tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post3017299878400476021..comments2024-03-17T05:30:42.919-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: Mid-August Update - Main Garden BedsMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-64351414169000999482015-08-29T12:57:34.591-04:002015-08-29T12:57:34.591-04:00That sounds like a good idea. You could always cov...That sounds like a good idea. You could always cover a slightly wider area with a bigger bit of plastic and weigh it down with bricks or something, which might prevent any reshooting directly near the trunk. You might need to watch out for slugs hiding underneath though!Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-81606395449682655182015-08-28T05:42:49.472-04:002015-08-28T05:42:49.472-04:00I think that the milk sprays help - I didn't g...I think that the milk sprays help - I didn't get around to doing any this year, but I did last year, although, like you, I wasn't very consistent.<br /><br />We did have another similar ornamental tree gone wild that we got rid of last year as it was a wasp magnet & it had loads of suckers coming up from the ground, even before we cut it down. This one doesn't have any yet, but we will definitely keep a watch out for that. I've heard that a possible, non-toxic way of dealing with that is placing a heavy duty black garbage bag over the stump, securing it with zip ties - haven't tried it but it's something they are attempting in an old growth forest near us where buckthorn (an invasive species) is a real problem.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-19775840678138045012015-08-26T12:26:03.905-04:002015-08-26T12:26:03.905-04:00It's funny isn't it how year to year diffe...It's funny isn't it how year to year different varieties do better than others.<br />I've had really bad powdery mildew this year as it's been so dry. I did try a milk spray early on but didn't keep at it. The plants have still continued cropping but probably not as well as if they'd not got it.<br />I was thinking that with the willow you might need to look out for new shoots coming up once you've cut it down, depending on the particular species. The cherry tree in the plot next to mine has been sending up new trees quite far from its main trunk. But hopefully that won't happen for you!Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-90009553917342436642015-08-24T10:32:13.741-04:002015-08-24T10:32:13.741-04:00I really like Fordhook Giant - like it's name,...I really like Fordhook Giant - like it's name, it does produce giant leaves & has a nice, mild taste. That's one of the reasons I continue to grow it even though there are prettier varieties out there too. I'll probably be pulling some of the cucumber vines this week - the last thing I need is for whatever is on the cucumbers to cross over onto the Romanesco squash & further reduce what small harvest I may get.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-46635055617375125642015-08-23T10:51:00.368-04:002015-08-23T10:51:00.368-04:00I'm glad you can get that tree out ... I'm...I'm glad you can get that tree out ... I'm stuck with the neighbouring yard's poplars and the roots grow all through my garden space. I'm constantly cutting and digging out huge roots. Your variety is impressive! Not just the many tomatoes you have on the go, but everything! How do you like the fordhook giant chard, by the way, as I was thinking of trying that myself?<br /><br />I also have some type of mildew on my squash plants and will be pulling them soon (just waiting for a couple more squash to mature).Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-58283599529394518732015-08-23T09:12:12.194-04:002015-08-23T09:12:12.194-04:00I'll have to try mini-cucumbers. I grew a sma...I'll have to try mini-cucumbers. I grew a small, gherkin variety this year - Correntine - but I'm not overly impressed. To be fair, I'm not impressed with any of the cucumbers this year other than the Lemon; it's just been a bad year for them, so I don't think I'll write off any of the varieties just yet.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-7910507355301559282015-08-23T08:51:05.995-04:002015-08-23T08:51:05.995-04:00I am hoping that when we next visit the plot that ...I am hoping that when we next visit the plot that blight hasn't struck as the past few days has been conditions that blight thrives in.<br /><br />We are mini cucumber converts one thanks to Jo.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-22735558090481490372015-08-23T08:35:38.946-04:002015-08-23T08:35:38.946-04:00We love our tomatoes - or at least I love our toma...We love our tomatoes - or at least I love our tomatoes. They are one of those veg where you spend hours agonizing during the winter over which varieties to grow as there are just so many to choose from. And that tree is comin' down in the next few days - I just hope my rabbit fencing doesn't get smushed in the process.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-54328786205306215712015-08-23T08:31:39.284-04:002015-08-23T08:31:39.284-04:00I was just doing a walk through of the garden this...I was just doing a walk through of the garden this morning and my cucumbers are pretty much on their last legs. Bok choy is one of my favourite Chinese greens. You should give it a go sometime - it would do quite well in a spot that received part shade.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-26386678092732840732015-08-22T22:30:14.422-04:002015-08-22T22:30:14.422-04:00So many tomatoes!! Your garden really is impressiv...So many tomatoes!! Your garden really is impressive. I'd whack that tree down, too. :o)Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-25637294635732348092015-08-22T15:10:25.506-04:002015-08-22T15:10:25.506-04:00Your Tomatoes look great--I hope the blight holds ...Your Tomatoes look great--I hope the blight holds off a bit until you have a chance to harvest them. My Cucumbers didn't produce much this year, but they're in a weird spot, and in a garden that only gets sun for about five hours of the day. I don't think I'll plant them again next year--maybe if I ever have a sunny garden again. That Baby Bok Choy looks tasty!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-84850360586210646342015-08-22T13:18:43.875-04:002015-08-22T13:18:43.875-04:00Each year, the diseases that come up surprise me. ...Each year, the diseases that come up surprise me. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole notion of not EVER ever having a disease free year.<br /><br />Oh boy - I hope I don't end up having to dig up that bed and replacing the soil - that's one expense and backbreaking chore I can do without.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-72568227049185865702015-08-22T11:59:00.634-04:002015-08-22T11:59:00.634-04:00Those yellow pear tomatoes (and the brandywines to...Those yellow pear tomatoes (and the brandywines too, let's face it!) catch every disease known to man. But the taste forces me to grow them both every year. Mine have blight, hornworms and gawd knows what else, but once I FINALLY get one, it will be all worth it!<br /><br />And you're so correct on those darn willows---they'll put out roots 2 miles long if there's moisture to be found. Get rid of it, and be prepared for a hellish battle with the roots!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10122524042294993949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-53539740304127071192015-08-22T11:06:09.121-04:002015-08-22T11:06:09.121-04:00Last year was the first time I had blight (both ea...Last year was the first time I had blight (both early and late) and it was pretty bad, especially the late blight. I'm considering pulling the Costoluto Genovese as it seems to be the only one afflicted by late blight so far. I had really been looking forward to testing this variety as a sauce tomato (it's supposed to be great for that), but I don't have enough tomatoes for that yet. I could let it go on for a bit in the hopes of giving me a few more tomatoes. But if I pull the Genovese, I may prevent or at least slow down the progress of this disease on the other plants. Still debating on that one.<br /><br />I'm glad you are having a good tomato year & your Mini Munch cucumbers are holding their own - every year presents different challenges, doesn't it?Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-6899971378738192052015-08-22T07:07:44.078-04:002015-08-22T07:07:44.078-04:00Blight is such a devastating disease, I hope you m...Blight is such a devastating disease, I hope you manage to salvage your tomatoes. It's sickening to grow the plants all year and have no crop to show for it. Hopefully, you might be able to keep the plants with early blight going for a while by removing some foliage. I'm really surprised by my tomatoes this year, they've ripened much earlier than other years and I'm getting a great harvest. I thought my cucumbers had had it when we had a cool spring, the plants didn't like the conditions and have never really recovered but I'm getting a decent harvest from the Mini Munch. The lemon cucumbers are another story.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.com