Watermelon Fence Revisited
I
t would be great to show a picture; but the camera was stolen this weekend. A picture will come as soon as the camera is replaced. The new watermelon fence went up yesterday, complete with last years lessons. The fencing used this time was a plastic wire with a 1” grid. Last year the 2”X 4” wire allowed the baby watermelons to fall through. Some hung below the fence and had to be supported. Some got caught in the grid and were deformed.
One more try was made to plant cucumbers. Only a few of my first planting germinated. None of the next two plantings germinated. This time a trench was dug and filled with compost. The cukes are one of my favorite things from the garden. We are still picking mesclun and oak leaf lettuce. We had a salad with cucumber from the garden and mesclun and nasturtium blossoms. The tomato was store-bought.
Winter Swol has a new recipe for grape leaves stuffed with figs and cheese. I will try to pry it from her mind and share it with you in the next post. Hopefully there will be ripe figs by then and we can try it and include pictures if I get a new camera. The fig tree is loaded, I am confident it will do its part. Shopping for a camera may be more troublesome.
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/.
Showing posts with label watermelon fence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watermelon fence. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Oh Deer!
Oh Deer!
We enjoy seeing deer out the window. I don’t even mind their tracks in the garden and the little piles of “marbles” in the yard. After all, where I live was all country and woods when I moved in. The deer had a home too. Now it is all houses and roads. The deer are isolated to small undeveloped wooded lots. They are almost homeless.
Now they have violated the sacred tomato plants. Never has that happened before. They ate the tops off of all but two plants. The tomatoes were blooming. In order to close the proverbial barn door after the horse gets out, the tomatoes are now wrapped with plastic fence. They can’t stay that way; but maybe it will stop the munching long enough for a recovery. There’s plenty of honeysuckle. The deer should eat that.
The sugar peas are looking shabby. The fall onions have gone to seed. Watermelon was planted in the space between sugar peas and onions. It is time to give them room to grow. Time to build a “watermelon fence”. The watermelon fence will require the plastic fence that is wrapping the tomatoes now.
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 enjoy seeing deer out the window. I don’t even mind their tracks in the garden and the little piles of “marbles” in the yard. After all, where I live was all country and woods when I moved in. The deer had a home too. Now it is all houses and roads. The deer are isolated to small undeveloped wooded lots. They are almost homeless.
Now they have violated the sacred tomato plants. Never has that happened before. They ate the tops off of all but two plants. The tomatoes were blooming. In order to close the proverbial barn door after the horse gets out, the tomatoes are now wrapped with plastic fence. They can’t stay that way; but maybe it will stop the munching long enough for a recovery. There’s plenty of honeysuckle. The deer should eat that.
The sugar peas are looking shabby. The fall onions have gone to seed. Watermelon was planted in the space between sugar peas and onions. It is time to give them room to grow. Time to build a “watermelon fence”. The watermelon fence will require the plastic fence that is wrapping the tomatoes now.
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/.
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, July 25, 2008
Doing Instead of Talking
Doing Instead of Talking
I have been so busy catching up from the Shanghai trip that I have not been able to write much. I have been doing garden work instead of talking about it. We are getting lots of everything except tomatoes. The tomatoes are a strange case. I planted some ordinary beefsteak; but most of the tomatoes are either the Porterhouse Beefsteak or Marglobe. The beefsteaks are huge; but they don’t have much flavor. It is like they have enough flavor for a little tomato spread through a big tomato. They will not work for canning in a water bath; because they don’t have much acid.
The watermelon fence is working great except for the few watermelons that fell through. I had to put things under them. Here is a picture of the watermelon fence. It was taken about 4 days ago and I had not cut the grass in the yard then. I have cut the grass since.
We have been getting lots of cucumbers; but my wife missed a lot while I was gone. We cut these huge cucumbers down the middle and took out the seeds. Then we chopped the cucumbers and put them in a jar with onions, vinegar, salt water and olive oil. They are good, good, good.
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 have been so busy catching up from the Shanghai trip that I have not been able to write much. I have been doing garden work instead of talking about it. We are getting lots of everything except tomatoes. The tomatoes are a strange case. I planted some ordinary beefsteak; but most of the tomatoes are either the Porterhouse Beefsteak or Marglobe. The beefsteaks are huge; but they don’t have much flavor. It is like they have enough flavor for a little tomato spread through a big tomato. They will not work for canning in a water bath; because they don’t have much acid.
The watermelon fence is working great except for the few watermelons that fell through. I had to put things under them. Here is a picture of the watermelon fence. It was taken about 4 days ago and I had not cut the grass in the yard then. I have cut the grass since.
We have been getting lots of cucumbers; but my wife missed a lot while I was gone. We cut these huge cucumbers down the middle and took out the seeds. Then we chopped the cucumbers and put them in a jar with onions, vinegar, salt water and olive oil. They are good, good, good.
