Lovely, lovely weather

FINALLY the weather has turned to summer in Minnesota! No tornado warnings every three days. No 50F nights. It's been in the 80F's several days in a row and the garden is loving it. I always watered every night, but it's crucial these days. Crucial, but with good results.

The sunflowers are nearly 6 feet tall. One tomato plant is over 4 feet tall and the rest are catching up, even the tomato ball.  There is fruit on almost every tomato plant, but nothing to harvest yet. Peas are more than knee high. My Asian long bean plant is up to about 6 feet. Squashes are blooming nicely and starting to crawl. The peppers are still really short, but one pepper plant - less than 1 foot tall has 1 pepper on it that is 5 inches long and of good size. They maybe short, but willful. I'll focus on giving them plant food the next week or so.

All well and good. Alexi/Valentina asked me to take down the wild bird feeder. It's hard to get exact meaning but either it happened or they worried it would happen - the wild birds would/might/did eat Valentina's strawberries and may destroy all of our tomatoes. I think this is  a worry more than a fact.

I didn't see any fruit-eaters at the feeder and strawberries in unestablished gardens have not done well here at all. The birds are everywhere and can't be helped, they just don't want me to encourage them to come to the garden.

I've kept the thistle sock feeder though. Goldfinch and other thistle-eaters do not eat tomatoes. It's "fallen down" once, but I suspect Valentina knocked it down. She's lovely, but when Alexi asked me to take down the feeder, Valentina was literally at his elbow whispering in Ukrainian as though she was telling him what to say. When I left the sock feeder, she whispered to him again, he asked if it was a feeder and I said yes. She tsk'd me. It's back up in such a way it can't be blown or knocked down without effort. I have no ill will towards Valentina, I just think she's nervous for no reason.

I've been quiet and not in the garden much lately - nothing beyond the requisite. I hurt myself and I've been laying low.

More soon.  Happy Summer!

Pictures of my plants so far

West Side Climbers

North Side Climbers

East Side Climbers

Soybeans

Sunflowers

Brussel Sprouts (I love 'em)

Salad Mix

Perfect Timing [updated]

There isn't much to do in the garden until the volunteer plants are big enough to identify. I got squirrly and went to the Mpls. Farmer's Market and stopped by Pflam's booth. They had pickling cucumbers I was looking for. I also picked up two more pepper plants - these are early bearing. Pflaum's only had yellow beans so I searched elsewhere. I bought an "asparagus bean" seedling (aka Asian longbean).

When I got home, I planted the stuff just as it was beginning to rain. The thunder rolled in and I finished just in time. Now we've had a nice downfall. Rain for another day or two so I don't have to water anything.

I'm on the couch with my favorite blanket. Chilly but not cold - just right. Cozy.

[Update:]
The storm passed quickly and blue sky followed. I took a sun nap. The sun is setting with wispy high clouds showing gaudy orange, pink, purple and blue. I could go outside to work on my latest construction project, but I'm not gonna. xoxo

Un-cloched

The covers are off the plants from last night. I've brought in the containers that still have bottoms so I can cut them off (sunlight and ventilation). They'll go back to the garden to protect the little plants. They make a nice windbreak, keep the soil damp, and keep the plants warm. I've seen nearly everyone else use them, but I wasn't really clear about the purpose.

I found an article. Thank goodness Google can turn "plastic plant cover" into "cloche". Google "cloche" and french bells, hats, and plant covers turn up. I just happen to be watching a very old movie and I've just about decided I need to make a cloche hat for myself made from knitting I've fulled.

I've also started a mental plan to make the climbing frame sturdy. It's OK for peas and cucumbers, but the squash will tear it apart and pull it down from the weight.

It's supposed to rain most of the weekend so my chores are few as long as it stays warm enough.

Growing Details May 10 Map

Facing East

Facing West

More stuff in the dirt

Yesterday I was in the garden after the rain. I planted the hanging baskets (herbs) and lemon grass (contained this year). Also squash and bean seedlings, peas, sunflower seeds, cucumber seeds, more carrots. I still have 3 3'x6' plots to plant and room for 2 more herb plants and I think I'm going to add some flowers. I don't think the neighbors are going to dog me for not growing enough stuff this year. It scares me to think about the output if all is successful.