A day in the garden - Growing, growing, growing

How my garden grows - Visualize Whirled Peas

Our garden has started to produce a nice little crop of peas . . . and they are darned sweet little peas.  Half of them didn't even make it home . . . I just popped the pods and nommed 'em right then and there.  



How do you know when to pick peas?  If you pick them at just the right time they are amazingly sweet right out of the pod.  If you let them hang on the vine too long the get a "mealy" texture and aren't as sweet.  Ideally, the peas should be round and green. 

If the peas are kind of square and pale green, then they've been on the plant too long.  


They might also start to curve and develop a pronounced texture on the outside of the pod if left a very long time.

The good news is that you can tell when a pea pod is just ripe for the picking and when it's gone past it's prime before you open the pod. The old pods will feel fuller and they will be lighter in color . . . not a bright, vivid green. 


Pick the peas everyday as they're ready.  If you only have one or two pods you can enjoy them as a fresh little snack or freeze until you have enough to use. 


If the peas have passed perfection, you can use them in soup or dry them.

How my garden grows - Powdery mildew on my zucchini plants!

The leaves on my zucchini plants are covered with a powdery mildew and they are dying.   It’s upsetting because the plants were hearty and vivid and now this. 

Almost no type of plant is immune, however some are more susceptible than others . . . like my zucchini plants. 

Although powdery mildew is unattractive, it is rarely fatal. However it does stress the plant and severe or repetitive infections will weaken the plant. If enough of the leaf surface becomes covered with powdery mildew, photosynthesis is impaired. Infected leaves often fall prematurely. This can be a particular problem on edible crops, since insufficient photosynthesis can diminish the flavor of the fruit or vegetable. If buds become infected, they may not open and mature at all.

The spores are in the ground.  They can be transferred to the plant by wind, insects and splashing water.

Unfortunately, the all the recent rain followed by high humidity encourage this mildew.  Once spores have germinated they continue to grow even in very dry weather. Unchecked, this disease can spread rapidly and significantly reduce crops.

You can prevent the spread of the mildew by removing and destroying the infected parts.  This isn’t an option for me since a large part of my plant is infected . . . I don’t think
k the plant would survive that much amputation. 

It is suggested that you don’t fertilized until the problem is corrected because the mildew favors new growth.  And, it also helps to not water from above . . . which I don’t do in any case.

You can use a chemical fungicide.  However, I found an organic solution which is the preferred method in our community garden.   Milk . . . it is believed that the antibiotic qualities of pasteurized milk impede the germination of powdery mildew spores.

Dilute one part organic cows milk with between five to ten parts water. Stronger solutions can encourage other fungi, like sooty mould, to develop. Spray the solution during the cool of the morning to reduce the risk of foliage being burned in intense sunshine before it dries. Wet both sides of leaves and stems until it begins to drip off. Reapply after rain or irrigation, which rinses this non-persistent solution off. It is most effective when applied in the early stages of infection.

 Fortunately, we have some fruit growing and I'm looking forward to many more.

A day in the garden - Stuff's growin'!

A day in the garden - Bumble Bees

A day in the garden - Zucchini Blossoms

A day in the garden - I'm so excited I could pea my plants!!

A day in the garden

How my garden grows - Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study

Generally speaking, when it comes to our vegetable garden I prefer to let Mother Nature take her course.  After all, she’s been growing plants a lot longer than I have.  The exception being that we put up a trellis for our pea plants to climb and put in cages to support our tomato plants.  Of course, I weed and water and fertilize regularly to help ol’ Mom out.

However, when our tomato plants started to blossom while also looking a bit spindly and straggly, we decided to take a more hands-on approach.

Many of the “experts” advice that I’ve read say that if a healthy plant is between 1.5 and 2 feet tall that you should let the plants flower and begin to set fruit.  They say that the first fruit to form is always the largest and earliest. And that your yield will be better if you let them produce.

Our plants fit right into the 1.5 and 2 feet tall category except that they’re not looking all that happy.   

Experts also say that sickly plants should be given the opportunity to get healthy before allowing them to begin the sexual cycle.  This can be done by pinching off the first blossoms to allow all the nutrients to flow into the growth of the plant.  Obviously, we don't want our plant’s energy going into making fruit before energy has been devoted solely to forming strong stems and healthy foliage.  In my opinion, a larger more robust plant can better support the fruits to come.

