Veggie Garden Update-August 2010-Cantaloupes Anyone?

From In the Garden

What a difference a month makes in the vegetable garden! We have to pick every day or else we wind up with a basketful of lots of vegetables-including some that have grown too big. Do you see the cucumbers? Yuck! I love the cucumbers to eat and to grow but hate the fact they tend to hide out amongst the foliage and are very difficult to find. The two huge ones that have begun turning yellow are destined for the compost bin-back to the earth to feed next year's vegetable garden; and the cycle continues. I think one of the best things about gardening is the ability to recycle wastes from our homes and everyday lives back into a usable product-compost-that can then grow healthy vegetables to feed us.

From In the Garden

July Veggie Garden Update Picture

From In the Garden

August Veggie Garden Update

The two photos above might best show just how much the vegetable garden has changed. Wow! I love the changes in gardens and it never fails to amaze me just how much plants grow in a single season. Where we could see the A-frame and some of the brick pathways last month both are covered by vines this month. It makes for tricky walking trying to avoid stepping on the cantaloupe vines but I have to work with what I have-a small vegetable patch in part shade.

From In the Garden

The primary vining crops that are taking over the garden are the bushel gourds and cantaloupe. Gourds really love the garden as they are taking over part of the lawn and nearby beds as well! The cantaloupes are not as bad about taking over but since they are growing in the old banana spot and were an afterthought, they are taking over the pathways since they are not growing up a trellis. On the gourds I am actually relieved to see them take off and grow so I don't begrudge them their real estate. I was afraid I wouldn't get any gourds due to their slow start but just look at the three in the picture! It seemed like the gourds grew overnight.

From In the Garden

Another big surprise is all the cantaloupes we have in the garden. I think at last count there are six of these huge fruits growing. They are pretty close to a foot in diameter. We were SO ready to pick one and determine its ripeness and taste that I think we prematurely picked a cantaloupe.

From In the Garden

This cantaloupe was the victim of us rushing in so to speak. While it tasted good and disappeared in two days, it was a bit more firm and not as tasty as we'd like our cantaloupes to be. Mr. Fix-it and I decided it probably needed another few days in order for it to fully soften up and develop a deep flavor. We'll wait a bit longer than we think on the other cantaloupes-but can you blame us for jumping the gun and picking it? Please forgive Mr. Fix-it's appearance-he was working outside on this very hot day and got his white shirt smudged.

Update on cantaloupe ripeness: the outside of the cantaloupes are quickly changing color to a very distinct orange and not the tan and green you see on the above pictured cantaloupe in the garden. My friend Vonna says THAT is when to pick them but to still leave them a day or two longer. That day will be tomorrow since I am having a bunch of garden club members over to do a leaf casting workshop. You can bet cantaloupes-probably this one-will be on the menu for snacks! I will let you all know how it goes and maybe post a picture Friday or next week.

From In the Garden

Here is a long shot showing both the gourds and the cantaloupes-do you see how much less room the vines take when grown vertically versus along the ground? Oh how I wish I could let all my vining crops run but that is not to be so. Just to the right of the vines is one of two beds with tomatoes. They are doing quite well now but are beginning to decline due to the heat. Watering has not been an issue for the vegetable garden believe it or not. One of the advantages of the French intensive method of gardening I employ is to have the ground all covered either with plants or mulch and to ensure the soil is double dug and enriched with good compost-this alleviates water loss and helps to protect the soil. It has worked like a charm for me for nearly many years. I've watered this garden only twice all summer. That is super great!

Aside: I believe the French Intensive Method of gardening is a precursor to square foot gardening. In my little research on the matter I have found the French intensive method to have become popularized in the mid 1970s and the square foot gardening technique became popular in the early 1980s. Correct me if I'm wrong. Both methods employ good soil practices and are favored by organic gardeners. I find I like the French Intensive method better because all work is done up front and there is no need for exact and precise measurements. While the SFG method seems to work for many people I just find it ludicrous you must be meticulous with measuring. This may be good for new gardeners but for me gardening is to go and do. Spacing can become second nature and rotation simply common sense. I know my opinion may be controversial but it is my opinion. You hardly ever hear of the French Intensive method of gardening anymore and I think it is a shame. All blogs ever talk about is SFG so I had to get in a plug on the French method. I will, no doubt, post on it and my views at some point.

From In the Garden

Lastly let's look at the cucumbers growing vertically. I have an overabundance of cucumbers-as I know most of you do that grow cukes. I tried to compensate for not having any cukes last summer by over planting this summer. These vines are growing up on a nylon trellis that you can find at just about any store for a few dollars. I cannot recommend these trellises enough. Many think the nylon rots quickly but in my experience the trellis will last many years. I just retired one last year after six years. It was not retired due to rot but due to tears when I'd move it around or I would pull vine residue off from it-basically I mistreated it a bit. In came two new trellises and I'm leaving these put for now.

We are also harvesting straight neck squash just about daily. I have found this type of squash to be very squash vine borer resistant. I did not plant any Waltham winter squash this year but I can attest to its durability as well. One vine I will not plant again though is the Kuri squash. It has been a dismal failure, along with the hay bale experiment. We got one banana pepper and one shriveled eggplant from the two hay bales I planted. I will do more research and try that experiment again next year but with a few changes.

A note on fall planting: until the rains return and it cools down it is not wise to plant anything right now-even with consistent watering the plants will pretty much languish. But! Before we know it will be time to get in those transplants of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Plant bulbs of garlic and lettuce seeds too! My lettuce is still growing but I am need of a new planting soon. I actually met my goal of picking lettuce with tomatoes but the lettuce was bitter and very tiny-not exactly what I had in mind....

in the garden...

Look for a post to come on the gourds. If you do not grow these vines then it might just be time if you want a great looking groundcover vine that stands up to the heat and drought and part shade and even produces cool fruit!


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In the Garden