Fenton Friday: Dry and Discouraging

I hate to end the week on a "Debbie Downer" note, but I was hit twice this week with thefts from my plot. Someone grabbed the first ripe strawberries and then someone (else?) stole all of the decoy strawberry rocks I had made and placed there to discourage birds and rodents from eating the berries. Sadly, humans are the worst "garden pest" animals I am dealing with right now.

So, I loosely netted the berries. It won't stop people if they are determined, but at least slow them down for a second. I also put up my motion-sensor camera and will add a sign to it later. I hope that helps. Pictured here is the one handful I picked today. I am grateful for this little harvest at least.

This week's weather was hot and dry. I go over for daily watering trips just to keep the peas and favas from "melting." The forecast ahead is for more of the same. Hoping for a few good rains early next week.

I plan to pull out the last of the broccoli and a few other of the cool-season crops then start planting my cutting garden flowers, basil, tomatoes, etc.

How is your edible garden growing?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 8th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.