Brownwood Community Garden

10/28/2025

This Tromboncino squash is a good substitute for zucchini and fairly vine borer resistant. We will be growing these again next year.

A strong trellis (such as a cattle panel) is definitely needed to support the weight when these are in production.

This squash is 4' 2" long and weighs in at 7 lbs!

10/26/2025

Looking for leaves that are burmuda and herbicide free. Would prefer they be bagged. Thank you!

10/23/2025

We are needing leaves for the garden - they need to be herbicide and Bermuda free. (Preferably bagged) Thanks!

10/08/2025

BROWNWOOD COMMUNITY GARDEN OPERATIONS REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2025

Pantry Production - 617.0 lbs.
Private Production - 259.5 lbs.
Total Production - 876.5 lbs.
Total Yearly Production - 6461.75
Number of volunteers - 7
Volunteer hours - 295.3

Fall, it’s officially here, but summery days are holding on as they so often do. Fortunately the nights are a bit more comfortable and fall like. Most of the vegetables seem happy with the cooler evenings which then lead to cooler mornings which lead to happier volunteers and gardeners. But the okra does not agree with the rest of the produce on this cooldown and is showing its displeasure by putting the brakes slightly on production. Aphids, a common garden pest, have recently joined our other enemies (vine borers , squash bugs, and cucumber beetles) which we are working to keep under control. It’s not a perfect world, but for the most part, life at Brownwood Community Garden is going well.
Not a lot of changes in what we’re growing here this month. We still have summer veggies trying to hold on while fighting off one pest or another. Some are succeeding, but a few have or are about to give up the fight. Peppers are quite happy for now. They always seem to perk up a bit in the fall as the temperatures cool. Both the bells and jalapeños are looking good, but for some reason, the poblanos just don’t want to join the group and get big like they typically do when the weather cools down. Sometimes plants are just so hard to figure out. One year a certain plant is a champion. The next year it bombs. Very perplexing.
A few tomatoes are still ripening (very few), and we’re doing everything we can to get them to put on new blossoms and tomatoes for a substantial fall harvest- removing brown foliage and applying soil drenches every other week (worm tea, horticultural molasses, neem oil, etc.) to keep the plants strong until cold temperatures take them out.
As was mentioned earlier, the okra is refusing to grow at the same rate as it was before. It likes both the days and nights to be uncomfortably warm, sweat dripping off your brow by sunrise type of warm. We still have lots of blossoms for now, but the okra is slower to ripen.
The luffa is actually our surprisingly abundant producer at this point. We harvest three times per week and have harvested up to 20 of these immature, edible vegetables in a single day, and that’s from just two plants. Those that we happen to overlook before they became fibrous will be allowed to grow to maturity. We really don’t have much choice as they are too fibrous to eat. At this stage, they will be peeled and given out to be used as sponges. So far our worst garden enemies (vine borers, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles) have not attacked the luffa plant like our other vining plants. We hope and pray they don’t suddenly develop a taste for this plant. We’d like to be able to say we finally outsmarted a few of our worst garden pests by growing something they won’t destroy. So far, so good.
Our last round of summer squash is producing, although somewhat slowly. This fall we decided to cover the plants with row covers and then hand pollinate, again in an effort to outsmart the vine borers. So far the plants are doing ok, but on occasion we still see a pest or two under the row cover or waiting on the outside-waiting for us to uncover the plants to harvest or hand pollinate so they can dash in to do their damage. They are so skilled at finding a way to get under the row cover. They have mastered the art of getting to the plants we are trying so desperately to keep them away from. How can a bug with such a little brain be so clever?
The fall cucumbers are just beginning to bloom, and here again we could be fighting what seems like a losing battle at times. Hopefully this won’t be one of those times. What we suspect to be infected cucumber beetles can (and often do) pass bacterial wilt on to the plants, killing them in just a matter of days. It seems as if we get just a few cucumbers before we start noticing the gradual wilting of the vine. Once infected there is no cure, and the plant eventually dies. Aphids have also made an appearance lately as they did this time last year. We have to stay on guard and deal quickly with them as they multiply incredibly fast. We’re still hoping to win THIS battle and get enough cucumbers to Salvation Army for them to make some of their tomato/cucumber salad before gardening comes to an end for us this year.
For those who believe all you have to do to have a productive garden is to put a seed in the ground, cover it with soil, and walk away, well I don’t believe that person has actually been a gardener. It’s a lot of work both above and below the soil. Over three tons of fresh produce have gone out into the community from this small piece of land, but it took the help of many people working together to make it happen. Given some of the working conditions (blazing summer heat and frigid winter temperatures), I believe that’s what is called a “ labor of love” coming from the people involved with this garden going to those in this community that could use a little help.

