July's Garden (2022)

Last month I was concerned because there had been no rain.  July began with three inches falling during one night.  It didn't cause the creeks to rise because it soaked into the ground.  My garden sprang back to life.

Then the transmission went out on our car while we were fifty miles from home.  We almost didn't make it back.  In the country, there are no taxi cabs or cell service which makes for a stressful trip home in first gear. We discovered our car's transmission was only manufactured for one year so replacement parts don't exist.  The mechanic was able to find a used one in a junkyard in another city.  Since Bill works from home we are a one-car family which hasn't been a problem until now.  We sat at home for three weeks. I bartered tomatoes for rides to the auto shop. 

Remember how excited I was about the Dino Melon planted in the front corner of the garden? The seeds came from a pricey melon purchased at the grocery store during winter and there was almost no information about it on the internet.  It was something new and unusual.

It grew aggressively spreading under the Early Rouge tomatoes and attempting to cover them.  I dreamed of a bounty of exotic new melons. I would be the first to grow them in my neighborhood and could brag. Everybody would be jealous.

There were two melon plants side by side labeled "Dino". One had unusual lobed-shaped leaves and the other had regular melon leaves.  It was a mystery that deepened daily as both plants grew. Only time solved the puzzle.

While pulling the vines back so the tomatoes could get sunshine the whodunit was solved.  A roving bird dropped a bitter melon seed that germinated and then choked out the Dino Melon seedling.  Bitter melons have sprung up like weeds all over my garden this year and are aggressive spreaders. They are only allowed to live in the bitter melon patch in the back corner.  After hunting for the root, the stem above it was snipped. 

A few days later, the vines wilted, died and unseen hidden ripe tomatoes became visible.  I had no idea there were so many. The failure of the "weave method" of supporting plants by weaving twine into a grid also became evident.  Everything had collapsed under the weight into a heap which made searching for the tomatoes difficult.

There was a basketful of the Early Rouge tomatoes plus a real Dino Melon from the second plant was discovered beneath the leaves. 

The rest of the melons in the row haven't missed the bitter melon.  Instead, all have taken advantage of the open space and have even spread into the lawn.  Cardboard has been slid underneath so harvesting won't be as hard as it was with the tomatoes.  Eventually, I do learn from my mistakes.

Behind the tomatoes is the row with watermelons on one side and beans on the other.  The plan was to have the watermelon spread under the beans but they are a new variety (lost the name tag under the mountain of leaves) and are taller and thicker than expected. The melons have become lost in the undergrowth.

Luckily, I discovered the first one before it rotted and then trimmed the bean leaves back to find a second. The plan would have worked better if I had planted smaller beans.  

The first row in the garden beside the yard is working well.  

The Super Beefsteak tomatoes only grow about five feet tall leaving space for sunlight to reach underneath. The Slenderette green beans are beside them and assorted winter (vine borer resistant) squash are filling in the empty spots and pushing against the fence.  

The squash are also trying to spread in the other direction into the path but are being shoved under the tomatoes to make the various peas accessible for picking.

The third row over has the Orange Icicle Tomatoes which have given me so much trouble with blossom end rot. I have resolved but not solved the problem.  

Blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency.  Below is one week's damaged tomatoes even though the soil has been heavily amended with decomposed egg shells, calcium nitrate, compost, fertilizer, and they have always had plenty of water.

They are heavy producers and need a tremendous amount of nutrients. My solution has been to start giving them two teaspoons of 13-13-13 fertilizer and a half teaspoon of calcium nitrate every month. That would burn any other tomato plant but the Orange Icicles gobble it up. If they don't get it, they drop their fruit. 

Last month I declared that if they don't produce at least twice what the others have, they won't be planted again. Well, they have done just that. Even though they lose so much due to damage, they still outperform any others in my garden. My solution is to stop complaining and feed the hungry teenagers. When fertilizer is no longer available to buy, I will stop growing these but until then, I will be grateful for the massive amount they produce.

