Garden, Day 98. . .

Ambient Temperature: 77°
Soil Temperature: 70°
Time: 7:23 p.m.
Date: May 5, 2009

Beginning to look a lot like summertime here in Mississippi. The humidity is high, temperatures are rising, the fish (and bugs!) are biting, and the garden in getting its grow on.

Another indication of warm weather would be the large number of water moccasins I've killed over the last couple of weeks. 6 total so far and there seem to be scads of the slithering bastards out there this year. I don't mind snakes so much and am not particularly afraid of them, but to see several of them quietly slithering across the surface of the pond in all directions at the same time is a tad unsettling. Snake? Meet the .22 rifle with 50X scope.

The garden is full and healthy, bolstered by recent, recurring rains and not to forget the phenomenal soil I turned over this year. Life being the unfair existence that it can be, I have only been able to get half of the ten raised beds planted, but so far so good.

The collard greens have been producing since early April and as you can see by the picture below, show no signs of slowing up. The greens on the left have just been harvested and the plants on the right are well past cultivations size, but hey, they still taste divine!


The tomatoes, after being stunted by a late season frost and a slight pruning of the burned foliage, have come back stronger and bushier than ever. This picture below highlights the shrubby nature of the plants after the tops were pruned out after the cold weather. I think I actually prefer them to grow like this. It appears, at least from last year's same experience, that a stronger and more fruitful plant is produced from this early pruning. The picture is misleading as there are 6 plants shown.


Deep inside you can see the first of the tomatoes. Shaped well, plump, utterly perfect and it's only a matter of time for fresh tomato salads, sandwiches, sauces, the list goes on. . .


I have 8 other plants that are about 6 weeks behinds these, so when the older plants poop-out during the height of the summertime heat, I'll have a nice fresh batch producing while I sow in the plants for the late season run into fall. In the photo below, a healthy cucumber grows in front of the second planting of tomatoes.


The red potatoes I planted during the winter came up nicely, but are now starting to peak and show a little wear and tear from the increasing heat, as well as the assault from various leaf-cutting bugs. Just out of curiosity, I dug a couple up to see the progress. These two are a little small, but I'm sure there are some larger ones buried deeper.

The peppers and squash are also doing well, but I failed to capture a nice looking photo.

In the planter box on the front of the house, Beatrice and I decided to sow-in wildflower seeds and just let nature take its course. Since nature rules all, it has done just that and the first of the wildflowers are beginning to appear.


Another few weeks, it'll be warm and humid for good and I'll probably be complaining about how hot it is during the summer and how the sun is kicking my butt in the garden, but when I sit down to have one of those fresh tomatoes, all will be forgotten at least for a moment, while I enjoy the fruits of mine and Beatrice's labor and the natural wonder that is nature and the cycle of life.