The Vegetable Garden In June
Things are finally looking like a vegetable garden here at the end of June- it took a while to get going after the second wettest spring in the last 100 years.
So for those of you who’ve been basking in summer-like weather for a few months, you’ll have to forgive the tiny corn and beans. I’m just happy they’re in the ground and coming up.
On the bright side, I’ve only had to start watering this last week!
After slightly modifying the way I planted potatoes to deter the slugs, they have been growing great guns. I’ve hilled-up with the straw, though I waited this year until they were about a foot tall- baiting for slugs the whole time (using a “garden safe” type).
I’m not showing the other side of the bed, though, where even the bait didn’t stop the slugs enough from stunting the growth of the later-sprouting spuds. They are only a couple inches tall and I don’t think are going to grow more for me.
Win some, lose some.
The corn is up and I thinned the rows today. I know it seems wasteful, but the year I didn’t plant the seeds as thick, I had huge gaps where either the birds got the seeds or they didn’t germinate. This year, especially, I didn’t want to reseed later, since they were going in so late anyway.
Oh, and see the corner in the foreground? That is the corner where the pitchfork got the vole.
Maybe I should make a plaque to commemorate it or something.
The peppers are doing OK in their hoop house (I’ve used a special perforated plastic that doesn’t have to be removed when the weather gets warm). These are plants I started from seed (and they made it!), and they were in the pots too long as I tried to harden them off with our yucky weather, so they are just starting to acclimate to the new environment.
Looking closer (which you can’t, ’cause I didn’t get a picture…) you can see all the new growth they are putting out, so in a few weeks they will look healthier.
The tomatoes, on the other hand, have been liberated from their covers. They are so lush that they were stretching the covers, so it was time for them to come off. This is a good illustration of the difference simple row covers can make during a wet, cold spring. I’ve actually got flowers and a few small, green fruit.
It’s this first bed that was hit so hard by the slugs, and of the four plants you can see in the front, the middle two were some of the original seedlings that made it through after I baited for slugs and the end plants are replacements for plants that didn’t. The replacements are bigger, but again, I’m just happy not all of them were goners.
The beans and cucumbers were the last things to get planted- just two weeks ago – I’m so thrilled to see the little leaves coming up!
And we’re getting baskets of the most luscious tasting strawberries! I’ve already made jam, frozen whole ones for smoothies, eaten them plain and with whipped cream, and am looking forward to strawberry shortcakes in the next few days.
How are your gardens growing?
I love seeing all the things that other gardeners do that bring results. I am looking into the weed reducing methods you are using and thinking I might implement a few over here in our garden. Love your strawberries….we are between harvests right now so it was nice to just look at your basket. š
Thanks for hosting.
Jami- The garden is looking great! To begin with , that strawberry harvest is just bountiful and beautiful. And your tomato plants are amazing looking for the Spring that we have all just had. Kudos!
I am so enjoying these garden tours! Thanks for hosting. The garden is doing reasonably well here — began harvesting tomatoes, yard-long beans, eggplants and peppers, and a half to one cup of blueberries a day. Your garden looks great — especially given your rain, cold, slug, and rodent challenges this spring.
Do you find that the red ground cloth makes a difference for your tomatoes? If so, in what ways? I’ve never tried it myself, but am interested to learn of the benefits. Thanks.
The Gardening Life
your garden looks great!! we’ve also just started to water over here but we sure had a nice rain last night and of course i watered yesterday!haha
a nice plaque for the mole would be nice!hahah conversation starter!!!
debbie
Lots of “Wins” there – your garden looks great. I think you’ve managed to overcome our very cool wet Spring (and today’s rain!).
I can’t believe the veggie space you have! I’m completely jealous. Those dang slugs are the bane of my existence. I was out this morning with the scissors. Some are so dang tiny they’re nearly impossible to kill. Just when somethin’ gets goin’ good, they mow it to the ground. Grrr.
Your garden looks fantastic! I have corn coming up, but under plastic, which seems to be helping, as we are further north than you are. also have cukes that just germinated under plastic as well–I am excited about that–have had trouble with them last year. The bush beans are also a few inches up, and the peas have flowers on them–can’t wait for fresh peas!
Also, I included An Oregon Cottage on the blogroll over at my place (I am such a tech nerd–only just figured out how to add a blogroll to my blog!)
Dee- I had to revamp the strawberry bed last year, so we only got a few (and bought our main batch!). This year they’re really putting out. That’s the bummer with strawberries- they only produce really well for about 3 years.
NC Sue- Thanks for following and including the TGP on your list! I’ll check it out.
Suzanne- Welcome- glad to have you!
Shirley- Actually, I read almost 10 years ago that in studies it increased the tomato production by 20% so I’ve used it every year since. But I’ve never done my own experiments, and I know not every one sees a difference. Here’s a short article about it with some links to the studies:
http://gardening.about.com/od/totallytomatoes/qt/Red_Mulch.htm
Green Bean- We, too, have been cooler for a few years and the covers have made it so we can start getting ripe fruit in July instead of August or September!
I love seeing how you deal with the cooler weather through row covers and hoop houses. I’m in the Bay Area where it is usually warmer but the last few years have been very cool. Looking ideas.
As a fellow Oregonian dealing with all this rain and clouds I am happy to see your garden progress it almost exactly the same as what I have. Beans, Peppers Cukes and Squash are looking good. I am blown away however at the size of your tomatoes!! Mine are about the size of the peppers still š
Your potager looks wonderful considering the slow start to the planting season, Jami!
Thank you so much for being our hostess–I’ve loved visiting other gardeners and making new friends as I admire their delightful gardens.
Thank you so much for the information! I want to try row covers and the colored mulch next year. I read an article in Mother Earth News about the different colors of plastic that different plants like.
This is my first time participating — Your garden is so impressive. I see jam on the horizon with those strawberries!
Yum…pass the strawberries please! I hope to put some stawberry plants in next year. My garden is struggling due to this past spring weather. Glad to see your hoop system helps. I’m planning on trying it next year to get a better start with my plants.
hiya jami, your garden is amazing and inspiring. i’m so glad to be able to share again this season… i learn a lot from you and your readers who share.
your strawberries are wonderful! so much! i’m cheering on three little buds right now lol
thanks for hosting!
Its beautiful to just look at.
Your gardens look great. I’m envious too of those strawberries. I’m still trying to figure out a spot where I can grow some.
Thanks for the link up.
Thank you for hosting. I’m a new follower, and I need your help.
I have a page on my site that lists more than 300 hops, memes, and photo challengesā¦ some for each day of the week. Yours is listed there, too! I’m trying to update the list to include a brief phrase describing each link. Can you sum yours up… hopefully in a dozen words or less? Check under the header for the link to that page.
NCSue
http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/
ncsue0514 at msn dot com
Your STRAWBERRY harvest makes me so jealous! My strawberries are puny this year and having issues. I’m thinking I may need to start over with a new crop.
I Love your irrigation system with the corn! That looks so helpful! I know it’s hard to thin things out. I had to that when my plants were all still seedlings inside. EEP!
Yay for your peppers that you started yourself too! Great job!
Take care,
Dee