Lordy, has it been HOT! The entire western half of the United States seems to be cooking itself. It seems only fair that we get June in August since we're having August in June. And a very hot August at that. I won't hold my breath.
I thought I would have to water the garden this morning, but when I woke up, I found that it had rained 1.4" overnight. Hallelujah!
I'm now able to harvest more than lettuce. The 'Yukon Gold' potatoes were ready for digging yesterday. As well as a few of the 'Norland' red potatoes.
I must say, the 'Norland' spuds are good, but the 'Yukon Gold' are delicious.
This is the first year I've planted green beans, and I chose 'Calima' for its long, thin shape. I've harvested a couple good messes already, and there are more to come. I kind of wish I'd planted another row a couple weeks after the first one, since there will obviously be plenty of time before fall frost for them to produce.
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Calima'
I planted three types: 'Round Tropea' (red - first time planting); 'Stuttgarter' (white); and Sweet Spanish yellow (first time planting); plus a row of 'Zebrune' shallots. After having been pruned by deer earlier in the spring, they seem to be coming along okay.
The Charentais canteloupes are flowering and spreading out between the rows of marigolds. I caged the tomatoes a few days ago, but it was too hot to keep working and cage the canteloupes.
It finally cooled off enough after the rain that I was able to get them caged as well. Since the weather last year was brutal on cucurbits, I didn't get any cucumbers or melons, so my experiment of masking the smell of ripe canteloupe from raccoon temptation with marigolds didn't work out. I'm trying again this year.
I do hope it works, because we have another nice population of raccoons this year.
These plants were salvageable, but I'm having to bring all my potted plants into the cellar at night, and it's getting old. I quit trapping raccoons last year, because all I was doing was wasting gas hauling them off two at a time while the others kept up their destruction. I ordered three types of predator urine (coyote, bobcat and red fox), but so far neither the bobcat or coyote has intimidated them. I'll sprinkle more tonight after that rain and cross my fingers again. If nothing works, I hope the neighbors have as long a fireworks display on July 4 as they did last year. After all that noise and commotion, I didn't see any more raccoon damage. Unfortunately, I can't afford a display like that, or I'd have an early celebration every year.
Celery, kohlrabi and lemongrass seem happy.
'D'Elne' celery, 'Early Purple Vienna' kohlrabi, lemongrass, 'Cardinal' basil
The lettuce always looks good until it bolts. The arugula bolts quickly, so I have to stagger plantings to have any to harvest with the lettuce for my green salads.
I was worried about the peppers since it stayed so chilly last month. They're starting to do better, but I think they should be much larger by now.
Over on my compost heap, corn and pie pumpkins look good. The pumpkins ('Winter Luxury') are from seed I planted there after rabbits (or perhaps deer) ate the ones I transplanted. The corn is strictly ornamental - Striped Japonica - although it's not nearly as colorful as I was hoping for. Just looks like regular corn.
I didn't have good luck with pumpkins I planted there last year, but I presume they were having the same problem with the weather the other cucurbits had. Hopefully this year they'll all produce loads of fruits.
The grapes ('Golden Muscat') fruited generously this year. Last year was the first crop. It was a small crop, and the birds ate every single grape just as they were getting ripe. I covered the canopy this year with plastic netting, and put a few net bags over some of the clusters not under the netting. I hope I get to eat at least a couple grapes this year!
Time to go out and enjoy things before it gets too hot to bear again.
'Neptune'
'Our Lady of Guadalupe'
'South Africa'
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