August, my second least favorite month of the year (February is hated the most). One more day and it will finally be over! The deluge of rain last month has evaporated and now there is no rain. The weather is back to southern Tennessee normal. It seems all I do is water, pick, can, repeat. It is time to begin planting seeds for the winter garden but my efforts have been focused on processing the harvest.
The lushness is waining as the ingathering continues and the front part of the garden closest to the house is still lying fallow.
The Black Futsu Squash in the lower right corner was impossible to see when the beans and cool weather plants were alive. It hasn't spread as much as I expected nor is it black yet. It is supposed to have a "rich flavor similar to hazelnuts" when it is ripe. I am beginning to suspect the seed company sent me the wrong seeds.
The back part of the row has Sugar Pie Pumpkin which is growing toward the southern sun in the front of the garden. The oldest section of the vine is dead but the newer part still has leaves and continues to thrive. As it spreads it produces pumpkins, then the vine dies.
Front half Back half
The main root is dead but it sends down root hairs on the new stalks as it advances. There hasn't been any evidence of squash vine borers so I don't know if this is normal.
Original Root & Stalk New Roots
Six small pumpkins have been harvested even though it is still producing blooms.
There are fewer cool weather plants alive because most have succumbed to heat, mildew, munching bugs and me stripping every little leaf I can find. Salads during the scorching summer are few and far between so instead we eat other vegetables.
My first average frost date is October 15th so seven weeks earlier on August 22nd, I planted a few Six Week Purple Hull Cowpeas to see if they really do produce in six weeks.
Six Week Purple Hull Cowpea Broccoli Dinosaur Kale
Lettuce Leaf Basil Eggplant Peppers
Next is the short row of Reese's tomatoes with weird stuff behind it (this is a side view.) It is impossible to tell what is growing on the fence. Between tomatoes, cantaloupes and Malabar spinach, it is a tangled mess.
Lemongrass Pink Celery Holy basil
The center of the garden has changed quite a bit this month. There really is a row of Swiss Chard and White Sugar Beets on the right; however, they can't be seen because I have used almost all of their leaves. A small watermelon plant and onions are at the far end of the row.
We pulled up the Dragon Tongue bush beans which are supposed to be popular with gourmet chefs. HA! It was the first (and last) time they will be grown in my garden. The leaves were covered in spots and looked anemic. Never have beans done so poorly. After being picked and shelled, there were only about two cups worth eating. They didn't taste special compared to any other bean so it wasn't worth the effort to grow them. The area will be used for better producers.
At the end of this row is the yellow squash plant that was kept under cover until it began to bloom. For the FIRST TIME EVER, I HAVE A SUMMER SQUASH! I did it! I have been celebrating! I don't know if it was because it was kept covered until it was too late for the squash vine borers to get it, or if they have already gotten it but it hasn't died yet - time will tell. Until then, I am doing what everyone else around me can do but I have never been able to do, I am growing yellow squash! (Feel free to be impressed.)
UPDATE: My celebration was short-lived. It had been attacked by a vine borer and died a week later.
The Speckled Dixie Butterpeas in the next row beside the freshly plowed strip has become a new favorite. This is a side view with the tomato fence shaped like a scroll behind it.
Growing Tahitian butternut squash on the rolled-up piece of fence hasn't worked as well as expected. It is all growing south toward the sun (left side of the picture). Keeping the vines swirling around the spiraling fence was impossible. They escaped while my back was turned and have invaded the row of Dixie Speckled Butterpeas and tomatoes.
There are only four squash hanging inside the coil. Plants in my garden are never obedient to my plans.
The second picture is at the far end looking south. The tomatoes on the northern end are behaving.
The last area beside the field just past the second row of tomatoes has Louisana 16 Inch Okra, Dixie Butterpeas, one Long Island Cheese squash, and sweet potatoes. It has grown so thick it is impossible to walk without stepping on anything.
This is the far end of the tomato and okra rows looking south. The squash vines haven't made it this far yet.
The unknown pumpkin whose seeds were given to me as a gift has been identified as Long Island Cheese. The Frisee Endive plant that bolted in the spring dropped seeds and are sprouting. When they are a bit bigger, they will be moved to a hoop house area.
Lousiana 16 inch Okra Long Island Cheese Squash Frisee Endive
Almost all the beans in the back part of the garden are producing. The Tromboncino Squash in the lower part of the picture is spreading but still no fruit. Hopefully, it will do something soon.
The back area in the shade under the trees where the groundhog devoured all the plants has been plowed. Since the groundhog problem has been solved by Bill, I felt it was safe to plant more assorted unknowns, lettuce, and onions.
Then a few days ago, I found dozens of holes all through my garden. An armadillo has moved in so we have begun our all-night armadillo dance. They are such extremely destructive animals. If there is still a garden next month, and I haven't gone crazy, I hope to share better news.
Holes, holes, and more holes
Additional Links:
Next Month's September Garden (2019)
Next Month's September Garden (2019)
The story of the arrival of the first armadillos
