Beets, Carrots and Japanese Beetles

Beets Are Ready

Beets are ready! We’ve had beets with two meals now. The first time I broiled them with crushed garlic and olive oil. The second time Caroline made glazed beets.

We’ve been picking only as many beets as we were ready to eat, in hopes that the remaining beets will grow larger.

Cutting off beet tops

Sweet Carrots!

The carrots are doing very well this year. I think it’s because 1) I tilled the ground as deep as possible and 2) we watered them regularly. Only a few of the carrots have peaked above the soil, so I think they’ll probably keep growing.

Fresh carrots are so much sweeter and good smelling than store bought carrots, the kids love them.

Calvin cutting off carrot tips

Evil Japanese Beetles

Japanese beetles have been attacking some of my plants. They’ve done minor damage do our wild strawberries, but what they seem to like best is the Catawba grape plant. They have left the Concord and Valiant grapes nearly untouched.

Here’s one of the worst Catawba leaves.

Leaf Skeletonized By Japanese Beetles

The presence of Leaf Galls seems to indicate that we’ve got Phylloxera too.

Leaf Galls

Between the Phylloxera, Japanese Beetles and black rot I feel very fortunate to be able to post a picture like this.

Small bunch of ripening grapes

They’re not ripe yet, but they’re getting close. They’re sweet enough to eat if you don’t mind puckering up a little bit. I suspect they’ll be better next week.

Happy Gardening!