I ran out of the garlic-smelling Deer and Rabbit Repellent from Sweeney, so I switched up. I purchased Havahart “Deer-Off” which is supposed to repel deer, rabbits and squirrels for “up to 3 months” and be weather-proof. So far, that is not the case. The midnight raiders have eaten the tops off of the Asiatic lilies, munched the holly hocks, day lilies, petunias, callirhoe, and Missouri primrose in spite of the spray. I am going to have to try another deterrent, although the fact that I spent nearly $17 on the Deer-Off makes irritates me.
I love green beans. The grudge match this year is between bush and pole varieties. The bush bean I chose is “Speedy” from Territorial Seed: as of today, I have picked two pounds of lovely little beans from two four foot rows. They have had no pest problems at all. They definitely will make my list next year.
The pole beans are easily five feet tall, full of blooms and robust. They wound around the tomato cages I used for supports. I have yet to get a bean, but that’s okay since I just picked all those bush beans.
I think next year I’ll stick to the bush beans and just plant at two week intervals. The shorter plants are less troublesome to cover against our frequent hail storms, and I really like the yield of Speedy.
Neither the greenhouse peppers nor the two in the garden look good. They are pretty pathetic, in fact. I think the combination of Miracle Grow and SuperThrive that I have been feeding may need to be increased. The plants are green and appear healthy, but they are small. Over the last week, the jalapeno pepper actually dropped the two blossoms it had. Perhaps they don’t appreciate all the rain we’ve had lately.
I have covered my garden against hail for eight days in a row. I have it down to a science: when I hear thunder, I race out to the garden and yank the tarps over the plants and bungee in place. Viola: Peace of mind. The tarps are the 10 by 12 feet, blue, medium duty ones. I used bailing twine to anchor the east side of the tomato tarp at three places, then I bought these nifty bungees specific ally for the purpose of anchoring tarps. They have a ball at one end which slips through the metal tarp ring, eliminating the chance a bungee hook will come undone. The other end is adjustable and has a latch over the hook. Great invention.
Outside garden:
Peas – Super harvest so far: the kids picked and ate four pints this week.
Pole beans – they don’t like climbing anything but the bamboo stakes; I’ve yet to see a bloom.
Bush beans – 8 inches tall and bushy; lots of blossoms, but no pods yet.
Onions – the red onions are doing well; I’ve pulled some for green onions, and today, I picked four handball sized bulbs for salsa. Yahoo.
Peppers – nothing yet. They are spindly and unproductive.
Carrots – over 7 inches mostly, and I’ve thinned pretty well.
Cucumbers – pretty pathetic.
Spaghetti squash – plants are robust and beginning to vine really well! What do I do with them?
Zucchini – Smallish, but I saw a bloom today. Come on!
I have covered my garden against the threat of hail for the 10th time today. Of course, each afternoon on the Front Range brings a threat of severe weather. I just have to be prepared for it. I plan ay appointment around it, and the Minion checks the weather forecast constantly to see if tarping is imminent. Yesterday, I purchase two replacement 10 x 12 tarps to cover my raised beds. The tomatoes are, of course, the first priority, but the peas and beans are close second. The average-use, $17 tarps withstood the pea-size hail. I hope they don’t see anything bigger. They seem kind of flimsy.