Ramblin’ Squash

It is almost impossible to walk between the beds of squash. The beds are 4’ wide, but by looking at the pictures it is almost impossible to tell that they are even in beds. The hills were planted in the center of the beds, but the squash has “roamed” to fill the spaces between beds and in some places they have actually jumped into bed with other squash.

The cayenne peppers are growing some huge wrinkled monsters. Some of the would be over 10” long straightened out. The cherry peppers are producing well, but none have started to turn red yet. When they do they will be pickled and stuffed with prosciutto and cheese. The jalapeno peppers are making a few peppers, but not like they did last year.

The tomatoes are coming in a little stronger now. There are plenty to eat, but nothing to give away or can yet. The basil was planted between the tomatoes and the tomatoes are making so much shade that the basil isn’t growing much.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Change of Plans

The weather improved so much that the kale was planted without provisions for covering it. The covered row has been uncovered for a week. A few cabbage, broccoli, and pak choy plants are being hardened off for next weekend. Onions will go in at the same time. Hopefully the pak choy and cabbage will be ready to plant by the time the later plants go in and the space can be used by pepper, egg plant or tomato plants.

I have always hardened off plants going into the ground, but I never really understood the benefits until this week. While studying for the vegetable part of the Master Gardener® program, I read that it makes the stems thicker. When comparing the cabbage plants that are being hardened with the plants in the greenhouse this was verified.

Almost all of the initial planting of basil died after germination. They were replanted this weekend and have already sprouted. It seems they were planted too thickly this time and will need to be thinned. Let’s see how many survive first.




David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Sweet Basil

2 years ago we had so much basil that even after giving lots of it away we had huge plants to dry at the end of the season. We filled several 2 quart containers with dried basil. Last year we got almost nothing. All of the plants in the greenhouse failed. We bought 6 plants to set out in the garden. Only 2 lived and they were scanty producers.

This year everything in the greenhouse has done extremely well except for the basil. Experience is supposed to be a good teacher. What was different 2 years ago? For one thing our greenhouse was really just a big cold frame then. We did not have the bottom heating pads. We seeded directly many things into egg cartons. We used store-bought potting soil instead of home made.

Having read lots of stuff on the internet about growing basil, there seems to be no problem with anything we are doing; but I think it is time to go back to the egg cartons and no bottom heat. Basil is too wonderful to forgo. There is only 2 and ½ weeks before garden planting time; but we will start over with the basil and see what happens. I’ll let you know how it goes. Any suggestions?

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/