Well, there isn't much going on here! I'll be popping over to Daphne's Dandelions to see what other (more southerly) gardeners have on the go this week. My harvests are quickly diminishing week by week.
But I still have something to show! This big basket of kale and fresh lettuce greens was cut Thursday night ... just before the frost hit.
I pulled the one carrot (pictured above) just because it seemed so big but was planning to wait to harvest the rest. And then I noticed a lot of nibbling. First the swiss chard went. When I got home after work tonight, I noticed the carrots were starting to get nibbled so I pulled them as well (the carrots in the upper right need to be trimmed of minor damage). Some of these are Jeanette and I'm not sure of the other variety.
And here is my first attempt at corn ... I knew my attempt was a failure some time ago but just left them to do their thing. After the frost, the three sisters garden died off completely (I was able to harvest some beans but none of the Red Kuri squash grew fruit at all). The corn clearly did not grow to full size but some of the kernels (is that what they are called?) did. Seems strange to me, I would have thought the entire cob started with small kernels all over then grew larger uniformly. I'm pretty sure this isn't normal. But it was an experiment and I'll study over the winter (I'll read lots of gardening blogs for tips and advice!) and see what I can do to make it better next year.
Oh my, that's the entire roundup tonight, folks! Not much to harvest but plenty already picked and stored that needs to be eaten.
That's too bad about your carrots - what do you think was chewing on it? The corn looks like incomplete pollination. From what I understand, each silk corresponds to one kernel. When that one piece of silk is pollinated, then that kernel grows. If the silk is not pollinated, then it stays small. The tassels on the top of the corn stalk contain the pollen that floats down to pollinate the silks on the cobs underneath. That is why you often see corn planted in blocks, so that the corn gets more uniform pollination. I have heard of people hand pollinating the corn to get better results - maybe this is something you could try next year?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was carrot flies but I don't know much about them. I say that because the swiss chard in the bed right next to the carrots was completely chomped down just a few nights earlier. Awesome info on the corn - I have hand pollinated squash in the past so certainly willing to give that a try. Thanks!
DeleteCrazy looking corn. I'll bet you'll learn a lot about raising it, if you care to try again some time.
ReplyDeleteYep, just trying it out is the best way to learn!
DeleteDitto what Margaret said. Sometimes people shake the stalks to get the pollen to disperse. Plus corn is definitely a warm weather crop so if you had a cool summer that won't help.
ReplyDeleteMy "stalks" weren't very big ... that was part of the problem. But if I get any big enough next year, I will shake away! I suspect it was the weather too though.
DeleteI have a lot of carrot flies here too. I've found the only way to get carrots without huge patches that I can't eat is to use row covers. Of course right now my row covers have holes in them so I'm getting some damage. Luckily most of the flies are getting in though.
ReplyDeleteI do own row cover. But I often go so far into the year without needing it that I simply get neglectful near the end of the season. Shame on me, I should know better.
DeleteDang bugs, there's always something in the garden ready to share the results of our hard work. :-( That sure was a pretty carrot, even with the nibbles.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. Dang bugs is right. And dang voles and dang deer too!
DeleteNice purple carrot you have there. I think I've got a few carrots ready under an old net curtain (to keep the carrot fly off) maybe I'll have a look this week.
ReplyDeleteShame about the corn but there's always next year :)
I love the purple carrots for the colour but they taste nice and sweet too! Good luck with your carrots.
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