Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The first harvest

I dashed up and out of the trapdoor today to check on the recent tomato addition from Dig, ahead of the promised wind and rain. I am not hopeful about it. I think it had been in the shade too long, and too damp, and the stem seems very weak where it meets the roots.

Little fitful squalls were blowing over the roof. For five minutes water came pattering down from the sky, and now there is another lull. Please let it rain long, long, long.

The watemelon grows fast. This is probably not news to watermelon farmers, but it is to me. Which makes me think of Suttree, and Cormac McCarthy, where bad things happen to good watermelons.

More are promised.

Of course, one day I will be posting a picture of a stem, no watermelon. And Someone was stomping on the roof this morning, maybe the laird of Raccon Manor, checking on his drains.

Nevermind green fingers, I have green feet.

It seemed time:

So today I will make the first very small batch of pickles.

It was the 4th of July when these were but a whisker big. I really cannot think of an easier crop to grow.

And as I reach the end of the post, the rain is pelting the skylight, bouncing off the clear plexiglass seats of the chairs on the terrace, and running down the glass sliding door.

Long may it last.

10 comments:

  1. Dammit, now I'm gonna have to make pickles too.

    Will wait for your recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It finally rained last night in central Virginia - nearly an inch. More valuable to me than gold! You could hear the garden gulping it down. Hope you get more tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Must the cuc's be pickled, or would they be good in a salad?

    Yay for the rain. It is sorely needed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. In a meeting, we heard a loud crack of thunder -none thought it could be thunder at first, thats how long its been.

    Its possible we got over an inch, with some more to come now that the first has soaked in, its should sink deeper. Blessed be the rain.

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow! looks great marie! and what a cute watermelon...i just want ot eat those cukes with some rice vinegar and a little sesame oil, real cold... be over in five to steal them! :)

    p.s.(my squash plants have some sort of plot rot..i had to pull 3 of them--so sad.)

    ReplyDelete
  6. If you still have the sad tomato, try hilling the soil up to the next leaves;it will make roots from there.

    I hope Senor Racoon's human doesn't do anything spiteful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. sure, easy to grow cukes; no voles on a brooklyn roof.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations on your bounty, Marie! They look delicious! I, too, would like to see your pickle recipe. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Incredible! And yes, any time you want to join in on a wedding gig I would LOVE to have you! Maybe we could do an exchange floral help for some gardening advice (?).

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cucumbers are easy to grow. We have 6 plants that have been producing awesome cukes every day! Love the watermelon, its so cute!

    ReplyDelete

Comments on posts older than 48 hours are moderated (for spam control) . Yours will be seen! Unless you are a troll. Serial trollers are banned.