Garden thread

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Replies

  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    pabmac wrote: »
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    We found some surprise squash volunteers! We had some extra soil so we piled it around them and made a new bed. They’re probably some strange accidental hybrid, but I’m excited about it anyway 😅

    Love it :) I'm always finding surprise plantings throughout my garden. This year I have tomato plants springing up in my new strawberry bed. :) I'm just pulling them because my regular tomato plants are turning into bushes. I throw everything into my compost pile all year long and then just throw the compost into my garden as needed so we never know what's going to come to life. A few years ago we had something curious growing and finally figured out it was trying to be a honeydew melon. :)

    So good luck with your squash newcomers!!
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,372 Member
    pabmac wrote: »
    smflvvguidgm.jpeg
    We found some surprise squash volunteers! We had some extra soil so we piled it around them and made a new bed. They’re probably some strange accidental hybrid, but I’m excited about it anyway 😅

    Don't get too optimistic. Squash don't seem to breed true unless you do it intentionally. It's hard to imagine it was over 20 years ago, but it was -- we had a volunteer squash we let live. We kept trying to figure out what it was. It looked like some kind of hybrid zucchini. We ate a few; they didn't seem to taste "right" and the flesh didn't look right either. We let some grow a little longer. They were some kind of winter squash as it turns out!

    Last year my friend gave me a winter squash start. I don't remember if she said it was a butternut or an acorn or what, but I put it in the garden. It never looked right. It was... a cantaloupe. Yep. She's trying to get better with her labels!

    This year I planted a few known tomatoes, and I also ended up with some "mystery" starts. I planted them out in among other plants and out in the fruit trees to see if they would fend for themselves. I'm not that invested in them, but I'll probably get some stakes and stake them up and water them a little. They aren't volunteers, but I have no idea what they are. There's a 50% chance they are San Marzano.
  • SuzanneC1l9zz
    SuzanneC1l9zz Posts: 460 Member
    I found a few more heat casualties in that I had to snip off about half a dozen tomatoes yesterday. Blossom end rot. But there are a bunch more that look fine. There are also zucchini and eggplant coming - about half a dozen each. Raspberries are ripening. And I somehow kept the soil moist enough that the beets I re-planted are starting to make an appearance. The temperature has finally moderated, so hopefully that's the worst of it.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,598 Member
    I found a few more heat casualties in that I had to snip off about half a dozen tomatoes yesterday. Blossom end rot. But there are a bunch more that look fine. There are also zucchini and eggplant coming - about half a dozen each. Raspberries are ripening. And I somehow kept the soil moist enough that the beets I re-planted are starting to make an appearance. The temperature has finally moderated, so hopefully that's the worst of it.

    IMU, blossom end rot is more often inconsistent moisture and/or calcium deficiency in the soil? Might want to supplement non-harsh calcium (dolomitic limestone, bonemeal, powder-ized eggshells . . . ), though testing & liming before planting is more optimal. Also, I've read that the earliest tomatoes are somewhat more likely to BER, because it's a higher-stress growth period. Observation-wise, it was more likely to happen for me if we'd had steady heavy rains.
  • SuzanneC1l9zz
    SuzanneC1l9zz Posts: 460 Member
    Inconsistent moisture in this case. At 37C the soil was dessicating between waterings.
  • MsCzar
    MsCzar Posts: 1,072 Member
    "Well, there's egg and beans; egg bacon and beans; egg bacon sausage and beans; beans bacon sausage and beans; beans egg beans beans bacon and beans; beans sausage beans beans bacon beans tomato and beans..."

    Umm... beans are in. :)
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    @MsCzar Our beans are just barely losing their blossoms but it looks like we won't be lacking in the bean department either.
    And today I picked my first zucchini, I was so excited! But I'll likely feel different in a couple more weeks. :)
  • rossalexandraxcd
    rossalexandraxcd Posts: 4 Member
    I have a garden, or rather, of course, it is difficult to call it a garden. In my backyard there is a large lawn that I take care of, and another tree. The tree is very old, but I like everything )
  • rossalexandraxcd
    rossalexandraxcd Posts: 4 Member
    I have several fruit trees; it is very convenient to have my fruits, my wife likes to collect them. I have several Ambassador roses. I'm thinking of expanding their number, and I don't know how many I'll add yet. There is also a beautiful lawn that was planted last year. The seeds of which I bought from this site https://www.growgardener.com/the-5-best-kentucky-bluegrass-seeds-for-your-lawn/. I'm thinking of making a small pond with different fish, crayfish and jugs. When I was a child, my grandfather also had a pond, and I liked to feed the fish in the morning and watch them swim.
    stop using links in your comments
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I have several fruit trees; it is very convenient to have my fruits, my wife likes to collect them. I have several Ambassador roses. I'm thinking of expanding their number, and I don't know how many I'll add yet. There is also a beautiful lawn that was planted last year. The seeds of which I bought from this site https://www.growgardener.com/the-5-best-kentucky-bluegrass-seeds-for-your-lawn/. I'm thinking of making a small pond with different fish, crayfish and jugs. When I was a child, my grandfather also had a pond, and I liked to feed the fish in the morning and watch them swim.
    stop using links in your comments

