It is time for a change

The time has come for changes to be made to the garden. The three new boxes I ordered (bringing the total to 27) have arrived along with new planting patches that the Garden Patch company make. We have four more months to grow veggies until our annual first fall frost, which is November 10th.

I have debated for a long time on whether or not to cut my losses and I have made my decision. The pink Brandywines have yet to produce an edible tomato. The Genoviese have only produced one or two edible tomatoes. I have had enough of the heirlooms except for the purple Cherokees.

I bought 4 new tomato plants yesterday and some Italian flat leaf parsley. My deceased mother has sent me a sign I do not need dill because I do not like it very much. This is another one of those mother versus daughter things. It was her favorite spice and I hate it in everything except for good old fashioned chicken soup. It is the only thing in my herb box that is dying and it will be replaced.

The parsley is a great replacement and next year will take its place in my herb boxes. I love to make Garlic blue crabs and that recipe calls for 8 to 10 heads of garlic. Parsley should be mixed with recipes requiring garlic because the real purpose of the parsley is to remove the garlic odor from our mouths.

I have decided to make my annual "science project" a rotation of crops. I am starting the seeds in peat pellets and then replanting the vegetable plants in some of the non-producing planters. Squash is definitely on the agenda to replant and also cucumbers. This time I will add Nasturiums to the boxes to fight the bugs and I will also need to add Marigolds to the tomato plant boxes. Companion planting is a good thing.

The plan is to add the cages at the beginning and not disturb the plants once they are already growing. I wonder if the cucumbers will grow to the sky or just continue to try to hang on to every other plant in the garden.

I have often said that Centipede grass (the kind they use on South Florida lawns) will crawl up your legs if you don't keep moving. Beware of the cucumbers in my garden because they will not only crawl up your leg but they are somewhat like Frankenstein when he walks, they have their tendrils out and they will get you!!!!