Melons, Finally!

For the last week or so it's been tomatoes and nothing more. At this point I think 20lbs are going to go to waste which is not what I wanted. All of the references said not to go to big but I can say Patch was the perfect size even with the extra containers. Potagar may have been too big with too many tomato plants for our own good. 

Anyway after days and days of just tomatoes and some growth of the other plants but not much because its been unseasonably cool, first rainy, then hot, now cool. This summer has been the worst for a garden but like I was saying after many days of nothing to report I picked a watermelon. It wasn't as big as it should have been but it was ripe and sweet. Pretty awesome coming from a container. 

Garden Fall

Fell down the stairs...

After going out in the garden to check on things and harvest whatever was harvestable I took off my garden clothes an shoes and put on my slippers but I didn't put the backs on. I went upstairs to sort my goods into brown bags and the fruit bowl. I gabbed the brown bags I was going to keep for myself and started heading downstairs. I got to the first landing by the sun room door took my first step onto the first basement step and my foot slipped out from under me. Rather than squash my tomatoes I tore up my arm. That's how much I love my "babies" apparently. My right arm is swollen and scratch and my left arm has one scratch and an elbow scrape. We have so many tomatoes I should have let them get squashed but they were the Lemon Boys that everyone including my Mom loves. I'd gathered those for her so I couldn't let them go. 

My harvest of tomatoes, chili peppers, basil, and a cucumber. The 3 lemon boys I wanted to save over my "neck." 

Bowl of our goods collected over the last few days, not the lemons although I so wish. Pretty huh? 

Not the largest but the most painful and swollen of the injuries I sustained. 

Cantaloupe

Raised Bed Melons...

I took a look in the raised bed filled with just melons, cantaloupes and bush sugar babies. I wanted to see if there were any new watermelons, without holes, growing. I found one and I am happy to report it was hole and bite free. I guess reinforcing that fence, place in the fence, was the thing we needed. As I was looking in the bed for watermelons I found a few hidden cantaloupes, up high, supporting themselves on the tomato vines. The super sweet 100's spread out all over the place so it is only natural that the spreading cantaloupe vines would seek support on the higher parts without trellis support. We have 6 sizable and viable cantaloupes growing at least one foot off the ground, if not more, each. 

Largest to smallest going counter clockwise. Lowest to highest placement going clockwise. With the growth they drag down a bit, gravity and all! 

Cantaloupe in first stage growing on the now transferred, into the Patch raised bed, container cantaloupe plant.

Watermelon

Bush Sugar Babies...

The recycling bin watermelon container is overflowing with branches and leaves but it has only had very few fruits and the few fruits that have made it from flower to stage one fruiting all shriveled and died until now. We finally have a small plum sized watermelon that seems to be strong and continues to grow. It's very exciting to see the melons move forward in there containers. 

Cantaloupes...

The cantaloupes skin are starting to turn that beige color and have that rough texture. I'll post a picture tomorrow. I didn't have my phone with me as I gardened in Patch.

Hot Chili Peppers...

The pepper plant have tiny green chilies that are standing straight up. They are so cute. It's obvious that everything was dying for a few straight sunny days but sadly the rain is coming back. If we don't start to get sunny days more often and for stretches of time we'll loose the melons, peppers, and anything that required long hot days. I'm still hoping this summer will turn around.

Ready, Set, Fruit!

Picture Update on Fruiting Plants...

Our first quarter sized patty-pan squash. There are several beautiful squash blossoms on this plant but the patty-pan's haven't developed as quickly. The plant is about a foot wide and 2 feet tall.

The infamous Tomato-berry plant. It took weeks to grown a centimeter then it shot up a foot and stayed that height for another week and produced maybe one tomato. Now its about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide with at least 30 tomato-berries. The name describes the shape and size of this type of tomato, strawberry like.

Our first cucumber. One of many. The biggest of all. It is about 4 inches long and an inch wide. It's been growing in a container for about a month and a week. 

