News from the garden

Just when we think it will be dry, it rains. Candace and the kids have made two trips out to the “farm” to dust the garden with Sevin Dust for bugs. Of course, 30 minutes after they left it RAINED! Thankfully we have not noticed a large number of bugs or have had much damage, but we have to be proactive on this. I have seen bugs ruin a plant overnight here in the country.

We are also seeing lots of deer tracks in and around the garden but not seeing any damage (yet). I have been told to use coyote urine in the garden to stop this problem, however have not yet figured out how to get the coyotes to urinate in the garden. Do you put up signs or invite them over? I know that many dog parks put fire hydrants out – do coyotes understand what a fire hydrant is used for? Guess I’ll have to research this and report back when I have more information.

I have now had my first salad made with fresh grown garden ingredients. Tomato, lettuce and cucumber! Wonderful! We have only harvested two small tomatoes and four small cucumbers from the garden, but they were very good! Thank you to Candace for the lettuce. I worried that it would grow and kept watch over it for weeks, then all of a sudden it was there!!!

The squash plants are putting on blooms like crazy. I am not a squash eater, so hope that James or Candace are. I do have a recipe for squash relish so might try that out. Will have to find someone who will volunteer to taste-test it for me.

I am really excited that the watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon vines are taking off like they are. Marty is going to see about getting some hay to put under the melons as they begin to grow to get them off the dirt. Do not know if this will do anything, but sounds good to me. I don’t remember any hay in the watermelon fields in Elkhart, but the soil there is sandier than here we have a lot of clay in the soil here.

This is the first year we have had apples! I do not know anything about apples, and do not know if these are green apples, red apples or what! If it’s anything like the pears, the birds will harvest them before we do. We also have pears and peaches not to forget my favorite’s blueberries! Nothing tastes better than fresh blueberries right off the bush. I have one or two bags left in the freezer from last year and am thinking about making some cobbler or some blueberry syrup.

Enjoy the photos from our garden!