Summer Garden July, 2010

Companion planting trials. Pumpkins with corn and cabbage with onions and monarda.



Things are progressing well in the Z Farm garden. I harvested lots of squash and beans. Made some zucchini bread, now that the weather has cooled off a little. Flowers are in bloom and tomatoes are finally ripening. It seems that every year we have lots of green tomatoes hanging on the vines and they just refuse to turn red until the calender says "August"! Well, they are worth the wait. The bean and melon plant Julian started as a kindergarten project, are growing out of their alotted space! We actually have some melons ripening. I discovered a pumpkin in the patch too. I tried some companion planting this year. I now have pumpkins growing among the corn stalks. I also planted a small raised bed with red cabbage and brussel sprouts. I read that cabbage likes onions and rosemary so I added those in between. I also planted monarda, to attract pollinators. The bees love it! So far, they all seem to be happy together. I am noticing some leaf damage on the cabbage but nothing really bad, just a few holes in the leaves. Since I will be shredding the red cabbage up for salads, it shouldn't make much difference.