Beetles, Corn Stalks and ATTACK OF THE KILLER JULIET TOMATOES!!!

The victory garden is home to many creatures from super tiny organisms to the size of you or I.  While getting ready for work, my father called out from the backyard.  He wanted me to visit the victory garden with the camera.  I walked out to the garden, my father pointed to the ground, and there were two Fig beetles mating in the victory garden.  By the time I arrived the beetles were post-coitus but I could still see they were "connected." 

My father and I have also seen lots of larva in the compost.  We often find large fat grubs in the compost too.  We throw them into the main garden and they bury themselves into the ground.  However, some do get eaten by the many feathers in the area.

Larva in compost

With animals comes the corn.  I recently realized the dual function of planting corn.  First, the stalks produce ears of sweet yummy corn.  Second, they are also home to many animals in the garden.  However, these are temporary shelters and the fall skies has brought corn production to a halt.  So now is the time to say goodbye to the temporary stalk shelters with a simple cut, chip and compost.  Many of the stalks were still green when I cut down the seven rows of corn.  I laid all of the stalks against the fence to dry out.  From experience, my father mentioned that green stalks get caught up in our chipper.  Additionally, it would take more time to clean out the green stalks from a chipper then it would to chip up an entire pile of dried stalks.  After a few days of baking in the sun, I noticed most of the stalks were turning brown.  By this weekend I will have all of the corn stalks chipped and ready for use in the compost or as mulch.  Either way it breaks down and help with maintaining weeds during the winter or keeping roots warm on cold nights.

HOLY SPICY JALAPENO!  THE TOMATO INVASION IS BACK!  We did not think it was possible and truly believed the tomato invasion had been wiped clean from the victory garden this season.  However, one plant tricked us all and grew into the largest growing and producing plant in the victory garden.

My family and I have filled bowls of inch long grape sized tomatoes produce by the Juliet tomato plant.  The plant stood three inches when transplanted into the victory garden.  Now the plant hangs over the fence into our neighbor's backyard.  I believe this size plant could feed up to four families, at least.  If my calculations are correct, each family would receive a huge bowl of tomatoes each month.  The Juliet tomato plant has produced over 200 tomatoes and is currently in the continual harvest phase.  In other words, the plant is producing ripe fruit that needs to be harvested every few days.  

Juliet tomatoes and radish from the Morrison Victory Garden!

The tomatoes are so sweet and taste tarty when eaten green.  We eat the ripe dark-red tomtoes like cherries.  Just pop them in our mouths and chew.  Mmmmmm!  But the challenge with having a large producing plant is the harvesting, preparation, and cooking times.  I spend about 20 minutes picking tomatoes each time I harvest the plant.  It takes this long or sometimes longer because the branches of the plant have grown into, around, and in between each other.  I would have to lift up a limb of the tomato tree, push various branches aside when trying to grab a handful of overly ripe tomatoes near the trunk.

Juliet Tomato plant - May 2011

Juliet Tomato plant - Sept. 28, 2011

In previous years, our tomato plants have grown so big that we cut water to the plants all together... and they still produce and grow huge amounts of tomatoes.  Our climate and the location of the plants makes all of the difference.  Tomatoes just love the victory garden.  We love them too just as long as the invasion does not knock out any of the other veggie contenders in the garden.