Summer Garden 2015 Update

Lots of goodies in the garden. We are still picking Cocozelle Zucchini, Yellow Summer Squash, Lacinato and Ruffled Kale, some tomatoes although they are not as prolific again this year.  I lost a lot to early blight or ?? San Marzano's have been very small this year.  Peppers are doing much better this year than last.  Also, the Japanese eggplants are going wild.  I pick around 20-40 a week off of the six plants. Amazing!!  I also have the Ronde de Nice Zucchini coming in now as I planted those only a month ago.  Some cucumbers are forming on the plants which I planted from seed around the same time as the Ronde de Nice.  String beans are starting to climb.  I have three Butterneck Squash plants that are forming small squash now.  They still have a ways to go since putting in so late.  I think as last year though that we will have a late summer and a mild winter.  Rains are in the forecast for this week again. What a treat for us Southern CA gardeners to have these summer rains.  Winter is expected to have El Nino and bring us lots of rain.  Keep those fingers crossed that it happens for us. 

Tomatoes

 

 

Cocozelle Zucchini and Yellow Zucchini

Ruffled Kale

Straight 8 Cucumber

Armenian Cucumbers

Ruffled Kale

Kentucky Wonder String Beans

Bell Peppers and some round Lemon Cucumbers on Right

Butternut Squash just coming in now

Yellow Bell Pepper

Purple Bell Pepper

Jalapeno Pepper

Lacinato Kale ( Dino Kale or Italian Kale)

Basil in background

Japanese Eggplants

More Zucchini

Todays Harvest

Japanese Eggplant and Tomatoes

The recent rains have nourished my little garden plot, so much so that I picked more eggplant than I have in recent years.  Lots of goodies coming in now.  We are grateful!

The last of the lettuce for now

Curly Kale and a couple of Bell Peppers

Cocozelle Zucchini and Early Prolific Straight-neck Yellow, plus a few Hot Peppers

Roma Tomato called Health Kick and a few San Diego Tomatoes

Mix of San Marzano, Health Kick and a few Yellow Gold Cherry Tomatoes

Jalapeno Peppers

Monday I will be making Jalapeno Peach Jam, a Zucchini Lasagna and Roasting Eggplants!

Busy, Busy,Busy

  Here sleeps the sun long, idle summer hours;
Here butterflies and bees fare far to rove
    Amid the crumpled leaves of poppy flowers;
Here four o’clocks, to the passionate night above
    Fling whiffs of perfume, like pale incense showers.
    A little garden, loved with a great love! 

-Excerpt from The Little Garden by Amy Lowell (1912)