Fenton Friday: Growth Spurts

This week at the community garden plot was another scorcher, then some rain yesterday. I was away at the beach for most of it, so it was fun to come back after several days to find many plants had doubled and tripled in size -- like the green bean seedlings pictured above.

Other plants putting on lots of growth this week include the cucumbers, zucchini, blackberries, and the 'Sungold' tomato. 

The cosmos, celosia. and zinnia seedlings are also taking off. No sign of the marigolds yet.

Some insects are chewing on the Swiss chard, cucumbers, potato plants, and others. I inspected a bit, but didn't find the culprit. I suspect flea beetles. I covered the chard, but the rest of the foliage plants will need to manager on their own.  

I pulled a carrot and a turnip to check on their development, but both rows of root vegetables are far too small to harvest at this point. 

What is growing in your edible garden?

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.

Fenton Friday: Bean Gardening

We pulled out the last of the peas and planted two kinds of bush beans this week - 'Red Swan' from Hudson Valley Seed Company and 'Dragon's Tongue' from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds. I have never grown either variety before so am curious to see how they do for me (barring rabbit interference) and how they taste compared to my usual 'Blue Lake' beans.

I also put in some 'Rainbow' Swiss Chard seedlings and a 'Savor' melon seedling that looks a bit weak, but I hope it recovers for me.

The cauliflower is developing nicely and I tucked into under a cover cloth in case the sun gets too intense this coming weekend.

What is growing in your edible garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the FentonStreet 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.

Fenton Friday: Green Beans on the Scene!

If you look REALLY close at the photo and the vine wrapped around my Yard Flamingo, you will see actually green beans forming! The rabbits are still a PITA in our community garden, but they I sprinkled used kitty litter (all organic) around my plot and it stinks a bit, but I looks like it worked to allow my green bean vines to grow back and I hope allow me at least one meal out of them.

If you look beyond the vine, you'll see a seed pack marking a newly cleared section of the plot where new intern Ashley and I put in beet seeds this week. We are going to see if we can get them grown and harvested before a killing frost moves in. According to the seed packs, we should have beets in 50-60 days from germination, we shall see.

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. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 7th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above

Fenton Friday: Holey Moley

After last week's drama, I was hoping for some rest and relaxation in the garden plot this week. I went to check on things and found our only almost-ripe tomato was about half-eaten. I suspect a squirrel or other critter that was thirsty in the drought. (We finally do have some rain in this week's forecast - yay!)

Also, my green beans have lots of holes in the leaves. Anyone recognize the culprit? I have inspected the plants and come in a few times hoping to catch whatever big is doing this, but no luck so far.

Elsewhere in the plot, the cucumbers are setting flowers and soon should have cukes, the basil plants are sending out new branches (pesto soon!), and the pepper plants are forming some nice-looking fruits.

How is your vegetable garden growing this week?

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. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 7th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.

Fenton Friday: Those Rascally Rabbits

'Kentucky Wonder' Green Beans seedlings

The rains have all dried up and a heat wave has set in. The Cucumber seedlings and Tomatoes are growing by leaps and bounds. I started Zinnia seeds and they are already up, but the Edamame has yet to make an appearance. I will give that another week.

I caught not one, but two, baby rabbits in my plot at the same time this week. This means war! Last year, the rabbits ate my Green Bean seedlings down to the nub each time they emerged. After trying 3 times, I gave up. This season I am taking no chances. I surrounded the green beans with some wire mesh and am hoping it is enough to get the beans started.

How is your vegetable garden growing this week?

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. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 7th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.