Alster Kitchen Garden

July Photos

The garden looks pretty good considering it’s July. Over the past week, 25 pounds were harvested mostly from the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Some of the tomato plants look much better this month than last. Below is a sample of what is on the counter ripening.

Here is another shot, showing some of the cucumbers and peppers:

Some garden photos follow. They were taken today and show remarkably healthy plants. This one shows the squash in the potato box. Growing around the box is the cucumber plant.

Another cucumber is shown below. I planted it next to the fence thinking it would want to climb. But it seems happy coiling over itself creating a very effective shade for the fruits.

Below is the first Crimson Sweet watermelon. I hope there are more.

Below is the first zucchini. These are way late and along with the other squash are being visited by the Squash Vine Borer wasp nearly daily. You can even see some of the solitary small eggs on the stem and leaves. I inject with a biologic control, Thuricide, and hope for the best. Some of the puncture marks from the needle can be seen as well.

July Peppers and Cucumbers

Early July Harvest

The cucumbers are starting to ripen in numbers. Same with the peppers.

Tomato Platter

From top to bottom, Cherokee Purple, Black Prince and Big Beef.

Climbing Cucumbers

This variety amazes me. I planted so late, but as a strong hybrid, maybe it will surprise me and make some cucumbers. The plant is a very determined climber.

A close-up of the “leader.”

Tomatoes and Peppers

The tomatoes are peaking I believe. The log from the past week shows 14 pounds were harvested. A sample is shown below. The peppers have started showing some numbers too. Last year, they didn’t really produce spectacularly until the fall. I’ll take good care of them through the summer and hope for a repeat experience.

The Zuchinni plant is looking strong – hopefully it’s not too hot for it to start flowering. The Zinnias behind it are volunteers. It seems if you plant Zinnia seeds one year, you may have them forever.

The San Marzano is still working hard to make a ton of tomatoes. It is an amazing plant.

The cucumber is spilling everywhere, taking up any available space. There are blooms, and I waiting for some cucumbers. The heat makes pollination a challenge, maybe we will get a weather break. The temps are soaring – we have had several 105+ degree F heat index days in a row. I know the garden is on borrowed time.

June Heirlooms and a small harvest

The colors of the heirlooms are amazing.

I didn’t know a carrot could get so big. They are not tender and sweet, but they are fresh, organic, and plentiful.

Three Month Old Tomato Transplants

Most of the tomatoes were transplanted the last 10 days of March. This week marks their three month anniversary. Given the less than ideal growing conditions of incredibly high humidity and higher than normal heat (we are having heat indexes of a 100 plus day after day….), combined with my decision to stay organic, the plants are stressed. Some varieties are known for being able to take these extreme conditions, and are expected to survive, even though they will slow down bearing in July and August. The photos below show how they are doing. The first one is Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter. It has a reputation as both a heat setter and is disease resistant. This is an heirloom and has been able to set 13 fruit at a time. I can’t comment on taste yet. The first ripe one went home with a birthday girl. The tomatoes are huge. I suspect my largest tomato of the season will come from this plant or the Cherokee Purple. Based on performance to date, I will definitely plant this variety again.

The next one below is a German Johnson. If you look close, you will see some leaf damage. I have removed some leaves from the bottom, and now the leaf damage is near the top. I am leaving them on for now, as they help shade the fruit. This plant was slow to get started. I may consider planting it again if it survives through to fall, and produces a lot more fruit in the fall. I have not tasted one yet.

The following tomato is one of two Cherokee Purple transplants. This particualr one has already produced six nice tomatoes and has two more to ripen. The plant looks like it may be done. The other plant is still setting fruit. The taste is outstanding. I will plant them again, even if I only get 7-8 tomatoes per plant. They are easily worth the space.

I don’ know a lot about this plant. I believe it is an Italian hybrid. The plant is airy and is now loaded with 25 tomaoes. It has produced 3 tomatoes to date. It shows no sign of disease. I wish I knew more about this plant, especially if it survives to fall. Taste is OK. The Black Prince produces similar size tomatoes, but produces more, and they are outstanding in flavor. I’ll make a decision based on how they weather the coming months.

The plant below is the Big Beef. I have 4 plants in the garden. One plant consistently has 30+ tomatoes on the vine. I started two of three remaining, and only one has fruit on it, holding at about 12. This plant was late to develop and appears to be struggling. I believe the plant I did not start is a better indicator for the plant. The flavor is outstanding. I will continue to buy these transplants to ensure I get at least 3 or 4 robust samples in the future, at least until I am able to produce something as strong from seed. I would not consider growing a tomato patch without these in them.

This is the Black Prince. It hides a lot of tomatoes in dense foilage. There are at least 38 tomatoes on this vine. I got 3 samples early on, then it went into massive fruit setting and I have been waiting a while for for a ripe one. If it continues to perform as well throughout the remainder of the season, I will plant more of these.

The plant below is the San Marzano. It also has a very dense foilage which shields the fruits from the sun. If the plant can finish producing everything on its vines before it gives out, I will plant more in the future.

The plant below is an Anaheim. It is doing well.

Some Tomato Stats

There can be no tomato harvest without fruit set. Our high humidity and heat can be a real challenge. Since I am new at this, I am keeping some records on what tomato varieties can produce well, meaning they can pollinate and set green tomatoes. Here is a “head count” of what is on the vines at the moment, as well as harvested through 17 June.

Variety / Fruit set / Harvested

Big Beef (2 plants bearing, one planted late) / 41 / 12

Parks Whopper (2 plants bearing) / 15 / 4

Mortgage Lifter / 12 / 1

Kellogs Breakfast / 8 / 0

Cherokee Purple (2 plants bearing) / 6 / 5

Mystery Tomato / 2 / 2

Tomosa / 25 / 3

Better Boy / 2 / 0

Arkansas Traveller / 1 / 0

Pomodoro / 12 / 3

Black Prince / 44 / 3

San Marzano / 44 / 3

Hawaiian Pineapple / 6 / 0

German Johnson / 7 / 0

More June Harvest

This is the second time I filled the basket this week.

The photo below is a close-up of the San Marzano. It is thriving in our heat and humidity. No problem with heat set on this one.

Just the tomatoes… at 12 o’clock, and at center, and at 4 o’clock are the Pomodoros. The first Mortgage Lifter is at 6-7 o’clock.

The Henry Fields Sweet Slicer II cucumber plant is below. I am impressed with its vigor and color. It is a very deep green. No cucumbers yet, but I am still hoping. I believe it is getting ready to do some climbing.

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