Gardens Progress--July 25 2011

chards and collard greens

Jane gathering green beans

    The gardens aren’t doing too badly, and in fact some of the plants (Blue Lake Beans, Pole Beans, Swiss Chard, French Sorrel, Poblano Chilis) are doing great finally. While the heat is affecting everyone and all seem to be complaining about electric bills due to A/C, our biggest bill is the water bill for the garden—3 times larger than the electric bill and 4 times larger than the gas bill.  This has been a strange year so there isn’t the amount of production I'd hoped for...but a lot of the things just seem to be a month behind, so still hoping. Have to harvest green beans and basil today... yesterday was thyme and tarragon, and we're using the lettuces regularly. A few tomatoes--probably one or two a day—are ripening, but certainly won’t be canning/freezing any. So good...plus had 2 days last week 

poblanos--rellenos soon

when I picked 7-8 strawberries. Roy had them on his cereal yesterday morning, and we shared the bunch earlier in the week. Have used a few onions, used 3 heads of Chinese cabbage and then made a bunch of cabbage rolls and put them in the freezer. So while we're certainly not saving money, it's all organic and it tastes good, so hopefully next year will be better. It's also been a learning experience...I will NOT plant bell peppers, leeks, radishes, cabbages from seed, or peas again. The peas did okay but die back too quickly. I WILL plant basil, blue lake green beans, tomatoes, swiss chard, collards, onions, garlic, shallots again and add to the asparagus bed. Still awaiting results on the Purple Peruvian Potatoes and the Beauregard Sweet Potatoes as won’t be ready to

cucumbers coming on

 harvest for a bit yet.  Have rhubarb coming on strong and it's perennial, and the strawberry bed is doing well although I must surround it with aviary netting to keep the critters out. So, plant, watch water, weed, ,harvest, enjoy and learn....that's what gardening seems to be about for me .    

cabbages kohlrabi and nasturiums

     Roy and friend Gail's birthdays are Aug 2 15 and 13 respectively, so making plans for a Birthday Pie Day (both dessert & savory pies) and seeing if I can't gather friends and musicians together for a fun time and some descent music during it. Hope to have it outside on the patio...if we get a couple of major areas fixed. Guayo dug up a large flagstone so we have to redo that area and one other where the piece of flagstone

herb garden and xtra pots

 sticks up and I'm afraid people would trip over it. So keep that in mind and keep your calendars freed up for August 13, Saturday. Give me a holler or an email if you'll be coming. Good food, good people, good laughter and good music…what could be better.