Happy 4th everyone! I’m glad to report that I have 3 little Charentais melon seedlings emerged. I guess my car didn’t fried all the seeds when I stored them in my garage. Must be the seed packets from gourmetseeds.com.
So far I’ve only had one Cherokee Purple, I don’t know where the rest go. I have lots of cherry tomatoes, Sweet 100 type. But the garden look bear, I need more seedlings to emerge.
My husband finally cleared the left side of my garden, preparing to build the bed with his initial. I’ve designed the garden to have his initial on the left, and a circle as in union in the middle , and my initial on the right. We need to have some fun in our garden design, especially after so many hours spent on it and the hard work.
I can’t grow peas here yet, but will wait for a few weeks to start sprouting the flower sweet pea. Then it will come into flower at the right time, fall.
@lookingforward:
I think MiracleGro has an organic liquid fertilizer, the stuff I used comes from my local Agway store. To be honest, I am not a strict organic gardener, if my plants are getting eaten by insects and organic products don’t work, I’ll use the chemical ones, if miracle gro works, that is great. Also, make sure the soil is not too damp, sometimes container beds have problems draining (mine don’t, thanks fully). Sometimes, too, plants just are on their own schedule, this year my tomato plants are huge and healthy, but so far have produced relatively little tomatoes (they won’t be ripe for another 3 weeks I would guess).
My cucumber plants are producing, I have my first batch of pickles fermenting as I write this:)
And the apple and pear tree are loaded with fruit, the birds and the squirrels and the chipmunks are gonna feast!
I’m usually an organic gardener but I broke down this week and bought so etching t spray the grass hoppers, but I’m worried this stuff would affect the praying mantis. The store told me it’s organic and safe to eat. I don’t believe a word they said but maybe it’s just mean this stuff is not bad. I have got a chance to use it because it’s not as bad yet, the new rose leaves seem to be ok.
Anyway, I’m happy to report I have 7 Charentais melon seedlings emerged. I also started seeding tons of cucumbers and Sugar Baby watermelons. I didn’t count but how many.
Tomorrow, I will sprout some herbs, I’m tired of having to buy herbs like cilantro. Even though I don’t eat them as much, I would like to know it’s there for me when I need it. I also need to saw more baby tomatoes, they are much easier to ripe in the fall.
Picked more green beans. But I’m getting lazy of preparing them, so I gave my sister some green beans.
I picked a few dozen of brown onions. I know it’s not the most exciting veg but considering I planted the tiny bulb and it pays bigger dividend when it’s matured is a plus. I feel like going to the farmer’s market and purchasing onions with green stems still attached.
I planted my first set of Charentais melon plants today. I sowedmore Burpee’s Ambrosia melon seeds, this is my favorite melon because it’s can be so sweet. When I gave some melons to my massage therapist, she treasured them, didn’t dare eating them all in one go. I also sprouted some coriander seeds and chives. It’s much better to sprout them first, actually see them come up first, before I plan my garden. I’m thinking of bake potato and sour cream and chives. Even though I don’t eat potato much but that’s the first thing come to mind with chives. Chives have purple flowers so it goes with the theme color of my garden. Almond and purple and lavender.
Peppers are doing wonderfully. My husband has been eating garden strawberries with his muesli everyday.
In California, there is time for another batch of tomatoes as long as the plants are planted before Oct. so that would be my next batch of seedlings to sow.
I love chives. I grow them in my rose bed as they reportedly keep aphids away.
I use them in scrambled eggs, and in biscuit crust for potpie.
I just made some shrimp poppers w cream cheese, & added lots of chives(&Siracha)
^^^EK, those poppers sound GREAT! I love having chives around too. Also easy to snip and put in a ziploc in the freezer.
Heading to my garden soon. Sad that due to all the rain we have had, I have lost some of my hanging flower baskets and potted flowers. The rain paired with being on a 10 day trip and leaving the flowers to my H and S, I’m going to have to swallow some loss. Some of the pots have literally DROWNED. SO much water! One hanging basket they seemed to totally forget and it was bone dry dead when I got home. My flowers are my pride and joy - I was crushed! So be it, I will just have to spend the $$ to replace - still a couple of months to fully enjoy them. Not going to do without!
