Arlene, at least the rain should make the veggies really grow. At least once they dry out some.

Thanks, Arlene. I wish there was such an easy solution to your rain difficulties.

It's not good for the tomatoes. too much.

My garden slopes so only the stuff at the bottom is getting really wet and one is a row of comfrey which likes a lot of water. The other is asparagus and raspberries which seem to be liking it. Only the blueberry patch had standing water which has been draining overnight so hopefully it will be okay. Really makes it miserable for trying to work and have to be carefully not to tramp on the beds since it's all clay and it will really pack it down. I had planned on planting more carrots and beets but that's not happening. It's going to be miserable picking for market as rain is predicted through the weekend. I don't think it will be very busy at market because of rain and the holiday but the stuff has to be picked.

I wish I had a cistern right about now.

Maybe Market will surprise you and be good.

It's possible. It's happened before. I guess I want to brace myself in case it isn't. Every week we say, we don't have much of anything to sell and yet we keep hitting our target! Amazing!

Checked the rain gauge this morning, 5". And expecting more rain today. I will head over to the farm after breakfast and try and at least get the daisy, zinnia and rudbeckia picked for market then the rest tomorrow.

Wow Arlene, to much rain. But I am hoping for a great market weekend for you.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Hot and steamy today so I am not doing much in the garden. I did plant a tomato that I grew from a cutting and pulled out the last of my pea vines but that is it.

The little seedlings up in the root veggie area are doing great so when they get bigger I will take more pictures. I should go move another row of Tall Bearded Iris so I can have a path there along the end but it is just too hot for me to care.

Yep, I never made it over to the farm, raining pretty much mot of the day. Guess it was a mandatory day off so we should enjoy it! Happy 4th of July!

4th of July is a good day to have off but not so good that you can't get out and grill or have a picnic because of the weather.

Sunflowers are sprouting!

We had guests over today for a seafood boil, swimming and celebration. We're bushed, but everyone had a good time.

I did take time out to check for squash bugs though...and didn't see a one. That's a very positive sign!

Now...if the tomato hornworms will just wait a week or so to show up, we might be okay.

Hurray for the sunflowers. They really want to grow. I might start some new ones myself for a late crop. In fact I just went and put out the seed package were I always see it on the kitchen counter so I don't forget.

Hurray for no squash bugs!

I felt terrible doing it, but I removed all of the baby fruits and flowers that I could get to from my squash and cucumber plants this morning...seems like such a backward thing to do. Grow, plant! ...Wait, plant! ...Not yet, plant! The whole time I'm thinking, here my plants are doing just what they're supposed to do...and because we're not keeping to the program, they have to lose their first fruits. Ugh.

A second batch of sunflowers will brighten up your late-season gardens, Rita.

Chelle, I think it was a smart thing to do. There will be plenty more fruit in the future.

I have an empty spot that had spring bulbs but now has nothing. Not a large space but I think afew late season sunflowers would look great there so I will plant the seeds. I already have spring planted ones growing in the backyard.

It's always hard to pull fruit off of plants but they'll be all the better for it. When people tell me they won't cut their flowers for bouquets I remind them that it will produce more flowers if they do. Example, I cut ALL the daisies that are in blossom every week and the next week this is what they look like. Same thing with the row of zinnias.




I had terrible germination of my sunflowers and I would do a second planting but I used all my seeds! next year.

I love sunflowers. I think they are so pretty. Those daiseys and black eyed susans look so good.

I am one of those people that do not cut flowers for bringing inside. I like my flowers out in the garden where I think they belong. Good thing everyone is not like me or no one would sell cut flowers.

I like them in the garden as well but I never hesitate to cut some for fresh flowers inside. Also I have lots of flowers that are not suitable as a cut flower so those never get cut unless it's to deadhead for a second flush.

I so wanted to NOT harvest for market today! Soaking wet, raining more and I got a tick on my neck. But DH wanted to sell the cucumbers so he gently pressed me onward. The tomatoes are a bust but there were beans, cukes, zucchini, yellow squash, beets, carrots, herbs and of course honey and flowers.

It's sort of depressing to see the tomatoes being eaten or cracking and rotting from all the rain. I will salvage as much as I can and make some sauce.

Oh, and the garlic is having a hard time curing...it's inder the porch but I think we're going to have to bring it inside if we can. Priority for Sunday!

Yuck to the tick! Hate, hate, hate ticks.

Rain just makes those tomatoes crack and then I know you can't sell them. I hate it when they crack as I don't even give those away. But I do eat them. Slice them up in salads and they are fine. But it looks like you do have a lot of veggies that you can sell.

I think I have only ever had a tick once before. Luckily I got him right away.

We should do okay at market except that it is supposed to rain. People there are pretty good about coming out even in the rain, but it is a holiday weekend so some may be away on vacation. Just have to wait and see!

My really small veggie harvest today. Some assorted Cherry Type tomatoes and 5 cucumbers.