Posts Tagged ‘squash’

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Garden Blogger Bloom Day – August 2010

Sunday, August 15th, 2010
Swallow Tail Butterfly Loves Fragrant White Garden Phlox

Swallow Tail Butterfly Intoxicated by Phlox Nectar

It’s not hard to find blooms in the garden in August. The hardest part is choosing which to photograph and finding a time to take photos when the light isn’t glaring or the hot, easterly winds aren’t blowing.

This morning, before the sun began blasting out all the colors and while the air was still, I captured a few shots among the many glorious blossoms including, finally, capturing a photo of one my favorite sights in summer – Swallow Tail Butterflies. They are absolutely in love with my the fragrant, white garden Phlox all over my garden. This plant can become invasive — seeding and spreading underground. But, I am in love with its fragrance — as well as the butterflies that pollinate it!

d Hummer (top left) Buzzed Me on the Way to Scarlet Runner Beans (Right)

d Hummer (top left) Buzzed Me on the Way to Scarlet Runner Beans (Right)

Aroma-rific Clerodendrum: Jasmine-like Flowers; Peanut Butter-like Foliage

Aroma-rific Clerodendrum: Jasmine-like Flowers; Peanut Butter-like Foliage

White Anemone Just Opening; these will bloom into Fall

White Anemone Just Opening; these will bloom into Fall

Summer Squash Blossoms Lure in the Bees

Summer Squash Blossoms Lure in the Bees

Rattlesnake Pole Beans Climbing Repurposed Bamboo Cuttings

Rattlesnake Pole Beans Climbing Repurposed Bamboo Cuttings

Goji Berries Finally Blooming - Will We Get Fruit?!

Goji Berries Finally Blooming - Will We Get Fruit?!

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Posted in Bloom Day | 4 Comments »

How to Harvest and Store Basil

Monday, July 26th, 2010

The summer crops are starting to roll in. I spied my first cherry tomato flushing an orange-red yesterday. Last night, I pulled out the biggest atomic purple carrot I’ve ever seen. I picked our first cucumber right off the vine and sliced it onto our plates last night. And, this morning, as I ran the irrigation in stages throughout the garden, I took some time to pinch back our various basil plants.

Mixed Basil & a Cucumber Fresh from the Garden

Mixed Basil & a Cucumber Fresh from the Garden

Basil is a plant that is best harvested through pinching out the tips rather than cutting off lateral leaves. Pinching out the tips removes the growth hormone controlling other buds down the stem. This encourages the plant to produce more, bushier growth through the season. If Basil isn’t pinched this way, it will get tough and leggy as it forms flowers, then seeds, and then the plant will go kaput. (Although basil is good to prune this way, don’t assume all plants are going to respond to this kind of pruning. In most cases, this kind of pruning is actually bad for plants like woody shrubs and trees.)

The genovese, lettuce leaf and fine verde basils I harvested this morning were washed, spun and placed in a freezer bag. As I continue to harvest basil through summer, I’ll continue to fill the bag. During the winter, I’ll be able to grab a fishful of freshly-flavored basil for stews, spaghetti and other dishes. No, it won’t hold its beautiful green color for salads, but I do believe it tastes better frozen than dried. Between freezing fresh basil and making pesto, which I will also freeze, we’ll be able to reach into the freezer for the basil-y summer goodness even during winter storms in December.

Oh, and the cucumber in the photo? Well, that’s the second one I’ve harvested this summer. It’s chilling in the fridge. There are several growing on our vines in the greenhouse. By continuing to harvest them young not only to do I get to enjoy tender, sweet cukes right away, but the plants will continue to throw energy into producing new flowers and more fruit through the months ahead. More on cukes and squash in the coming weeks!

