Month: July 2020

A Bug’s Death

Jenny Smith / July 21, 2020

It is SO HOT. We are now at 28 consecutive days at over 90 degrees. This morning I went out to the garden, and in the way out I asked Google Home what the temperature was. “It’s currently 78 degrees in Stafford, but due to the humidity, it feels like 87.”  This was before 8am. It’s like the seventh ring of hell right here in Stafford.  It’s so hot that I am routinely growing outside before 7am to get started in the garden. I try to be done by 9; otherwise, I’m just sweaty and drenched and tired the rest of the day. Saturday Jared and I went out by about 6:45 and worked 3.5 hours to dig up all…

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Chugging along

Jenny Smith / July 8, 2020

There’s not a lot happening in the garden right now besides … disease. I’m getting squash and zucchini every day, and the blackberries are putting on, and my Stupice gives me at least one tomato every day. I have had my first white pepper and a cucumber, so that was exciting! Juliet, Stupice, and Sun Gold have produced fruit. I also have one Cherokee Purple I picked green that ripened inside and we ate. We are still working on the greens (so peppery!), and I’ll have to pick more Chard soon. So far I’ve not had any slicers or beefsteaks ripen. I’m kind of worried that they will get blossom end rot — so far every tomato in the bales…

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Fourth of July Tomato!

Jenny Smith / July 4, 2020

It’s A Thing here in Virginia that those who can get a ripe tomato by the Fourth of July have really accomplished something. Well, here’s my accomplishment: It’s a ripe saladette, not a slicer, but I’m taking it. I’ve also pulled several Sun Golds as well, but cherries don’t count either. Wednesday Fertilized today finally using Neptune’s Harvest. I had started trying to salvage these broken branches the other day, but I decided that it was too hard on them being outside in the nearly 100 degree heat and brought them inside. We had our kitchen cabinets painted blue last week, and I’ve been trying to get things reorganized while we have most everything empty. It’s been a slow process…

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