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, June 18, 2008
High Expectations
High Expectations
At the risk of jinxing things, my garden is coming along fantastically. The watermelons are climbing the watermelon fence. (a little). The spaghetti squash is over my head and blooming. A couple of the tomatoes are bigger than my fist. 2 cucumbers should be ready to pick today or tomorrow. We are eating yellow squash and zucchini. The patty-pan squash is blooming. There are even a couple of blooms on the eggplants.
The kale is still producing in great quantities and it still tastes good. How long can it last? There is even a little bit of lettuce that hasn’t bolted. I don’t think there is any way we will have tomato, cucumber and lettuce from the garden in the same salad; but there is a real good chance for the lettuce and cucumber. Only a few of the turnips have bolted; but the ones left don’t have very big turnips on them; so we may be almost finished with the turnips. Learn from experience. From now on it’s Tokyo Cross instead of Purple top.
Interior painting has started on the greenhouse and the plans for new shelves, lights and an inside raised bed are under way. The indoor raised bed may be a little radical. We’ll see.
David Segrest practices international real estate and writes an international real estate blog. Email is david@segrestrealty.com , Web page http://www.segrestrealty.com ,Blog http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
At the risk of jinxing things, my garden is coming along fantastically. The watermelons are climbing the watermelon fence. (a little). The spaghetti squash is over my head and blooming. A couple of the tomatoes are bigger than my fist. 2 cucumbers should be ready to pick today or tomorrow. We are eating yellow squash and zucchini. The patty-pan squash is blooming. There are even a couple of blooms on the eggplants.
The kale is still producing in great quantities and it still tastes good. How long can it last? There is even a little bit of lettuce that hasn’t bolted. I don’t think there is any way we will have tomato, cucumber and lettuce from the garden in the same salad; but there is a real good chance for the lettuce and cucumber. Only a few of the turnips have bolted; but the ones left don’t have very big turnips on them; so we may be almost finished with the turnips. Learn from experience. From now on it’s Tokyo Cross instead of Purple top.
Interior painting has started on the greenhouse and the plans for new shelves, lights and an inside raised bed are under way. The indoor raised bed may be a little radical. We’ll see.
David Segrest practices international real estate and writes an international real estate blog. Email is david@segrestrealty.com , Web page http://www.segrestrealty.com ,Blog http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 28, 2008
Will There Be May Flowers
Will There Be May Flowers?
There have not been many April Showers. One zone of my “Rube Goldberg” irrigation system ran for an hour yesterday. Some spots in the garden still test above 6 on a scale of 1 to 10 on the moisture meter. Most of the garden is below 4. Tuesday I mulched almost everything with half finished compost. The potatoes of course just get un-mulched leaves. I added more to bring the mulch to the tops of the plants. It is almost a foot thick in some places now and needs to be done again.
I planted a dozen eggplants and a couple more peppers in the cage with the sweet peppers and the kohl crops. I am out of half finished compost and almost out of spots to plant anything. I still have lots of basil plants and a few Jalapeño peppers to go in the ground. I would like to plant some more beets. One never has enough compost or space it seems.
I started the “watermelon fence” yesterday. I don’t know if it will work. I put some 4” X 4” post in the ground sticking up about 2 feet. They are three feet from the edge of the watermelon hills, which are at the outer edge of the garden. I will lean some 4’ poles on the 4” X 4”s and cover them with 2” X 4” wire. The watermelon vines will be trained on the wire. The wire will be loose enough to sag under the weight of the watermelons and hold them in place. Hopefully they will be out of reach of the snails and sow bugs. I will post a picture.
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/.
There have not been many April Showers. One zone of my “Rube Goldberg” irrigation system ran for an hour yesterday. Some spots in the garden still test above 6 on a scale of 1 to 10 on the moisture meter. Most of the garden is below 4. Tuesday I mulched almost everything with half finished compost. The potatoes of course just get un-mulched leaves. I added more to bring the mulch to the tops of the plants. It is almost a foot thick in some places now and needs to be done again.
I planted a dozen eggplants and a couple more peppers in the cage with the sweet peppers and the kohl crops. I am out of half finished compost and almost out of spots to plant anything. I still have lots of basil plants and a few Jalapeño peppers to go in the ground. I would like to plant some more beets. One never has enough compost or space it seems.
I started the “watermelon fence” yesterday. I don’t know if it will work. I put some 4” X 4” post in the ground sticking up about 2 feet. They are three feet from the edge of the watermelon hills, which are at the outer edge of the garden. I will lean some 4’ poles on the 4” X 4”s and cover them with 2” X 4” wire. The watermelon vines will be trained on the wire. The wire will be loose enough to sag under the weight of the watermelons and hold them in place. Hopefully they will be out of reach of the snails and sow bugs. I will post a picture.
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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