The Quiet Heat of July

15 Jul 2011 1 Comment

by gardenxing in Watermelons

Half way through July is a good time to start assessing what’s going to be needed for fall and winter. Any green manure or cover crops for winter kill should be started around this time to ensure a good stand so as to get a good cover in the spring. The buckwheat, pictured below, is ready to come out and be replaced with my fall mix of peas and oats.

Buckwheat in full bloom

As fall approaches the winter rye and vetch will be seeded on those beds that will get later crops; the peas and oats will get earlier ones.

A lot growth happens in one summer month. The watermelon vines have quadrupled in length and I’ve already picked two. But sadly, I got a little rambunctious and picked too early. I’m not an expert in knowing exactly when to pick a watermelon, although I’m privy to what the literature says. Three signs are well known: The underside turns a yellow/cream color; the tendril at the base of the vine side of the stem dries up; when rapped with your knuckle, it has a hollow vibration. The first melon I picked (one of my White Wonders) had the dried stem (completely brown/dead), and a hollow sound when tapped, but the underside wasn’t quite the cream color as I had wanted. When cut open, it was insipid. Not a single molecule of sugar in it. Too early!

Hime Kansen Watermelon

The Hime Kansen watermelon was next and had two of the signs of ripeness in place, the hollow thump and the cream colored bottom, but not the dried stem (completely green). When cut open it turned out to be not quite done. Sweet but not ready. I’m still learning the watermelon trade, and when I perfect it, perhaps you can come to me for advice. But until then, I’m trial-and-erroring it. The next melon I’ll make sure all three signs are in place, if possible.

One of the big additions to the garden this year is the new potting shed. An 8×12 shed, put on a packed gravel foundation, was installed June 26. It went up in a few hours. A huge thanks to Polly and Dale for the shed, and also the chaps who installed it for us. The only thing that I needed to do was raise the shelf up about 8 inches closer to the light. Now, all my garden tools are not crowed in the hoop house, and my growing table in the hoop house is clear. A sigh of relief since the hoop house was beginning to turn into a warehouse.

The New Potting Shed

One of the disappointments this year are the cucumbers. I decided to grow a seedless variety, Diva. The plants are gynoecious (all-female) and parthenocarpic (grow fruits without pollination). However, here we are in mid July and I have one. One cucumber. Most of them have aborted on the vine. Diva has lived up to her name as a temperamental, conceited woman. This opera was over before she sang a single note. If my readers have grown Diva and have had success, drop me a note. I’d like to know how you did it.

In closing, here are some more photos of the garden for your viewing pleasure. Once the Aunt Rubies come into ripeness, I’ll post again on their flavor. Cheers.

Sun Gold Tomatoes on the vine

Watermelons, Potatoes and Tomatoes

Aunt Ruby German Green

Bull's Blood Beet

Charentais Melons

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