The Dawg Patch

[GoDawgs]

Today is gonna be stinkin' hot; 98 with a heat factor around 103. I hand watered the garden really well early evening yesterday except for the four rows of Silver Queen. As soon as I finish this I'll set up the ladder sprinkler and give it a good long drink. A few leaves were just starting to look very slightly spikey last night.

Last night I raked out all the mulch under the quad pod where I had pulled out the funked up pole beans. As I filled a few more buckets to replace it with new I noticed how much the leaf pile has shrunk and not just from the beginning of decomposition. This past fall Pickles hoovered up a ton of leaves to make the pile and we've used a lot of them. You can see by the ring of bare soil around the edges the difference between then and now. Due to settling the pile is about half as tall as it was when new.

24.06.14 Remainder of fall leaf pile.JPG

I don't think I'll be needing much now that everything is mulched except for a little now and then to add to thin spots. Hopefully there's enough left for the fall garden as a lot of that stuff gets planted before the leaves start coming down again.

Time to go do the morning garden inspection, water the corn and go back out in the evening.

[JayneR13]

It's going to be a steamy set of days here starting tomorrow! After morning tea I'm heading out to my own garden, to lay the final hose, then up to the food pantry garden just to make sure it's getting watered. There are no guarantees in life, other than death and taxes, and I didn't put that kind of time in rehabbing that garden to just let it die. And honestly, it's good to see your compost pile dwindling. That means it's being used! Every bit we can produce for ourselves is something we don't have to buy, and that's a good thing too. It's not like anything is cheap these days, right?

[GoDawgs]

We got a very brief slash 'n dash rain yesterday, not enough to even register as a trace in the gauge. I had checked the weather map just thirty minutes before and the map was totally devoid of rain. At least we'll be getting some temp relief. 90-92 highs for this week. Some clouds to boot but still no rain. Well, I guess we can't have everything now, can we?

This is one of the toys I'm playing with this season. It's called Molokhia or Egyptian Spinach. I've planted two and they're about 12" now. They're supposed to get 6' tall.

24.06.15 Molokhia Spinach a '24 toy.JPG

Some of the comments I gathered about this plant from several websites:

"In the Hibiscus, Okra and cotton family of Malvaceae. Common in many cuisines of Africa, Asia, Middle East. Loves hot weather. Nutrient dense and often used in stews. Dries well. Yellow flowers will dry out in the fall and form pods. The pods are edible before they harden, and you can use them just as you would okra. The leaves are best used young. Use sharp scissors and remove about 6 inches of the top part of the stems. This will encourage more growth so you can keep using time-and-again."

This sounds like a good plant for this area. "Loves hot weather." Check. "Nutrient dense." Check. A cut-and-come-again plant. Check. Despite the name I don't think it will taste like spinach. Not much does.

24.06.15 Molokhia Spinach a '24 toy.JPG

And while I was watering them yesterday I decided I should reward the two volunteer zinnias that popped up near them by mulching them and adding them to the watering list.

24.06.15 Volunteer zinnias. Molokhia spinach behind.JPG

Got the first Suyo Long cukes, another 3 lbs of green beans and more broccoli shoots. It's amazing that the broccoli shoots keep coming in this heat but I'm NOT complaining!

24.06.15 Another 3 lb beans, 1st Suyo, broc shoots.JPG

Right now I need to go pick beans again and finish up my sprinkler hose project. More on that later. It's a convenience thing.

[Seven Bends]

Got the first Suyo Long cukes, another 3 lbs of green beans and more broccoli shoots. It's amazing that the broccoli shoots keep coming in this heat but I'm NOT complaining!

Do your broccoli plants get white flies and harlequin bugs in the heat? I can't keep the spring plants for side shoots because of those pests. Just pulled my broccoli plants two days ago after harvesting the last of the main heads, and a cloud of white flies followed me all the way to the disposal area. No harlequin bugs yet, but they'd be here soon if I left the plants any longer.

[JayneR13]

I have some seeds for the Molokhia lying around here too somewhere. I think I tried it and the rabbits ate it, or I tried it in my hydroponics units and it didn't grow well. I might have some left, in fact, if you need some seed.

Ah rabbits! I found another rabbit hole this very morning, the hard way of course. That baby bunny has chomped five of my broccoli and my one remaining cauliflower! Hopefully the four with a few leaves remaining will come back and produce. I'm lucky to have farmer's market backup but this is annoying! Rabbit stew level annoying!

[GoDawgs]

@Seven Bends, I am really fortunate that there aren't any harlequin bugs around here. I've never seen one other than in a picture online. White flies are another matter.The good news is that I haven't seen any in about five years and those were on tomatoes and just that year. Go figure. But they sure are the devil to get rid of so I really sympathize with you.

@JayneR13, I think I have enough seeds but I appreciate the offer and have made a note that you have some. Hopefully I'll keep these plants alive long enough to collect seed fro them. And perhaps there's some hasenpfeffer in your future?
There haven't been rabbits around here in years and all of a sudden there have been a few seen this year. I saw one adult back by the woods and Lester kitty brought home a couple of baby rabbits for his dinner one night. He's been promoted to Chief of the Bunny Containment Squad.

