The Gardening Thread

[MWR]

This is a photo of my potato patch from 2008.

And this is from this year. Yep, these look pretty bad. We got these out late and they missed the spring rains. And it looks like someone missed a few weeds in them this time around.

Here's my tomato patch from 2008. I may have pictures of this year's tomato patch soon. They are coming on now.

And here is a creature that loves tomatoes, the plants anyway.

And here is my biggest watermelon this year. So far.

 

[KB5252]

That horned worm has been a pest for me as well. I found out last year though that these caterpillars turn into the hummingbird moth that I enjoy seeing around my flower gardens. My solution? I plant some tomatoes in a totally different part of the garden and let the horned caterpillars go at them and pick them off the others I harvest from.

I also have had an infestation of a white caterpillar that has been eating my red twig dogwoods this year.

 

[golfballs]

Do you plant anything else? Anything that was planted early here in Ohio is doing pretty well, but then we started getting monsoons. Potatoes are doing ok I think

 

[MWR]

Do you plant anything else? Anything that was planted early here in Ohio is doing pretty well, but then we started getting monsoons. Potatoes are doing ok I think

The sad thing about potatoes and rain is that excessive rain will cause your potatoes to rot in the ground.

This is usually not a problem when the potatoes are small. It usually occurs when the potatoes are mature - or close to mature. You have to watch them if it rains a lot in August or September. And if the monsoons continue, it may be wise to dig them before they spend too much time in the wet dirt.

 

[MWR]

That horned worm has been a pest for me as well. I found out last year though that these caterpillars turn into the hummingbird moth that I enjoy seeing around my flower gardens. My solution? I plant some tomatoes in a totally different part of the garden and let the horned caterpillars go at them and pick them off the others I harvest from.

I also have had an infestation of a white caterpillar that has been eating my red twig dogwoods this year.

I have a lot of trouble out of Potato bugs. Here is nature's way of dealing with them. I'd like to have a hord of these babies working my garden, but they seem to be rare.

And you can buy eggs for these potato killer bugs. But they are very expensive, as far as insects go.

I guess he just invited the Potato beetle over to dinner. And just didn't mention that the Potato beetle was the main course.

 

[jed]

Well, we lost about 40-50 of our early green tomatoes to blossom end rot, blast it! It seemed to set in almost overnight. My Mrs. has sprayed for it now, so hopefully we will still get a decent crop. In retrospect, maybe we should begin spraying for it every year when the first tomatoes are just beginning to set, I seem to recall we had the same problem last year.

Our peach harvest is going well. They are small but they are so sweet! My wife made the first batch of peach jam yesterday, using a mix of white and yellow peaches. I got to sample a teaspoon of it, and it was delicious. Should go real well on a PB&J or on a buttered biscuit.

We are also getting some nice, large zucchinis.

Blossom end rot is caused by a nutrient deficiency (calcium). Make sure your plants receive consistent watering. Too much water, or too little (drought stress) can give you problems with blossom end rot. Another thing you can do is check your soil ph and lime it accordingly. Plants are able to take in calcium (more efficiently) from soil that has a neutral ph.

 

[jed]

I have a lot of trouble out of Potato bugs. Here is nature's way of dealing with them. I'd like to have a hord of these babies working my garden, but they seem to be rare.

And you can buy eggs for these potato killer bugs. But they are very expensive, as far as insects go.

I guess he just invited the Potato beetle over to dinner. And just didn't mention that the Potato beetle was the main course.

Very interesting pic.

 

[MWR]

Very interesting pic.

The Potato Beetly ended up as just a hull, with his guts sucked out. Killed him dead.

 

[jed]

This year I grew everything from seed. I have Carbon, Japanese Trifele, Krim, Marianas Peace, Green Zebra, Black from Tula, Cherokee, Paul Robison, Opalka and Black Cherry. I also tried Texas white ocra, Calipso beans, two varieties of heirloom garlic, cherry peppers, pepperoncini, bell peppers, and cucumbers.

 

[J-P]

Well, this weekend I learned another lesson about growing peaches. Get out there first thing in the morning and spray after a rainy night, and harvest them while you can, even if they are still a little firm.

