Now, I could whine, or I could keep on gardening.
Methinks I shall do a bit of both.
Let's start with the trees. I sprinkled some water soluble lime around the lilacs and watered them deeply. Then I added a nice layer of compost. All of the trees have been planted in small mounds to keep their roots from becoming waterlogged in our very own mini-bog. The problem that I have encountered with this method is the soil washes away from the top of the root mass, leaving roots exposed. Not a good idea. I have a mountain ash and a honeysuckle that are suffering and I think this may be why. So I shall hope to remedy that by replacing the soil.
Keep in mind that it has been very dry and there is nothing worse for a tree than to go into the winter dry. Give your trees and shrubs five gallons of water a week. Do this until you have to put the hose away. A dry tree is a weak tree that won't welcome winter. Save any pruning for the depths of February. The sap will not be running and you will have a nice clean cut. Also, without the foliage, you can see what you are doing. A nice advantage.
The corn was excellent, by the way. I say that so nonchalantly. But actually I am just screaming with my great good luck. I used Daybreak, from Pinetree Garden Seeds (207-926-3400 or www.superseeds.com). This is an early maturing (65 days) corn reaching five feet and bearing ears that were about seven inches. The kernels are big and tender and actually, honest and truly, taste like corn. I am dazzled.
I am not nearly so dazzled with the winter squash that I tried this year in place of Small Sugar pumpkins. I tried Carnival and Burpee Butterbush. They were supposed to be small plants and produce huge amounts of winter squash. At 75 days to maturity (compared to 110 for the pumpkins), and they certainly have had more than that, they had better get moving. I call them a bust unless something incredible happens and then I will be sure to let you know.
The green beans, Provider, were spectacular. Never again let a season go by without these in your vegetable plot.
We are harvesting artichokes, again. Excellent. I was at a friend's house and commented on their need to harvest their two main artichokes. Not in their plans. You could have knocked me over with a feather. Their intention is to let them bloom. Good grief. If you are waiting for the rest of your 'chokes to get bigger before you harvest the center, wait not. Once you cut the main bud the rest will rapidly grow, just like broccoli.
The Minnesota Midget cantaloupe is magnificent. Be sure to go for this one next year. It is just perfect for two and has excellent flavor.
The shredder is coming in handy, as I knew it would. All of the spent produce is headed in its direction. It is all being ground up, piled with manure and left as the starter for next year's compost pile. Excellent.
The hydrangea paniculata is blooming. It is supposed to be a small tree, but this one is definitely taking on a shrub quality and I am not going to argue with it. The fact that it is alive and blooming is most satisfying. It is not the most lovely plant that I have, but the fact that it is blooming now and liking it is a boon. There will be a champagne party in its honor again this year. These blooms dry successfully and make a nice arrangement with dried peonies and roses.
The weeding is still in progress. Why not? Why not keep the beds nice and neat? You don't have to be a fanatic about it but, really, the garden parties have not stopped yet and who wants to look at weeds? Not me.
I have been pulling out spent annuals. I miss them. They were so lovely. The Moldavian Dragonshead was an instant success. It started easily from seed. Can't argue with that. Then it turned into a two-foot tall, multibranched plant covered with light purple blooms. Excellent. They filled in lots of space between peonies this year. They were very much in seed when I was removing the plants so we'll see if they successfully reseed for next year. But, then again, they may be a thug like the verbascum.
Keep track of what has worked for you, make entries in the journal that I know you have been faithfully keeping current. Why make the same mistake more than once?
Above all, trumpet your successes. What better way to learn about gardening than from each other?
Note: Coal Point Trading Company will vacuum pack and flash freeze your blanched vegetables on Sept. 19. Pick up bags before Sept. 19 and call 235-3877 for more information.
We encourage you to add your comments. To prevent spam, comments with links are manually approved during the normal business day. Please be respectful of others with your comments, bear in mind anyone in the community may be reading your comments.
