When it comes to gardening, one has to learn to roll with the punches and take what comes. This season is filled with that sort of moments. The pollination and development of veg and fruit is chaotic here....but things are progressing, albeit at their own pace. At their own pace which is being determined by the Natural Conductoress. The strawbs are winding down now and there may be a couple more desserts left on the plants. The corn, on the other hand is growing right along. The beetroot and leeks are coming along well: The beans are winding their way heavenwards: Now then--the greenhouse. The Paprika's are growing and producing flowers. It was time to give the toms their first haircut and so they were suckered and leaves were removed. The toms at thje back of the greenhouse are a different type and got the same treatment. The lettuce and courgettes are doing well as are the the parsnips. The green manure which we planted where the spinach was is up and has the second set of leaves. I think that the spuds will not be ready until the end of the month, as the normal time is 90 days from planting. I must be patient.
Sjoerd, everything appears to be growing at the intended speed. Your Beetroot is taller than our's, as is your corn. Do you have a suggestion for keeping spinach from bolting before we even get to eat any? Our Blue Lake bush beans are the most abundant ever. I planted a second two rows, supposedly bush type. They look healthy, but they're putting out runners. So much for honesty in packaging.
Sjoerd, have you noticed there are fewer pollinators about than in previous years? The only bees I see are Wasps and maybe two Bumble bees.
Hey there Growing--Yes, I do notice fewer pollinators about. It is something that gardeners are always aware of --pollinators. I have only seen three butterflies so far this year. That's absurd. Solitary bees only seen one. Honeybees I see plenty of, because my hives are in the garden. Oh yers and bumblebees--I have seenh a good number of those, but then again, I have two colonies in the garden at the moment--one in the ground and another in a birdnest box. As for bolting spinach--well the mechanism for bolting is dryness and high temps. I can usually keep mine from bolting simply by giving water every day during hot and droughty periods. Having said that I only got two harvests this year instead of four. I followed the weather patterns and forecasts and took action before the hot and dry came. Ach well, one can only do so much and then Mother Nature just does what she wants in the end. So then--hive water and perhaps erect some shade for your spinach. Next year you could plant your spinach behind tallish plants like beans, leeks ...just anything that will offer some degree of shade shade to your plants. Another tip is to plant your spinach as early as possible when there will be no frost. I usually try and plant them when I plant peas and brassicsa's, as they all love cool temps.
Sjoerd, thanks for good advice. I planted as early as possible and perhaps I could have watered more and I will remember the shading next year. I'm allowing it to go to seed, hoping to possibly grow a fall crop.
GP,, Are you picking the leaves as soon as they are big enough ? I pick mine starting at about two or three inches long ! It will not bolt as quickly that way ! I am in Texas so we are hotter than you and I can pick every two to three days during season !
You ought to have good luck this fall. An alternative to spinach is Swiss Chard. I really like that and it is tolerant of weather extremes. Mart wisely suggested to pick those leaves early.
Mart, I do but it bolts so quickly, we get very little. I hope the fall crop does better. Sjoerd, I have grown Chard, but Kale and Beet tops are my choice this year.
