Hello Everyone,
Well, our harvest has now topped 1 ton for the season. We are in a transition period as the summer crops wind down and the fall crops start growing. So, produce wise, it is a little lower. We did pull out all the cucumbers and summer squash this week, along with most of the purple beans which were being inundated with Mexican bean beetles.
There are still lots of green tomatoes on the vines – we will be monitoring them closely as stink bugs continue to be attracted to them. Two large beds of green beans continue to grow well and we should be able to harvest some this week. Carrots were replanted and organic fertilizer was added to those beds. Additional kale was also planted this week. Acorn and butternut squash plants have done well and there are still more to harvest this week. The Japanese beetle population has plummeted – end of season for them as they start their grub cycle underground again.
The mystery surrounding the attack on the beet greens has now been solved. Yesterday, Dave spotted two goldfinch enjoying the very young, fresh and colorful beet greens that are now popping up in two beds; they were there again today looking for their special treats. Apparently, goldfinch love beet greens, kale and Swiss chard. This is the first year they have ever bothered these crops. So, today floating row covers were installed over the beets and kale plants and more will be added as needed. Hopefully the birds will get the message and look someplace else for their treats.
This week we will continue to harvest tomatoes, peppers and squash, continue cleaning out the summer crop beds and then add additional fall crops – romaine, kale, etc. We will start again at 8 am on Tuesday and Thursday.
Great job done by all! Many thanks.
See you in the garden.
De
De English
de.english100@gmail.com
540.483.0123 (home)
540.420.8956 (cell)
