Having a mid-June vacation is pretty hard on a garden. However, this year we didn’t have quite the huge flush of weeds that I expected. I guess the two-day push for weeding before we left helped a lot.
Our garden is in transition. The spring garden is about done, but the summer garden isn’t at full production just, yet.
The flea beetles have created havoc with the broccolini and mustard, so we didn’t get a crop from either bed of those. So, it is time to clean out those beds. The flea beetles have moved into the radishes. I am hoping they have enough growth to be able to fight the attacks and can still produce radishes. The cabbage and cauliflower have some bug problems. I have found tomato fruit worms…which came up from the dirt, so the insect covering did not help with them. The high winds the past couple of weeks let some cabbage moths into the netting…nothing like getting caught with the food I am trying to protect. 😭 I will probably resort to some diatomaceous earth to rid the caterpillars. I also have some neem oil or an essential oil spray to try, as well.
The summer garden is mostly planted, though I have had poor germination with my bush green beans, okra, and winter squash. I plan to replant more seeds this week and watch for critters that could be eating them. This week we put in our second planting of green beans. I am working hard at weeding. Steve is putting in some row cover to protect the walkways from so many weeds. We also started 4 trays of seeds for our fall garden. I also started two trays of microgreens for our produce boxes. I still need to plant a couple more trays of seeds for our fall garden.
With the high temps and wind, the gardens are a little stressed for water. We try to water an area only when it is apparent that the plants need water. The lettuce and flowers are struggling in the heat…coming to maturity at a much smaller size and are very quick to bolt (go to seed). Watering these more often helps the soil stay cool and relieves stress on the plants. I just don’t have enough hoses to water every part of the garden to cool off my lettuce. I would have to say that that is a downfall of companion planting…I have lettuce in 3 different garden areas, so it is hard to keep it all watered and cool when the plants they are growing with don’t need the frequent watering.
Our flower beds are producing. Planting for cut flowers is new to me. I foresee a lot of trial and error ahead of us. But, they make me smile when I go out to the garden. Gazanias are new to me and I think I like them! Not all the flowers are blooming, but I am getting excited!
There is always something to do in the garden…and I need to start putting up my own garlic scapes. Thinking about supper… We’ll have salad and …
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Hope you enjoyed the tour. ~Melissa
If you read off our website, click to follow our blog. (I am sure there is a link somewhere! LOL!) I’ll try to post garden updates and farm updates as time allows. And maybe a few recipes for your summer produce.
14 Acre Farm 
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