June 25, 2012

Tomatoes Opalka paste (top, bottom); Amish paste (left); and Big Beef (right).

I don't remember needing to can green beans this early last year.  No, I checked; we're a full two weeks ahead of schedule.  Fourteen quarts are put up for winter so far, and that's just the beginning.  We also picked the first vine-ripened tomato - four of them to be exact; and, the first nectarine. 

14 quarts of green beans canned for winter.

The humid days of summer are here where that settled regularity of temperature--low 70 F and high 90 F--and sunny with hit-or-miss afternoon showers forecast makes everything grow with wild abandon in South Carolina.  In June, we love the settled weather; by August, we're itching for a change.  Sweet corn is fully grown and silked out; we are expecting first corn harvest around July 10.

Juicy, home-grown nectarine.

We're really pleased with the progress our pumpkins are making so far.  Vines are stretching out five to seven feet and will begin flowering soon.  We're still hoping for that 100-pounder by September.

Next Monday July 2, we will take a break from blogging to get our hands dirty: look for our next post on July 9. We wish y'all a happy and safe Independence Day USA!

Sweet corn is silked out.