The green peppers are surprising me. I've always grown them under a cold frame (for added protection from our cool nights . . . and sometimes cool days!) because we generally don't have as much heat as they like over a growing season. This year, for a couple of reasons, I set them out in a raised bed with no protective cover (eeep!) and told them they were on their own.
Even with our (so far) coolish summer, they're doing just fine. The plants are tall and lush.
They have loads of blossoms and even some decent sized peppers shaping up. Go figure.
Look at all those blossoms on the one row of Carola white potatoes! The other two rows to the right are Dark Red Norland. The Carola vines are about twice as big as the Norlands. Does that mean bigger potatoes?
Cabbages usually do well for me and these alternating heads of green and red ones are shaping up nicely.
I put in some turnips specifically for feeding to the poultry this winter. Frankly, I didn't expect them to size up so quickly. These shown are about softball size, and I think a good size for human consumption is more like that of a tennis ball. I cooked one of these bigger ones, and we found it quite bitter. I'm thinking I read somewhere (but don't quote me on this) that a lack of boron in your soil could cause bitterness in turnips. It could also be that I simply let them get too big before harvesting. Please don't tell our chickens that I may have goofed on this one.
Oh, Mama Pea! What super garden pics! I am so envious of your cabbages. Do you keep them covered? (knowing your dislike of those green worms....!) Those are some pretty potato plants as well. Peppers are tougher than you think. Last spring with our late frost, my tomatoes were mush, while the peppers got singed, but soldiered on and produced very well, even though both were covered equally. What is peeking out yellow at the end of the cabbage row on picture 4? Turnips do like cooler temperatures to thrive, don't they?
ReplyDeleteYep, garden envy here, too.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so good! My two pepper plants have only produced three peppers so far. I was thinking they don't like too much heat!
ReplyDeleteRosalea - Thank you, but if you saw close-ups it wouldn't be so nice. Weeds, untrimmed edges, lawn badly needs mowing, etc. Just can't do it all this year. No cover on the cabbages but Papa Pea does dust them after each rain. We get a few insect holes on the outer leaves, but have never found the dreaded little worms inside the heads. However, I've totally given up on broccoli 'cause we cannot keep the worms out of it. :o( The yellow you see at the end of cabbages is a little clump of assorted colored Snapdragons. My garden is so lacking in flowers this year it makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteMichelle - Thanks, ma'am. When you can do it, you have a mighty sweet garden yourself!
Leigh - This is the battle you and I continually fight! I'm too cool and you're too hot! Where's that middle ground where it's all juuust right? ;o)
What kind of dust does PP use? Diatomaceous? I'll send pics of my glorious red glads once they get going, to cheer you! Don't stress about what you see as needing to be done. It will all work out in time...
ReplyDeleteRosalea - He uses a combination of diatomaceous earth and Kaolin. If you want to know more about the Kaolin, google Kaolin for insects and it should give you the straight skinny. I'll be looking forward to those red glads, you can be assured!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cabbages! Saur Kraut? I love to make my own.
ReplyDeleteBroccoli: Get some powdered DE (diatomaceous earth). I use 'general purpose' swimming pool filter DE. They do sell (at a Grand Larceny Price) DE for gardens. It is all the same stuff; powdered 2-cell snail shells ground into dust. It acts like little knife blades on the cabbage bugs and kills 'em without the use of any poison whatever. Just dust it on and walk away. Repeat often. Works on cabbages, cauliflower, etc. too.
Cheets!
Tim B. - Sadly it's never worked on our broccoli. :o( A few years ago, we even build screened cages we put over the broccoli. Still had worms. We're just lucky, I guess. Or cursed. But thanks for the info. I don't have trouble with worms invading my cauliflower or cabbages, just the broccoli. Isn't that weird?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Our peppers are pitiful this year. Just too much rain. We have had well over 3 inches in just the past day, and its still raining.
ReplyDeleteGranny Sue - Oh, so sorry! When it's too dry, we can water but when the rains won't stop, there's nothing to be done about it. Frustrating when one is trying to grow food to feed us through the coming winter months, though, isn't it? :o(
ReplyDelete