Garden Journal (Day 141) β Neglect Setting In?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed I haven’t been paying as much attention to the garden as earlier in the season. I chalk this up to several things.
First, and probably the main reason, is that I’ve been super-busy with work. It’s been taking up pretty much all my time. I’m finally getting the grass cut today…definitely needs it!
Second, I have dismal-looking pickling cucumber vines staring me in the face when I walk out the door. The mildew and wilt are over-powering the plants. There’s a couple new vines growing, but I’m not expecting too much out of them. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m definitely not disappointed in the harvest this season. I picked almost 100 pickling cucumbers off these vines. I was able to make about a dozen jars of pickles (sliced, whole, and bread/butter slices) which was the main purpose of planting this season.
Besides the cucumbers, the squash is also just about done for the season. I picked about four off the plants last week, but I’m not seeing anything else develop. I pulled one plant last week. The two remaining are growing crazy vines all over the ground…this way and that. It’s odd how these squash plants develop over the season…first, a nice big “round” plant. Over time, as it continues to grow, it starts sprawling out, running “tentacles” in various directions. These plants definitely need the room to grow, but I guess I could always trim them back? (Note to self)
Third, I honestly think I’m just losing interest in the garden. I’ve been looking after it for almost five months now, pretty much on a daily basis. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it. It just doesn’t have the “zing!” that it had early in the season. It seems to turn more into a chore around this time. Which brings me to one of the main points I decided to try a SFG vs. the typical rows. The maintenance was supposed to be less. I honestly don’t see much difference in maintenance. I’m still pulling the same amount of weeds, and actually trimming more than last season to keep the plants in their square boundaries and the tomatoes growing vertically. I think the biggest advantage of the SFG is that you can plant more in less space. I definitely used less space for the garden this season, but produced much more than last season, so that’s a plus.
Speaking of pluses, the pole beans have exploded in production. I’ve probably picked around 400 in the past week, about 100 just this morning. I’ve noticed this trend with the pole beans I grow…I get several harvests in June/July, then the hot weather shows up. At this point, the leaves start to grow and the beans stop. Once the hot weather passes, typically some time in August, the beans come back like they are now. 
I still haven’t planted anything for a Fall harvest. At this point, it looks like it’ll be radishes if I get to them in time.
Harvest Count
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 27
* Banana Pepper: 20
* Jalapeno Pepper: 24
* Super Chilis: 145
* Pole Beans: 809
* Slicing Cucumber: 69
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 297
* 4th July Tomato: 31
* Green Pepper: 6
* Carrots: 23
* Rutgers Tomato: 16
* Eggplant: 27
* Roma Tomato: 43
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 8
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 1
* Roma Tomato: 4
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 10+
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
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Day 145 – I pulled the remaining pickling cucumber vines yesterday. They were all pretty much gone.
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 27
* Banana Pepper: 20
* Jalapeno Pepper: 24
* Super Chilis: 145
* Pole Beans: 848
* Slicing Cucumber: 69
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 317
* 4th July Tomato: 31
* Green Pepper: 6
* Carrots: 23
* Rutgers Tomato: 16
* Eggplant: 27
* Roma Tomato: 44
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 8
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 1
* Roma Tomato: 4
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
Day 147 β Pulled the rest of the carrots from the second square…still one square to go.
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 27
* Banana Pepper: 21
* Jalapeno Pepper: 24
* Super Chilis: 150
* Pole Beans: 889
* Slicing Cucumber: 69
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 328
* 4th July Tomato: 31
* Green Pepper: 7
* Carrots: 29
* Rutgers Tomato: 16
* Eggplant: 27
* Roma Tomato: 48
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 8
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 1
* Roma Tomato: 4
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
* Strawberries
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
Day 149 – Harvest Count
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 28
* Banana Pepper: 21
* Jalapeno Pepper: 24
* Super Chilis: 150
* Pole Beans: 908
* Slicing Cucumber: 72
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 331
* 4th July Tomato: 33
* Green Pepper: 7
* Carrots: 29
* Rutgers Tomato: 16
* Eggplant: 27
* Roma Tomato: 52
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 8
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 1
* Roma Tomato: 5
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
* Strawberries
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
Day 159 – I’ve been slammed with work lately, so I haven’t done much with the garden. Hopefully I’ll have some time today to get out there…I see a number of peppers growing and probably a few tomatoes that could be picked.
Day 161- Garden is still producing. I pulled the bean vines yesterday as they were starting to collapse in on themselves due to the crappy netting (fish line next season). The colder weather (60s-70s) is giving my peppers a chance to produce more. I picked two green peppers, about five more on the plants. Maybe a dozen banana peppers currently growing. I’ll be adding some news pics in my next post.
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 28
* Banana Pepper: 21
* Jalapeno Pepper: 36
* Super Chilis: 154
* Pole Beans: 938
* Slicing Cucumber: 72
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 333
* 4th July Tomato: 36
* Green Pepper: 9
* Carrots: 44
* Rutgers Tomato: 17
* Eggplant: 28
* Roma Tomato: 53
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 16
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 6
* Roma Tomato: 5
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
* Strawberries
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
Day 171- Squash plants are still hanging in! Three on the vine right now that I’ll be picking in the next day or two. There’s also a handful of green and banana peppers ready to pick soon. The season ain’t over just yet!
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 28
* Banana Pepper: 21
* Jalapeno Pepper: 36
* Super Chilis: 160
* Pole Beans: 938
* Slicing Cucumber: 72
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 333
* 4th July Tomato: 43
* Green Pepper: 9
* Carrots: 44
* Rutgers Tomato: 18
* Eggplant: 28
* Roma Tomato: 53
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 16
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 6
* Roma Tomato: 5
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
* Strawberries
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
Day 173- Picked my first leek yesterday! About an inch in diameter, the rest are smaller.
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 29
* Banana Pepper: 28
* Jalapeno Pepper: 36
* Super Chilis: 160
* Pole Beans: 938
* Slicing Cucumber: 72
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 333
* 4th July Tomato: 53
* Green Pepper: 9
* Carrots: 44
* Rutgers Tomato: 19
* Eggplant: 28
* Roma Tomato: 53
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 24
* Leeks: 1
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 6
* Roma Tomato: 5
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
* Strawberries
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5
Day 176- A couple squash, along with green and banana peppers still on the plants. Tomatoes aren’t producing all that much.
* Radishes: 29
* Green Onions: 26
* Lettuce: 125 (leaves)
* Onions: 11
* Beets: 7
* Squash: 30
* Banana Pepper: 28
* Jalapeno Pepper: 36
* Super Chilis: 160
* Pole Beans: 938
* Slicing Cucumber: 72
* Pickling Cucumber: 91
* Cherry Tomato: 333
* 4th July Tomato: 53
* Green Pepper: 9
* Carrots: 44
* Rutgers Tomato: 19
* Eggplant: 28
* Roma Tomato: 53
* Dazzleberry Tomato: 11
* Wild Cherry Tomato: 24
* Leeks: 1
Squirrel Wars 2011 Victims:
At this point, these are estimations.
* Rutgers Tomato: 9
* Pickling Cucumber: 2
* Slicing Cucumber: 6
* Roma Tomato: 5
* 4th July Tomato: 1
* Cherry Tomato: 15+
* Strawberries
* Squash: 1
Pest Issue (occurs every year, but now I know whatβs causing it)
* Green Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Jalapeno Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 2
* Banana Pepper (Pepper Maggot): 5