I have more garden photos to share with you. I'm happy to know that the garden posts are enjoyed. Our garden is far from perfect. Each year it has it's challenges, and this year is no different. I've learned so much from gardening in Texas, and am fairly certain that if I can have success here, I could have a successful garden just about anywhere!
We've never had much luck growing watermelon, but I wanted to try again this year. And what do you know, we have little mellons all over the place! This year I placed soaker hoses in the rows where the watermelons are planted. I think it's making all the difference in their success this year.
We are having good success with the Patty Pan squash, too. They always seem to grow well for us, and with their fun spaceship appearance, they're also fun to eat!
I'm trying a new winter squash this year - Bush Buttercup. The squash are growing beautifully! Hopefully, the plants can survive to harvest time! I've found some squash bugs out there, so hopefully they don't do the plants in.
There are watermelons planted at both ends of the garden. Little round sugar baby melons at one end, and yellow moon and stars watermelons at the other. The plants have completely taken over the walkway down the center of the garden. They are loaded with blossoms, and bees!
The MASSIVE yellow pear tomato plant has lots and LOTS of tomato clusters, just waiting to ripen! I've been enjoying the ripe ones right off the plant in the morning when I water. Fresh tomatoes for breakfast ... you bet!
This is the full yellow pear tomato plant. It's well over 6' tall, and since it's planted in the trough, I'll be dragging a ladder out to the garden when it comes time to harvest all the tomatoes towards the top! They're WAY up there!
Zucchini is growing beautifully. I picked this beauty this morning! I really love growing zucchini. Not only do I love eating zucchini, but I think the plants are amazing!
In this part of the garden are more tomato plants. There is the volunteer front and center, as well as a husky cherry red, and a couple super sweet 100's planted in large blue tubs. There are also tomato plants in the small trough you can see in the distance.
The oldest of the super sweet 100's is already loaded with young fruit. The other two plants, which I planted a bit later, are coming along nicely, but have a lot of work to do yet before they start setting clusters of tomatoes like this. I think we'll be tomato-rich, soon!
Husky Cherry Reds are a new variety for me this year. I wasn't too sure about giving them a try, but after I did a bit of reading about them online, I thought we'd give them a try. I must say, I'm really pleased with them! Their plants are not as tall and gangly as other cherry tomato variety, and in fact, really are quite "husky". They held up to our spring winds beautifully! And boy, are they ever LOADED with fruit! Clusters like this throughout the entire plant! I would certainly grow these again.
And, they were the first plants to give us ripe fruit, too! ...which I have also been enjoying for breakfast while I water the garden. These were delicious... *grin*
I mentioned in part 1 of this garden post that the volunteer tomato plant is LOADED with blossoms. I wasn't kidding. Here is just one of the branches ... and each branch looks like this. The plant has set a lot of fruit, so if it manages to set these as well, whoa, will we have some tomatoes! Not bad for a volunteer. I'm kind of interested to see how it performs so I'm not planning on topping it off. I'll just keep watering it, and see how it grows. We're supposed to have some relatively "normal" weather for a while, so growth in the garden should be interesting to watch.
I can't forget to mention the Cherokee Purple tomatoes. They have set quite a few tomatoes -- we've even had 1 ripe one that was ubber delicious! I can't wait for these babies to ripen up! YUM!!
And finally, the friends in the dill. We are up to at least 4, possibly 5, swallowtail caterpillars in the dill now. This little guy is only about 1" long. It's kind of painful to watch them as they munch on my dill, but I'm willing to share with the butterflies.
Hope you're enjoying the weekend, and the last bit of June!
Wow, I sure enjoy seeing your garden grow. Cute watermelon - hope they make it. How nice to eat a tomato for breakfast each morning. Thanks for the update!
Posted by: Troy Louise | July 01, 2013 at 12:51 PM
LOOKING GOOD! I am always amazed at how much you squeeze into small spaces! And how far ahead of us you are. We are weeks away from any tomatoes. Zuc's soon and some new potaoes already. Yummy.
Posted by: carol dee | June 30, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Anna, the garden looks beautiful and bountiful this year. Thank you for sharing with us the fruits (or should I say, vegetables) of your success! By the way, how's that boo-boo foot doing? Take care and sending along a big hug...Robin
Posted by: Robin Barwacz | June 30, 2013 at 06:24 AM
Is it really hard to grow watermelon? My parents had mention at one time about mating those kind of plants. Is it complicated? Carol M in TX/carolswingster77@aol.com
Posted by: Carol Meadows | June 30, 2013 at 05:54 AM
Wonderful to see all nature's bounty! Thanks for the update ;)
Rx
Posted by: Ruth S | June 30, 2013 at 04:01 AM
Your garden looks awesome! My hubby and I may finally next year be able to try gardening. We're almost to the point where he will be able to construct a building to hold all his business paraphernalia, and with the construction of that building means that we will be taking a bobcat to the rest of the property to get all the lava rock out and regrade the property. Pretty flowers and yummy veggies, here I come!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Nicholson | June 29, 2013 at 01:54 PM