We got some rain out our way on Friday night. Saturday was a busy day, so I did not get out and re-spray the peach trees. Yesterday afternoon, my dearly beloved and I went outside w/ the intention of harvesting the remainder of our peach bounty, only to find each and every ripe fruit so covered in Japanese beetles, bees and wasps, that we couldn't even pick them for fear of getting stung in a swarm. It was a really creepy sight. They looked like solid balls of insects hanging from the trees.

The good news is that we had already harvested almost all of the white peaches, leaving only a handful that were not quite ripe yet. We had harvested about half of the early yellow peaches, so we lost about half of that harvest to the buggers. The late yellow peach is still green and they did not bother that tree.

We sprayed malathion on the trees, but it rained again last night and looks like it will rain on and off all day today. Looks like it will be a battle w/ the bugs to see who gets the harvest from that late tree. :machgun: :gun: :machgun: :gun:

 

[MWR]

Well, this weekend I learned another lesson about growing peaches. Get out there first thing in the morning and spray after a rainy night, and harvest them while you can, even if they are still a little firm.

We got some rain out our way on Friday night. Saturday was a busy day, so I did not get out and re-spray the peach trees. Yesterday afternoon, my dearly beloved and I went outside w/ the intention of harvesting the remainder of our peach bounty, only to find each and every ripe fruit so covered in Japanese beetles, bees and wasps, that we couldn't even pick them for fear of getting stung in a swarm. It was a really creepy sight. They looked like solid balls of insects hanging from the trees.

The good news is that we had already harvested almost all of the white peaches, leaving only a handful that were not quite ripe yet. We had harvested about half of the early yellow peaches, so we lost about half of that harvest to the buggers. The late yellow peach is still green and they did not bother that tree.

We sprayed malathion on the trees, but it rained again last night and looks like it will rain on and off all day today. Looks like it will be a battle w/ the bugs to see who gets the harvest from that late tree. :machgun: :gun: :machgun: :gun:

Like I said, saw those trees down and burn 'em. ost-4-1090547912:

But I know that ain't how it is. Don't let those bugs run you off. Fight them in the valleys, the hills, the fields, where ever it takes. Do not be defeated. Death to the bugs.

 

[golfballs]

The sad thing about potatoes and rain is that excessive rain will cause your potatoes to rot in the ground.

This is usually not a problem when the potatoes are small. It usually occurs when the potatoes are mature - or close to mature. You have to watch them if it rains a lot in August or September. And if the monsoons continue, it may be wise to dig them before they spend too much time in the wet dirt.

Rains were during the normal planting time. So it mainly delayed planting for anyone that didn't get them in early. But I'm speaking for the commercial producers - fields too wet to get their planters out - it wasn't a problem for as many small growers.

Tomatoes had the same issue, except the soil didn't dry out in time and some growers didn't plant any.

 

[J-P]

Like I said, saw those trees down and burn 'em. ost-4-1090547912:

But I know that ain't how it is. Don't let those bugs run you off. Fight them in the valleys, the hills, the fields, where ever it takes. Do not be defeated. Death to the bugs.

Don't worry, the bugs started this war, but they don't realize they have awoken a sleeping super power: my Mrs. She had all of these plans for jams and cobblers and peach smoothies. They don't come any more determined than her. I wouldn't be surprised if she hired a plane to fly over and spray the trees once a day. :yes: :lol:

 

[MWR]

After several weeks of no rain, we've gotten an abundance of rain since Friday. Now my garden is getting to wet. Alas.

 

[MWR]

After a few days of about getting flooded out, my garden is beginning to dry up a little. Lost several melon plants due to too much water.

Life is good.

 

[KB5252]

I've been really busy the last few weeks with work and between the critters and lack of rain my garden really took a hit. I've got aphids all in my corn, my tomatoes are wilted and looking pathetic, my green beans have been eaten almost leafless (though still producing), and some of my peppers have taken a hit. I'm going to get out early next year and spray, then repeat again during the summer.

 

[orangeblooded2]

Tomatoes.

