Wow is it hot! Heat index was 101 degrees yesterday, with a few more super-hot days on the way. I’m guessing the plants will be none too happy with this! Look at the zucchini wilting already!
So – good news and bad news this week. First, the bad news. The Tat Soi isn’t going to happen this time around. Sorry Maddi! Something ate them down to the stems. Since there are small holes in them, I have to presume bug-related instead of, say, bunny related. New plan – grow in a pot in my office under a grow light. One way or another, we’re going to have Tat Soi!
The other strange thing is that the zucchini and the cucumbers that were planted first are really getting yellow. Same soil as everything else which is growing just fine, so haven’t yet figured out the issue. Cucumbers below and the zucchini is in the first photo. You can see the difference in the one on the right side that I bought and the one on the left that is grown from seed. Same soil, same amount of water. Curious. If anyone has thoughts – please post in comments!
Next, the tomatillo was growing like a weed! I went online to research whether pruning would kill it and made a huge discovery. Apparently, tomatillos require cross pollination, so I should have planted two. I had beautiful flowers, but the plant was never going to fruit. So, being a ruthless gardener with a limited number of squares, out it went. You can see it going crazy below – before I cut it down.
Also, after expert consultation, I pulled the Romanesco Cauliflower. It was never going to grow the vegetable as it is just too hot. I’ll try again in the fall.
Now the good news! First harvest! A kaleidescope carrot, one beet, two kohlrabi (finally!), cucumber, zucchini, and a cherry tomato or two!
I also harvested the beautiful escarole as it was starting to wilt in the heat. Didn’t get a picture of that, though.
The garden is it sits now… (minus the escarole that I picked later this same day) You can see that the cilantro is done too – I’m waiting for it to go to seed so that I can have coriander seeds for cooking!
So – lessons learned this go-round.
- Plant at least two tomatillos. (ground cherries are in the same family and happily I have three of those coming up!)
- Romanesco Cauliflower requires cool weather
- Tat Soi is trying to foil me, but I will beat it. LOL
- Basil flowers are delicious (see below)
