Summer Garden Re-cap

Before we start Fall Vegetable Gardening, let's re-cap the summer vegetable harvests: successes and failures.

The heat this summer has been brutal with the drought and record temperatures during July. Temperatures over 100 degrees F cause many plants to "shut down", especially if the plant requires cooler nights. My beans especially seemed to suffer, with scorched leaves which fell off by the handful. The beans planted under taller okra (which gave them some shade) seemed to produce longer and better than the beans in full sun.

This year, even with very little rain, seemed to be a good one for tomato harvests. My "Roma" tomatoes were so prolific that I was able to share some with my former neighbors on Hoover Avenue. As you know, these are not slicing tomatoes but excellent for pastas and salsas.

I have already mentioned beans, and the "Dragon Tongue" or purple-flecked beans seemed to out-produce the green beans. Lima beans were a "bust", but Thai "Yard Long" beans are still producing!

Other good producers were Italian zucchini, okra, Spanish onions, "Purple Beauty" Eggplant, and basil. The only veggies that I have had to purchase this summer were peppers and avocados.

Pests this summer included cucumber beetles, bean beetles, squash borer, and ANTS! I blame the ants for a zero harvest of cucumbers as they swarm the plant on its leaves, flowers, and stems. I achieved some success repelling the ants by placing marigold flowers on okra plants, but they were undeterred on the cukes.

Stay tuned for the next blog which will detail Fall Vegetable Gardening. Yes, the weather will break and we will get cooler days and nights.