A Little Fun in the Garden...{June 2021}
If that one doesn't get @dandays laughing, I don't know what will. He's a sucker for an eye-catching cover photo. I think this one certainly qualifies. Though I know @riverflows will get a good giggle, as well. Gardening has plenty of ups and downs, so I think it's important to take the humor where you can get it. Because you never know when the squirrels are going to come over and eat all your tomatoes so that you almost start to cry... 😉
It is obviously time to share the fun of what is growing at this point in the gardening season. A lot of things have started to blossom as we get into the heat of the late spring/early summer here in Atlanta. We still have another few weeks to a month before we really get some good harvests, but there are some items already bearing fruit.
First up is my crazy Zucchino Rampicante in the cover photo. As I mentioned in my last food post, we only just recently looked up what variety of zucchini we planted. Once the plant started vining out versus staying more in a bush form, I went back to check my seed packets to see what we really had growing. This thing is a true monster (in the best way possible), so I am getting excited to pull off the first squash to give them a taste. If they are trellised they will grow straighter, but otherwise will curve almost like a trombone. Which is why they are also called Trombone or Trombocino squash.
My patty pan is also looking hearty, though I did just trim back a good bit of the foliage. Like many other fruit-bearing plants, a bit of pruning can help put more energy into growing the actual squash. I also realized we were getting a bit of blossom rot on some of the little squashes, which is also a sign that the plants are too dense for the pollinators to reach the flowers. Hopefully a bit of a haircut will mean more of these tasty morsels.
The cucumbers took a while to take off as usual, however they are getting going now. We planted more lemon cukes like last year and some more traditionally shaped heirloom cucumbers. @dksart decided to try some in containers on the porch so they can just ride up the existing lattice as a trellis. Hopefully the containers are big enough to allow them to flourish. We do have more in the garden beds just in case.
I just found the first wee little baby on one of the plants in the garden bed, but it looks like the ones on the deck are close to flowering, as well. If we can't get anything else to grow, we can almost always get cucumbers!
We've got tomatoes fruiting, but I'll wait until they really start popping to take more pictures of those. I am quite excited for the watermelon plants to have started flowering. We're letting those vines take over the strawberry bed that is now done producing any fruit. I chose a Georgia heirloom variety (Georgia Rattlesnake) from Baker Creek Seed Company in the hopes that it would do well. Fingers crossed for sweet, juicy watermelons in a few months!
We also have other melons (Golden Jenny) and pumpkins (Jarrahdale) starting to creep along the outskirts of the garden. The pumpkins are a bit further along, but the melons are starting to push out some leaves. There's just too many amazing things to try growing to have enough room in the beds!
I can't finish without sharing another of my plant babies. Teensy beans are so stinking cute! Well, I think everything is cute when it's this tiny, but there is something darling about the beans. It was a rough start getting these up past the seedling stage with the pests, so hopefully we get at least a modest harvest. I also have a few plants going from some of my Christmas Lima Beans from Rancho Gordo. As usual, I couldn't tell you yet which ones these are, but hopefully we'll figure it out soon. Gotta love surprises!
Thanks again to @riverflows for keeping @simplymike's Garden Journal Challenge alive and well. I'm going to go wash off the sweat from my latest pruning endeavors and check out what's growing with my Hive buddies...
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Why don't you harvest some of the zucchini flowers and stuff or tempura them?
Yes! I wanted to leave the first ones for the bees, but definitely need to pull some off for us while the short season lasts. :)
Good to know about the squash leaves! I'm learning so much from all of you.
I have to worry about squirrels eating my tomatoes?
Funny, concise, and informative, my favorite kind of post.
We learn a little bit more every year, so happy to pass along whatever tidbits I come across! I actually think I may need to trim back even more because the patty pan leaves are really dense. My boyfriend put a lot of compost in that bed, so that may be part of why they're so happy.
I hope you don't have to contend with the greedy squirrels like we did last year! Perhaps they were doing a little Covid hoarding like humans were hoarding toilet paper? I'm going to try to keep my tomatoes better thinned out this year to see if that helps. A local friend said he had never had the problems with them like he did last year, as well. They didn't even wait until they were ripe-just snitched the green ones right off the plant. At least I can always count on some gorgeous ones at the farmers market, but hoping we can actually get our fair share this year, haha.
I'm hoping my cats are keeping the squirrels at bay. But the enclosure would be tough for a squirrel to get in as well. This year, the first thing I did was a good fence.
I would imagine the cats do help a bit! We don't have any pets so nothing to keep the critters on their toes, haha.
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What in the organic world makes you think I would laugh at you blowing me a kiss?!
I heard about what you and Pura talked about and you heard it from me first. Don't just talk about it! 💖
Your secrets safe with me 🤫
That ain't no kiss. 🤭
I know, I know. Gotta reconnect over some timing. About to get my 🍑 handed to me next week covering sessions while a few other trainers are out of town, but then I can think again.
And thank goodness Mother Nature is my surrogate...
Unquestionably the most creative use of the peach emoji ever!
