As July comes to a close...

Today's harvest

Some green beans, possibly my last zucchini, a yellow squash, tomatoes and one mini bell pepper.

I've been picking and canning green beans for a week now.  Daily, new beans mature to the point of needing to be picked.  And inevitably, because green beans like to play hide and seek, I always find a few beans swollen way past their prime and I wonder, "How many days did I completely miss these?!? "

So every morning, the question I now ask myself when I see a still slightly young bean is, "Do I leave it and take a chance on not seeing it again before it's become too tough to eat, or do I pick it now and enjoy it, even though I know with just one more day on the vine, it will likely be perfect?"

I haven't figured out the best answer to that question, so I just keep picking some and leaving others...  knowing at some point this will all come to a happy end.

Giant Marconi sweet peppers (above) are producing like crazy.  These are at least 7-8 inches long.  I've tried in the past to grow these peppers in planters, but had little success, so it's been exciting to see these produce so prolifically this summer.  If you're not familiar with these, Giant Marconi are a delicious, sweet pepper when they are fully red.  Much sweeter than bell peppers.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

A week or so ago, I picked a few ripe tomatoes that had developed blossom end rot.  I felt heartsick as I looked over my little kingdom of 25 tomato plants, and wondered if all would be lost.

Research told me the problem is a calcium absorption issue, and can be caused by either over or under watering.  I thought I'd been watering adequately, but I decided to take a chance and water a bit more, and to water on more of a schedule than I had been.

Fortunately, either the problem resolved, or perhaps it was only those earliest ripening tomatoes that were affected.  I keep watering, and check regularly to assure myself they're doing well.

It looks like I might be processing tomatoes within a week or two.  At a minimum, the early ripening ones will go into the freezer until there are enough to can.

Meanwhile, some of the sunflowers are fading.

But they and the zinnia's are still at work attracting moths and bees.

And, finally, this little melon-looking thing has me stumped.  I've misplaced my garden diagram, but I'm pretty sure I planted some sort of winter squash in this spot.   It doesn't seem the right shape for butternut, but that's the only winter squash seed packet that appears to have been opened.  It will be fun to see what it grows up to be!  😄

That's a wrap for July.  

Happy August, everyone!