<p>Scout, some folks in the shorter growing season regions (hear the distant sound of Southerners laughing) have had success with the Clemson variety of Okra. A relative who lives not terribly far from Philadelphia planted a Clemson seed that came to resemble a large Christmas tree by mid-summer a couple of years ago. The thing produced pods like there was no tomorrow.</p>
<p>Yes, I believe Sun Sugar. Really tasty! </p>
<p>Thanks, LW! I’ll try that next year!</p>
<p>My garden loot: a small bucket of cling peaches from the tree that Mr B wanted to cut down this spring when he was having fun with his new chainsaws. Mr B says for the peaches his great the tree has been pardoned. :)</p>
<p>The Notguaranteed* plum tree is covered with fruit that will be ready next weekend. The tomatoes are still green, but there is hope! The Black Crimea tomato that I got at Molbaks needs more stakes! I can’t wait to see if the tomatoes will be “black” or if this is just a name game. </p>
<p>*Eons ago, when we were visiting Raintree in Morton, we were given a free plum tree. The nursery lost track of what variety it was supposed to be, so the tag simply said “not guaranteed”. Well, I now call this variety of yellow-purplish sweet plums Notguaranteed. ;)</p>
<p>How nice to have fruit trees. Messy sometimes, but so great to have the fruit to pick!</p>
<p>I’ll bet I picked at least 2 quarts of grape and sun sugar tomatoes out of my raised bed Friday. 1/2 dozen ripe tomatoes. Loads of tomatoes left! </p>
<p>Wow, abasket!!</p>
<p>OUr sweet 100s got picked clean 2 weeks ago when we had a houseful of out of town guests. We are replenishing the supply as the sew growth ripens… I have a small bowl of ripe tomatoes and several on the window sill. The critters are getting the lower hanging fruit.</p>
<p>My Black Cherry tomatoes, a few seasons ago, really were a very dark purplish red that were close enough to black, for me. (And very tasty, with thin skins.) I have beautiful rainbow chard- funny, but it got insect holes when younger, no problems now that it’s more mature. The green beans are still prolific. I only planted 3, but get enough every few days for a wee side dish.</p>
<p>Jym, how high did your 100’s grow? </p>
<p>I now have one of those enormous cucumbers to brag. Take that CC!
I even have one zucchini squash plant from actual seed.</p>
<p>I’ve got a bad case of blossom end rot on nearly every tomato plant; both the Rutgers and the Golden Jubilee. Egads. Tried the epsom salts remedy. I’ll let you know how it works.</p>
<p>Yay Dr google and bummer LW. </p>
<p>Re: cucumbers. A co-worker brought a loaded BUSHEL of them into work on Monday for people to take. They were ENORMOUS! (not sure why they let them get that big) And her husband picked a 1/2 a wheelbarrow more yesterday - crazy! Here’s a couple recipes I made with the ones I took from her:
<a href=“http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chilled-black-bean-feta-cucumber-salad-recipes-from-the-kitchn-206267”>http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chilled-black-bean-feta-cucumber-salad-recipes-from-the-kitchn-206267</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/garlic-cucumber-dip?keycode=ZPIN0814”>Garlic Cucumber Dip Recipe: How to Make It;
<p>Both quite good!</p>
<p>And I have made this recipe three times with my plethora of grape and sugar sweet mini tomatoes!
<a href=“Comfort Foodie: Roasted Grape Tomato Sauce”>http://www.comfort-foodie.com/2010/04/roasted-grape-tomato-sauce.html</a>
Near the end, I take a potato masher and lightly mash the tomatoes, then I add a T of brown sugar and continue roasting for 10 more mins to sweeten and thicken a bit. AMAZING! </p>
<p>Please post any other recipes you try and like with your bounty!</p>
<p>Oh, sorry LF, I just saw your question. The Sweet 100s are probably 8 ft tall. I couldnt reach any higher to stake them up more, so they flop over. I have then attached to the stakes of the neighboring plants. I put one 9’ rot in one pot but I cant reach that high. I’ve had to tie the cages to the deck to keep them from falling over. They are starting to age (yellowing leaves, etc) but still producing like crazy!! I pick most when they are not quite ripe to beat the critters, and they line my kitchen windowsill daily!</p>
<p>I found I have to pick the Sun Sugars on day one when they’re just yellow enough or the skin gets tough. ? I’m only going to get 2, it seems, from the Rutgers. But the Romas are great. My onions stopped enlarging- white sweet Texans, I think- which may be the reason, since I’m in NE, not the hotter south. One or two golf ball sized, the rest ping pong- but they’re solid and I can wait to see. </p>
<p>8 feet is huge. 
</p>
<p>My Cherry Sweet 100s develop soft skin a day or so after they turn bright red. Doesn’t really affect the flavor but certainly has an affect on how it feels in your mouth.</p>
<p>By the way, the Early Long Purple eggplants are certainly Purple, but not very early LOL. Picked first one last night. Casper and Gandia eggplants also taking their sweet time. Hungarian Chili peppers still growing vibrantly. Calwonder Bell Peppers just now turning to gold. Okra is dormant. No more pods. A bit of a dud.</p>
<p>I bought a small pepper plant from a lady next to my massage place. Even though I don’t really eat peppers, I thought it was nice to increase my plant diversity in my garden. I’ve heard this one is known as tiny pepper but very hot. I don’t dare try it but will give some to my sister and my secretary. She loves anything fresh from my garden.
One of my artichoke plants took off nicely. The rest seems to be resting for some reason.
My husband is building a pergola for me so I can give my climbing rose a place to climb but unfortunately the drill broke.
One tomato plant took off like crazy, what’s up with that? Tomato will be in the weed category in my garden. I think it’s Stupice variety.</p>
<p>Tomatoes! Tons of red ones, but my Black Crimea are still green and do not show any signs of ripening any time soon. </p>
<p>Ah. Gardening is like the Pat Benatar hit song…“Love is a Battlefield.”</p>
<p>I planted two grape tomato plants, one tomato plant, 1 red bell pepper and 1 green pepper. I got one green pepper and enough grape tomatoes for a couple salads before my son left for college. Now I have all this stuff growing and nobody here who can eat them. What was I thinking?</p>
<p>I confess, I’m done with gardening except for munching on the yellow cherry tomatoes. They just never make it inside. I froze a few batches of green beans and canned bread a butter pickles. I like canning fruit and savory jams more than I like weeding and watering vegetables, so after the end of July it becomes survival of the fittest. </p>