We are predicted to possibly have another heat wave coming up. The last heat wave really made the plants start to grow. The pole beans had just starting running, now they are at the top of the trellis.
The bush beans have taken over the path. Yes there was a path between the onions and the beans. Now I step on the beans when I want to go down there. I put the Masai beans that are the only bush green bean in the group, in the middle of the patch. Why did I do that? It would be so much easier to pick if it were at the end. It is next to the Tiger Eye beans and they were acting like pole beans and running. So I put them back into their section which took a while. I want to be able to tell which beans are which. They might look different as green beans, but they might not. And I only want to pick the Masai as a green bean. The dried beans can get mixed up all they want. I can tell which is which after they are shelled if necessary because the beans are all very different.
I hadn't yet put in the irrigation. I started it a long time ago when it was still cold. But today I got them finished. They still aren't tested yet, but at least this was done. I was afraid if I left it any longer I wouldn't be able to get it in as the sweet potatoes were starting to root all along their runner. They really took off in the last week.
Another thing that took off was my cucumbers. They are starting to climb their cages. They were also starting to grab onto the row cover that the zucchini are under.
I'm really glad those row covers are up because look at the borer I found. Its mate would have loved to have laid eggs on my squash. This is the earliest I've ever seen them in the garden. In a "normal" year I would find the first one in mid July. Last year it was early July. Now it is the end of June. I might even have to worry about a second generation since they are so early. Usually we don't get one. But this year we might. Maybe in early September? I think I can live with that. I'll be sick of zucchini by then. Or at least that is the hope.
But not all the insects I saw were bad. I really love seeing green metallic bees in the garden. I think they are so pretty. This was on a surprise sunflower. I had no clue it had opened, much less set a bud. I guess I just don't look up much in the garden. I'm just amazed at how the summer garden has leapt ahead after just sitting there for so many weeks waiting for warmth.
No signs of SVB here, but they aren't usually as bad here in the Midwest. Usually. The Japanese beetles have found my pole beans. So far there hasn't been too many, but they are munching on the upper leaves.
ReplyDeleteWe're supposed to get 7 days in a row of 100+ temps, starting tomorrow. I wonder how the gardens will like that???
100+ is enough to make all the pollen die, so I'm guessing they will hate that. I'm really happy to have my more moderate climate. Our predictions are for mid 80s for a week except on the weekend and then we are supposed to be in the low 90s. 100s are really not normal here at all. That being said in the last couple of years we have hit that on occasion.
DeleteThings really did take off in your garden! One forgets just how much room some of those plants take up once they decide to grow. A month ago it didn't seem like anything was going to fill in the garden spaces.
ReplyDeleteThings have really jumped! What a great picture of the borer and I'm glad you caught him "outdoors!"
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks great. My yellow squash is dying in the heat even though I am watering every night :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the picture of the borer. We have suffered at its hand (or technically from its babies) many times but have never been able to see what it looks like. Evil thing! Bless the row covers though. Best invention ever! We tried it for the first time this year, and I just can't stop gushing about it. See here for my recent expression of love for the row cover: http://parsniplove.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-heart-my-row-cover.html
ReplyDeleteWe're really hoping the borers don't show up here. We've had our vines covered for many weeks, but they're to big now. We have to leave it chance. Your garden looks very big and healthy. I hope you can solve the bean mystery. We have a few mysteries of our own around here too!
ReplyDeleteLove the cucumber cages! I must get some.
ReplyDeleteSo that's what a borer looks like! I think I saw one the other day and wondered what it was. Their babies usually destroy my squashes; we have them pretty bad around here.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so healthy and happy - meanwhile my winter crops tick slowly along - although there are plus points to winter gardening - less pests, less weeding etc it does try my patience somewhat. Hope it doesn't get too hot for you.
ReplyDeleteGarden is really looking lush.
ReplyDeleteBTW I posted the wrong bread recipe on thursday cupboard. The correct one is out there now and no potato flakes.
wow things really have taken off in your garden. Who would have guessed that a few thousand miles south would make that much of a difference :)
ReplyDeletei learn so much from your posts. thanks.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that the vine borer can't get to your squash! I caught two vine borers flying around in my garden last week, so round two has arrived. Wondering if we're going to have three rounds this year.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
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