My garden is starting to look shaggy but is still producing tomatoes and peppers. I pick almost every evening and usually bring 20-100 vegetables in to the hosue every night. The peppers are out producing everything else now. They seem to love the hot heat.
Yesterday I offered $1.00 for each tomato worm found, removed and killed. DGS15 and DGS13 thought this was a splendid offer and went worm hunting. They earned $8.00 and everyone was pleased with the results. I can NOT make myself touch those horn worms. [i]:::::shudder:::::[/i]
Aphids have invaded the garden and attacked the squash (3 kinds), watermelon and cantaloupe beds. I torn out all of the plants the aphids were on last night and threw them over the pasture fence. I checked the 3 remaining butternut squash plants tonight and didn't see any aphids on them. HOpefully that is the end of the aphid invasion (wishful thinking!). I have 13 large butternut squash on my countertop and I'm wondering if they will finish ripening off the vine.
I do a mixture of Ruth Stout The Lazy Garderner method and Square Foot Gardening method. I LOVE raised beds and don't think I will ever garden without them now. I also love gardening with heavy mulch (wheat straw). I don't use any chemicals in the garden. I don't use a rototiller because they kill the critters (toads, turtles, etc) burdened in the soil. I enjoy tracking the turtles (I squirt spray paint on their shell to tell them apart) and see which ones return each year. They used to drive me crazy being in the garden but have grown to appreciate them eating bugs.