Late Summer Goings on in The Patch

 

I saved the Indian corn from last year's Thanskgiving table decorations to see what kind of yield I would get; planting four short rows at high density (two of the dark maroon, and two of the tri-color; selecting seeds that were more on the dark purple side). Damn, every kernel sprouted, and most stalks have at least two good ears forming up. And unlike the modern field hybrids, some of these have topped off at 12 ft.!!!! But there is a lot of variation in individual phenotype. Some of the stalks are stunted, have weird ear formations or were so weak as to fall over. This is not unexpected for wild open-pollinated varieties. I can't wait to see what kind of total yield I get and most will be ground for meal but some saved for this year's fall decorations or to give away. 

Indian corn (aka flint corn, native corn, etc.) was the primary corn of my Virginia dirt farmer ancestors. There really was no modern hybrid corn like we see today until after the Civil War.

Here in late summer the really good news is that Japanese beetle season has finally ended; yeah! It is always a battle with these guys. But this year with me being on extended telework due to RONA, I was able to keep a close eye on the bait trap and actually have time to do daily hand picks and almost daily spraying. Organic sprays are nice, but there is little to no persistence especially following rain. I've never been home every day before so this certainly has been a unique garden season. I'm hoping by increasing the diligence this season and applying milky spore under the most susceptible plants, maybe we'll be able to finally tune these pests down a bit. I also hit the ornamental (weeping) cherry with a commercial systemic pesticide this year. The protective effect was miraculous. But you can't use that on anything destined for fruit consumption.

And I was bound and determined to keep the aphids and cucumber beetles under control this year. A combination spray of Neem oil and insecticidal soap applied every three days or so and once a week spinosad seemed to do the trick. So for once we got a full season worth of cucs and squash out of one planting. I suspect too that taking a rest year off last season may have helped break their reproductive cycle. And there is nothing like being able to pick the best-of-the-best for a batch of homofermentative dills. And just in time for the first dill heads to go to seed. Can't wait to crack these open.

So all and all its been an interesting season. For the first time in 18 years I was available to run out and do daily maintenance. Only a few minutes between conference calls or for longer periods over lunch meant a vast increase in the quality of produce and not letting the weeds and other things get out of control. I am very grateful to have had this once in a (working man's) lifetime opportunity.

Soon it will be time to prepare the early spring rows for the fall and winter crops. Already we have broccoli and cauliflower seedlings almost ready for sitting out. The fall carrots and beets were planted this week, and it won't be long before the kale rows are prepared. These will be staggered so as to have health near-mature plants ready by the first heavy frost of the fall. Then they will go under a row cover for winter time greens.