We are doing something similar for the fence. It's 4x4 posts with 2x4's top and bottom and black hardware cloth between them. The veggie section is already established so digging up a bunch and burying some probably isn't going to happen, so I'm hoping they don't dig underneath. If it comes down to it, we'll go the extra mile and dig a trench and put some hardware cloth further down. Basically this, but stained black and making sure the bottom 2x4 is always level with the ground.
All the little things I learn with my garden delight me. Spinach and Swiss chard are easy direct sow winners. These will burn if watered with duck water that's concentrated. Beets will also burn. Lettuces and kale do better with an indoor head start and transplant. These won't burn with duck poo water. First batch of spinach harvested for tonight's dinner, in an Alfredo sauce. I burned some leaves early on with the duck water but everything has grown out nicely since I realized my mistake.
We've only gotten about a 1/2" of rain over the past couple months and things aren't looking good in the garden. I water it from the spigot, two watering cans at a time. But even then, I have to be careful because we're on a well. There's been drier summers, 2016 being the worst, and even then we never ran the well dry but I don't want to take a chance. I might be able to haul water from the creek, I have to see if I can find a spot where I can get the wagon to. If this keeps up I may have to start writing off certain plants for the sake of others.
I turned my back corner garden bed into a pollinator garden. Some things have done better than others. I need to fix my irrigation a little. I'm pleased that the hollyhock I started from seed are finally flowering. Need to weed and pull some of the volunteer sunflowers that always seem to take over. I had no idea about how big borage gets til I grew it this year.
A poorly lighted photo. Terrible, really. I get it. Pretty mundane and cliche material, you’re right, of course. Your aunt posts better one-pot dinner photos on Facebook! I know, I know… But, Alabama Black Eyed Butter Peas, with a few rashers of bacon, a finely diced onion, salt, Crystal Hot Sauce, water to cover, and a few hours simmering away… Goodness. One of the most delicious dishes that I have ever had. Unbelievable.
My garden this year is a complete failure. It comes as no surprise, seeing as it was really late getting going, and then I had an infestation of squirrels, and a new puppy that made gardening impossible... so I never really got around to doing anything in time for it to matter. All I really have that shows promise are 3 tomato plants (bought almost full size from a local greenhouse) that are showing pretty good young fruit... but all my swiss chard, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, etc, that I planted from seeds, are screwed. Either way too small or being eaten by squirrels. At least the puppy is now learning to go chase squirrels, but this year is still pretty much a write-off. Next year is already in the planning stage, and will be maximum effort. I'm already working on worms, and a few worm digestors. A friend of mine has a worm farm in his basement, and the results are mind blowing... call me a convert.
Those look great! To answer your rep, borage tastes cucumber-y. I hadn't tried a flower til you asked. They would definitely be a delightful addition to a pitcher of lemonade or as a cake garnish. I've eaten the leaves in a salad and they had a similar flavor to the flowers, but the leaves are kinda fuzzy so that may be off-putting to some. I just cut the leaves small and mixed it with spinach and lettuce. It tastes nice.
Yeah, the Borage flowers are cucumber-y and floral-y at the same time. I'm not so sure how much I really like them, though. If you are a kid from the '90's, they taste like how every girl you knew back when you were in school smelled when they used to spray "Cucumber-Melon Bath and Body Works" everywhere. The flowers are beautiful garnishes for salads, meats, etc., though. I harvested a half dozen Eggplants this evening, and made the most amazing Eggplant Parmesan, tonight. They had so little seeds. Unbelievable.
I had a rough start with a prolonged cold spring, so no eggplant yet for me. My zucchini are so sad too. I pulled one showing signs of bacterial wilt and the other is starting to show signs too. Buuuut. I have lots of other good things happening.
Wow! That looks amazing! I can only imagine how much work it took to get it to where it is now... good on ya!
Thank you! It's not too time consuming right now. Prep is the biggest job. Also early season de-bugging. The pillbugs and earwigs we're wrecking my shit for awhile. Note to self, put the traps out before planting.
Does anyone have a favorite variety of slow bolt /bolt resistant spinach? The varieties that I read were tested by OSU are not varieties I can find seeds for online. I really loved having spinach plants in the garden but they all bolted at the same time.
I'm interested in growing spinach this fall, too, so I am in the same boat as you. By OSU, that's Oregon State, Corvallis, right? If true, maybe you should look at Southern varieties that may tend to not bolt as early in the heat. I have no idea, just a thought. Some reliable brands that I have used in the past and trust: https://hosstools.com/product-category/premium-garden-seeds/spinach/ https://sowtrueseed.com/collections/spinach
I've fed it calcium but I think it was still insufficient so I fed it some more. I was having buds drop. Hopefully it'll start to set fruit soon. If they taste good this is a keeper. Barry's crazy yellow cherry tomato has gobs of blossoms and is relatively compact compared to other cherries I've grown. I have a yellow pear cherry that is just so enormous and the clusters only contain about 5 -7 fruit each.
Arent you in the pacific northwest? Temps are in the triple digits bud dropping is common. Ive put shade cloth over my patch. I got a late late start so Im hoping it cools them enough I get something out of them with this weather.
That's a good point. I did not consider our temps. Even when it is hot here it cools off at night, but it's so extreme right now that it lasts into the early night and by noon we are at 100 again. I have some shade cloth, I might have to rig something up. Direct sunlight on plants in certain parts of the garden during the worst of the day's heat looks to be directly effecting the spectrum of productivity I'm seeing.