The State Of The Vegetable Garden

The first week of June 2010.

Well I have not had to water it in quite some time. I see growth, more so in some things than others. It's the usual thing. My hot is 80 degrees, considered for a moment late in the afternoon. Those things that want heat like melons and peppers just sit there waiting.

Look at all those self seeded sunflowers. I love it.



The strawberries are blooming and making runners. The directions said to remove all the blooms the first year and well, I am just too busy. I'll have to suffer with berry production. I get a couple of strawberries a day now.



The beans are poling. This is Scarlet Emperor from saved seed. They originally hail from Chuck B. in San Francisco. When it blooms it is a show stopper and my mail carrier's mother-in-law requested seed after seeing them each week as she drives to church on Sundays. Yes they are edible too I had to tell her and are not grown just for the flower. The butterflies go nuts over them.



The tomatoes are caged and there are no signs of late blight. The first hint of late blight will demand ruthless action on my part this year. Nip it, nip it in the bud I say.



The potatoes are lush and could bloom any time now and began their fading away. They too could be hit by late blight, more so since they are from saved taters from last year's crop. I culled early signs of potato virus y, x or z, whatever, and have not seen any bad signs since. The second potato planting went in last week.

The poor cucumbers are in the cups in front of the potatoes. They are just not cooperating this year. I am getting about 30% germination from the seeds and if they do germinate they sit there acting like it isn't warm enough to suit them. We must have pickles. I will keep adding seed.



That bare spot to the right of the newly coordinated bean poles is the melon department. I really should give it up. Melons want heat and I don't have it. I even experimented with a watermelon this year. Perhaps I need to start saving seed from any decent melon I get and select for cool tolerance.



The sugar snap peas have been a strange disappointment this year. Just sulking when they should like the cool and be in full production by now. Two sowings of corn are up. Carrots, beets, turnips and parsnips are up. I have been eating radish. Those are easy. The squashes are finally beginning to show signs of vigorous life. I informed the executive chef that there was no need to buy salad greens until further notice. The peppers of course sit there waiting for heat.



And what about the wildflower surround? The climbing rose that won't climb, at the far east end in the trees, is blooming nicely. It does well for only half day sun at best.



Coreopsis and Ox-Eye Daisy are adding a strong dash of color for the passing travelers on the scenic byway. I wave a lot while I putter in the roadside vegetable garden. I like that the regulars see a person out there enough to help deter any covetous thinking.



Oh, the vetch. It comes in two colors, pink and deep purple and is most striking in bloom. It is a thug though and wants to smother everything in its path. I yank it with abandon knowing full well I will never be rid of it.



The roadside bed on the other side of my driveway is the prelude or exclamation point depending on the direction of travel to the roadside vegetable garden. Its wild theme blends well with the wildflower surround of the vegetable garden.

The eremurus are spiking, though two of them look to be lacking spikes. The hollyhocks are surprisingly still there. I expected them to be biennials. Chicory and verbena will be blooming soon. Ironweed grows tall to bloom late in the summer. The mum 'Sheffield Pink' is an ever expanding mound. Clumps of miscanthus grow more robust, safe, after two years of continuous division.



Overall, I think things are looking pretty good.