Update On The Beds

Jonah

In the Jonah Bed, the pinto beans have started to flower. The strawberries have been producing white flowers with yellow centers but no strawberries so far. The lemon cucumbers have had a few leaves fallen to insects. Angela applied some neem oil on them a few days ago, hopefully it will work. The corn is doing wonderfully, so far no disease or pests to report at all. The rest of the bed has tomato plants. I have never grown tomatoes before but they seem to be growing very slowly. Angela has made a mini trellis for the beans to start climbing on.

Abigail Bed

This week we began building a trellis for the butternut squash to climb. We made it out of 1 1/2 inch oak limbs that I cut off some the oaks that had fallen recently. Last week we thinned both the Jonah and Abigail bed. The red bell peppers are growing a lot slower then I would like, but this might be normal. The squash is growing very well as is the watermelon. Both sets of plants have started growing their true leaves.

Mandy

The Mandy bed was only planted 5 days ago and already the seeds have started germinating. Sadly something has been eating on one of the okra seedlings and completly eaten off one of its leaves. Also leaf miners have gotten into purplehull peas and the okra. I am not sure what the organic remedy is going to be, but we need to work on it quick.

Also this week we put in cut sections of 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe. They are about 8" or so, our hope is that they will attract some insect-eating lizards which are all over the property. One has already taken up residence in the garden. We call him stumpy on account of his missing tail. Although he has not let us know if he likes the new lizard hotel bungalow we made him.

Also something of note. We have been experiencing record heat here. I know what you are thinking "it's Florida, get over it" but this is unbelievable heat. For the least 3 days hew have broken the record with heat in the mid 90's. Unbelievable! Moreover, we have had almost no rainfall since I put in the beds. There are cooler temps and rains forcast for the next 3 days so I will keep my fingers crossed.

(Note from Angela: Aside from the garden, the whole yard feels like it might combust. We need rain!!!)