In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen
Our kitchen island is a landing pad for various items as we come into or pass through the room. My goal is only the essentials there—a bouquet, items for the next meal or produce arrived from the garden. Yesterday, a nearly spent Hot Cocoa rose sidled up to four small zucchini recently in from the garden. The leaves still attached to the rose begged a photo with the dark green vegetables.
Zucchini is the most reliable producer as we near mid-September, though with powdery mildew, the days may be numbered. I remove every infected leaf and the plants keep sending out new healthy ones. I still have neighbors willing to receive zucchini. We’ll see how long this goes on or what needs to be planted in their place.
An ignominious harvest occurred last week. Evidence of tomato hornworm destruction prompted an after dark search with a UV flashlight. They’re easier to find, glowing a fluorescent green. The eight found were smaller than this specimen but soon would size up.
We feasted on Sugar Pearl corn several nights last week and shared some ears with friends who tended the garden when we were on vacation. We’re into the succession planting and likely will harvest the remaining ears this week. The bed will be cleared and prepared for the cool season (aka second season) garden. Plans are made and broccoli starts on the patio will develop their first true leaves in a day or so.
I selected the largest bell pepper for kitchen use. I usually hold out for red bell peppers but will dice and freeze some green ones for winter use. I had stopped harvesting Emerite green beans to allow the plants to set seed and they are. However, lower on the trellis there’s a flush of new growth and beans for picking almost daily. The photo shows a day’s worth.
The dinner menu is determined by what comes to the kitchen. Here, zucchini, corn and green beans with leftover pork tenderloin.
Like so many other areas of the country, Southern California has had temperatures in the closing in on 100 degrees. Though near the coast we’ve stayed cooler, the humidity often exceeds the temperature and it feels more uncomfortable. It was a good week to have Lavender Lemonade in the fridge.
The flower garden turns toward autumn and I made several bouquets over the weekend. This was my favorite.“Happiness is making a bouquet of those flowers within reach.” Bob Goddard
Check the What I’m Planting Now page as I begin soon to sow seeds for the cool season garden. Then head today to Harvest Monday, hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog and see what garden bloggers around the world harvested last week.
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