Tomatoes, squash, peppers Spring 2014

This post is more for me so I can keep track of the garden, but I do read over other gardeners post like this and I do enjoy them...so I hope you like it too.

 

I laid out more tomato boxes, last year I used the smaller concrete bricks, but the concrete glue
didn't hold up as well and I had to re-glue them.  I took apart the back raised bed and used the cinder blocks to make several more tomato boxes.  These didn't have to be glued together and gave me little pockets to plant flowers, herbs and such.

Tomatoes this year:
From Last years seeds from Annie's:

Green Zebra
Juane Flamme
Black Cherry
White Queen
Hillbilly

This years seed from Pikes:
San Marzano
Speckled Roman
Beefsteak

Planted in the pockets around the tomatoes:
Left over seeds from packets various places and collected from last year seed heads:

COLLECTED FROM LAST YEAR:
French Marigolds
Single Red Marigolds
Yellow full head Marigolds
White Vinca

BERPEE ORGANICS
Parsley
Genovese Basil
Cilantro
Alyssum

FERRY MORSE
Zinnia Giant Double Mix
Radish French Breakfast

BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEEDS
Zinnia Lilliput Mix
Cosmos Bright Lights
Zinnia Polar Bear

Pepper plants were purchased at Pikes all Organic

(1) Gold California Wonder
(1) Sweet Banana
(1) Ancho Ploblano
(3) Jalapeno
(3) Bell Boy


Strawberry seeds from Annie's were directly sewn in the front block squares across the front

Other squares are from seeds planted in other places that too many seedling popped up so I moved them.  I also planted gardenias that I started from cuttings.  And some sweet alyssum that came back from last year.

Summer Squash was planted along the back.  It is Annie's Summer Squash mix seed that include:

Blaco di Triste, Black Beauty, Tondo di Piacenza and early prolific straightneck.

The speedwell also known as virronica is doing very well.  I had to separate it last year into four plants.  This year all but three will need separation again.  This is an awesome plant one of my favoirites.

The second bed had the Annie's Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumbers seeding everywhere, we enjoyed them last year so I thinned them out and transplanted them on the trellis to the left.  The transplanted beautifully.  Along the back trellis is the same squash as the other bed.  On the front are so strawberries I got two years ago from Walmart.  I really don't care for them.  They are small and don't produce well.  The ants have been fighting me on the front left, it will be dry for awhile so they will get some grits.


 

How The Garden Grows in July

Lets start with the things that are doing good and then we will interject a few of the lessons I am learning

The Green Zebra Tomatoes seem to be the winner thus far...though we haven't had one tomato yet.  I didn't start plants indoors this year.  I planted the seed directly in the soil, so that gave them the late start.  And then this wonky weather we have been having - Going from drought to flood.  But the Tomatoes have been hanging in there and I have been adding Bananas, egg shells, compost and manure.  So over all I am well pleased.

This is an Asian Pear tomato, it rained last light so the drops of water give a special effect to the photos. I got the Tomato seeds from Annie's she had an offer of fun varieties. Asian Pear, Green Zebra, White Queen, Juan and Flame (Hillbilly).  All are doing well except White Queen.  She looks a bit frumpy but I am thinking its the flood of rain.  Still I am keeping a close eye on her. Here she is below.

The cages keep tipping over, so I am going to figure out something today to keep them from doing the domino effect.  They are in raised boxes that the cage doesn't fit down over to the ground.  I should have thought of this when I first saw this. 

These are Alex's Mexican Sour Gherkins his vines are flooded with these little jewels.  We are looking forward to trying them and seeing how they are... I was hoping to get enough to pickle.  My cucumbers are producing here and there but not enough for bread and butter pickles...second year this happened.  Also my beets are very tiny and bitter.  I think this is the lesson I was talking about earlier, I inter planted lettuce with the beets and I think the lettuce zapped all the nutrients out of the soil.  I will try again next year.  I am going to pull what is left of them and get the bed ready for the pumpkin seeds I bought.

