Vegetables as Ornamentals

Last year I planted a few extra pepper plants in the bed along the driveway.  Those peppers were the best growers and producers.  I decided that this year I would plant mainly vegetables with flowers as accents.  They have not disappointed.  Here are the latest pictures.

Above,eggplant, bush tomatoes and sweet peppers with cosmos and 'Cherry Brandy' rudbeckia.

If you take a lot the above pictures and attach them end to end you have the entire area with the vegetables,

Above, a pepper close up.  Lots of buds and lots of new branches.

Above, eggplant close up.  There is no flea beetle damage!!!

Above, close up of one of the bush tomatoes.

I can't figure out why these are doing so much better than those in the PSP.  There is less competition and less crowding, but the soil is almost straight clay.  All I did was break it up and scratch in some 10-10-10,  The PSP soil has many years of amendments and is much more friable.  It is watered less and the amount of sun is the same.  The mysteries of gardening...

After these pics were taken, I added some 'Janie Primrose' marigolds and 'Button Box' zinnias as an edging.  I also scattered in a few 'Sunset Giants' marigolds.  I'll also be putting in a few of my more ornamental basil's.  I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Five Days Later

Last week I was lamenting how behind things were in growth compared to last year.  I guess my plants can read.  In only five days the growth has been astounding.  Scroll down to last weeks post and compare the pictures,  Those pics were taken on Wednesday, these were all taken Sunday.

Above, the tomatoes are getting huge and 'Ramapo OP', 'Black Sea Man' and 'Burpee Table Talk' are loaded with buds.  The arugula is a solid carpet and I've already begun harvesting it.

Above, a close up of 'Merlin Blue Morn', my favorite hybrid petunia.

Above, an overview of the PSP, which is now starting to look like the Postage Stamp Jungle.

This Weeks Harvest

The snow peas were harvested this week!  This photo is of the first picking.  There were two more of about the same quantity.  Total weight was over two pounds.  Not bad for just over three square feet of space.  Unfortunately the extreme heat has put an end to production.

The big harvest was lettuce.  This is a picture of the first picking this week.  Every day I harvested at least this much, that bowl is over 14'' across.  Add to that the endive and the second crop of arugula and that is a lot of salads.  With all that washing an picking I didn't have time to a photo of each batch.

Here's a preview of next weeks harvest, 'Freezonian' peas are at their peak.

Purple podded 'Pretty' peas.  They are not as sweet as 'Freezonian' but they are perfect for a potager.

Harvest Monday is hosted by Daphne's Dandelions!

Behind the Times

I did not realize how behind this season was until I was looking through my pictures from last year.  The lilies were in full bloom, and the daylilies were approaching peak bloom.  This year they are just beginning to flower.  My pots around the pool were triple the size they are this year.

Above, one of two cosmos pots.  Each contain 2 'Psyche White Picotee', 2 'White Seashells' cosmos and a clump each of 'Rosie O'Day' and 'Carpet of Snow' alyssum.

Above, one of four matching pots along the west strip of the pool.  'Summer Jewels Red' salvia, 'Moonsong Deep Orange' marigold, 'Fresh Look Yellow' celosia, 'Zahara Double Fire' zinnia, 'Merlin Blue Morn' petunia and 'Carpet of Snow' alyssum.

Above, 'Pampas Plume' celosia and 'Zahara Double Cherry' zinnias.

Above, one of two matching pots.  'Zahara Double Cherry' zinnia, 'Fresh Look Red' celosia and 'Merlin Blue Morn' petunia.

Above, 'Black Sea Man' tomato surrounded by a carpet of arugula.  The arugula was sowed 9 days ago and will be ready to pick soon!

The Sun's Evil Grin

The Sun's smile has turned into an evil grin.  Yesterday the temp's climbed into the high 90's and decided to stay.  Add to that blazing sun, with no clouds and you get a mix that is NOT fun.  Despite the extreme heat, the PSP actually looks good!

Above, 'Blizzard' snow peas are almost ready to be picked.

Above, the first tomatoes of the season are forming, the variety is 'Victor'.

Above, 'Gonzales' cabbages are starting to head.

Above, 'Samantha' Cabbages are starting to form heads.  This was advertised as a compact variety, but the plants are double the size of 'Gonzales',

Above, the first bloom on a 'Snow Queen' petunia.

On Sunday I began planting the driveway bed.  Last year the peppers I put in did so well I decided to try a few other vegetables there.  I put in one each of bush tomatoes- 'Golden Dwarf Champion', 'New Big Dwarf' and 'Rosalinda'. Peppers- 2 'Kaleidoscope Mixed' and 2 'Northstar' as well as 4 'Rotundo Bianca Sfumata di rosa' egg plant.  The only flowers put in at this point were 2 each of 'White Seashells' and 'Psyche White Picotee' cosmos.  In a week or two when the foliage from the 'Tete a Tete' ribbon dies I'll edge the bed with more flowers.  I practically melted while putting these in, each one planted with a drop, actually several, of sweat.

I also began to plant the pots around the pool.  It was too hot to put in some of the seedlings, so this will be continued over the weekend.

The Sun Finally Smiles

I couldn't resist this picture.  The peony posed for this picture on it's own with no help from the photographer.  Today the sun was smiling!  Clear skies, temps near 90F and bearable humidity.  Lot's of activity in the garden which I'll share later.  Hope the Sun was Smiling on all of you today.

Picture Imperfect

The title of this post was inspired by a comment from Annie's Granny.  Yesterday she stated in the comments section my garden always looks "picture perfect".  Well, it just ain't so.  If it wasn't for the delete button on my camera my secret would have been out long ago.  I think we are all guilty of only showing our best side.  Time to turn the other cheek..

Above, this is the former checker board of spinach and arugula.  They were so riddled with holes and starting to bolt- out they came.  I chopped them up and they gave a light forking to incorporate them a bit.  Next weekend, what remains will be forked under, blood meal added and the area replanted.  Haven't decided yet what to put in, I'm leaning towards tomatoes.

Above, what the paths look like before picture taking.  I've been pulling out volunteer morning glories for weeks.  I never new that they reseeeded like this!

Above, the lettuce and cabbage had their worst leaves removed and were given a shot of fertilizer.  Next week they should look a lot better.

Above, my yellowing 'Victor' tomatoes, beets and carrots you can barely see, and yes... those are daylily seedlings.  I didn't have the heart to weed them out, you never know what you may get...

Above, now you can see from the over view shot that area looks much better from a distance.  Another one of my secrets.

What was I thinking?  Sometime in 2004 or earlier I ordered a packet of 'Yellow Sugar Lump' watermelons from Baker Creek.  I was living in a rented town house and had no room for vegetables.  I have no idea why I would buy these seeds.  Flash forward to 2011 and I decided to add a few seeds to the zinnias I was pre-sprouting.  When I went to check those seeds today, three had sent out a root.  Of course, I had to pot them up.  Now where on earth am I going to have the room to grow them?  What was

I thinking?