Monday, September 05, 2005

I'm Afraid To Go In The Garden...


Our Florida vegetable gardens begin early in February and peak early in the summer. They are generally done or declining by late June. After June heat, humidity, bugs, and plant diseases batter the garden plants unmercifully.

My "garden" consists of PVC outlined beds...about 10 feet by 5 feet as well as two 16 feet by 16 feet hog pens for our FFA fair pigs. The jungle in the photo is what happens when you surrender the garden to July's heat.

It's bug city in there since most of the plants are a volunteer heirloom orange cosmos that gets 6 feet high and reseeds like crazy.

If I am going to have a fall garden, I am going to have to grab the machete and wade in there like Jungle Jim...(that dates me).

Also in a few months, we will have two new piglets to raise for the livestock fair in March, so the pig pen/garden area will have to be dealt with.

It's just a little too hot here still to get excited about hacking and pulling this weedy jungle.
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7 comments:

robin andrea said...

So, when does it finally cool off there? How long is your growing season in the fall, what will you grow?

R.Powers said...

RD,
Great questions, I'd like to make that a post if you don't mind. It is neat to see how the seasons for growing are so different. Your beautiful tomatoes on this week's Bum post are only a memory for us.

Anonymous said...

you too??!!! I was feeling so guilty for neglecting my garden.
It has been too hot this past month to do any real weeding. My garden just looks awful. On the plus side, the red bell pepper plants survived the heat and borderline neglect just beautifully. They are still putting out peppers, although they're much smaller than normal.
Odd, after reading this post and havign commented, I have a sudden urge to get out there and tackle it again. thanks for the inspiration! LOL

R.Powers said...

DPR,
I know...I should be brave and get in there.
I emailed you just now so hopefully I can get those seeds to you.

Laura,
My bell peppers survived the heat only to be eaten by the deer herd. This Tropical Storm is providing some cooler gardening weather...just as the work week begins!

Karen Schmautz said...

I have one small spot on my property that gets more than 4 hours of sun per day, but it's right in front of the house and I'm too vain to put veggies in our front yard. I do have an apple tree, though...golden delicious. Yum!

Weary Hag said...

I for one cannot wait till you post photos of the piglets. I totally love little pigs!

R.Powers said...

Weary,
Every year the kids raise a couple for the fair and I get hopelessly attached. I need to get one for a pet...the fair pigs are only temporary visitors on our place. I'll post them when they arrive...probably November.