July 26, 2017 Harvest report

I have been keeping a log on my calendar since July 10th.  I have also made so much zucchini bread: cocoa (turned out a bit dry), yogurt, blueberry even with Almond flour (since I did not have oatmeal flour) and then the standard (the works, as I call it).

I made refrigerator dill pickles that I will let sit until I return from The Philippines although I feel like I should make more of those.  I also made Stevia Bread and Butter pickles.

I froze green beans, roasted beets.

Here is the count:
4 peppers
still getting lettuce until I pulled it all our on July 23 (still have some in the refrigerator, not washed so hopefully will keep)
Green beans, not many, sadly. They got overrun by the summer squash and cucumbers and whoever smashed the garden on July 15. Weird.
15 zucchini, a couple big ones that got by me but the rest or more normal size
5 summer squash
Tomatoes are ripening. I took those with blossom end rot and put them in a bag with a banana and hope I can salvage some of them.
7 beets- all roasted and frozen. I want to make this feta/beet salad sometime
20 cucumbers

 My Monday picture on Instagram

 Monday night (24th)- tired but decided to make caponeta and pickles

 Could not find "pickling spice" so took this picture in King Soopers and I had all the spices so sort of made my own.  The jury is still "out" on the pickles. I have to wait until Aug 10th

Tuesday I chased 3 rabbits through the yard. One tiny one seems to live near the garden. Has not done damage that I know of yet.

July 24, 2017

I bought some fish emulsion as Laura suggested that after it seems some children got into the garden looking for a ball and smashed the yellow squash.  They have bounced back a bit.

The beans were also smashed and I've had a pretty weak harvest in those.

I have sprayed the Neem Oil on the Zucchini leaves so no mold this year.

Been a bit discouraged about the tomatoes.  Why did I get blossom end rot yet again?  I gave the spray; I gave the plants "milk" as well as the tums treatment (watered down milk and smashed 2 tums in a gallon of water).  I picked the green ones that look like they may be developing the rot and put them all in a bag with a banana.

All in all, happy with the 12 zucchini, 13 cucumbers, 2 yellow squash, 3 beets and green beans so far.

A tiny rabbit has been in the garden but I've not noticed a lot of damage at this point.

The flowers are doing pretty well. The wildflowers near the AC have been pretty. The geraniums in the pots are just not thriving and I think it is because I don't put new good soil in there and there is also some styrofoam. Not doing that next year.

 The grass has some weird grass growing near the Baileys but it looks good from this vantage point. The cucumbers have killed some grass and I think the bunnies in the front have peed on the grass and done damage. Tom put fertilizer on it on July 12 and by July 21, the grass had grown so much that I asked Roger Madsen to mow it for me. He was shocked the lawnmower started as it is old. He works on lawnmowers. Tom does not want to get a new one as he keeps preparing for a move. Nothing imminent (for the last 10 years.)

The rabbit, a weed, milking tomatoes and the jungle out there July 11, 2017

I went out to the vegetable garden early this morning and lo and behold a rabbit ran under the huge zucchini leaves.  Scream!  I yelled and chased him and found where he was getting in.  More chicken wire is needed.

So there is this terrible weed in my flower garden but it is locked in there with a nice perennial and I can't get it out.  This reminds me of the wheat and tares story in the Bible.

So I am leaving it there.

The big news is that I am giving milk, yes, milk to the tomato plants.

http://yougrowgirl.com/tomatoes-like-milk/

Very interesting link sent to me from Laura Flanders

There are 5 zucchini growing. In the morning, I want to give them a big more water but the bees are active and I certainly don't want to disturb them.

I am still harvesting lettuce, gave a bag to Joan today. I keep it covered during the day.

July 6 2017, update and things to remember

First of all, I need quality potting soil and cannot put those sponge things in there anymore.  I think they destroy the soil. I just need to get more soil.

The marigolds in the pine tree garden are just not doing well.

I hate rabbits and squirrels.

The lettuce and snap peas are still doing okay. I do cover them in the morning (lettuce) but it helps that they are not in the afternoon sun.

Love the day lilies. Wish they lasted longer.

The zucchini and cucumbers and there is yellow squash and beans in there....doing well. I see a lot of bees and very hopeful.

A weird thing though.....edamame just did not grow, first or second crop.

I pulled out some lettuce and put spaghetti squash near the beets who I hope are over their fungus.

Now for the flowers

 I put the lemon balm and parsley near the house in that spot where I cannot grow anything. And the pansies---trying to keep them alive

 The soakers in the NE garden really are making things grow.

 so fun to have impatiens

 Not sure what these are on the back fence

 I hope these roses survive.....given to us by the Perrys

 I think I needed more petunias

 The bell flower is a perennial and this one is new but I have another

 Hope this hosta makes it.

 Trimmed all the petunias and hoping for some new flowers

 This lily really did not bloom this year

 But these are but the marigolds

Durn rabbit but hope the other lily will bloom