Grow Your Own – Lurking Beneath The Foliage
by John Weckerle
Today's Harvest
Vegetable gardeners always wonder what’s going on while they’re on vacation. We had our good friend, Russ, watering while we were gone, and the beds came through with flying colors. Well, mostly one color – green – but we’re sure our readers get the picture. In fact, the foliage had developed to the point that several zucchini were hiding in Bed 3 well enough to grow to extra-large status (forearm length in two cases). Growing zucchini large is generally not recommended, as they taste better at about medium size. Bed 1 gave us another three green bell peppers this morning. Eggplants are still relatively small. There is also a mountain of kale and a good bit of chard in Bed 1, so we’ll definitely be eating our greens this week. Hmm… Zucchini, yellow squash, kale, bell peppers; some of this could be the beginning of another batch of wyngette soup.
As for Bed 2, tomatoes are still small and green, and it looks as if we’re losing one (but only one as far as we can see) to blossom end rot. We may yet get some out of the deal. Bed 2 is also home to the winter squash, and we can see an acorn squash and two spaghetti squashes hiding in there already. The parsley’s looking good, as are all the other herbs over in Bed 1.
Next year, we’re thinking of doing something different and creating Bed 4, which would be a more traditional double-dug raised bed. This would allow for a greater rooting depth for crops like tomatoes and eggplant.
3 Responses “Grow Your Own – Lurking Beneath The Foliage”
I won’t purchase any of your chopped ham on the lam, but I will trade you two cucumbers and some Roma tomatoes for 15 regular bell peppers … if you ever get them.
I’m skeptical that I’ll actually get 15 peppers this season, all things considered. None of the nightshades – bell peppers, tomatoes, or eggplant – seem to have done well in the “adapted square-foot-gardening” model I’ve tried. I continue to suspect that they need greater rooting depths and more phosphorous. I for one would like to know how you’re getting your Romas to produce!
She Who Must Be Obeyed has the credit. I could wing it, but I’m sure I’d get it wrong.
We must have a hundred or so Romas (one plant) mostly green but we have harvested around ten.
We have four other plants with different varities, all with plenty of green fruit.
Either come by and have a cup or glass and we’ll show you what she has done or call her and she’ll share the info.
Also, one of our friends planted in bales of straw and has been watering with rain water. She has Godzilla Zuchini and very healthy tomato pants.
I was kidding about the swap, we’ll be happy to share with you.