All of our plants had one tier of flowers . . . one even had a tiny green tomato . . .  so I pinched off the blossoms on each of them.  By doing this, all the nutrients that would have been directed to the production of tomatoes will go back into the plant and help it to grow big and strong. 

Some other worthwhile advice is to prune the lowest leaves off the plant . . . those that are touching the ground or within a few inches of the ground.  This will prevent them from touching the ground and coming in contact with pests and diseases that may infect the plant.

I also gently move growing stems up and out of the cage to maximize sunlight exposure, air circulation and  provide maximum support for the growing plant

How my garden grows - We have met the enemy and he is . . . a bug

Cucumber beetles . . . harmless looking but devastating.  The larvae look like hairy horse snots, the juveniles are a longer yellow bug with racing stripes and the adults look like large rust colored ladybugs. They may look a bit like lady bugs but they are in no way beneficial to your garden . . . especially your cucumber and squash plants.     

I wrote about these evil critters when they appeared in my garden last year  . . . see this post and that post.  Yeah . . . they're back.  I am not going to allow them the pleasure of munching on my plants.  I will take whatever action necessary to eradicate these little buggers from my garden.

Spotted cucumber beetles do not overwinter in northern areas but migrate in from southern states each year, arriving around June.  Look for them every couple of days . . .  since cucumber beetles like shade, examine the undersides of cotyledons, young leaves, and stems.

The good news is that they have natural predators: Tachnid flies, soldier beetles, parasitic nematodes and braconid wasps. Lacewings and ladybugs eat the eggs.  And, bats.

Some effective cultural controls are spreading any type of onion skins on the soil around the planted areas and deep mulch of straw or other organic materials tohelp prevent the larvae from emerging from the soil and keep immature insects from walking from plant to plant.  

They don’t like radishes so, plant radish seeds right in the hills with the cucumber or squash plants. Also, any type of beans are a deterrent.

Since they like the shade, trick them!  Flatten a square of aluminum foil around the base of plants to bounce light on the undersides of leaves. This also helps the plants in giving them more light!

I am going to try my homemade insecticide against them; which is completely organic.  However, chemical insecticides are also effective against all stages of the cucumber beetle life cycle . . . but, obviously, not organic.

A day in the garden - update

Hubby and I went away for a week for a much needed and well deserved vacation.  I was worried about the garden . . . was it getting enough water, would the weeds be taking over, did some beastie ravage the plants?


I was happily surprised . . . mostly.  The tomato plants looked a little wilted and there is A LOT of weeding to do, but overall the garden looks pretty darn good.


The pea plants vines are managing to find their way to the fencing we set up for them to climb.  There's purslane popping up all over, I can't wait for a yummy salad of the greens!  There are developments in the radish and jalapeño plants . . . they are starting to bear fruit!  An unexpected surprise was bean plants popping up miscellaneously all over the garden . . . we didn't plant them but there they are . . . I can't wait to see what kind of beans they turn into because I have no clue.  And, finally, I planted a couple of sunflower plants given to me by the innkeeper of the motel where we stayed (and always stay) on our vacation.


I love to see the progress that can be seen from day to day . . . stay tuned!

I've lead a peas-full life

As long as I can remember there have been peas in  my life.  From when I was a little girl until I was a teenager, my mom always had a garden and peas were a staple.  


I would help her pick the peas, shuck them into a bowl and can them.


It's a comforting memory of my childhood past.

As a preschooler I remember sitting cross-legged in front of the television watching Sesame Street while eating ketchup sandwiches . . . yeah, you read that right, ketchup on white bread.



One episode I distinctly remember is Kermit the Frog reporting on the Princess and the Pea.  


It turns out the princess actually could feel the pea through all those mattresses!  

One of my very first books was a book of poetry for children.  In elementary school they sent home a catalog for Scholastic Books and I was always allowed to buy one or two. 

It's kind of funny, but the only poem I recall out of that book was Peas with Honey.

And then there was School House Rock.  Conjunction Junction?  My favorite song!  

Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.

Yep, there's peas in the lyrics . . . go figure.  

As a teenager I discovered Men at Work.  They are one of my all-time favorite bands. Who can forget "Who Can it Be Now" and "Down Under"?


