FALL WEATHER JUST BEAUTIFUL

 The weather has finally started to cool down a bit, at least in the mornings.  Seeds are sprouting, beans, broccoli and cauliflower are growing nicely.  Sugar Snap peas have started to come up also.

I harvested a nice amount of hot peppers and there are plenty left on the plant for next week.

 I trimmed back the basil plants and will dry them out and store for use all winter.

 The winter spaghetti squash is really taking over the raised bed.  There's actually another squash plant behind and now under this one to the left.
Hopefully, it won't shade the cauliflower and beans too much..
I have had a serious Caterpillar problem in both areas.  So far,  I have sprayed SAFE Caterpillar killer and SEVEN insecticide with no luck.  I finally resorted today to SEVEN dust.  It seemed to work as I watched the little critters curl up and die.... thank goodness.

  I am not wild about using insectides and try to stay as organic as possible, but sometimes, that is just not enough.  It's early enough in the growing season where I think it's safe and won't affect the fruit.

 As I stated earlier, seed sprouts are coming up almost every where I planted seeds.
I threw in 3 or 4 different varieties of lettuce seeds and as you can see to the left.. success!

Even though I'm not sure what type of lettuce this is, it doesn't matter....

 Radishes are forming but are not as healthy as my crop earlier this year.  Like I said, bug problems have been keeping me hopping.  Trying to stay on top of the problem is very time consuming and even more frustrating.

Garden Update - Sept. 21st, 2013 - Fall planting

FALL GARDEN STARTING TO COME ALIVE!

 It feels like forever since my last post!  I have not had much time to play in the garden the last few weeks due to an extremely crazy work schedule.

I did find time this morning to have a nice visit in the garden and did a bit of light clean up and give some much needed attention to some plants.

Before I get to my update, check out this beautiful butterfly I had just caught emerging from his cocoon.  It was attached to the Jasmine on the arbor.  beautiful, isn't he?

 He hung around for quite a while, fluttering his wings back and forth, I imagine gaining strength for flight.

In the raised bed below where the corn used to live, now has very healthy looking Cauliflower along with one lone Spaghetti squash and some Kentucky Wonder String less green beans.

Never really had much success growing Cauliflower, but my motto is "never give up, try, try again".  Wish me luck!

 The beans are starting to climb the arbor and the squash plant already seems to be wanting to call this space his own.  If it continues to thrive, I will let him have his way.  I love spaghetti squash!!

 When I planted these transplants, in some spots I put two plants together.  Whether they will crowd each other has yet to be seen.

 This Black Beauty plant was planted by seed back in May I believe and never really grew.  However, I moved it to this spot and it has started to bolt showing signs and producing fruit!  Amazing to me and I 'm so glad I didn't pull it out earlier this month!

 All of the pepper plants are doing fantastic since the tomatoes have been removed.  The single cow horn plant has more peppers on it than I can count!  Same with the habaneros.
Can't wait to harvest some of these and fry them up... yum!!  they were some of the hottest peppers I've every grown.

 look at all of those habaneros on this plant....

 I also planted Cauliflower and Broccoli in the square foot raised beds.  So far the broccoli is looking healthy but something has started eating the cauliflower.  Time to spray!!

 Pole beans are coming back since I treated them with some insecticide.  I removed all the damaged leaves and it is spreading nicely over the arbor.  I did notice what looks like mold or some sort of bacteria on a few leaves this morning, so a shot of insecticidal soap may be in order.

 I've never grown spinach before and was very pleased that some seeds have sprouted.

Of all the lettuce seeds planted in the last few weeks, the radishes and spinach have been the only seeds that sprouted.  It may be a bit too warm still, so this morning I planted again.

 Unfortunately, all of the carrots that had sprouted have now died due to heat and lack of water.
not giving up yet and have planted more seeds today.  Come on Cool weather!!!!

Happy Gardening and thanks for visiting!

The Ambitious Gardner,

Mary :)

GARDEN UPDATE 09/07/13

BORERS IN CORN, BEETLES ON BEANS

 I am giving up on corn already this season due to borers invading every single stalk.  I pulled them up this morning and planted cauliflower in their place. I've never had any luck with cauliflower in the past but I couldn't resist buying a pallet while at the store this morning.  I will do extensive research in growing these and keep my fingers crossed that they succeed.

 You can see the borer damage here in this photo, really disgusting stuff left behind by the borers.  I believe I also had caterpillars munching away on the leaves also.

here is a better photo of the damage.  I would have left them in if I thought they had a chance of surviving but it didn't look like it.

 My gardenia bush is blooming nicely this year.  So pretty and you can smell them through out the back yard.

 I planted two full squares of radishes but only a handful sprouted.  Planted more seeds through out the raised bed today.

 Carrots are slow to come up but are finally showing signs of life.  I hope I have as much luck this fall as I did in the spring.  There's nothing more satisfying then harvesting a bunch of carrots from your home garden!!

 This picture of my pole beans shows extensive damage from beetles.  I haven't seen them physically but the damage is clearly a sign they are living there.
I sprayed Sevin insecticide this morning, making sure to get the back side of all the leaves and also the ground below the plants.  I hope this takes care of the problem.

These are carrots I planted in a very large pot.  I've seen many other gardeners have great luck so I'm hoping I do also.