Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Marigolds, Vegetable Garden

Last year, I planted Harlequin, and, I'm thinking, Court Jester heirloom marigolds, purchased from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  I was impressed with how large and bushy the plants got, I'm thinking 12ish inches tall and wide.  I didn't get seeds collected, but made sure to leave seedheads here and there in hopes they would seed themselves. I have been amazed at all the places they have come up, even where I didn't even place them.  Some of them aren't quite as large this year.  It's probably due to weather differences.  (Edit, 9/8/12:  I found the other seed packet.  It's Red Cherry marigolds.)

I was most amazed at this one, that I just realized a few days ago, is growing through one of the tree rings from the silver maple we had to have cut down.  Look at this!


Amazing!


After I took these photos, I decided to go around to different places where marigolds were growing.  I pulled out the ones that came up in this area, because I was trying to get more native plants in there.  These are growing on the grass side, and escaped my hand.


Even though I planted one kind in the front yard, and the other in the back, I'm thinking the two kinds probably got mixed.  I need to look at the photos closer to see if I can see any differences.


 Here are some by the curb that the wind or birds must have planted.


These are some that I transplanted from the yard.  The love lies bleeding volunteered right in the pot, and is staying smaller than normal.  The ones I transplanted, either to pots or another spot in the yard did not do as well as the ones that were not disturbed.  I think the main reason is because of how hot it was this summer.  Normally, they transplant OK for me.


Still, I like the shape and colors of the blooms.


As I was taking photos of the marigolds in the vegetable garden, I started including the poor, struggling vegetables.  I decided to make this post about them as well.

I am hoping the beets get large enough to eat.  We have mandatory water restrictions, so I haven't been able to use the soaker hose as often as I want to.  It doesn't reach everything, and in order to get the whole garden watered on the right days, I have been using a sprinkler.  I had been placing the hose around the unreached spots with a nozzle, and letting it soak in.  That takes longer, and there are days I don't have time to do that.


The marigolds that I left here and there to seed in the vegetable garden sure took me up on it!


I have been picking a few kale leaves here and there, but need to be harvesting more.  It sure looks good this year. I'm thinking the wasps that I see on the flowers, have taken care of the cabbage worms.  I want to try making some kale chips.  Oh, and next year, the asparagus should be ready to harvest awhile.  Those are pole beans on the fence.  To the right of them, is a cucumber hill that did not get enough water to keep going.   I did get some nice cucumbers from it, though.  On the right is another cucumber hill that is almost finished producing.


This looks like the one in the front, but I just remembered the ones in the pot were taken from the vegetable garden.


I am pleased that the pole beans are producing now.  For some reason, bush beans haven't been doing well in the garden, but this is the second year I've grown these, and they don't seem to mind being in the same spot as last year.  I noticed some smaller brown eyed Susans near by, and hope to get them moved to the front yard.


I like them just a little larger than these, but they grow very quickly, so they need to be checked regularly.


I planted some lettuce and such a couple weeks ago, when we had a break from the heat, thinking it was over.  Since these are on the north side of the garage, they may be sheltered enough to make it yet.  We are now having another break from it, with highs in the 80s, but I forgot to check the forecast for the week.


The carrots are up, too.


I think these cucumbers were planted a couple weeks before the lettuce and carrots.


Here's a view back to the east.  I like how the marigolds zig and zag through the garden.


Most of the borage is finished, but a new crop of it is coming up.  I forget to use it, but I like the flowers, and maybe one of these days, I will do something with it.


Our next door neighbors have a locust tree, which is not my friend.  It sends up little trees all over the garden, which rob nutrients from the things I plant.  I am constantly hoeing and pulling them up, and sometimes have to use pruners on them, when they get too big.  It's more irritating this year, because I kept planting beets and other seeds, but the heat got to them before they could grow.  I'm not sure if they even germinated.


I am picking one or two tomatoes, usually the grape ones at a time, every other day or so.  Normally, there are lots at a time.


Here are some young borage plants at the entrance to the garden, and a couple marigolds that I transplanted to here, that are not doing well.


These marigolds are growing with a small goldenrod in a wash tub.  The watering cans are in the area attempting to keep Heidi out of there.  She's been digging up plants that normally fill up the area, such as goldenrod, 'Wichita Mountains'.


These have struggled most of the summer.  I want to leave some seeds in here, and hope they come up on their own, and it would help if next summer is not as hot, and hopefully, they will do much better.


Yes, this looks like the others.  I wonder if next year's plants will look the same.


I hope this finds you well and enjoying some time outside.  I am pleased that I've been seeing monarchs every day.  I love it when they fly around me, and dance with each other in the sky.  A few days ago, one landed on the back of my leg, and stayed there about ten seconds.  I wanted so badly to get my camera, and tried inching to the house, but it flew off before I could get to the door.

23 comments:

  1. I Love marigolds .... this is a great post Sue!

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    1. Thanks, Bren! I sure have plenty of marigolds this year.

