Summer Garden Snapshot

Some years our garden harvest does better than others. Why? Many factors come into play, including weather, temperature, soil, planting time, pests, and the gardener’s consistency and effort. I’d like to share about what’s happening in my garden:

The parsley in my plot overwintered. Other gardeners mentioned that theirs did too. It’s not the best sign as it means we had another mild winter. I use all parts of the parsley plant in my red sauce and in homemade dressings. This is a lovely dressing recipe from my friend and fellow gardener Melissa. Use this sweet and tangy dressing as a base and add in all your favorite fresh garden herbs.

Shoutout to my neighbor Steve O’Sullivan, for donating his hand-built picnic table to the B91 Community Garden, Thank you Steve!

My cucumbers are doing amazing! I’ve done nothing out of the ordinary. I know cucumbers thrive with plenty of sunlight (check), consistent watering (check) and well-drained soil (check). I add compost to my plot in the Beach 91st Street Community Garden every season and cucumbers (all veg for that matter) benefit from those nutrients. A trellising system is needed. I actually used tomato cages and that worked pretty well. In the past, the community garden had a problem with squash beetles, which will decimate cucumbers, not this year, so that has been working in my favor from the start.

Couldn’t be more perfect cucumbers!

I’m growing green peppers and although they’re coming in slowly, they look healthy. I ate my first one the other day and it had a surprisingly spicy taste. Inconsistent watering can affect peppers, so it’s important to be diligent about watering the plant. Luckily, we’ve had some good rain this season. It’s crucial to keep an eye on the weather—that’s an important job for us gardeners.

I’ve begun making my annual “Paula’s Pesto” batches. My basil is thriving, and my garlic harvest was plentiful. Make sure to pinch off the basil flowerheads, and when harvesting, always take a clipping just before a new leaf node. This will ensure your basil plant keeps producing.

Now… for the tomato update… My tomatoes are behind schedule. I planted them a week or two later than I intended. I walk around the community garden with an eye of envy – everyone’s beefsteaks are turning from green to red.  Plot #12 has so many indigo roses and I see clusters of red romas all over.  But there’s still hope for a tomato-girl summer. My plants do look healthy and I have cute little tomatoes forming.  Only time will tell. Patience is a virtue they say.

My first tomato of 2024!

You start with a tiny seedling, invest time and care. You watch it transform. It takes months. It’s pretty amazing when you think about start to finish. Gardening teaches us to appreciate the value of food and makes us reflect on food waste after knowing its journey.

For more on gardening, follow me on Insta for the day-to-day – @theglorifiedtomato