<p>I have tried sprinkling cayenne around the very edge of a pot or outside the pot and it has been effective in keeping some critters away. You have to remember to re-apply after rain or wind. </p>
<p>Our garden is exploding, despite some things that worked against it. We ended up planting relatively late, because the weather stayed so cold for so long (technically our frost date is may 15th, but we usually can plant by May 1st), but the good news is our garden is thriving, we did our tomato plants from seeds and they are incredibly healthy and loaded with fruit (our cherry tomatoes have already started to ripen). We had one possible disaster, a deer broke through my defenses, but I think I have stymied him, haven’t seen him since, had a hosta munched and a cucumber plant eaten a bit…I am trying a shade garden for my cucumbers and zucchini, and it looks like that is working, hopefully will keep them from burning out. My one big investment in the garden really paid off, I bought a small honda tiller (we have mostly raised beds, they aren’t huge) and it made a big difference, really got the soil in great shape, allowed me to till in compost/manure mix. </p>
<p>My fruit trees are full, which means that the squirrels, chipmunks and birds are going to eat well, the thieves generally don’t leave us anything, tend to eat them when they are still green…squirrels are the worst, they get the fruit, then come up on our back landing and eat them right by the sliding glass doors, to taunt us…</p>
<p>Interesting concept about the zucchini and cucumbers in the shade - how much sun/shade makes a difference?? Maybe it’s a good thing that my tomatoes are shading the cukes somewhat!!!</p>
<p>My cucumbers are on chicken wire fences - 2 high and get about 6 - 7 hours of sun a day. They’re the most prolific thing going on in the garden right now. We got started a little bit later this year and it hasn’t been as hot as normal. Makes me wonder if that’s the delay on the tomatoes. We usually have them by now. </p>
<p>My cukes and zucchinis are also in the shadier part of the garden. They seem to be doing Ok. The tomatoes are enjoying the sun. 
Picked a big bowl of blueberries off the big bush that we have under the retaining wall and was surprised that the birds have not destroyed the harvest yet. Then Mr B discovered that the mulberry tree in the back of the yard was covered with tasty black berries, which was also strange (usually the birds get to them before the humans do). And then suddenly it clicked - the crows! The family of crows that made a nest somewhere just outside our back fence must have been scaring the birds off! Sure, these crows are nasty and noisy, but at least we got something out of them. :)</p>
<p>Yesterday I went through a google freak about veggie plants in plastic containers. I was looking for the latest on planting potatoes in bags and hit some sites with lots of warnings about trash bags and Homer buckets. Then sat around trying to remember if the sprouted potato I intended to plant was organic or not. Crazy. Ordered two polypropylene potato bags, which I guess are as ok as anyone can hope for, nowadays.</p>
<p>Some of the bird net kept the squirrels (or whatever, we also have raccoon and the occasional skunk) out of the pots where I had laid it. Ah, nature.</p>
<p>Just returned from a long weekend out of town and harvested about 50-60 cherry tomatoes. I currently have 2 bowls-full. the rest are in my tummy :)</p>
<p>Argh, more high winds and rain last night. At least one Bell Pepper plant looked like an uprooted tree. Blast! I have never seen a July so windy around here.</p>
<p>Some gardeners will put up easy wind barriers- you’ve probably seen burlap or some other material stretched between posts. Kind of like snow fences.</p>
<p>Picked another bowl of yummy blueberries (and more is on the way) - thank you, dear crows and owls! Mr B wants to plant blueberries all over our backyard now. :)</p>
<p>Check out some of these blueberry recipes - especially of interest, the savory lunch/dinner options!</p>
<p>Though I’m partial to simply blueberries with a splash of half and half. :)</p>
<p>Agree! The less processing, the better. I like my blueberries straight off the bush without any additives. Picked another bowl this morning. Checked my zucchinis - lots of baby ones, so pretty soon we will be swimming in them! :)</p>
<p>Went to water my community garden yesterday - banana/green pepper plants LOADED! Lots of tomatoes too. Planted some green bean seeds 3 weeks ago or so - some beans are growing but two volunteer tomato plants are taking over the area - guess they are meant to be!</p>
<p>Tons of flowers on my bush cukes too - hope to see some little guys soon. </p>
<p>Dug out the spring lettuce finally. They had some free broccoli seed so threw that in the lettuce spot.</p>
<p>Who can tell me how to know when to pick carrots? Started by seed in April - nice and green leafy tops!!!</p>
<p>What I’ve seen says the readiest carrots will have the darkest leaves- to start with the number of days since planting (what the package predicts for the variety planted,) then to budge away some dirt and see if the width looks promising. I planted the first set of carrots a few days ago, with radishes, which are already peeking through. No luck on either in the past, but changed all my soil recipes this year and so far, so good. </p>
<p>What do some of you do with all those spicy peppers? </p>
<p>Banana peppers - yes, I did plan the hot variety - it’s what I like!</p>
<p>I used them chopped in salads or stir fry. When the tomatoes are going good I make an old famly recipe - a take on shashouka which I use banana peppers in - we eat it like a salsa or with eggs, etc.
<a href=“Shakshouka - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakshouka</a></p>
<p>One of my favorite ways to eat banana peppers - stuffed with cheese(s) over marinara. Cut the tops off, slit peppers down the middle. Mix up a couple of cheeses - I often use a blend of feta, mozz or provolone, ricotta, parm - or at least a couple of these. Take a pie plate or shallow pan and cover bottom with marinara. Place stuffed peppers on top and bake covered at 400 for 30 mins or so. Uncover last few minutes. The marinara thickens a bit and the peppers bake and the cheese gets gooey! Serve as is or with a little pasta. </p>
<p>Use the “feel test” to see which carrots are ready to be picked: stick the fingers in the ground around a carrot and if the carrot’s “base” feels big enough, pull it. If not, leave it in. It is not going to kill the carrot. I do this all the time with all root veggies. Or sometimes you can see the top of the root.</p>
<p>My Banana Pepper plant appears to be a bust. It’s been stuck at a 2-inch height for weeks, while the Hungarian chili pepper plants are quite robust and their fruit is HOT. I’m probably going to uproot the Banana Pepper this weekend and put peas there instead.</p>
<p>I looked a little around the base of the carrot, but the dirt was quite hard and tight so didn’t disturb too much - I figured like radishes, etc. that I might see some the actual carrot when it was getting close. </p>
<p>Not sure the dirt should be that hard and tight. Nor dry. I think you’ll need to pull one with the darkest green leaves.</p>
<p>Always wondered how you knew when to pull a carrot.</p>