2 Shades of Purple

Yesterday, Luba and I went to the Summer Garden to water. While we were there, we thought we would walk through and see if any produce was ready to pick. Luba spotted some young corn-not ready yet and then she discovered some Burgundy Okra ready for the harvest basket. We got a few pods of Burgundy and Clemson Spineless, but the big "pick" will probably be this weekend. We picked about a half a peck (I always wanted to say "peck") of Rattlesnake Beans-they are through for the season.There were some more Marketmore and National Pickling Cucumbers ready. We also got a few Mini Bangles Bell Peppers and a couple of Hillbilly and Arkansas Traveler tomatoes. Yes, Luba is a great spotter-better than me- she spotted our first Black Beauty Eggplant as well yesterday. It was a joy to spend some time with Luba in the Garden. She even asked about her own plot for next year. I guess seeing some actual fruit come from hard work can be inspiring. Back at the Home Garden, we picked 2 big zucchini. All in all, the Gardens are producing more than I hoped...there will be a lot of work this weekend!

Luba picking some Burgundy Okra pods-The first of the season, but many more to come!

The first Black Beauty Eggplant in all its purple majesty!

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

We are back from our final trip of the summer and the gardens are great--thanks Kathy for all your help! We got a few plants while we were away for a cut garden.

The Summer Garden is flourishing. Yesterday, I went over and did some watering. While I was there, I picked a half a bushel (that's right a half a bushel) of cucumbers-Marketmore, National Pickling, and Silver Slicers. I love Silver Slicers-they are great tasting, excellent producers, and easy to find on the vines. If you have ever tried to find green cucumbers in a bunch of vines, you know what I mean. Stephanie and I are going to can some bread and butter pickles with a twist and some half/halfs. I also picked a half a bushel of Rattlesnake Beans-one more pick and they should be done for the season. These we will freeze for chili this winter. The Jacob's Cattle beans are done for the year. The Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans are coming on and we should get our first pick in the next 7-10 days. We have several Sivan F1 Hybrid Melons coming on. One was off the vine so I brought it home. The smell was wonderful and it was very pretty on the inside but not quite ripe enough to be sweet. There are some pics below. The Sivan is a single serving melon about the size of a softball. We have our first 2 Hale's Best Melons. These are going to be big cantaloupes. I picked a few Bangles Mix Mini Bells. They are cute and colorful but small. We have a bunch of tomatoes coming on. Corn is doing well. And now for the big news. Okra is finally coming and there is A LOT of it. Burgundy and Clemson Spineless have hundreds of pods just starting. We will have bushels by the end of the season. I fertilized all the melons, tomatoes, and peppers yesterday with Garden Tone. I almost forgot, we have blooms on the Black Beauty Eggplant-they got a shot of Garden Tone and a good weeding.

Now the Home Garden-Stephanie, Magun, and I picked 2 zucchini.-one was average and one was the size of my arm from the elbow down. It was huge. Magun calls it a baseball bat. Stef is going to make zucchini-blueberry bread. We picked a few cucumbers and our first tomato from the raised garden. The tomatoes here are huge plants but not producing. I used Garden Tone to add more potash and phosphate and now they have a lot of small fruits. Thanks Garden Tone-you did the trick. If you are looking for a good organic fertilizer-Garden Tone is great. We have 2 big California Bells almost ready to pick. There is a small Blacktail Mountain Watermelon at Home and should be some good eatin' very soon.

We are planning to add a completely self-sustaining Urban Garden on another plot for next year. It will be irrigated by a rainwater collection system powered by solar energy-the produce will be given to the community around the garden. Check out our Kickstarter to see more about it and join us if you wish. 

So Melons, Cukes, Beans, Zoo-chee-knee (shout out to Suzanne)-summer is in full swing.

Burgundy Okra Blooms-

Okra Rows-Clemson Spineless (left) and Burgundy (right)

  

Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans comin' on

The Rattlesnake Beans-get to shellin' kids

Clemson Spineless Okra Pods (sorry about the blur)

A half a bushel of cucumbers, Rattlesnake Beans, and a couple of zucchini

 

Hale's Best Melon 

Blacktail Mountain Watermelon-should get about 8-10" and 10 pounds

 A Sivan Melon-to judge the size, that is Magun's hand on the left and Stephanie's on the right

The Hat

I could not pass up the opportunity to keep the sun off my ears in the Memphis heat. An Amish Hat from Intercourse, PA...now I just need a team of horses to work the ground...or maybe Stephanie will get me a couple of goats.

Girls in the Garden

On Wednesday, my girls went to the Summer Garden with me and picked beans. There was nothing better than picking beans with Luba and Magun while Stephanie baked zucchini bread from a squash from the Home Garden. We had a lot of Rattlesnake and Jacobs Cattle Beans. We also had a lot of Arkansas Traveler and Yellow Brandywine tomatoes. We picked some Marketmore and Silver Slicer Cucumbers. We checked out the melon patch and have 7 mini lopes coming along. Burgundy and Clemson Spineless Okra is getting ready to bloom and there is a lot of stalks. They should be ripe in a few weeks. As I watched my girls pick beans, it was nice to see them take an interest. A few pounds of produce every few days is great!!! Here are some pics from the pickin'....

