Gardening

I assume the best way is to go off of date on the packaging for maturity days, but with the weather here it’s kinda hard to determine, they were stunted for a few weeks before even doing anything.

Could frost here anytime and covering these isn’t really an option! Any advice would be appreciated!

This came up unexpectedly and I’m waiting to see what it’ll be. I didn’t plant any squash or pumpkins this year. In fact I’ve never planted either in this garden bed. We affectionately call it our “pumquash” while we wait.

I have it under a greenhouse because we had our first frost warning this weekend, and I’d really like at least one fruit to mature so we can solve the mystery. This is the furthest along.

Today’s our first frost date, and I haven’t had a single ripe tomato yet. Time to break out the plant covers and cross my fingers.

I usually make green tomato relish. What are your favorite green tomato canning recipes?

So much sauce is going to be made

year three of this garden and Insect variety is way better than previous two.

Too hot for the garden today so have another picture from my phone. If anyones on bluesky tell Aaron Alexovich these things exist.

Cantaloupe, cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, watermelon and weed.

Yeah... This is half a packet of seeds and they are literally hopping from the fence to tree branches literally a couple feet away.

I swear it said it was a bush type too and this is more forest.

Well the branch holding my bell peppers fell off entirely from the weight.... So guess it's fajita night.

I honestly have so many Serranos and jalapenos but am the only one that loves spice so.... On the plant they stay for another days nachos.

And yes I know that is a leek but my onions aren't ready and it's a kitchen scrap garden. So using what I got.

At long last some of the wildflowers I planted last year are blooming. I can see that there are frequently bees on them, so hopefully they are being pollinated.

I would like to collect wildflower seeds from flowers that I would like to propagate and then spread them over bare patches to try and fill them in. How do I recognize when the seeds are ready to be harvested? How do I harvest them, just yank the bloom off of the stem? I planted a flower assortment with:

Purple Giant Hyssop, Dwarf Columbine, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Sweet William Pinks, Purple Coneflower, Blanketflower, Gayfeather, Blue Flax, Perennial Lupine, Russell Lupine, Maltese Cross, Dwarf Evening Primrose, Mexican Hat, Dwarf Red Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Moss Verbena

I probably will spread them after the first frost so they grow in the spring.

Seeds for those interested. They're called trombettas and they're a climbing summer squash with everything you would expect there - nice, mild flavor, etc. They only have seeds in their 'head'. If you pick them young enough the seeds won't be formed so you can eat the entire thing. If you wait a bit longer, you can very easily scoop the seeds out and slice or stuff the head. Head to tail, these things can easily get over two feet. They can also be a bit curvy.

I've found them to be very hardy over the years. They climb really well without encouragement. The vines in the photo are easily 9 feet long.

My summer squash has taken off over the last several weeks and overtaken the neighboring carrots. So I hadn't checked in on them in a while. Found a few good ones this morning!

Between earwigs and wildlife this year, the only plants producing are the ones in my porch boxes. The cucumbers are gherkins so I’ve been picking them small so I can make them into sweet pickles. I have 3 jars put up already and enough cucumbers to make #4 this weekend. I just wish I had a small deep pot to can in, it’s such a waste to pull out my big canner. But until I can find one that at least fits pint jars I have to keep using the big pot.

I planted more peas this week and plan to do some more fall planting this weekend. I’m about 2 weeks behind but better late than never.

Edit: I forgot to mention, the leaves in the photo are just for our bunny’s breakfast. Although I will soon be drying some raspberry and blackberry leaves for her to enjoy in the winter.