row, but I put Sluggo Plus down, so I hope that stops whatever it is.

The blueberries have lots of fruit coming, as do the new strawberries and the raspberries. And both the asparagus and potato beds are looking good. The pear trees has lots of fruit, and even the peach tree, which looks totally butchered, has quite a bit of fruit. And the mandarin is loaded with flower buds.

Status Update

Today we picked the first cherry tomato (Lizzano) and the first strawberry after the early summer break. There are several green beans ready to pick, as well as several more zucchinis.

The peaches (four) are just beginning to get some color. And I picked the first Ubileen pear.

Status Report - July 23, 2018

Things have really been happening in the garden.  I've harvested the garlic and two of the potato plants.  We're now getting Stupice and Lizzano cherry tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, bell peppers, aubergines, carrots, chard, and kale.  The lettuce was very good (starts from Minto Island Growers) but have now bolted.  I've just planted the third sowing of green beans

and the last two rows of carrots.

 I also planted some cranberry beans.

 The leeks are ready but I haven't pulled any yet.

I started two Kale-ette plants from seed.  I moved them to the potato bed and put them under a shade cover because it's been in the 90s.

The herb bed has been a great success.  I'll do it again next year.

The rhubarb and squash bed is doing well.

The trough planter is really filling in.

 The new bed is filling in gradually.

 And the rose bed has been spectacular.

And last but not least we just picked all the pears on the Ubileen.  It was a bumper crop!

Midsummer

The garden is nearing its peak.  We haven't had any beans yet, but just about everything else is producing.  We've had some small tomatoes and peppers. The garlic is ready to come out, and the onions are close.

The side has never looked better, thanks to lots of volunteers.

 The front is really looking good. 

 

Even the new bed is taking off.  The skimmia has been moved to the back yard for more shade.  It was getting fried in the front.  

 

And not a stinkbug in sight!!

The Battle Continues...

I've now taken out the pole beans.  They were being badly damaged and there was no way to reach the upper vines.  The last stand seems to be the cucumbers, which we have been patrolling religiously. 

The bean bed has been planted with more kohlrabi, a row of beets, and a row of spinach.  I've removed the largest planting of basil (I had delusions of making pesto) and planted a short row of chard in the space.  I found stink bugs in the basil. 

I've found an occasional stink bug under the netting in the tomatoes and the peppers, but so far the damage is minimal. 

Lots of Happenings

The battle of the stink bugs continues.  They have started in on the beans, so I've pulled out the bush beans a bit early.  The pole beans are still there, although we haven't picked any yet.  I'm trying to keep them clear of the little beasts.  Here is where the bush beans were.  I've now sown some kohlrabi.

And here is where the bush beans are, along with lots of stink bugs.  I'm hoping they'll all bake, and then in a few days I can dump them into the yard waste.

My plan for next year is to grow only bush beans, maybe three small plantings, and cover them with netting. 

The black zucchini is not looking good.  The leaves are turning yellow and drying.  I would say maybe they aren't getting enough water, but the yellow squash is very healthy.

In the last couple of days I've started rutabagas and parsnips in the bed where I harvested the garlic.  I've also started several more rows of carrots and four six packs of kohlrabi.  I've finally picked some ripe tomatoes (Stupice) and there are lots of peppers.  There are also a couple of Japanese aubergines that look ready. 

The Beckyberries and boysenberries are finished, and the blueberries are winding down.  They all ripened earlier than usual with the heat we've had. 

Stink Bugs

Today I noticed a couple of stink bugs on the nectarines.  I looked at others, and it seems they have all been damaged.  Every one has tiny strands of sticky stuff oozing out of them.  I'm leaving them for now, but I suspect we won't have any nectarines this year.

I did some research and found a website that lists all the crops that are at high risk of stink bug damage.  It's pretty much everything I grow.  Maybe not greens and carrots, and there was no mention of squash or peas.  So my plan now is to protect the tomatoes with netting.  The beans will have to be on their own.  I haven't seen any stink bugs on either the tomatoes or beans, but I have seen them on the corn.  By the way, so far we have seven ears coming. 

Beans and Squash

Finally we have our first squash.

We have many more coming quickly.  I was able to remove one of the zucchini plants,  but the yellow squash plants (Cube of Butter) are so big and close together that I can't separate them.  I may try to top one to cut back on production.  I hate having so many that will surely go to waste.

The bush beans have also started. 

The pole beans are not far behind.  They've already reached the top of their trellis.

The peppers are really doing well.  They're loving the heat this summer.  But so far no ripe tomatoes.

Peas and Potatoes

Today I pulled out the snap peas.  We've had so much hot weather, with more to come in the next few days, that they looked as if they were finished. 

