Fire Ants
All the rain has loosened the soil. Yesterday was a perfect time to weed the new flowerbed area. I put the gloves on for thorns and poison ivy. I sprayed the exposed skin for mosquitoes. Then I stepped in a fire ant nest. It really didn’t bother me for a while. What are those little prickers on my legs? Then I saw the ants.
There are quite a few fire ant hills in my yard. I am a live and let live type of person. I don’t bother them until they bite. They bit. I did too. I have some “Fire Ant Mound Destroyer”. I sprinkled that on the mound and around a stump where they had a large presence. I hate to use poisons and other noxious chemicals but sometimes there is not much choice. One year when I had ants coming into the garden area, I planted a border of peppermint. I will plant some peppermint where the anthill is (was). The other noxious chemical I use is “deit”. I spray myself for mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are worse than the poison.
There is another partial solution for mosquitoes. I put mosquito dunks in the birdbath and in the rain barrels. It has bacillus thuringienses. It is like killing Indians with smallpox infected blankets. This is a deadly disease for bugs. Biological warfare if you will. I don’t approve of this against people; but is genocide against mosquitoes all bad? Actually it is. Mosquitoes are to land what shrimp are to the ocean. They are at the bottom of the food chain. They are also at the top of the food chain. They close the circle of life.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
And the Rains Came
And the Rains Came
I’m not sure it is official; but I think the drought is over. There is flooding all over town. Does a flood end a drought? The garden has been inaccessible for two days. The greenhouse provides a “dirt fix”. The gym provides the exercise. As crazy as it may seem, I started tomatoes and cabbage. I could not find red cabbage seeds so I only planted the green things. I forgot to buy broccoli seeds or I would have planted that.
I love to have a complete salad from the garden. By the time the tomatoes are ripe the lettuce has bolted. By the time the fall greens come in the tomatoes are gone or going fast. In Bulgaria they had home grown tomatoes in May. They plant them in the ground inside the greenhouse. They taste like real tomatoes, not greenhouse tomatoes. That is why I am starting tomatoes now.
Monday was the day I had scheduled to till the fall garden. It was too wet to till. If I had tilled it Sunday, I could have planted Monday and all of this rain would be soaking the seeds. Of course it may be so hard as to wash them away. I’ve had that happen before. When they come up they are all in the wrong place. It makes a messy garden.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I’m not sure it is official; but I think the drought is over. There is flooding all over town. Does a flood end a drought? The garden has been inaccessible for two days. The greenhouse provides a “dirt fix”. The gym provides the exercise. As crazy as it may seem, I started tomatoes and cabbage. I could not find red cabbage seeds so I only planted the green things. I forgot to buy broccoli seeds or I would have planted that.
I love to have a complete salad from the garden. By the time the tomatoes are ripe the lettuce has bolted. By the time the fall greens come in the tomatoes are gone or going fast. In Bulgaria they had home grown tomatoes in May. They plant them in the ground inside the greenhouse. They taste like real tomatoes, not greenhouse tomatoes. That is why I am starting tomatoes now.
Monday was the day I had scheduled to till the fall garden. It was too wet to till. If I had tilled it Sunday, I could have planted Monday and all of this rain would be soaking the seeds. Of course it may be so hard as to wash them away. I’ve had that happen before. When they come up they are all in the wrong place. It makes a messy garden.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Raised Bed Falling
Raised Bed Falling
This spring I made a raised bed by the greenhouse. When I planted it the dirt was 4” higher than the boards. I dug down two shovels deep and then ran the tiller through the bottom. I went back with alternating layers of compost and dirt. I planted carrots, radishes and beets to keep the soil loose for the first crop. The radishes did great, the carrots and beets did well above the ground; but not below the ground. The soil is now 4” lower than the top of the boards and as hard as a brick.
I think the culprit is water running from the roof of the greenhouse and packing the soil. I will have to put a gutter on the greenhouse before I work the bed back up. Getting ready for fall planting is a busy time. The flower bed in the front of the house needs to be cleaned up and planted. The raised bed needs planting. Cabbage, broccoli and tomato plants need to be started in the greenhouse. The part of the garden where the greens go needs to be tilled. There are still potatoes that need digging.
