Monday Garden Club

FINALLY, after waiting all day for Blogger to fix whatever was preventing me and other bloggers from accessing and updating our blogs, I now have my garden update ready. Seems like I've spent way too much time lately trying to troubleshoot Internet issues... On with the Garden!


Everything in the garden is growing well, including the weeds! I weeded once already but with the size of this year's garden, I'm thinking that the weeding will be constant.

Most of the seeds I planted directly into the garden have come up. Everything but the carrots and the Lima beans. I have never grown Limas before but thought I would give them a try, I may have to replant those if they don't come up in the next week. Anybody grow Limas?

The sunflower/pole bean experiment is off to a great start!
The summer squash and zucchinis are already flowering!

The giant pumpkins are already growing huge! Not sure if I'll be able to keep them all once they start crawling and tangling themselves into the other crops. I planted 4 thinking there would be one or two that didn't make it but so far so good!

This is one of the heirloom tomato varieties that I started from seed and check it out, there are already little tomatoes on the plants. I hope that also means that these plants will mature early as well!

The Brussels sprouts (18 plants), broccoli (17 plants) and cauliflower (6 plants) have all doubled in size since we planted them 2 weeks ago.

Pepper plants too although I do need to get out there and start pinching off some of the lower leaves to focus the plant's energy on making peppers.

Peas...Raspberry bushes...

And of course more strawberries!
We've been fortunate to be able to pick a bowl full almost every day.

Last week, commenter Nick asked about the push cultivator we use. He also asked where we bought it, which I found downright laughable. We found this beauty in the garage or basement or attic, (at this point I can't remember) of one of the foreclosed houses we bought, fixed up, lived in and sold, back when investing in housing was a good idea. When the gardener initially showed it to me (along with 3 truck loads of miscellaneous junk and garbage for the dump) 10 years ago at that first wreck of a house we bought, I had to ask him what it was. I'm pretty sure he had to tinker with it a little to get it working properly but as long as we keep it oiled up and make sure all of the bolts are tight, it works great at cultivating the garden.

The wheel on the front spins as you push it and the tines in the back dig into the dirt to break it up. Perfect for getting in small spaces or if you are like me and a little leery about using gas powered rototillers in the growing garden.

We also have this little gem that we bought last year and we have already got our money's worth out of it. The Garden Claw (gold) works great for weeding in the flower beds and working up the soil and weeding around the fruit trees.

Now for all you gardeners out there who wish to participate, either leave a comment on what's growing in your yard, or post a Monday Garden Club update on your blog. Don't forget to drop your link in the comments and I'll add it to this post.

Participating Blogs:
Ma Vie Folle
Out In Them Sticks: In Season Now and Monday Garden Club. (We have purple cauliflower!!!)
Easy Eco To Go