Midsummer Garden Report Jerry Apps Photo

For my vegetable garden friends who enjoy comparing notes with my Roshara garden operations, here is my mid-summer garden report.  The rains have come at just the right time, the hot temperatures have helped more than hindered, and the garden, in the overall, is better than it’s been compared to the past couple growing seasons. Thanks to Steve and Natasha, the garden managers, not a weed is in sight.

 As you will recall, last summer we had a bunny-wipeout.  Those pesky bunnies ate more than I have ever experienced.   This year Steve added a third wire to the garden fence.  The wire, a couple inches off the ground, has done the trick.  Not one bunny has made it inside the garden.  Could be they haven’t tried as they have lots to eat outside the garden.

Sue helped with garden harvest the other day.  She picked a bunch of green beans, several heads of broccoli, more zucchini than she could carry, some beautiful onions, and the first ripe tomatoes of the season.  She also, being a school teacher who knows how to give grades.  She offered the following grades for the garden at this point in mid-season.

Green Beans: A; Broccoli: A; Cucumbers: A; Zucchini: A; Potatoes: B; Onions: A;

 Cabbage: B; Radishes: C; Peas, C-;   Purple Beans: C; Tomatoes: A; Sunflowers: A; Squash: A; Pumpkins: B; Early Sweet Corn: B+;   Late Sweet Corn: C-;    Kale: A; Lettuce: B-; Carrots: B.

This year’s garden is a perfect example of what warm weather and sufficient rain will do for a good garden.  This year’s garden is also an example of when the weather reaches the 90s too early in the season, the cool weather crops such as peas and lettuce suffer.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Each year gardening is the same.  Each year gardening is different.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS

My book, GARDEN WISDOM is available at your local bookstore, or buy online from the Wisconsin Historical Society bookstore, https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/books, bookshop.org, or purchase from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering, or contact the librarian: barnard@wildroselibrary.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby, visit Dregne’s.  and look at their great selection of my books. Order a book from them by calling 1-877-634-4414. They will be happy to help you.  If you live in northcentral Wisconsin, stop at the Janke bookstore in Wausau (phone 715-845-9648).  They have a large selection of my books.