While pruning, weeding, and general yard work over the weekend, I snapped a couple of pics of garden progress. The cherokee purple heirlooms from NHG are growing great. I think it’s almost time to put up some bird netting before these get “birded.” The largest tomato has a punched hole it it – presumably from a bird – and I’m weary that the next round of birding will start soon. I lost a bunch of tomatoes to the stupid sky rats last year… so I’m ready with the bird netting!
The cucumbers are growing good too. One of the smaller, janky plants (behind the plants in these shots) is gangly and might not make it too long, but it is producing 2 baby cucumbers already. I am surprised at how spiky they are when they first start growing. I assume that this is a defense mechanism so that they aren’t eaten before they are ready.
I’ll trade you some Cherokee purples for some Rutgers or Brandywines. They look great. Know what you mean about the critter problems, too. Stinkin’ squirrels ate about 30 strawberries in 24 hours. I hope they got stomach aches.