Fenton Friday: Tragedy and Triumph

You can imagine how upset I was to arrive at the plot after a few days away due to nonstop rainstorms to find that one the two remaining 'Doll Babies' icebox watermelons had been hollowed out! I was almost speechless, but the curse words soon began to flow -- as you can imagine! Apologies to the nearby car repair shop, but am sure they've heard worse.

I scrambled to grab the remaining watermelon. It had a series of bites that almost broke through the inner rind in one section, but the inner flesh was still intact. I ran home with it, washed it off, and sliced it open. It is a nice yellow flesh inside. Sweet enough, but not super-sweet as I think it still needed a few more days to come to perfect ripeness on the vine, but no way was I leaving it in the plot for the rodents to totally disembowel this one as well!

I pulled up the watermelon vine and that is where the new fall interns are planting their broccoli seedlings and lettuce seeds. We are also planting some of each of those in containers across the street at my home garden to compare how those do to the ones in the plot. We have placed covercloths over them in both locations for now to keep out those rodent predators!

Elsewhere in the plot, I have been picking cucumbers and tomatoes every few days, along with cutting basil and other herbs to cook with. The edamame seems pretty much ready to harvest. I plan to pick those this weekend and start new purple pea seeds in their spot.

 What are you harvesting from 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 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: Doll Babies

Last week I reported that the watermelon vines had started to set flowers - well, this week on Monday we say baby melons forming (so cute!) and by today those "babies" are baseball-sized! These are 'Doll Babies' from seeds I got from Renee's Gardens and are a small "icebox" variety that stays relatively small. I cannot wait to taste them, but I also don't want to pick them before they are fully ripe -- patience!

Elsewhere in our plot, the soy bean and okra plants are continuing to put on rapid growth. I harvested the one fruit so far from the container eggplant 'Picasso'. I ate the couple of  strawberries I had before the slugs or birds could. We harvested tomatoes twice this week to keep up with them The basil made need a big cut-back soon  Maybe I'll do a big batch of pesto next week.

Finally, I checked the cucumber vines for female flowers to hand-pollinate, if needed, and I can across this set of two. Twins? I will keep a close watch on them and let you know.

What are you growing and harvesting this week 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.

Savory Sunday: Tomato-Watermelon Salad

What do you do when cherry tomatoes are ripening faster than you can eat them? Make this lovely salad for a potluck or picnic to share with friends! If you think the combination of tomatoes and watermelons sounds odd, just try it -- I promise you, you'll soon be addicted to this aromatic combination. For this recipe, the amounts are up to you. I tend to do one-cup watermelon and one-cup tomato and a 1/2 cup of the feta cheese fora single serving dish for myself, but you can adjust that however you like.

Ingredients

• Tomatoes
• Watermelon
• Balsamic vinaigrette*
• Feta cheese crumbles
• Assorted Basil or Mint and/or Arugula
• Optional additions: red onion, toasted nuts, croutons, cucumber

Directions

• Cut tomatoes and watermelon into bite-sized pieces and put in a pretty serving bowl.
• Tear up the herbs into small pieces and thrown that in the bowl too.
• Drizzle with Balsamic vinaigrette and toss everything together.
• Just before serving add in the Feta cheese crumbles and any other optional additions you desire.

This salad is best eaten fresh, but leftovers can keep overnight. Serve with a crusty bread to sop up those good juices.

*Balsamic vinaigrette can be store-bought or mix up your own with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, onions, and salt/pepper to taste.

"Savory Sunday" is a blog series with seasonal recipes from the garden.

Fenton Friday: Last of the Melons

This is the last of the watermelons that the summer interns grew. You can read all about their process in the current issue here. I think most of the summer edibles are winding down now as the heat of summer seems to have left us prematurely. (I am NOT complaining.)

I am now starting to think about what I can pull out and what I want to let go a bit longer. Then what autumn crops I want to put in. For sure, I want to start some lettuce, radish, and carrots. But, do I risk peas again? Last fall, they were a total bust.

I wish this Zinnia (pictured below) had been in bloom at fair time -- I am sure it would have been a winner!

How is your edible 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 6th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.)

Fenton Friday: Baby Watermelons

Baby watermelons have appeared in the plot this week. This is 'Mini Love' that we are growing this from seed. It was an AAS 2017 edible winner. 

The past few days have had some good, soaking rains. Finally! After many days of high, blistering heat, this is a relief and the plants are really reacting. The Peppers have many fruit set on them and the Cotton is really filling out.

The only thing that is just sitting there is the Malabar Spinach. It has put on a few leaves, but otherwise is not growing much. I think I will try some fish fertilizer on it this week.

How is your edible 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 6th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.)