Running Out of Time

The rains have been few and far between this summer.  Shrubs and trees have died in the yard.  It has been an unusual time, to say the least.  We started four different varieties of pumpkins back on July 4th.  After watering them every day for a month and a half, the pumpkins at first gave a valiant effort.  One by one they wilted, drooped, waved a white flag and slumped into the mulch.

The fall garden deadlines to get the seeds planted are quickly arriving.  Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower had to be planted by September 1.  I think I was five days late.  Here we are.  As soon as they have their first true leaves, I'll transplant into bigger pots and water with some diluted fish emulsion to get them jump started.

Next, I focused on snap beans.  We just love snap beans.  They must be planted by September 10th.  We usually try plant so that we pick the first fresh snap beans on Thanksgiving morning.  We pick them whole and arrange them in bundles, wrapping them in bacon, putting a pat of butter on top and then topping with some brown sugar.  Bake them in the oven and you've got a beautiful and delicious side dish fresh from the garden.  (Of course you wrap most anything with bacon and it would be good.)

The problem is, the snap beans have to be direct seeded into the rows.  With no rain, and us being with Benjamin in the hospital.  That's risky.  Would the snap beans suffer the same fate as the pumpkins.  Well, we've been praying for rain.  I was thinking about holding off planting UNTIL we got rain, but what kind of faith is that?  We prayed for rain and I planted.  Looking back, I should have planted with an umbrella in my hand.  We were running out of time, but we got two rows of snap beans planted.

After planting, I watered them in with a hose.  I did the same the next day, too.  And the next.  And the next after that.

Pretty soon...  You see the little sprout pushing the soil upward.  Once I had sprouts, I'd water in the morning AND the evening.  I'm planting into homemade compost.  It is full of organic matter, but it dries out quickly.

The seedling struggles to push the soil out of the way, arching its "back," with its cotyledon visible.

The soft, early morning sun coaxes the first leaves to emerge, bright and green.  The seed coat holds loosely to the leaves before dropping off.  The stem, once hunch-backed, is erect and ready to thrust itself upward.  If we could see beneath the soil, we'd see a developing root system, stretching out in the ground.  I've layered some composted chicken litter a couple inches below.  Once those roots hit that, they'll jump out of the ground and the leaves will turn so green, they'll almost be blue!

The new leaves will soon open and will seek the warm of the sun.  The wonder of photosynthesis will begin to occur and continued growth will happen.

If growing conditions cooperate, the little plants will flourish and will put out blooms that will be visited by our honeybees.  Those blooms will yield fresh snap beans.

And those snap beans will make a great side dish for Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving will be extra special this year.  We have A LOT to be thankful for!  Thank you Lord for your blessings on me and my family!