August Garden Photos

The first of the beans has reached the 11 foot top of the climber.  Soon, it will be thickly covered.

The pumpkins, Queensland Blue (from Matron) and sugar pumpkins, are starting to spread out.  The other squash plants are delicata winter squash and pattypan scallop summer squash.  The aren't supposed to spread as much as the pumpkins. 

A few sunny days ago.

June Garden Progress

The Rattlesnake Snap Pole Beans have sprouted from the 6/16 planting.   They are planted on one side of the bean structure.  Big expectations for little beans - I really hope to see it looking like this post link later this year.

These are the Scarlet Runner Beans plant on the other side of the structure on 5/26.  They are ready to start climbing any day now, and then the fun begins.    

As of today, I have planted out all other seedlings into the garden:

• Queensland blue pumpkin, from Matron  (and follow her updates on a GIANT pumpkin she is growing this year)
• Delicata squash
• Pattypan scallop summer squash
• Sugar pumpkins

The pumpkins and squash are in the main garden beds vs the pumpkin patch.   If the vines go everywhere, I'll be okay with that. 

I planted sunflowers but only one sprouted.  I may try more.  However, I decided beets and carrots will come from the farmers market or Carpinitos this year.

Bean Structure Returns

 

The bean climbing structure is in place for one more year.  It blew over in a storm two years ago and I thought that finished it off.   We put it in place (without checking it too carefully) and expect it can make it one more year.    (It is made from two moveable fence panels the previous owners left here.) 

See photos in this link with the beans in place.  I've gone back to that placement, with it set in two beds and the pathway underneath.  Either way, it is difficult to reach the top of the structure, but it is just more fun with the pathway underneath.  See this link for it placed in one bed with the pathways on each side.  

The peas I started in the garage have sprouted.  They will go in the space between the bean structure and the chives (minus one chive clump).   This week I'll watch for a break in the rain to plant the peas and some assorted seeds.

The furthest row is full of lamb's ear (fuzzy), lemon balm and chamomile (bright green).  Hardly a weed can squeeze in so I'll leave it as is.  The flowers please the bees.  Borage is sprouting everywhere and I found two starts of anise hyssop by the bean structure.

No Petunia sightings yet.     She has lived in this lamb's ear bed in the past.  Now, it is so full she could have moved in and I wouldn't know it.

My Garden Looks After Me

What a nice surprise to finally slink out to the garden and find a little dinner (some weeks ago). Without watering (or rain) the beans are not so prolific, especially the runner beans. These purple climbing beans have produced just enough for dinner now and then. The tomatoes probably had too much shade from giant hyssop plants and not enough water for a bumper crop.

I cannot complain. I've left the gardening to the bees this year. ... and Petunia (the snake). They've done a fine job, just to their tastes.

Too many trips and interruptions this summer, but these years happen.

Another (fun) trip later in September and then a good fall garden sort out is on the calendar for October!

Beans

Yeah! The beans are climbing out of the garden chaos.
Now for the race to the top!

And we have had a Petunia (snake) sighting in the garden. I just hope she doesn't venture to the pond where the little frogs are sometimes venturing out of the water.

In the Garden

The new residents have been in the garden with me. It didn't take old Missouri long to find the catnip in the garden. He is around 17 years and doesn't seem to see well. Try to keep him in sight, though, and he is gone in a flash! He seems to remember how to find the garage door, at least.

The beans are starting to reach the bean climber. Really, this is the last year for the now wobbly bean climber!

Cindy (Cinders or Cinderella) is all about meat though! I think she is checking out a critter trail. I hope she doesn't go after the Petunias (snakes).

I'm trying to fit a little garden clean up in each night. While I've been occupied, it became quite the jungle. But that also makes for happy garden critters.

Squirrelling Habits

The foggy morning yesterday helped confirm we are working our way into fall. After not seeing any squirrels during those hot/dry days we had, we've been hearing them everyday now. In the garden, things have changed from watching the new growth, to managing the harvest. Like the squirrel, we'll want to have some tasty treats come January.

Tomatoes: In the last week, the tomato harvests have become more than we can eat each day. Cherry tomatoes may not be the usual cooking sort, but we've been enjoying them in pasta dishes. So, I washed these and put them in the freezer. This morning, I moved the frozen tomatoes into airtight (vacuum sealed) bags. I love the colors. Maybe I can see a Christmas card design in the next round of the tomato harvest...!

Potatoes: Two of the potato plants had died back so we dug up our first potatoes. The other plants are still mostly green so I guess we should wait a while longer before harvesting those. We'll have some of this harvest for dinner tonight. My friend gave me the starts so I don't know what type these are.

Beans: The green beans have been the hardest for me to stay up on the harvesting. Actually, the happy grower this year has been the purple climbing beans. After my big pick last weekend, I had many more that were the right size for picking. Yesterday, I picked, blanched and froze several bags full. There should be a few more rounds to go, but there are few blossoms now so there will be a final harvest one day.

Carrots: I also harvested two nice size, tasty carrots last night. While I did thin, I could have done more. Some may be too close to grow to their full potential. I'll be looking at them closely today to see if there are some selective harvesting I can do to reduce some crowding.

