The Vegetable Garden In August

We have had a hot, sticky summer, which is very rare for us up here in the mountains. 

I can't say I like it much....but  my veggie garden sure does!

We've had good soaking rains, which means I have my soaker hose system turned off, and everything....well, mostly everything....is thriving!

I ran out between raindrops yesterday to snap a few photos to share with you. 

I planted both summer and winter squash in a few different places in the garden this year. This acorn squash is growing along the fence line, next to the cucumbers and tomatoes. 

Speaking of cucumbers, I see a busy pickle season in my future!

We haven't had that first amazing ripe tomato yet, but soon! I always eat the first one right out in the garden, straight from the vine, warmed by the sun. Yummmmm!

I'm not sure we will have as many tomatoes as in the past, however, as the tomatoes in Sweetie's garden are being shaded by his beans. 

My tomatoes usually don't do as well as his, as they don't get as much sun. We may have to actually break down and buy some from a local market to make sauce for the winter.

I have a LOT of pepper plants this year, and I'm trying them both in the veggie garden and up on the deck in the herb boxes to see which does better.

We don't have much luck with peppers, I'm not sure why. Perhaps our summers are not usually hot enough? 

If only I had a greenhouse!  Someday.....

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy whatever peppers the garden gives me - they are always so much better than anything you buy at the supermarket!

I tried red cabbage for the first time this year, and it's doing incredibly well! 

I just love red cabbage braised with apples and spices, served along side a lovely roast pork with garlic and herbs....and it makes the most delicious pastrami reubens!

This winter squash is growing between the two wire fences....I hope I'll be able to get it out when the time comes! It's not the only one, either - yikes!

 

This winter squash has the right idea, growing up the squash arch just like I wanted it to! 

It's sad that only a portion of the flowers actually produce squash, but I do enjoy the flowers none the less!

There are 4 types of squash planted on both sides of this arch that my Sweetie made for me. Sunshine winter squash, acorn squash, butternut, and Alexandria (zucchini.) You can see that the squash in the middle bed is leaps and bounds ahead of the squash on the garage side. The only thing that does well on that side is lettuce...oh and my celery seems to be doing well over there also. That bed doesn't get as much sun, and it tends to be wetter than the other beds. 

It's all trial and error, figuring out what works where!

 

I'm trying corn this year also for the first time! Just a few plants to see how they do....I'm so excited - look, they have baby ears or corn on them!  

I absolutely love fresh, sweet corn on the cob. I could make a whole meal of it!

 

In addition to what I showed you, I have lettuce, celery, pac choi, beets, beans (for drying), carrots, and parsnips. The radishes are already pickled....the peas are frozen. The fresh green beans are going mad in Sweetie's garden, and there are many, many of them already in the freezer for the winter. He also has fennel and brussel sprouts in his garden, which I don't have in mine. 

I had a variety of spinach, but it got eaten for the second year in a row. I will skip it next year, I think. 

I also have garlic, onions, scallions, chives, dill, rosemary, basil, thyme, parsley, sage, oregano, and mint growing on the deck. The other pepper plants are in the herb boxes as well. 

I have a blueberry bush, raspberry bush, red currant, black currant, and strawberry plants also, but the birds get to the berries before I do. Next year I might just net them and see what happens.

Not too shabby for a girl from New York City! 

I do miss my chickens that I had in a previous house, and I'm often tempted to get more, but I don't need another reason to invite the coyotes and other wildlife to my house, so I shall resist.  At least for now. 

What's growing in your neck of the woods?