What's growing around here

We tried Sunflowers for the first time this year. I special ordered a mix called the Sunflower Forest which as a blend of very large varieties. In 10 weeks we hit full growth, the tallest being about 10 feet tall. This means that we got about a foot of growth each week. They are the talk of every guest's visit and one of the first things people do each time they come over since there is substantial change each time.
They are now hitting their end and starting to fall over. I just learned that once they bloom, they always face East so from our house and pool we see the back side of them.
They will dry out and then we'll harvest them for seeds.

Vin about 1 month ago.

Peas and Beans

 White Carrots

The best lunch ever... my tomatoes and my neighbor's eggs.

Bunny backyard

Garden tour 2013

2nd round of plants for fall

Planting Dates

Squash, Zucchini, Corn - Thursday August 16

Oriental Wonder Beans - Saturday August 19

Garden Notes:

It's been HOT HOT HOT around here!
We've gotten a few days of rain this last week and the heat has cooled off. This is good for all the veggies, gives them some time to relax and not just survive. Hopefully a growing boom will occur.
 I'm barely keeping the tomatoes alive but the pumpkins that did sprout look good. Most of the pumpkins did not sprout at all. This is the 3rd year I've tried this and it never works out for me. Fingers crossed!I should have 3 Big Max's and  3 Jack-O's.

Banana squash looks good too

Pumpkin and Squash Planting Dates

Good Soil July 19th

Planted  7-19
Pumpkins
Back Left - Easy Grow Monster Pumpkin - 125 harvest
Back Right - Ornamental Mix - 90 - 130 harvest    Never sprouted
Front Left -  Fairy Tale Orange - 100 - 110 harvest Never sprouted
Front Right - Jack O'Lantern - 100 harvest

Tomatoes

Planted 7-23
Pumpkins
Front Center  & Back - Jarrahdale (blue fairy)Never sprouted
Right - Red Wart Pumpkin Never sprouted

Winter Squash
Back - Pink Banana
Middle - Sweet Meat Never sprouted

Carrots, Beets & Recipie

Beets with Blue Cheese &

Tomato Salad with Necterine Salsa

Squash Bugs

Note for next year:
Choose a squash varity that is resistant to SQUASH VINE BORER, Melittia satyriniformis
http://vegipm.tamu.edu/chewing4/squashvineborer.html

and SQUASH BUG, Anasa tristis
http://vegipm.tamu.edu/sucking/squashbug.html