Gardens 2018

[dschwandt]

Steve, My son's did too, to keep the racoons out!!

 

[mgwin]

David and Steve,

Racoons LOVE corn, and deer LOVE everything (Especially tomatoes and hot peppers).

 

[wshytle]

You're right about the coons Marty. They're the main reason I stopped growing corn. I fought the dry weather, Japanese beetles among other invaders, then, just when it's ready to be picked the next morning, I find stalks and ears scattered and very little salvageable. Them buggers know exactly when it's ready too. Now I just buy what I need off of roadside farmers trucks or produce markets.

I have two rows of okra and the deer found that when it was about a foot high. It got electrified in short order because they also almost destroyed my pepper plants. The remaining pepper "stalks" came back tenfold so I should have plenty for the pickled okra (Christmas gifts). My cucs and tomatoes are in cages and I've never had any problems with deer. Last year I did kill around 12 hornworms that can decimate a chest high plant in about a day.

It's just about time to start planning the fall garden now. Collards...Yum!

.

 

[lhinds]

For the first time ever I seen a baby deer in my garden Tuesday, so mama isn't far away. Yesterday we harvested and processed 2 bushel beans and 28 dozen ears of corn. Made some family, friends, and neighbors happy.

 

[dschwandt]

One of the best parts of summer in Iowa!!
New potatoes and beans and bacon in the pressure cooker with sweet corn on the side!!

 

[wshytle]

I might have set a record today. I removed/killed eleven hornworms from one tomato plant. I found 9 this am and two more just a while ago. I only have two plants total, one large tomato (beefstake), and the plant with the worms which is a cherry tomato plant. I'm not that big on tomatoes but I do love a good tomato sandwich and cherry tomatoes on my salad.

I'm also finally getting a little rain this evening. It's needed badly around here.

.

 

[lhinds]

Wayne I am not much for insecticides but I found a product called MONTANA at the farm store. I sprayed the ground around my tomatoes and between the corn rows and almost eliminated my bug and worm problem. It kept them at bay for 6 weeks. I also used at my cabin for the ants and wasps. Great product.

 

[wshytle]

I found I have a visitor in one of the flower beds.

The mess in the bed is himmingbird vine mixed among the horsehair plants.

I remember as a boy my grandfather telling me that if a writing spider sees your teeth you will die. Now wasn't that special!

.

 

[mgwin]

Wayne,

We call them garden spiders.
When I was young, I would catch bugs and put them in the web. I would then watch the spider bite it and wrap it up for a meal later.

 

[wshytle]

Is anyone else being overrun with okra? I wish I could email it out. I just cut 6-1/2 lbs and still have 8 lbs I cut Monday morn. I have given it away left and right and I still have almost 15 lbs in my frig. I understand okra to like hot, dry weather but the heavy rains we have recently had have done a job on the growth rate apparently.

I only made two small rows of okra this year because I pickle it for Christmas presents. I'll try and get a pic of some goodies later. Those two rows have done their job...30 pints so far.

.

 

[wshytle]

Here's a baker's dozen of the goodies.

They will be ready for sure by Thanksgiving (but will probably be sampled before then). I also made a big batch of okra/tomato stew and bagged/froze most of it.

.

 

[lhinds]

I decided to check my sweet potatoes yesterday. Got them out late and didn't think they would be matured yet. I removed vines and dug four hills and got a bushel potatoes. Some of them are bigger than footballs and weigh three to four pounds each. going to be hard to get rid of them.

 

[dschwandt]

Well, this just about wraps it up for this years garden. Dug these just before I plowed a few days ago. Along with beans. maters and sketty sauce make about 130 jars in the pantry for this winter, plus a bunch of corn in the freezer.
This size is just about right for 2 people.

We still want to do some meat yet for stew. there weren't enough small potatoes to mess with canning them this year though. Most were really mice with many baker size.