July 19, 2019
I found enough Brussels sprouts for a meal and pulled the bottom leaves off the plants as I picked. I read a long time ago that it was a good idea, but I didn't remember why, and never thought about doing it. Having so little success in previous years with them made me realize I should try it because what have I got go lose? It makes picking easier, increases air circulation and I think it's supposed to hasten sprout development, which might keep them tighter. I needed the leaves for my second burm so I pulled them off all the other plants too. Then I went over to the two remaining cabbages and pulled their outer leaves off..
Now both burms are refreshed. The garden looks more tidy with plant leaves up off the ground but I'm going to need to mulch under them now. Luckily I have a huge pile of decomposed stall cleanings that is just the ticket..
July 20, 2019
This is the time of year, if your timing was right, that you can be picking broccoli and corn. The spring plantings can be on the way out as the summer ones increase. Picking beans and cauliflower is also an indication you planted your beans early and got a second planting of cauliflower in. This is the time when the variety of veggies is at it's peak and we look forward to the onset of the ripening of the melons. If you still have spinach, good job..
It's the most heat intolerant plant in my garden. I've got a nice row of iceburg lettuce that is getting afternoon shade from the asparagus ferns, so I may not need to use shade cloth on it. I've noticed some local commercial growers have row crops covered in white fabric. I assume it's Reemay to keep them cooler..
July 21, 2019
The garden is growing it's fastest now. We can't keep up with it. I'm getting in the habit of putting my hand weeder in one back pocket, and my hand trimmers in the other when I'm doing my morning picking. It's rewarding to clip off the branches and vines that have grown across the pathways seemingly overnight, and pluck out the errent weeds that have burst forth, while gathering in the days bounty. It's probably the closest I'll ever come to multitasking. At the conclusion of the harvesting you feel rewarded that you've made progress in maintenance and don't have to go back and fix all the little annoyances..
In stopping to uproot a weed yesterday I discovered an entire swath of Creeping Jenny that had not rooted yet. I went along on my knees grabbing handfuls of it and ripping it off from it's source. It was so easy that it was fun and I've reclaimed a foot wide section of pathway. Without that weeder in my back pocket I wouldn't have gotten the weed that introduced me to the unrooted ground cover, and by the time I got back to that spot it might have rooted..
