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Post by stratcat on Jul 19, 2012 0:17:19 GMT -5
Early in my day, I tied some tomato plants. Since it rained on Tuesday, I didn't carry any water. That was a great change.
In the middle of the day, I worked with my 20 tomatoes at Mom's. Put in some stakes and tied plants.
At the end of the day, I weeded 26 of my container pepper plants. Most of the "weeds" were wheat that sprouted from the straw mulch. I deadheaded the flowers and fertilized them.
Picked a handful of cherry tomatoes.
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sugrz
Junior Member
Posts: 90
Joined: June 2011
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Post by sugrz on Jul 19, 2012 14:08:12 GMT -5
So far weeding cleaning out pond. The good news one Idigo Rose finally turned hubby picked. So the taste is different not bad, hubby said kind of smokey. I am a little happier with them now. All other tomatoes on the verge, guess I'll have to check out canning supplie, but I love it.
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sugrz
Junior Member
Posts: 90
Joined: June 2011
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Post by sugrz on Jul 20, 2012 0:07:06 GMT -5
Picked about a cup of blueberries, raspberries, 4 figs, one black krim, basil, peppers and chopped up stuff and made a little salad very good and so fresh.
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Post by stratcat on Jul 20, 2012 23:05:46 GMT -5
Thursday, I weeded the peppers out back amongst other things.
Today, I carried lots of water. Weeded a bunch of Petunias in containers. Tied a few Tomatoes. They really are getting out of control.
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Post by stratcat on Jul 20, 2012 23:12:37 GMT -5
So far weeding cleaning out pond. The good news one Idigo Rose finally turned hubby picked. So the taste is different not bad, hubby said kind of smokey. I am a little happier with them now. All other tomatoes on the verge, guess I'll have to check out canning supplie, but I love it. Did the Indigo Rose turn really dark? A picture?
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Post by horsea on Jul 20, 2012 23:18:07 GMT -5
Carried much water in watering cans.
Picked small cucs.
Mulched. Still mulching. It'll never be finished...
Seeded escarole.
Picked beets & Slobolt lettuce to make a salad.
And that's it.
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Post by stratcat on Jul 21, 2012 23:12:38 GMT -5
Today was more of the same. Carried water for 200 tomatoes, 55 peppers and some other stuff. Watered the plants out back twice, early and late. Containers really dry out in this heat. Whew! Deadheaded my Cosmos. Worked on cutting out the Morning Glories that are climbing on Tomatoes...
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Post by stratcat on Jul 23, 2012 0:37:42 GMT -5
Carried lots of water Sunday before the heat hits on Monday. Weeded some containers. Fed a few of the flowers.
1st blossom open on my 'White Soul' Alpine Strawberries I sowed on 12 April. ;D
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Post by gixxerific on Jul 23, 2012 10:03:39 GMT -5
Going out to reclaim my tomatoes. They need to be tied up and corralled in their Florida weave. It's hard to tell what is what they are growing into each other. But that is a good thing in a way. At least they are doing okay even in this unrelenting heat wave.
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Post by horsea on Jul 26, 2012 21:51:08 GMT -5
Today was more of the same. Carried water for 200 tomatoes, 55 peppers and some other stuff. Watered the plants out back twice, early and late. Containers really dry out in this heat. Whew! Deadheaded my Cosmos. Worked on cutting out the Morning Glories that are climbing on Tomatoes... How far do you have to lug your water, and in what size container? Me, I have to go only about 25 yards to the tap. When we have a rain, I use the barrels, but they are much farther! Ugh.
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Post by stratcat on Jul 27, 2012 0:26:33 GMT -5
Hi, Horsea. At my place, I have around 25 plastic cat litter containers with handles. They hold about 2 gallons. I fill them with the hose. It's probably 25 yards to my plants out back. Out front, quite close. Good thing I like walking! At Mom's, I've mostly been watering from the rain barrels. I use a pail to dip water.
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Post by stratcat on Aug 2, 2012 11:40:25 GMT -5
OSU Blue on 30 July, 2012.
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sugrz
Junior Member
Posts: 90
Joined: June 2011
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Post by sugrz on Aug 2, 2012 12:28:55 GMT -5
stratcat I have Indigo Rose, two plants, they seem very slow to turn but they are very prolific. I have probably a 100 on the two plants. We are slowly picking tomatoes, but I don't think we will get the crop we had last year. Lots of peppers and squash. Blueberrie about done, my steady afternoon snack.
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Post by stratcat on Aug 2, 2012 15:43:03 GMT -5
Couple pics from 29 July. Hellstrip taken from street. The Spike has really grown these years. Can see the sidewalk behind it. Backyard with lots of Cupplants in my old garden spot. I see some Goldenrod on the right. An Aster and some Goldenrod have bloomed this July
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sugrz
Junior Member
Posts: 90
Joined: June 2011
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Post by sugrz on Aug 2, 2012 19:50:09 GMT -5
So far weeding cleaning out pond. The good news one Idigo Rose finally turned hubby picked. So the taste is different not bad, hubby said kind of smokey. I am a little happier with them now. All other tomatoes on the verge, guess I'll have to check out canning supplie, but I love it. Did the Indigo Rose turn really dark? A picture? Sorry I missed this post yes they are very dark purple and when the green turns red it is bright red. The odd thing is some maybe 3 or 4 started light red and turned darker red ? I'll try to get pics.
