Rain, Rain and More Rain
This morning I helped gather vegetables and herbs for the Saturday food collection. There were plenty of cucumbers, okra and some tomatoes. We’ve got quite the rice patty in the center common area. Phase II is very muddy as we have not gotten our mulch yet for the pathways. Mushrooms are sprouting in the beds and tomatoes are splitting from all the moisture. Who would have thought we’d be concerned about too much moisture in July in Texas?
Gardeners are beginning to pull their spring veggies and put in fall crops. Phase II has a head start on Phase I gardeners in that area .
Bird netting was a problem today again. We freed two black swallowtail butterflies and a dragon fly from some netting todday. It does keep the birds from the tomatoes, but has consequences as well. Above is a picture of a similar butterfly to the one we freed today.
We saw some more squash vine borers today but were unable to catch them. I’m thinking I need to bring a bug jar when I come in order to capture the bad bugs. I’m also on the lookout for some row cover material to cover any future cucurbits I plant (i.e. squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons.) Fire ants are a continual problem-they are eating the blossoms on our okra, among other things.
Well, this is gardening in Texas in July. Hot and dry (usually) with lots of pests. I’m already looking forward to those fall gardens. Happy gardening!