I love chives too. They don’t do too well here in the deep south so I have lots of rather small plants. I gave D1 a bunch of herbs in big pots and she went out and someone had cut all her chives! Everyone loves them I guess.
Good idea @DrGoogle to start tomatoes now for a second crop. My older ones are looking shabby and unproductive at this point.
I just went over to my sister house directing the landscaper what to do and ding, ding, ding, I think I’ve found room for some of my favorite plants. Of course it’s something she likes, but she always likes things that I like, I mean there is a union of plants that I like and she likes. Except, my sister doesn’t know yet of my scheme, and I’m sure she doesn’t mind, as long as some else is taking care of the yard. 
Any ideas about how to remedy Powdery Mildew? My Bee Balm leaves are full of the stuff. Poor air circulation is probably the cause. The Bee Balm is in a 5 gallon container along with a Jalapeno plant. Tomatoes nearby.
Vinegar?
Well, you probably googled. I solved it pretty quickly on lilacs with a dish soap solution.
Decided to pass along these two
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/natural-remedies-tomato-blight-powdery-mildew-43797.html
http://www.growingformarket.com/articles/powdery-mildew-solutions
Thanks! Good articles.
Today it’s hot and humid after yesterday’s rain and thunder storm. I’m glad. My husband finally finish the sprinkler works for left side of the garden. I dumped out one compost bin and the dirt is like black gold. I will try to capture some of my worms before mixing the rest into the clay dirt and voila I will have my melon patch. Exciting. I need room to grow more stuff. The last batch of melons came up nicely, especially after the rain.
One cilantro seedling survived. Oy. A few hollyhock plants finally emerging.
I have tons of tomatoes, I picked them youngish, not too ripe but my husband has been saying they are getting too ripe. I need to cook them with something and freeze.
Lots of peppers, I will make a salsa and with tomato and onion.
Garden furniture has arrived and boy was I glad I didn’t order red cushion color. It would make my garden looks really small. The furniture matches my garden color and much nicer than the picture online. I will order more furniture for the shade area. But I first need to clean up and put my seeds away. Do the proper clean and washing of this area with soap.
My kid will get the old outdoor furniture.
My question is does outdoor furniture has to match. I ordered natural, but ow I’m think of honey color because the cushion is thicker. I like a plush seat. The natural color only has 2 inch thick cushion.
Do you have a link for your garden furniture?
Debating between
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/torrey-all-weather-wicker-square-grand-sofa-cushion-natural/?pkey=clounging-furniture-outdoor%7Csofas-outdoor%7C&
Had a big t’storm come through a bit ago with some nice beneficial rain and we cooled down from 90’s into the 80’s. Still haven’t had to water lawn or flower beds but if we hasn’t gotten this rain I think I’d have to start soon.
Tomatoes are finally starting to ripen, but still not a single pepper. Might just throw them out as I don’t think they’ll ever start producing.
I prefer outdoor furniture that doesnt match but are complimentary. I like my lounge chairs to be the same but table & chairs can be different style from the lounges, for example.
Began to pick and cook some ‘Little Fingers’ dwarf eggplants. Sort of bland taste but growing well. Yellow Cherry Tomatoes have just begun to turn from green to gold (it’s been weeks waiting for this event, argh!). Cherokee Purple Tomatoes predictably are bearing only a handful of fruit, which unfortunately are smallish. They are starting to turn color also. Must be the heat. Jalapeno pods are relatively plentiful. Hungarian chilis are the best producer of all thus far, just like last year. Pods on the Okra are still tiny.
@DrGoogle - They both look nice but the thicker cushions will probably be much more comfortable. You could get some colorful extra pillows that tie them more together.
Thanks @greenwitch, I’m going to ask my daughter to help me select pillows. She loves decorations and her friends said she has a knack for it. Best yet my sister gave me 15% coupon for Pottery Barn after coming over today.
I’m waiting for prices to go lower before I pull the trigger to buy it.