The winter squash I planted in early August -- almost exactly a month ago -- have flowers tightly furled near their centers. What a quick growth! The beets I planted then all died, probably from a combination of excessive heat and flood-style watering techniques; but two broccoli babies are poking their way along in a pot, and I think that two brussels sprouts are hanging on in another pot. I'll be surprised if they really make it to the fall, but I don't suppose I could complain.
The best measure of my pessimism (and a reflection of deep yearning for plant babies or mosquito-free gardening) is the recent development of an indoor seed sprouting system. I have four miniature greenhouses (one from a Vietnamese soup takeout container, one similarly sized clear tupperware, and one large clear tupperware) in which four yogurt cups reside with newly deposited seeds: broccoli, sweet pea, yellow wax bean, cilantro, red and golden beets, and brussels sprouts. In addition, I acquired a medium-sized black plastic bowl for use as a salad-starter, and sowed about half its surface area upon my return home tonight. I had been hoping that I could harvest some salad greens in 2-3 weeks, but all the seed packages hinted at 40-65 day waits before harvest. The microgreens looked like I might get a harvest in about 20 days, so I'm hoping -- it's been a while since my garden gave me fresh lettuce! (a quick google finds more references to salad that can be harvested within two weeks, so I'm even more hopeful!)
Out in the garden-o'-pots, the swiss chard is about a week from next harvest pending good sunshine and safe weather. The tomatoes have really been producing -- I've frozen about 10 tomatoes from my big plant in the last week, and eaten many, many more from the cherry tomato in the back. The sunflowers are past their prime and greying with seed, the parsley eaten by caterpillars, and the basil has gone to seed and spawned many wee seedlings.
Why don't seed packets list predicted plant heights anymore? Just wondering...
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