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Post by horsea on Aug 3, 2012 20:06:31 GMT -5
Hi, Horsea. At my place, I have around 25 plastic cat litter containers with handles. They hold about 2 gallons. I fill them with the hose. It's probably 25 yards to my plants out back. Out front, quite close. Good thing I like walking! At Mom's, I've mostly been watering from the rain barrels. I use a pail to dip water. So you & me are kind of in the same boat.
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Post by daylilydude on Aug 3, 2012 22:03:02 GMT -5
Finally ripping out the big garden, gonna get it turned and ready for next year!
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Post by stratcat on Aug 4, 2012 0:18:21 GMT -5
Did the Indigo Rose turn really dark? A picture? Sorry I missed this post yes they are very dark purple and when the green turns red it is bright red. The odd thing is some maybe 3 or 4 started light red and turned darker red ? I'll try to get pics. No problem. I'm glad they turned out. How did they taste?
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Post by stratcat on Aug 4, 2012 0:52:03 GMT -5
Hi, Horsea. At my place, I have around 25 plastic cat litter containers with handles. They hold about 2 gallons. I fill them with the hose. It's probably 25 yards to my plants out back. Out front, quite close. Good thing I like walking! At Mom's, I've mostly been watering from the rain barrels. I use a pail to dip water. So you & me are kind of in the same boat. For a few days now, I've been dragging my 100' 3/4" hose to the back yard to fill two containers to water my potted plants. Cuts down on walking, but there's always a chance of putting the kibosh on plants on the way. Then to drag the hose back for the rest of the containers out front. As careful as I am, crap occurs. ;D
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Post by stratcat on Aug 5, 2012 14:43:56 GMT -5
Here's the 1st Long Thai Green Eggplant blossom from today!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 16:11:12 GMT -5
Sadly, nothing at the new place yet. We left behind four raised beds of broccoli, romaine, chard, spinach, beets, strawberries, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and peppers. We did get in a couple of harvests before we moved.
Sent from my ADR6350 using proboards
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Post by daylilydude on Aug 12, 2012 17:37:12 GMT -5
Nuttin really, just getting them ready for Spring of 2013, hopefully in will be a bumper crop for us and everyone else!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 13:14:04 GMT -5
Nuttin, nuttin-too hot, too dry, and too humid! Will start some planting for fall in a week or so.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 22:22:22 GMT -5
Been picking beans and cucumbers. Still waiting for some zucchini.........and tomatoes.......and corn. At least we got some rain the other day so I haven't had to water the garden.
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Post by horsea on Aug 22, 2012 12:23:59 GMT -5
How come no reports for 9 days? Surely y'all must be doing or seeing something in your gardens?
Me, I'm admiring:
the ripening tomatoes (Nature's Riddle, Early Annie, Annie, King Umberto, etc.);
10 large winter squash (melonette type - a pepo);
lots o' sweet peas;
giant cabbage getting bigger by the minute (late flat Dutch);
mini bell peppers ripening;
& all the other things.
Like you, toad, I've been picking cucs and in my case making all sorts of pickles, relishes, etc. Up to my ears.
Hope to see some posts here.
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Post by txdirtdog on Aug 22, 2012 13:01:03 GMT -5
How come no reports for 9 days? Surely y'all must be doing or seeing something in your gardens? Me, I'm admiring: the ripening tomatoes (Nature's Riddle, Early Annie, Annie, King Umberto, etc.); 10 large winter squash (melonette type - a pepo); lots o' sweet peas; giant cabbage getting bigger by the minute (late flat Dutch); mini bell peppers ripening; & all the other things. Like you, toad, I've been picking cucs and in my case making all sorts of pickles, relishes, etc. Up to my ears. Hope to see some posts here. Glad the garden is producing well for you Horsea! I can't imagine cabbage getting big in August. As for here, meh, we are just finishing the worst of the "burn". Winter Squash are beat to "you know what" and were within a wisper of not making it. They are beginning to try to run again now. The ones the SVB and squash bugs didn't finish off. Ali Baba watermelon didn't make this year. The Mystery Moschata ran it over. All of the summer squash bit the big one, even the replant although they produced acceptably before their demise. I may do another replant of summer squash soon. The Armenian cuke got taken over by tall grasses and I think I saw one runner the other day. First year that has happened. Normally the Aremenian is a juggernaut. Green Machine is holding on by a whisker. On a brighter note, the late planted (up to July) stuff is doing well. Along the street the okra is producing as is the Black-eyed peas. The watermelon vines are running nicely. In the side garden, the cantaloupe types and replant of Armenian and Tatume are beginning to run nicely. They have arched trellises to go up. In the main garden, peppers are beginning to recover and I have some bagged stuff to pick that have ripened. Most of the cherry tomato types are still alive and may recover to creat a fall crop. Also in the main garden, the Blacktail Mountain watermelon has three fruit on the vine. However squash bugs are beginning to congregate on them. I think I'm going to try putting the fruits in mesh bags and see if that will help them. The biggest bright spot is that last Friday I received the first load of wood chips from the power company. It was better quality than I'd hoped. When I called Monday to see if there was more availability, he assured me they have ongoing availability and that I will get another load this week. Now that will help solve my watering and weeding issues ongoing. Big news for me. Oh, and the buckwheat hasn't sprouted yet. I think the birds stole the seeds, as I saw a bunch of birds all over the garden after the rain, including in the area I planted the buckwheat. Will be sowing things like cabbages and lettuces, etc. in about a month.