What sort of evil cliff-hanging comment is that ? Do we have to fill in the blanks ourselves?
Cliff-hangar? You act like Hollywood's my stompin grounds.
The girls are conjuring a weekend beach trip for all of us. Pura and plants were on the phone the other day working out details, that was my way of sayin don't drop the beach ball.
Oh man, that was poor! Wish you'd either lied and given me something rather more salacious or just left it in the air at the mercy of my imagination!
Anyways, hope you and your good lady are having a wonderful weekend and best wishes to the pair of you :-)
All inclusive nude beach in Rio De Janeiro where sundials are few and valley's are plentiful you ungrateful bastard!!
Appreciate that dude, thank you. We've been property shopping lately, about 8 days straight, that shit's exhausting. We decided last night we just hang out at the pool today and chill. Happy Saturday to you and yours as well. Got any plans this weekend?
Thank you too mate, sounds like a perfect Saturday. Here in Thailand, as the wife is an OT dealing with kids and works from home, it will be the usual Saturday of autistic 7 and 8-year-olds from 10 while 4, so it will be a usual wonderful surprise to see what they get up to! Will it be painting the Mona Lisa on my kitchen door with a jar of Nutella or obsessively making national flags out of Lego before dumping the lot down the toilet? Who knows, but whatever happens, its always fun!
Not much else going on as Bangkok is still in partial lockdown but "It'll be reet" as we say back in Yorkshire :-)
You just brightened my whole weekend.
Don't go anywhere, I may need you to do it again one of these days.
As long as you have crops as good as this one, you will have better dishes like what you know how to make. I love the cover photo, it's so funny! :D
I am happy to give everyone a little laugh! Very excited to share what we end up making with these. Just a little longer and dinner will be served. 😉
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Oh goodness, that's the best thumbnail ever. You do make me giggle, and it's much needed too! Love it. My neighbours grew the tromb - bone - cini or whatever it's called - I had so many zuccs already that I ran a mile when they offered me some!! They are worth growing because they look so darn awesome though, right?
Nice way to get round the 10 image rule with the collages, well done you!
I agree, baby beans are just adorable! I've never had success with watermelons but I try every year.
Such delight, reading this, as I shiver in my Aussie winter garden!
Music to my ears
I think it might even top the toddler-sized fennel photo. 😜
Yes, those zukes. Can't give them away when they're going nuts! Have you ever tasted these yet? I don't believe I've ever tried eating one, so curious how it will compare to the traditional squash.
Really hoping for a few watermelon! We've only ever had one grow to full size, but I know they can do well here. I had a client who got over a dozen off one vine a few years ago, so fingers crossed.
And I think I was pretty close on to the 10 anyway. 😂 But I think the collages do work well when you want to share a few photos of the same plant but not take up so much blog space!
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Wow those zucchinis look juicy and tempting and your beans look super cute as well. That is a lot of watery veggies and fruits there, summer is really here. #gardenjournal.
It really is that time of year! So much abundance, you can't help but be excited by it all. 💚
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Look how nature give us food. Thank you for sharing.
The best kind of food, as well! Thanks for stopping by. 💚
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Ha! Got to love garden humor! That looks like an interesting zucchini to try - how did it taste?
There is always a bit of envy when I look at folks gardens down south where they are miles ahead on the gardening season then here where I just put out my bedding plants and I've got a few seeds germinating - but one thing with our long days when things finally start growing they really take off!
Love your garden and thanks for the chuckle!
You can't help but laugh at nature's humor, right? We haven't tried any yet, but I think that large one is probably about ready to pluck and cook. I'm quite excited to see how it compares. Supposed to be slightly less watery than traditional zukes, so I'll share when we give it a try!
It is so easy to get garden envy different times of year. Our strawberries here are just about done, so I get envious when I see them coming in up north, haha. I'll be looking forward to seeing your abundance as it starts to take off!
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Great post, loved the pics of the garden but hang on...
You have veggie squirrels there? In the UK they're only after your nuts! What next? They'll be insisting you become organic ?
You learn something new every day on Hive!
Have a beautiful weekend and may all the squirrels regret stealing your toms and end up with the shits!
Ha, those bastards were relentless last year! I caught one brazenly munching on a humongous green tomato right on the back porch. Taunting us.
Perhaps I should feed them an abundance of nuts and seeds to make them fat and slow so they can't climb up the trellises. 😜
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You have a pretty garden! I hope that you will harvest big juicy watermelons as they are the best to enjoy in a hot summer
Thank you! We're a bit all over with how things are planted, but it's always fun when things work out well! And yes, a fresh watermelon in the summertime--heaven!
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Everything looks like it's enjoying the warmer temps. From what I can see, your garden seems to be a few weeks ahead of ours. With the temps finally being cooperative and the sun out, our veggies are starting to pop.
It's funny some of the shapes that vegetables can grow into.
Have a splendid weekend.
Oh I imagine yours will catch up in no time! We may get warmer a little sooner, but it all evens out once summer sets in. Can't wait to see what you and @farm-mom harvest this year!
