Garden Update

I said a few weeks back that I'd be complaining about the heat soon...and now I am. We were at 102 degrees today, so after an hour in the garden doing the absolute necessary, I decided to update you on what's been going on here.

The yellow squash are making up for lost time and I am now doing the frantic search for new recipes to make use of all the bounty. Today, I thought I'd be adventurous and make squash croquettes. This recipe could use some "improvements" so I'll play with a bit. My other half didn't mention calling Poison Control, so that's always a promising sign for a recipe. Of course considering that it was so hot today, I probably shouldn't have been frying ANYTHING in the kitchen, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

 

The tomatoes are happy and blooming away, I hope we don't have to many of these hot days, as this is something that we battle with here in Sacramento. Tomatoes tend to stop setting fruit at temperatures over 90 degrees. You have to battle to ensure consistent watering to prevent splitting and make sure the fruit have proper sun protection with their foliage to prevent sun scald (the fruit turning yellow in spots facing the sun). This year I'm trying to stay on top of all these things (almost time to begin the Horn Worm war).

The Ichiban eggplants have begun to bare beautiful glossy slim purple fruits. The Thai eggplants are still growing and have yet to flower. I can taste the green curry dishes and eggplant Parmesan now.yumm.

Once in awhile, we plant something or think we plant something and it grows to be something else. Or the plants got mixed up, or I forgot to label it. But, whatever...so what the heck are these beans? I can clearly tell these are beans and they appear to be pole. They are dark green with a purple hue on each end. Well the good thing about gardening is always the discovery of a hybrid breed or something that was dropped by the local wildlife. So...we shall wait and see and if we don't like it I'm sure the dogs will :).

Still working on trying to trellis the butternut squash.

 

This weeks Harvest

Yellow Squash

Broccoli

Strawberries

Green Beans

This morning..fresh strawberry smoothies..yuuuuuuuuum!

2 cups fresh strawberries

1/2 cup vanilla soy milk

1 cup o ice

1 tablespoon agave sweetener

1/2 cup frozen strawberry dacquiri mix

Blend well and enjoy!

In With Summer Out With Winter

Things are finally looking normal in Northern California.  We're having upper 80's low 90's and I couldn't be happier (Not that I don't reserve the right to complain about the heat in a couple of weeks).  I spent the weekend digging up my long over due cool weather spinach and chard and planting more summer fare.

The poor struggling Pinapple, Siox and Kellogg Breakfast tomatoes are finally happy and have grown in leaps and bounds.  This year instead of tying the plants to an overhead trellis, I decided to trellis them against the garden fence with twine and velcro. So far so good, the real test will be when those babies get heavy with 2 lb. fruit and the winds start whipping.

 I also noticed that we had our first little 'mator of the season on the Siox.

Now none of this would be possible without the activity of our little friendly pollinators.  We are lucky enough to live across the street from a local orchard that also keeps bees.  Now that the weather is where it should be, our yard is literally buzzing with activity (get it buzzing?).  Any how this weekend was especially active in the garden and I thought I'd give you a peek.

I thought I'd try my hand at growing winter squash this year. I usually have stayed away from winter squash and melons since they are such space hogs, but I thought what the heck when I saw the plants at my local nursery.  I figured I'd try growing them vertically and see how it turned out.  I only bought two plants so I figured this little structure would do it.

This Weekend's Harvest

Green Beans

Broccoli

Strawberries

Yellow Pear Squash

It's time to let the summer veggie recipes flow.  With all the abundant good things growing, I try to cook them all. I always end up taking bundles to the office for everyone else as well.  So, as I come up with good recipes for garden produce I will begin to share them with you as well.

On the organic front I am still going strong, I haven't had too much trouble with the garden pests.  I've been having snail stomp fests and beetle squashing session, but nothing overwheling yet.  I have noticed some little munching happening on the green bean leaves, but I'll be watching closely to any signs of a hostile take over.  The pups are still holding down the fort to keep any 4 legged or winged culprits after our prizes.

Now on the other hand we are fighting a losing battle with the local mole that's been torchering my lawn for the last year.  The smelly things you drop in the holes haven't worked.  Watering the lawn hasn't succeeded in doing anything but stressing the grass out.  So if anyone has any ideas that won't harm the dogs I'm all ears.

Mixed Up Seasons

Chard Harvest

It's been awhile, but gardening in California has been quite interesting over the last month in the half. We've had torrential downpours in April followed by overly warm "summer" days. We've had frost, thunderstorms, high humidity and of course earthquakes.

 

So gardening has been difficult. Cool plants have thrived into June, and up until Friday I was still harvesting broccoli, lettuces and spinach which are doing well considering they are usually toast by now. However, the warm weather veggies have had a very hard time. The yellow squash are struggling along and the tomatoes have just begun to take off. Green beans are doing great now, while my black eyed peas and dry beans are struggling along.

They say patience is a virtue, but this is ridiculous. This weekend we had temps in the 90's and suddenly my drip system needed an immediate overhaul ASAP to keep my plants from frying in 24 hours (this is usually done between spring and summer but I guess we don't get a spring this year).

In 48 hours (between Friday and today) my Bok Choi, Chard, and Spinach have begun to bolt.

Hopefully, summer is finally here and the summer garden can finally begin. Although I'm sure I will be complaining about the heat in the next couple of weeks.

Kellogg Breakfast, Pineapple and Sioux Tomato plants from Laurel's Heirloom Tomatoes (Great selection of heirloom tomatoes and peppers).

They finally made it into the ground May 15th (1 month after they arrived due to the late frost)

Squash struggling along May 15th

The new bean and tomato supports my husband built. A new idea for this season, let's see how it works.

We converted to a tumbler composter this year. I've found it to be easier to turn my compost however it is quite messy when the "compost tea" drains as you turn. Which of course the dogs LOVE to roll in (it figures, it's smelly and dirty).

The lovely Calla Lily that emerged behind the smelly compost bin.

The herb garden loved the wacky spring weather. (Thyme)