Trinity's flower garden is just OK the Morning Glories are beautiful and always seem to do good no matter what.  One Cosmo and one cockscomb  is flowering, I think she has too much shade.  The yard is full of mature Oaks and its hard to find a good sunny spot. 

The Hanging baskets are looking lush and sexy, these are the results from the $5.00 root bound 4 ferns I purchased from the Grocery store last fall.  They turned into 14 plants.  The Ivy was from a plant I have had for years.  And I purchased the impatiens to tuck in.  They looked very scraggly last fall when I divided them up.  But with TLC they have turned into show stoppers.

Here is my stairway...the photo doesn't do it justice.  Little ferns are peeking out between the bricks and the Begonias were just trimmed for rooting.  The plant on the red stool (top right) I call Mother.  I got her last year and started taking cuttings.  She has sired over 50 children and grandchildren.  Some of them are in the silver buckets on the right.

Ta Ta For Now

How the Vegetable Patch is doing

Well things are looking good here in Georgia, The beets are popping up and getting thinned out.  I am really looking forward to some yummy tasty beets.  My kids love them too and thats a good thing.  Another good thing about beets is that you can eat both the leaf and the root.

This one here is Chioggia it has white and red stripes like a bulls eye when you slice it, Way cool! I can't wait to see it.  The bed is laid out like a grid with old metal blinds I took down (gotta let the sunshine in).  We are also looking forward to the Golden beets.  Won't it be pretty to have a beet salad with all these different colors.

Here is my Boston Picking Cucumber with its first real leaf.  My hope is to be caning Mamas Bread and Butter pickle recipe this summer. YUM!  It has some lettuce poking up next to it keeping it company...I sprinkled some throughout the beets and pickles, making the most of my small bed. It'll get too here in a few weeks and the lettuce will bolt.   So they make good bed partners with slower growers (they encourage each other). The kids and I are going to see if we can grow lettuce in the shade with succession planting throughout the summer. I hope so cause the taste and texture of home grown lettuce is way better.

Gardening Bet

I know I am a little behind on my Post...the seeds came about three weeks ago.  We ordered all Heirloom seeds from Baker Creek and Annie's along with seeds we collected...they are in the yellow envelopes.

The beets got planted...In fact my garden bed will be nothing but Beets and cucumbers this season.  The kids and I each choose two things to plant...well in Trinitys case much more, she is growing a cut flower garden.
I planted several different varieties of beets; Cylindra, Bull's Blood (from last years pack), Golden and Chioggia.  Early April I will be planting Boston Picking Cucumbers and Alex will be planting Mexican Sour Gherkins.  In late April Alex will plant Melon Boule D'Or.  And Trinity will be putting in,  Love In A Mist, Zinnia Lilliput, Zinnia Polar Bear, Dwarf Coral Mix Cockscomb, Bright Light Cosmos  along with Morning Glory Carnevale Di Venezia for fun and several of the seeds we saved from last year.

Alex and I have a bet going as to who will have the best garden as you can see he thinks he is going to win.  The looser has to treat to lunch at our favorite diner along with gloating rights.  We are well know at the local diner so this will be very painful for one of us.

What is Going On

Though it is winter I do have a few days to enjoy working out in the yard.  With plenty of sticks to pick up  and an unbelievable amount of acorns rake up I have more than enough to do.  But on a few nice days I turn the garden and compost.  The parsley is still nice and bushy and I have even seen a few Swallow Tail larva.  In the fall their caterpillar form was munching out...one of their favorite foods and I have plenty to share.  Especially since I will enjoy the winged beauties in the spring.

I planted Sweet Peas (flowering variety)

 and Bachelor Buttons in the early fall last year.

 They have gotten nice and full but alas no flora.  I have added Phosphorus and Potassium on three separate occasion.  Maybe In the Spring I will see some action...if not, they've got to go!

The Vegtable Pach

The Basil has gone crazy! So I will Be making Pesto and freezing it Tomorrow. Any other Basil recipe ideas?

