Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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!


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

22 comments:

  1. I don't know about yours, but around here the local cantalopes have been the best in years. Perhaps the lack of rain has concentrated the flavor. For whatever reason they have been great. Will you be using your gourds for bird houses?

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  2. Tina,
    cantaloupes this year have been awesome from the farmers market. We have a tripod with cantaloupes growing and hanging everywhere, picked one not so good. Ours were volunteers from the compost.

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  3. I guess I'm practicing French Intensive Method Gardening without knowing it. Although, I must water more than you. Our drying wind just does a plant in but with regular watering using my aqua cones, my vegetables didn't even threaten to die through the 100 plus degree days.
    We've been eating cantaloupe like crazy. My harvesting advice: pick the fruit up from the ground so it lightly tugs on the vine. When it is ripe, it will simply pop off the vine on its own. If you have to PULL it, it's not ready. It will also smell like cantaloupe. This method has never let me down. Unripe cantaloupe are bleeegh. :-) Love your gourds. I grow gourds to fill in those unsightly areas and give a lush look to places. Plus, the gourds are fun fall decorations.

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  4. Good morning Les and Randy, Cantaloupes are the word-a great one too. This is one vining crop I'll continue to grow.

    Les, Not sure what I'll do with the gourds but I will probably not make birdhouses. I like them polished and lightly stained and display them in the garden. Maybe that. I never know what I'll do with produce I grow-I just grow it-silly huh?

    Randy, That's great you had some cantaloupe volunteers. I hope they get better for you though but good thing the farmer's market is available.

    Good advice GSS! I'm going to gently tug on mine tomorrow and hope they fall away. I really want nice juicy ones. Glad to hear you grow gourds. They are a great groundcover.

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  5. Hi Tina, Even more than your photos and words of wisdom and experience, I love the enthusiasm in this post. The fruit and veg must be so sweet, this post makes me feel hungry! cheers, catmint

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  6. Tina, I promise--just looking at that cantaloupe made my mouth water!! Oh my goodness, what great looking veggies you have. YUM!!!

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  7. My garden did not do so well this year, we have some tomatoes and alot of beans but we are just now getting squash. We do have one pumpkin though!

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  8. Hi Tina, I applaud you for your beautiful veggie garden. Yours is an elusive accomplishment for me, preferring the less temperamental ornamentals eschewing the humiliation that has been mine on the numerous occasions I've attempted a garden of the eating kind.

    Love your yellow trellis too!

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  9. I wish this nasty GA humidity would go elsewhere! I am so tired of it...

    You always seem to have luck with your veggie garden Tina! That cantaloupe looks yummy even if not so tasty. After this hot nasty summer and my lack of tomatoes, cukes, peppers, I am giving up on anything but flowers. I do have a few gourds popping out of the vines though. And one surprise that I will talk about later on....

    Everyone have a good day!

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  10. Catmint, Thanks so much. That is a very kind thing to say. Congrats on the film crew in your very own garden!

    Linda, Wish you lived closer so you could come make a leaf casting and enjoy some cantaloupe!

    Dawn, Sounds like your garden did very well to get beans and tomatoes-and a pumpkin too! Awesome!

    Grace, To have such a beautiful garden as you have-that is a feat I wish! I think opposite of you on the veggies and ornamentals though. Veggies are so easy because they don't stick around for more than a year generally so I think they are easier than the ornamentals that continually need care. Too funny huh?

    Skeeter, Let's send that Georgia humidity to the north pole okay? I don't blame you for hating it. It's been a tough summer all around-though your garden is looking good! Everyone up here says the good veggies this year is owing to no more bananas-well kind of. There are still a few showing but they don't shade the garden like they did. I don't miss them at all. I've made many changes here I'm not missing...Looking forward to your surprise.

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  11. Looks good Tina -we want to wish the Jimster a happy birthday too!!! Boy 1 got his license yesterday after school -a long wait and a late birthday dinner but he didn't seem to mind.

