Summer is holding steady

 With the hose broken I'm unfortunately reluctant to water as often as I should. It's been warm but not horrendous the past few days and it's clouded over at sunset tonight and will be partly cloudy until the next weekend.

The mighty green trees are giving wonderful shade and the parrots have returned again. Beginning of the parrot migration leading into fall has started. The tree canopies don't look like they are symmetrical  until you take a picture and realize they are matched like puzzle pieces. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fragrance coming off the asparagus fern is incredible! The wind is usually blowing toward the garden so as I walk by it doesn't hit me until I'm downwind, wonderful mix of apricot and peach. That is the only redeeming thing about this noxious plant. It has tripled in size in the five years we've been at the apartment because no one trims it and it's almost overtaking a tiny rosebush sucker that blooms one or two red flowers and then it's done. The Sycamore trees are a wonderful canopy, I looked up and saw that one lone seed ball and had to get a picture for the artistic value.

This was a couple of days ago, watering with the water jug and bucket best I could. Water jug by the way has disappeared. I may have left it over by the lemon bush with the intent to fill it but forgot and it's gone. I could have sworn I put it in between the raised bed and crate when it was empty.  Tomato plants are in tatters and showing signs of mites, have been for a few weeks so today was the day to trim them back.

Here they are looking very sickly before I pruned. The squash is hanging over the edge and only putting out females rather than male flowers  I managed to partially pollinate one flower tonight but I had watered over the top so not sure the pollen stuck. 

Things removed, I decided to pull the tomatillo, it was never going to fruit since I only have the one plant and then just pulled the two 'weeds'.  The reason why they weren't growing much is they were sending down tap roots! Even more of an indicator they may well have been from a tree. I also pulled the third pepper in the other bed because it wasn't growing much and kept getting swamped when I watered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The peppers are doing really good! Look more like serrano than jalapeño though and honestly would not be surprised if they were. I think I got these as a packet either from the store or library and the infamous 'pepper gate' was still being talked about last year. I think I have seeds from a store bought pepper or can get some from the one in my fridge. I forgot to fertilize again dangit! At least I watered really well.

After the pruning, the previous picture up at the top was day before yesterday. The little tomato seedlings and the squash are still going strong, as much as they can. Still debating that squash though and the tomatoes, it feels like it's going to start cooling down more often which is not good for either of them. But if I keep those tomato seedlings they'll go in the middle of the bed or in the west bed with cages. 

I thought I watered thoroughly then dug down and about a half inch below the surface was still absolutely bone dry so got the hose going again and just completely flooded the bed. 

The lone female that I hopefully pollinated. Next year, if I do squash or zucchini, I'm going to have to dedicate half the bed to two plants. I might do one tomato and one cucumber on the trellis and try peppers once again. I am bound and determined to get peppers! Both sweet and spicy!

I need to start planning fall/winter crops now. I watered the west bed thoroughly and there's tons of cilantro seeds in there from trying to glean the remaining brown plant today. So hopefully those will make that a lush bed and then interplant with ... lettuces later on maybe. Again if the tomato seedlings survive I'll put one in there and one in the raised bed. Waiting for it to cool down a bit more before I amend the south bed again and figure out what to plant there. Determined to find some good radish and carrots for the winter as well.

POTATOES! I need to plan for the crate being the potato bed. And onions! I can't believe I managed to grow that garlic, apparently you're supposed to chill them before planting like you do tulips.The results I had are typical from what I read. Garlic, onions and cilantro in the west bed? 

Will see what happens because I never go according to plan.

A cooling trend thankfully

 It's only going to be in the mid 80s for a week, which means still have to use the AC in the afternoon but not all day at least. 

Not too many pictures because there's nothing much new in the garden, other than evidence of my busted hose and squash.

Lots of females and very few males which makes for a lot of failed fruit. I tried pollinating that upright one but don't think it took, obviously the bottom one failed, so it's just going to be a random catch as catch can squash at this point.

Hose collar up where it should be with full spray at the break and the collar covering it to funnel water for watering. It's ridiculous and makes for very soggy watering. I suppose I could go back to HD with it and give them the card I used as proof of purchase, since I don't have the receipt or at least have it handy anymore and I don't remember when I bought it but can find that information fairly easy. This is crucial because HD has a 90 day return policy. Okay so a bit of sleuthing and I must have bought it end of April so need to get there before middle of the month at least. Will have to bag it up and bring it with us on Monday when I have a ride. Likely store credit but that's fine with me just buy another hose right there.

I decided to try and cover up the more exposed fruit, one is just an absolutely stupidly silly thing, used one of the flower petals from the squash (fail as was expected) and the random cloth I had found. When I got out the next day the wind had blown it onto the soil but at least it helped some.

