“Tongue of Fire” beans
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These beans are called Tongue Of Fire (Phaseolus vulgaris). I planted a package of seeds in late July. Here are descriptions from some seed catalogs: Johnny’s:The best flavored horticultural bean. The fresh, shelled beans are large, round and have superior flavor and texture, whether fresh, frozen, or canned. 6-7″, stringless, red-streaked pods can be eaten and marketed young as snap beans. Original stock seeds collected in Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of South America. Avg. 875 seeds/lb. Packet: 95 seeds. Days to Maturity or Bloom: 70 Cold Tolerant…
beets
I have a few good sized beets now from a spring planting. Still a lot of small ones. The seeds were called Rainbow Beet Mix from The Cook’s Garden. Its described as a mix of all of their beet varieties that will mature at different times over a long season. An added comment on the weather: I thought this was fall. Its as hot as mid-summer today! Good thing I planted a lot of fall crops. If this keeps up, my garden will grow until Christmas! And my nice fall…
garden wildlife
Here’s who’s in my garden these days. Lots of birds – mostly sparrows, cardinals, chickadees and titmice. I was surprised to spot a downy woodpecker on my big old pumpkin vine. These guys are great helpers with the insect control. The problem critter is that cute squirrel. He’s increased his digging now that its fall. He rearranges my lettuce seedlings and digs up the larger seeds and bulbs. Sometimes I cover newly planted areas (especially crocus bulbs) with chicken wire to keep him away. gardenbirds
an eggplant that was
My Mom saw this eggplant in my garden this evening and asked if she could pick it for our dinner. Sometimes I think things look too nice to pick. But what can you say to your mother? It was very nice grilled. topic: eggplant
lettuce and radish are growing
I haven’t picked lettuce from my garden in months. But finally its growing. Our nights have cooled off. Days too. I planted 6 or 8 varieties a week or so ago. My garden looks like spring with all the little lettuce sprouts. Even my radish have sprouted. I also have a few rows of greens (escarole and arugula) that I planted mid summer and never really grew, until now. My garden will be filling the lettuce bowl soon – I hope.
just another pretty weed
A little daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus) has volunteered in my garden between the broccolis and kale. Its a pretty wildflower that’s native to our area. wildflowers, weeds, invasives and natives
first kale harvest
I’m so pleased to get a good harvest of kale. Midsummer, my kale leaves were filled with holes from the green caterpillars of the white cabbage butterfly. To holey for me to eat. I’ve had the plants covered with garden fabric since them. Now the leaves are very nice. I sauteed them with garlic, then added water and blanched about 5 minutes. Very tasty. I’ve read they are sweeter after a frost so I’m looking forward to eating the rest of the leaves this winter. The variety is called Dinosaur…
full harvest moon
Tonight is the Harvest Moon. It will rise at 1848EST (7:48 pm EDT) in Belmont MA. It should be bright enough to harvest tomatoes and eggplants late into the night (if that’s what I was planning to do).
dahlia
This is my favorite dahlia. A big soft orange one that my Dad started many years ago. The flowers are about 6 inches in diameter. Its a large vigorous plant that overwinters well. I have a clump taller than me next to my vegetable garden. The flower here is one of my Dad’s.
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy
weeks and counting until my last spring frost
My garden this week
Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!
