Prodigal's Return

  Lots of time passed, much life has occurred.... And the garden still remains.Cannot make excuses for not writing, legitimate though they be. We all have our stories. I will simply bring you up to date.

Have harvested about 200 lbs. of potatoes ( and not yet finished! ) , along with fall planted onions and garlic. Immediately, we switched to warm weather crops, i.e. sweetcorn, bush-beans, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines (egg plant), zuchini, cucumbers, and summer squash. I had the Silver Queen corn growing in root-trainers, just awaiting a place to plant into the ground. As soon as the potatoes were pulled, into the ground went additional compost and organic ammendments, followed by the sweetcorn. We've about a dozen each of tomatoes, and sweet and bell peppers, as well as three aubergine varieties with differing maturity dates.

Last year was the first year we grew sweetcorn, and having had great success, we're increasing the amount this year. In only two 36 sq. ft. raised beds, we harvested 84 ears. It is about four feet tall as we speak. We had previously not wanted to risk growing it, as we were afraid that racoons would leave us heartbroken. The deer have been no problem, since our fence is, apparently, adequate. After buying a used electric netting set-up, and losing not one ear, we wished we'd planted more. This year, in our four 42 sq. ft beds, we'll be disapponted if we get less than 175 ears. We net the corn when we figure we're within 3 weeks of harvesting, turning the charger on and off each night/morning. Now that our free-range grandson wanders the garden when he visits, munching on whatever strikes his fancy, we will worry about forgetting to turn the netting off each morning and giving him a rude awakening. Last year, only the wife sufferred that fate, heh heh heh...

The only pest problems have been flea beetles on the aubergines. I must do something, likely dust them with diatomaceous earth. In spite of the damage, they appear to be thriving.Also, I planted no spring brassicas this year because I have lost every battle on that front to the white cabbage moth, or else unseasonably warm spring weather.It is about time to start thinking about fall planted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts, though. 

I usually plant nothing but bush type beans, we put 40-50 lbs in the freezer most years. Harder to harvest, but I do not need to worry about trellising systems as I would with climbing types. 

We have just returned from camping at Mt Shasta with family and friends. It was our grandson's first camping experience, and very special. Difficult for him (and mom & dad) at first, he settled right in, and was a hit of the camp. 

Our son Jake proposed (successfully!) to Megan on the still snow-capped Mt. Shasta, the biggest highlight of the week for us! Cheers...