Garden Update

I thought I would document how the garden is progressing. It's amazing how quickly things change! Here is the over-all garden view, today May 22.

The Zucchini bed is lookin' good, and putting on lots of flowers. There have only been a few female flowers so far, and lots and lots of male flowers.

Yesterday I built a trellis for the double-yield cucumbers. They're putting on lots of flowers too, and there are even itty bitty cucumbers! I put watering tubes on the cucumber beds, just like in the tomato beds, and they are working great! I fill the tall upright tube with water, and it flows down into the smaller tube and distributes the water in the bed. They're not the most attractive things, but they seem to be working out great! I'm able to keep the water off of the leaves and direct it just at the soil. They make watering the garden quick, and easy.

I ran out of 1x2s, so we had to get creative for the second cucumber bed's trellis. Alan helped me make this hoop trellis structure using fencing. The plants have twine guides for growing up to the wire, and will eventually grow over the top of the wire. I'll snip some of the wires to make larger 4x4" sections as it gets closer to picking time and I see where access to cucumbers is needed. This was Alan's idea, and I quite like it!! The wire can be reused for trellising next year, and I can use it as a support structure this winter for a bed cover for lettuce and other greens.

The beans are growing nicely, and are actually flowering! Maybe I'll get beans this year after all!

The 8-ball zucchini and Patty Pan Squash are finally filling in and putting on a few flowers (though all male). These plants really take a beating from the wind.

The row of zinnias, sunflowers, and gourds along the chicken yard is growing like MAD! Some of the shorter zinnias are starting to show a bit of color on blossom heads. The sunflowers look strong and healthy, and as they grow taller they will provide excellent shade for the chicken yard.

At the front of the chicken house are the two tomato beds. We're going to have to add another section to the grid trellis, because as you can see, some of them are well above the 3' high grid. Good thing we used full length 2x2s for the corner posts! You'll see there is a single zucchini plant in the far right corner of the second bed. That plant is MASSIVE, and I think is going to be my star producer. It has two zucchini on it right now that are sure to find themselves picked sometime this week, for a nice side dish. Mmmm, can't WAIT! I'm going to have to keep some of the leaves trimmed so it doesn't put too much shade on the tomatoes next to it.

The heirloom tomatoes are growing quickly now, and we will need to get their grid trellis in place soon. There is a volunteer gourd plant in the corner of the bed that is doing excellent. I'm sure it will love the trellis, too! Looks like I need to do a little grass removal around the beds.

The basil is doing wonderful! They're planted in a very large (about 2.5' across) aluminum tub, that has drain holes in the bottom. I didn't intend to leave the tall wire trellis around them for the entire season, but at least it gives me a little structure to hold the netting up, so the roosters stay out of it. I just know those little buggers would have that basil dug up and kicked out of the bed before I knew it if I removed the netting and trellis. Looks like I need to do some picking!

Not in the garden, but at the end of the drain field, I planted some pumpkin seeds that have come up and look to be doing pretty good. Last year the pumpkin plants were at the back of the garden, and they really just took over everything. So this year, they'll be able to grow grow grow to their heart's content!

And lastly, the strawberry bed. It's a pitiful looking thing (and I'm not sure WHY), but I'm HOPING that next spring it will really fill in and give us lots and LOTS of berries. Or at least a few.

Want to compare these photos to previous garden update photos? Here are some links:
May 1, 2011
May 11, 2011
Redneck Tomato Bed
April 21, 2011
April 12, 2011
April 2, 2011
March 28, 2011
2011 Garden Planning

Comments

[Hydroponic Growing]

Nice to see you are interested in gardening too.Nice pictures of your garden and its showing you are taking care of your garden a lot.Have you ever tried hydroponic gardening or indoor gardening?Keep me updated.

[Shellie Daniel]

Amazing how quickly your plants grow and produce! I guess it's all that hot weather and water. Love your comments about the roosters in the basil. :-)

[DK Wight]

What's that "odd" looking plant in your herb tub? canabis?.....gotcha! It's still raining here at home... Bummer I'm pretty sure if it doesn't dry out we'll have quicksand behind the house to get lost in. Love your garden, I dont think it would be wise to tether a goat near the beds to trim the grass,(but entertaining) specially Betty. You might try some mulch around the strawberries, they do seem to do well in poor soils as long as it's fairly loose and they get enough extra "nutriants" or smart pills....Love, Dad

[Celeste]

Love your watering system!

[Nebraska Dave]

Anna, I just love this time of the year. There's so much new life in world. Babies are born in the wild; plants are growing with all new life; and everything is green and fresh and smells wonderful.

My garden is just establishing the newly planted seeds and plants. The lettuce is pretty spotty but it's the first time I've ever tried to grow lettuce and apparently I have much to learn about growing it. The radishes have nice leafy tops but not under them yet. Perhaps my compost dirt is a little rich in nitrogen and made the radishes go to all foliage.

Have a great day in the garden.

[diane mcvey]

Your garden is BEAUTIFUL! It looks like it was PROFESSIONALLY done! Seriously, your trellises, beds, and everything are just perfect. I can't believe how quickly everything is growing! You will have things to eat in no time. How fun! You are going to have TONS of produce!!! :D

[Tanya C.]

Love seeing your gardens progression! You have such awesome ideas for planting, will have to show this to my DH!

[Kathy Martin]

Wow! Your veggies are growing like weeds! I could use some of your basil! ;) I'm making some pesto and need to buy some. We're in for a 93 degree day today in NC...how about you?

[Beverly Blair]

Glad you are back and your garden looks wonderful . .. in Ohio we haven't even got our garden out yet. Coming this week! SNAKES! ugh I don't like snakes neither and we deal with a few every year it seems like. Great addition to your mom & dads house. She is going to love that room! Thanks for sharing with us.

[Erica Fields]

Are you organic gardening? Looks like you'll have enough produce to sell, or are you planning on putting up any extras? I'm showing your pices to my SIL who promised me "some sort a garden area" next year.

[SueB]

It's looking fabulous.

[Derenda]

Your garden is looking great. i lived in austin for ten years from 1982-1992 then i moved to the east coast sc. I'm from ft worth tx did you guys get any rain. still praying
that you get some much needed rain.
P S Love love seeing the pic of your 2and 4 legged babies. can't wait to see what happen next on the farm be safe with the snakes.dparadise

[Dee in N.H.]

Wow!! Your garden is looking great! We just have peas and lettuce popping up so far. We may get one more frost this week and then it should be OK to get our little plants in and the rest of the seeds planted. We should have a good batch of asparagus tomorrow for dinner. Yummm!

[Carol Dee]

Looking Great! Our garden is just begging to show through the soil! (Unless we put plants in). The the strawberries look like we might even get a few. This is their second year. Looking forward to the next garden update. Hugs...