The Summer Garden

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

New Watermelon.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

New Cucumbers.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Okra.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Okra Pod.

 

[driphoney]

What ya gonna do with that okra?

Nice pics, by the way.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Stew it.

I'm not a great okra fan but its tasty in gumbo or stewed. Like eating hot snot

 

[driphoney]

In gumbo it's perfect, and I've had some palatable fried okra. But it's about like approaching foreign food to my Northern sensibilities.

I still have some straggling tomatoes, and one of my vines has picked up production since we've had rain the last few days. Pretty much everything else needs to come out of there so I can start again.

 

[SeaCat]

In gumbo it's perfect, and I've had some palatable fried okra. But it's about like approaching foreign food to my Northern sensibilities.

I still have some straggling tomatoes, and one of my vines has picked up production since we've had rain the last few days. Pretty much everything else needs to come out of there so I can start again.

Cut up that Okra then roll it in Corn Meal seasoned with a bit of Garlic, Salt and Pepper before deep frying it. Nothing better.

Cat

 

[driphoney]

Cut up that Okra then roll it in Corn Meal seasoned with a bit of Garlic, Salt and Pepper before deep frying it. Nothing better.

Cat

Then dunk it in ketchup?

 

[SeaCat]

Then dunk it in ketchup?

Some do, my wife for example. I don't.

Cat

 

[Loring2]

Everything

Looks just marvelous James .. eat well.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Okra is popular around here.

 

[Austin8]

Okra is popular around here.

here too, I like okra, but my dad says better tuck your pants leg into the top of your boots, before you eat it. Ha!

 

[driphoney]

here too, I like okra, but my dad says better tuck your pants leg into the top of your boots, before you eat it. Ha!

Must be an Austin Hippy thing. I never see it here.

Your dad says some interesting things.

 

[Austin8]

Must be an Austin Hippy thing. I never see it here.

Your dad says some interesting things.

He doesn't like it and he's old. However all forms are popular, pickled, stewed with tomatoes, fried in cornmeal or flour, gumbo, etc...

I can't wait to make hot sauce from my peppers!

no tomatoes though.

 

[driphoney]

He doesn't like it and he's old. However all forms are popular, pickled, stewed with tomatoes, fried in cornmeal or flour, gumbo, etc...

I can't wait to make hot sauce from my peppers!

no tomatoes though.

I have tomatoes. Today I caught the cutest, sweetest little birdettes singing a merry song while doing very inconsiderate things to my tomatoes!

How dare they!

 

[RunningJib]

How cool is that?

New Watermelon.

How long has your garden been in?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

How long has your garden been in?

I planted the seeds June 1st. I'm already picking okra and bush cucumbers, and my watermelons are the size of softballs.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

3 DAYS LATER its 4" in diameter.

 

[RunningJib]

I'm envious

I planted the seeds June 1st. I'm already picking okra and bush cucumbers, and my watermelons are the size of softballs.

New garden patch this year. Mostly clay. We refer to it as the "killing field." Spent the weekend amending the soil with sand and compost (that I purchased).

However, the pumpkins are looking good. Just blossoms thus far

Thanks for posting

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It Now Has The Dull Patina And A Bright Yellow Patch On The Bottom, So Its Close To Picking.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Aphids.

I discovered that spraying veggies with water works better than almost anything to rid them of aphids. Turn the water ON to low pressure, adjust the nozzle to a high pressure spray, then blast the little bastards to Hell.

Screwing around with soap and peppermint oil takes forever; the water blast is immediate.

 

[driphoney]

That melon is impressive! So fast!

It's time to pull my plants (talk about killing fields!) and start fresh. We've had a lot of rain lately and my back is still only about 60%. Bending and stretching is still out of the question, but I'm itching to tear it all out.

The rain did bring a few tomatoes, but I'm reminded of what you, JBJ, said about aging plants. Those tomatoes should be huge by now, but are already turning red and are pretty small.

Things I've learned: Water more!; how to make garlic spray; herbs are fun and not to be feared; there's a reason red tomatoes are more popular, those yellow/orange ones are too tart.

Things I need to work on: Bugs and molds/fungi; clipping and training vining type garden plants; continued amending; container gardening.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Ha! Dont take my advice, I dont know nuthin! But I'm harvesting cucumbers already, and the watermelons-cantaloupes will be ready very soon. I just planted everything on June 1st. Six weeks, maybe? Even the new batch of tomatoes are swelling up.

I hit upon a process to go from start to harvest in about 60 days. Thats from seed to first fruit picked. Sixty days is about 2 weeks to one month less than normal.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Everyone talks out their asses about how to tell when a watermelon is ready to pick. But I found a way that eliminates all the astrology, palm reading, and bull shit. MEASURE THE GODDAMN MELON! When it stops growing give it a few days to concentrate its sugar then pick it.

I wrap a tape around my guys every day or so to measure the circumference. When the number dont increase for a couple of days I let it sit for 2 more days, measure again, and pick.