Thursday, July 18, 2013

Summer in Full Swing and a Perfect Late Summer Plant


The garden has been very unpredictable this year. I am finally getting some tomatoes. I even heard on the news that there is a tomato shortage.

One crop I am trying to keep in successive planting is beets. We love to roast them with olive oil and other root veggies. Here we have them with carrots and sweet potatoes. For summer we wrap them in foil packets with olive oil and salt and do them on the barbecue.


If you are looking for great late summer plants you can't beat coleus. I buy one six pack each summer and snip off branches and put in water to root. I just then plug them into pots or the garden.


They are gorgeous summer into fall plants. They will grow in shade and in some sun. Look great in bouquets too.


This plant was started from two rooted cuttings. You can see more of my coleus here.


As the heat climbs I am forced indoors. I just want to be outside but the laundry calls me too and other housekeeping chores.


9 comments:

  1. My tomatoes are abundant, but small this year.
    I have never grown beets, and will put them in next time. I have not grown that plant you mention, but I do root things this way before planting.
    I know we are still facing those dog days of summer, but this morning, it almost feels Fall like!!!
    Hope to see you soon.
    XO Kris

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh ... I want some of that coleus! I think I'll see if I can find some!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I planted the Coleus but it was eaten by the grasshoppers.
    They only think they don't seem to be eating is my TOMATOES... I wrote about my garden yesterday...and how we are still getting some blooms. We've had some unseasonably cool temps and rain everyday this week...so hoping those blooms will work into wonderful tomatoes.
    Love 'em.
    Beets are easy to grow...we had some the year before last...I forgot about them this year and didn't plant any...I wonder if I planted them now If I'd get some for fall.
    Hoping to have a fall garden this year. didn't do that last year either.
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  4. First year in a long time that I've not had a garden, I miss the produce! Spending a fortune at farmers market too!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mmmm...those fresh veggies look good. That's a pretty coleus. And, that's a cute way to store clean kitchen towels. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I bought 4 tomato plants earlier this year and never got to plant them for the ground hog problem. I paid $8 for 3 Tennessee tomatoes weeks ago, that price was terrible, especially when we have always had a garden with enough tomatoes to share with family and friends. Now that my husband is gone there is no garden. I just don't have time for it and yard work, but like I said, the ground hogs took care of even my planting a few plants to enjoy. Because of them I have loads of dirt to wheel barrel around to fill in the holes they left behind. It is so hot here these past several days, no one is venturing out unless it is absolutely necessary. Cooler weather is in the forecast but not without rain first, and so that probably means thunderstorms and tornado watches....good grief!
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love fresh beets - we haven't grown them for years tho.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My tomatoes are just starting to ripen here. Hubby loves beets but I hate them - so I don't grow them or cook them, lol.

    Your coleus plants are doing wonderful; didn't realize that they tolerate the heat like that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your plants their gorgeous.

    Hugs,

    Valerie
    Cottage Making Mommy
    www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete