dennis martin papp

First Fruits!

Another couple days and the squash run begins. Zucchini and Crook Neck Summer Squash.

Garden Update | 10.20.12

Went back to the garden today.

I love it there.

It's quiet, and it seems like there is always a pleasant surprise.

Almost everything is dead. My next post will likely be of a cleaned up space.

I found three cool things:

• The garlic I planted in July has all sprouted. It will be ready next July (seriously).

• Sweet Potatoes! I have a ton! That was so cool...I thought the drought did them in.

• I have a volunteer broccoli growing in the corn bed. Fresh broccoli this week.

Check it out...click the thumbnails for a full view.

 

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The Color Purple

Purple is starting to pop in the garden. I finally have my first eggplants of the season, picked some purple potatoes and have some nice purple buds on the sweet potatoes.

Garden Update | 09.01.12

I actually took these shots Friday morning. With the threat of the remnants of Isaac and a wedding midday, I knew that it would not be a great picture day. What you see in the images is evidence of neglect. I've not been over to the garden as much. The weeds have done well. I have not. I'll get on it this week!

Click the thumbnails to see full-sized images:

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Garden Update | 08.18.12

The biggest change in a week is the revival of the grass. The rain has brought it out of hibernation.

Still lots of tomatoes and squash this week. All else is quiet.

Sunflowers all bloomed this week too.

Click the thumbnails for full views.

 

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Late Season Planting | A Follow Up

On June 20 I posted my intention to do some late season planting. 

Here's the post.

That was my plan, until the drought of 2012.

Trying to get seeds to sprout in this drought was difficult. Anything that did emerge became a feast for pests and critters searching for green among the brown.

The drought is not over yet, but rain has started to come with a bit more regularity. The grass is coming out of hibernation. Life is returning and the brown is being replaced with green.

In the June 20 post I mentioned this article on the University of Illinois Extension Horticulture site about late season gardening. 

I cited these paragraphs:

Some vegetables for a late season garden are beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, snap beans and summer squash. These can be planted until July 20 here in central Illinois. Check seed packets for the days until harvest. Our average date of first frost is October 20, which gives us at least 100 days for crops that tolerate light frosts.

Other late season vegetables are kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard and turnips. Leaf lettuce, mustard and spinach can be planted as late as September 5 in central Illinois.

The July 20th target has passed, but September 5 is still before us.

If the rain pattern persists, I will still give some of these late season vegetables a try.

I'll wait until Labor day weekend to decide.

Sunflowers!

Wow, I had a hard time growing these this year. Every attempt was twarted by critters...I suspect ground squirrels. These are the survivors. By next week, the row should be in full bloom!

Garden Update | 08.11.12

Haven't been over to the garden much this week. God did some of the watering, and life has been busy in other directions. I've missed it. 

Tomatoes are really producing now. Squash is still going strong. Zucchini is ok, not as good as years past. Cucumbers are going poorly. Finally have some eggplant forming. I'm going to take a peek at potatoes this week. Sunflowers are starting to look beautiful!

The grass has greened up a touch again.

Took a few bad shots tonight. Sorry. I was rushing. Not supposed to rush at the garden!

Click on the thumbnails for a full-sized view:

 

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Garden Update | 08.05.12

I returned from camping Saturday, then a party, so I didn't get out to take pictures until Sunday evening.

A couple things to notice:

• The light is changing. We were in shadows for the first time. Days are shortening. :(
• Lots of ripe tomatoes...finally!
• Sunflowers should be opening this week, maybe next.

As always, click the thumbnails to see the images.

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Garden Update | 07.28.12

When I posted the update a week ago, I never imagined all that would go wrong this week. A strong windstorm Tuesday morning leveled the corn and took out several squash plants. Wednesday a raccoon devoured all the ears of corn that were ready to be picked. The place looks a little different this Saturday. Bright side? Tomatoes are starting to ripen, and it actually rained a couple times this week.

As always, click the thumbnails to see the images.

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