My Morning glory is full and lush but she is holding out on the flowers...I gave her a good dose of bone mean for her triteness. The beets didn't get much bigger than a radish, so disappointing, i had to go buy some to make pickled beets. I will be making a trip to the farmers market to pick up the fixins for some peach salsa. I can a little of it...it doesn't last but a few months...but mercy is it good. I put up some peaches so I can make it when it doe's.

Alex's cucumber vines are showing off big time, and so is he. They still are stingy on producing enough to make Bread and Butter pickles...I'm going to have pick those up at the market as well, I have been hankerin for some for years now. The are worth every second of slicing, chilling and canning. I promise to share my Moms recipe. I am not a recipe snob, food just taste better when you can share it and what the heck are you going to do with when your gone?

OK I have come across two flowers this one above is in my yard. The flower is about 1/2 inch across and a soft lavender color. I'm not sure if its a weed or something that has seeded itself. Its not periwinkle (vinca vine) the flower is too big but the leaves resemble it in shape but not texture.

Here is the other I saw on a walk. It is a vine and has a saucer shape flower with a little handle sticking up. It is a light lavender color as well. I sure would appreciate it if anyone new what these are.

Happy Gardening

Vegetable Patch and Gnome

Carrie, Carrie quite contrary (I really don't think I'm contrary) how does your garden grow....

With Marigolds...

And Pink Geraniums...

and pretty Impatient all in a row...

Well I am doing fairly well with my fight against the darn white flies...

You can see my fly bag hanging on my garden bed...And it seems to be doing its job. I hate to resort to such tact's but they left me no choice. Out of seven tomato plants two survived without so much as a sniff from those little beast.

Here are my two survivors they are making promises of the first tomato sandwiches of the year...bless them. I had to buy tomato plants from the nursery along with two peppers that had been attacked as well.

The cucumbers made it through fine...in fact we replace the beans we lost with more cucumbers...now the cucumbers are acting up and not producing flowers...I'm gonna have to investigate that. I am looking forward to a batch of Nana's bread and butter pickles. One is still producing though...I told it that it was my favorite and Nana would be so proud.

I have also thrown in some photos of the front beds for good measure..as well as my bear on a chair. Can you see my Christmas Cactus's they are doing so well. I look forward to there performance every winter. Such a bold show they put on.

Bears close up...he says his left side is his best

Remember the pot tower?

Well I added a little gnome, he helps keep the soil from spilling over the edge of the pot. He looks rather indignant about the whole thing.

OK last one, I promise. But just look at my succulents, no not that blade of grass that I need to pull...this stacked pot display has done me proud. I stuffed it full and they are just brimming over the sides. I wonder if I should bring it in during the winter in the south? Dose anyone know?

Thanks for stopping in and waking around the garden...stop back for a tomato sandwich and some ice tea.

Square Foot Gardening _Update

We have had some misshapes with a virus that took our tomato's and beans. The only thing to do was pull them.

The Cucumber are doing GREAT...so we decided to plant more of those and go into a pickle frenzy.

As the side pockets were emptied the kids and I filled them with flowers...we just love our little side pockets.

We are going to fill in where we pulled the spinach with more beets...yum.

The basil is doing great too...we have been yumming up pesto and preserving some as well. There is nothing like the sweet smell of basil.

How To Stop Cut Worm

Cut worms can stop a garden before it is even started. I found a way to stop them without spending a dime.

Yes, Those are toilet paper rolls. I kept a container under my bathroom sink and I would just toss the empty ones in it all winter long. Paper towel rolls will do just as well...they are the same diameter, who knew?

Just cut them into rings, wide enough to be pushed down in the soil...about 2 inches. Some of mine are not wide enough. But little people hands were helping me...and they make it more fun.

Then just slip the ring over the seedling and secure it in the soil. The ring will decompose on its own. For those of you wondering, this is a pickling cucumber growing here. OH I cant wait for bread and butter pickles...yes, I will be sharing Nana's recipe.