A Gardener's Diary

[Monksdream]

June 19-Another day of the same summertime weather. It rained overnight, enough for me to forgo watering. The beekeeper's issue is still on hold. The local library internet kept blocking access to the website. I will try again Tuesday.

One encouraging sign: The Polish Model honeydew melon vines have produced fruit large enough to be noticeable. One is the size of a hen's egg, another the size of a guinea fowl's egg. I didn't see another fruit that large on the Jenny Lind cantaloupe vines. I finally noticed small bulbs on the first Charantais cantaloupe vines. So some pollination has occurred. If only the Moon & Stars watermelon would fruit.

The rest of the morning I weeded and mulched, tied up tomato plants. One fruit on the Giant Syrian has turned. More will follow as the month winds down and it's July, which is usual time for ripe tomatoes in Zone 7b.

Two Valentine sunflowers were open when I walked up the drive to feed breakfast to CC the Calico Cat. It is only the beginning of what will be spectacular display.

Squash borers are a perennial problem in the South and Southeast. Once they infest a vine, it's the beginning of the end for the plant. The best defense is to succession plant, and if space allows, grow squash plants in several places. Ultimately, the borers will find them.