Preserving

Sunday, July 15, 2012

The State of the Plots Mid-July Part 2

In the previous post "The State of the Plots Part 1", I went through Beds #1-4. In this post we will go through Beds # 5-8 and Plot 102.

Click on any picture to enlarge
This is Bed #5

In the front of Bed #5 are French Cantaloupe. I lost one plant so far and it looks like another one is on it's way out.

Behind the cantaloupe in Bed #5 are some more Pickling Cucumbers. They are struggling along just like the other cucs and just starting to produce.

The next in Bed #5 are two Small Sugar Pumpkin plants. They are very happy right now. Let's hope that it stays that way!

Following the pumpkins are a few leeks which I forgot to take pics of. They are struggling with this weather. Next are the cabbage. There are a couple of Savoy, Tet Noire and Red Acre. All of the heads are small and I have yet to harvest one. They were planted late.

This is where the spring Broccoli was planted. I sowed some Great Northern Dry Beans here and covered them with straw. These are starting to pop up too.

The Sweet Peppers are next in this bed. They are also much much smaller then the plants last year. I'm sure we will have enough to get us through the winter. At the end of this bed are two Zucchini plants which I failed to take a picture of. One was sown 2 weeks ahead of the other and are doing well.

Bed #6
The Raspberries and Blackberries are planted in this bed. They transplanted well. Hopefully we will get a late harvest of Raspberries. The Blackberries have some fruit and new shoots on them. Their harvest will be very very small as they were cut way back to transplant.

Due to the small size of the Blackberry transplants I was able to plant celery, onions and Purple Pole Beans in this bed. Next year I don't think there will be much space for any additional crops. The celery is really suffering due to our extreme heat and lack of rain this year. The onions are also very small.

The Purple Pole Beans are doing well and hopefully will start producing soon.

Bed #7 is the Strawberry Bed.
The transplanted strawberries are much much smaller then the roots I put in at the far end.

This is where the Strawberries transition from the transplants to the new roots. Boy, what a difference! They are even the same variety. Hopefully we will have a bumper crop of strawberries next year!

Bed #8 is divided in to 3 parts. 
There is Asparagus at this end. In the front I sowed some late peas where the Favas were planted. I also covered them with straw to hold moisture in so they would germinate.

In the middle of Bed #8 there are 4 Celery plants and onions. As you can see all of the celery is really struggling with this weather. It's a good thing I planted way more then we need to get us through the year.

The onions are so so small in comparison to last year. I really don't know if we will have enough for the year.

There are a few good size onions. But these are Walla Walla onions and they should be twice this size. I'm going to dice them up and freeze them.

The far end of Bed #8 is planted with another variety of Asparagus. I also sowed some peas here.

Last but not least is Plot #102.
Patti & I pulled all of the tall weeds in about 1 1/2 hours. Yesterday, I weed whacked the rest down. Now, we just need to get it tilled. Then we will put up the fencing we have accumulated and start planting fall crops!


22 comments:

  1. Our rain situation in Northeast Ohio seems to be the same as yours--the rain passes us by, or just leaves off literally a few drops to tease us. I love following your blog and watching your garden and plots grow. I'm jealous of all the space you have! No community gardens in my tiny town.

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    1. Thanks THP! The lack of rain and heat are really getting to me and not good for the garden. I had never heard of community gardens until I moved here. I am so happy I found one.

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  2. Robin,

    Everything is growing like crazy. Have you been getting cooler weather there? The cooler weather sure seems to help the plants.

    You and Patti have been working your butts off. The cleared plot looks great. Have you both layed out plans on what you'll be planting in this new plot?

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    1. Sandy, The weather has been pretty hot, humid and dry. Not as hot as your neck of the woods though!

      We did do a layout for plot 102. I'm going to plant cauliflower, broccoli, a couple of cabbages and peas. I'm not sure what Patti is going to plant. She is on vacation.

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  3. We haven't been getting rain either which is so unusual for us. Sometimes August hits us with a dry few week, but not that often.

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    1. Daphne, This dry weather is very unusual for this time of the year. Hopefully August won't be like it usually is. It feels like August now!

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  4. Oh for heaven's sake. You don't have a garden, you have a farm! No way am I going to keep up with your harvest, LOL!!! I must say, it looks absolutely beautiful.

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    1. I don't know about that Granny. Everything seems to be way behind people like you! My onions aren't going to be much. I will have enough celery since there are 24 at the plots and 7 or so at the home garden. I hope that I get at least 500 lbs of tomatoes! That will make for one Happy Italian!

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  5. oh my I thought your last post showed everything. There sure was a lot more left to show! The new plot is looking great and nicely weed free!

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    1. No this was a two part post. If you look, you will definitely find weeds.

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  6. Everything looks very very nice and green!

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    1. Thanks Jenny, It's been raining today....so, I will have a happy garden tomorrow!!

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  7. The garden is beautiful, so lush and healthy. Thanks for the tour.

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    1. Thanks Mac, I'm glad you enjoyed the tour!

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  8. I hope you get 500 pounds of tomatoes too, 'cause happy Italians make great husbands! We've been dumped on by rain twice this week. It's nice to have the garden watered and the rain barrels full, but the rain was so heavy that it likely washed away many of our new seed beds. I feel the same way about our onions -too small. We've lost several vine plants too. Others are doing alright. I really hope you have lots of success with your new strawberries. We're going to redo our bed next year. I think it's probably time to start seeding them. Hmmm. I should look into that soon.

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    1. I better get at least 500 lbs of tomatoes this year. Last year I had about 320 and that was not enough.

      It's been raining off and on for hours now!! Yippee!!

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  9. Thanks for all the pictures! You have a lot of gardens to keep up to!!! Wonderful job. Nancy

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures Nancy. Thanks a bunch!

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  10. Compared to our plot thiongs look to be doing well.

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    1. Thanks Sue, It has been a real challenge for both of us this year. You have had too much rain with cool temps and we have had a very hot and very dry season so far. We finally got several hours of nice rain yesterday.

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  11. My garden has suffered from the weather this year too. But for all of your concern, the plants all look like they are in good health. They are definitely in better shape than mine! Sadly though, I have the option of sheet plastic to help mine along on this chilly summer... not sure what you could do to help with the heat and drought. :(

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    1. I guess I need a giant shade cloth!! We did get several hours of nice rain late yesterday into the night. The garden is happy now!

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