Taking Stock on the First Day of Summer

Summer is officially here and the garden is doing quite well. At the moment, I am sort of between crops. Last weekend I harvested the first round of pak choi. There were several dozen perfect heads though I did wait a little longer than I should. Some were starting to set flower buds. I left several of the smaller heads to grow a little longer. I definitely waited a little too long for those. A little rain and some high temperatures and they bolted. I decided to leave a couple in the ground and let them flower. I want to see if I can collect and save the seeds. There are still several dozen pak choi from the second round of planting. I’ll have to really keep an eye on them so I don’t miss them at their peak.

Pak choi harvest

Oops! Waited a little too long.

Maybe I can collect some seed.

The arugula has also started to bolt. That’s not too surprising. It was around this time last year that I ended up pulling the plants because they were flowering. I’m debating planting another round but the heat really makes for some peppery greens and I don’t see the heat going away anytime soon.

Bolting arugula

The rainbow chard is going strong. I’ve been harvesting it a little at a time when it is small and we’ve been eating it in salads. The season has been much dryer than last year (which is actually good as last year's wet weather caused a fungus on my chard) so, with any luck, it should keep doing well for quite a while.

So many pretty colors!

With everything else, it’s a waiting game. Everything I planted is making a decent show of it. The corn is several inches tall and the runner beans are starting to reach for the trellis. The cucumbers, cantaloupe, and four types of squash (if you include pumpkins) are all looking healthy and happy. And I’m happy to see new blossoms on the tomato and pepper plants. I just need patience and continued good luck, and I should be busy with produce in no time.

Tomato blossoms

Almost pepper blossoms

The biggest challenge this year has been dealing with the squirrels. Last year, I don’t remember seeing any squirrels at all until in the fall when a new batch of young ones took up residence in the maple tree in front of our house. This year, we’re practically tripping over them. There are chipmunks too and no matter what we try, they are still digging in the garden and eating most of the strawberries. We’ve only been quick enough to get maybe two dozen berries before the little rodents have snatched them up. We’ve tried netting over the berries, cayenne pepper over everything, Critter Ridder around the perimeter, live traps, and, yes, rat traps (we went for the nuclear option). Nothing seems to slow them down.

We were quick enough to get about
two dozen berries before the squirrels.

Stupid squirrels! There are no nuts hidden in
the garden. Those are beets and your insistent
digging is threatening their very existence!

All of the other wildlife has stayed respectfully out of the garden. The rabbits are happy in the clover and the deer seem to just enjoy lying nearby. I did have a doe sniffing around the front flower beds just the other day while I was eating my breakfast. I will have to investigate some natural repellents. I would rather not have my hostas and lilies chomped off like they were last year.

Bunny luxuriating in the clover outside the garden.

Button buck just chilling next to the garden

Morning visitor in the front yard

Got anything good for breakfast?