HELP..... PILL BUG INVASION!!!

The pill bugs are taking over the bed where I have planted my purple pole beans! Last year we lost the pole beans to a hungry groundhog. I sprinkled diatomaceous earth in the bed yesterday when I noticed that they were eating the beans as they were popping up. Does anyone have a good organic solution to this problem??

Look at them munching away right in front of me!!

Tomatoes, Artichokes, Peppers, Peas & Little Cukes

The tomato plants are really taking off. Thirteen of the nineteen plants have tomatoes on them already! Two of the nineteen plants have yet to be planted. They are from the seeds that I received from Italy. I will probably plant them this weekend.

Tiffen Mennonite - Similar to a Brandywine

Eva's Purple Ball - This variety is very prolific and ripens early

Matt's Wild Cherry - a/k/a Garden Helper's Tomato

Long Winter Storage

This is the first time I have planted a winter storage type.

Imperial Artichoke

Thomas, I lied...this is one of the first batch of plants that I received. It is a bit bigger then your artichokes.

Serrano Pepper

The pepper plants are doing much better since I gave them a nice shot of fish & seaweed fertilizer. Thanks MojVrt for mentioning the fertilizer.

Little Marvel Peas

They are almost ready to pick....just a few more days!

Cucumber seedlings are coming up after only being planted 6 days prior to this picture. I was surprised to see them since we haven't had much rain.

Herb Garden

Well, the herb garden is already out of control! The one oregano plant was about 5' wide and starting to bloom. The one and only thyme that survived this past winter was blooming also. So, I got out the pruners and starting giving out haircuts!

I have one large sage bush, 4 varieties of thyme, cat mint, summer savory, chives, purple bee balm, winter savory, 2 varieties of oregano, lavender, chamomile, cilantro, parsley, marjoram, tarragon, rosemary, nasturtiums, a couple of Stella Dora daylilies and a hydrangea that my late daughter bought me for Mother's Day in this garden. I think that's it. I also plant basil, parsley & nasturtiums in the vegetable beds.

This is the out of control oregano after it's haircut. I am sure that I will have to cut it back several times before the season is over.

This is my sage bush after a trimming. I got a small piece from my mother's bush about 5 years ago when I moved here.

Some nice mint that I harvested for mojitos! I have 4 varieties of mint, all in pots. I will not plant mint in the ground. It's too invasive.

Some parsley that I dried in the oven.

I used the convection setting on low and it turned out great! I also dried some basil in the oven. That also dried well.  I always have a hard time keeping the color when I dry the parsley and basil.

Well, this surge in the herb garden got me started drying my herbs early this year. I have some tarragon, oregano and summer savory hanging to dry. I always forget to start drying the herbs until later in the season. I think this will lighten my work load during the heavy harvest and canning time. The herbs will probably be nicer too.

Cauliflower & less Voles!!

I am so excited to see that the cauliflower plants are producing heads! All all my plants have heads ranging in size from 1/2 inch to 2 1/2 inches. I was concerned due to the extremely hot weather we have been having.

Isn't that a beautiful site?

Alvin (the 90% blind cat) is finally catching voles again. He caught two in the past 2 days. I hope that no one is offended by this picture.

In-Laws Balcony Garden Update

Sunday afternoon we went over to my in-laws for a family picnic. The first thing I did was go upstairs to check on the plants. I couldn't believe how well they are doing. Two of the four tomato plants have grown over the top of the cages already!

3 of 4 tomato plants

He has one pepper already! These plants look better then mine. I think that he has a perfect combination of sun and shade up there.....or, maybe it was the person who propagated the plants :)

This is the swc container that my sister-in-law bought him for his birthday. He planted some eggplant that he purchased in that container. They are also doing amazing.

These are the 3 cucumber plants that I started for him. I did threaten to take them back....and give him seeds. I just direct sowed my cucumbers two days ago. I guess I will have to swallow my pride and come to terms with the fact that he will have peppers and cucumbers before me :)