Photo below - The moss roses have filled out nicely in the planter bench, I just wish the flip-flops would have been removed before taking this photo. OOPS.
Photo below - I figured I'd show you one of the green stinkbugs found on my okra - and yes..it's alive. It quickly met it's demise after this photo though! Ribbit, are you scared of these too? Ha!
Photo below - this is the seventh cucumber that has been harvested from the new planting, and I really like these straight eights. When they really start coming in, sweet pickle relish will be made from them. Yay! I bet it will go well on hotdogs later. Gonna have to find a good recipe for that, as I've never made it before. Oh well, there's a first time for everything.
Photo below - I'm really enjoying the burgundy okra that continues to yield very well. This will likely be the only variety grown next year. No more clemson spineless for me....
Photo below - Me and my wife have been picking at least a gallon of these Kentucky Wonder beans about every 3 days for a while, now - with no possible slow-down in sight. And to think, I wanted to pull them earlier in the year - due to the slow harvest rate at the beginning.... After I picked a gallon of them just today, my wife asked me "are all of those from today?" Ha!
Photo below - a close examination under the foliage of the sweet potato plants revealed several tubers, just like this one. I'll let them go until October 1st, and then they will be harvested. About 20 lbs. of these babies would be really nice, as the season begins to wind down.
In other news, I got all of the exterior walls covered with OSB today, and will start on the roof when we get back from the beach. I can't wait to get in it, because I really need a place where all of my stuff can be neatly organized. I have stuff piled up everywhere right now! Sheesh....The pumpkin puree' that was made last weekend turned out very well, and i'll be doing that every year, from now on. Pumpkins are really fun to grow, so they will be planted again next year.
With all of the tomatoes, okra, green beans, and grapes coming in right now, I have no spare time whatsoever for any relaxation. The tomatoes have to be cored and frozen every night - which occupies at least a good hour of my "leisure" time. Whew...
The running total of grapes harvested so far is 1 gallon, and they are washed - then frozen whole. This is necessary, due to the fact that they all don't mature at the same time, and I need every single one of them to make a nice batch of jelly with later. My only problem, is that some of them will mature on the vine while we're gone to the beach.....Dangit. This is gonna be close!
The okra is the easiest thing to prep, because they can be sliced into 1/2" pieces, then added to bags that aren't full yet.
Anyway, that's what's goin' on around here right now......
Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
16 comments:
So THAT's what a Straight Eight cucumber looks like. Mine have not been normal all season.
Your Okra is so pretty. My Kentucky Wonder pole beans just exploded in production too. I picked double the amount I usually get yesterday. I have taken to blanching and freezing them as I can't keep up with canning them.
Enjoy your time at the beach and try not to worry about your garden too much.
What's this - your going to the beach. I hope you have a great time. I think the shrimp festival is next month in Gulf Shores. Lot's of fun.
Glad to see you are still harvesting. Sweet potatos are so good.
Have fun. Becca
I hope my Kentucky Wonder beans start to produce. They have been so slow this year. I love the color on the okra. So pretty.
EG, the relish recipe I posted on my blog at http://annieskitchengarden.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-7-2009-relish-and-pickles-and.html
is really good. So good (and easy) I just keep making more! Dan made it with just cucumbers, no peppers or onions, and he said it was just as good that way. You can use more or less of any of the veggies, as long as the total cups stay the same.
Have a good time at the beach!
EG, I'm allowed to be scared of anything that jumps out of the foliage and into my hair. That's my inherent right as a woman. ;)
I'm still waiting on my second planting of cucumbers to flower. I should start those earlier next year. My sweet potatoes aren't popping up out of the ground like yours either. I dug around the other day and didn't find a thing. I sure do hope they're not all pretty leaves and no tubers, but the patch doesn't get full sun, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was.
I planted my first sweet potato crop this year.......I'm starting to get anxious. But I'll wait a little longer.
Rachel - yep, sure is!
Becca - yes! I need a vacation!!!Ha
Daphne - mine started out slow, but soon started going bonkers. Maybe yours will pick up production.
Granny - Thanks! That was exactly the recipe I was looking for.
ribbit - you're kidding me.....gawd! Women are such...girls! That doesn't sound good on the SP....I've got tubers like crazy, but they ARE in full sun.
conservativegardener - me too! I'll wait them out, though.
The burgundy okra looks beautiful.
Granny's relish recipe is a good one, it makes a nice sweet relish. I really need to get a preserving post done so I can share my toils! Your planter bench looks like a great spot to sit.
I tried to grow okra here in the greenhouse, but our climate is not hot enough, nor is the Summer long enough. Shame. YOurs look wonderful!
Your flower bench is beautiful...din't even notice the flip flops till you said something!
so impressive. My cukes are toast, although I am trying for a second planting as well as for squash. Tomatoes just starting to wake up again for fall. and my okra has failed me mostly.
Thomas - thanks! I like it because you can let it get really long, before it gets too tough to eat.
Dan - I'm gonna try granny's relish recipe, 'cause I know it's gotta be good! I often sit on the bench collecting my thoughts....
Matron - thanks. It grows very well in my location, and loves the heat.
ShawnAnn - thanks! I built it last year for my wife.
Bonnie - thanks! This second planting is doing better than the first one, and I may do the same thing next year.
Wow EG. Your garden is kicking butt right now! How big are those purple okra supposed to get? I thought okra was supposed to be picked at about 2-3 inches - those look large. I love it all. One day I'll get the time, motivation and skill to pull it off. Sigh...
Kate - yes, that is the case with most okra - but this variety remains soft, even at 6-8 inches long. (that's why I grew it). I bet your garden will kick butt next year!
Everything looks so good.
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