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  2. What beautiful marigolds!
    Imagine that about them planting themselves in a tree!! How wild!
    You have created such beauty in
    your yard and this is why you have
    so many butterflies who love to
    partake in all that beauty!! :)

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    1. Thanks, Roberta, I think I enjoy the butterflies and other flying insects as much as the flowers.

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  3. I really like the habit and color of many kinds of marigolds. I plant some in my little vegetable/herb garden, but that's about it. I think because they are so easy and were the first things I grew as a kid, I feel reluctant to put them in my flower beds. As if real gardeners do not grow marigolds. Your post reminds me that my reluctance to plant more marigolds is just silly.

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    1. Hi Jason, I remember thinking of marigolds as something very common, and maybe not as pretty as other flowers. I have changed my mind, and love the little ruffles of the marigolds.

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  4. Hi Sue, I sure enjoyed my tour of your garden in your earlier post, you have such an abundance of wonderful plants.

    The marigolds make me smile at how prolific and tough they are, coming up in the most random of places. This has been a summer to test both the garden and the gardener. I would say yours came through with flying colors!

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    1. Thanks, Karen,
      I imagine I am going to continue to have lots of marigolds in the future, too. Yes, it has been a tough growing season. I'm hoping we have some better conditions for fall gardens before we have to give up altogether for winter.

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  5. Hi Sue, i love that marigold, i once have that variety but they did not show up the next rainy season. Only the pure yellow appeared again. I don't get the seeds from them and just rely on wherever they grow, and just transfer to areas i want them to be. Marigolds are good insect repelants so good together with vegies. I am amazed at its persistence in that stub meaning it needs just a little nutrient for growth.

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    1. Hi Andrea, I like yellow marigolds, too. It's hard for me to imagine having a rainy season. We have had such little rain this summer. It probably gets just as hot where you are, though.

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  6. I think the birds did a pretty good job of "planting" the marigolds around your garden---it's lovely!

    I always have Borage growing, and like you, I don't use it-I just truly enjoy those beautiful blue flowers.
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Sue, my borage is in my vegetable garden. Is that where your borage plants are? Maybe we should put some in our flower beds. The only thing, though, is that the plants die back when they are finished blooming, and look pretty tatty.

      You have a great weekend, too!

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  7. Marigolds are such a bright spot in the garden these days--how nice to have some volunteers as well. Your vegetable garden looks so much better than mine, Sue; I'd be too embarrassed to show mine. Besides all the problems from the drought, I noticed something had been nibbling at a few of the tomatoes and zucchini. Sophie has been digging holes in the garden, too--I think there must be a vole in there the way she's acting. So now I have holes in the vegetable garden, too! At least I can enjoy the marigolds and zinnias amongst the few veggies.

    Did you get any of the rain from Isaac this weekend?

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    1. Thanks, Rose,
      One thing I forgot to mention in the post is that I didn't get Larry to help me put stakes to hold up the tomato cages, and several of them are tipping over. I didn't get close ups of the fading cucumbers. Oh, the garden is not looking so pretty, but I'm still doing what I can to make something of it.

      When Heidi digs in the back yard, she may be looking for rabbits, but I think it has to do with releasing energy. I'm glad she does not have access to the vegetable garden.

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  8. I need to plant Marigolds again next year--they're so good for the garden, and as your post shows they are hardy! I can't believe that one is growing in the middle of the tree ring! I'm not crazy about the way they smell, but they sure are pretty and beneficial. (BTW, this wasn't a good year for my veggies, either. Actually, yours look fine.)

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  9. Beautiful flowers, fantastic colours. I am greeting

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  10. Wow! Those Marigolds are really stunning. The are very vibrant. Lovely.

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  11. I just edited the post to show that I found the other seed packet, and it's Red Cherry, not Court Jester.

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  12. Wow! Sue, you are the Marigold Mamma. It's this time of year that makes me wish I'd planted more Marigolds. Mine seem to limp along all summer and then come the first of September they bloom like crazy.

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  13. Wow! Sue, you are the Marigold Mamma. It's this time of year that makes me wish I'd planted more Marigolds. Mine seem to limp along all summer and then come the first of September they bloom like crazy.

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  14. Wow! Sue, you are the Marigold Mamma. It's this time of year that makes me wish I'd planted more Marigolds. Mine seem to limp along all summer and then come the first of September they bloom like crazy.

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  15. Wow! Sue, you are the Marigold Mamma. It's this time of year that makes me wish I'd planted more Marigolds. Mine seem to limp along all summer and then come the first of September they bloom like crazy.

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  16. Your yard, flowers and gardens are beautiful! I love that color of marigold. My pole beans did not do well this year and I grew Borage but now it is popping up all over so am pulling it out! I like the flowers but like you I did not do anything with it. Come visit me if you have time Cozy Thyme Cottage. Nancy

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I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.