Luba picking Rattlesnake Beans

Magun picking Rattlesnake Beans

Tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans from the Wednesday haul---

Cucumbers--

Tomatoes

The fruits of our labor

Bean Salad or Chili?

Home Harvest

Last night before the storm, I went and out picked a zucchini for dinner tonight...grilled. This afternoon, Stephanie went and gathered some cucumbers (silver slicers and Marketmore) for a cucumber and tomato salad. Fresh vegetables...I never thought I would say this but.....YUM!!!

Cucumbers!!!!

Zucchini !!!!

Pickin' Pickles

Saturday, Stephanie and I went to the Summer Garden and picked ripe tomatoes (8 or 10), pickling cucumbers, and Jacob's Cattle beans. We had a bag full when we left. Yesterday, Magun and I shelled the beans and Stephanie and I pickled cucumbers...dill pickles anyone? They should be ready in a few weeks. We have 4 quarts so far. Next will be Half and Half's and then Bread and Butters. Here are some of the quarts from yesterday....National Pickling Cucumbers, fresh dill, garlic cloves, peppercorns, and a magic bean!!!

Vacation Part 2

 The Summer Garden did remarkably well thanks to my watering friends. The Home Garden did not fair so well. In one week of vacation, the squirrels ate all the ears of corn and we pulled the stalks. Sunflowers are awesome. Cucumbers are growing great. We finally have some tomatoes and peppers in the raised garden., I fertilized the entire garden with Garden-Tone organic fertilizer hoping the boost in nutrients other than nitrogen might help. We harvested our first Silver Slicers and pickling cukes from the Home Garden and some Arkansas Traveler and Brandywine tomatoes from the Summer Garden.

                                                         

Silver Slicers before harvest...

                                                                                                     


 Damn Squirrels---never again though-we will have the Fort Knox of corn.

                                                         



Sunflowers make every day brighter!!!

                                                         




And make everyone smile-How can you not with this beauty

                                                         

                                                             



Some Silver Slicers, Arkansas Travelers, a National Pickle, and a Yellow Brandywine from the first picking day.

Vacation

A weeks vacation brought some surprises. My father-in-law and Kathy were incredible in taking care of the Summer Garden. We have a lot to show for their hard work. Arkansas Traveler tomatoes are beginning to ripen. We had a Yellow Brandywine began its golden ascent to the basket and then the table. Luscious Corn is starting to show ears. Silver Slicer cucumbers are nearing the picking size and there are a lot of them. We will plant those again next year. National Pickles are doing great as well. Poinsett Cucumbers from the Organic Seed People are showing up well. Jacob's Cattle Beans are ripening but really slow now. Rattlesnake Beans are looking awesome. Streaks are coming on the pods. Still no Kentucky Pole Bean pods yet but I hope them show up soon. Okra is getting big and should flower soon. I believe there is going to be a lot of okra. Mini cantaloupes are still on the right path. I have finally seen a Black Beauty Eggplant starting to flower. No watermelons yet but we still have hope. This is a true test of what will work and what will not. Mother Earth is Great Teacher. Now, with a little reflection time while adding another row on the Florida Weave or weeding before netting the corn I can ponder all things green. Also, we visited Amish Country on vacation and I took a bit of time to look at the canning choices there and I am looking forward to a canning class at Whole Foods with my dear sweet daughter, Luba, who has a gourmet touch. And Stephanie bought me an Amish straw hat for the summer. Here are some pics from the Summer Garden yesterday-

                                                                                                     
                                                                                             
                                                                                                       
Magun with a streaked Rattlesnake Bean




















   
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Rattlesnake Beans getting their stripes

Kentucky Pole Beans come on and give us some pods

Okra getting bigger and flowering soon I hope

Finally some Luscious ears-

Poinsett Cukes--

Arkansas Traveler Tomatoes on the vine--That's what's for dinner tonight

Yellow Brandywine-the first one-good eatin' this weekend

Three tomatoes $1, Three ripe tomatoes $2, Three ripe tomatoes with Magun's help-PRICELESS!!!

Organic

The idea of growing organically is and was a great idea. The earth is ours to give to the generations of the future so we need to do everything we can to protect it and our kids. To see the array of seeds and products available for organic growers is remarkable. Frankly, there are so many vegetables, herbs, and flowers, I didn't know where to start, so we shot for some "normal" varieties and some unique ones. High Mowing Organic Seeds is a great supplier and a great catalog to use as a resource. Uncle Jim's Worm Farm is a great place to help with those Red Wigglers. Annie's Heirloom Seeds is a great source as is Seattle Seed Company. We ordered from all of them to start and the seeds have been just what we wanted. We have been using Garden Tone and it has worked wonders. The seeds were started on Happy Frog Soils and it truly is a happy soil. Think about getting a catalog and just looking around. If you want the address or website, juts let us know. Enjoy the hot weather and ripening the harvest!