What did you do in the garden today?

[PopoMyers]

It's been busy around here, picking raspberries, marionberries, and Asian plums, with the yellow ones starting. Have been picking kale for the girls. Watering, weeding, pruning out finished berry branches. Ripped out some old and lower production raspberries to be replaced with better ones this winter/spring. Dahlias are getting ready to bloom. I had dug them all out last fall, so have a new bed that DH put together, planted.
Put support netting for my green beans and shelling beans, which turn out to be half runners. Last year they had fallen over, and got mildew on them while laying in the dampness. I have my fingers crossed that this will work better. Will soon put bags on the grapes before those pesky, fat raccoons raid me again.

 

[chickengr]

mostly watering. picking some tomatoes, zucchini and green beans. cucumber plants got stunted due to heat. planted them late.

 

[Sally PB]

So it’s safe to say your not a bug person?

I'm not a fan of destructive bugs. I have two hives of honeybees, and they are given the utmost respect.

 

[5.3acredream]

I've barely been in my garden. I admit that I hate the heat.

Looks like I'm taking heavy losses on the pumpkins- stupid squash borers. I picked a ton of raspberries yesterday and barely dented what's coming. I put them straight into the freezer. One of my grape varieties is ready and delicious. My pepper plants are producing bells like crazy. Looks like my guajillo plant is pretty finicky regarding blossom end rot. I'm hoping it stops getting sassy about our rain since I'd really like to dry them and use them. Tomatoes have been so-so this year. I tried a bunch of varieties but kind of accidentally majored in sauce type tomatoes. Striped Roma is a clear winner in this trial (flavor is great) but I do miss all my brandywines and such. I also tried sweet 100s and frankly, I strongly prefer the highly disease resistant Mountain Magic. I think the flavor was exceptional especially considering that it is bred for its disease resistance. So I won't be straying next year, I'll go back to the MM. I've tried sungolds (always splits) and striped bumblebee (good, not great) as well.

The ornamental scarlet runner beans are looking beautiful and have climbed my strings up the gas lamp and beyond. Lots and lots of butterfly activity and dragonflies.

 

[Sally PB]

One of my grape varieties is ready and delicious.

I know my grapes are nowhere near ready, but as a science experiment, I decided to taste one. The texture was like a hard, crisp apple, and the taste was as tart as a lemon.

 

[Minanora]

I'm growing a lot of peppers this year. On my Mirasol (Guajillo) pepper production... My plants are small and cranky from not getting watered regularly. But all my other varieties are making peppers. I need to eat them or get to preserving them.

I got a real harvest of tomatoes. Will be making salsa tonight!

Trying to catch up on chores. Wasn't able to use the tractor over the weekend, tire split on the front. Was not motivated to remove the wheel, it's blasted enormous and I'm not sure the impact driver I had with us was going to get that off anyway.

Planted more kabocha and long pie. Instead of planting more zucchini I picked tomatillos. Hard to kill those plants because they are so delicious. They are hiding my jalapenos though

Photos from Thursday morning. I haven't been out in the garden since Friday morning. Too busy. I will get out there today though.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I got some more trellis over the weekend for my peas, tried a little of the Swiss Chard in a salad and harvested trimmings off my bunching onions. Had to bust out a twist tie to keep a cucumber plant going up the cattle panel like I want it to.

Hot peppers are still struggling, but the single pepper that formed earlier in the season is now bright red.

I also saw a hummingbird and multiple bees around my beans this morning! Always good to see the pollinators at work.

 

[chicken opey]

I got to weed today. I was covered in sweat after first 10 minutes
Got my first lima bean harvest

 

[TJAnonymous]

Hey! Guess what I did today???

FINALLY got around to watering the garden!

I noticed a young witch hazel seedling was dying off due to lack of rain. Can't have that.... So I got my butt down there and watered. Picked about 8 tomatoes... There's more but that was all I could carry. Watered everything decently, although I'm sure it could use more. Looks like most of my strawberries died, or at least the foliage did. Lots of other stuff died off too - raspberries, asparagus, even my grapes, and lots of flowers... Came back to the house and saw a weather alert that it MIGHT sprinkle today. If it doesn't, I'll try to get down there later this evening and water some more.... Maybe even weed a little bit.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

I think the cucumbers are coming to an end…..thankfully. We have five large jars of kosher pickle, have made gallons (at least 10) of our cucumber/limeade, eaten a fair share, and have given some away…..and we still have a big bunch in the crisper drawer waiting their final destination with some still coming on. They’ven been quite the troopers this year.

Did you plant a particular variety you like? I'm always looking for good recommendations!