On a happier note: I picked all of the watermelons. All of them but one were ripe. Only two were damaged. I gave most of them away. The watermelon part of the watermelon fence has been taken down. Volunteer cucumbers took over 1/3 of the fence. They are still producing several cucumbers a day. That part of the fence was left up. The watermelon fence was one successful “invention”. Next year I will cover it with a small mesh plastic wire so the melons won’t fall through.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
This spring I made a raised bed by the greenhouse. When I planted it the dirt was 4” higher than the boards. I dug down two shovels deep and then ran the tiller through the bottom. I went back with alternating layers of compost and dirt. I planted carrots, radishes and beets to keep the soil loose for the first crop. The radishes did great, the carrots and beets did well above the ground; but not below the ground. The soil is now 4” lower than the top of the boards and as hard as a brick.
I think the culprit is water running from the roof of the greenhouse and packing the soil. I will have to put a gutter on the greenhouse before I work the bed back up. Getting ready for fall planting is a busy time. The flower bed in the front of the house needs to be cleaned up and planted. The raised bed needs planting. Cabbage, broccoli and tomato plants need to be started in the greenhouse. The part of the garden where the greens go needs to be tilled. There are still potatoes that need digging.
On a happier note: I picked all of the watermelons. All of them but one were ripe. Only two were damaged. I gave most of them away. The watermelon part of the watermelon fence has been taken down. Volunteer cucumbers took over 1/3 of the fence. They are still producing several cucumbers a day. That part of the fence was left up. The watermelon fence was one successful “invention”. Next year I will cover it with a small mesh plastic wire so the melons won’t fall through.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sad Squash
Sad Squash
Yesterday (Aug. 18) I noticed the first real signs of cucurbit decline. The vines on almost everything are getting woody and dry. There was almost no new fruit on anything. I really thought all the rain we have had and now the sunshine would make the garden perk up and get excited. It only seemed to hurry the end.
The tomatoes are just starting to make and they are getting wilted looking. The watermelon leaves are looking a little brownish. The speckled lima beans do look good and the volunteer cucumbers are still green and producing. The Chayote plant still does not have blooms; but it is growing wildly. The neighbors weeds and vines have crossed the fence to the point of being intrusive. I guess that will be my big project for the weekend, cleaning that fence-line.
The figs were producing almost ½ pint a day; but yesterday I only got 2 figs. People talk about 2 crops of figs a year. I wonder if the first crop has just finished and all of the little figs on the tree are the second crop. I am just glad the first crop was good. My wife was really distressed about the way I had cut the trees back. Maybe she won’t complain this year.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Yesterday (Aug. 18) I noticed the first real signs of cucurbit decline. The vines on almost everything are getting woody and dry. There was almost no new fruit on anything. I really thought all the rain we have had and now the sunshine would make the garden perk up and get excited. It only seemed to hurry the end.
The tomatoes are just starting to make and they are getting wilted looking. The watermelon leaves are looking a little brownish. The speckled lima beans do look good and the volunteer cucumbers are still green and producing. The Chayote plant still does not have blooms; but it is growing wildly. The neighbors weeds and vines have crossed the fence to the point of being intrusive. I guess that will be my big project for the weekend, cleaning that fence-line.
The figs were producing almost ½ pint a day; but yesterday I only got 2 figs. People talk about 2 crops of figs a year. I wonder if the first crop has just finished and all of the little figs on the tree are the second crop. I am just glad the first crop was good. My wife was really distressed about the way I had cut the trees back. Maybe she won’t complain this year.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Michael Swol’s Creative Patti-Pan Squash Recipes
Michael Swol’s Creative Patti-Pan Squash Recipes
Michael has gotten really carried away with the patti-pan squash. He made lasagna with it and brought it to the office for lunch today. It was extremely good. I don’t really know his recipe exactly. I thought he would substitute the squash for the pasta. He didn’t. He added the chopped up patti-pan squash to the regular ingredients. He also had some ground chicken in there. It was deee-licious.
The other thing he made was stuffed patti-pans. The recipe for this is at http://www.recipezaar.com/246785 . I have not tried this; but I have talked to some of the tasters and it got really good reviews. The patti-pans are still producing prodigiously. The pickle worms seem to like them as much as Michael does though. This has been a good year for cucurbits and a really good year for pickleworms. Oh well to paraphrase another old truism. Every worm has a pickle, not every pickle has a worm.