[JayneR13]

Good boy Lester! Give him a hug for me, and a belly rub if he allows it. Cats are wonderful creatures! Unfortunately, no hasenpfeffer for me. City rules don't allow me to shoot them and I'd have to check to see if trapping is legal. Lousy wabbits!

[GoDawgs]

We've got a very welcome break in the weather! Right now at 6:15 it's 87 and not the 97 of the past few days. AND we've got a really nice breeze that's been blowing all day. I did replant that quadpod where the funky pole beans used to be and put in Blue Lake. With this nicer weather they won't cook in the ground! They are mulched so maybe I can pull some of that back.

The cucumbers on the trellis are going great guns and are loaded with flowers. I think it's the heat that has held back the formation of fruit because the bees have been working the flowers like crazy. There should be a ton of little ones setting but there's just one here and there.

24.06.15 Tons of flowers on NatPic cukes.JPG

They are also a slightly lighter green that the other cukes so I'm going to fertilize them. With all that flower production and growth they might be getting hungry. They got a little ten days ago but they might can use a snack.

Tomorrow I need to repot the seven micro tomatoes. They'll be going into 2 gallon pots and then onto the porch for the summer. Golden Hour, Krasny Milo, Mini Marzano, Mohamed, Orange Dream, Pendulina Orange and Tartufo.

IMG_1770.JPG

Last night I started six 6-packs of sunflowers, something I've never done before. Pickles always does the sunflowers right in the ground and did this year too. Nothing came up in two 18' rows where four kinds were sown. That's a first and the seed was relatively new. Could be operator error (too deep or not enough water?). Could be the extreme heat they tried to germinate in. Whatever. Fortunately I had more sunflower seed so to be safe I'm starting them indoors.

Tomorrow morning is bean picking day again. The Providers are coming to the end of their run. The beans aren't as long and fat and I'm starting to see some short C-shaped beans. That's always the sign that the end is near. So far we've picked a tad over 10 lbs from those two rows and will probably get a couple more. Maybe.

[JayneR13]

My squashes are just starting to flower. A few fruits have set & aborted; not sure if it’s the cool, damp weather or insufficient pollination. The heat should help that at least! I also saw a few tomato flowers, and I have plums! My Santa Rosa is bare but the other tree has a bunch getting big! Everyone got a foliar spray of chelated iron today. The leaves were looking a bit chlorotic. And tomorrow is farmer’s market day. I’m going to look for some brassicas to possibly replace my rabbit-chomped plants. If I can’t find any there, the garden center is still open. The lady said they were out of broccoli but have some cabbages & cauliflower left. We’ll see! I’ve read there’s a good chance of mine coming back and producing, IF I can keep the rabbits out! Hole hunting this weekend too! Garden and learn.

[GoDawgs]

@JayneR13, I sure hope you find that hole! Exclusion of the varmint is so much less stressful than elimination.

[AKgardener]

Your garden looks amazing!! As above comments things are just really taking off this way as well I got maters already but squash just popped up and cucumbers are finally taking off should have a full garden in July..

[GoDawgs]

It's eggplant time! Oh boy, are we going to be flooded with them as there are four plants out there, all different varieties. Yesterday while at PT I asked them if anybody ate eggplant and I got smiles and shakes of the head like I had uttered the most crazy words in the world. LOL! Fortunately a neighbor will be thrilled to get excess.

Yesterday I got the first Matrosik and Rosita eggplants. @Ginger2778 said the Matrosik was the best eggplant she'd ever had. I get to see! And thank you again for the seeds. It's a Russian variety and the name supposedly translates to "Sea Man". It's prolific. There's a second one ready too. Meet Matrosik:

24.06.20 First Matrosik eggplant.JPG

And here's Rosita, a neon beauty:

24.06.20 First Rosita Eggplant.JPG

The Red Noodle Asian long beans are starting to make babies. They're in the foreground with Tokiwa cucumber behind and a shot of a flower with baby beans. A 6' section of trellis is a gracious plenty as these things really put out.

24.06.20 Red Noodle (f), Tokiwa cuke (b).JPG

24.06.20 Red Noodle baby.JPG

And finally I'm amazed this year that in the heat we've had, the broccoli plants are still putting out side shoots. There are ten plants left and every other day I can clip off enough small shoots to make a nice addition to tossed salads. This time of year the sun doesn't hit this bed until about 11am and it goes back to shade around 4pm. Maybe that's why. I'm just going to see how long they keep going!

24.06.20 broccoli sideshoots still coming.JPG

[JayneR13]

Those are beautiful eggplants, but I admit I'm not a big fan either! There were a few left when I hit the garden center for replacement brassicas yesterday, and I left them there. I got one in my CSA a few years' back and cooked it with curry. It wasn't bad but I didn't find it great either. I'll cook it with dandelion greens when I'm hungry enough!

