July 8, 2025

Early July in My Vegetable Garden

What a difference a few weeks make. Despite some really hot and humid summer weather, the growing vegetables at my farm are thriving.

I walk through the garden whenever I can. I've been picking artichokes, peas, fava beans, cauliflower, and others. Recently, my daughter also came up to harvest vegetables for her and her children. And, I always plant in succession, meaning I seed crops at intervals of seven to 21 days in order to maintain a consistent supply of harvestable produce throughout the season. It makes me so proud to be able to grow all this nutritious food for my family.

Here are the latest photos of what's growing, enjoy.

July 7, 2025

Staking Tomatoes in the Garden

How are your tomato plants doing? Mine are growing excellently with careful planning and maintenance.

Tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, grow on vines, so it is crucial to provide strong structures to which the vines can cling and climb. Some use pre-made tomato cages. I like to use tall bamboo stakes for supports. Bamboo is attractive, easy to find, and can be reused year after year. I also use natural jute twine to carefully secure the plants to the bamboo canes. Last week, Pete from my outdoor grounds crew, worked hard to put up all the tomato stakes, so the fast-growing vines can stay off the ground as they grow.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

July 4, 2025

Blooming Hydrangeas

Are the hydrangeas blooming where you are? Here at my farm, the hydrangeas are starting to put on quite a show with more blooms showing up every day.

My hydrangea border is located down the carriage road from my hoop houses and across from my chicken coops. It is home to a selection of colorful hydrangeas including mature mopheads transplanted from my former Lily Pond home in East Hampton. I added more hydrangeas in this area last year, planting both white and dark pink varieties. I also have hydrangeas growing around my tennis court, outside my goose and peafowl pens, behind my main greenhouse, and beneath the London plane and Cotinus trees in my middle field. Many of the newer plants are from the First Editions and Endless Summer Collections by Bailey Nurseries.

Here are some photos, enjoy. And have a wonderful July 4th holiday weekend!