Salford/Advent Garden Update, July 18

Greetings fellow gardeners, this week was a warm one, but it looks like it could be a little less hot the next few days. We had rain this week several t-storms dropped about 1 1/2 inches of rain on the garden. Last Saturday we had a large crowd of volunteers, I stopped counting at 26 WOOHOO!  Our first potato dig was on the list, we dug up our red potatoes. Over 450 lbs WOW! That is amazing. We will dig up our Yukon golds this Saturday and the last potatoes will be the Lehigh. I am not getting too overconfident, but it looks like we could set a record with potatoes this year. This week will be the last harvest of cabbage and red beets. The beds will be reworked and next week we plant for fall. Tomatoes are just starting to turn. Harvested about 5 lbs this week. Starting to see a few splits already. Splitting happens when the tomato decides it is finished growing and is ready to turn. Then it rains and the plant sends water to the fruit and the skin splits open. Zucchini are still coming in along with eggplant. I took a walk down our Lima bean row looking for limas and there they were looking back at me. Not fully beaned out but they are well on their way.  The red corn is now over 8 feet tall and has started to tassel. Soon it will push out ears. This has not been the best year for our string beans. Only picked them 4 times and they are really suffering. Each year we have our victories and our disappointments. Gardening is never 100 % but we will still have a great harvest. Thank you to everyone who worked in the heat and humidity to get the harvest in. Steve 215-872-6616 [email protected]