Maybe it’s because I’m still a garden newbie, but I get such a kick out of checking my plants each morning… and evening… and during the day if it’s not 100° out. It’s an awesome thing to watch food grow. God sure knows how to entertain!
These gorgeous crookneck squash blooms greeted me this morning. And where there are blooms, there soon will be lots and lots of squash. I’ve already picked a few, but I’m preparing for an onslaught.
See those tight little blooms there? Squash, also. I think my poor squash plants were feeling a little left out, what with the dozens of zucchini I’ve picked since my last update just three weeks ago. A little healthy garden competition never hurt anyone.
But, please… as creative as I’ve been with the zucchini over the past few weeks, my family begs you… come and get it! I even shredded and bagged 28 cups tonight!
Our surprise cantaloupe (or is it honey dew? I can’t tell…) is taking over. It’s nearly smothered this poor little cherry tomato plant.
Told ya. Taking over. I’ve had to rip its little stringy viney things off of my tomato cages so that it won’t try to climb. I can’t fathom my cages supporting the weight of a few melons…
I need a pepper ritual or dance or something. I don’t see any blooms yet. Should I by now? Bell peppers are my absolute favorite, and my daughter has been begging for some fajitas.
Finally, some little tomatoes have appeared! The plants had been sprouting blooms galore, but no tomatoes. My twitter friends reminded me that there is a bee shortage and they might not be getting pollinated. Ahhhhh! I had completely forgotten about that.
My neighbor suggested spritzing the plants with sugar water (just a little bit of sugar). He had heard someone else recommend that trick and figured it was probably to attract those wonderful pollinating insects. I turned my kids loose with a spray bottle the other day and today… tons of bees and other insects swarming my plants! Coincidence? I don’t know, but I think we might have pollination!
What about you? Do you notice the bees in your garden? Trouble with “all blooms, no fruit”? Any tricks I need to know about?
Catch more garden updates at Stephanie’s place.
I am trying that today! Last year I had to mate my own zucchini and had lack luster crops. This year I fear the same!
I haven’t heard of that. It might be a little bit early for me to try that but, I will keep that trick in my back pocket if I need it.
Your garden looks fantastic!! Our little hanging garden seems like it’s growing, but can’t really tell…I linked up to that garden site, and learned quite a bit! Oh…also tried your sugar water tip today. Funny, I never thought about that and come to think of it, never see many bees around the plants! Let’s hope it works! Oh, and those melons…lucky you!! How does one get surprise melons in their garden??!! I hope none start growning in my turvys!! Hee hee!!
Recently I heard on a local talk show about pollinating YOURSELF. The garden expert said to take a cheap watercolor paint brush and dust it on the inside of all the little blooms. I haven’t seen very many bees around our house but I have tons of tomatoes and other vegetables because my daughter and I have gone out and “painted” the flowers a few times.
My husband’s brother has his own beehives right out beside his garden. They make the most wonderful honey. We’ve been thinking about getting some of our own, but I don’t think I’m quite at that point yet!
I am so envious of you and others with lovely veggie gardens. For one, we live in a townhouse condo so I’m lucky to even have a small flower garden… but even worse… I have a black thumb and celebrate keeping a plant alive for more than a month. Enjoy your bounty… looks like you will be eating well this summer and early fall
That is a great tip. I guess we have had good pollination here this year but I have heard a lot of talk about this! Thanks for joining in the gardening fun!
We have lots of bees here. I planted flowers near the garden that would attract butterflies and they also happen to attract bees. Which actually disappointed me because I was trying to work the bee shortage angle to justify a bee box. No joy!
Great idea! FYI: The same can be accomplished with honey.