What's Growing in the Garden

Tim, per picking instructions from the local orchards when we've gone, if they pull easy, that's a good time to pick them. Stems may stay on the tree. I've found that most stems tend to when we've picked. If there is too much resistance or the pit pulls out, then you're picking too soon. So, it sounds like you're picking them at the right time. Color looks good too.

You are definitely way ahead of us! We're looking at around mid-July for picking Montmorency Tarts in Door County, is what they're anticipating right now.
 
Friend of mine sent me this pic. He grew it. It's the smallest one of the harvest. Icky, sticky, ooey gooey.
Tasty stuff. Legal here for almost a year now. :good2::wonky:

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:shok:Man I'd love to have those trees.

second planting of peas/beans today. Yes I know it's late. Maybe I'll get one or two pickings off them. Wish me luck.
 
djg said:
:shok:Man I'd love to have those trees.

second planting of peas/beans today. Yes I know it's late. Maybe I'll get one or two pickings off them. Wish me luck.
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Not really late for beans at all. Beans can start producing in about 55 days depending on variety, so many will plant through mid July. Peas don't like the heat so much, so they are more of a risk.

If you wanted to, plant some fall peas when it's a little cooler. Look at days to maturity and count backwards from first frost dates.
 
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No, I haven't lost my marbles and started collecting dead spiders (they aren't dead), this is what it looks like when you break open a mud dauber wasp nest. The mud dauber paralyzes spiders, and stuffs the cells with them to feed their larvae when they hatch.
 
Sprung said:
Tim, per picking instructions from the local orchards when we've gone, if they pull easy, that's a good time to pick them. Stems may stay on the tree. I've found that most stems tend to when we've picked. If there is too much resistance or the pit pulls out, then you're picking too soon. So, it sounds like you're picking them at the right time. Color looks good too.

You are definitely way ahead of us! We're looking at around mid-July for picking Montmorency Tarts in Door County, is what they're anticipating right now.
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Thanks Matt, appreciate the info/confirmation!

Went out this afternoon to pick around the top of the tree with the ladder. Wanted to leave everything low for the neighbors when they come to pick in a day or two. Only got 3/4 around the tree and had filled two, one-gallon containers.

UPS just showed up with my refractometer and what I picked today is measuring at 15% Brix. Normal range for Montmorency is 11-16% Brix (depending on year/conditions), so I'm happy. Some of those weren't as deep a red and those were at 13% so still well within the range, but will benefit from another couple days on the tree.

Nice to have a rule of thumb, but even nicer to have some hard numbers as I'm trying to learn about cherries.
 
Alan R McDaniel Jr said:
The figs are getting ripe and the buzzard buffet has opened. Four tree rats have been on the menu so far but my granddaughter is visiting for a few days and she Loooooves Squirrels… So, I put this guy up out there to scare off the tree rats until she leaves. I keep expecting to go out there and find him covered in squirrels eating figs. They were eating tomatoes too. At first I thought it was coons but I caught the little rascals in the act one morning.

The dogs were scared of him, and I’ve done some double takes walking across the yard.

Alan

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That's my cuz! When the figs get ripe invite me over. Probably not gonna have any this year. Cold cut them down to the ground, and although doing well and will probably have a few, the season ain't long enough to have them ripen. Green figs in syrup again.
 
I do have a dab of these this year. Know nothing about when to pick - in fact they are still in pots and I have not had time to plant in ground yet. Also got a gooseberry to try again. Probably too hot for both of these, but you never know! And a few apples to espalier.

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