I think the best thing that I did early spring this year was to install an extensive irrigation system in our garden. You can read about it HERE. If we didn't have a way to get water to all our plants, with these triple digit temps, it would all be burned up by now.
But as you can see, because of the daily dose of water, our garden is still flourishing.
These things grow so fast that you have to pick them everyday. If you don't, they'll get out of control like this one!
Our tomatoes are still producing, and the zinnias add a lot of color.
Not only are the zinnias pretty and provide us with fresh flowers in the house, they serve a purpose in the garden. They attract pollinators like this butterfly you see here.
If you don't already do it, here's a tip for planting your garden next year. Stagger your planting of most vegetables. Here you can see three separate plantings of our corn, all planted three weeks apart.
Because when corn is ready, it all needs to be harvested within a few days and then it's gone! The corn has already been harvested on the brown stalks and is in the freezer.
The planting on the left should be ready in a couple of weeks. The rows in the middle will be ready late summer. Water, water, water! Unfortunately when you water your vegetables and flowers, you also water the weeds. Because it's been so hot, I've let the weeds go. I'll be out here tomorrow.
This area of the garden had our potatoes. After we dug them all up, we planted butternut squash, pumpkins, spaghetti squash, and yet another row of Silver Queen corn. We are fortunate to be living in a climate (zone 7B) where you can have something growing almost year round. Click HERE to find out your zone.
While most of the gardens around us are drying up, we are still enjoying the fruits of our labor.
When I'm working in this brutal heat, I remember what Jane told me last winter. She said, "Next time I'm complaining about canning all these tomatoes, remind me how good they taste when we open a jar in the dead of winter."
I do like to find the positive in every situation. In this case, the hot temperatures have my compost bins really cooking!
I think I'll take my little tomato picking partner (our granddaughter Rose) to the pool.
She and I both need to take a break!
I love to talk gardening so if you have any questions, shoot me an email. I'm not an expert, but maybe I can help.
Ally
Oh my word. Are you sure that's a garden? That looks like a full out farm with crops and everything...
Saw you on Hometalk and have to follow you and see how in the world you can take care of this amazing garden.
Sweet Bee Cottage
Your garden is amazing! I am impressed every time I see it. You've come up with such clever ways to deal with some of your gardening issues too. Always an inspiration. Now I'm off to go double check what zone I'm in!
katy
I really look forward to your newest installment of The People with the Garden. I admire the lifestyle you've created and all the practical and creative information you share. Please keep it up.
Bj
Just love your garden. What do you do with all your produce? Sell any of it?
Hugs,
Bj
Ginger
Great post, great garden! Hugs to you and Jane, Ginger
rose
I had fun peeling the tomatoes. We had such a good time at the crossroads. Thanks for having us. We love you guys.
🙂
Dolly Sarrio
Good post. It has been so hot over here I am so proud of you all, your garden is great! The zinnas are really pretty too...Granddaughter is beautiful..compost...great like all you do..enjoyed the post so much.
Barbara F.
I would love to have a garden like this, but I could never do it on my own, no way! I have let my weeds go too, but it has finally cooled down a bit so now I have no excuse (just my aching back :o). You have a definite green thumb, Leo!
Leo at Cottage at the Crossroads
You can do it Barbara. But it's a lot easier if you have a friend with a garden. It's kind of like a boat.
Shirley@Housepitality Designs
I can only dream about having such a wonderful garden as yours....You can tell the enormous amount of work and love that you two have put into your garden...a true labor of love which is producing a great harvest of fabulous vegetables...and the flowers are fantastic too...love the butterflies!
Leo at Cottage at the Crossroads
Thanks Shirley. If you were close by, we would be glad to share.
Belinda Cobb
I would like to come visit you one day and look at your garden to see how you do certain things. I live around the Scranton area. I love this blog and get so many good ideas from you and Jane! Let me know if that's possible.
Tee of Vinnord
Thank you for your sweet comments on my cottage 🙂 My name is not Eva though, I'm Trine (Eva is my sister, who took some photographs for me 😉
Hope you stop by again!
Robyn
Looking forward to rain in our neck of the woods this week and cooler temps. we live in the heart of North Carolina and we have had over 7 straight days of 100 temp or above. I have been watering my tomatoes, herbs and flowers every day .........and I'm worn out!!! Love your blog and all your scrumptious recipes. We are going to enjoy Pork Medallions & yellow rice tonight, along with some fresh green beans and tomato slices. Happy Summer to you & Jane!!!
leo
Hi Robyn,
Maybe we'll get a break from the heat this week. Consider the irrigation next year. It'll save you many hours of holding the hose to water. You're making me hungry. Hey Jane, Pork medallions and yellow rice and sliced tomatoes. Have a great week.
Olive Cooper
Leo, that was a wise move on your part. We are having a hard time staying ahead of the heat in our flower garden. Your tomatoes are abundant indeed. There is so much pleasure in growing plants. I find much peace in my garden of flowers. When my husband retires we shall expand to veggies. hugs, olive
leo
Hi Olive,
I agree. I've found the gardening to be very therapeutic. Tell your husband, that I have never worked so hard since I retired, but it's really fun.
Kris
Oh my gosh! When I saw that pan of tomatoes my first thought was "did you scald the tomatoes." For years I watched my mom and grandmother at harvest time (we had about 1/4 acre garden in the summer) scald, peel, and remove all the yellow fingers (the yellow vein that runs through the tomatoes) from the tomatoes to prepare them for canning. From the months of June through August and sometimes into September they canned tomatoes, green beans, corn, for the winter months. Nothing tastes better than fresh canned tomatoes in the winter in spaghetti, breaded tomatoes or just dished out cold. This certainly brought back a world wind of memories! 🙂
leo
As things dry up, I get ready to plant something else. We could use some rain.
Jean Windham
It is nice to see the garden even though it is showing signs of drying up. Also good to see the grandchildren.
Kim
I am glad we aren't the only ones letting the weeds go. It is just too hot. Your garden is huge. We will have corn soon. Can't wait. It is unreal how fast stuff keeps coming in. Happy gardening!
leo
Sometimes I think the garden is too big. I really enjoy giving friends and neighbors fresh veggies. We have more than enough. Thanks Kim. Keep those cards and comments coming.