Tue 10 Jul 2012
Summer Bounty Starts Flowing
Posted by Bob under Farms and Food, Vegetable Garden
[5] Comments
After four solid weeks without a drop of rain (the wind storm described in my last post was completely dry), we had a good downpour yesterday afternoon, with our rain gauge registering 1.3 inches. Our gardens look much relieved, and summer’s bounty is beginning to flow. Lots of squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers, with red and yellow peppers not far behind. Potatoes, scallions and onions ready to be harvested whenever I get to them. My various pole beans have been stunted by the dry weather, but today they look quite perky. As always, the trick is to keep up with the flow! Monika’s just (almost) gotten through over a bushel of peaches we bought a week or so ago–canned as halves and processed and frozen as cobbler, ice cream and sorbet, and cakes. (All really good!)
In addition to being a beautiful still life photograph, my mouth actually watered when I looked at it! Bob, do you have any blossom end rot on your tomatoes? My Robeson and red cherry have it on a few of the tomatoes and I’m thinking it’s from our drought or I’m overwatering.
Yes, some blossom end rot recently appeared, right after we had a heavy rain after a long dry period. Some people believe that it tends to occur when a dry period is followed by a sudden infusion of water. On the other hand, I’ve read all sorts of alternative theories. A common one is that it’s a sign of lack of calcium in the soil, and one seed-seller claims she’s never had blossom end rot since planting all her tomato plants with lots of eggshells. Well, I’ve done that for three years now and it hasn’t prevented it for me. It seems to me that it’s a problem that comes and goes, which inclines me to the uneven water theory, about which there’s not too much one can do unless you’re growing tomatoes under a hoophouse.
I love this transition farmer Bob! 🙂
Working too hard to tend the once fulfilling garden on a 4th gen NJ heirloom (nose high in air), cranberry operation, but the weeds are of impressive stature. I still have my little projects i tend in my available moments like the flowers and milk thistle and there is enough action on the 4 acres I immediately tend to keep my hands taut and grooved with dark earth, but i certainly look forward to the deeper plunge that you appear to be thoroughly enjoying..
Tell Monika that Sandy is a frog 🙂 you have one of the two copies of the 1st ed coming to you, and, enjoy!
This does not need to be published, but my email was wrong in my note even though kind of obvious. I’m pretty active on the bad word, Facebook, bur i hope you are as well for a little exposure or socializing from the stix. I smell a radio show..
Thanks for your comments on BER. I’m just happy it’s not a disease that can be transmitted from one plant to another. I just cut off the blemish and eat the rest.