    Here's when someone can't use links, would not apply to the poster you are complaining about, unless they own growgardener.com:

    https://www.myfitnesspal.com/community-guidelines

    7. To advertise or not to advertise? (Not to advertise!)

    I WILL:

    I will understand that posts containing links to offsite blog posts and social media are considered advertisements.

    I will report posts I believe to be advertising.

    I WON'T:

    I won’t post any links or mentions of other services, websites, or businesses from which an associate or myself might benefit financially or otherwise.

    I won’t solicit off-forum contact from which I might benefit, i.e., "message me for more info."

    I won’t request or solicit for donations, not even requests for charitable contributions.

    I won’t post or use this service to promote websites that compete with MyFitnessPal.

    I won’t respond to advertisers.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    MsCzar wrote: »
    "Well, there's egg and beans; egg bacon and beans; egg bacon sausage and beans; beans bacon sausage and beans; beans egg beans beans bacon and beans; beans sausage beans beans bacon beans tomato and beans..."

    Umm... beans are in. :)

    I'm about a month behind you!

    jvym3dutr0vy.png
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,282 Member
    I just picked beans yesterday. I have never grown them. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I find them to be a pain to pick? But wow. They are delicious! I had no idea that they would be ready so soon. I was watering and when I pushed the plants aside, beans revealed themselves! I'm pulling carrots, and the lettuce is pretty much done due to consistent heat. But lots of green tomatoes, so I'll have them to look forward to! Sadly, many berries were scorched in the intense heat a couple of weeks ago. Mostly marion and boysenberry, two favorites :(
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    edited July 2021
    My green beans are ready and got plenty to share. :) Onions are growing well, tomatoes are getting bigger but losing lots of lower stems so hopefully they'll ripen before the whole thing disappears. Zucchini are doing well, as are the green peppers and hot peppers. My sweet potatoes are actually perking up and doing well now. Can't wait to see what they do because this is the 1st time I've ever planted them. And my cucumbers are trailing and blossoming. So my garden has become a happy growing little place.

    My strawberries didn't do as well as they did last year. Someone told us they do really ell every other year then that alternate year can be iffy. Any truth to that?
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    @SuzanneC1l9zz It's an amazing feeling isn't it? To create something very good, natural and healthy, save money in the process and watch it grow. I love gardening and wish I knew more about it. :) That, plus wish I had a much bigger area for it. I could feed a lot of people. :)
  • SuzanneC1l9zz
    SuzanneC1l9zz Posts: 460 Member
    @ReenieHJ it really is!
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,372 Member
    I planted radishes today. And spinach for fall, but it's probably a week or three too early. And the second round of winter beets.

    First ripe Sungold tomatoes the other day. Yum. San Marzanos are all still green.

    Totally gorged myself on blueberries. I got behind on picking them.

    Raspberries -- the primacanes seem to be done. Overheated a few weeks ago. But the floracanes are growing like mad; I cut them back to five or six feet today so I can reach whatever fruits.

    Grapes are starting to look good.

    Peas. Poor things. All toasty. I will plant some for fall, but need to figure out when.

    Bartlet pears might be ripe soon. Figs? Who knows. Asian pears (Chojuro) ripen later. Plums are just falling off the tree unripe. I think it was the heat. Marion berries... all dried up and crinkly. Heat. Mint is doing fine. As is the flatweed; I wish I knew a good way to kill the crap out of it.

    Enjoying the volunteer nasturtium. Different colors even than the parent plants I had last year. Fun stuff. I'll try to spread them some more this year. Calendula comes up everywhere. I don't mind. I weed it where it's in the way, and I nurture it where it's not.

    One of the lavender plants is very nice right now. The other is done; I should deadhead it to see if it will bloom again.

    My neighbor brought a couple hives home. Her girls really like one of my water stations. Always bees and wasps out there. Nice. Birds too. Some of the birds like to snack on the bees. Yah. I know. It's the birds and the bees.....

  • SuzanneC1l9zz
    SuzanneC1l9zz Posts: 460 Member
    I wound up repotting my poor zucchini and I lost at least 2/3 of the soil in the process, all full of roots. I clipped off everything that wasn't healthy and gave it about an inch of compost on top of the soil, and it actually looks a lot happier. Fingers crossed that'll do the trick.