It rained like crazy Saturday night. The garden seems to love it. Now a little sunshine won’t hurt. As soon as the ground gets dry the fall garden can go in. Most of the summer garden is still there, so a lot of the fall garden will have to be planted in the front yard. I hope my wife doesn’t get too upset.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Michael has gotten really carried away with the patti-pan squash. He made lasagna with it and brought it to the office for lunch today. It was extremely good. I don’t really know his recipe exactly. I thought he would substitute the squash for the pasta. He didn’t. He added the chopped up patti-pan squash to the regular ingredients. He also had some ground chicken in there. It was deee-licious.
The other thing he made was stuffed patti-pans. The recipe for this is at http://www.recipezaar.com/246785 . I have not tried this; but I have talked to some of the tasters and it got really good reviews. The patti-pans are still producing prodigiously. The pickle worms seem to like them as much as Michael does though. This has been a good year for cucurbits and a really good year for pickleworms. Oh well to paraphrase another old truism. Every worm has a pickle, not every pickle has a worm.
It rained like crazy Saturday night. The garden seems to love it. Now a little sunshine won’t hurt. As soon as the ground gets dry the fall garden can go in. Most of the summer garden is still there, so a lot of the fall garden will have to be planted in the front yard. I hope my wife doesn’t get too upset.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Getting Started with the Greenhouse
Getting Started with the Greenhouse
Most of the bedding plants will not go in the dirt until late December. Right now is a slow time in the yard and garden so it is a good time to get the greenhouse ready. Cabbage and broccoli plants can be started now for fall planting. I am also going to plant some tomatoes in the hopes of having winter tomatoes.
The shelves were installed this weekend. The lighting is not in yet. That will hopefully be done this week. The important thing now is sanitation for the coming season. All of the pots and flats and pads will be cleaned with dishwashing soap and Clorox. They will be soaked in the Clorox for at least 2 hours before being washed and taken back into the greenhouse.
The whole floor of the greenhouse was loose bricks. I tore all of those out when I made the raised bed against the back wall. I will be using pavers for the new floor after I level the dirt and get everything really clean. The pavers will be cleaned with a Clorox solution to kill any mildew or fungus spores that may be on them. Next years garden begins!
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Most of the bedding plants will not go in the dirt until late December. Right now is a slow time in the yard and garden so it is a good time to get the greenhouse ready. Cabbage and broccoli plants can be started now for fall planting. I am also going to plant some tomatoes in the hopes of having winter tomatoes.
The shelves were installed this weekend. The lighting is not in yet. That will hopefully be done this week. The important thing now is sanitation for the coming season. All of the pots and flats and pads will be cleaned with dishwashing soap and Clorox. They will be soaked in the Clorox for at least 2 hours before being washed and taken back into the greenhouse.
The whole floor of the greenhouse was loose bricks. I tore all of those out when I made the raised bed against the back wall. I will be using pavers for the new floor after I level the dirt and get everything really clean. The pavers will be cleaned with a Clorox solution to kill any mildew or fungus spores that may be on them. Next years garden begins!
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Change is Gonna Come
A Change is Gonna Come
Every year is a learning experience in the garden. Some of the things learned this year that go into planning for next years garden are:
1) The watermelon fence is a great idea. The 2” X 4” wire lets the baby watermelons hang down on the inside. I will put some plastic hardware mesh on the top of the 2” X 4” wire next year.
2) The plastic wire for the cucumber fence is too flimsy for 8’ spans. Next year it will be on 4’ spans. I may even put rails there to support the vines better. There were hot peppers and herbs in the row as well to keep the bugs and other critters away this year. That seemed to help. I will do that again.
Some things I know are a problem. I just don’t know what to do. They will take some research.
1) The tomatoes are braced and tied as high as I can reach; but they still keep growing and fall over. If I make them any higher, I won’t be able to pick them without a ladder.
2) The squash plants wander all over the garden.
3) The spaghetti squash just plain died. There was only 1 squash and it had worms. That is the most delicious squash. Why can’t I grow them?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Every year is a learning experience in the garden. Some of the things learned this year that go into planning for next years garden are:
1) The watermelon fence is a great idea. The 2” X 4” wire lets the baby watermelons hang down on the inside. I will put some plastic hardware mesh on the top of the 2” X 4” wire next year.
2) The plastic wire for the cucumber fence is too flimsy for 8’ spans. Next year it will be on 4’ spans. I may even put rails there to support the vines better. There were hot peppers and herbs in the row as well to keep the bugs and other critters away this year. That seemed to help. I will do that again.
