Cherry Tomatoes

Chocolate cherry tomatoes on the left, and Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes on the right. They're both good, but definitely different. Less tang in the chocolate version and just like it looks, there are some grape overtones.

Hollyhocks

I planted seeds last fall, and here we go! I hear I will never have to plant them again because they re-seed freely.

Spuds are Normal This Year

Dug up some of the potatoes so my daughter could enter hers in the Western Idaho Fair. They look totally normal this year. It took some extra TLC with our extreme temperatures and dry spell. Last year, we didn't pay close attention and wound up with some multi-spud head specimens.

Sunflowers with Red Eyes

My favorite volunteer sunflower in the garden this year.

Squash Blossoms Dropping With No Fruit?

During my shifts in the Ada County Master Gardener lab this year, there have been many questions about squash plants dropping blossoms without bearing fruit. We have had an unusually hot, dry summer, but the reason is more likely the difference between "boys" and "girls." On the left is a male blossom. A female blossom is on the right. The female blossoms have a bulging at the bottom - that's the possibility of baby fruit. Male blossoms do not produce fruit. There are other difference inside the flower structure, just like human boys and girls ;)

See the male and female cucumber examples below.