GARDEN & HARVEST REPORT

(Carrots, onions, basil & parsley pictured)

brought to you by Robin & Tiki

I pulled all my onions inspite of not being 100% of certain of my decision. As you can see, they're under 2". I could have taken a chance that they'd continue growing over fall and then pull them. However, I wanted the space for new items. These onions had been in the ground since Feb, I think (should check dates). I started seedlings in peat pots and I felt that the peat pots were stunting growth. Next year, I will not do that. They do love lots of compost & manure and I had done that, but maybe not enough. Next year!! Next year!! This is a learning process for me. It has been my first full year of gardening in Central Florida.

I picked a dozen or so carrots from the garden and somebody ran right over to make a nest of the tops. My 3 girls thoroughly enjoyed my entire afternoon in the garden, digging up bug for their eating pleasure.

HOT PEPPERS

This is the variety that I harvested last week. Not big, but then again, we just had a dry month. I figure I should get a big harvest in Sept after the hurricanes drop buckets of rain on us.

I have no idea what this is. I'm suppose to have 5 varieties of peppers but this is one not mentioned on the packet. Must research to determine type. I love the multi-colors on the bush. They're rather large. I have only 1 of these.

Hungarian Wax (or maybe Anaheim). Either way, they're very much like a banana pepper. Mild & delicious. Wish I had more of these plants!

Orange Serrano Chili - hotter than a jalapeno, but cooler than a cayenne.
I love the orange variation that I accidentally got in my package. There is some curling of the leaves, probably a deficiency in the soil.

Slim Red Cayenne peppers, picked & drying to make crushed hot pepper for seasoning dishes. Seeds are very hot!! The skins are good for "crispies" which can be fried in oil & put on eggs for breakfast or whatever you want. My parents have a friend that loves his crispies.

Red jalapenos (they were green but tend to go red if they sit on the bush or if it is fall) They have some cracking on them due to heat stress.

NEW STUFF & CHERRY TOMATOES

AVACADO TREE - new addition (1 ft.) Gifted to me by Betty who also gifted me with my chihuahua puppies

MANGO TREE - new addition (18")

These have strong roots, so don't plant them right by the house.

Even with rain, everything look awful from the destruction of Florida heat (91 deg daily) & sun. However, God has a cure for this.

NEW GROWTH on Bell peppers (Spring plants). I've been pondering the reason why my wilting plants are beginning new growth at the bottom of the stalk rather than from the tops. My only guess is that the plant knows hurricane season is around the corner. So, God has growth show up at the bottom for the new season and the old growth can be broken away between heavy rains & high winds. Amazing how God's providence is unique even for coastal plants.

More growth on my 1yo Bell pepper plant in the main garden. I have nearly pulled this plant twice. I'm glad I didn't now.

Mess of tangled tomato vines. My big toms died but the cherries lived. It was a chore to separate the 2 and then rehang the growth to redistribute the weight again.

Here is the picture of the cleaned-up cherry tomato plants (1 yr old). I gave a 4H friend some seeds years ago and her original bushes are still alive, being about 4-5 yrs old.

Baby Cherry tomato (left) growing in the wrong side of the garden. This one was transplanted after my pruning of the established plants. I have 2 of these babies. One in the carrot section and one in the hot pepper garden across the entire yard. I'm guess either chickens or my feet transferred the seed.

HERBS

Thankfully for me, herbs don't mind the heat. My small plants are a year old and growing like weeds. They're approx 2-3ft cubed each plant. Cilantro died out but the seeds should be growing soon with the rain from TS Fay.

FLAT LEAF ITALIAN PARSLEY

CLOSE UP on seeds (right side of plant)

After harvested, in a big bowl, I shook & pulled seeds off those pods and kept the seeds to make into babies.

This basil plant is a year old & was transplanted to the back spot in the spring. I really thought it had died but inspite of sandy soil, lack of spring rain & lack of love from me, it took off again. I just love the smell in the corner of the garden. It was a pleasure to work around the herbs.

Left is a dried series of sweet basil seeds. These were pulled on one quick slide of the hand and put in a baggie.