Pumpkins: Some of the pumpkins are turning orange already! It is usually a rush to get them there by the end of Oct. The early orange ones are a different variety than I've grown before, and probably more of a jack-o-lantern variety. I also have others that are still yellow and green.

There are signs of powdery mildew in places. This time of year, our weather becomes just right for PM. In the past, I've tried to delay the progression of PM by spraying with a baking soda mixture or cutting leaves. I may let it take its natural course this year and see how it goes with the pumpkins.

Bean Adventures

I couldn't put it off any longer. The beans further up the bean structure had to be picked. Can't say I put as much thought into it as I should have. Do you think the benefits of growing vegetables might decrease with each extra foot you have to climb to pick them?

It was a good idea to use a S-hook to hang the basket on the trellis and to free up both hands. Not such a good idea was deciding to take photos while I was up there. (But the camera was just there in the basket, as it usually is when I go to the garden.)

How about standing on the top of the wobbly, old 2-foot stepladder? It was easier to carry than the larger one! Oh, yes, in garden flipflops! This time with socks (sorry) since the feet were still complaining about picking blackberries in flipflops on Saturday.

And stretching for that last bean, several times? Maybe not a good idea. It's still there, below...

Fortunately, there are no injuries to report. And the dinner in process that includes the purple pepper, a pattypan squash, garlic, tomatoes & the beans might bump that quality decision making ability back up there!

Leading Beans

Some of the beans have climbed to the top of the bean structure (aka 10 feet tall). They still have some filling out to do. Lower on the structure, every vertical wire has 1 or more vines so many are still working their way up.

I like to check on them each day when they are growing so much. Some catch on quickly to the whole climbing thing. Others need a little guidance.

These are the first beans I've noticed on the climbers. The bush beans start a little sooner and we may be picking the first of them tomorrow. I planted all of the left over pole bean seeds I had. I can't really tell which is which until they grow a little more (other than the red flowering runner beans... and maybe the purple beans - this one is neither of those!).

Above, the structure is made from two movable fence sections left by prior owners - one is 7 feet x 4 feet wide and the other is 10 feet x 4 feet. We attached them together with hinges at the top of the 7 footer.

See this August 2006 photo to see a side view of structure.

Crimson Flowered Broad Beans

It doesn't take long to realize vegetables aren't just good to eat; they are also quite lovely. These are the crimson flowered broad beans Matron (from the UK) brought to our SAGBUTT swap (in Seattle). Here the group at the swap, also. She says she doesn't do flowers, but now we know why she doesn't need to!

And this is the other lovely broad bean that sprouted from the crimson flowered bean seeds! I like these flowers a lot, too, but wasn't expecting variety.

I also didn't realize these beads aren't climbers. They have a robust stalk that looks like it will support itself. I planted them with my climbing beans, though, and have to keep them from seeing the broad beans as a climbing stalk.

Matron, thanks for the seeds, flowers and future produce! How tall will they grow?

It's August?

August 2nd in the garden, a cloudy day good for some time in the garden. That lavender spiky stuff in the back, right hand side is Emily's catnip! It has to be 6 feet tall. See this link to her gardening start. Guess the secret to catnip is protecting it from too much love in its first season.

The peas are the clump in front of the climber in the far back of the garden. I didn't try to keep them climbing up the climber, as I thought they were done, but I still have blossoms. They are Sugar Snap peas. They grow much taller than the peas I've grown in the past. They took longer to start producing, but have lasted longer also.

You cannot really see the beans growing up the back part of the climber. Several vines are close to the top and they've now starting blooming (but have lots of filling out to do still, see here).

The only encouragement in the pumpkin patch is that I can see growth from this photo on Saturday to today! But see this link for Aug. 2, 2007! Pumpkins are only second to Sunflowers in my book. Will they make it to orange?

Tomatoes

Here are the tomatoes planted about the 3rd weekend in May, on their "plant out" day. We are running a full 10 degrees below normal highs, so they are still tucked in their window frame cloches even now. I don't have a photo from today, but they have grown and one has a blossom. It is supposed to be warmer next weekend, although I doubt we'll see much sun until after July 4th.
Pumpkin seeds I planted in the garage haven't sprouted yet. I do so enjoy the pumpkin patch, but it isn't looking promising! Some of the beans planted last weekend have sprouted. I need to go anti-slug them tonight as they look very tender and tasty.

Now I'm running out of photos from the days prior to the computer's self-inflicted permanent retirement, plus I left my camera's battery charger in Arizona. Haven't had time to solve either of those issues. I think a little sunshine would motivate me to action on both parts. Until then, it is just gray sky, and green everything else (from all the rain).

Beans in, photos stuck

Some travel and a stubborn computer are still holding off photos. However, Monday, I did plant bean seeds.

The tomatoes I planted out last week are looking good. I think the clue for when to plant tomatoes is when the volunteer tomato seedlings start appearing. Also, I now see regular volunteer sunflowers in addition to the red sunflower seedlings that appeared some time ago. Must be a sign that things are warming up, even if it is rather gray.

