So much has been going on with hives and hens that while I’ve been working in the garden every day, I haven’t talked much about it. So, here’s a summary.
What’s producing in the garden right now:
Tomatoes: This is what I’m overflowing with right now. I’m accumulating the Roma tomatoes and freezing them as they ripen. At the end of the season I’ll have a big canning day for tomato sauce. I’m eating and giving away as many of the regular tomatoes as possible. Then I also have cherry tomatoes which I normally just eat as I harvest them. 🙂
Blackberries: Three of the four blackberry plants that I put in last summer are producing. One of them was diseased and I had to cut it all the way back. It is re-growing beautifully, but blackberries happen on the year after the branch grows. So, while it’s beautiful and healthy looking there aren’t blackberries on it.
I think I need to plant more blackberries. With just three producing plants I basically eat the blackberries as they ripen. There aren’t enough to make cobbler or jelly or anything. So, I have to figure out where to put the blackberries. I have the most room outside the garden gate, but the dogs would have access to them out there and dogs both love nipping berries off the vine. Stay tuned for blackberry updates.
Squash: I have zucchini and yellow squash in right now. If you remember, I have put netting over the whole bed in my ongoing quest to conquer the dreaded squash vine borer. I’m pretty happy with the results. Now, since the bees can’t get to the plants to pollinate, I have to pollinate by hand. I do notice that it seems that ants are pollinating some. At least I think they are.
Bell Peppers: I have two pepper plants in a bed with tomato plants. Those aren’t doing terribly well. The plants are still pretty little and the few peppers that have grown have been quite small. I have another pepper plant over between the two peach trees and it is doing WAY better and has some beautiful fruit on it. I think maybe the plants in the tomato bed are crowded for light and for soil nutrients.
Onions and Garlic: I have pulled up most of the onions and garlic and have them laid out on the edges of my raised beds so that they cure. It has rained briefly on each of the last three days so I probably should have brought them inside. But, I didn’t. I’m going to figure out how to go ahead and peel all of the garlic. Maybe store it in olive oil? I find that I don’t use the garlic out of my garden because when I’m cooking I don’t like to take the time to peel it. I buy already peeled garlic from the store and use that. So, I’m going to see how I can change that this year.
Green Beans: I probably need to plant another round of green beans. Succession planting and all. I haven’t been terribly impressed with my green beans. I’ve never been impressed growing green beans. This year I think that most of what I’ve planted is in soil that isn’t very good yet. I’ll keep adding compost and trying.
Flowers: There are several of my flowers that I started from seed that are actually making flowers! I’m just planted some sunflowers in a couple of my planter boxes last night. I’m excited to see if they come up.
Cantaloupe: The cantaloupe finally has taken off. I only see one melon on the vine so far.
Swiss Chard: The chard is hanging in there and beautiful. I don’t know enough about what to do with chard. I just put it in my scrambled eggs. Suggestions anyone?
Various Herbs: They are all hanging in there. I think the basil should be bigger. The mint is taking over the world like mint does.
I would love to hear any suggestions for me in the comments. I would also love to hear your garden updates!
