Pellet Fan
All Things Considered => General Discussion--Food Related => Topic started by: Kristin Meredith on August 19, 2018, 12:01:57 PM
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It was a bad gardening year for us. First we had cold weather very late into the season. Next, May was a REALLY wet month and 3 different beds of seeds just rotted instead of growing. Then, because I was careless and lazy and decided to spray weeds instead of pulling, I killed the 5 tomato plants.
We had a couple of very tiny successes. Our asparagus crop was good and plentiful. Bent planted corn. Only about 1/3 of it came up, but he got about 9 nice ears. I never thought the watermelons or butternut squash was going to grow, but it finally decided to take off. In about 2 weeks I think we should have about 8 to 9 big (maybe 20 lb.) watermelons and in about a month there will be a boatload of squash.
But the chilies seem to have done well. I bought a lot of different plants, just what the local Lowe's had. We planted them and Bent tended them all summer and his crop is starting to come in. Maybe he can identify them all. I remember buying Fresno, Anaheim and red chilies. Don't remember poblanos, but I must have bought some of them also.
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similar here all the way in the PNW. Hot summer. Poor batch of soil I procured with little organic matter. I didn't realize it until it was too late. Zucchini usually grows like weeds here, this year nothing (I don't think I had bloom rot either.) No pumpkins. Squirrels or raccoons got my corn. sugar snap peas did well, but died off early due to heat. Beans never amounted to much. Low yield on strawberries, blueberries and even tomatoes, though tomatillos were great. One saving grace has been a good crop of peppers again this year.
I do still have time to salvage the tomatoes, but am already looking forward to better soil next year. Probably trying mushroom compost next.
DK
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Then, because I was careless and lazy and decided to spray weeds instead of pulling, I killed the 5 tomato plants.
A friend told me that lawn care companies with their big tanks and hoses can spray a front yard on one side of a street and kill tomato plants in the back yard of houses across the street. Grape vines are similar. It's a repeating lawn care complaint.
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I had a friend tell me that if I just had to spray, at least I should try covering the tomatoes with a big plastic bucket. I will think about that nex year.
DK -- I too think my soil may be a bit played out. I have said I was going to test it every year for the last 3 years, but this year I think I will get serious. We have added a LOT of organic material, but these fields are primarily clay and it just absorbs it and looks like nothing was added. I also tried straw in the watermelons and squash beds this year as mulch and it worked well and Bent will rototill it in in the fall for more organic matter. I think that might be the plan for all beds next year.
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Kansas just as bad. We only planted tomatoes, thank goodness.
Worst summer for garden best we remember. Virtually no yield so far, now the plants are going crazy but I am pretty sure they are going to be too late. It was hotter than the hubs of xxxx early and stayed that way. The corn fields around us look like popcorn.
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Serrano, Jalapeno, Fresno, Havasu, Chili Red & Poblano were planted. I know there are no Japs in there yet.
Starting from left is Fresno, Chili Red and then bottom Serrano, then various stages of Havasu, and the Pablano.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZiCgafRh.jpg)
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Here in WI my tomatoes didn't do well.
Jalapenos are the best I've ever had.
Planted them in a Earth Box and it really worked well.
Picked the first one on July 4th and it looks like I will still be picking until they freeze off.
Just started my 6th jar last night to ferment. First year doing that and it's been working well.
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I had a friend tell me that if I just had to spray, at least I should try covering the tomatoes with a big plastic bucket.
Or a trash bag tied at the bottom.
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I planted two tomatoes and one jalepeno in large planters this year. The tomatoes are doing great and other folks in my area are saying the same about yields. This is what I pulled off them yesterday, and have pulled an equal amount last week and still have twice as much left - from two plants. Flavor is terriric.
The jalapeno yield is also great, but flavor not so good. I have it all on drip system, and I think the amount of water the tomatoes need is too much for the peppers - so they are not very hot and have a watered down flavor.