You Reap What You Sow (Garden Harvests)

[jdmidwest]

Sevin dust and spray is bad for bees. The dust is the worst, they carry it back to the hive and it kills more inside. Try not to use it on Cucs or anything else the bees pollinate.

Raised beds were the trick this year. Picked a few Sunsugars this week. Jade green beans are putting on. I should have a few Zucchini this week. Lettuce is still going. Snap peas are drying out. Tomato plants snapped out of the slump and are growing about 4 inches a day. I have Squash plants about chest high now.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I've used grass clippings for decades as a mulch. If you have a clean yard there isn't anything much better. It is weed free and fine enough to disappear over the winter.

[ness]

Yep, Wayne.

From a few weeks ago -- my favorite radish: French Breakfast

Here's a few things from today:

Raspberries coming on:

Beets fer pickling

Shallots

[Wayne SW/MO]

Good looking radishes Ness. Those are a new variety to me. I haven't grown any in quite awhile because it's hard to get enough growing time here most springs. I was partial to icicles.

[ness]

It's an old heirloom. Good flavor and pretty reliable-- if I get them started early enough and keep them watered. I've done white icicle several times -- they're good too.

[ness]

Sevin dust and spray is bad for bees. The dust is the worst, they carry it back to the hive and it kills more inside. Try not to use it on Cucs or anything else the bees pollinate.

Raised beds were the trick this year. Picked a few Sunsugars this week. Jade green beans are putting on. I should have a few Zucchini this week. Lettuce is still going. Snap peas are drying out. Tomato plants snapped out of the slump and are growing about 4 inches a day. I have Squash plants about chest high now.

I hear you, JD. I'm not an organic nazi, but I do try to minimize the chemicals. My cabbage and collards we just devastated this year. Too little, too late on the Sevin, and I pulled them out today. Loopers, slugs and pill bugs all through them.

[Jason R.]

You're doing good, I don't have any tomatoes that are even close yet.

I'm South of you a bit in Central AR.

[ness]

Compliments of ness, Food Stylist.

Rattlesnake and Kentucky wonder beans; gooseberries; Sun Gold tomatoes.

Almost every one of the Sun Golds was cracked -- I turned them all good side forward. It's what we do.

I've picked about 3 quarts of black raspberries to date.

BilletHead: While I was picking the gooseberries, I came up with a way that leaves the stem on most of them. Grab the berry between the thumb and index finger, in the crook of the fist knuckle, and rotate your wrist away from you. I'd estimate it worked about 75% of the time. I'm calling it the ness twist.

[BilletHead]

Ahh what a picture Ness, you should work at the food network. The Ness twist! I like that. You bet we will be doing that move next season. Garden still looking good here. Have almost a gallon on the monster blackberries. One in the middle row. Pick a good hand full every day. Drop them in a ziplock in the freezer. They are adding up well for the first season. Mrs. Billethead picked and ate our first husky cherry red cherry tomato today. She said it was good. Cubanelle peppers coming on like gangbusters as are other peppers. I googled up a bunch of recipes for the cubanells. Soon I will be stuffing them with goodies inside before cooking and then stuffing my face with them. Had four tubs of broccoli which did well. After yanking them up we replanted the tubs with baby romaine lettuce. The package said you could plant it spring, summer and fall producing a crop all season long. We will see if that is a fact though ?

BilletHead

[Feathers and Fins]

Great picture Ness, We just harvested a bunch more peppers and the first Cherry Maters of the season with some more cucumbers. The Asparagus is popping finally and the grapes went on a mission to take over everything. This will be one of the best years in a long time for us.