July 13, 2010: Tie 'em Up, Rip 'em Out, Fence 'em In!

Tie 'em Up

We had a rip roaring wind gust or two yesterday, and I had raspberry canes and corn stalks down in the garden. I untangled the forest of raspberry canes as well as I could, and tried to partition sections off with rope to keep them from leaning over too far. I also (with the help of Mr. Granny) added a loop of rope around the corn stalks in the first barrel, which took the brunt of the wind. The non-container planted corn stood tall.

Half the raspberry bed got straightened out.

Sad looking corn got tied up.

Rip 'em Out

I ripped out the Contender bush beans this morning. They were still giving me a small harvest, and I could have cut them back by half and they'd have blossomed again, but I wanted the space to plant another variety of bush bean while there is still time. I had harvested over 14 pounds of beans from that 8-foot double row, so I certainly got my money's worth from one packet of seeds. We're getting enough Fortex pole beans for our meals right now, and I have several more varieties of bush beans growing, but I have another packet of an untried variety to play with.

Out with the beans.

Most of the broccoli is also getting ripped out. There just aren't enough side shoots to warrant taking up so much space. The plants got huge this year, the broccoli heads not so much.

Fence 'em In

Technically, we didn't fence 'em in, but we did erect hoop structures over the two lettuce beds, and I installed the lattice so that I could plant and harvest without removing it. It worked fine to shade the lettuce when I just supported it over the tops of the beds, but I had to remove it every time I wanted to cut or plant lettuce, and it was bulky and heavy. By covering only the west end and part of the tops, it allows morning sunlight to reach the plants, yet shades them during the hottest part of the day. Most of the lettuce had grown leggy from too much shade, some had bolted. The Red Sails is really holding its own during the heat. I have several varieties started on the window sill, so I'll be pulling most of these mature plants rather than cutting them back.

Elsewhere in the Garden

I've lost my garden fork. I looked everywhere for it, and asked Mr. Granny if he'd seen it. He said I probably left it in the garden and something grew over it. I hope it's not under here....


The squash, both summer yellow crookneck and winter butternut, have taken over this area of the garden. I can't even get back to the tomatoes without going through the shed and out the back door. I see lots of baby butternuts on the vines!

There are flowers back there....somewhere! Look, Daphne, some of the zinnias escaped being eaten by the bugs!


The Black Cherry tomato has reached the roof. I had to get out a ladder yesterday, to reach the top and tie it to the stake.



I'm really beginning to wonder if this Sungold came from saved seed that reverted to a parent plant. I don't think Sungolds are shaped like these.


Talk about The Little Engine That Could. How about The Little Clear Pink Early That Could! This little gem is only 34 inches tall, and has more than forty full sized tomatoes on it! I hope it tastes as good as it performs.


Before I came in from the garden today, I picked tonight's dinner.


Those sweet and sticky barbecued chicken wings were really good, served with all the freshly picked, pulled and dug fresh veggies. The corn came from the store, but was fresh, sweet and local. I hope I have room for a piece of chocolate zucchini cake. I made two of them, with fudge frosting. I made two loaves of zucchini bread, too. And put a bunch more green beans in the freezer. I love summer's bounty!