After a visit to Randy's this past weekend, and having some of his early potatoes for supper, I thought I'd fish around in my potato bed and see if I could find anything. David and I easily found five very large Yukon Golds.  I can't wait for the real harvest in a few months. 

There are some summer squash coming soon, and the tomatoes have yet to ripen.  The bush beans have flowers, as do the cucumbers.  I've picked a couple of peppers, one bell and one Gypsy.

Bean Tower

I'm trying again to make a bean tower that actually works.  This one is made from eight 1x2s.  It still needs to be staked down, but I think it might work.

Yesterday I got nine new dahlia tubers in the mail.  Today I planted them in groups along the back wall of the house.  I also planted some zinnia seeds in the big gold pot.  I pulled out all of last fall's carrots.  They had gotten too woody.  And I sowed a couple more rows of Yaya.

Even though I've covered the chard and beet bed, the leaf miners are still in there.  They were probably already in the soil.  I'm doing a daily patrol to get them all out.

Winter Carrots and Lettuce

Yesterday I pulled out the second planting of bush beans and planted three rows of Romance carrots and two rows of Gourmet Blend lettuce.  Last night some critter came into the garden and dug several holes in the soil where I had planted the seeds.  Now I'll have to wait to see what comes up and fill in any gaps.

Lettuce & Kale

I pulled the first planting of bush beans and planted a couple of short rows of lettuce and a row of Tuscan kale in the space.

The second planting of beans is producing nicely.

Hazardous Beans

Both the bush beans and the dry beans (which are actually also bush beans) have gotten out of control.  They have spilled into the path, making walking hazardous.

So I pulled the outside plant in each row of the bush beans and trimmed a few extra long tendrils.

I put a couple of stakes into the end of the dry bean bed and zip-tied two bamboo sticks across them to hold back the plants on the end that were in the path.

I've also promised myself that I will not leave the hose out in the path, but I'll either wind it back or at least line it up neatly next to the concrete path.

It feels much safer now to walk in the garden.

Beets & Beans

I pulled the first planting of beets and canned them.  I still have a short row of Cylindras.

I also planted the last batch of bush beans.  I put in two rows, as far from the previous planting as I could get.  The first planting is still producing, but at a slower rate.

I also pulled some of the first planting of carrots.  I pulled this Purple Haze carrot. It's the longest carrot I've ever grown.  Note the spiral root.  I guess it hit the clay at the bottom and decided to corkscrew into it.

More Carrots

Most of the lettuce has started to bolt, including the romaine, so I pulled it out.  I left the Red Sails and Black-seeded Simpson, which are still good.  In the empty space I planted two four-foot rows of Purple Haze carrots, covered with Reemay.

I transplanted the fall vegetable starts (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) to 4" pots.  I also gave them a boost with 1 tsp. fish emulsion in a gallon of water.  And of course, they're under the netting.

I picked another big bowl of bush beans and froze them. 

Lots of Beans

This morning I picked a large bowl of bush beans (Provider).  I used two pounds of them to make dill beans and the rest went into the freezer.  This is from the first planting.  The second planting is blooming.

After removing the netting over the blueberries a week or so ago, we've discovered that the birds are now sampling all the ones near the tops of the bushes.  So we've put the netting back, but just over the top.  It seems to be slowing them down considerably, although a few of the ground feeders (doves and towhees) are still going in.  But they don't eat many.

State of the Garden

Here's what the garden looks like today.  Not seen is the bed behind the asparagus, which is now empty.  I've pulled out the snap peas and kale, and dug the garlic.  It's now on a screen in the garage.  I have 36 heads again, which is probably too much, as I still have quite a few left over from last year.

In the past I've always had two plants of each squash variety, planted together.  I'm already being overwhelmed by summer squash, so I've pulled one of each out.  I think we'll have plenty, and I won't have to feel guilty composting squash we don't eat.  And maybe the air circulation will help keep the mildew at bay.

I've also pulled the bush cucumber, which wasn't looking very bush-like, and one of the climbers, so now I have just two.  I think that will be plenty.  Lots of tiny fruit on them.

The bush bean rows are still too close together.  We've started picking them, and there seem to be lots, so just two rows of each planting should be fine.  And maybe just three plantings instead of four, spaced wider.

 The aubergines and peppers are doing really well. 

The golden bell is looking golden, and the 'Pinot Noir' has been purple almost from the start.

Beans #3

Today I planted the third crop of bush beans.  The second planting is too close to the first, so I increased the space to 14" and planted just two rows instead of three.

Both the green and the yellow zucchini plants have small fruit coming.