I decided to fill the 'hose bucket' with some water and also the gallon jug because I didn't know if I was going to use the hose again or not. I gathered it all up and put it in the electrical closet on the tarp (which looks like someone may have used it or at least shifted it). Everything got watered yesterday, including me and I swear those peppers have not grown an inch in the past month. Why do I not have success with peppers? Should I be growing them more in the fall or spring? That reminds me I need to toss some fertilizer out there again.

Seedlings day before and today. Another squash seed is coming up. Wish the beans would come but I truly think they're toast with as hot as it's been. At least the tomatoes are starting to sprout true leaves so maybe, possibly, might be able to plant them out in a few weeks. Since the beans are a bust I'll be putting them over in the west bed unless something shows up in the next day or two. Even then it's going to be weeks before anything is ready to harvest or transplant.

Sigh... hoping to get that hose replaced, what a time for it to bust!

It was haaaaahhht today.

 It peaked at 91 around 2pm, we closed up around 11 because when the air coming through the window is warmer than the interior, time to shut down and crank the AC.

My ragged garden. I keep forgetting to bring my clippers down and trim back that middle tomato, there's no leaves left on it to speak of. I wish I had a large sheet of cheese cloth to shade the tomatoes, they're getting bleached on the shoulders, that group of five on the soil is from yesterday. So hard to imagine I had five thriving and lush romaine heads in that bed just a few months ago. Which I am still cutting and using in salad by the way.

I've been picking them a bit early so they don't get too sunburned and then leave them on the counter to ripen, it's working out fairly well actually. When they get all red I put them in the fridge and chill them (I know you're not supposed to do that but can't leave them on the counter.) Then the squash ... three female flowers and one male. It's pumping out flowers like crazy and is leaning to the corner again very wobbly. 

Okay so.... tried to pollinate that one flower, not sure it was still viable but gave it a shot. There's another chance with another flower at least. 

 In the other picture of the hose, see where the blue collar is on the hose? There is a huge leak under it. It was a mess trying to water, good thing I didn't have my good shoes and socks on. I pulled the collar away from the end of the hose to try and contain the spray and it only succeeded in forcing the water down the hose. My garden shoes were soaked, I had mud spatters on my legs... and the pressure dropped after I turned the water off before I even walked back to where the hose was.  I can't repair it, there's no way of cutting and repairing this one because it's cloth covered and the inner sleeve is what broke.  There's a different collapsible hose that you could trim and refit the end but didn't have the money for that version. I just remembered I did register it but don't think I kept the package or the receipt. I registered it specifically because I knew this would happen.

I don't have the money to get a new one at all. ::insert string of rude words::The two tomato seedlings seemed okay but aren't growing very much, forgot to tuck them under what shade the tomato plants can give.

At least we have tomatoes. Still no bean sprouts yet, hope they didn't get baked too badly in the heat. 

And of course.... seeds sprout

 Another hot one today, but will be hotter later in the week. Breezy but it's a warm wind and obviously feels better in the shade.

Almost ready to pick, probably will cut it off tomorrow given how fast it's going. I was looking to see if I had indeed put some squash seeds in the corner here and I think I did when I tried to plant peppers along that side of the bed. I also found pictures of the failed cucumber that was in the middle, sadness, might try cucumber on the trellis next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using the gallon jug of water to keep the bean seeds moist (hopefully). You can see how I cut down the oregano stems in the other bed, just tossed them on the compost buckets to dry out. Will thin out that patch a bit more later on, it was being ravaged by chewers of some sort making holes and only close to the ground so nothing flying.

And of course, the squash seed came up with the two tomatoes. Prolific little bugger, wish the zucchini was as prolific and easy to grow. Going to have to just yank/cut off that one because I'd rather have the tomatoes than the squash.

The peppers are flowering well and setting fruit. Plants are still small for what they're growing but at least they're growing. Might have to start them sooner in seedling pots and just keep them going until they're bigger to plant out. Need to fertilize them right now though. Might do that tonight.

Remember that little guy under the tomato? Well when I was walking around the block yesterday I spied familiar purple flowers on a vine covering a fence about four houses down and across the street. Morning Glory. That seedling leaves match a google search for that plant. What the other two plants are is still a mystery but I am leaning toward native/weed that I've seen along roadsides as well.

The coriander that fell into Layla's planter is now all brown and setting seed...since she's not going to be using it I stripped some of the seeds off and sprinkled them in the two ground beds. Not that I don't have seeds but hate to see a plant go to waste like that. She watered just before I went out last night and because she's only using the shortened hose she just sprays however she can. 

Daydreaming about having an extra chunk of money in the month and what I could do with it to make the garden better. Meanwhile, back in reality.....