Some things I know are a problem. I just don’t know what to do. They will take some research.
1) The tomatoes are braced and tied as high as I can reach; but they still keep growing and fall over. If I make them any higher, I won’t be able to pick them without a ladder.
2) The squash plants wander all over the garden.
3) The spaghetti squash just plain died. There was only 1 squash and it had worms. That is the most delicious squash. Why can’t I grow them?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Watermelon Man
Watermelon Man
We picked our first watermelon yesterday (8/13). I guess I should say it picked itself. We had been out of town for 3 days. When I went to the garden the watermelon had broken loose from the vine and rolled down the watermelon fence. I took it inside and washed it and cut it. Oooo. It is delicious. I have planted watermelons every year for many years. This is the first one we have picked. Persistence pays off.
We got quite a few tomatoes too. Several of them had holes from bugs or birds. They were too beautiful to throw away. I took them inside, cut out the bad spots and sliced them. I layered them with basil leaves in a Tupperware tub and put them in the fridge for tomato sandwiches.
Next week is time to start the fall garden. Swiss chard and red cabbage will go in the flower beds out front this year. The back yard will get curly mustard, Tokyo cross turnips, radishes, oak leaf lettuce, arugula, mesclun mix and regular cabbage. Maybe there will be a broccoli plant or two. The shelves should be into the greenhouse too, so we can start some fall tomatoes to raise in the raised bed that was built into the greenhouse.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
We picked our first watermelon yesterday (8/13). I guess I should say it picked itself. We had been out of town for 3 days. When I went to the garden the watermelon had broken loose from the vine and rolled down the watermelon fence. I took it inside and washed it and cut it. Oooo. It is delicious. I have planted watermelons every year for many years. This is the first one we have picked. Persistence pays off.
We got quite a few tomatoes too. Several of them had holes from bugs or birds. They were too beautiful to throw away. I took them inside, cut out the bad spots and sliced them. I layered them with basil leaves in a Tupperware tub and put them in the fridge for tomato sandwiches.
Next week is time to start the fall garden. Swiss chard and red cabbage will go in the flower beds out front this year. The back yard will get curly mustard, Tokyo cross turnips, radishes, oak leaf lettuce, arugula, mesclun mix and regular cabbage. Maybe there will be a broccoli plant or two. The shelves should be into the greenhouse too, so we can start some fall tomatoes to raise in the raised bed that was built into the greenhouse.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Rusty Dixon loaned me this great book by Barbara Kingsolver. The book is the story of a family’s quest to eat only local food for a year. As worthy as the goal is that could have been a fairly dry subject. Barbara Kingsolver’s wit and style successfully avoided that problem. The book holds one’s interest from beginning to end, with a series of great stories, political commentary and interesting recipes.
The book is not really a “how to” gardening book; but there is a lot of useful information for gardeners. The stories are entertaining and thought provoking. Rusty came by yesterday to pick up the book and we talked about it. We also talked about the shortage of zucchini this year in both of our gardens. Barbara Kingsolver complained about being unwelcome everywhere because people were afraid she would give them zucchini. Not this year. I did have that experience with Kale.
The ending of the book (It is not a novel, I can tell you the ending) is the story about the horny turkeys and their egg raising adventures. It was a great capstone for a great book. I recommend this book for all gardeners. I especially recommend it for all non-gardeners.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Rusty Dixon loaned me this great book by Barbara Kingsolver. The book is the story of a family’s quest to eat only local food for a year. As worthy as the goal is that could have been a fairly dry subject. Barbara Kingsolver’s wit and style successfully avoided that problem. The book holds one’s interest from beginning to end, with a series of great stories, political commentary and interesting recipes.
The book is not really a “how to” gardening book; but there is a lot of useful information for gardeners. The stories are entertaining and thought provoking. Rusty came by yesterday to pick up the book and we talked about it. We also talked about the shortage of zucchini this year in both of our gardens. Barbara Kingsolver complained about being unwelcome everywhere because people were afraid she would give them zucchini. Not this year. I did have that experience with Kale.
