"Dog Days of Summer"

Category: Ramblings | Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:18 pm

Here it is the "dog days of summer" and things are looking a little tattered. The squirrels are driving Ciara, our dobie, crazy tossing down filbert shells from nuts out of the tree and the shells are every where. The pumpkin vines with all their mildew have taken over the walk ways.

Mildewed pumpkins taking over ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

The garden is producing and producing and producing and I am ignoring, ignoring....well maybe I am only trying to ignore. I went out to check on the tomatoes. They were under cover of plastic to help avoid the rain showers and get the soil to dry out. It was working well... except. Even with a heavy layer of shredded paper and wood ash for mulch the slugs were climbing the vines and eating the tomatoes as they ripened. I decided I had to harvest the tomatoes which had a cascading affect on what I was going to do. I harvested most of the tomatoes leaving only the the Sweet 100s and Roma's along the fence to harvest later. Hopefully the picked tomatoes will ripen slowly so we can have them for a good month or more.

Then I pulled the summer squash vines and harvested the crook-necks. I am getting tired of the summer squash and the bloosoms weren't fertilizing with the extended cool foggy mornings. It was time for them to go. Now there is more space and better air flow for the brussel sprouts, and one last batch of summer squash to eat or give away.

a few tomatoes and last of the summer squash ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Sweet 100s and Romas Tomatoes ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

I planted out the broad bean starts.

broad beans before transplanting ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Newly transplanted broad beans ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

The spinach that went to seed continued to grow and produce gorgeous green leaves. I accidentally broke off a stem and took a bite. It was sweet with the cool nights and long foggy mornings. If only the slugs would quit eating the spinach and lettuce starts, but then again there is no shortage of produce. The brussel sprouts and all-season cauliflower plants are HUGE and we haven't pulled the beets yet.

I harvested the Hubbard squash and a pumpkin (another is on the vine).

pumpkin and Hubbard squash ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

But left the butternut winter squash that have hardened, (the vines have taken over the azalea bed and a large corner of the patio)

butternut squash vines taking over ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

lots and lots of yellow butternut squash ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

but gosh...there are the green beans...and of course the weeds.

green bean, cucumber and pumpkin vines amongst the cosmos ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

And for some reason I keep starting plants. Only a few are going to the plant exchange later this month. The rest...well I have started a ratty new bed an am quickly filling it in. I am sure I will find a place for them eventually.

( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

I think my morning work is done for today and I will sit and contemplate nothing for a while and enjoy the fall flowers.

never a word to say - just a knowing grin and wrinkled brow ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

out to the patio - past the fall anemone and ivy hedge ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

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Christer Johansson wrote on Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:45 pm:

Lovely! The colors _and_ the beauty is still there :)

Sjoerd wrote on Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:55 pm:

I really enjoyed seeing your fotos this time. They really give a good idea of yourt layout and how things are doing. It did my heart good to see those containers full of harvested veg.
It was also good to see your plants--just lovely.
I noticed that your Broadies are coming right along. I have yet to plant mine, as I normally put them out in Oct or Nov. Seeuing yours, really get me in the mood.
Tell me about Hubbard Squash. I don't know anyone over here that grows it.
What kind of season does it have, and do you eat it the same way as other courgettes?

Anyweay Jewell--nice posting.

Jewell2009 wrote on Sat Sep 05, 2009 1:28 am:

Thanks Christer for the kind words.

Sjoerd ~courgettes as I understand it are like our zucchini or summer squash (patty pan, yellow crook neck are some of the others) Hubbard is one of the many different winter squashes (pumpkins are the most popular) Winter squash are a little different than summer squash in that they were traditionally grown to be stored for use during the winter. They have different growing habits from courgettes and orange or yellow flesh. The extra-hard skins of Hubbards make them one of the best keeping winter squashes and with proper storage keep for 6 months or more.

This is the first time I have tried the broad beans. It is good to know that I can plant through October and into November. The corn is yet to be harvested and the rest of the tomatoes. I want to use them as a food and soil enrichment.

I am just beginning to research broad bean receipes. Sjoerd, do you have any you especially like?

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