    My eggplant was covered in blossoms, but it got too cold one night last week and every single one died and fell off. We're heading back into the heat so hopefully it'll perk up again. There are 7 fruit on it that look good though - 2 almost ready to pick.

    I missed watering the raspberries for a few days and a ton of the unripe ones shriveled, but there are more buds so maybe I can coax a second wave. They're so good this year!

    I have a ton of tomatoes, but they're all still green. Kale and Swiss chard are ready to pick in earnest. And I should have green beans by the end of the week. The beets and carrots need more time.

    My outdoor tap is beside the raspberries and it drips when it's running. It makes me so happy to see all the bees coming to drink!
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    @mtaratoot Your variety always amazes me. :) Thank you for sharing so I can live vicariously through you. :)
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    I have a feeling I'm not going to dare plant tomatoes again next year. In the beginning of the season, I had tons of spotty leaves on all the plants so I'd pick them off, and changed my watering routine. They seemed to thrive for awhile but now all the bottom leaves/stems are discoloring and I have to pick bottom stems off each plant daily. :( I'm just hoping my tomatoes ripen before the whole plant dies. I've got 6 plants and some of my cherry tomatoes are ripening now but the Big Boys will be awhile. :/ But that's okay, dh will get his 1 seasonal tomato out of it. Lol

    Some zucchini are rotting but that's okay because well you know, they're zucchini and still getting more than plenty. Can't keep up with my green beans, peppers are growing like crazy, as are the onions and cucumbers. My sweet potato plants are vining nicely. Can't wait to see if they actually do anything; our growing season isn't that long and this year started off hot/sunny but now we've had our fair share of rain.
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,372 Member
    @ReenieHJ

    I get things on my tomato leaves. I don't worry too much about it. I'm kind of silly for planting San Marzano; they always get blossom end rot. I'm just hoping to get a bunch anyway. I can cut out the bad parts if it isn't extensive. Just to get on my nerves, the very first fruit (out in a pot in the driveway) got rot. It is hard to keep it evenly watered unless I water it twice a day - it got toasty during the heat wave. I bet it will be OK. I actually need to go out and prune some of the lower leaves to increase air flow.

    Later in the season, there WILL be powdery mildew on the grapes. Just happens. Probably on the tomatoes too. The beets do great.

    One of my normal challenges is that I am often traveling during harvest season so I don't get to enjoy some of my bounty. This year I'm doing better. Keep planting what you like; the weather will do what it does. Maybe soil amendments would help your tomatoes?
  • MsCzar
    MsCzar Posts: 1,072 Member
    Ugh! Looks like I'll be tearing out at least a third of my green beans tomorrow. Bean blight.
    :s
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,372 Member
    MsCzar wrote: »
    Ugh! Looks like I'll be tearing out at least a third of my green beans tomorrow. Bean blight.
    :s

    😟
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    edited July 2021
    MsCzar wrote: »
    Ugh! Looks like I'll be tearing out at least a third of my green beans tomorrow. Bean blight.
    :s

    Oh dear. :( Feels discouraging doesn't it. :(
    Seeing my tomatoes stems all turning spotty and needing to be picked of daily, your post got me worried about my green beans as well, so while I was picking them this morning, I kept an eye out. I found a bunch of plants that have fuzzy white mold near the ground and some of the leaves are turning black. :( The beans themselves are fine. I need to go strip all the moldy plants out but I have a feeling my whole garden is going the way of too much moisture this year. And a lesson I now learned is to space everything out more. :(

    But my question is are the beans still safe to eat because they don't seem to be affected in any way?
  • MsCzar
    MsCzar Posts: 1,072 Member
    Pretty sure it could be two different monsters. Mold can be tamed or prevented by spraying milk on the all leaves, Blight is bacteria and depending on type, can live on the plants and/or soil. Bean blight stays on the leaves and I am kicking myself for not immediately pulling the first infected plant. Now I will likely lose the entire bean bed. Copper based treatments are available to treat blight.
  • SuzanneC1l9zz
    SuzanneC1l9zz Posts: 460 Member
    I snacked on the first carrots and zucchini last night, but I didn't think to get photo evidence before digging in. And a crazy wind storm knocked over the tomato, so I have a collection of green ones that came off when it fell tossed into the fruit bowl to ripen. There have also been more eggplants, though a cold night caused blossom drop so the 7 that are on there now will probably be the last of them. Our high temperatures are still high for the most part, but the nights are starting to get cool. Today I'll be picking beans, kale, and Swiss chard.
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    Picked my first tomato and cucumber yesterday; this is when I really appreciate my garden. There's nothing better than garden ripe tomatoes and cucumbers. :)

    Still getting zucchini by the truck loads, beans are done, onions are looking good, sweet potatoes are vining well; we'll see how those play out. Still getting enough lettuce for salads. :) Happy camper. :)