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I enjoyed your post and seeing all your wonderful plants growing so beautifully. Those patti pans look delish. I had a laugh at your cover photo too.
It doesn't really matter which season we are in around the world, there's always growth taking place with our plants. It's almost mid-winter here now and yet my plants are still growing, it always amazes me. Kinda envious of your garden, should be a brilliant harvest :) Enjoy
Thank you so much! It really is a wonder isn't it. Nature seems to always find a way. It's nice when you live in a climate where you can still get some stuff to grow in the colder months, but it never quite beats the summer for abundance!
lovely #gardenjournal it makes me happy to see other people happy with their growing plants. nice job taking care of them, they look awesome.
those squash varieties are pretty cool! I want to see how they look full grown, and the tomatoes too.
Perusing garden journal posts really does put a smile on your face! I need to catch up as I was a bit busy over the weekend to be able to check in. Amazing to see just how many different varieties there are of common plants. :)
Really? Squirrel thieves? We have so many in the garden but they seem uninterested in our vegetables! Maybe they are the mango-loving kind as we always see them jumping from one mango tree to another. And they can have their share... too many mangoes anyway!
Your garden is looking great! I hope you get a good harvest out of these plants!
Haha, yes, they never seemed to give us any trouble until last year. Hoping it was just a fluke! We know to expect the insect onslaught, but the fuzzy fellas are a new nuisance. I may just need to start filling the bird feeders again and lure them that way, haha!
And mangoes...so yum. Just getting into blueberries and blackberries here!
Brilliant! I think you'll get more than a few giggles from more than a few gardeners Katie! Your garden beautiful. Love the little baby first fruits. Yay for heirloom. And there's that grass again. I'll need to scratch through the browned fall leaves for anything nearing a gardening post. But happy dance for yours @plantstoplanks
I'm glad plenty of others have a similar sense of humor, haha! I took a group for a farmers market tour on Saturday morning and that was the big theme--you can get so many different heirloom varieties locally than you would ever find in the grocery store. A tomato is not just a tomato. So many amazing varieties to grow and enjoy!
I know it is a dance with you southern hemisphere folk. We're always making each other envious!
Hi @plantstoplanks, your garden is looking very happy. We are trying watermelon for the first time this year, fingers crossed. Another new one for us is sweet potato, fingers crossed. You never know until you try. So we will see.
Hope you had a good weekend, we baked here, temps were well into the 90"s, may be time to test the pond water, with my toes of course, that water stays pretty cold usually until the first week of summer.
Have a great week .
Yay to both watermelon and sweet potatoes! I love them both, so hope you get a good harvest out of each. I enjoy watermelon, but don't often buy it so it will be nice to enjoy in abundance if we can!
It's quite soupy here right now. Hot and extremely humid. Which means summer is 100% here, haha. That pond sounds awfully refreshing right about now!
Hello my friend, nice to hear from you. It's been the same here, hot and humid, sweat my buns off today working in the gardens. The pond is just a tad too cold for me just yet, but I did shower in our outdoor unit and it was great. I love washing my hair while looking up at the blue sky.
Although, I just took this pix and it's dark out now, but it is a great shower anytime.
Always appreciate your feed back, now get some rest will ya.
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Great thumbnail haha. It's so lovely to see an abundance of flowers on your plants. The tomatoes will be coming in no time! Absolutely love your garden and it certainly has exploded since your last update.
I know what you mean about tiny plants, they're just too precious and you feel like a mom with a new baby nurturing them along, hoping that they grow up big and strong. And then we eat them.
The food they produce...
from the plants...
Not the children. 😂
Fantastic post. Loved it!🤗💚
@fionasfavourites and I were speaking the other day about how impatient we get when the flowers start popping up! It's like, come on already, you flowered yesterday, I'm ready to harvest. 😂
Luckily these babies grow much faster than a human infant. And don't require quite so much work. No diapers at least, haha!
90 days, on average, to harvest, is a a quarter of a year. That's a looong time. #justsaying 🤣
Exactly! 😂
I can't wait to see what the end result will be for all those unique heirloom seed.
@NaturalMedicine supports wellness of body, mind, soul and earth on HIVE.
Come say hi via Lotus Chat or drop by our Hive Community - we'd love to have you!
Looking forward, too! I think we'll definitely have some of the zucchino rampicante to grill on Sunday when some family comes over. I've been waiting to pluck the first one to make sure we have it to share!
the type of plant you plant is also quite good. diverse too. Wish you luck
Thank you much! Very fun to have so many varieties to grow and try!
I thought blossom end rot was a sign of too little calcium, I had not heard that it was due to lack of pollinators being able to get in there! Huh. I'll have to keep that in mind. I am always too timid to trim back plants very much. 😅
That zucchini makes me nervous!
Your cucumbers have a head start on mine but at least my pickles are off to the races!
These things are nuts! 😂
I actually put some in with cukes for our first quick pickles of the season. Cheers to an abundant growing season to you and your veggie loving kiddos!
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