Super Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes. They are starting to ripen in this picture. The plant is about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide with an unknown number of marble sized fruit.

Super 45 Hybrid cantaloupe plant in 10x12 container with a trellis. Picture are the first and 2nd melons growing. The closest is the size of a plum and the second is the size of a kiwi. There are at least 4 other flowers with tiny pea sized and yellow globes starting to form. 

Container cantaloupe plant with 2 sizable melons and several other tiny ones. I made a tepee with a more solid trellis to hold the first and provide more space for the plants growth. Several references said that if given vertical space cantaloupes only needed one square foot (otherwise they needed 4x4 sqft of ground space). So I'm hoping this will be enough trellis space to grow full size melons.

A Pregnant Girls Dream

Pickles and Watermelons...

I went out to check on things just briefly because it threatened to be a bad stormy day. I picked a few strawberries. Tried putting up some more fencing and noticed that in "container drive" things were finally starting to set fruit. The pickles and watermelons are finally coming in. The watermelons are much further behind but you can see those little striped rounds starting to form. It's pretty amazing. I didn't know if either would set any fruit at all. 

So excited! 

The little fuzzy striped ball is the first stage of fruit growth for the bush sugar baby. 

A baby that I found, fallen off. See the stripes? 

A bush cucumber, the first one. The one that looks the most like a cuc but I think it looks like a pickle more.

Second cucumber a little further behind and a little weirder looking. 

The Accidental Pick

Sisters Birthday...

It was a beautiful and sunny day out but I didn't get to garden. It was my sisters birthday so we had plans. First it was lunch and nails then it was bar hopping so I spent my day out, resting to go out, or getting ready. I wish I'd spent it gardening because I haven't had a chance to do all the maintenance I've wanted to do since I got home.

So far I've picked a few more green beans and thinned out some carrots that weren't going to form because the roots were exposed. I did accidentally pick one carrot that was forming which was too bad but it gave me hope that I don't have carrot fly because it was forming well. Anyway, I plan on spending all day gardening tomorrow. I'm hoping the weather doesn't turn on me.

Carrots that weren't going to form, a radish, and the accidental pick. 

The container tomato plant in Patch. 

Picked another 25 beans and still have more to pick. 

Doubling Trouble!!!

Growth Galore...

After being in Atlantic City for 5 days I came back to a giant garden. Everything had basically doubled in size. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea.

When I left the green arrow beans were maybe an inch long. Today 40-50 were ready for picking. I picked 21. 

The branches on all 4 of these tomato plants have grown at least 6 inches in every direction. We have about 40 tomatoes in all different shapes and sizes, at all different stages. 

All three of the crookneck plants have grown about 4 inches higher and 3-4 wider. The patty pan (front left) has grown about 2 inches each way. 

The only plant without at least 2 baby squashes to offer is the patty-pan, it has none so far. 

The carrot greens have gotten so thick you can't see any soil. They'll probably be ready for harvest in 10 days.

First radish from my second sowing. This one is twice the size of any of the first sowing but most of them probably won't produce because the roots became long and exposed. I'm not sure why. 

Container cantaloupe in Patch. Almost to the 3rd rung on the trellis. It was barely at the 2nd when I left and only covered the very center now its covering almost the entire trellis in width. 

Tomato-berry plant. This is the plant that wouldn't grow past 4 inches for weeks then shot up 12 and stopped. It's shot up another 3 inches, at least, and out another 4-5. Amazing! 

**More to come in another entry, it won't load properly with too many pics**

Back!

Garden Doubled...

I got back from my trip to Atlantic City today and immediately went outside to check on everything. It's unbelievable what a week can do. Everything is at the very least double the size. A few strawberries rotted but I picked and ate one that was delicious and sweet. Then I pick another handful that looked just like the perfectly ripe one. I'll add a picture entry a little later showing how huge and amazing things are... 

Ripen Up

Red, Red, & Red...