09/04/2025

https://www.brownwoodnews.com/2025/09/03/brownwood-community-garden-report-for-august-2025/

Article by Jan Green As we tear off another month on the calendar, we are hearing promises of cooler, more fall-like temperatures ahead. Then that changed to a forecast of temperatures near 100°. So typical, summer not

08/07/2025

BROWNWOOD COMMUNITY GARDEN OPERATIONS REPORT
July 2025

Just when you think you’re beginning to get it all figured out, you realize you have a whole lot more to learn. The early part of the month brought mild temperatures and an abundance of rain. Sounds perfect. Right? So, what we were expecting for the month of July and the actual outcome are not matching up, at least when it comes to our overall harvest, a little over 1000 pounds. I blame the cucumbers! Sadly, the summer crop of our former garden hero let us down.
Don’t get me wrong. We’ve been able to donate hundreds of pounds of tomatoes for which we are thankful. The determinate variety we planted this year, Early Girl Bush, did not disappoint-not in the least. Tomatoes were plentiful in June, but those are mostly gone now as the indeterminate varieties are taking their place, but not nearly at the same rate. Purple Boy tomatoes, a new variety for us last year, have not disappointed again this year. We like to experiment a bit with different varieties, and sometimes we are pleasantly pleased but sometimes not. Maybe the plant we chose does well elsewhere but just not here in our part of Texas. We recently removed a bed of tomatoes we were trying that fell into that category- low production and downright ugly, and we had such high hopes for them. Supposedly “Radiator Charlie”, an auto mechanic, developed a tomato in the 1930s and in just a few years sold enough plants to pay off his mortgage, which is how it got its name-Mortgage Lifter. Interesting story, but they must have grown better in West Virginia where they originated than they did for us, or maybe it was just an off year. They will not be making the cut for next year.
Peppers have done ok, with jalapeños being the most productive (as always), but we have yet to find the perfect bell pepper. The four varieties we are currently growing are struggling with leaf loss. The season started off very promising with big beautiful bells that we were so proud to say were grown in our garden. Then came the rains, and there was a turn for the worse, even though we sprayed with an organic fungicide. Leaves are dropping daily, and it seems as if the plant’s energy goes to replacing those leaves instead of growing bell peppers. The plants are looking better now that the rainy days are behind us, and we’re hoping soon we’ll see one big beautiful bell after another.
That brings us to the cucumbers. Our first planting did well. Suyo Long was a new variety for us this year, and we will grow it again next year- a bitterless, heat resistant cucumber. We were looking for a bitterless cucumber that could take the summer heat but wouldn’t be monstrous like the Armenian cucumbers. We felt smaller cucumbers would be a better fit for donating to Good Samaritan. When this crop came to an end, we switched to Armenian, a fabulous producer for several years now, but these struggled and were reluctantly removed. They love the heat, so we can’t blame that. We suspect bacterial wilt due to infected cucumber beetles but aren’t absolutely certain. It’s so disappointing to not have a summer crop of those cucumbers, but we will soon try planting another variety which is resistant to bacterial wilt in hopes of getting a fall crop. By the way, it’s time to plant if you want crops like beans, squash, or cucumbers in your fall garden. As unpleasant as this may sound given the heat, these crops may not have time to ripen if planting is delayed while waiting for more desirable conditions.
The okra is just now starting to produce, a bit later than normal. They are loving the Texas sun, unlike some of us working out in the garden. No sunscreen, garden hats, or umbrellas for them. They’ll take that sun full strength with no complaints.
We have had fun with some unusual vegetables this year. Tromboncino squash which is somewhat resistant to vine borers and squash bugs (a big plus for us) has been one of those. Harvested early, they can be used like zucchini, although firmer and larger, ours growing to about 18” to 24”. They go to Salvation Army where those preparing the meals seemed up to the challenge when faced with learning how to cook this vegetable they had not seen or heard of before. Luffa has recently started to ripen, and some of our volunteers are expanding their cooking skills as well with the immature gourds. Those we miss while harvesting become spongy and inedible. These will be allowed to grow into sponges to be used in the kitchen, bath, or elsewhere. Finally, we are pleased that our fig trees made a comeback after a year of almost no edible production.
Every year brings challenges. Earlier this year, a cold front at just the wrong time wiped out our plum harvest and now the cucumbers that didn’t make it. Cucumber beetles, vine borers, squash bugs and nematode have all paid us a visit again this year. We’re getting to know them pretty well, but I definitely would not consider us friends. In our dream world, they would be allowed to visit the garden “by invitation only”. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that world.
As we look ahead, realizing fall is right around the corner, we are planting a few squash and cucumbers and hoping the tomatoes we planted a month ago (from suckers taken off of tomato plants already in production) will provide us with even more of those juicy treats. For now this garden still has more produce to grow, more people to feed, and the cucumbers still have time to redeem themselves before gardening comes to an end for us, giving the land time to rest and rejuvenate before it all starts again. Its work will be done for this year.

08/06/2025

Some of our little visitors in the butterfly beds. (These were taken by one of our gardeners.)

