A garden update

Well, I realize I’ve been away a while. But, I want you to know that I’ve been busy! The acupuncture and physical therapy are helping me get on with my life. The pain isn’t gone, but it’s lessened. So, I’m keeping at it! And I’m so happy to be in my garden again…

The peppers are thriving in this heat. Above is a Cajun bell pepper (spicy sweet!), Anaheim pepper, and red hot chili pepper.

I also have red bell peppers, mammoth jalapeño peppers, and sweet banana peppers. They’re just not producing yet.

The Amish muskmelon in doing well, but I do have a mound that didn’t germinate. Rats! Also above is sugar baby watermelon.

I love summer squash. In my garden are black beauty zucchini (left) and yellow crookneck (right). 

I saw the first blossoms forming yesterday! (middle) Look closely at the base of the stems.

 

All six of my black beauty eggplants (left) germinated this year. Yay! And the lemon cucumbers (middle) are coming up nicely. But, I must say, the Homestead tomatoes (right) are enjoying a glorious year. I’ve never seen them do so well. I’ll always have some of these in my garden.

Also in my garden are Brandywine, Rose, Green Zebra, Cherokee Purple, and Gold Medal (left to right). I have Jubilee Yellow as well, but the photo didn’t make it. There are two of each variety above, and 9 Homestead tomato plants. I’m gonna be up to my ears in tomatoes very soon!

 

Just look… above are clusters of Homestead tomatoes. The plants are absolutely covered in blossoms. Yay!

Oh, my! Here’s my Jubilee Yellow (left). I knew I snapped it! Along with Clemson spineless okra (middle) and Contender bush beans (right).

We planted 10 (TEN!) rows of pole beans. The only economical way to stake these babies was with large wooden stakes and twine. The stakes are about 6 ft. apart, and the twine is ran between each stake, one foot off the ground, and up the stake at one foot intervals. Very inexpensive and easy to do. Be sure to use strong nylon twine and thick sturdy stakes for this – those beans will be heavy.

       

I don’t know if you’ve noticed how dry the ground is, but it’s D-R-Y. We’ve been irrigating a couple times a week, but it just doesn’t do the job like a good rain does. We’re praying for rain. It’s been 2 weeks since we’ve had a good rain, and we’re having 90+ degree days already. You can see our Trucker’s Favorite corn in the middle photo above.

I’m amazed at the difference one month makes in a garden. Just look!