Our last cool day and then we start getting back to our August norms somewhere in the 90–100°F range. A “cool” front has been hovering over us for 3 days. It was so delightfully cool at the gardens that I feel I can tackle all my chores in one day. Sunny — Low 67°F, High 86°F.
I got there about 6 a.m. as I was not in any hurry to beat the heat clock today, and the plants are small — meaning not a lot of time needed for this task even with going to the Learning Plot. While at the Learning Plot I mentally decided that two of the tomatoes will be pulled out. Once the fruit ripens, there is no new growth.
While there I checked on all the mounds. The watermelon has a lot of flowers. I am not sure I mentioned the variety, but I direct‑sowed Sugar Baby (8–10 pounds), and they mature about 10 days before larger types like Crimson Sweet. I plan to spray all the mounds that are growing well with BT tomorrow on my short day, as I leave about 8‑ish for documents.
I had a good and bad melon and pumpkin day. The good is my pumpkin is ripe and came off the vine. No, it just happened I was checking on it. But my fork defense did not work against I think rats or maybe a mouse. I am no expert but it doesn’t appear to be Peter Rabbit. It seems it wasn’t ripe enough, as they stopped before getting inside to the sweet spot. It just wasn’t sweet enough yet. Because a critter gnawed it with them carrying diseases, I clearly can’t eat it.
This cantaloupe was huge—10 inches across and 8 inches high. I was just telling my daughter about the cantaloupe that was almost ready. I should have remembered what happened last year. But it didn’t touch my other one that grew as a volunteer at my composter. Last year I remember maybe getting say 1 out of the 10 we had growing. All tampered with by rats.
I am curious if people growing melons in their backyard if they have problems with critters. The community garden has a deer fence all surrounding the entire gardens with cattle bumps so they do not cross the entrance. Racoons will let you know when your corn is ready and I guess rats let me know my melon was almost ripe. Too bad he chomped on it as cantaloupes seem to only put out one melon. I guess it was because I only had one seed germinate. One vine one cantaloupe.
Some chores I completed today was getting Sammy’s garden cleaned—pulling out tomatoes and eggplants and weed whacking the area. I did keep the basil for the other gardeners near him. He had me plant tomatoes there and well they got diseased and he really didn’t tend to it, and I was too busy after my trip. Sammy is in his mid 80’s and is gradually giving up his garden and is now gone in with another gardener but still likes something of his to plant. I just wish I wasn’t so swamped after my trip catching up on my own gardens as I know the tomatoes would have done well with some TLC.
Once I was finished I finally started my chores which was weed whacking along the Back 40 north fence. I found all the plants like rosemary, horseradish, bocking 14, rhubarb, and blackberry canes. After a snack and hydration break I started work on the cucumber bed clean up and hand tilling.
While I was working on this I saw Jon Linn working in his garden. I started thinking about what variety of cucumber I wanted to plant as I already have the white spine in the Learning Patch and the Armenian and India cucumbers in RRR.
I asked Jon Linn if he had some Chinese cucumbers as we always swap seeds as the day before I gave him the Zucchino Da Fiore, the variety that produces more male blooms for cooking. He said he will bring me some seeds tomorrow. I am looking forward to them. I love trying different vegetables to grow.
After this I picked peppers and okra that I designated for the drive thru food pantry at our church. Chores I didn’t get done were cleaning out the raised bed for more Blue Lake Pole Beans and my cage project. Those will have to wait until Wednesday.