Marina di Chioggia winter squash seedlings

Mother Nature is such a crafty bitch. Most of the time she makes me work really hard to get my garden to produce veggies. Then she goes and surprises me, just to make sure I haven't completely lost hope. The monster seedlings pictured above are less than a week old! I just popped some seeds in the ground, and BAM! The promise of such low-maintenance produce makes me happy.

Marina di Chioggia is an Italian heirloom winter squash that produces big green warty fruit. Other experiments in my front yard pumpkin patch are slate blue Jarrahdales, chestnut-flavored Black Futsus, and Greek Sweet Reds. I've also planted a few squash and melons elsewhere, figuring I need to hedge my bets in case the beetles return with a vengeance!

"Cossack Pineapple" ground cherries

The other item I'm excited to watch develop is a "Cossack Pineapple" ground cherry plant. Ground cherries are similar to tomatillos, in that they grow inside a husk, but they're sweet. We got a handful at a friend's CSA last year, and they are yummy! I had the opportunity to grow some myself this year. You can see a handful of little lantern-shaped fruits starting to appear, along with some small flowers that bear the promise of more treats to come.

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