Re: N&C Midwest—July 2020

**Scorpio Rising** 7/17/2020, 6:46 pm

Nice! I love maters...it really is the reason.

I have to cook my lovely squashes...I’m off tomorrow so I plan to shoot some pics! It will be simple: zucchini, a couple patty pans (babies), garlic, onion and butter EVOO and some parmy! Yum.

OhioGardener 7/18/2020, 11:23 am

Lots of Perpetual Spinach, picking it every 3 to 4 days. Fortunately, we have neighbors that love it as much as we do. The 6 plants of Banana Peppers are also heavily producing now. Very Happy

**Scorpio Rising** 7/19/2020, 5:04 pm

I did’t get that done...so hot. I watered for an hour this morning...picked 3 more patty pans. Wish the heat/drought would give us a break!!!

All I do is rotate watering spots. South. West. SFG. Flower pots/patio. Repeat.

OhioGardener 7/19/2020, 5:16 pm

I know what you're saying, SR! We were supposed to get strong thunderstorms this afternoon, but it went south of us and we only got a short sprinkle out of it. I have had to change the timer for the drip irrigation from every 3 days to every other day. The plants were starting to show stress from the hot dry air.

MrBooker 7/20/2020, 9:02 am

Beet Bed

Poor brown Tomatoes

Cukes

Curing Texas sweet and white onions.

Dug a half barrel of taters, some carrots and beets.

Ground hog is eating my sweet potato vines again.

Bell Peppers

OhioGardener 7/20/2020, 11:31 am

The hot, dry weather has been hard on the plants this year, hasn't it MrB? I went out this morning before the day started getting hot again and picked the Kale, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Green Beans, and Sun Gold Tomatoes (which all got eaten before they made it to the house). If it weren't for the drip irrigation on the timer, we wouldn't have any vegetables left.

Third picking of the Blue Lake Bush Beans, and there are many more beans on the plants for future picking.

Lacinato Kale - glad I just planted 6 plants!

Rainbow Chard

MrBooker 7/21/2020, 6:37 am

We had 2" of rain yesterday and it rained throughout the night. Going out shortly to check rain gauge. My tomatoes are turning red and are only about the size of a golf ball.

I've just about given up on trying to water. It was taking about 30 gallon of water every 2 or 3 days. 20% chance of rain today and 60% tonight.

OhioGardener 7/21/2020, 8:25 am

We finally got a much needed rain last night, just short of 1½"in the rain gauge this morning. The grass will soon start turning green again, and I can turn off the drip irrigation for a while.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/21/2020, 6:35 pm

Yes, this weather has been difficult to cope with, plants and me. We got a 15 minute wind storm followed by 5 minutes of light rain. I should have watered the south annex, but I’m skipping it to make food!

Sauteed zucchini, a few tiny patty pans, garlic all from the garden. Adding some chicken sausage and onion and parm at the finale!

RJARPCGP 7/22/2020, 2:21 am

OhioGardener wrote: We were supposed to get strong thunderstorms this afternoon, but it went south of us and we only got a short sprinkle out of it.

Sounds like what's been happening over where I am! Been missing T-storms, but at least the mosquitoes don't look bad like they were in 2019, so far.

Many of them go south of us, IIRC.

And thus, of course, got wasps instead, LOL. N&C Midwest—July 2020 - Page 2 2636062189

N&C Midwest—July 2020 - Page 2 2636062189

**Scorpio Rising** 7/22/2020, 7:55 am

Finally got an inch of rain overnight, must have stormed, had lightning alerts on my phone. I slept through it.

Making cucumber and onions tonight; cukes are coming on hard! I love them. Going to post a question regarding Mrs. Wages dill spice packet—just not in love with the Ball recipe for dills....

MrBooker 7/22/2020, 8:41 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:Finally got an inch of rain overnight, must have stormed, had lightning alerts on my phone. I slept through it.

Making cucumber and onions tonight; cukes are coming on hard! I love them. Going to post a question regarding Mrs. Wages dill spice packet—just not in love with the Ball recipe for dills....

I picked 3 nice cucumbers yesterday afternoon and sliced up some fresh Texas sweet Onions. They should be ready to eat by lunch time today.

My cucumbers are really slow this year. The vines have a ton little Cukes though. Scorpio, have you ever tried slicing some green Bell Peppers and a half ripe Tomato in your cucumber and onions? OBTW: We got another inch and 3/4 rain last night. That makes about 4 inches total in a week.

