I went away for a week and came home to this in my backyard.
Who knew marigolds could grow to over 3 feet tall? I had no idea when I planted the seeds many months ago in my kitchen! August is a good time to head into the garden and see what is growing and what isn't. Take your camera and pop a few pictures of places in your garden where there are void spaces, dead plants or spots you just aren't certain what to do with. I'm starting with my vegetable garden today. Those marigolds need a serious trim...and I think next year I won't plant so many of them. They are shading and crowding my cabbage plants.
My broccoli and spinach have done all they can for this year...completely turned to seed while we were away.
Our cherry tomato plant needs some trimming and need to be tied up. Tomato plants are actually vines, and to increase your chances of a larger crop you need to remove the suckers from the tomato plant. Take a look at this video to learn more about how and why to remove suckers. The blueberry plant (the burnt little plant, you can barely recognize as a plant, behind the tomato plant) clearly does not like my soil. I had no idea when I planted the blueberry plant that it needs acidic soil. That little experiment did not work out.
So, after some serious hard labour...and the filling of a gardening bag...the garden is under control again.
The cucumbers and cherry tomatoes are picked. The cabbages can see the sun again.
The newest little cucumbers are ready to grow.
With these pictures and by jotting down a few notes, I will have a better understanding of which plants work best (and worst) in the vegetable garden. Our cucumber plant has been super successful - producing a new cucumber every week. We are having a hard time keeping up with the swiss chard...maybe plant a few less next year. I suppose this is why people keep garden journals. Looks like I will be picking up a new little notebook so next year we have another full garden.
As for the flower garden in the front yard...it's time for my favourite plant to bloom...the japanese anemone. Love it's delicate flowers floating in the breeze. More on the front garden next week.
