Vertical Gardening on Saint George Court, Warwick, RI Reaches New Heights!

Amazing things are happening in the gardens on Saint George Court. Butternut squash was planted at the base of the grape arbor, as it was last year. The location produced about a hundred pounds of butternut that lasted until the next spring and we knew that we would replant there again. With just one catch...

The squash would go vertical.

Instead of creeping and climbing like an octopus with fifteen foot long arms I would train it to climb up the arbor towards the canopy of grapes overhead. With a bit of garden wire the butternut vines have been lifted and teased into the strong trunks of the grapes.

In this photo to the right you see butternut squash approximately two months in the ground. It has been gradually trained up the trunks of the grape vines forming a weave of squash blossoms.

The baby squash are peeking out of the vines everywhere!

Squash on the Vine - When Do You Harvest Your Crop? Saint George Court, Warwick, RI

If you've been reading me all summer then you know that I planted some butternut squash in the garden. Two on trellises, one in a patch near the cucumbers and several up and over the grape arbors.

For weeks now curious family members and spectators have said, "Your squash is ready." and I say      "No. Be patient. You have to wait until the stems turn brown".

When a squash grows in the wild there is no one
there to pick it. When does it fall from the vine?
When the vegetable matures and the stem withers. Turning brown indicates there is no nourishment passing through the plant to the squash.

The large squash to the left is a perfect example. Shown here hanging from the arbor, it has been looking large and fine for months.
But not ready til this week.

Notice how dry and brown the stem has turned?
You can't see it but it actually has a crackle to it.

Look at the additional photo below,
the withering vines seem too dry to do anything.

But it is all part of the process
and picking too soon will only yield
under-ripe, overly-wet produce.

Governor Francis Farms Gardens Grow Bigger and Better Saint George Court, Warwick, RI

Seriously? I never expected my tomatoes to outgrow this years' innovative new stake system. With about six and a half feet of stake above ground I thought that my tomatoes would never make it to the top. Instead I find myself at the end of the pole, literally.

As you can see here the Costoluto Genovese tomatoes, near the cucumbers at the right rear,  and the Yellow Pear tomatoes, at the forward end, have reached the top of their stakes.

We measured today and have recorded SEVEN feet and four inches! HOLY TOMATO!

Let me give you a few points of reference. The eggplant in the front, left corner is about 34".
And the frame of the raised bed, by the cobblestone pavers is close to a foot, at 10".

Do the deductive reasoning.

The cucumbers at the other end of the beds were planted in boxed cages. There are nine of them total and we have picked about a dozen cukes so far. Check the Food for Thought blog soon for ways to use cucumbers!

Eggplant progress is much better this week. There are five trees and each one has some heavy produce setting up.

Saint George Court Warwick, RI - Governor Francis Farms The Italian Tomatoes Top Six Feet Tall!

We planted nine tomato plants in our raised beds. Additionally there are four more nearby including some Black Cherries. Of the nine there are two San Marzano, two Black Krim, two Costoluto Genovese, one Lemon Boy, one Yellow Pear and one Early Girl. Below you see the baby Yellow Pears forming a string on one of many stems.

This past week the C.Genovese had climbed past the six-foot mark to
six feet and nine inches, and was still growing; to where though? These Italian heirlooms were purchased from Williams-Sonoma with the Black Krim and San Marzano. And while both of those are at a strong five feet tall, they somehow seem dwarfed next to their
leggy cousins.

Elsewhere in the garden there are just about a million cucumbers growing on the nine caged vines. Some are ready to pick today.


by Linda Maintanis

Saint George Court Gardens Bursting With Promise Governor Francis Farms, Warwick, RI

The gardens at Saint George Court are growing faster than Jack's beanstalk. This past week the deluge of rain showers finally cleared and led to a small drying spell to help out the drainage.
                                                                                                

The Farmer D raised garden beds
are making gorgeous homes for our
vegetables. The organic cedar is a
strong and sturdy material for the job
and they look great next to the
cobblestone paved sidewalks.

While the peppers, eggplants and
cucumbers build a sturdy frame
and root system, the tomatoes
seem to be working double-time.
The assortment of Black Krim,
San Marzano, Costoluto Genovese,
Yellow Pear, Lemon Drop and
Early Girl tomatoes all have large fruits
set up for an early harvest in July.

Saint George Court, Warwick RI - Governor Francis Farms Soaking Rains Boost Plant Growth

Wild rain storms have soaked our little Saint George Court 

for the past few weeks. 