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  12. Haven't tried growing melons of any sort for years now. Maybe next spring I will put in a crop of Cantelope. Yours looks great, but then everything seems to be doing well in your veggie garden this year. :)

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  13. What a difference a month makes in your garden! I love how your waste becomes compost for next year. I imagine it would be hard waiting for the melons to ripen.

    My husband went out for a drink with a friend and came home with 4 oversized cucumbers, sigh. Governor Baldacci made a joke that it is dangerous to leave your car unlocked in Maine because someone might stick a bag of zucchinis in the front seat.

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  14. My compost bin is getting taller and wider each day with the over-sized cukes and squash I've picked. I still like your idea of a neon orange cucumber, Tina:)

    I don't grow melons, but my Dad does and has had a bumper crop of both canteloupe and watermelons this year. For him, the watermelons are the trickiest to determine ripeness. He gave me two that turned out too pink; they wound up in my butterfly feeder. He says you can leave watermelon in the garden for several days to continue ripening, but the canteloupe have to be picked as soon as you're sure they're ripe so that bugs don't get to them.

    Thanks for the tip on the nylon trellis--I'll look for some of those next year.

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  15. I sure wish my cantaloupe looked like that! Unfortunately today I found a bite taken out of the rind of the cantaloupe and ants streaming inside. I think that French intensive method and trellises might be the way to go!

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  16. Anonymous, Congrats to Boy #1 and a Happy Birthday to him too!-and to you! What a big help that will be. I loved it when Brian got his license and therefore I could be in two places at one time:)

    Racquel, It must be that those bananas are no longer shading everything-veggies are happy now I guess.

    Sarah, Too funny!

    Rose, Thanks for the tip from your father. Between you and Gardener on Sherlock Street we decided we needed to check our remaining cantaloupe and we had three ready! Just in time to save them from insects and they easily pulled from the vine-such a big help you guys.

    Dave, Hubby asked if I actually planted our cantaloupe and I told him why yes! I think the compost plants don't always produce so well. You'll get some great ones next year I'm sure.

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  17. I'd love to be one of those gardeners who are coming over and get to taste test your cantaloupes. Yum. I wish I could grow them here ~ maybe I can ~ but I've always thought our growing season was too short?
    You have quite a garden Tina and it's wonderful you can harvest daily from it. I've gotten a few tomatoes and some straight neck yellow squash this summer from mine and that's about it. I definitely need to work on this form of gardening. I didn't even know about the French Intensive method of gardening!
    Incredible post you have written here.

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  18. Wow! imagine growing cantaloupes. As always your garden looks fabulous Tina. The french intensive or sqf is what I'm practising in my garden without knowing anything about either of them. I use a lot of compost and manure, although I've had too water a lot more than twice this summer.

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  19. I love seeing your veggie garden. It sure is prolific!
    Your cantaloupe looks tasty.

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  20. That cantaloupe sure did look good but am sorry it was not quite ripe as that is the pits. I bought 2 cantaloupes before Sarah and Josh came as he loves cantaloupe. He ate all but a quater of one in one sitting. He loves almost all fruit, including grapefruit. He also loves corn on the cob. Wednesday night we had all his favs. Corn from the garden and potatoes from the garden. Ham steak from the store. Oh that corn was sooooo darn good. Even your sisters who does not understand why anyones gardens was impressed with the corn!!!!

    Your garden looks so inviting. I picked an orange sunshine squash the other day that weighed nearly 6 pounds. My watermelon and pumpkins change everyday. Tomatoes have been great.

    I planted zucchini and cukes in the bales of hay and they have done good but I do have to water almost every day. They do dry out quickly. I will also make a few changes with them next year but mostly the placement of them. I used the round plactic, stackable cages for the cukes and that worked pretty well. Sure saves a lot of room in the garden.

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  21. I'm not a big cantaloupe fan, but I do love growing squash up, not on the ground and have had a lot of luck with things in containers. :)

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  22. Those are definitely tasty! I would love to use that for my recipes! Especially for my special holiday stew! LOL. Thanks for sharing this post and making me crave for a harvest! LOL. Great blog! More posts please!

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