My son has mostly convinced me to skip the pumpkins this season. I did start some ornamental gourds on a trellis, so that may be as close as I get. The pumpkin patch is waiting to be tilled, and thinking it may be filled with flowers this year… and the bees really need it. Also with the problems with the Squash Vine Borers(SVB), it may be better to let them run their life cycle and give the pumpkins a better chance next year.
I’ve seen the SVB moths around the garden, so not very happy about that… and I have several summer squash, so the season my be shortened. I’ll keep you posted on that.
That said, the gourds are looking good, lots of new ones coming up and I feel good about the bees doing the pollination this year, so I’m going to stand back and let them do their thing.
Author: dkelly
Garden update
I wanted to share a little photo gallery of my garden and give you a quick garden update.
The tomatoes are doing well, got really large before having flowers, probably my fault because thier fertilizer was 10-10-10. Last week I added some Miracle Grow Tomato and flower specific fertilizer and they are so big, they can handle any extra fruit.
Squash is looking nice, there are 3 squash on multiple plants and look good. Almost ready to pick.
I’m growing a trellis of ornamental squash, along with birdhouse gourd and loofah. The last two listed just started coming up over the weekend, so glad they decided to make an appearance in this year’s garden!
Sunflowers popped up over the weekend as well. A smaller variety and I’ll be sure to plant more every 4-6 weeks to get them all summer.
Hope you enjoyed this garden update.
New year, new garden
My dear husband cut down a few water oaks to give my new garden some sunlight.
It is in the early stages, but looking good so far.
On one trellis (left) I will be growing ornamental gourds including but not limited to loofas and birdhouse gourds. On the other trellis (right) I will be growing edibles, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon and beans.
Certainly cramming a lot on these trellises, but we will see how it goes.
Overwintering Tomatoes
I wrapped my tomato cages with Christmas string lights and covered with clear plastic to overwinter my tomatoes.
In March I found my tomato and bell pepper plants made it through the winter, tho pretty dry, and some with tomatoes!
Fruit Tree Orchard
The local nursery had bare root fruit trees for $15, so we bought 8 to add to our Fruit Tree Orchard.
We purchased 2 grape, 2 fig, 2 pear and 2 apple (varieties in images below). I also bought mulberry clippings from central Florida and they have rooted and looking great, so added to the orchard. The grapes were potted and need a trellis.
Soaked in rooting liquid and planted. They seem to be doing well.
Our property had 1 fig and 2 overly large pears when we purchased it 27 years ago and those fruit trees have since died and we wanted to replace them.
We do still have several loquats, bananas and a couple oranges (one original to the property). Last year we added 3 blueberries and will be putting in several more soon.
Fruit Tree Orchard
Palm Tree Farming
We took a bit of time during the winter months to grab some palm seedlings from S. Florida and plant them in pots in C. Florida and calling it a Palm Tree Farm. We brought back several Dwarf Royal palm seeds and some Canary Island Date palm seeds to germinate here and when they get a few inches tall, we will take them down and pot them as well. Palm seeds are not fast growing, so getting them as seedlings gives you months, if not a year’s head start.
It is a fun project and, if all goes well, these little guys will be sold in 5-20 years to someone with a new home, no trees and a need to have a vacation-feeling back yard.
If you want to follow along, follow us on Twitter: Solomon Nurseries | @Solomon_Nurs
First baby pumpkin
It is almost Oct 1, and we finally have a baby pumpkin… first step… now we need to get that flower pollinated and keep puppies, squirrels and bugs off of it. It has a long way to go, but the first step is getting that first pumpkin flower!
Should be ready in time for Christmas… lol!
Backyard update
Sunflower has opened. For as many of these as I’ve planted. Some in my tomato pots to shade them during these hot days, some in their own pots, some in my flower gardens (soon to be foodscapes) all spring and summer, they are finally starting to show their flowers. And that puts a smile on my face. And now, it will only get bigger!
Pumpkins’ first flower
Finally we have a flower that opened up!
Still looking for that elusive female flower, but we gotta see a lot of males first.
Squash Flowers
Running out in the morning to check on my baby squash… wanted to be sure the flower was pollinated, but seems it didn’t open, or I missed it (likely). This is the photo of the first morning, and the second morning it looked like it already opened… all I can do is hope that it was pollinated so I can at least have a second squash this season.
That said, I planted 4 seeds a week ago in my flower garden in the front of my home. These plants are really pretty and the flowers are beautiful. Since I’ve been trying to read more on foodscaping, this seemed like a good place to start, although likely too late in the season. I’m hoping for a warm winter, so it can maybe go a little longer. Right now, I only have one that came up, and that tasty little sprout has me trying to keep the bugs off it right now. Baby steps.