This is what the garden was looking like during the 3rd and 4th weeks of July. It was overgrown and the squashes were taking over everything. Pruning has happened since then and things are looking a little more tame.
We had some good flowering growth during the 3rd and 4th week of July. Check out some of our produce:
The summer squashes were taking good shape.
We're not sure but somehow we managed to plant a decorative squash/gourd plant and this is one of them almost matured.
They're not edible (which defeats the purpose of our edible schoolyard project), but they do look pretty. They're also an unfortunate reminder that fall isn't too far away.
Our beans are climbing the fence really well and are flowering now. Fingers crossed for some beans soon.
The red flowering beans live behind the tomatoes with the red cages and some may say they colour coordinate rather well.
The snow peas and tomatoes seem to get along rather harmoniously. The peas are rather fond of using the neighbouring tomato cages as a place to climb and latch on.
An English cucumber growing away.
The zucchinis and cucumber plants are still covered with a nasty looking fungus. It doesn't seem to be impacting their growth but it's rather unpleasant to look at and to have rub against your skin. Post-gardening showers or rinse-offs are recommended if dealing with this stuff.
The cabbages are really coming along too. Their stalks are thick and hearty and the heads are hiding behind many layers of protective leaves. Buried in their is a cabbage head that will one day soon make an awesome coleslaw, kimchi or cabbage roll. Hopefully they keep long enough for our students in the fall to venture out to do something like that with them.
One of the biggest issues thus far with the garden project have been the bugs. They look like this guy below:
They eat all the leaves of the plants and their numbers are multiplying exponentially.
We also have these yellow and black striped cucumber bugs (pictured in the flower above). Their good at eating cucumber, squash and zucchini flowers as well as zucchinis themselves. The garden is not a fan of these guys but countless attempts at getting rid of them using natural, homemade sprays have not worked. Suggestions are welcomed.
Here are a few more snapshots of the garden from the end of July:
Last but not least, one of the garden hauls from the end of July. Beets, garlic, baby leeks, two summer squash, a zucchini and three cucumbers. Everything that could be cleaned up and frozen or stored until the fall has been in hopes that the students, when they return in September, can make a garden harvest feast.
Until next time...
