09-05-2024 Garden Article

9.8.24 WCHI Garden    Written by Gwen Herzog, Pantry Garden Chair
 
 
To say the least, August has been a productive month at the Pantry Garden.  Despite the on-going issues of our eggplants being eaten, we were able to harvest 220 lbs. of peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, watermelon, corn, and herbs.  The storms brought enough rain to fill our water tank; however, the strong winds uprooted our sunflowers which had stood approximately 12 feet high. 
 
Tom’s crop of bi-color sweet corn started to be eaten by groundhogs, or so we thought.  We found ears that were picked, the husks peeled back, and every kernel of corn completely eaten from each cob.  Empty cobs were strewn about the corn bed and surrounding grass making it look like someone didn’t clean up after a picnic.  The only thing that could not be determined from the empty cobs was whether the culprits ate the corn going across or around.  We subsequently learned that our corn was not being eaten by groundhogs, but by raccoons!  To keep from losing the entire crop, Tom ended up picking the remaining corn about a week earlier than planned.  The 76 lbs. of corn were picked and distributed August 8th.
 
We harvested 6 watermelons in August which accounted for just under 72 lbs. of our total harvest weight.  We have one watermelon remaining in the garden that will be picked before our September distribution.
 
Upon doing more research, we have learned that the culprits eating our eggplants are also not groundhogs, but more likely raccoons.  We have had two rounds of eggplants eaten so far, but the third round has started to grow and there are a few that are getting some size.  On our work night August 27th, we enclosed the plants with some mesh deer fence that was left over from our “save the pepper plants from the finches” project.  This time, we tacked down the fence to the ground and we will open the top when it is time to harvest.  Fingers crossed!!
 
Our winter squash is growing like gangbusters!  We have two shapes of squash growing in one of our larger beds.  On her next visit, Hannah from The Seed Farm will advise us on the proper time to harvest. 
 
After recovering from the finch damage, our peppers that survived completely bounced back.  We picked about 10 lbs. on August 6th and over 30 lbs. on August 13th.  We look forward to picking more peppers for our September and October distributions.
 
The tomatoes continue to ripen slowly.  Unfortunately, some have been snacked on by our groundhog friends; however, we have been able to pick and share a few at our community meals and at August distribution.
 
On our work night August 20th, we picked the last of our zucchini and pulled the plants.  On our work night August 27th, the empty beds were rototilled and replanted with lettuce and chard provided to us by The Seed Farm.  We have plans for Tuesday, September 3rd to plant brassicas in the former corn bed.  Hannah will be bringing the plants and will help us get them into the ground.  In my October article I will update you on exactly what we planted.
 
Did you know that WCHI is a Lehigh Valley Plant-A-Row drop off location?  Extra fruits and vegetables you grow may be left on the table in the foyer at Re/Max Unlimited, 1080 Schadt Avenue, Whitehall, M-F 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  All produce will be distributed at our WCHI Pantry and free community meals or shared with other pantries in the Lehigh Valley.  Nothing will go to waste.  So far this summer our local gardeners have donated over 170 lbs. of fresh produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, herbs, and sweet corn.  Thank you for your generous donations!
 
Happy September!