Garden Wars!!! (Week 6)

Here we are, at the halfway point in an epic battle determining which of three men has the greenest thumb. Last week, Ryan Smartt left with a solid victory (with the help of a certain canine friend), but whose greens will reign supreme in this, the sixth battle of Garden Wars?

June 30, 2010; 6:00 AM • by RVANews staff

Obligatory explanation of this Richmond Internet Juggernaut:

John Sarvay (of Floricane and Buttermilk & Molasses), Ryan Smartt (of ConnectRichmond), and Scott Pharr (of PharrOut and RVANews) face off each week as they showcase images of their agricultural efforts, complete with clever(ish) captions. Then you, the readers, decide who wins. Whoever has won the most number of weeks out of the three-month run of this series will be treated to a meal by the losers.

Our current standings are:
Sarvay: 1
Pharr: 2
Smartt: 2

Garden Wars, Week 6, begin!

Sarvay

Dinner this week included kale, carrots, and green beans from our garden. The beans were steamed. We sauteed the kale and carrots with some garlic, and then put it on some polenta cakes.

We picked our first Sungold tomatoes this week, and Thea spent the weekend walking around with her new toys. She tasted them twice, screwing her face up and saying “Yucky!” both times. (Not pictured: A ridiculous harvest of beans, kale and chard. And our first two cucumbers, which Thea devoured before I could get a photo.)

The gardener’s unmentionables. Take 10 hours of direct sun, plenty of watering and a busy work schedule, and you’ve got a recipe for a good crop of weeds! I loaded a full wheelbarrow Sunday morning, and only made it through a third of the garden.

Pharr

Now scared about Sarvay stealing my tomatoes as his own, I’ve had to hire security for safety.

First pepper of the season! Wasn’t sure if it was hot or not, but thankfully after making Kyla eat it, it was just a banana pepper. (Jk, people.)

Although our squash has slowed down we are starting to pull off 3-5 cukes every week now!

Smartt

There’s a reason you plant mint in a pot: IT WILL OVERTAKE YOUR ENTIRE YARD.

Our first batch of Early Girl Tomatoes came early this year. Now they’re all lined up, ready to be sliced, diced, and pureed.

Lyla is so proud of her first harvest. She helped me pick more tomatoes, hot peppers, REALLY hot peppers, and that cucumber we’ve been watching for weeks. I suspect a really spicy gazpacho is in our future.

Now it’s up to you, readers. Cast your vote in the comments and help us decide WHOSE GREENS REIGN SUPREME (for this week anyway)…