Heat and Humidity

I am truly sick of the heat and humidity. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in about two weeks. I don’t have air conditioning and the ceiling fans can only do so much. It doesn’t help the sleeping situation when Max (now down to a slim 72 pounds) insists on sleeping in bed with me – and I mean right next to me. Some part of him always needs to touch a part of me – even if it is just his paw across my leg. I usually don’t mind but it is so friggin’ hot! Ok, I am now whining….off to the garden.
The heat has been good to get a jump start on all those veggies that normally don’t come out until August. I have corn ears already – and have had them for a few weeks. It was only 49 days after planting them. But the raccoon have already found them! Carl the Coyote has arrived and I do have a picture of him to post – but again I am at work and do not have access to my files here.
The spaghetti squash is looking good. I think there are about 10-11 of them so far – which isn’t too bad for 6 plants! It is climbing all over the corn stalks – so much for the 3-sisters method of having the squash grow along the ground to keep out the weeds!
Both types of melons are growing nicely. Lots of flowers! But they don’t seem to want to climb up the trellis I so diligently built for them. They prefer to ramble along the ground twisting themselves in the hay. They require daily intervention to make sure that they stay the path.
The first sowing of edamame has already started to produce beans. I need to keep an eye on them because the harvest window is so short I don’t want to miss them. The second sowing is just starting to flower.
At last the tomatoes have picked up – the Sungolds are starting to turn. I was able to grab a few as snacks the other day – while I was patiently trying to train the cucumbers up their trellis. Apparently this is the year for all tendril growing veggies to ignore the given growth pattern of up – and just grow anywhere they please! I have only been able to snag two zucchini so far. Which makes me sad – there are so many gardens that I see when out walking that are exploding with zukes. I am just hoping that I am a late bloomer.

Trellis and Tomato Update

Now this is what a trellis should look:


The triangle 'tee-pee' like trellis on the left was built with some help from Tom because as you already know building is not my strong point. For less than $20 in supplies this should stand through several seasons. This year it will hold Fastbreak Melons
The lattice trellis on the right was FREE!!! I had extra lattice hanging around from I have no idea what project. We cut it in half and attached it to 8' legs. I got tired of digging so there is a good amount of space from the ground to the first piece of wood, but I am thinking a little bit o' twine or some trellis netting and all will be good.
The third trellis is my previously departed bean trellis. I bought a better staple gun and used 1/2" staples this time and instead of two free standing pieces I tilted them towards each other and attached them by zipties.
So the Victory Garden looks good so far. Here's hoping that everything that should be planted there comes up. I am a bit worried about my cucumbers right now. I started the seeds a week and a half ago and only two have come up. I love cukes and that is what I really want to grow. I might have to just suck it up and buy some seedlings : (
As for my previously frozen tomatoes:

I think they just might make it! I have trimmed the dead leaves and will plant them pretty deep and keep my fingers crossed that they produce. I mean I really do have too many. I can only handle 6 in my own garden and I have 22 in total! That is a lot of tomatoes!