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Jul. 12, 2009
Joys of Summer Gardening
Yes, It's been while... again!
I have enjoyed this summer so much thus far. Several posts down you can veiw my attempts at early spring gardening. We have since added another "L" shaped raised bed and will likely add more beds this fall. The backyard landscape is changing constantly. Here are some up to date photos of our garden innovations...
Here lies our "L" shaped bed containing squash and zucchini. You can see the many yellow blossoms that will soon turn to lovely food for the table.
Last evening I picked 3 whopper zucchini and one nice sized squash. Two of the zucchini's fed five of us with a nice puddle left over.
Below is the 2nd addition to the raised beds which rests between the two long beds just off the porch (see later posts). I think I could look at these lovely European melon vines all day; they are simply beautiful. I hope the melons are as delicious as the plant is lovely.
See the pretty red bird feeder? I love birds and was so excited to hang that feeder there... well, the birds not only loved the bird seed but for some unknown reason they like my melon sprouts and pulled out several young melon plants just after they sprouted! They no longer have feed in it, at least not until late fall and winter!
Here are the contents of the first raised bed built by my dad. To the left you can see the squash and zucchini bed "L" around the one dad constructed. The lettuce has been feeding us since spring. I have noticed that I must cut the lettuce and eat it fairly soon or it wilts rather quickly. I usually cut before I begin dinner, rinse and dress, then place in the refrigerator so its ready by dinner. I cannot leave it on the counter for long or it goes to pot real quick. However, I can't really complain much since the taste is fantastic and it's only a few steps from the kitchen backdoor to gather. I enjoy watching my youngest natural born son go out to grab a quick bite from the garden. I have some tall seed stalks appearing and hope I can gather useful seed to plant this variety again.
We bought 4 "Topsy Turvy" hanging tomato containers to save space since our yard is so small. We filled them with a good top soil mixed with composted cow manure and the plants started out wonderfully. But, as you can see by the one hanging close, they are not doing doing well. I have re-fertilized them and hope that helps. Now, Im on the hunt for a good calcium supplement to stop the bottom rot. Wish me luck! My poor hubby was most excited about growing tomatoes; poor guy! If you look to the far right, you will say another garden which we chose not to raise. I have more melons, cantaloupe and watermelon, as well as clemson spinless okra. Both seem to be doing alright.
Pole beans... I just love green beans! Unfortuneately, from the picture below and above, you will notice I'll be lucky to have one full pot to feed my family. I WAY underestimated what we would need. I'll plant more next year. In front of the pole beans I planted eggplant and on the other side of the trellis I planted sweet red and yellow bell peppers.
I do have a funny about my beans, I had extra seed I didnt think would fit in my garden so I tossed the remaining seeds by my picket fence -- they are growing like gang-busters on my fence, too! I also did this with some of my leftover zucchini and squash seed and have them growing along the fence line too.
More tomatoes, this time in a barrel. I purchased 5 of these barrels, one for tomatoes, cucumbers, African horned melon, and carrots. All of the above have not faired well and I believe its a drainage problem. These small tomato plants were first planted in early spring and look how small they are! They are just now starting to look like tomato plants so I have hope for them! Next year we will have to make sure they have better drainage. So sad looking!
As you can see, I have had some successes and some bombs, but overall, considering this is the first time we have attempted to vegetable garden, we have done alright. |
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Jul. 14, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Blessings, Julie