July temperatures were in the 90’s and according to the weather guy they felt above 100.
Last week’s temps fell into the 80’s and had I been up and about I would have planted cucumbers for the end of summer and carrots for fall/and or winter.
Experimenting with Several Varieties of Cucumbers
I have several varieties of cukes I would have tried in order to see what performed the best in late summer. (I don’t have the packages close by me since I’m still on my floor)- so I can’t at this writing name the varieties for you.)
I usually plant Marketmore which is just about my favorite cucumber, but fall plants have never been as nice as those planted in spring and early summer.
Thus, I was anxious to experiment.
As slowly as my leg movement is returning, I’m not sure I’ll be up in time to get a fall crop. But I’ll try.
Carrots
Although I have numerous varieties of carrots (so I can learn how each does for me) my success (thus far) has been with New Kuroda.
They have a much better taste than most homegrown carrots I’ve tasted, germination is usually better, and they’re a good size.
New Kuroda Carrots from last year.
And the thing that most amazed me was — a New Kuroda of the same size as a store bought carrot -goes twice as far when grated for my salads. Maybe the nutrient density is more and it’s more satisfying. If you grow them and have experienced that as well I’d love to know about it.
Poor Success in Getting Germination this Spring
This spring was not a good one for my getting carrots to germinate. It was really hot, and as you might know, gardeners have to keep the planted area moist until carrots germinate. After that they seem to do well without tending.
I tried to keep the soil moist, but obviously it was not enough — that is until the third try. I watered the soil, scattered seed, covered with a little soil and laid wet cardboard on top. Then put some straw on top of that to hold it in place.
Some came up (not all) and still looked good the last time I saw them on July 7th.
Final Thoughts
I think conditions here are currently perfect for planting without all the fuss. Those conditions may not hold until I can walk — but I’m hoping.
Plan not to miss out on these late season treats.
Get some cukes going and plan to plant your carrots at the first opportunity.
I’ll be thinking of you as I envision myself in my garden.
________
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This year, between my creaky knees and some lingering exhaustion, I was running about a month behind in the garden. Last year I tried for fall carrots, but only 3 or 4 came up, and too late to bother harvesting. I saw them blooming in the spring and showed the carrot flowers to my grandsons. They were helping me weed that bed when one excitedly exclaimed- there is a little carrot here. They came across about ten small to medium sized carrots that must have waited until spring to sprout. So, I am thinking, maybe if you wait until fall to scatter some carrot seeds, perhaps in mid-September, they will sprout in early spring and beat the heat. Might be worth a try. You can plant more at your usual time if they don’t come up in the spring on their own. Sometimes seeds know when it is time to grow before we can figure that out.
Really good to hear from you Abigail!
I agree with your idea 100%.
I had a few carrots grow and set seed that were from last year. And also managed (I hope) to save some of the seed. Pretty sure germination from my saved seed will be a lot better than purchased seed.
Theresa
You are a National Treasure, Mrs. Martz! I am sending good thoughts your way, from one gardener to another.
And I have lost nearly half of my tomatoes to rampant Early Blight, Southern Blight, Septoria Leaf Spot, and something that I cannot identify. But my peppers look GREAT and are going gangbusters. I did get quite a few tomatoes before the blight and wilt set in. So a fair yield so far with some tomatoes still resisting the disease. Temperature and humidity here in Stafford, Virginia have been INSANE!
My best to you always,
Don
Theresa,
I hope the mending is coming along. We just don’t mend as quickly as we did long ago.
I’ve given up on the garden this summer. The 90’s and no rain was relentless. We’ve gotten and inch in the last 2 weeks, and that was the fist rain since July 5. I don’t water, and count heavily on my no-till layers to help. Right in the midst of the horrid heat I got COVID, and had a slow recovery. The weedy grasses have taken over in the garden, and I don’t have the energy or endurance to hammer away at them, so I let them go. Craig has weedeated a time or two so we can get to what we did plant…which wasn’t a lot. I have gotten to where I concentrate on perennial fruits and veggies more. My disease absolutely sucks the sap right out of me in extreme temps. We’ll be starting over at ground 0 after frost. New rotting layers. Somehow it’s alright.
Take care and stay cool,
Sherrie O
I planted new kuroda last year. They were beautiful. The two that I got before the squirrels and chipmunks dug them all up were absolutely delicious! I was just sick when I went to harvest those amazing carrots just to find out the animals got 3 rows! every last one!
I sure wish you were healed.
It is so hot here the Fall planting will have to be done later 105-115 lows in the high 70,s-80’s. Fortunately carrots seem to grow most of the year here as some critters ate and disturbed much of mine early on. I replanted and having good success.
Praying for your fast recovery