June 2010: Garden Update

After a few tedious weeks, my garden has finally taken off in the direction I wanted it to go: up and out!

BEFORE: Although my expectations were big, my garden was growing at a slow rate with stunted or no growth from the many seedlings I planted.  All due to too much acid in the soil, making for "hot soil".

NOW:  My garden is flourishing.  With lots of watering and yes, even fertilizer, my garden is becoming green and lush and bearing yummy, edible vegetables.  Or fruit.  Whatever!

I HAVE CORN!!

Snow Peas.  They were great right off the vine.

WHAT WAS I THINKING OF?  I planted at least 10 cucumber plants, of three different types of cucumbers.  WHY!?

This is an Armenian Cucumber, aka. Yard Long Cucumber.  It has thin, edible skin, little to no seeds and sweet flesh.  Remove the furry hairs first.  It is a table/slicing cuke, not suitable for pickeling.  Although it can grow up to 36 inches, it tastes best when picked at 15 inches.

We've been invaded by numerous insects.  Our squash in particular has been under siege by the Squash Vine Borer.  It's a nasty larva that bores into the stems of squash and makes itself at home until it's next stage in life.  This photo is of a squash plant that has been taken over.  I noticed frass on the stem of the plant, (excrement), made a slit into the stem, located the larva and unmercifully, killed it.  Then I mounded dirt around the wound and hope that plant will grow new roots and recover.

The fruits of our labor.  All are from the three gardens.  From top to bottom: Kentucky Wonder, Red Okra, Snow Pea, Ichiban Eggplant, Lemon Cucumber, Midori Cucumber, Wax Bean.

This beautiful red tomato is a German Johnson from Judy's garden.  One of many trio's of GJ's, this one tomato is perhaps 3/4 of a pound.  The larger tomato is probably 1 pound.  Talk about a whopper!

Phil and Terry's Red Okra.  I haven't had any cooked yet but Terry tells me that the okra turn green when cooked.

Funny how this week, both of my gardening partners headed out of town, leaving me with their wonderful veggies to look after and harvest as well.  So I'm up to my ears in summer squash, Cocozel and Magda squash.  Let's not forget all the beans, peas and okra and of course the tomatoes.  I have bags of fresh picked produce in my refrigerator, freezing those that I can't eat that day.  I think it's time to visit my neighbors and pass along all this summertime goodness.