The last few weeks my garden has transformed from a tidy raised beds to overgrown lettuce, and arugula going to seed. It’s actually very pretty to see everything looking a little wild out there!
While I’m sad to watch my fresh salad greens depart until the fall, I’m excited to get the next batch of veggies going for the summer. Kizzy is ready to supervise!
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Here’s a nice article about planting garlic and a helpful video, Planting Garlic, too. I planted garlic cloves that a neighbor shared with me in the new beds around the dead redbud tree. The planting area is at the bottom that looks like bare dirt right now. There were a few different varieties, but I mixed them all up so it will be mystery garlic!
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I’ve failed miserably with my tomatoes so far this year. Fungus on the leaves has been my biggest problem and although I have been harvesting some tomatoes, it’s a paltry harvest. Two weeks ago I’d had it and chopped a bunch of tomato plants down but never got around to pulling them completely out. That would go against my usual policy of never finishing a project I start. 
Well, guess what. My procrastination paid off for a change. I was wandering around in my garden this morning and discovered that two of my bushes are sprouting out new leaves. Okay, I’m going to give it another go. Wish me luck!
I’m assuming if these want to keep growing that they are both indeterminate tomatoes.
Most heirloom and cherry tomatoes are of the indeterminate variety so I’m pretty sure these plants will continue growing.
This plant above is a cherry tomato that was a volunteer.
This tomato plant is an heirloom.
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I was at the Farmers Market on Tuesday and I stopped to buy produce at one of the tables. Wait, what is that? Hmmm, it’s corn but what’s wrong with it? It’s lumpy, deformed,and looks inedible. The corn was definitely a curiosity that had most people stumped. The sign behind the corn said ‘Huitlacoche,’ (sometimes spelled cuitlacoche) which meant nothing to me, but two gentlemen, local chefs, stopped to look and one of them blurted out, “Corn smut.” Oh, my…Intriguing, titillating, and, oh yeah, smutty.
Corn smut sounds scandalous, doesn’t it? It turns out that ‘corn smut’ aka ‘Mexican truffle’, is a fungus. It’s a delicacy in Mexico, but farmers don’t like it because it reduces the corn yield. I appreciate that my local farmer made lemonade out of lemons when her corn crop turned smutty. According to the experts, it is usually cooked with chorizo or eggs, apparently taking on a truffle-like flavor when cooked with other fatty foods. It’s typically eaten as a filler in tortillas or quesadillas. Here’s what to look for so you can buy your own summer tantalizer, corn smut. 
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My tomatoes are thriving right now. The plants are strong and healthy. So far, no sign of bugs or disease. It’s a hopeful time….
I am trying to do a better job this year with my tomatoes because last year’s tomato harvest was dismal with a capital D. Virtually no tomatoes. It was pathetic. I mean, come on, who can’t grow a tomato?!!! Apparently me, so I took it as a personal challenge. Anyhoo, I’ve been heeding the advice of Karen, the Tomato Lady. Good potting soil, food, and not too much water.
I am gardening in recycle bins because I ran out of ground and raised bed space. The bins aren’t the prettiest planting containers, but they are the perfect size, probably about 15 gallons, so they hold enough dirt and moisture to keep the tomatoes happy.
I have a wall against my porch where I have planted three tomatoes. As summer gets nearer and the sun is getting higher in the sky, this spot is not getting blasted by the sun like in the winter, but the tomatoes seem to be very happy. I can’t wait to see how big these plants get! They are really starting to take off and I see lots of blossoms.
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I’m experimenting with a watering method I call Extra Pots. I had Extra Pots sitting around so I jammed two into the dirt around the tomato plant, fill them up with water and let them empty slowly through the hole into the soil where, hopefully, the water is going deep and more directly to the roots of the plant. So far, so good.
Filler 'er up! |
Two pots full is enough for the week. |
Here’s what my garden looks like presently. You probably can’t see them in this picture, but I’ve got a few more tomatoes growing in there, too!
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On the Southern California coastline, we take our gardening climate for granted. The ease of growing just about anything makes us a bit complacent about paying attention to the weather, but once in a while, we get nailed by extreme weather conditions. We’ve already had a touch of frost, and depending on your microclimate, your garden may have suffered more damage than your friend who lives six blocks away. Frosty will visit again, so the following information might be helpful to you, depending on what you are growing in your garden now. These are general guidelines for your vegetables:
The following veggies are more warm weather oriented but if you are still growing them in your garden there is a good chance they will be damaged by LIGHT FROST (28-33 degrees F): Basil, Beans, Borage, Calendula, Chamomile, Chervil, Cilantro, Cress, Cucumbers, Dill, Eggplants, Marjoram, Muskmelon, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkins, Rosemary, Shiso, Summer Squash, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, and Watermelon.
These veggies are cool weather growers. They actually like cooler nights and can withstand LIGHT FROST (28-33 degrees F): Artichokes, Beets, Calendula, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Cabbage, Endive, Lettuce, Pansies, Parsnips, Peas, Snapdragons, Sweet Peas, Sweet Alyssum, Swiss Chard
These veggies grow best in cold weather and can withstand HARD FROST (below 28 degrees F): Broccoli, Cabbage, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Mustard, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, Turnips
Personally, I take the ‘survival of the fittest’ approach, but if you live where the chance for frost is higher you might want to consider using one of the following methods to protect your plants from damage: floating row covers, plastic tunnels, cold frames, newspapers, old bedsheets, blankets, tablecloths, cardboard boxes, plastic milk or water jugs.
Succulents take heavies when we have the double whammy of rain and frost. If possible, place your succulents are under the protection of eaves and make sure they are draining well if they do get rained on. Too much water will saturate the plant cells and a frost will damage the saturated cells, killing whole sections of your succulent, if not the whole plant. I noticed that my hanging rat-tail cactus sustained damage on two stalks with our recent cold snap. Bummer.
Important Note: Remember, if your other shrubs and small trees sustain frost damage, DO NOT PRUNE THE DAMAGED GROWTH!!! Leave it on the plant until you see new growth in the spring.
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Do you know the difference between Sweet Potatoes and Yams? They are both edible tubers; otherwise, they have very little in common.
Just a little educational minutae to throw into the mix when that certain family member starts to steer the topic at the dinner table into those toxic zones of religion, politics or philosophy! Yams vs sweet potatoes and a little history.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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