tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post4202046299585941234..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: Harvest Monday - July 10, 2017Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-21037808815295021962017-07-21T11:35:18.462-04:002017-07-21T11:35:18.462-04:00You are so right! Things are so far behind and I ...You are so right! Things are so far behind and I don't really seem to be harvesting anywhere near as much (and certainly not the variety) that I have in years past. I suppose the good news is that these types of things are usually "one-offs" - everyone goes through a super bad year once in a while. I'm just going along for the ride at this point - no fall plantings for me, other than some lettuce (and I'm debating about getting some Kossak kohlrabi in the ground too but that's about it). In fact, I've already cleared a couple of beds and am planning on putting them "to bed" until next year with a covering of straw - an no guilt about that either!<br /><br />The great thing about vegetable gardening is the every year provides you with a clean slate. Chin up, Jennifer - you and I have to remember the gardeners motto...Next year will be (A LOT!!) better :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-21264035950881713882017-07-21T09:53:29.764-04:002017-07-21T09:53:29.764-04:00Oh Margaret - ditto ditto ditto! Just last night I...Oh Margaret - ditto ditto ditto! Just last night I was ruminating to Josh about how this is seeming to be a bad year. Normally, I should be enjoying tomatoes from the garden, but this year I have maybe three very green tomatoes on my 10 plants - and it seems like they've been green for a long time. Everything just seems to be behind or stunted. Pests are out in force, they seem much worse this year. I just don't know what to do.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04343685271510850819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-50197233104851491972017-07-17T10:13:34.004-04:002017-07-17T10:13:34.004-04:00Yes, very frustrating!! I've just started som...Yes, very frustrating!! I've just started some more lettuce as well - I started them indoors and will be transplanting them in another week or so.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-53146087524709550692017-07-16T23:06:10.455-04:002017-07-16T23:06:10.455-04:00Oh, I want your lettuce! Mine is done, and the see...Oh, I want your lettuce! Mine is done, and the seeds I planted just gave out with the heat and humidity. I'll have to wait until the fall, I guess. Yes, I feel your pain with the wascally wabbits and the Japanese beetles. Both are so frustrating!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-65089906970094290602017-07-12T19:36:03.367-04:002017-07-12T19:36:03.367-04:00HA! And header would have rabbit silhouettes on b...HA! And header would have rabbit silhouettes on both sides topped with big red no symbols...Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-29380233996973881922017-07-12T16:44:30.536-04:002017-07-12T16:44:30.536-04:00Perhaps we should start an organization to educate...Perhaps we should start an organization to educate the public about the real story behind all those so-called "cute" rabbits. How's this for a name: SOAR - Stamp Out All Rabbits.Jasonhttp://gardeninacity.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-71845357339854707262017-07-12T13:19:19.280-04:002017-07-12T13:19:19.280-04:00The rabbits don't seem to bother anything unde...The rabbits don't seem to bother anything under netting (yet!) so I'm at least thankful for that!<br /><br />Never say never, K! I said the exact same thing last year about tomato hornworms in a comment on someones blog and within a week or two I found a whopper on a tomato plant - yuck!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-60828373028950515042017-07-12T13:18:03.087-04:002017-07-12T13:18:03.087-04:00Exactly - there are always bad years but the good ...Exactly - there are always bad years but the good ones make up for it. You also learn a lesson or two when things go bad, so I would say that increases your odds of more good years further down the line :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-20252607270689632922017-07-12T13:17:29.256-04:002017-07-12T13:17:29.256-04:00Cabbage whites are among the first butterflies to ...Cabbage whites are among the first butterflies to come out and the last to leave, unfortunately for us. I took my netting off the kale in late September last year, thinking that it was late enough to avoid any issues. What a mistake...I was picking worms out of the curly kale from there on in. Learned my lesson on that one!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-48994508424275581532017-07-12T13:15:54.839-04:002017-07-12T13:15:54.839-04:00Kohlrabi was a revelation - I first grew it a few ...Kohlrabi was a revelation - I first grew it a few years ago and didn't much like it, but that was all down to the variety (Early Vienna) - it was MUCH too cabbagy. I tried Kolibri the following year and WOW - what a difference! My faves at the moment, both of which are tender and sweet are Kolibri and Kossak (which gets HUGE btw).<br /><br />Aahh rain - we are "supposed" to get some this afternoon - fingers crossed!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-9121474123239447932017-07-12T13:13:32.565-04:002017-07-12T13:13:32.565-04:00This is definitely one of those years! Only a veg...This is definitely one of those years! Only a veg gardener would look at all the netting and chicken wire in my garden with understanding and appreciation :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-44034925534510822302017-07-11T21:49:49.724-04:002017-07-11T21:49:49.724-04:00Ick, I feel lucky that I've never had the pota...Ick, I feel lucky that I've never had the potato beetles before. Rabbits I have dealt with, and they can be extremely frustrating. My raised bed and hardware cloth fence combination is working so far. Despite the awful pests, your kohlrabi and peas look great.khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04618838407160052772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-70945846790435511802017-07-11T21:49:15.058-04:002017-07-11T21:49:15.058-04:00I am sorry you are having so many pest problems th...I am sorry you are having so many pest problems this year but it is good to see also what you are harvesting. I guess that is the way with gardening. Some good years and some bad. Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-65724733091162647502017-07-11T14:40:07.355-04:002017-07-11T14:40:07.355-04:00Pesky beasties make our life as veg growers hard, ...Pesky beasties make our life as veg growers hard, but we strive on. We have a problem with slugs, last year was bad and the white cabbage butterfly laying eggs on brassica continues. Still I envy your marvellous harvest, especially the Russian kale and kohlrabi. Shaheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03602971207085826708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-21586121981155304122017-07-11T08:12:23.367-04:002017-07-11T08:12:23.367-04:00I have been experiencing pest problems galore this...I have been experiencing pest problems galore this season so I feel your pain. Rabbits, woodchucks, deer and gypsy moth caterpillars which now seem to have died without pupating...a good thing. Today I sit reading as the rain pours down. I am thankful for the rain. Your harvest looks bountiful, really. I should try that kohlrabi. Yours looks wonderful.Layaneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03711709343178927400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-2925024391870099572017-07-11T04:04:51.453-04:002017-07-11T04:04:51.453-04:00Some years pests seem to overwhelm us, don't t...Some years pests seem to overwhelm us, don't they? We don't have quite as many big ones as you though. Outwitting them is all part of the cycle, even if sometimes you wish you could round them all up and fly them off to the moon!!Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04088445398141526800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-19906124694134925672017-07-10T22:34:37.707-04:002017-07-10T22:34:37.707-04:00Oy - that is quite the list! I've never even ...Oy - that is quite the list! I've never even heard of a couple of them (wood/kangaroo rats - yikes!). That is so incredibly frustrating having lost all of those plants - sometimes this type of situation just makes you want to throw your hands up and surrender. But we push on because the good generally outweighs the bad. With all of those rodents, though, I'm thinking that some type of electric fencing may not be out of the question!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-90934874243465689742017-07-10T22:29:35.978-04:002017-07-10T22:29:35.978-04:00Yup - I wash/dry it then cut it up and freeze it i...Yup - I wash/dry it then cut it up and freeze it in freezer bags. The pieces stay separate so you just take out what you need - The couple of bags usually lasts me the entire year as I mainly use them for dips/dressing.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-21162341831809582882017-07-10T22:05:37.334-04:002017-07-10T22:05:37.334-04:00Oh wow, well at least I don't have potato bugs...Oh wow, well at least I don't have potato bugs. But I do have every stinking rodent you can think of! pack rats, wood rats, kangaroo rats, chipmunks, ground squirrels, cottontails and jack rabbits. So far very few large tomatoes and zero cantaloupe. Between them all almost no broccoli this spring either, and no cauliflower at all, out of about 150 plants. I sooo sympathize! Our spring was about 6 weeks early!Mary Hysonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761108134258243637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-24237273879997806042017-07-10T19:06:24.683-04:002017-07-10T19:06:24.683-04:00My rabbits cut through the plastic fence so I had ...My rabbits cut through the plastic fence so I had to add chicken wire. Beautiful harvest, that's a lot of scape, did you freeze some?norma changhttp://gardentowok.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59689986584732125672017-07-10T18:40:29.772-04:002017-07-10T18:40:29.772-04:00If I had a choice, I would much prefer dry to wet ...If I had a choice, I would much prefer dry to wet weather - not only do many pests/diseases thrive in wet weather, it's also beyond our ability to control. Of course, if we were in drought conditions, I would probably feel differently.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-11975683014844952952017-07-10T18:37:22.683-04:002017-07-10T18:37:22.683-04:00Agreed! And it's usually somewhat limp to boo...Agreed! And it's usually somewhat limp to boot...or at least doesn't have anywhere near the crisp, fresh texture of homegrown. Who knows how long it's been sitting around in trucks/boxes before it ends up at the grocery store - it's no wonder it starts to go bad so quickly.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-7567448908853138142017-07-10T18:27:50.866-04:002017-07-10T18:27:50.866-04:00Such a shame when pests ruin your efforts. At leas...Such a shame when pests ruin your efforts. At least our really dry weather isn't good for slugs but the snails can cope.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59633445265138982822017-07-10T17:57:21.035-04:002017-07-10T17:57:21.035-04:00I feel your pain with those rabbits! And I'm w...I feel your pain with those rabbits! And I'm with you on the lettuce too - it's never lowly here either. I pulled all of my spring lettuce since it was touch and bitter. I have some summer varieties planted, but they won't be ready for a couple of weeks so I had to buy some. I find the grocery lettuce to be mostly tasteless.Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-37615901040397143152017-07-10T15:48:08.174-04:002017-07-10T15:48:08.174-04:00Thanks :) Ha - you said it when it comes to lettu...Thanks :) Ha - you said it when it comes to lettuce, Will! Whenever people see a bursting lettuce patch with fresh, crisp leaves and have a taste, they usually change their tune.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.com