Hippychick's Gardens

well it's that time - central texas july - a.k.a. too freakin' hot and dry for the maters to keep at it without getting whipped by the spider mites - time. which means the fresh matermater train is just about to leave the hippychick station with a hopeful fall return.

i spent a short bit of time this evening topping the plants off to a little over 18" in height. i will keep them in their place in the garden and if all goes well, they might just throw out more shoots for a fall round of maters. there is the chance that they'll die off hot as it's been - we will cross that bridge when we get there. i discarded the trimmings and pulled a good bit of the bamboo mater support system up and out.

i have one last clump of maters still going. looks to me like they might go for another week or two - not quite sure. these are the yellow pear maters - prolific, tre' yumme' and tougher than most. i understand they are pretty darn good at reseeding themselves too so i've not made huge efforts to pick up every little mater i happen to drop when harvesting. it would be nice to see the little sprouts come up their own. fingers crossed.

the hotty hot hot garden growing goods now include

• cow peas - a.k.a. black-eyed peas - white and yellow
• christmas lima beans
• red long beans
• okra
• green peppers - small fruits this year
• eggplant - they are battling critters too but holding on
• sweet potato
• muskmelon - slow to fruit but growing steady
  
• watermelon - slow to fruit but growing steady
• cucumbers - i will be pulling up the early crop in the next few days
  
• chard - struggling a bit but holding on
• malabar spinach - hot weather climbing
  
• amaranth
• basil - four types
• mint
• oregano
• rosemary
• sage
  
• sorrel - rockstar plants grow in all conditions
  
• bunching onions
• cardoon
• artichoke - did not fruit this year
• asparagus - beautiful fronds time - maybe a fall/winter harvest
• lemon - great crop this year
• limes - ditto!
• zucchini - fingers crossed i get a few before the vine borers discover their tasty bits
  
• papaya - growing steady - we'll seeeeeee
  

the peaches and apples are done. the squirrels took the best of the fruit harvest this year - not a single apple for me - they beat me to each and every one. i hope they were yummy. i guess i can assume they were since they left none for me - poo.