This has been an unusual month. Something terrible produced something good. At the beginning of the month, I pulled a muscle in my back and became bedridden. In addition to working full-time, Bill took over everything including the garden.
He isn't a stranger to it but has only helped when I asked. For the first time, he was responsible for everything. He made the daily inspection trips to the garden, watched it change, learned to spot problems and decided when to harvest. The pupil became the master and I love it. Our conversations have been long and interesting. He now sees what I see and understands what I have been talking about forever. He sees the work involved and the rewards that can be achieved. I have a partner in the garden.
When I was able to sit in a chair and "supervise", he began clearing the spent vegetables and planting seeds for the winter garden. It was a blessing to have someone do all the heavy lifting.
This is the only yellow squash left and its days are numbered. The experiment to plant zucchini, spaghetti, and yellow squash under nets later in the season after the squash vine borers were (hopefully) gone, failed. It wasn't anything I did but something the seed companies did wrong.
I purchased seeds from three different reputable companies and everything had crossed. It's anybody's guess as to what they are now. They don't taste like spaghetti or yellow squash but more like butternut. Next year, I will buy all new seeds and once again try to grow zucchini, yellow and spaghetti squash.
The moschata variety (resistant to borers) squash bed in the front of the garden (which was the potato bed planted in the massive pile of horse manure in the spring) is taking over the yard.
It was planted late so it is unknown how much can be produced. It is impassible but if you peep under the leaves on the edges, hidden squash can be seen. This is going to be a surprising treasure hunt.
The first frost will arrive this month so it is time to start the fall harvest. For the first time, I'm excited and look forward to sharing the discoveries.
Your garden looks beautiful and I'm so glad you have Bill to help do the work. :)
ReplyDeleteIt has been a real game changer. He has always helped but this time I gave up and quit. It was impossible for me to do anything at all. He took over and it has made such a difference. He now can tell the different green bean varieties apart (I have 3). Also he can tell the taste difference and is able to identify the different tomato varieties, plus he realizes the uses for each kind (fresh eating, canning, dehydrating, or for sauce). I think he is enjoying himself (well, not when it is 90 degrees outside).
DeleteI've been thinking about you this week and wondering if you got any of the bad storms and flooding. I know you still have a lot growing in your garden! Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteI thought about you too! I remember you moved from North Carolina to Florida years ago. Florida is experienced with hurricanes but North Carolina, like Tennessee never has this happen. I think everyone was blindsided. Nobody though can really be prepared for something of this magnitude. It has been awful.
DeleteWe received a whole lot of rain and it is still coming down now; but, the ground was so dry it has all soaked in. The driveway didn't even puddle up until into the second day and the sink hole in the back field hasn't filled. The trees and grass are soaking it up. There were no storms or high winds, just steady rain for days now.
Hope you are making a good recovery glad your story had a good ending with your husband taking such an interest in the garden I hope he has found it so beneficial that it will continue. Sarah
ReplyDeleteOn his lunch hour today, he went to the compost pile and as he passed the garden, he noticed some dead bean vines needing to be pulled. He added them to the pile then decided to clean out the whole row. After that, he said he thought it would only take a second to rake it smooth enough to be ready for seeds, which he did. He returned to the house hot, sweaty, starved and told me we needed to spray for pill bugs before planting the seeds. I was fixing lunch and wondered why it was taking him so long. He is becoming a real gardener. We (gardeners) can't walk past anything without deadheading a spent bloom or looking for pests.
DeleteBill did a great job. Your garden is beautiful, I hope you feel better now.
ReplyDeleteI had my first good night's sleep last night and awoke refreshed and ready to roll. Bill warned me to take it slow but that's so hard! Who wants to be careful when there is so much I want to do! Seriously, I am being careful. Thank you for asking.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about your back. How good you've had a helper, to keep up with the garden, and not lose all that bounty. It looks great. That's crazy about the squash seeds. You've certainly had your share of squash challenges. Take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow squash were oval balls, the spaghetti squash didn't make noodles and tasted similar to a butternut and the Honey Boat Delicatas were covered in bumps; regardless of the mix-up, all will be eaten and enjoyed. The best part is that I will get to buy new seeds and you know how I love to shop for seeds!
DeleteOh no, sorry about your back injury. I'm glad you had a willing helper for a busy time of year! And you have plenty of squash to eat, hopefully next year your seeds are legit! Sounds like you are enjoying it anyway.
ReplyDeleteOh, the squash will be eaten. Nothing that has required so much effort to produce will be wasted.
DeleteMy back feels much better. I'm at the point where it feels fine so I forget and then must stop myself from automatically doing things. Being careful and going slow is not in my nature. Yesterday I was able to plant broccoli seedlings in the garden. They were tiny and it is very late in the season so they may not survive. It all depends on the weather. Well, I guess everything depend on the weather.
Your garden sure looks lush and healthy....how is your back now?
ReplyDeleteThank you for asking. My back is better as long as I don't irritate it which seems to be impossible. Yesterday I touched a door knob and oddly received a static shock. It startled me, I jumped and hurt my back again. I had to prop up on the couch for a few hours but then was able to get back up. The good news is that it is getting better and I have to just be patient and careful - two things I'm not good at!
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