I’m confused. Is this spring in California or some other season some other place? Earlier this month it was 95 degrees; two weeks later it’s only 65 degrees! But I’m not the only one confused. My poor summer vegetables don’t know what to do. They really want some warmth to get going. So do I.
I went to bed last night with the intent to go visit a few public gardens today. But that was when I was expecting some sunshine this morning. It may be sunny where you live, but it sure isn’t here. We’re in an odd winter weather pattern. Storms form up in the Gulf of Alaska, and swoop down through California, pushing our warm sunny spring weather out of the way. My Peter Pan summer squash is in full bloom, and is setting fruit. The problem is, it needs some heat for the fruit to grow to a worthwhile size. Peter seems to be true to his name. He “won’t grow up”, at least not right now. Later today, when the sun comes out…if the sun comes out, I’ll harvest some tiny little squash, and see if it tastes like it should. I’ll let you know.
My cherry tomato plant looks a bit pathetic too. I know, I know. I should have waited to plant it. I was warned that the frost might kill it. Frost? Here? In February? Won’t happen. Well, it did happen, but I had bookmarked the weather channel’s web site, and knew it was coming. I covered my plants every time they said the temperature would bottom out. I also protected the blooms from hard rain. I purchased several yards of tulle fabric online and stretched it over the plants. I used plastic clothes pins to secure it in place. That was helpful, because those days when the rain was hard, so was the wind. They survived unscathed. Only my dwarf marigolds had any damage at all. Some of the leaves were a little crispy from the frost. No biggie. They recovered.
When it finally warms up a bit, I’m sure my summer veggies will recover too! I expect the tomato plant to bush out and give me lots of plump cherry tomatoes. The few it has produced so far have been very small, but delicious. Nothing, I repeat, nothing tastes better than homegrown tomatoes. My zucchini will go nuts, and give me enough fruit to share with my neighbors (that’s the plan). My pole beans are growing fast (although the leaves do not like the spring rain we have received the last three weeks). Beans can’t be far behind.
My lettuce is content with this odd weather, as are the carrots and the broccoli (which is on its third round of side shoots). But the happiest plants in my garden are my ornamentals. The geraniums love this weather. They have just enough cold to perk up the leaves and enough sun to encourage the flowers. Me? I need more sunshine to go outside to play!
Until next time,
Elizabeth