Now for two new tomato varieties that won't be grown again, Gilbertie and Jersey Devil.  Both are giant romas and look exactly alike. Gilbertie appears impressive covered in fruit but they have taken forever to ripen. Only a few have been harvested even though they were started inside and transplanted in the early spring. 

Jersey Devil's vines have grown huge and have fallen back over the carrots forming an arch.  Their soil was amended in the springtime exactly like Orange Icicle and they haven't received any more fertilizer. It's all vine and no tomatoes.  A few of the vines will be snipped above the roots (like what was done to the wayward bitter melon plant) to open up more space for the others.

If the garden was larger they might be planted again but real estate is valuable. They consume too much space and produce too slowly.

Another tomato that will not be grown again is the Purple Russian.  Three have died, and only one survived but it isn't clear why.  

The vines at the base turned black then the leaves wilted and died. Regardless, they are an ugly color, a deep purplish green that appears as if it has turned bad. They look rotten but do taste pleasant with a sweet fruity flavor. If you don't mind eating with your eyes closed, and losing 75% of your crop these would be great.

Up against the corral fence beside the field is my newest favorite tomato, Hungarian Heart.  It has exceeded all expectations. The vines are empty at the moment because they are picked immediately and used.

It was the second to ripen in the spring even though it grows huge fruit. They are mostly meat with few seeds and no hard core.  The skin is thin and easy to chew plus they have a mild flavor.  When sliced and dehydrated there isn't a tart, bitter aftertaste.  A strong support is necessary because the vines become heavy-laden. Bill is happy because they are round and red.

The okra is finally tall enough to be distinguished from the shelly beans below.  I am getting a handful every few days and am dehydrating them until there is enough to cook for a meal.

A single victory on the back squash row. The squash vine borer trap caught one bug...after she laid eggs on all the zucchini and yellow squash. She picked out which varieties were vulnerable.  Funny how a bug knows those things.  More seeds have been planted and home remedies are still being tried. 

The Python Snake Bean that I love and wanted to plant a garden full of this year kept vanishing without a trace after the seeds sprouted.  Covering it with a wire cage has stopped the disappearing act. Hopefully, it isn't too late to get a harvest this year.

Another new vegetable this year is the winter wax melon.  They are supposed to grow long vines, have massive fruit, and be able to store through the winter.  The first seed was planted in the spring, nothing happened so two more were shoved in the ground.  Finally, the first one sprouted and just recently the second two have come up.  It isn't off to a good start in my opinion.

The wires used for the hoop houses have been attached to the tomato support fences to create an arch over the paths for Lima beans.

The lower vines are being trained to go across the bottom of the fence underneath the tomatoes but above the sweet potato vines in the ground.  What could possibly go wrong with this idea???? If there is empty ground or a spot of sunshine anywhere, it needs to be filled.

The winter squash plants in the plot beside the field that are not susceptible to squash vine borers have made it to the fence. Soon they will cover it and take over the yard.

To deal with the stress of so much produce staring me in the face and stumbling over tomatoes on the kitchen floor, I have enacted "out of sight, out of mind." 

After harvesting the garden during the early morning hours, I sit on a stool on the kitchen floor and organize the vegetables into boxes.  All are checked for ripeness and then plans are made to handle whatever is the most urgent. 

Blocking Scooter's food and water bowls has been the only problem.  If he can't reach them easily, he drips slobber on stuff. Other than that, this system works great at helping to stay on top of the workload. 

The biggest solution for getting the garden and kitchen work done is to not have a car and be stuck at home. Nothing works wonders for checking things off the to-do list than not being able to escape. It is not something I recommend or wish on anyone.  After receiving the price quote from the mechanic, Bill retorted that the "new" transmission has doubled the value of our old car! I'm not complaining. We made it home safely and as of right now, have plenty of food.

Last Month's June Garden (2022)

Last Year's July Garden (2021)