Oodles of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are here! Stealing a phrase from my Grandma Stelle, oodles of them! "Amber Colored" – little yellow globes - are abundant and with three plants, we have enough to pick everyday. All of the other tomato varies are ripening as well. I've had two large “Early Girl” and the “Julia Child” are almost ready. Tomatoes every day!

The peas are done – I was holding out as long as a few pods kept producing, but the plants were clearly past their prime. I'm looking forward to the fall crop.

I decided to pull out the garlic. I think the bulbs could have grown larger, but the greens were really fading and browning, I sign – I think – to dig them up. I've braided them to hang and dry.

It's past time for more planting. A few weeks ago I stuck more beans in between the bigger plants, which aren't producing as much as before. I'm working on getting next phases of crops going, but I fear I may be a little slow. I planted more cucumbers in the place of kohlrabi and beans where there were peas. More carrots went in, as well as lettuce, and purple basil too. This is my third try with the purple basil, which so far hasn't amounted to a single plant!

I have a dirty job coming up. We have both poison ivy AND poison oak in our yard. I've read up on getting all geared up to remove it, but I'm still scared I'll get one or both of the rashes. The advice I've read tells me to cover every inch of my body, wear rubber gloves, clip the greens, dig out the roots and then wash tools in rubbing alcohol. Wash clothes heavily and carefully. Any other suggestions? Ick...

Now I'm beginning to think about fall crops. I'll plant more peas, chard, kale and kohlrabi. Lettuces, of course, too. Perhaps some broccoli (since I never did get to eat my first batch), and maybe potatoes. I don't yet have seed for the broccoli or potatoes. Any suggestions? What about fall garlic? Since my spring garlic is so small, does anyone have a recommendation on a good variety?