Goodbye Beans

Another year for the lovely runner beans is about over. And the hummingbirds have enjoyed them again, too (see a visit from last year here). The day I took this photo, some weeks ago now, I was using a ladder to reach the highest beans. The HB sat in the tree nearby and screeched at me until I got down. No blossoms are left now and the remaining beans are a bit tough. Not much longer and I'll be cleaning off the structure for the winter. The runner beans and the violet podded pole beans had good harvests. The helda pole beans quickly matured and I didn't seem to get them picked at the right time. Next year, I will planting fewer beans and see if can keep up with them better.

This afternoon in the garden, we watched the chickadees eating sunflower seeds and a hummingbird visiting the blooming flowers. We also saw another hummingbird at the fuchsias on the patio. I don't recall when I stopped seeing them last year.

Runner Beans Indeed

To snip or not to snip? The beans have reached the top of the 10-11 foot structure. Just let them keep growing or snip them back to encourage growth lower on the vine?
A photo in the evening light tonight. The structure is made from 2 movable fence sections left by the prior home owners. The climbers are helda (romano) beans with while blossoms, violet podded stringless beans with purple blossoms and scarlet emperor runner beans with red blossoms. We've harvested only about 6 of these beans so far. At the bottom of the photo are bush beans - romano gold and a French/filet type called cupidon. These we have been harvesting all week.

Recap: all beans planted May 30th. Seedlings were chomped by something in late June, and then looked like this in July. I fear we will soon be leaving beans on the neighbors' doorsteps.

Garden Residents

Doesn't this spider look like a bean seed with legs?
Just a month ago, I was concerned about something eating the beans. Remember this post, and this coffee'd bean post? Looks like they survived. They are blooming now too. Tomorrow, they'll top the climbing structure.

The garden may be in serious trouble now, though. Tonight, I startled a very small rabbit in the grass. Emily dived after it, it went in the broccoli and I grabbed Emily. If he doesn't get greedy, or if he stays out of Emily's garden, he might have a right cushy life. I suspect it won't be that easy though, nor will he know when to stop eating. I am happy to share the broccoli at this point. As Petunia and friends seem to have moved to the pumpkin patch, the garden needs a new resident critter. I would prefer one Emily won't eat, though.

Coffee'd Beans

I appreciate all of the input following the bean incident. Definitely a pest of the slug, rabbit, deer, or dog variety (or Emily the cat?). Even with the rabbit's blog comment confession, yesterday I had decided it must be slugs as there were no foot prints or other disturbances. Out came some coffee grounds that have some slug deterring traits. Today: so far so good. The new growth of the uneaten plants hasn't disappeared and the eaten plants are sprouting new growth.


....But then this evening, this little guy was waiting just outside the garden. I can almost smell the beans on his breath. So if you're reading this, Wabbit, beware: You'll have some sleepless nights ahead if you decide to sample the coffee'd beans. And you're already twitchy enough.

Suspect Wanted!

To the nasty bean tip eater out there: Serious consequences will result if you return. You've been warned!
The beans at the other end are already climbing. I hope some more can make it to safety before the guilty party returns.

(Any idea who would do this terrible deed?)

Planting

Wow...how did the end of May get here so quickly!
Photos are on another computer so this is just a quick update.

Planted pole beans and one row of bush beans tonight.
Planted 2 zucchini seeds under a small plastic covering. The ones planted inside on May 13 didn't sprout, but the squash, pumpkins and cucumbers did. They'll all be in the ground by this weekend.

I'm picking lettuce for everyone who will take it as the broccoli is claiming the space for its own. Salads for lunch and dinner should be good for me too!

Digging Doubles

On Saturday, I started preparing the two new beds for planting pole beans soon. They are on the north end of the garden area. The land slopes down a little and a few test holes in this area last year indicated less top soil and more rocks. I've been putting off the digging but it couldn't wait any more. Sure enough, two loads of rocks came out of the two 4 feet x 6 feet areas I dug.
...Including this nice specimen, above. It will get a bath and be incorporated in the garden somewhere.
Next, two loads of the last of the sheep straw compost went in (had to replace all of those rocks with something).
Above, is the start of the digging with a trench down the middle of one of the 6ft section where the bean structure will go. Then, I also dug along each side of the shown trench. I don't do double digging in the most orderly manner, but similar idea. I remove about a shovel's depth of soil (here, thrown along the rest of the bed) , then loosen (& remove rocks) from another shovel's depth. Next, mix in compost and toss in soil from the next section being dug. It all gets stirred around a bit in the process. New beds get this treatment, but repeat beds don't seem to need it.
Now to let it settle. I started with the middle 6 feet (each bed is 22-23 feet long and 4 feet wide) so I can get the bean structure (laying next to the bed) in place before planting seeds. If you haven't seen the bean structure in action, check out this posting from last August. If you cannot tell, the structure spans the two beds and the path goes underneath it.

I'll work on the other areas in each bed over this next week (part of one done tonight). After I finish throwing around dirt, I'll tidy up the pathways too.