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Ankle High Corn by the 5th of July

Monday, July 5th, 2010
Tasty Homegrown Corn - A Good Year

Tasty Homegrown Corn - A Good Year

We’ve had good corn growing years, and we’ve had not-so-good corn growing years in our small urban space. Two years ago, we were gorging ourselves on delicious, home-grown cobs. Ironically, we hadn’t even planned to grow it that year. I simply ended up with leftover starts that we tucked into open spots in the parking-hellstrip. And, bam! We were enjoying sweet corn right off the stalk daily for weeks. We had so much of it, we froze much and enjoyed it throughout the winter. Then, last year, our corn was fit for feeding pigs — what little we harvested.

Because we live in a small urban setting and because we rotate crop locations, it takes some finesse to create a good corn growing spot each year. Last year we had a fairly good spot for the corn, but the stalks, despite being planted at the same time, simply didn’t mature together – with some started early in the greenhouse and a second round direct seeded into the ground later in spring. The plants bolted quickly in the early and incredible heat. Tassles and silks simply didn’t have their timing down, and the end result was stumpy, chewy, starchy cobs — and very few of them at that. I should have let them dry for the birds in winter.

There could be something to say for the varieties of corn I selected. But, I can’t attribute all the success to just the variety. In 2008 and in 2009 we grew F-1 Sugar Pearls. Each year they came from different sources and performed with very mixed results. So what about this year? (more…)

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Posted in Edible Gardens, vegetable gardening | No Comments »

Visualize Tolerance – Do the Eyes Have it?

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
A lovely garden scene marred by floating row cover

A lovely garden scene marred by floating row cover

Everyone has their tolerance level. Whether we’re talking how many weeds you’ll put up with in the garden or how many colors you’ll allow in your palette, there’s a level for everyone.

Today as I was working in my garden, I breathed a sigh of relief as I cleared away some of the ugliness I tolerate in the garden. And, I cheered for some of the beautiful results produced as a result of my tolerance for ugliness.  I present these photos for your consideration. Tell me, what would you tolerate?

First, consider growing in a broccoli in a garden visited throughout the growing season by brassica pest known as cabbage moth (really a butterfly). To protect it, I choose to cover it with floating row cover. This cover makes it impossible for the adult butterflies to lay their eggs on my delicious broccoli, which their caterpillar generation munches voraciously. The row cover interrupts the beauty of the overall garden design. But…

…a peek under the hood reveals big, delicious broccoli without caterpillar damage…no pesticide required! Dinner anyone?

A peek under the row cover reveals bountiful, pest-free broccoli

A peek under the row cover reveals bountiful, pest-free broccoli

After taking a peek at my drool-worthy broccoli, I decided to explore a few other eyesores in the garden. Having just passed solstice, we’re already on the slow march to winter. Shorter days are already happening. Cool season crops are under scrutiny for harvest. Warm season crops are beginning to make headway. It’s sometimes a juggle to stay on top of it all.

I decided today’s 75F weather was enough inspiration to dismantle the hoop houses around this year’s 3-Sister’s+ garden. I add the “+” because this bed not only contains the corn, squash and bean components of a 3-Sister’s garden, but it also has chard, lettuce, sunflowers, onions and marigolds. One area is also a bit overrun with lime thyme, but the bees love it. Once they flock to that favored flower, they’re likely to take a peek at the other flowers nearby — like the squash and beans! (more…)

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Posted in Food for Thought | 3 Comments »

Growing Birdhouse Gourd Rewards

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Last year I endeavored to grow a gourd in hopes of creating birdhouses and water dippers and other fun crafts from the fruit.

Birdhouse Gourd Seeds

Birdhouse Gourd Seeds

As it turned out, I had very mixed success.

I began by planting seed purchased from Irish Eyes. I planted about a dozen in sterile soil in the greenhouse, and only one germinated. I coddled that baby along until it was warm enough to move it out in the garden where I planted it to grow along the wire fence mixed with scarlet runner beans, sweet pea,  and butternut squash vines. A vision of loveliness, I imagined. And, truly, the combo was beautiful and fragrant and somewhat rewarding. But, I won’t be growing the gourds again.

Read on to learn about the on-going rewards that came from growing this plant as well as why I don’t intend to grow them again. (more…)

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Posted in birds | 2 Comments »

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