It was dark and cloudy out today because of the tropical storm that was coming our way. It seems that it took a detour a little later but either way the sky was dark and not great for gardening. Even so I went out to check on everything to make sure that if the storm did hit hard that all of the stakes and trellises were deeply held and that the containers were on steady ground. When I finally got around to checking on Patch I instantly noticed the brightest most perfect strawberry I had ever seen. It was the perfect strawberry red with a wax shine. It looked like the apples the big companies wax before shipping but of course it wasn't waxed it was just perfect. After taking a look I looked over all of the other strawberry containers. No e of the strawberries,except for the one in the 5G container, were ready for picking but they were a nice shade of pink turning red, a few not all. I ran to grab my phone, clippers, and harvest basket and harvested my first berry. I went to lunch with my Mom shortly after and brought the berry with me to show her but she thought I was giving it to her. I didn't have the heart to tell her I wasn't so she tried the first PM strawberry. She said it was sweet but probably needed another sunny day of ripening or two not so sunny days, like today. I had planned to wash it, cut it in half, and share the first taste with Mike but I'll do that with the second berry.

Harvested berry.

Pinkish red berries ripening in 5G.

Ripening berry on the Topsy.

Green Arrows...

On my way back in from lunch I went over to look at the green beans because they were a little droopy. I noticed that our first beans are finally coming in. It's amazing. There so cute and small but look just like what the mature beans will look like minus the fuzz. Exciting! I need to tie them off with string because they won't hold, at all, once the beans get any bigger.

Each flower becomes a bean.

Bigger beans on another plant.

Tomato in Patch...

I noticed my first growing in the container in PM today. It's very small but I'm glad to see that the container seems to be sufficient. 

Color Everywhere

There are different colors of fruiting plants popping up all over the garden. 

Our beautiful and light green tomato-berry.

Dark green and striped super fantastic tomatoes.

First baby yellow stuff-able patty-pan squash blossom.

First sign of pink/red on the ripening strawberries. This one is from the Topsy.

How does your Garden Grow

In the HEAT!

The plants have absolutely boomed. I was 1000% right. The heat has changed the garden completely over the last 4 days, for the better. 

Tomato Plants...

The tomato-berry plant that didn't grow one inch taller for two months has grown about a foot in height and has put on about 4 more blossoms. Mr S. pointed it out to me and I was shocked. It's completely shot up. 

The first tomato in the far right and front plot has doubled in size and all of the tomato plants are breaking out of there tepee stakes. I had no idea they would get so big and be so strong. The tomato plant in the back, on the right, has completely cured itself. It use to had rust and now its a beautiful vibrant green and large plant. The tomato that was taken down by my wooden "Charlie brown" box trellis has overcome its shock and grown about 4 inches in width along with all the rest. It's amazing, truly. 

Plants are so big there breaking the tepees. 

Carrots...

The Danver126 carrot plants have shot up in part I'm sure to the thinning and most of all because of the heat. They are at least 3 inches taller and much fuller. The red core Chantenay's are doing the same. They haven't grown as tall as the Danvers but they are filling out and looking lush. I think the red cores needed the warmth but don't have the same properties a the Danvers. I specifically chose Danver126 carrots because they are one of the few varieties that likes the warm/hot weather opposed to the usual  cool/warm weather carrots enjoy. So it makes sense that the Danvers are thriving just a little more. 

Seascape Strawberries...

The 5G strawberry bucket, the container I thought was a dud, is doing better than the rest. Te plants are at least a foot tall, the berries are bigger and closer to being ripe enough to pick, and there are at least another 20 flower buds ready to bloom on top of the 30 strawberries already growing. It's unbelievable because it was the slowest to start but has changed so quickly and surpasses the rest. 

The 8G bucket is just doing okay. It has a few strawberries but the plants are much shorter and the berries much slower. They'll definitely produce a few tasty morsels but I don't think I'll be getting a pint from each of the 4 plants in that container. I may be wrong like I was with the 5G container but its doubtful. They should have rooted and strengthened and started to grow, in height at least, by now. 