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Post by horsea on Aug 22, 2012 14:49:57 GMT -5
Dirtdog, is one of your problems too many weeds, ie grass? I know I have to be faithful in constant plucking & mulching, or in one week's time I would not be able to find my garden. (We don't even own a rototiller, so this is W O R K.)
Good luck with your Blacktail Mountain watermelon. I'm growing muskmelons this year, and a hot dry year is what they appear to love. They are juicy and tasty, best ever. I guess you don't grow those in your climate?
Nice to have all them wood chips!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 23, 2012 9:04:58 GMT -5
It's just about time to start most of the fall crops here; I am looking forward to it. But I am going to wait until this pattern of constant gray breaks, because I can't go outside at any time (even noon!) without getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. At least when the weather turns sunny again I'll be able to work in the garden without becoming bug food.
Dixiewine and Burgundy Traveler tomatoes have tolerated the weeks of rain really well. They are growing and blooming, but not setting fruit (even though it's been too rainy to be all that hot, the nights are too warm and even when it's not raining the humidity is high). I have high hopes that next month they will start setting and make a good fall crop. The other tomatoes are suffering much more.
SVBs appear to be in my cucumbers. Between that and the mildew from the rains, they are just about gone. Hopefully I have time to try replanting again.
Winter squash (three different moschata types) are all running and blooming, but no fruit has set yet. They have tolerated all the wet surprisingly well. Maybe I will get some fruit before frost.
Okra continues. I let some mature to collect seed for next year. Other plants are producing, though they produced a lot more when it was hot in July. The plants seem healthy, but they slowed down a lot during these weeks of mostly gray weather. September is usually very warm to hot, with plenty of sun, so hopefully the gray skies will leave and the okra will pick up the pace again.
New pepper transplants are pathetic-looking, as are my old pepper plants from spring. The few bell peppers that make it to maturity are fairly small and start to rot (small brown spots everywhere - NOT blossom end rot) - just as they start to change color. I can't think of anything to do to help them except hope for more sun and less humidity.
Ichiban eggplants (put in to replace Black Beauty) have finally gotten settled in and are growing strongly and starting to set fruit; one fruit is about half-sized. Looking forward to trying them.
I am trying to save seed from the Chinese Red Noodle beans, but some critter is eating the beans right out of the pods! The pods are hanging there with a round hole where each bean should be.
Most of the melon plants are hanging on, but not setting much (not much bee activity). The Yellow Moon and Stars had set a fruit that was growing mostly *underneath* an Earth Box that I have on the edge of the patch. I didn't see it until the melon was several inches long and wide - but only a couple of inches tall! I lifted the EB off the melon, so it will be interesting to see whether the shape recovers at all, or if I end up with a "pancake melon."
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Post by txdirtdog on Aug 23, 2012 9:05:13 GMT -5
Horsea,
Weeds AND grass are probably as big a problem as SVBs and squash bugs for me. My garden core is pretty easy to manage as it has been worked for some years, but the last several years I have expanded the garden each year from turf grass. If we do get rain and I blink, the garden is buried. That's one of the reasons the wood chips are so critical to me. Last couple of years I put large amounts of leaves on the garden which kept down the weeds, but I wasn't able to collect them this year like then. I've been chasing the wood chips since April and just couldn't keep up with the weeds with the soil bare.
I think the Green Machine I grow would be a muskmelon. It didn't do well this year at all which surprised me. I am also growing some late planted Rich Sweetness which I think would be a true cantaloupe, but I am not sure of the designation. I am also growing Charlie's Pride which is a mostly stabilized landrace of several different melon parents. I have no idea what it would be designated.
The areas that have rec'd the wood chips are recovering and/or surging ahead nicely. The wood chips just make all the difference. I'm supposed to get another load this week which will cover either a significant part of the garden or complete it. That will make me a happy camper.
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Post by stratcat on Aug 23, 2012 14:27:08 GMT -5
On the 21st had the first White Soul Strawberry of the season and was it good! They are Alpine type I started from seed this year and they're growing in containers. Pic from today.
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