07/25/2025

Here are some of the more unusual vegetables growing at the community garden - eggplant, bitter melon, and luffa. Some of our gardeners from the Philippines introduced us to the last two: bitter melon (It’s name accurately describes how it tastes) and luffa, which can be eaten when young or used as a sponge when it matures.

07/16/2025

The tomatoes are happy the rain has stopped for now(too much of a good thing), but the eggplants, grown by one of our gardeners, seem to be thriving with all this moisture.

07/10/2025

June Operations Report

Pantry Production-1227.0 lbs.
Private Production- 206.75 lbs.
Total Production-1433.75 lbs.$
Total Yearly Production-3607.75 lbs.
Number of Volunteers-14
Volunteer hours-318.5

Looking back over this month, we are grateful that we haven’t had any triple digit days so far. We’ve definitely seen hotter summers, but still, when that sun is beating down on you as you work in the garden, and every part of you is wet from perspiration, the sweltering heat can have you praying for an occasional cloud to come and block the sun’s rays now and then. Oh for a quick blast of those shivering temperatures that we faced as we planted our first crop of the year back in January – onions, hundreds of onions. We started this month by pulling up the last of that crop from their beds. Onions were quickly replaced with okra, and when that’s ready to come out, the temperatures should be swinging back in the direction of cooler days and cold nights, making us wish for a few of the warming rays of sun we’d like to block right now, or a quick blast of the hot temperatures that are zapping us of our strength by the time the clock hits noon.
As June started off, there just weren’t enough hours in the day to finish all the garden tasks that were needing to be completed: harvesting, preparing garden beds for new crops, and finally planting (again). Plus there were other tasks to complete such as fertilizing and spraying for the caterpillars that decided we were the perfect place for them to call home. Here they could chow down on all the red, juicy tomatoes they could possibly want, and then, just a couple rows over, the new okra plants were just coming up, and fresh okra leaves seemed to be another favorite. I learned last year from one of our volunteers that these leaves can actually be quite tasty if prepared properly. The caterpillars think they’re scrumptious just the way they are- young, fresh, and plentiful.
Onions are gone, and most of the squash is now removed. We’re left with the crops that can tolerate what lies ahead- the scorching Texas summer heat. You have to be pretty tough to stand up to hour after hour of our blazing sun beating down on you. Some of the remaining crops do better than others. Okra, for one, loves the heat! “Bring it on,” the towering plants seem to be chanting as they sway in the breeze. Tomatoes and peppers don’t do as well but will typically hang in there until cooler temperatures return when they put on a final crop before it all comes to a screeching halt. With the right type of cucumbers, we hope to successfully grow that crop as well in the months ahead, along with a little butternut and Tromboncino squash.
So far, the tomatoes and peppers are producing nicely. The two beds of Early Girl bush determinate tomatoes are ripening quickly and will soon have completed their life mission- to provide fresh tomatoes basically all within a very short period of time. Then they will be removed and replaced with another crop. The remaining six beds are indeterminate and ripen gradually until cold weather hits and brings their production to a screeching halt, which obviously is down the road a ways. The last day of this month ended with a harvest of 88 pounds of tomatoes that the critters didn’t get into. These were taken to Good Samaritan along with boxes of peppers and cucumbers to distribute around the community.
If you feel like all we do is plant and harvest, that’s not at all true. We can use people with all types of talents. This month, two of our talented and dedicated volunteers who are handy with tools worked on building shelves for our new shed and a solid ramp to make entry into that shed safe.
We feel privileged to be able to come into homes here in Brownwood and be a part of so many meals around the kitchen table- burgers or sandwiches topped with a big, red, juicy slice of tomato or maybe tomatoes for your taco, or it could be tomatoes and cucumbers for a salad. Those jalapeños taste great as poppers, and the bell peppers can be used countless ways. There’s nothing that says summertime like produce fresh from the garden! We are grateful to our volunteers who shivered in the cold, left the garden drenched from perspiration after working in the heat, and possibly endured some aches and pains from sore muscles to make these summertime treats available to those who otherwise may not have access to them. These volunteers realize onions need the cold and fewer hours of daylight to grow into those monstrous beauties that come out of this garden, and tomatoes need the warmth of summer to ripen to that sweet, juicy taste that people look forward to with the coming of summer. It may be a bit uncomfortable at times while planting and/or harvesting, but all is as it should be. From our hearts to homes around this community, we are happy to help those in need in the form of fresh fruit and vegetables made available through the willingness of those involved to give a bit of themselves to fulfill the mission of Brownwood Community Garden. They make this garden more than just a dream. They make it HAPPEN- over 1200 lbs. of produce grown on the pantry side of the garden just this month, with a total of over 1 ½ tons grown in the garden as a whole since January. We just want to thank our 14+ dedicated volunteers who have freely given over 300 hours this month alone and let you know you make a difference in this community.