Last weekend I took down my bamboo tepees with what was left of my summer tomato plants after having been ravaged by tomato hornworms (see earlier post with pic of Gozer, the destructor) and stinkbugs. I couldn't do any spraying because of the ducks and bantams in the garden.
In discussing our tomato plants, Jeff Moore (who bought his plants at the trade school nursery, too) and I decided that the variety of large tomato plants we bought didn't produce as much as we wanted and expected them to. The grape tomatoes did fine, but the others were smallish and none too plentiful. I think they were called "Amelia". The heirlooms I planted in August have made nice plants, but aren't fruiting as much as I expected. I need to fertilize.
I harvested tons of basil of different varieties and trimmed my rosemary plants saving those sticky, delicious-smelling cuttings, too. The basil plants are rebounding nicely from such a harsh cutting because of the rain, and the okra has gone NUTS with the tall tomato structures (which had been shading them) gone.
The rattlesnake beans I planted in August are producing like crazy! I'm getting a half pound to a pound a day! This is DEFINITELY the variety to plant! They grow from seed quickly, produce VOLUMES, and the purple striping on the beans make them easy to see and pick. Also, they don't have that "fuzz" on them, so they are easy to wash. Delicious and hearty, they'll be great for canning, too. I had planted more yardlong green beans, and they are coming along, too. They are even more delicious, but too delicate for canning. GREAT for stir frying. I've planted more of each for a great fall harvest (if the frost holds off.)
I've planted tons more purple hull cowpeas, too. I just LOVE these peas. I have put up quart after quart of them. I love the way they grow, but I just hadn't planted enough for our crew until now.
I planted some "superset" squash, too. I planted much earlier, but the ducks enjoyed eating the small plants and they were gone. Hubby bought broccoli and brussels sprouts plants - a whole flat each! We planted them beside the purple hull peas. I also planted beets, radishes, spinach, swiss chard, leeks, and carrots from seed. I'm so excited to see how this will do as time goes by.
I am going to spray now that the ducks and bantams are out of the garden, and add fertilizer to hedge my bets. I know some of these plantings don't match the "you should plant now" dates, but obviously, the rattlesnake beans don't know any better than to just grow and produce any way. I hope the other stuff is that way, too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Found your blog today while doing a search for R&N Farms in Thorsby. It's great to read about a fellow Chilton Countian who is endeavoring to garden and raise animals. I planted some late rattlesnake beans and they are producing bunches of pods right now. The late-season tomatoes are just getting ripe. My early garden, planted in April, was decimated by some kind of fungus, probably Southern Blight. I hope that your garden does not become infected.
I've been picking and canning from the "annex" like a wild woman. The rain has brought on the productivity you declared! The tomatoes aren't ripening as much, but okra, eggplant, lima beans, and believe it or not - all of our spring planted green beans - are still producing! I am running out of jars and freezer space, but not complaining. I just keep snappin', cuttin', and cannin'. This is gonna taste SO good in January!
Post a Comment