OhioGardener 7/22/2020, 9:15 am

We got another half-inch of rain last night, so that makes 2" in two days. But, it is still lightly raining. Everything, and everybody, is happy to see some rain water finally! The grass is already greening up again.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/23/2020, 6:21 pm

MrBooker wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:Finally got an inch of rain overnight, must have stormed, had lightning alerts on my phone. I slept through it.

Making cucumber and onions tonight; cukes are coming on hard! I love them. Going to post a question regarding Mrs. Wages dill spice packet—just not in love with the Ball recipe for dills....
I picked 3 nice cucumbers yesterday afternoon and sliced up some fresh Texas sweet Onions. They should be ready to eat by lunch time today.

My cucumbers are really slow this year. The vines have a ton little Cukes though. Scorpio, have you ever tried slicing some green Bell Peppers and a half ripe Tomato in your cucumber and onions? OBTW: We got another inch and 3/4 rain last night. That makes about 4 inches total in a week.

No I haven’t done that, Mr. B but sounds wonderful! Thanks for the tip/recipe! I will post my old neighbor’s recipe for 1-2-3 Salad—super simple and delish!

Yes OG, we really needed this rain....relieved.

OhioGardener 7/23/2020, 7:01 pm

The Jalapeño Peppers are really starting to develop. These are Craig's Grande Jalapeño Peppers from Baker Creek, and the first time I've raised them. According to their web page, these are "A big, fat jalapeño that is perfect for making lots of salsa. Perfect for anyone who loves jalapeños. It has thick, flavorful, hot flesh". I have six plants that are all fully loaded with peppers.

I'll soon have enough ready for some poppers, salsa, etc..

OhioGardener 7/25/2020, 11:27 am

Then native bees were very active on the squash blooms this morning. Both the winter squash and summer squash are heavily producing right now.

The bees were so packed this bloom that I couldn't count them all!

**Scorpio Rising** 7/25/2020, 12:28 pm

I noticed the same thing as I mowed this morning, OG. The small bees were going nuts on the squash blooms! My sweet banana peppers are producing, and there are a couple green peppers out there. Gong to wait until tomorrow AM to get out there—too hot.

My Red Kuri squash plants are blooming and have babies on them, but really wilt badly. Anybody ever grow these ? I thought you might have, OG....

OhioGardener 7/25/2020, 12:46 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:My Red Kuri squash plants are blooming and have babies on them, but really wilt badly. Anybody ever grow these ? I thought you might have, OG....

Yes, I grow them every year. They are a delicious winter treat. But, all four plants this year got killed by the vine borer. The vine borer hasn't bothered the Butternut or Acorn yet, but they killed all of the Red Kuri. I planted some more Red Kuri seeds a few days ago, but they haven't germinated yet. I'm hoping they will still have time to mature before the fall frost.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/25/2020, 9:10 pm

SVBs are about here as well....grrr. Gonna ride it out. Planning forward, my tomatoes will be out There next year.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/26/2020, 7:33 pm

Spent several hours in the gardens...watered the annex. Looking wilty. Mostly SVBs. Will see if these plants survive?

Pulled the sugar snap pea trellis. They are done. Pulled all the Candy onions; they are curing in the garage.

Got some peppers, a couple of my first big maters.

Weeded peppers—dry. Got half a dozen cukes. Watching the melons...close on a couple of them!

OhioGardener 7/27/2020, 12:52 pm

Got out early this morning to pick the tomatoes, summer squash, and bush beans, then got the lawn mowed before the day's sweltering heat could set in for the rest of the day. They are predicting strong thunderstorms with high winds for the afternoon/evening, but there is nothing in the area right now.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/27/2020, 7:26 pm

I got rain tonight—really this afternoon. Much needed!

I had my first real BLT tonight!! Man, there is no stand-in for the garden ripe tomato! I had picked a couple of Cherokee Purple with a touch of ???BER that could easily be cut out. So I did! Used one. Toast, mayo, bacon, butter crunch lettuce and..... TOMATO!!! cherry

Yes, worth it!

OhioGardener 7/28/2020, 7:51 pm

The gardens are still producing a lot of beans, tomatoes, and peppers, mostly thanks to the drip irrigation that has gotten it through the long hot dry period that we have been through. Still picking kale and lettuce, too.

**Scorpio Rising** 8/1/2020, 8:53 am

Nice!

OhioGardener 8/1/2020, 9:07 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:Nice!

Had to cut out the Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce yesterday, it was starting to bolt to seed. Put a layer of new compost on the bed, and will be re-planting it in the next couple days.

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