Garden Menace is Back

Japanese Beetle Infestation, 2010

Rose bush devastation.

I guess we can add okra to the list of plants the Japanese beetle will devour.

This has just been in the last few days.

The okra planted in the same box as the tomatoes hasn't been eaten nearly as much.  Wonder why.

My attempts at "organic" pest control: a small container with some rubbing alcohol in the bottom, and short stick to knock the beetles into it. Very effective, except when I went back to water there were just as many covering the leaves again.

They haven't seemed to notice the beans yet.  They are bush beans, rather than pole beans--I wonder if that makes a difference.  Also, I wouldn't care if they ate the scarlet runner beans, since I just wanted the pretty flowers anyway, but they haven't seemed to notice those either. 

I haven't looked at the apple tree, but I'm sure it looks just as bad.

I need to find out their range--I'm hoping I won't have to deal with them in Washington!

Box 4: Potatoes & Peas Done

Perhaps it's just the "Yukon Gold" variety that can't take the summer heat.

I guess we harvested them middle of July last year, too.  They may hang on for that long--kind of doubtful, though.

Side view. Peas still have some new growth, but are pretty much done too.

There is one random volunteer tomato plant in this bed as well, that is climbing the trellis all on its own.

Also, the onions seem to still be doing fine.

Maybe I'll give them one more week, then pull out potatoes and peas.  If I can get something planted before the real heat begins, it will have a much better chance of surviving without us.

The Secret Garden

Okay, check out these volunteer tomato plants!  They are creating a mini tomato jungle of their own, right here between Box #3 and the fence.  They appear to all be cherry tomatoes so far--must be from the ones that didn't get eaten last year and fell on the ground.  It is not good soil at all, I can hardly believe they are thriving back there.

Box 3: Beans, Peppers, Okra

The vigorous climbers are the scarlet runner beans.  Pretty flowers.

First round of bush beans will be ready to pick this week.

Basil we used in a dish last Sunday--the other two herbs are struggling.  Probably crowded out by the big plants all around them. Perhaps a good reason to put them in the flower bed next time.

These little heart-shaped peppers are growing well.  Gives me hope that we may actually get to harvest a couple before we move.  Looking back, these are the "Sweet Pimento" variety.  Good to know.

Pretty okra flower.

Box 2: Tomato Jungle

Whole lotta tomatoes and one lonely okra.

These were dragging low, so I tied some yarn between trellis and tomato cage to give them a little more support.

Sun Sugars going strong.

More to come.

Box 1: Zucchini Big and Bold

Even though only one seedling survived, it has proved to be enough for zucchini's box take-over plans. At least it is propping up the tomato, and provided a place to climb for the cucumbers.

Peppers are growing tall, though you can't tell in this picture, and the nasturtium is actually still hanging on. 

Aww, look everyone! It's a baby cantaloupe! Isnt' it darling?

I do like the fuzzy softness.  There are a few more that I've seen on the vine as well.

I've threaded this one through the trellis several times now, trying to keep it up off the ground.  I think at this point if it climbs anymore it will make it over to the honeysuckle.  I guess at that point I won't stop it.

Green Zebra tomatoes. 

One question: if they're supposed to be green, how do you tell when they're ripe?

Early Harvest

While our company was here last week, we had the kids help harvest the garden.

Quite a variety!  There were beets, cucumbers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and a few onions.

Mom H. made zucchini bread, and we cooked up the beets for Sunday dinner.  The rest were eaten fresh.

Beets, ready to boil and peel.

Mom H. told me you need to leave about an inch of stem on them, and the root tail while they boil, otherwise the color will all come out. Once they've boiled, you just run them under cold water and the skins come right off.

The greens you just rinse well, then steam like spinach leaves (they taste quite similar as well.)

Yesterday's Harvest

Smaller ones are cucumbers, bigger are zucchini.

I've got a recipe for zucchini pancakes that I want to try.

More cucumbers, last of the peas, some cherry tomatoes, and 3 okra!

I'll have to learn to cook okra, I guess. One friend suggested just cutting them up for soups and stews.  Also, I've thought about adding them to a casserole.