I usually plant a good variety, Tommy toes- sweet 100's, Mr. stripies, German Queens and better boys. The problem periodly over the years a recuring problem pops up. As I have noticed this is the sequence of events. A single plant multiple stalks, one stalk will start to wilt form the top down taking it to brown out and die slowly over a 2 or 3 weeks with the others stalks chimming in at different times and the whole plant dies within 5 weeks or so. Some of the plants last longer than others with random start and end times with the same result. Some years it looks like Black shank, but I traced it to Pith nacerious ( mispelled I'm sure) And a lime issue. But the identifing signs of this Disease are not always present. I have cut back on the firtilizer from 30-30-30 to 5-5-5 varied the watering schedule. and added different organics to the soil. ie, cow manue, peat moss, potting soil. I am considering a compost pile on the small site this year as a cure. As the harvest will be complete in 10 days or so. Always perfect fruit. It just dried out and\or burnt up.

Any ideals or insights?

 

[jed]

Gardening can be aggravating. A bunch of time, money, and effort for nothing (sometimes).

 

[orangeblooded2]

Tomatoes.

I usually plant a good variety, Tommy toes- sweet 100's, Mr. stripies, German Queens and better boys. The problem periodic over the years a recurring problem pops up. As I have noticed this is the sequence of events. A single plant multiple stalks, one stalk will start to wilt form the top down taking it to brown out and die slowly over a 2 or 3 weeks with the others stalks chiming in at different times and the whole plant dies within 5 weeks or so. Some of the plants last longer than others with random start and end times with the same result. Some years it looks like Black shank, but I traced it to Pith necrosis ( misspelled I'm sure) And a lime issue. But the identifying signs of this Disease are not always present. I have cut back on the fertilizer from 30-30-30 to 5-5-5 varied the watering schedule. and added different organics to the soil. ie, cow manure, peat moss, potting soil. I am considering a compost pile on the small site this year as a cure. As the harvest will be complete in 10 days or so. Always perfect fruit. It just dried out and\or burnt up.

Any ideals or insights?

Additionally, The plants always, always are beautiful and grow great with bumper crops, some plants 24-26 tomatoes. With the tommy toes in to the multiple dozens. The problem always starts at the time the first ones start getting ripe. It's like the ripening is the catalyst.

 

[MWR]

Additionally, The plants always, always are beautiful and grow great with bumper crops, some plants 24-26 tomatoes. With the tommy toes in to the multiple dozens. The problem always starts at the time the first ones start getting ripe. It's like the ripening is the catalyst.

I don't know a lot about you situation, so the following suggestion is just a guess.

Maybe you should consider moving your tomato patch to another location.

 

[orangeblooded2]

I don't know a lot about you situation, so the following suggestion is just a guess.

Maybe you should consider moving your tomato patch to another location.

I have considered it. That or not planting anything there. I think I may have to talk to the county ag-agent. Which in turn...You need to get a soil sample. X Amount $$$.

Another factor This years heat 90 degrees +. 25 0f last 31 days or so.

 

[MWR]

Gardening can be aggravating. A bunch of time, money, and effort for nothing (sometimes).

No doubt.

But here are some reasons gardeners strive to grow their own - from the garden the past 2 years.

 

[orangeblooded2]

MWR.

That bottom land has great soil. It's worth the flooding or high water.

 

[jed]

Orangeblood, compost is an excellent soil amendment. It should help with nutrient problems, as well as, disease. If you are able to enrich your soil with enough of the "black gold" you won't have to fertilize at all (may even be counter productive). A few more tips that might help anyone struggling with disease. If it's possible, don't plant tomatoes (or any plant) in the same place 2 years in a row. If possible, rotate every 3-4 years. Also, some type of mulch (straw for example) will help with moisture and help prevent soil borne diseases. I also like to do a soil test to check for nutrient deficiencies (especially soil pH). A plant that is stressed (nutrient deficient for example) will give you problems at harvest and will make it more susceptible to disease. Remember that lime takes a while to raise the pH so it should be done well in advance of planting. Good luck.

 

[jed]

No doubt.

But here are some reasons gardeners strive to grow their own - from the garden the past 2 years.

Very nice crop indeed. The first heirloom tomato of the year keeps me going.