ACL Letter #6 - Garden Update
Garden Update 10/12/22
So far I am really pleased with our garden. We have had minimal pest pressure from slugs, pill bugs, or the cabbage worm. I'm really surprised about the cabbage worm. Usually its a problem. It actually worries me a little bit. We have several butterfly host plants in our yard and will usually have a few caterpillars and chrysalises appear throughout the year. We had zero this year. Well, I take that back. Wendell plucked a few off of our fennel plant early in the year because fennel is his favorite herb. He put them on another plant so they could eat there instead. Unfortunately, they are picky eaters like him and weren't interested in their new dish. RIP caterpillars. It has been eerily quiet on the caterpillar front since then.
The broccoli, cabbage, kale, and brussells all look great. We will be eating on the kale soon. Same with the Georgia collards. I'm wondering if I will get any sugar snap peas. A good hard frost will kill them off and right now, I have zero blossoms. The rows of greens I planted have all sprouted - mustards, turnips, chard, brassica mix, arugula, and mesclun mix. Having a fresh source of greens throughout the fall, winter, and early spring is a real treat.
I added some pictures below to share what it currently looks like. Notice how few weeds are in the garden. I haven't pulled a weed in weeks - honestly.
Here soon I will start pushing mulch back around the larger transplants (kale, cabbage, etc.) I am waiting to make sure they are established. The mulch provides cover for pests like slugs and pill bugs. So keeping it away until vulnerable seedlings are established has worked well for me.
From top to bottom, left to right: cabbage, kale (Lacinato), Brussel sprouts (with a rogue cabbage, see it?) and broccoli. Bottom right are five rows of arugula. in between is a mix called "Elegance" from Johnny seeds. It has sprouted, just hard to see.
Georgia Collards. A must-have for any southern fall/winter garden. A nutritious, hardy plant.
Sugar snap peas. I'm concerned I'm not going to get much from them this year. I planted them late. I made notes in our seasonal guide and will adjust accordingly next year! I'll keep you updated.
An artsy shot of our turnip greens. Another southern staple.