Great songs but one of their best songs, in my oh-so-humble opinion is "Settle Down My Boy" from their Cargo album.  That is . . . a record album.  You know those round vinyl things with a hole in the middle?  Yep . . . one of those.

And then as a young bride, I copied down my favorite recipe cards of meals my mom made for  me as a child.  A common meal growing up was creamed tuna and peas over rice.  It is an inexpensive meal that is filling, and delicious.  It's perfect for a couple struggling to be on their own for the first time.

And, now, I've come full circle . . . I've got a garden of my own and I'm growing peas.  Lots and lots of peas.  Their just little sprouts right now but I'm looking forward to picking, shucking and canning them . . . just like I did when I was a little girl.


Pretty cool, huh?

How my garden grows - The fox never found a better messenger than himself

I visit our garden every morning to weed, water, and just enjoy.  I love being out there at the crack of dawn just as the sun is rising and nature is waking up.  The birds start chirping, the parrots start squawking . . . yes, parrots (more on them another time).  I even get to see the occasional deer and bunny.  I like seeing them although I know that they’d love nothing more than to om-nom-nominate my garden.

But there's a new kid in town . . . and it was kind of cool to see him, too!  I saw this foxy fellow while I was doing my daily gardening chores.  He appeared out of the weeds, took a leisurely look around and then trotted away.  Neato!

Red foxes are common throughout our area, although this is the first time I’ve seen one up this close and personal. 

The red fox has a reddish coat, black legs and ears, and long, white-tipped, bushy tail.  They average 10 to 11 pounds and measure between 39 and 43 inches long, including the tail. So, they are typically smaller than a medium sized dog. 

Red foxes prefer to inhabit a mixture of forest and open fields, which is exactly the environment the garden is situated in.  They usually live in small family groups, not in packs.  They can be active at any time of day, but appear to hunt most often during dawn and dusk. It is not unusual to observe foxes during daytime, so if you see one don’t freak out and think it’s rabid.  Foxes can become accustomed to human activity but are seldom aggressive toward people.

Like people, foxes are omnivorous.  They eat small rodents, squirrels, woodchucks, rabbits, birds and eggs, amphibians, and reptiles; foxes also like vegetation, fruits, and insects.

So, I’m glad to have this new addition to the garden.  As much as I like Bambi and Thumper, I don’t want them eating my garden. 

Between our fence and the fox, I hope we have a successful crop this year!

How my garden grows - In order to live off a garden, you practically have to live in it

It’s clear that plants need water to survive . . . from the moment the seed is put into the soil until the last harvest proper watering  or your garden is essential.  Depending on the plant, most vegetables are made up of 60% to 85% water . . . some even 95%!  

You can’t count on mother nature to take full responsibility for providing all the water your garden needs throughout the growing season.  After all, you’re little garden is just a speck and she has the whole earth to worry about.

So, you must take responsibility for watering and taking care of your plants.  As summer progresses, water evaporates from plant leaves and the soil more rapidly.  This means you need to water more often.

The best time to water your garden is early in the morning.  This gives the water a chance to absorb into the soil before the sun gets strong and the moisture begins to evaporate.  And, your plants will be happier if their not soaking wet all night long.

It's really important that your garden gets a good soaking when you water to promote a deep root system.   A light sprinkling can often do more harm than no water at all because it stimulates the roots to come to the surface, where they are killed by exposure to the sun.   Not good.

Soil can only absorb so much moister in a given time, so I water long enough for the water to soak down at least 2 inches into the soil.  I water for about 30 minutes each morning.

Keep in mind that what's good for my garden is not necessarily what is right for yours.  The type of soil you have, its composition, condition and how well it retains moisture makes a big difference.  It also depends on your climate and weather conditions.  

Always be sure to prepare your soil before you plant.  We tilled in lots of organic material and compost before we set our plants.  Soil that's been enriched with organic material will hold water better.  

Tilled soil also adds the advantage of allowing the plants to develop a larger root system.  A larger root system needs less water to sustain it. 

Also, depending on the plant depends on how you should water it.  Most plants can take most of the water from above . . . after all that's how Mother Nature does it.    But flowering plants like zucchini and cucumbers should be watered from the ground level when they are in blossom.  This is because you don't want to fill the flowers up with water or wash the pollen away . . . if that happens the bees can't get busy doing what it is they do and you will have less veggies to show for your effort.

Water often, water well . . . your veggies will thank you!

A day in the garden