The watermelon (Moon & Stars) are growing right along ….along with the gourds!!!
Watermelon in front – Gourds in back
Apple gourds
Watermelon
I canned up cucumber for pickles (3 canning sessions) so I am set for pickles. Last year we used Burpee’s Pickler and I attempted to save the seed and plant this year, but they never sprouted so the cucumber we did use was called Muncher and it worked well. I actually let the cucumber sit in cold water (added a few ice cubes) before slicing up so they were nice and crisp.
The 3 types of basil were all doing very well – Mrs. Burns Lemon which I made cookies with ……. so good! Thai and Purple Ruffles which I set aside and have drying. I did use some of the Lemon basil to save in ice cubes – not sure how I will use them … maybe more cookies!
The tomatoes were ripening up and I was so happy to make my first batch of salsa – which does not last long in this house at all!
I did spot and remove this nasty tomato hornworm – one of the chickens had a tasty treat. I am very much on the lookout for these beasts … they can destroy a tomato plant really really fast.
The hot sun and sparse rain have taken its toil on the gardens this year and it continues ….. down south – up north we have had a TON of rain – sure wish I could reverse the weather for a few days here and there!
Filed under: Gardening, Gourds, Preserving | Tagged: freezing basil, Gardening, gourds, tomato hornworm, watermelon | 3 Comments »
