There’s still lots blooming in the veggie patch. Not everything is edible; but the blossoms attract pollinators to the patch and production remains very, very high.
The Texas Ranger busts into bloom starting in May and continues until around November. The bees are drunk on all the pollen they are loading up. Texas Rangers are easy to grow in zone 9. They thrive in the dry heat and aren’t fussy, temperamental plants.
Marigolds sprouted from last season’s seeds; so I left them alone growing amongst the Al Kuffa Tomatoes and the Borlotto Solista Beans. I need to remember to be careful when I clean these out in the fall. There are loads of spiders in them (Black Windows included).
Okay. All the tomatoes continue to produce. This has been a banner year for tomato production. Truly overwhelming. I really thought that these plants that were started by seed on March 1 would have been finished by now and I would be preparing the beds for the fall/winter crops. No way. They just keep on giving.
The Serrano Peppers are enjoying the heat of summer and all the plants are loaded with lantern like blossoms.
These little butterflies flutter all through the peppers. Grasshoppers are a problem that I believe I’m keeping under control with my grasshopper hunt each evening. Slap. Squish. Stomp. No grasshopper is safe. At the beginning of summer they would give me goose bumps. Now, I am a grasshopper exterminator using my gloved hands and Croc covered feet as my weapons of destruction.
Black Hungarian Peppers are similar to the Serranos except they are deep purple. Cue the Deep Purple soundtrack.
The Malali Watermelon continues to produce as well. Charlotte here will not let any bees or butterflies near this blossom she rules over.
The Lemon Squash will not stop. Note to self: plant two seeds next season and hope that only one germinates.
Borlotto Solista Beans have a delicate, soft pink blossom. I think that grasshoppers find them delicious because there aren’t that many beans yet.
Thyme is blooming and the bees love it. I need to get out there and give it a snip.
English Lavender continues to attract the bees and butterflies. The spittle bugs seem to be gone for the time being.
The chives are starting to develop seed heads that also need to be snipped.
There it is. A garden update on all the flowers in the veggie patch.
6 comments:
Wow....very impressive! Since we are not having nearly the tomato harvest you are, I've already started planning the winter garden....sigh. I did want to ask you what you thought of the Al Kuffa tomato? Next year we are doing more paste tomatoes and tho we had several that were successful, we do need to find a few more that will work in sauces.
thanks!
ps. Lovely photos!!!
*Maureen: Thanks. The Al Kuffa is very tough. The plants are about 3 feet tall, bushy, and lush. The production is very heavy. I have had to add heavier support to 3 of the plants. They were so heavy with tomatoes that they fell over even with a cage! The fruits grow almost in clusters very close to each other. They are small tomatoes. A bit larger than a golf ball. There is minor cracking at the stem; but I haven't had problems with bottom end rot. Pests don't seem to linger on these plants. They prefer the other varieties. They are tasty. My mother was over this evening strolling through the garden and munching on some Al Kuffas. They are juicy though.
You take some truly great macro shots. Gorgeous!
Wonderful photos -- and I cannot begin to tell you how jealous I am with your weather. The best we can muster up here is an 84. But if you're in the riverbottom -- like we are -- cut that to 81. And at night it gets DARN cold. You appear to be having the year we had last summer -- when everything just came up roses...
*Life & Bill: Thanks for the compliment. The camera does all the work. Bill you can ease you jealousy by paying much less to PG&E than I did in July.
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