August gardening tips: The holidays
Rooftop gardening
August 29, 2011
During the summer the plants grown in containers need to be watered more often than those in the garden, and leave the plants during the holidays can be a problem... this is an easy and cheap trick.
 Set aside a sufficient number of plastic bottles.
Water the plants, dig a small depression in each container and put a bottle full of water in it, uncorked and upside down.
Pull off the dirt to the bottle neck to stabilize it.
Depending on weather conditions, the plant will be watered for several days.
Remember also to harvest everything that you can: plants will be less stressed and will require less water.
Every year I spend a few days before my holidays to harvest and store, but this year I find out...
Etna has erupted a large quantity of volcanic ash. Plants, rooftops and balconies are covered with this black sand.
I spent the morning to clean it and I had filled a 20 liters bucket with it!
 Some harvest pictures: sorrel and rainbow chards, peppers and tomatoes.
 The eggplant harvest: Red from Rotonda, Listada de Gambia, the sweet de Almagro.
 Two Black Aztec Corn ears, a parsnip, two kiwano (african cucumber), one mini pumpkin.
 The mini pumpkin Jack be Little: weighs 80g and has very sweet flesh, delicious to fry.
The flowers can be harvested and consumed as zucchini flowers, fried in batter or added to omelets.
 I tried to grow Black Aztec Corn in the containers but the ears had only a few kernels each.
Fortunately, the plants grown in the ground by my father gave better results.
I will not give up: next year I'll try the mini corn.
 Chili peppers: some unripe Bishop's Hat, Hot Jim, Numex Suave Orange, two big Round of Hungary used in this recipe, green Shishito.
I also harvested many aromatic herbs and some white mint for the Mint Sun Tea.
 This harvest waited me after the holidays: Aji Amarillo, Sweet Chocolate bell peppers, Jalapenona, Lemon Plum tomatoes and Cherry Black tomatoes.
Tomatoes, kiwano, mini pumpkin, bell peppers, parsnip: 725g
Aubergines: 775g
Chilies: 330g
Sorrel and chards: 70g
Total 1900g (about 4 pounds)
...furthermore, a bucket full of volcanic ash!
This harvest joins to Harvest Mondays.
 Two years ago:
Cucumber, herbs and poppy seeds salad
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