A Weekly Gardening Diary
November 11
A damp and chilly day at the gardens today, temperatures were in the lower fifties and the North wind seem the temperatures to feel colder. Fortunately, we collected just over an inch of rain in the gauge this week. Today we harvested 29 pounds of produce consisting of okra, peppers, and radishes. We continue our worm patrol on the cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower plants, significantly less this week compared to last week. Several of the cabbage plants are starting to form heads (today’s photo). Perennial beds are flowering and attracting bees and butterflies, in fact we saw a late-season monarch enjoying the white mistflower.
November 4
A beautiful day at the garden today, temperatures were in the lower seventies and winds were calm. Today we harvested 41 pounds of produce consisting of various squashes, okra, and peppers. Today was a big clean-up day, removing all the squash plants that succumbed to the frost earlier in the week. Our cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower transplants are doing well, and continue to attract the attention of cabbage loopers and salt marsh caterpillars. All the plants received a good cleaning by hand to remove the caterpillars and then then they were treated with BT. Butterflies continued to fill the air enjoying the many fall perennials still flowering in the garden including the Fragrant Mistflower shown here. This Texas native provides welcome fall color and texture to your garden and is tolerant of our extreme summer and winter conditions. It should be sheared back in the late winter or early spring for the most blooms in the fall.
October 28
A beautiful day at the garden today, temperatures were in the lower eighties and the rain gauge had collected over two inches for the past week. Today we harvested 210 pounds of produce consisting of various squashes, okra, tomatoes, and peppers. The supplemental boost of nitrogen fertilizer to the peppers about six weeks ago has really increased their yields, over 100 pounds in peppers today. Our cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower transplants are doing well, and they have already attracted the attention of the cabbage loopers. Due to the anticipated rains tomorrow, we hand-picked the removal of the loopers today and will spray with BT next week. A variety of butterflies filled the air and were enjoying a bit nectar from many of the flowering plants in the garden.
October 21
Whew! It felt like summer returned today. Temperatures quickly warmed once the sun peeked over the horizon and it progressively warmed as the day progressed. No rain in the gauge for the week. Today we harvested 79 pounds of produce consisting of various squashes, okra, tomatoes, and peppers. Our cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower transplants are doing well, and they have already attracted the attention of the cabbage loopers. Next week, once temperatures cool again, we will treat all the crucifer crops with neem oil to discourage the caterpillars. The peppers have rebounded nicely from the summer heat and limited water supply and are producing with enthusiasm. We completed our garlic planting today, so with some weather luck, in about 150 days we should be harvesting plump bulbs of garlic. Cooler weather and recent rains prompted germination of a number of common garden weeds including spurge which were dug and disposed of. The perennial beds continue to flower providing nectar for local and migrating pollinators. The Rue in the herb bed was loaded with a new batch of swallowtail butterfly larva some of which, unfortunately, caught the attention of predator red wasps and were eaten.
October 14
It was a cool morning with temperatures remaining in the mid 60’s. As we worked, we got to experience the ring of fire eclipse, and observed the wonderful shadows it casted on the garden. This week did not yield any rain for the garden. Today, we harvested 95 pounds of produce consisting of various squashes, okra, peppers, and the last of the cucumbers. The butternut squash has been producing well. The last of the cucumber plants were removed as they succumbed to aphid and whiteflies damage. The cucumber bed was replaced with radish and beet seeds. Previously planted carrot and radish seeds have already sprouted in the other bed. Last week’s transplants of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are getting established. The pepper plants have rebounded well and are massively producing. Some okra plants were removed; however, many have greened up and continue to put out an abundance of fruit. The perennial beds continue to flower beautifully. Bluebonnet seeds were spread, and the rue continues to be engulfed with swallowtail butterfly larva.
October 7
Finally, it felt like fall this morning. Temperatures were in the low 60’s at the start of the day and only reached the upper 60’s by noon. This week also brought almost one inch of rain to the gardens, always a welcome surprise. Today we harvested 162 pounds of produce consisting of various squashes, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Our seedlings from several weeks ago are doing great and the peppers are really enjoying the rain and cooler temperatures because yields have increased significantly. We planted cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower transplants today, hopefully temperatures will remain cool to encourage growth. The perennial beds continue to flower providing nectar for local and migrating pollinators, in fact the rue in the herb bed is loaded with a new batch of swallowtail butterfly larva.
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