Over six inches of rain fell in just ten days in 

Governor Francis Farms, Warwick, RI. 

Take a look at the views of our garden and scroll back to a previous post HERE for a look at them on May 23, 2013, just about two weeks ago...

Governor Francis Fig Trees Promise a Bountiful Harvest! Saint George Court, Warwick, RI

I love figs. Fresh figs, just picked, are out of this world.
Soft, sweet and indescribably delicious!
Sprinkled with sugar and crisped with a blowtorch and they are pure heaven!

So it goes without saying that I would grow my own. Anyone who knows me knows that when I hook onto something I really love I learn how to make it, or in this case grow it, for myself. This behavior led me to Roslindale, Massachusetts last April to the Fig Tree shop.

That was about six weeks ago. A couple of hard frosts and heat waves later I decided to check my trees for progress. They have held up quite well. I was lucky enough to have figs already formed on my trees. However, the shock of the transplant caused this first set of fruit to drop. Sad but completely normal.

Yesterday I noticed that my trees were already making new fruits! Here is what it looks like when the baby figs appear.

A Good Beginning to a Bountiful Garden - Saint George Court

My garden project just seems to be hitting snags left and right. The first tray of seedlings that couldn't send up a single sprout.  
Finally I got a half dozen in round two.

Then there was the whole cage vs. stake debate.
The sheer cost of making stainless steel cages in a new design was outrageous. And the time it would take; so, I ended up with one inch stakes, eight feet long, from Lowe's garden center. We'll see.

Then there was the arduous task of hauling the two yards (over 3000 pounds) of soil into location. And lots more compost. Backbreaking but necessary.
Done now though.

 As you can see we've started planting! The garden now holds three pepper, nine cucumber, five eggplant, and eleven tomato plants. Also many herbs such as  basil, cilantro and parsley with a front row  of mixed lettuce to pick while the other vegetables grow larger.

Tamko Roofing Completed Saint George Court, Warwick RI Governor Francis Farms Home Renovation, Linda Maintanis

Finally I can say that there is an end to the noise on the roof! The roofers have spent a total of two weeks on the job, weather allowing most of the time, to complete this mammoth task. Tamko roofing was chosen for material in the color selection Virginia Slate.

As work continued around to the front of the house it became clear that this job was going to go like clockwork. One ridge vent after another was cut into this challenging roof. Residents of Saint George Court take curious walks by to catch glimpses of the change.

Rounding to the back of our house you can see the challenging heights and angles of the roof. The last day brought the roofers to the corner by the pond. Again, levels and angles starkly illustrate the scope of this project. Monday starts a new week and our siding crew will make some fun, colorful progress. Be sure to check out the Certainteed siding in the new shade of Seagrass.

by Linda Maintanis

Governor Francis Farms Rose Pond Shows Signs of Pollution Narragansett Bay - Saint George Court, Linda Maintanis

It's a well-known fact that Rose Pond is located at the back of, or south side of Saint George Court.
Many locals tell stories of skating on it when they were grade school age. Now it is located outside my living room window, facing east, the old water tower still stands in a tangle of wild rose vines.
The pond is spring fed; I think that's a good thing to know, that in a pinch you could get your own water...

Last week, Thursday before the storm, I happened to glance over and around the pond, possibly trying to spy a deer or beaver. Instead something jumped out at me. A large mass of slightly flourescent green sludge that appeared to have traveled down the bank  of the pond. Now collected below;
it's sheen was compelling. What could it be?

The pond is a part of a chain of waterways that feed into Narragansett Bay. Located only 1500 feet from the shoreline of the bay, it's fresh water is a tiny tributary that allows wildlife a drinking fountain along it's path. From here the stream winds through Brown's Farm, still owned by a member of the founding families, Henry Brown. At the shore an estuary is formed.

 The Rhode Island DEM was called and are looking into the matter.  Hopefully there will be no long term damage to the delicate system.

Jack Frost Warning Puts Plants on Saint George Court Under Wraps for Cool Protection

A frosty forecast caused homeowners on Saint George Court to bundle up their baby vegetables and flowers last week.
 On May 14 and 15, 2013 a cold front pushed through Governor Frances Farms in Warwick, Rhode Island; Bringing temperatures with it that plummeted into the high 30's, the chill was a serious threat to most gardeners.

I, for one, had a very creative idea to protect the seedlings we were coddling.

These unique bubble-warmers were just the right protection for our baby plants.