The squash has left the safety of the raised garden beds. The rabbits have not touched it, but since I am overwhelmed with summer squash right now, I guess I wouldn’t mind sharing. I am putting together a list of recipes that use squash. If you have one that you like, please leave a link or recipe in the comment section. If you don’t have a squash recipe, but need some, come back on Saturday.
The tomatoes are trying to leave as well.
After being severely burned early in the season, I did not think my blackberries would produce any fruit this season. I am so glad to be wrong!
I planted this radish seed about 2 weeks ago. It should be ready to harvest in 7 – 10 days. You can see more radish seedlings coming up nearby. By the time they need more room, the larger radishes will be harvested.
I have shown you pictures of different color chard in the past, so I thought I would show you the latest colors. The chard pictured above has a very orange appearance to its stalks and the chard pictured below has green stalks:
The green chard looks like celery when it is chopped up. It also has a milder taste than the more colorful chard.Rabbits are not supposed to like sunflowers, but my rabbits did not get the memo. I thought I would show you how I grow sunflowers to protect them from the wee beasties.
Since my rabbits do not like Russian Sage, I plant a sunflower seed close to the plant and surround it when it is most vulnerable with the dead branches of the Russian Sage (they retain the smell). The dead branches also provide support while its stem is still thin and wobbly.
Once the sunflower is about a foot high and has developed a thick coat of fuzz the rabbits won’t touch it and I can remove the dead branches. My sunflowers will be blooming soon.
Speaking of rabbits. They started nibbling on my hollyhocks again. I realized that it had been at least a month since I had applied my homemade rabbit repellent and we have received a couple of good rains during that time. I did not have any rabbit repellent made up, nor did I have time to make any right away, so I cheated. First I watered the plants, including all of the leaves and flowers within a rabbits reach. Then I sprinkled garlic powder on them. This will offer them protection until I have time to make up another batch of organic rabbit repellent this weekend and give all of the flowers in my garden another coating. I pick up cheap bottles of garlic powder for .50 cents at Walmart for just such emergencies (I would not feed this garlic powder to my family as it is a product of China and I just don’t want to risk it).
Since my rabbits do not like Russian Sage, I plant a sunflower seed close to the plant and surround it when it is most vulnerable with the dead branches of the Russian Sage (they retain the smell). The dead branches also provide support while its stem is still thin and wobbly.
Once the sunflower is about a foot high and has developed a thick coat of fuzz the rabbits won’t touch it and I can remove the dead branches. My sunflowers will be blooming soon.
Speaking of rabbits. They started nibbling on my hollyhocks again. I realized that it had been at least a month since I had applied my homemade rabbit repellent and we have received a couple of good rains during that time. I did not have any rabbit repellent made up, nor did I have time to make any right away, so I cheated. First I watered the plants, including all of the leaves and flowers within a rabbits reach. Then I sprinkled garlic powder on them. This will offer them protection until I have time to make up another batch of organic rabbit repellent this weekend and give all of the flowers in my garden another coating. I pick up cheap bottles of garlic powder for .50 cents at Walmart for just such emergencies (I would not feed this garlic powder to my family as it is a product of China and I just don’t want to risk it). This post has been linked to How Does Your Garden Grow?
Alea says
Chard leaves can be used in salads and the stalks can be used like celery. IMO, it has a milder flavor than celery, but is much easier to grow.
akhmmm says
How do you use chard? I've often wondered what it is, tastes like and how to utilize it.
Your garden looks wonderful.
ElaineH
fireweed says
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jul/22/how-use-your-extra-zucchini will take you to a food article on 13 ways to use summer squash.
Kara says
Our zucchini plants just started producing, so I am trying a new zucchini recipe every other day. Can't wait to see yours. If you're interested, I have some on my blog:
Kara's Kitchen Creations
Hannah says
Your garden looks wonderful! I think swiss chard is one of my favorite leafy green vegetables: it's beautiful and versatile to cook with. I had a nice crop of swiss chard last year, but I've been disappointed that it hasn't done as well this year.
The Thrifty Countrywoman says
I was just complaining to Jamie today that our garden looks more like a jungle than like a nice orderly Farmer MacGregor style garden. I have pumpkins and squashes growing everywhere. There's even one growing in the compost bin. I have to remember this year not to throw the Jack O' Lanterns into the compost!
The Book Lady Online says
Mmmmmm . . . your blackberries are making me hungry. We used to be able to pick wild berries plus we would visit a U-Pick and have all the blackberries we could eat or freeze. This year we've had none 🙁 Boy do we miss them. I'm so glad yours is setting fruit. 🙂