June 15th Straw Bale Garden Update

It is almost zucchini time! :) Giraffe found this wee little guy growing in the bales today. <3 I still don't even like or eat zucchini. These will go to Granna, Giraffe, friends and neighbors. <3 I will probably end up trying some this year, though. I have promised myself that I would. 

My yard needs to be mowed terribly, so pictures today are all up close. lol

My potato plants are freakishly tall. the container doesn't seem to be big enough for them. That said, due to the wild success we seem to be having, next year I will be sure to grow two full tubs if I can. I can see that placing them in "just a planter" is going to ensure crowded conditions. I had no clue they would sprout so much! Last year our 'success' amounted to two tiny, perfect little potatoes and that was it.

Some of my tomatoes are beginning to grow. We are still quite a way from fresh ripe fruit, though. It takes time.

We have also reached the time of year where my yard would periodically make you want to wretch. lol We are using Alaska fish fertilizer. It works like a charm, but the smell... oh my soul. It's the smell after a fishing excursion *IF* you had also emulsified the fish and sprayed it everywhere. Ew! lol

Isn't this a lovely picture? Photo credit to Giraffe, who went into the garden to take these snaps for me. <3 There is something special about the tendrils of a vine. <3 I love seeing how plants send out these little guys which seem so weak, but can hang on for dear life. It seems so apropos to life in general, doesn't it? Each tendril is so small, yet plays a vital role in in the health and growth of the entire plant. <3 

So many other things are also growing. Watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkins, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash are all putting out these little ovaries. <3 It all comes down to which ones end up being pollinated or not. We have only done a little bit of hand pollination so far, but it is definitely time to step it up. I so enjoy seeing all of these fat little gals growing from their vines. <3 Life is really good right now! <3 

There are also bugs to be dealt with. God bless them, they do love my garden! This is a cucumber beetle of some sort. Yeesh. My Sevin dust arrives in two days. This will be my first time using the stuff, so finger's crossed. I have traditionally stuck to using diatomaceous earth. That didn't do as well for my plants last year as I hoped it would. My dear Grandpa recommended Sevin to me. I am eager to try it out. :)  

Other than that, there isn't much else to say. Life in the garden is all about fertilizing every two weeks, watering daily, and finding time to trim suckers from tomatoes and the other routine plant care. It has been hot here in 5b, so the last two weeks haven't seen me out in the garden as much as I would like to be. That should change more in the coming week. <3 Happy gardening, all! :)