GARDENING - Looking Good!

I am really liking the Container Corn from Burpee. Although I did have a bit of a scare last week. Heavy winds and rain attempted to demolish my bales. Corn was laying over and I thought for sure I'd lost them. I gave everything a day to dry up a bit then I went out and stuffed them a bit farther down in the bale. As you can see, they are doing well. Here's a close up of Tassle and Silk:

Silk peeking out on that center stalk about 2/3rds of the way down.

Tomatoes are doing well:

If you look almost center of the picture, near the bottom you see an Amish Paste getting ripe. Now if they would just all do that at once so I can put up Spaghetti Sauce!

Plum Tomatoes finally setting fruit. They are also loaded with blooms. And when these fizzle out, I have a volunteer. This little guy came about when my MIL and I were tying up the vines, a couple broke off. I tossed them into the leaf compost in the center of the bales. 

Potatoes are going crazy. Even the Sweet Potatoe vines are spreading out.

Onions are starting to die back. They seem a bit small. Wondering if shoving them down in the bale a bit farther will help.

In spite of the heat and the tiny plants, I have green beans! LOL These will definitely be a fall replant in a couple of weeks:

Finally seeing Banana Peppers. I could use these to produce a bit heavier though as I only have 2 jars left in the stock-up.

2 yellow banana peppers peeking out at the bottom left.

My best producer this year has to be my cucumber plants. Both the Pickling and the Burpless are going gangbusters:

I am picking an average of 4 a day from each plant.

Last weekend I put up 11 pints of bread and butter pickles. I prefer them on a burger. In fact, The Rodeo Bar inside the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas TX serves B & B pickles on their burgers. Yum!

Since I'm the only one who eats pickles here, I'll probably gift a jar or three around the holidays.

How is your garden growing? Leave a comment and let us know how the Goddess is blessing you!

~Blessings

~Rain

GARDENING - Strawbale Improvements

Merry Meet, everyone!

Things are looking a bit better in the garden. I thought we were having a lot of rain but according to the garden not so much. These were taken a couple of weeks ago between rainy days. The potato plants are improving. The reds are even beginning to flower. The sweet potatoes (bottom right corner) are coming along nicely.

I took this picture of the cucumber plants (picking cukes are taller than the salad cukes) right after my mother-in-law helped me tie them up. Then I turned on the soaker hose. As you'll see next week, they were very happy for the drink.

First sign of banana peppers. Still not so much as a blossom on the bell peppers though.

The cherry tomatoes are looking pretty pathetic. The plants look healthy, just not producing much. I'm thinking aside from water, I am going to have to break down and feed. I've never had to feed my plants before but strawbale gardening is a totally different way of doing things.

I have peas! While these are nothing to really crow about, and will make better bunny food, I am pleased to see them producing. I will plant a fall crop and they will be much happier.. as will the green beans:

Regular tomatoes, both the Amish Paste and the Big Boys are growing nicely. I am seeing fruit on the Amish Paste. I'm sure the Big Boys will produce when they are ready...

I'll have pictures of the cucumbers I've picked next week. Was all set to make bread and butter pickles this morning (Sunday) to find I didn't have any celery seed. So that's on my list for Monday.

How is your garden doing? Too much rain? Not enough? Too hot?

Share your ups and downs with us.

Blessings!

~Rain