Sun Pattern - Summer Solstice 2007

Since I did my first sun pattern series, I have been thinking about doing one on the Summer Solstice. In addition, for series like this, rather than making individual posts, or even putting all the pictures in one post, I decided to open a picasa account and post pictures there. I will also, from time to time, put pictures on the picasa site when there really is nothing to be said in relation to the picture. Click on this link to see the series.

Zucchini Progress

The zucchini is progressing nicely.

Heirloom Cucumber

These cucumbers are a white skinned heirloom cucumber. They were sown directly in mid May. It has taken them a while to come and progress, but seem to be making some headway now. I have never grown them before.

National Center for Home Food Preservation

I was nosing around the web to find some information on pickling and canning. This is the first year I planted enough tomatoes and cucumbers that I might have an opportunity to can and pickle them, respectively (although tomatoes pickled with balsamic vinegar and basil might be pretty good). Anyway, my short journey carried me to marthastewart.com and finally to the website linked above. It is pretty good.

I would like to make an open call to anyone with a nice garlic and horseradish pickle recipe. Please pass it along.

Sun Pattern

While MW and a few good friends may think I am mad, the sun pattern is a very important step in creating a successful urban garden. If you live in the country and you don't have any trees around, you can pretty much plant what you want where you want, unless of course you need a lot of shade. For those full sun loving plants, you need at least 6 hours of direct sun light. So when you have to put a garden in a 21'x21', thereabouts, space which has a garage directly touching it on the east side, a great big tree in the neighbor's yard on the west side, you need to make sure you plant things in the correct places.

Unfortunately, I did not do my sun pattern before I planted and the big tree on the west grew. I think this year I cut it a little too close with my peppers; they do not seem to be doing very well.

Mystery Heirlooms

These plants came up where I had heirloom tomotoes growing last summer. They look like tomato plants, so I can only assume they are heirloom plants. I have, of course, moved them from where they came up, except for the one with the cucumber in the background.

Heirloom Cherry (picture 1)

These four tomatoes are heirloom tomatoes of the cherry kind. I purchased them from my local garden cooperative . If I remember correctly, from front left clockwise, they are Peacevine, White Currant, Fox and something that can have the initials Black Cherry.

I will be tracking these over the course of the summer. They have been in the ground for about 1 month. In addition to tracking the progress of the plants, you can help me determine which of these tomato supports works best and for which reasons. I made the two on the right (DWYCWWYH). The one in the foreground on the left is a spiral one I had never seen before. I also have another tomato support I have never used before in the back left. It is triangular and made of plastic. Let's watch how they work.