In my garden, I planted 7 replacements and have another 7 waiting for me to clear out the garlic bed. I was able to get cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts but they were out of broccoli. I also grabbed the last, lonely golden squash to replace one zucchini that got stomped by something. I'm also noticing signs of nutrient deficiency in some of my plants, mostly kohlrabi and a few cabbages in one bed. So everyone in all beds got a nice foliar spray containing Miracle Gro, Cal-Mag + Iron, and chelated iron. That last also gives boron, zinc, copper, and manganese. The leaves are losing chlorophyll between the veins and it's the older leaves, so that could be nitrogen, iron, or manganese deficiency. Or all three. So I've given all three, and will side-dress with a high N fertilizer shortly. I'm thinking that the mushroom stuff I dumped in those beds, while high in N, might not be a form of N that's useful to plants. The birds have been enjoying the soy hulls from the fruiting mix though.

Now if only it would rain a bit more evenly! This constantly damp soil isn't good, even though raised beds drain better than in-ground. Oy! And today is processing strawberries, from the haul I got from the farmer's market. I still have a few bags from years past, but who could pass on 12# for $40? Not in this economy! Nope, nope, nope!

Another day in a very wet paradise! I've been rained on several times in the past couple of days and since I'm going out tonight for a show, it might happen again. Oh well. It's just water and I'm not made of sugar, right?

[GoDawgs]

Here's the Eggplant Quartet, sitting offset at the end of the tomato pallet row. The front two are Chinese String on the left and Millionaire on the right. The back two are Matrosik on the left and Rosita on the right.

24.06.21 Ch string, Millionaire (f), Matrosik, Rosita (b).JPG

That Matrosik eggplant weighed 1 lb 7 oz. Here's the plant it came from:

24.06.21 Eggplant Matrosik.JPG

Rosita by itself. I think it's the biggest of the four. That huge leaf on the far right of the group pic belongs to Rosita. The eggplant I picked weighed 14 oz. And there are two more eggplants coming on!

24.06.21 Eggplant Rosita.JPG

Last night I potted up the seven new micro tomatoes I started. They were supposed to spend the summer on the porch but I realized it's winter time when the porch gets a lot of sun. In the summer it's pretty shaded most of the day. So back to the pallets they go to sit out with the big boys!

24.06.21 Seven new micro tomatoes.JPG

And here's one side of the double row of the big 'uns.

24.06.21 Tomatoes on house side.JPG

And the others on the other side.. That's one of the dwarfs on the far left.

24.06.21 Tomatoes on pasture side.JPG

The five dwarf plants:

24.06.21 Dwarf Tomatoes.JPG

The cuke relish factory is open. This afternoon Pickles and I diced up a bunch of cukes for relish and they're sitting in brine right now. She'll can it all up this evening. Canning season is moving right along!

[PlainJane]

Lost another 2 cukes to pickleworm. I may start bagging them.

[GoDawgs]

@PlainJane, thanks for that heads up! Do you mean you're going to bag each cucumber? I've got all of my cukes on trellises this year so that would be quite a project. Maybe they'll just hug the coast this year. Ya think? One can always hope.

[PlainJane]

Yes, I would bag each cuke. But I’m growing the long white Japanese variety ‘Itachi’ for fresh eating, and it wouldn’t be a huge chore.

[JayneR13]

What do you do with all of that eggplant? Do you eat it fresh, preserve it (if so how), or both?

Strawberry preserves today, from some I had left over from previous years. It's quite wet out there again so no day to work in the garden! Oy!

[karstopography]

Beautiful eggplant. I have Matrosik seeds and your photos are inspiring me to grow that one in 2025. Rosita is a looker also. I’ve been impressed with Rosa Bianca this season and love the look of lavendar/purple and purple and white eggplant. Sort of an ornamental vegetable.

Baba ganoush is a great way to soak up a lot of excess eggplant since it generally takes three or four decent sized globe eggplant to make a respectable batch since a lot of the moisture and volume is roasted away. Lots of recipes online. Mine and practically all recipes use roasted and charred eggplant (charred skin is discarded), it’s like roasting a red bell pepper, the skin is later peeled away and discarded. Additionally, while many recipes use fresh garlic, I prefer roasted garlic (done side by side with the eggplant). Lemon juice is a must and so is good olive oil. Jarred Tahini or toasted sesame seeds are also a must. I like to toast hulless sesame seeds in a skillet and then work them in a mortar and pestle. Jarred tahini isn’t as good and if it were widely available freshly made tahini might be the way to go. But a toasted sesame flavor in moderation is needed in Baba ganoush. A little plain greek yogurt or creme fraiche stirred in makes it extra creamy and good, but isn’t a must.

Grilling thick slices of eggplant brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt is as easy as it gets. Grilled eggplant is creamy and delicious. We had grilled eggplant last night. One of our summer staples, grilled eggplant is.

[JayneR13]

If you say so. I once got food poisoning from some baba ghanoush that my then-boyfriend left sitting in his car all day. That rather dampened my enthusiasm for that particular dish! And sesame, to my best knowledge, doesn’t grow well up here. But thanks for the ideas! Maybe, one day-