My squash situation has been almost embarrassingly bad. Several baby zucchini have started to form, and then turned yellow, withered and died. Considering the fact that squash are supposed to be extremely easy to grow, I'm kind of bummed that my plants have been so wimpy. I have fertilized the heck out of them, but I think the problem may be where I planted them. I suspect they need more sun. I think next year I will plant in the lower plot that gets the most direct sunlight. This would probably also help with the white mold problem on the leaves. I read on a new favorite blog, Homegrown Evolution, that the cold, moist coastal summer nights are tough on our squash plants.
On the bright side, I have had some nice tomatoes. They are finally ripening, and I am really looking forward to tasting a variety I am growing for the first time this year: the Green Zebra Tomato. Apparently, they are supposed to be kind of tart and are recommended for sandwiches and salsa. At first, I was worried I wouldn't be able to tell when they ripened, because they don't turn red or yellow like other tomatoes. But, I looked around online and read that Green Zebras turn a bit yellow-green when they ripen. And, they do. I picked one this evening and plan to try it tomorrow.
Here's an unripe one still on the vine. Aren't they pretty?
I have also harvested one of my favorite summer vegetables: green beans. Fresh picked green beans are so delicious, and these have been no exception. I am getting a decent harvest, although some of my vines got some kind of weird bug or leaf disease and conked out.
Sadly, there's been no corn harvest yet, and I'm getting nervous. The ants have put their little aphid buddies all over my corn stalks. I brought in some lady bugs, but they didn't really help. I think corn ears are wrapped up tight enough in their husks to be protected from aphids. At least, I hope so.
The okra plants never really got off the ground. A couple are still hanging on, but actual okra seem unlikely. The carrots are doing their carrot thing. I usually do fine with root vegetables. I also anticipate a couple more eggplants before the summer is over.
So, it's been the usual hit and miss summer of gardening. I am hoping that, with all my chicken poop compost, mixed in with the kitchen scrap compost, I will be able to get the soil in better shape for the Fall garden. Someday, I will have a big, fancy, productive garden like you see in magazines. Or, you know, at least a good one.
Squashes (unlike tomatoes) are not self pollinating and they need an insect pollinator such as bees and wasps. One way to attract them is to plant things they like; we've had good luck with basils, fennel and salvias. You're Green Zebra's are much nicer than ours, we've had a wet summer and most of ours succumbed to blossom end rot. But I can say (from the few that survived) that they are very tasty!
Thanks for the tip. We actually have a good number of bees in the back yard, but it's hard to say if they get over to the squash section when they're needed. Maybe I'll get out there with a Q-tip and see if that helps. That is, if some female flowers ever bloom!
I have Green Zebras for the first time, too, and have been wondering how I will know when they are ripe. I haven't picked any yet. I put my garden in late and I'm just starting to get ripe tomatoes. Today I picked my first Sungold, and I am in LOVE. I'll look for the turning of the Green Zebras now.
I had my first 6-egg day today. With any luck I should have 6 eggs just about every day.
My green beans are trying to grow to the sky! But only a few beans so far. Late on those, too. Hopefully we have a lot of warm weather left for all this stuff to ripen. I did pick a ripe watermelon today.
Hi! I found your blog via Green Universe. Because I love chickens and hope to someday raise them again in our backyard, I'm adding you to my blog list. You hve so much wonderful information on gardening and chickens!