Urban Gardening - Early August

The dog days of summer are upon us, and the vegetables are relishing the heat. Unfortunately, there's a bit of a drought going on, so watering every day is imperative.The tomatoes and cucumbers have grown to the top of the fence and are taking up real estate in the neighbor's back yard.
Mr. Stripey Tomoto, Juliet tomatoes, cucumber, and jalepeno pepper.

The garden plot has turned into a cucumber factory; we've got more cucumbers from one plant than we know what to do with. We just started harvesting tomatoes in the last week or so. We waited patiently for the first large tomato, but we were not the only ones with greedy eyes on the tomatoes...And to think, I fed you bagels when it was snowing outside. Good ones from South St. Philly Bagels, too!

We'd come home to find every large, juicy tomato we were waiting on to ripen half eaten and left in ruins on the ground. Squirrels! (Said how Seinfeld exclaims, "Newman!") There are double doors leading from the kitchen to the back patio, which we leave open to catch what little breeze there is. One morning, I came down the stairs and caught one of those ballsy little effers on the kitchen counter eating a banana. He actually peeled the banana, and dug right in; that's how intrepid these South Philly squirrels are!Only hire trained professionals.

That was it! We had to go on the defensive. I brought in the vermin control squad to install bird netting over the garden.Jailed tomatoes.

Thai Hot Peppers, and Chard.

Veggies currently kickin' in the garden: tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, chard, eggplants, leeks, and carrots.

Still waiting on: Sweet peppers (the plant is four feet tall, but aborting all the fruit; could be heat and stress), okra (late start), and squash (late start).

Second crop: Do we want to bother with a fall crop? If so, we need to start acting soon.

Urban Gardening - Early March
Urban Gardening - Early April
Urban Gardening - Mid-April
Urban Gardening -Early May
Urban Gardening - Late May
Urban Gardening - Late June
Urban Gardening - Early July