On the other hand, the Topsy Turvy is doing very well. It has at least 20 berries growing at the moment and another handful of buds in the waiting. The plants are about 10-12 inches tall and the berries are big. Not quite as big as the 5G bucket just yet but big enough. The Topsy Turvy has finally found a stable spot. The hook is holding and the plants seem to thrive from that and the heat. 

I wouldn't be surprised if I was eating my first berry by Weds. of next week. 

Biggest berry in the 5G bucket.

Bush Sugar Baby...

I planted the watermelon plants in the recycling bin container a few weeks ago and like the tomato-berry plant the little seedling hasn't grown almost at all since the transfer. I was worried that I had shocked them or that the day of chilly weather had stunted them permanently. That wasn't the case though they needed that long hot day heat just like Smart Gardener said they would. The watermelon plants have absolutely tripled in size. They have four huge leaves that were not there Sunday. The heat has awakened them and they are ready to work. It's great. That's really all I can say. I've been looking forward to eating two main items from my garden; watermelon and strawberries. So I'm excited to see that they are finally moving. 

Original size at transplant and for the few weeks after.

Size after 4 hot long days. Still looked like the above on Sunday. 

Cucurbits...

The patty-pan and crookneck squash plants are doing pretty well they aren't in the best spot for there needs. The raised bed tends to become completely shaded after about high noon. So they haven't gotten to enjoy the hot days as much a the other plants but they are still thriving. The patty-pan plant has 4 new squash blossoms. The left-back crookneck has 2 yellow baby squash on it that have grown about a quarter of an inch and the front-right crookneck has new blossoms and one baby squash growing. So they are doing well but would be doing better had they been able to enjoy the direct sun more. 

The cantaloupe in the container had grow significantly in width and height and has 3 new blossoms on it. The cantaloupe still in the Bonnie store containers need to be planted, desperately need it. They have blossomed and grown and I'm sure there running out of room but the bed they were supposed to be in has an enormous amount of grass growing in it. Way more than that of the problematic squash bed. That's why we haven't transferred but need to.

Left-back crookneck plant.

Cucumber flowers. 

Everything Else...

Everything else is growing well and has loved the heat. Even the lettuce and spinach have remained crisp and are standing tall. The sweet potato plants in Potagar are doing amazingly but the ones I planted in Patch yesterday don't seem to be doing that hot. They were all wilted and dead looking when I went to water them today which is weird because sweet potato plants absolutely love the heat. They were the plant that required the latest transfer date. So I don't know if it was the slips or the overbearing heat right at transfer but they aren't looking too hot. I hope they make it.

The lemon balm has doubled in width and is a beautiful shade a green with a beautiful fragrance. The basil is taller than ever and the green beans finally have beans forming. 

Slippery Roots

Planting Slips...

I went outside this morning and thoroughly watered everything. It was unbelievably hot out and the plants needed the max amour of water they could take for the week. Watering was not much easier today with the hose because I had to unroll it and only water the roots. If you water the plants leaves in very high sun and heat the leaves can burn. The entire plant can burn. So I made sure to water very carefully at the base at each plant and around the soil. Once I was done with that I filled up the watering can and walked into PM and watered everything liberally at the roots. I then went back to refill the watering can, another 2 gallons, and saw that the roots on the slips had developed a little but the leaves were dying so I decided to plant them. Mostly because I didn't think they would produce great roots for much longer without completely dying out. So I grabbed the glass and went into PM with the slips, shovel, watering can, and basket. I planted the 4 of 5 slips that had roots, a bit. I figure since people plant slips without rooting them first that mine will make it especially since they have a few nice and thick roots already starting. The raised bed in Patch is officially filled except for the one little, very little, strip plot which I'll fill with radishes. I had but they didn't germinate. I filled the watering can once more and watered the spinach, watermelon bin, cucumbers, and seedlings yet to be planted then I went inside becAuse the heat was unbearable. The garden will look completely different at the end of this heat wave. It won't really end because we're about to be in June but it will go down to the high 80's put of the mid-90's and the garden will have flourished. Already is...