The ending of the book (It is not a novel, I can tell you the ending) is the story about the horny turkeys and their egg raising adventures. It was a great capstone for a great book. I recommend this book for all gardeners. I especially recommend it for all non-gardeners.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Pickle-Worms
Pickle-Worms
We are leaving the realm of science fiction; but we are sticking with the cucurbits. The last couple of blogs have referred to the little worms eating the cucurbits. Winter Swol did some internet research and found out they were called “pickle-worms”. They eat squash and other cucurbits as well. Soak the vegetable in water and they come out for air. Then you can murder them and put them in the compost. The part of the vegetable they haven’t munched on is still good to eat.
I can just hear the ooo’s. Would you rather share your plate with a pickle worm, or expose your garden, yourself and your family to carcinogenic chemicals? I realize many people will choose the latter. Everyone draws the line somewhere. I spray myself with Deit before working in the yard. I make a conscious decision that the diseases and discomfort caused by the mosquitoes is worse than the risks posed by the chemical. I even used a pyrethrum spray on the harlequin bugs. It didn’t work. I accelerated to Sevin Dust. That seems to work; but has to be reapplied after each rain. My broccoli plants look like lace and I don’t really want to eat the broccoli. I will probably pull them up. The bugs, the environment and me all lose. I wouldn’t really mind if they would just eat a little bit. They are so greedy.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
We are leaving the realm of science fiction; but we are sticking with the cucurbits. The last couple of blogs have referred to the little worms eating the cucurbits. Winter Swol did some internet research and found out they were called “pickle-worms”. They eat squash and other cucurbits as well. Soak the vegetable in water and they come out for air. Then you can murder them and put them in the compost. The part of the vegetable they haven’t munched on is still good to eat.
I can just hear the ooo’s. Would you rather share your plate with a pickle worm, or expose your garden, yourself and your family to carcinogenic chemicals? I realize many people will choose the latter. Everyone draws the line somewhere. I spray myself with Deit before working in the yard. I make a conscious decision that the diseases and discomfort caused by the mosquitoes is worse than the risks posed by the chemical. I even used a pyrethrum spray on the harlequin bugs. It didn’t work. I accelerated to Sevin Dust. That seems to work; but has to be reapplied after each rain. My broccoli plants look like lace and I don’t really want to eat the broccoli. I will probably pull them up. The bugs, the environment and me all lose. I wouldn’t really mind if they would just eat a little bit. They are so greedy.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Invasion of the Monster Squash Plants
Invasion of the Monster Squash Plants
Keeping on with the science fiction theme….Most of my rows were laid out 3’ wide with 2’ paths between. I allowed 4’ for the squash rows. They have filled the pathways and grown into the other rows and grown out of the garden. It is almost impossible to pick them because there is no space between them. They just keep expanding their territory. They remind me of communism after WWII.
The cucumbers are doing the same thing. The only cucurbits that are staying in their allotted territory are the watermelons and spaghetti squash. The spaghetti squash has been a little bit of a disappointment so far. I only have one squash and it has little worm holes in it. I may not have anything there when I pick it. The spaghetti squash is one of my favorite garden things. It will be a shame if we don’t get any as beautiful as the vines are.
My single chayote plant has grown over the grape arbor and escaped into my neighbors trees. I don’t know if it will make chayote in our climate. It sure makes a lot of vine. It does not even have blooms yet; so I am not extremely hopeful. It was fun to grow; and the chayotes taste a little bland anyway. Last year by this time I had a lot of empty space for the winter garden. I only have one or two little spots this year because the cucurbits took over the space as the early plants came off.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Keeping on with the science fiction theme….Most of my rows were laid out 3’ wide with 2’ paths between. I allowed 4’ for the squash rows. They have filled the pathways and grown into the other rows and grown out of the garden. It is almost impossible to pick them because there is no space between them. They just keep expanding their territory. They remind me of communism after WWII.
The cucumbers are doing the same thing. The only cucurbits that are staying in their allotted territory are the watermelons and spaghetti squash. The spaghetti squash has been a little bit of a disappointment so far. I only have one squash and it has little worm holes in it. I may not have anything there when I pick it. The spaghetti squash is one of my favorite garden things. It will be a shame if we don’t get any as beautiful as the vines are.
My single chayote plant has grown over the grape arbor and escaped into my neighbors trees. I don’t know if it will make chayote in our climate. It sure makes a lot of vine. It does not even have blooms yet; so I am not extremely hopeful. It was fun to grow; and the chayotes taste a little bland anyway. Last year by this time I had a lot of empty space for the winter garden. I only have one or two little spots this year because the cucurbits took over the space as the early plants came off.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
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