The garden has been coming along nicely this year. Granted, the growing season has been odd this year, with things off to a slow start, followed by blistering heat, followed by unseasonably cool wet. But, all griping aside, things are much improved from previous years.
We actually have a great turnout of lettuce this year. Our kale has provided us with numerous harvests…we hope it has a few more in it. Eggplants…well…much smaller than expected, and it willl be a race for them to set and ripen fruit before the first frost…but they’re hard at it.
The protective guild seems to be paying off, as the aubergines, notoriously vulnerable to pests, have, thus far, been largely untouched.
Inspired both by Helen Atthowe and the rich tradition of British gardening as personified by master practitioner Monty Don we’ve made it a point to add more blossom and bloom throughout, as a lure to beneficial insects, a defense against pests and for the simple beauty of the thing.
Our coles looked good…’till flea beetles breached row cover defenses.
The coles are still hanging tough, particularly the red cabbage….brussel sprouts are taking a beating. However, we still hope to eat some of it…particularly with the flea beetle season subsiding, and various ‘tea’ applications in the offing. We made a point of treating both beds with a foliar application of SAR (Systemic Acquired Resistance) inducing tea made from willow growth tips and a skosh of neem oil….The cabbages didn’t come out looking great. Did the oil cut the waxy lipid based defenses of the leaves, opening them to attack? Did the neem discolor? Was the stress, induced by salicylic acid, too much? Or, in the long run, will things pan out just fine? It remains to be seen.
Nil sine labore!
Castricum Ranch 