24 September 2007 Knee Pads with Flexible Joint.

http://oumai.notlong.com/ 24 September 2007 Knee Pads with Flexible Joint.

These Knee Pads don't slip down the leg in use, and basically stay in place when getting up and down. The flexible joint is the key to not slipping down the leg.They cost about $25.00 and are practicable and useful for gardening, and any other vocation requiring the wearer to kneel. The padding is sufficient for any rough surface. I usually put them on when working in the garden and it is a joy to kneel down when required. These pads button on with a simple elastic strap. Dont' leave home with out a pair.

The common type usually available in stores is for all practical purposes is difficult to use, since they do not stay in place, when getting down and up and walking around. The common variety without the flexible joint costs about $7.00.

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14 September 2007 Cherry Tomato Sweet Million

http://uixef.notlong.com/ 14 September 2007 Cherry Tomato Sweet Million. (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Different varieties of cherry tomato has been grown over several years. The only one that has merit in my opinion is the Sweet Million. The fruit has a perfect size and the taste is most pleasing all season. These pictures depict one plant which is grown on a trellis alongside the deck, shared with the Morning Glories. We pick the fruit as required and partake almost daily. The plant produces from about 15 July until the frost arrives. The quantity of fruit is far more than the requirements for one family. Everyone, who has eaten this tomato, in my experience has positive, complementary comments.

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14 September 2007 Late Season Raspberries

14 September 2007 Late Season Raspberries.
http://biida.notlong.com/ This is the second year for these six plants. The fruit is born on new growth each year. In the late fall the bushes are cut back to ground level. A bowl full of fruit is picked daily, and the harvest started five days ago. The berries are full flavoured and as delicious as they appear in the photographs.

http://eedat.notlong.com 28 September 2007 The raspberries are still producing. The quantity is about a litre every other day from my small patch.


There is an early raspberry variety in the garden, which bears fruit on last year's growth, so the bearing canes are removed immediately after the berry harvest is complete.

It is important to differentiate between the two varieties or one might end up with no fruit the following year.

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14 September 2007 Loofah for Sponges.

http://kazei.notlong.com/ 14 September 2007 Luffa aegyptiaca Common Names: loofah, luffa, smooth loofah, sponge gourd, vegetable spongeFamily: Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin Family).

There are two trellis's in the garden, with a total of 12 large fruiting bodies on four plants. Sponges will be made when the fruit turns yellow and are dry. These plants require a growing season of about six or more months, so I start them in the greenhouse in February. The mesh size of the trellis is 6 inches, so the size of the fruiting body can be determined approximately from viewing the photographs. I still have sponges from two years ago. Apparently the fruit can be cooked and eaten, but I have never tried them.

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1 September 2007 Japanese Beetle on Grape Vine

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?VOHHV Beetle on Grape Vine. Japanese Beetle Pest. (Popillia japonica)

There are three grape vines on the adjacent support which is 24 feet long. This pest was found on the Boco Noir vine. The Sovereign Coronation and Concord were not attacked. This is probably a coincidence. I found about 25 pests eating the leaves. I physically removed them and sprayed them with malathion-about the only insecticide I have available. They didn't die immediately and showed no undue signs of stress so I squashed them. Only the Concord Vine is producing fruit this year- second year.

Up to this time I assumed the Japanese Beetle only attacked grass. They sure did a number on many leaves of the grape vines.

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?VWZLI URL to more information about this ubiquitous pest.

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1 September 2007 Concord Grapes

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?ZUZWI 1 September 2007 Concord Grapes.

There are four grape vines in the garden. Three are on a two wire support and the other is on a support along the fence. The types are Concord, Sovereign Coronation, Niagara, and Boco Noir. This is my first experience with growing grapes.

The vines were planted in the Spring of 2006 and I only allowed the Concord to produce fruit this year, since it was a large plant when purchased. On the Concord vine there are 16 clusters, and the quality is as good as I have ever tasted. So far I have only picked one cluster.

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