Whew, it's brutal out there right now! However, the watermelons are enjoying it - as the vines continue to get longer every day. Particularly speaking, the ones growing in the swc's previously occupied by the sweet corn. It's a challenge to keep the vines from growing out into the yard, but so far is quite manageable. Fruitset has occured too, and i'll just let them go until they can't go anymore.
Photo below - here's the swp's with tomatoes, watermelon, and cucumbers growing inside. They're doing "ok", but alot has been learned from this growing cycle. Probably the most critical thing learned is with the sugar baby watermelon, as a gardener can certainly grow a single plant in a 4 gallon swp, but it really needs it's own trellis for the foliage to spread out on. More foliage means more melons, and better quality fruit, too.
Photo below - remember the massive trellis filled with cucumber vines earlier in the season? Well, it doesn't look too impressive now. The reason is because as the corn was removed in the swc's next to it - several of the vines were damaged. Yep, I got a little too rough with the whole removal process. Of the total 12 vines growing in the 34 gallon swc, 5 were killed. OOPS! However, the remaining vines are doing well, and continue to engulf the trellis again, slowly but surely. Although 12 plants worked well, i'll probably reduce future plantings to around 8 - due to the amount of foliage involved for a trellis of this particular width.
In other news, i'm a little overwhelmed with everything going on right now - especially with work, and probably won't participate in next weeks' Harvest Monday. I do good to keep everything picked and cared for in the garden, and really don't have time available for taking photos everyday.
However, I DID take a photo of a pest the other day that stopped me dead in my tracks - which you will see in a few days. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
More things
The current batch of compost is doing well with the abundance of grass clippings available, and a core temperature of 141 degrees was measured a couple of days ago. Due to plenty of greens and warm outdoor temps, this composting cycle will be a cinch.
Other than black cherry, the tomato production has ceased for the moment. That's ok - our counter in the kitchen floweth over, and we'll be eating those for quite some time. Powdery mildew is beginning to affect the leaves on squash and cucumbers, but i'll most likely just not attempt to fight it. Afterall, we really don't need anymore for the year.
The past few nights have been spent studying for my state hvac contractor's license exam that will take place in 7 days, so any spare time has been alotted for that. With all the money invested in getting ready for it, i'd better pass - that's for sure! Personally, I feel that it's a complete ripoff - but isn't everything, when it comes to the air conditioning industry? I know so.....
Anyway, that's what has been going on around here. Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
11 comments:
Your cucumber vines look incredible! Really nice!
When one can grow as well as you do, I guess you can afford to lose a vine or two. Or FIVE! Goodness. A few weeks ago, I was trying to train my cucumber vine to climb up my trellis and accidentally snapped off one female flower with a teeny tiny baby cucumber attached to it. I almost cried! Ok, not really, but I certainly cried out OH NO. That was before I found out that the cucumber vines produce these female flowers rather abundantly, and all of them probably don't get pollinated anyway. At least that's what I told myself to make me feel better.
Looking forward to your pest photo post soon. I so enjoy your pest series. Also, good luck with the hvac contractor's license exam!
Wow, what an honour to see my name, JC, appearing on your blog. Thanks! It's nice to read about your gardening activities! Keep sharing and treating us with tales from your garden!
Wish you a great weekend ahead!
Everything looks great EG! Now study for your test...you need that license! My profession is/was construction management...so I know what you are talking about!
Everything looks really good and I know you will do well on your exam. Good luck. I am getting some heirloom tomatoes that someone has too many of this weekend and I will be trying the self watering containers instead of just plain buckets. Thanks for the information.
I know that feeling of not keeping up, but you're a better blogger than I am. Everything looks great. I only wish I had compost like yours!
Good luck on the test -- I'm sure you'll be terrific.
meemsnyc - thanks!
thyme2garden - i've still got several more vines scattered throughout the garden, so it wasn't a big deal. I hope you like my pest post!
J.C. - think nothing of it. I'm glad to have you as one of my readers.
Robin - thanks, I should do ok on it, hopefully.
Cynthia - I hope the swc's do well for you. They work pretty good for me.
stefaneener - it's getting pretty hectic around here, and i'll just try my best with the garden. The test is more important...
Good luck on the exam!
Really nice blog page. I agree, it's too hot right now, but fall will soon be here and I'm looking forward to building a new and improved cold frame to keep those veggies coming all winter long.
Have you ever heard the old saying 'Curiosity killed the cat!" I noticed that one person at our plant swap in May was giving away a lot of these kitty litter tubs. I see you have your veggies planted in them. Looks like it would take a lot of soil to fill one of those tubs. Do you poke drainage holes in them, like you do for wintersowing flowers? Must be some big holes needed to keep stuff from rotting from too wet of a soil. Can they be reused the next year? What about the soil, can that be reused?
Betty - i've made self watering planters out of them, and re-use the soil and containers each year.
Post a Comment