Garden Update, 7-27-2011

It’s been a wonderful gardening season so far.  We’ve been under a heat wave, however, with days of rain interspersed giving everyone a much needed break from watering.

I enjoy seeing the plants take off after a good hard rain as it’s been refreshing to actually see the plants thrive and grow.  (After 3 years of flooding, it’s about time.)

Thank you Jesus.

Plots at the folks

This area is settling down quite a bit.  Only the third bed is really in use.  It contains 2 types of beets and carrots.

With the shade, it takes them much longer to fully grow and I really don’t expect to harvest them until late August.

However, I’ve been harvesting the bull’s blood beet tops. Aren’t they gorgeous?

In the other beds, I kept in radishes that had gone to tops and spinach in order to save their seeds.

Have you saved seeds from veggies like this?

It’s amazing to see them develop little pods of different sizes and shapes which harbor their seeds.

My friend Annette from Sustainable Eats had mentioned that this would be a good place specifically for seed saving which I’m actually considering for next year.

Community Garden

I’m thrilled with how my plots are doing at the community garden this year.

This was last year.

Big difference, huh?!

I’m a happy girl.

Growing are tomatillos, chili peppers, beans, eggplant, kale, Spanish variety zucchini and melons.

The only downside to growing in a community garden is the mass amounts of bugs.

I’ve been at war.

Besides squishing bugs and taking off eggs from the underside of plants, I’ve been spraying with neem oil which seems to be containing the bug population.

Next year, I will make sure to companion plant in this area and use floating row covers on the squash.

But.. we have zucchini.

I’ve also been harvesting kale and the peppers and eggplants are growing beautifully.

Mi Casa

At home, the plants are growing beautifully as well.

I finally got the beans in the front growing, however, I’m not sure if the bunnies are going to let them grow.

Beautiful swiss chard.  Why didn’t I put in another two heads?

I’ve had the most amazing tomato flowers that I have ever seen.

And, a great harvest that I’m looking forward to.

More Raspberries.

I harvested my cabbages and unfortunately, had no luck with my broccoli or brussels sprouts.

Ah well, I’ve been feeding the leaves to the chickens and they love it.

I’ll be reseeding this area with Fall carrots and parsnips.

Backyard

I have a new gardening area in my backyard. It still needs work but the vegetables are growing well!

This area contains all of my sweet peppers, some more tomato plants and cucumbers.

Beyond the trellis, I’ll be planting my Fall and Winter lettuces in a new cold frame my hubby is going to build me.

Things are still small but growing well since I put them in later than I had originally wanted to.

Oh… and one of my sweet girls is laying on some fertile eggs.

I’m hoping they’ll hatch in another week or so.

It’s been a great year so far!!

So, how are your gardens growing?  I would love to hear how they compare to years past.