July's Garden (2023)

So far this month, the weather has cooperated well enough and there have been no major disasters in the garden. We are harvesting large amounts of produce as fast as possible at sunrise in an attempt to avoid the oppressive heat. Our time in the garden is getting shorter and shorter due to the temperature and humidity rising earlier. Afterward, I head to the kitchen to process the food until exhausted. Every day is like the previous one.

 After the onions in the strawberry bed were harvested last month, borer-resistant squash were planted and are already flowing over the edges.

The second raised bed has tomatoes with watermelons underneath and they too, are spreading over the sides and into the path between the beds. 

All of the watermelon, squash, sweet potato, and melon vines in this part of the garden are being trained (pulled) onto large tarps spread over the yard. This is to keep them from over-running the garden.

This self-planted squash appeared at the end of the green bean row and joined the others on the tarp. It appears to be some type of butternut.

This row of tomatoes with sweet potatoes below is a "don't do as I do but do as I say." I tried a new variety of tomatoes called "Red" which were fantastic according to the commentators on the seed site. Being gullible when it comes to new seeds, I couldn't resist. At first, they flourished, but then their leaves turned black with mold. I fertilized and treated them but nothing helped. 

Normally, something this diseased should immediately be ripped from the garden but instead I removed every leaf to force the tomatoes to ripen in hopes of saving some. When tomato seedling volunteers sprouted in the compost pile, I risked it and transplanted them right beside the diseased plants (another no-no.) There was no other place empty and more are needed to produce enough for winter meals. As of now, the transplants are healthy and blooming (a big surprise).  The "Reds" have not lived up to the hype.

Some of the chickpea/garbanzo beans have matured and are turning brown while others continue to grow. It is probably because the plantings were staggered due to low germination rates. All will be harvested this month.

Another new experiment is attempting to grow a few varieties of summer lettuce in the middle of the blazing hot summer. So far I have learned the seeds are hard to germinate in the heat, they don't transplant well at all, and they quickly bolt.

However, there have been a few successes like a handful of leaves which were made into a small salad. It is enough to encourage me to continue trying.

It is time for a report about the ongoing squash vine borer war. (Borers 1,000 wins to my 0 wins). 

So far this season, almost 20 squash plants have been killed even though I am trying all types of different remedies. This area has been replanted over and over.

Hubby built these PVC arches in the spring to hold the long squash vines because I just knew something I am trying would work to stop the destruction. They are sadly empty but will stay up in hopes of success. There is a solution somewhere - I will find it.

On the other side of the pepo and maxima squash varieties area, (they are susceptible to borers so are near the scent trap), are smaller recently transplanted yellow squash.  They are in the shade of the bell peppers, beside the walkway, and against the diseased tomatoes because I reasoned, if being nice to squash doesn't work, maybe I should mistreat them. I am trying everything - even being mean.

In the midst of death and carnage, one huge yellow squash has defied all odds and lives. It is flourishing and has produced enough squash for us to eat fresh and to add three quarts to my freezer for winter! I don't know which remedy worked or what happened and it may drop dead tomorrow but for now, I have yellow squash!!! I HAVE A LIVING YELLOW SQUASH!!! Does this count as a victory?

Last Month's June Garden (2023)

Last Year's July Garden (2022)