I want to leave my hose out but it won't be treated with care it needs.The grey hose that was originally bought is only $17 for a 50 foot a 25 foot from another company is two dollars more. Choices choices. Will make that decision next month, all my money is used up for this month.

 

Another day in the rising heat

 I really am not an early riser unless it's something important. I wanted to get out and water before the heat got too bad but turns out that wasn't until noon-ish when I finally was able to.

Definitely squash is happening. Top picture is today, it's dropped down considerably and the second one is from yesterday. Should be ready in another few days the way squash grows.

Only one female flower out of this current cycle but there may be a male at about the same growth for pollinating. As for the tomatoes I now have 8.

I picked those two red ones last night and they're more small round balls than typical Roma shape but that's okay, it happens. They are all sitting with the onions and garlic getting a bit more ripe and will be picking another three or four by midweek.

And another tomato sprouted! Thought I got another picture after watering the whole bed, oh well. This turns out very well actually because by the time these two are ready to plant, the current plants will be ready to rip out. Now if the beans would just get moving, but it's only been six days and germination is 7-10 days 😜😉.

Feels like spring again, except for the heat and sun and.... all that.

It's 4th of July and is hotter than previous years

 There's another wildfire somewhere in the county so sky is a bit hazy but there's a good wind blowing the other direction. Heat is going to be rising into next week so AC will be cranked up.

 

Best I can do for what's blooming in my garden other than the tomatillos and oregano. At least they're growing and hope they will continue for another few  months.

 

Yes indeed the second squash looks like it pollinated, that other one will get pulled off soon. The bush itself is once again leaning to the corner. The previous squash did the same thing in the opposite corner. The lettuces were still in the bed when that squash was coming up otherwise I would have moved it to the middle.

Another tomato was ready and looks like it will be consecutive fruit for the next few weeks. I tried pulling one of those two smaller ones off but it didn't come easily so left them on for another day or two. Have a total of five and actually used one of them in a salad the other day.

 

On to the mystery seedlings. The one on the left popped up yesterday and the leaf shapes are completely new to me for a seedling. The two sides are fused together at the center which I have not seen before. I used google lens and a few rather frightening matches came up, ivy and morning glory, neither of which have been near there. Having it show up under the tomato instead of out in the open is a factor because if it were a bird it would be more out in the open right? When I see the true leaves I'll be able to get a better idea of what it is. No matter what, it isn't going to stay there. It does seem to be a morning glory seedling which, as much as I love the flower it is NOT going to live in my garden.

I am still convinced that the other two seedlings and this one are from the 'compost'. Nothing like these have shown up before and suddenly here they are after I used it. 

The lone tomato seedling this morning. If I'm lucky there might be a couple more, these are the Terra Cotta tomatoes so even if I only get one, it'll be good. 

Too hot to go out until the sun is almost gone today so I'm glad I watered day before yesterday and then made sure that little seedling and the beans got an extra watering. For the first time in years it is hot and windy on this holiday. 

Not that it's good but it's as it should be in July.

Fireworks Pennisetum.

And watered again today because...it's hot.

 I have to remind myself that mulch is good but it also dries out just as fast when it's this hot. I also have six bean seeds in the soil that need to say hydrated.

On the evening walkabout with Rocky the other day I decided to take a picture of the pink oleander in bloom. I haven't been out in the parking lot lately and failed to notice it. The Shamel Ash tree above it has been dropping seeds for weeks now, the pavement is covered it the seeds.

Another seedling! Definitely looks like another squash but it is way late in the season for it to sprout now. And the third squash pollination I think took. The first one that was yellow wasn't growing so I broke it off, the second one is just under the bigger one and don't think that one took either. I pollinated that third one last night and it's definitely bigger than before.

The tomatoes are ripening quickly, those three are the visible ones with another one around to the right at the back where I picked the first one. The random seedlings are forming stalks and more leaves. It looks like it might be an acacia but from where? And how would two of them show up in the raise bed at the same time? Wait a second..... Jacaranda?????? Maybe??? Have to really wait for them to get bigger to tell. Nope, not Jacaranda, just looked at leaf comparisons and the cotyledon leaves are completely different.

The cotyledon leaves look like the seed cases of the tree so that's not it at all and true leaves look like jacaranda, not the ones I have. So that's ruled out. I've seen those sprouts before and something in the back of my mind says it's either a weed or acacia. If it's acacia it's still a weed.

The peppers are blooming which is good but they're still kind of spindly, there's plenty of wind to build up strength in the stem and I do water them well, knocking them around. The only other thing I can think of is another dose of fertilizer soon. I tried to look back at other posts to see when I fertilized last and despite even putting the tag on the post can't find it.  More than two weeks ago for sure, since it's the beginning of July I think I did the first week of June in fact so it's time. Maybe tomorrow.

 

Squash and peppers and tomatoes oh my!