The compost pile was turned over, too - and I managed to add some of the high-dollar grass clippings to it, and water it as well. I've got some really big plans for the composting system in the future, as you will see in a few months. I'm gonna need a bunch, because the growing medium in the sfg boxes has shrunk pretty bad, and also the beds will be taller next year. Although 6" is ok in some climates, it's not here - and I'm aiming to go deeper. Maybe 13-14"? Maybe then, my garden will produce as well as Granny's.
Me and Granny have an on-going friendly competition of who can have the highest harvest total for the year, and as you can see....she's taking me to the woodshed right now! I tell ya....I'm at quite a disadvantage, because she has like 50 more years of gardening experience, and also twice the size garden that I have. Does anyone think that the crazy engineered garden can become "the little garden that could"? I'm actually having alot of fun with it, and everytime the number increases over at granny's blog, I think to myself "dangit". Instead of cole varieties this fall, only warm season veggies will be grown. The new plantings of squash and cucumbers should be producing a harvest sometime in September, and I hope they do well for me! But seriously, Grannie's garden is producing like mad, and I'm happy for her! She should really have her own tv program.
Anyway, I took some photos of the melons and such the other day, and hope you enjoy them!
Photo below - here's a little Mountain Hoosier watermelon that was recently supported with a knee high. As stated earlier, there are two growing now, and I sure hope they grow as big as expected. An 85 lb. melon would certainly be something to see hanging from the trellis, but I really think 50 lbs. is more ideal. I guess time will tell! Strong netting will be used to support them in a few days.....
Photo below - Sugar bowl watermelon that isn't getting as big as expected. The seed packet said 20-25 lbs., but I think 10-15 is more like it. After close inspection this morning, the tendril closest to the fruit has already dried up on 3 of them. Guess they'll be picked in about a week.
Photo below - Moon and Stars watermelon. I'm really not understanding the little bumps on the outer surface, so if anyone knows this is a problem - please let me know. It'll get some netting in a few days, as well. I can't wait to try this one out later!
Photo below - Cantaloupe (left), and "Cool Green" Honeydew (on the right). I had to give them both double support, because the wind kept making them fall from their slings. These two plantings have been somewhat disappointing this year, because there hasn't been very much fruitset. Only 3-4 will make it to maturity, and i'd hoped for 8.
Photo below - another sugar bowl watermelon. I've got 4 or 5 of these growing right now.
Photo below - The first fruitset on my pumpkins. This is one of the varieties that came from my friend Medo, and the packet was marked "Big Pumpkin '07". I sure hope it's a bigun'! 
In closing, I'd like to say that the garden is still doing well, and daily pickings of various veggies are still taking place. We have so many beans in the freezer right now, I kinda wish they would quit producing already. Oh well....they'll certainly be good this winter.
The first paste tomatoes were cored and frozen over the weekend, so they can be used for making sauce later. Homemade spaghetti sauce should be fun to make, and i'll get the wife to add some special ingredients to it. She's a much better cook than me, and the help will certainly be appreciated.
Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
15 comments:
Maybe when you have this competition with Granny you should do it by square foot. It would only be fair. And you might get a big boost with an 85 lb watermelon. Even a 50 lb watermelon would add a huge amount. I'm really glad I'm not in the competition. My northern garden just can't keep up - especially this cold year.
Excellent, EG! Those melons are looking great. I saw that the 8 inches I started off with wasn't enough. The 12 inches I have now are perfect.
EG, I am feeling as though some of those melons could use an 'over the shoulder boulder holder'. Wonder what size they would require?? ;)
I am very impressed with all the trellising. I have has zero fruit set on my muskmelons so far, they are just now begining to flower....not lookin' good here.
Best of luck catching up to Granny!!
By the time you get all your melons and pumpkins in it will a close race with you and Granny.
EG - from the looks of your garden you spend a lot of time in the women's underwear section of the store - LOL. You're a man who's comfortable with his 'hose! Awesome looking melons though. I'm envious of your garden, as always.
They look just great! I don't know how you could tell that people talk funny -- in my experience, Southern folks talk so slow that someone like me who goes at a million wpm wouldn't even be understandable, so you couldn't tell what my accent was!
Deeper, richer soil is a great idea, especially in a hot climate.
Oh yea, homegrown and homemade spaghetti sauce is the best...
Looking good, EG, even if Annie's Granny is kicking your butt. Don't feel too bad, she's kicking everybody's.
Man EG, it was such a pleasant surprise to hear your voice on the phone. Reminded me of your garden tour videos.
Looks like your garden is holding it's own against Granny. I think she's also at an advantage of having a bigger garden than you, so maybe you should do a per/SF calculation at the end?
Man those melons are getting huge. I still need to trellis mine, though mine are only nickel size.
I get that we speak funny here. Ditto for you, hehe.
Look at that fruit! I am jealous. I dont have one watermelon. I keep thinking I have some since they are stripy like a watermelon, but then it develops bumps and turns into a cantaloupe. I am not complaining, mind you. I just want watermelon *sniff*
The fact that you are even able to keep UP with granny is an accomplishment! What if you had the same square footage of garden? WOW! Good job there...guy with an accent! lol
Don't let EG fool ya, that "Mountain Hoosier" melon is really a big green balloon.
Eg, Your Moon & stars melon sure has a bad case of acne!
Don't feel badly about the cantaloupe. I have a total of three melons on six plants.
When all those watermelons mature, you'll be kicking my butt on harvest totals!
You sure do talk funny!
Wow, it's getting to be like a garden throw-down over here. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
You're both whupping us.
Daphne - I agree - lbs/sqft. sounds like the way to go. An 85 pounder is highly unlikely, because the melons just aren't growing as well as needed.
ribbit - I totally agree, and will make it deeper next spring.
Kelly - I really don't know alot about sizes of stuff like that, but one of 'em would require a pretty big one. Ha! Thanks, I enjoy trellising stuff. Sorry about your muskmelons....
Cheryl - I don't know....100 lbs. is hard to overcome, especially since there's only 1 pumpkin so far.
Kate - thanks! What bothers me most, is when a WalMart employee comes up to me and asks me if I need any help. Heh.
Stefaneener - thanks! It's pretty interesting when I visit California, because people always know where I'm from.
sb - I can't wait to try that sauce! We've never made it before, but there's a first time for everything. Thanks!
Sinfonian - lbs./sqft. makes it fair for everyone. It's a done deal!
JenGC - thanks! I want more cantaloupe, because Momma loves them. Oh well...I took her 3 watermelons today. Guy with an accent? Hey, I can't help it that everyone else has speech problems. Ha!
Granny. Granny, Granny, Granny....Now you know them ain't baloons! That moon and stars does look kinda weird, almost like a bug has pierced it over and over. I'll never be able to catch up with your overall total, but am in the lead on the lbs./sqft. Ha! Hey...I can't help it that you can't talk right...hee hee
June - A throw-down, indeed!
EG, don't forget to count your vertical sf! The only thing I grow vertically are the pole beans, on a 5' x 6' chain link fence, and it is only planted on one side, so I have a total of 30 sf of vertical growing space. I had some peas on the fence, but they didn't do diddly-squat.
You have such a good harvest of melons! My poor garden produced a lot of green and just one decent watermelon that I feared as stopped growing for some reason (the other one was apparently too dry or something and it split open :( ). What's the secret to your watermelons?
Granny is certainly growing one productive garden this year. She would be great for a garden show, certainly could teach me how to grow more then my measly 30 odd pound so far. All your melons are looking excellent!
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