Gardening Gwen: August 2015

Gardeners know what happens when you aren't there watching your garden on a day-to-day basis. You do everything you can possibly catch up on before vacation in hopes that you will return to a garden plot that just needs a little tweaking when you return. Gardeners are a delusional bunch of happy souls.
I left my plot in reasonable shape as I had a trusted caretaker to watch over the water duty while I was gone. My garden was treated to several days of 80 degree plus weather in my absence. When you add water to plants and add heat, they grow exponentially. Weeds do the same.

I soaked and planted the rest of my bean seeds before I left to make up for the miserable showing on the first sowing. Mid-July is not a usual time for sowing, but you have to improvise when the situation dictates. I weeded the areas around the new rows to allow as much water and light to encourage my new seeds. I did not have enough time to do the whole area. This is the one spot in my garden that had not been covered over with weed barrier and it shows. I should be down on my hands and knees right now, but the weeds will wait while I enjoy my Saturday morning coffee. I need to have a day where I don't dive into work the moment I open my door. I had a sister that asked me once what do I do so my garden is so clear of weeds. I told her that I weed them. She thought I was guarding some trade secret, a chemical miracle, that would make her life easier. I was finally able to convince her that all the large pots stationed in corners of my yard were indeed for quick weed disposal when I pull during my garden walks and not a Frisbee golf course for the athletically challenged. This year is the first time I ever purchased a product called Preen. It does cut down on the germination of new weed seeds. It does not stop rooted or rhizome weeds from making their way back to the surface though. You also cannot use it on gardens where you are trying to germinate seeds as it will effect those the same as weeds.

The good thing about garden explosions is the vegetables and fruits that start to produce in tremendous force in your absence. During the young growth period, most of use wander through the rows eagerly anticipating the first fruits of the season. When you take a vacation during this initial period, you miss the first fruits as the trickle in. After unpacking the trailer, I took my garden walk without a bucket or basket. Pretty soon I was balancing too many cucumbers and squash and had to head back up for a vessel to hold it all. The heat has continued through the week after vacation. I take a bucket with me every time now.

My biggest surprise of the garden explosion was the recovery and growth of my cruciferous crops. The cabbage had suffered greatly from spending too much time in the cell packs and not enough time in the garden. They were stunted and leggy along with all the other cole crops I started in the greenhouse. I almost didn't put them in thinking they were too far gone for any recovery. I was proven wrong. This was one of those garden hope moments that came through with big results. I just need to keep a careful eye on them for cabbage moths and others that would love to do great harm to these babies. The kohlrabi is even putting on some girth after the move to the soil.
I better finish up my coffee and get a start on the weeds. I am glad for the quiet morning moments when I get to sit and enjoy the garden. The birds have encouraged me to get up and get something done. Here are a few more photos from the garden explosion.