Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Harvesting something new

Here's most of what was harvested last week, and missing from the picture are several tomatoes that were given away to friends. What's new, is the little yellow colored melon in the back. It's something that I remember planting seeds for, but due to losing a few plants early in the season - the same location got planted with another variety. In the end, 2 vines were grown next to the same trellis - French Orange cantaloupe, and also this very rare charentais. It's called "Swan Lake", and is native from the orient. I can't wait to try it.



In other news, the squirrels are really taking it to the tomatoes. This happens frequently in times of drought, and we haven't had a significant rainfall in quite some time. Due to this annoyance and the fact that it's so brutally hot, I'm not going to refill the swc's anymore with water. Besides, I'm sick of them, and can barely stand the sight of one right now....

Also, the melons in the largest raised bed are almost finished, and most will be harvested later in the week. The largest picked so far weighed only 15 lbs., and I'd have thought for sure that it would have weighed at least 20. Oh well, it's not always about how much they weigh that's important. But taste is everything....

Take care, and happy gardening

EG

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11 comments:

The Japanese Redneck said...

I know what you mean. Sometimes its a love/hate relationship with my garden.

but on the other hand, I made a veggie soup last night with garden zuch, okra, peas and tomatoes. Just added onion, celery and bowtie pasta from the store. Quite good.

Shawn Ann said...

Very nice harvesting EG! I hope the melon is super good! I have seen a few ppl having trouble with squirrels and such! I hope they don't bother my garden! I get annoyed enough with all the other pests in the garden! Although probably one of my biggest tomato problems right now is my toddler trying to pick all the green tomatoes! lol

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

We spotted one melon that is still growing :o) I pulled what I think is the last of the tomatoes and after looking around I don't think we did too badly this year although I was expecting much more.

Thomas said...

Great tomato harvest, EG. My watermelons are not doing much of anything this year. I can't seem to get them growing beyond the size of a cantaloupe. I don't know if it's the weather but it planted them with plenty of complete and slow release fertilizer. Maybe I should start applying a liquid feed as well.

Engineeredgarden said...

Japanese Redneck - I wanted to let you know that I grilled some okra the other day....it was different - that's for sure!

ShawnAnn - the squirrels are just trying to survive I guess, but it's still annoying...

Gingerbreadshouse7 - I normally keep tomatoes growing until late September, but just decided to call it quits this year. Oh well, there's still lots of things to tend to in the garden...

Thomas - I'd lean more toward watering and amount of plant foliage being the deficiency on your melons....

Mrs.Pickles said...

Nice harvest! You'll have to tell us how that Swan Lake tastes. Never heard it before.

Daphne said...

That sounds delicious. You will have to give a review when you try that melon.

Shawn Ann said...

Of course as soon as I posted this morning and went out to the garden I found a half eaten red tomato!

karen (Back Road Journal) said...

Pesky critters! Your tomato harvest looks great. I'm still waiting for mine to ripen.

agwh said...

I've heard lots of complaints around here about squirrel- and deer-damage, but so far my garden has not been a target. I totally understand that tired-of-tomatoes feeling, though. You have more than we do, and finding time to get them all into jars is tough!

meemsnyc said...

Wow, look at all those maters. Totally amazing! Those melons look amazing.