Friday, July 26, 2013

Nature's Trellis





I went positively bonkers on Sunflower planting this year. As I was putting in the garden I transplanted every Sunflower sprout I found and most of those turned into somekind of mutant Sunflower plants. Especially the ones that weren't nipped off by the rabbits earlier this Spring. I also planted four long rows of Sunflowers from six different varieties of packets I bought this Spring. I figured I was going to give the bees some thing to forage on if we had another drought and they do like Sunflowers.

Now I won't say they are big but I had a guy named Jack here this afternoon after the rains stopped asking if he could climb one and if I had noticed any tall guys walking around in my fields. Seriously there are two or three of these Sunflowers that are at least 15 foot tall if not more. The really big monster one hasn't even bloomed yet and it's main stalk is bigger around than my forearm.

The cucumbers and melons have discovered these massive giants as well. The lemon cucumber vines latched on to one and began climbing and using it as a trellis. It's amazing and ya know I never thought of it before but it would in fact make a good trellis if you didn't have one of your own handy.

All you have to do is get the Sunflowers in early. They grow fast and will start around here a month or so before the melons and cucumbers anyway. By the time the cucumbers start really climbing, the Sunflowers would be huge and the branches make the perfect climbing steps. As I said the lemon cucumbers took off up one of these massive giants all on their own.

Of course there is one problem I noticed this evening. I got a baby cucumber growing almost 12 foot up in the air.

Guess I need to take the step ladder out there when it get's ripe. :)

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!


10 comments:

  1. I have ivy vines that grow up the trees here. They aren't kudzu but they are just about as desirable. I have to take pruning sheers and go cut them off the trees every summer.

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    1. Kudzu is edible. An excellent survival plant. There is the possibility that your near-Kudzu is edible.

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    2. We rarely see any Kudzu up here but my ex planted some ivy about 20 years ago that tries to take over the trees all the time.

      I have it mostly under control but there is this one old box elder that I let it go crazy on because the old tree is so ugly it is an actual improvement :)

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  2. You have a humdinger of a green thumb. Keep your eyes open for gold coins on the ground in case Jack drops a few. And to think you thought ahead to the bees needs if there's a drought. Not to mention everything else you do for the cats, kittens, dogs, friends, neighbors etc. We need more people like you. I'll quit before you blush : )

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    1. eileen - LOL the latest operation is a success and the mommy cat is now convalescing in a cage in the barn. She was actually pregnant again but not so far along that the vet charged extra or refused to fix her.

      The last three kittens are making themselves right at home. As soon as they are old enough they are getting fixed as well.

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  3. Sunflowers are one of my most favorite. Its so fun watching them grow and see how big they will get. Watch out for Jack and the Giants.....I hear they pack a whollop!

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    1. JuGM - Your honey bottle is setting here on my desk, boxed up and ready. I plan on driving into the local PO Monday and getting it mailed.

      I wonder how a giant would fair against a semi-auto 5.56?

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    2. I cant wait to get it...i got biscuits and corn bread waiting.. oh and a 6 and 7 year old.
      I am sure a giant would not fair well against 5.56

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  4. We have had a number of volunteer Sunflower plants that are bird feeder derived over the years, but fifteen foot? Wow!

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    1. Russ - Ya I don't know if it was the barn mulch I used or what. I have never seen our sunflowers get this large. Maybe it got cross bred so has the hybrid first generation hugeness or something. Seriously I am not embellishing either it is at least 15 foot tall and the trunk is as big around as my arm.... HUGE.

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