Monday, August 10, 2009

The Hot July Truth

This is my garden after two weeks of neglect. Keeping up with a garden during the summer in our climate can be difficult at best and often impossible at worst. Neglect it two weeks and the impossible starts to surface.

So, I'll tackle it the only way I know how one small thing at a time. You can see where I started to make progress in the first three beds. Fall is just around the corner and the garden needs to be ready for all the great crops we can grow here in the winter. Here is a list of some I intend to grow

Winter crops for growing in Humid Zone 9:
beets, lettuce (all types), Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, collards, mustard greens, turnips, spinach, peas, parsley, celery, garlic, onions, parsnips, radish, hmmm...Hope I didn't miss anything. If I did I'll add it later.

I'm going to add some rich compost that I've made during the year using house scraps, lawn clippings, and chicken manure. Then the beds will be ready to plant up with my winter crops. In my opinion winter is the best time for veggie gardening in Louisiana. Also this winter I'll be adding the final large bed with a pergola to my potager. The main structure of the potager will then be finished.




Here's some pics of a busy little bee loaded down with pollen I took today. I couldn't decide which photo I like best.

See if you can find the humming bird in the picture below. (Click to enlarge)

5 comments:

JeanSkirtGirl said...

You right about today very hot! But it rain and it looks great outside and feel much better and love the garden great job =) xoxo

Patricia said...

What is humidity? ;) I love your garden beds... our growing is so different up here in the mountains!
Patricia

Unknown said...

Great pictures. I send a link to a friend who is doing free seminars on square foot gardening. Maybe she will look you up. She is on the Northshore. Happy gardening!

Pony and Petey said...

Ah, Kristi, you are my dear friend even though we've never met!!

My garden has been making me feel sad & guilty & wasteful lately. All that good soil and growing space and I'm not taking advantage of it!

But you've comforted me with this post...hot and humid takes it's toll on us deep south gardeners = )

I'm also VERRRRRRY excited because I've been wanting and dreaming of a pergola for a long time but haven't been able to figure out a place for it. The HOA says no way to one in the front...the back yard is basically garden and space for the dogs.

Your brief mention of the pergola IN the garden has helped me to see the light! I can have a pergola in my garden!!! It won't take up valuable space for the dogs (Dingo would be very sad to lose his frisbee-catching space) and it will actually improve the garden by providing growing supports and a bit of sun-softening shade.

So thanks for being my cyber-space friend...if you ever get over to Houston, let's meet up for real! My treat for dinner = ))

p.s. are you on Facebook? I'd love to hook up with you there, if you are!

Kristi said...

Hi Pony, Yes, spots of my garden have been sitting unproductive waiting for cooler temps as well. Our summers are brutal on people and plants. Certainly shade from a pergola should help!

Wow, I haven't been to Houston in ages. Everyone says it is a beautiful city. Maybe one day I'll find myself there...thanks so much for the offer.

Kristi