official veggie gardener's thread

[TraumaRN]

My garden has mostly been out of control for the last few weeks.

I did 18 quarts of pickles on saturday I had so many cucumbers. 18!!!!

My corn is 12-13 feet tall, which is taller then the peak of my garage!

I've been harvesting tons of beans, cherry tomatoes are starting to come in heavy as have all my peppers. I've harvested 2 heads of celery so far and a few of my onions. The only thing that has been a bust is my cauliflower, only have 3 out of the 6 plants putting heads on. I've got 5 watermelons growing and I have nearly 2 dozen cantaloupe at last count. Between my 13 tomato plants I easily have 500 tomatoes. No joke :biggrin:

Here is a picture of my harvest just this morning:

Obviously carrots and cucumbers. White scallop squash in the bottom left, Black Hungarian hot peppers in the bottom right. The long skinny peppers are Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers. and then the yellow with green speckled cherry tomatoes. And can't forget the Kentucky Wonder Pole beans.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

My garden has mostly been out of control for the last few weeks.

I did 18 quarts of pickles on saturday I had so many cucumbers. 18!!!!

My corn is 12-13 feet tall, which is taller then the peak of my garage!

I've been harvesting tons of beans, cherry tomatoes are starting to come in heavy as have all my peppers. I've harvested 2 heads of celery so far and a few of my onions. The only thing that has been a bust is my cauliflower, only have 3 out of the 6 plants putting heads on. I've got 5 watermelons growing and I have nearly 2 dozen cantaloupe at last count. Between my 13 tomato plants I easily have 500 tomatoes. No joke :biggrin:

Here is a picture of my harvest just this morning:

Obviously carrots and cucumbers. White scallop squash in the bottom left, Black Hungarian hot peppers in the bottom right. The long skinny peppers are Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers. and then the yellow with green speckled cherry tomatoes. And can't forget the Kentucky Wonder Pole beans.

NICE!

 

[spidey07]

My garden has mostly been out of control for the last few weeks.

I did 18 quarts of pickles on saturday I had so many cucumbers. 18!!!!

My corn is 12-13 feet tall, which is taller then the peak of my garage!

I've been harvesting tons of beans, cherry tomatoes are starting to come in heavy as have all my peppers. I've harvested 2 heads of celery so far and a few of my onions. The only thing that has been a bust is my cauliflower, only have 3 out of the 6 plants putting heads on. I've got 5 watermelons growing and I have nearly 2 dozen cantaloupe at last count. Between my 13 tomato plants I easily have 500 tomatoes. No joke :biggrin:



Obviously carrots and cucumbers. White scallop squash in the bottom left, Black Hungarian hot peppers in the bottom right. The long skinny peppers are Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers. and then the yellow with green speckled cherry tomatoes. And can't forget the Kentucky Wonder Pole beans.

You might want to check, but I always though broccoli and cauliflower didn't like the heat which is why they're more for spring/fall.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm starting a new veggie garden this year. Already put the framework for a 8'x16'x6" garden. My soil's has a lot of clay in it so I was looking to purchase some soil to fill er up. Would potting soil be ok or do should I get use topsoil or something else?

I used like 95% topsoil 5% peat moss

 

[TraumaRN]

You might want to check, but I always though broccoli and cauliflower didn't like the heat which is why they're more for spring/fall.

This cauliflower I got was supposed to be either spring planted very early(which I did) or fall planted. I'm trying both. I just planted seeds last week indoors for a fall planting. Whichever produces better is what I'll do next year.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

So for whatever reason, despite my tomatoes eventually succumbing, the peppers seemed to have beaten back the blight. The plants themselves look very healthy and grew like crazy after a bit of a lull in June. The only thing is they're not fruiting very much now. Is there a trick to get more peppers, or did I pretty much just get the initial burst and maybe they'll do a more serious round two closer to fall?

Actually I take that back, just went out to peruse and it looks like I'm in the middle of a second burst right now. Unfortunately I'm still getting a few brown spots on just the Anaheim fruit that hits the peppers when they're young. Not completely certain what it is, as the plant is fine and it's pretty sporadic and always only in one spot.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

So for whatever reason, despite my tomatoes eventually succumbing, the peppers seemed to have beaten back the blight. The plants themselves look very healthy and grew like crazy after a bit of a lull in June. The only thing is they're not fruiting very much now. Is there a trick to get more peppers, or did I pretty much just get the initial burst and maybe they'll do a more serious round two closer to fall?

Actually I take that back, just went out to peruse and it looks like I'm in the middle of a second burst right now. Unfortunately I'm still getting a few brown spots on just the Anaheim fruit that hits the peppers when they're young. Not completely certain what it is, as the plant is fine and it's pretty sporadic and always only in one spot.

more/enough plant food?

 

[spidey07]

So for whatever reason, despite my tomatoes eventually succumbing, the peppers seemed to have beaten back the blight. The plants themselves look very healthy and grew like crazy after a bit of a lull in June. The only thing is they're not fruiting very much now. Is there a trick to get more peppers, or did I pretty much just get the initial burst and maybe they'll do a more serious round two closer to fall?

Actually I take that back, just went out to peruse and it looks like I'm in the middle of a second burst right now. Unfortunately I'm still getting a few brown spots on just the Anaheim fruit that hits the peppers when they're young. Not completely certain what it is, as the plant is fine and it's pretty sporadic and always only in one spot.

Peppers can suffer from blossom end rot as well (though not as bad as tomatoes). It's a lack of calcium that causes it.

 

[BoomerD]

Peppers can suffer from blossom end rot as well (though not as bad as tomatoes). It's a lack of calcium that causes it.

Peppers of many varieties can also suffer from sun scald...

http://www.avrdc.org/LC/pepper/sunscald.pdf

I get it occasionally on my bell peppers and a few Fresnos had it earlier in the season.

 

[marvdmartian]

Where do you live?

It's been pretty much a bust for me this year too. I'm in texas and the heat + lack of rain has screwed up most everything I planted. I got a couple of tomatoes, but nothing noteworthy. I can't seem to keep my cukes and squashes alive... they shrivel up and eventually die in the intense sunlight. My cabbages haven't torn up by cabbage loopers (I even spray BT regularly... but I think I might need to get a new bottle).

My beans look healthy, but they haven't grown. They've been in the ground for two months or so, and they're barely knee high. There's plenty of nutrients in the soil, and they get plenty of water, but they're not growing. Also, my first batch of corn was growing great, but got invaded by some type of pest. My second batch (that I planted early July) is already ~2 ft tall.

The only thing that's really thriving for me is my pepper plants. I've got a few jalapenos and hungarian wax pepper plants... but in hindsight I wish I planted a lot more. Oh well, it's a little too late for that.


Edit:
I've got a few plans for next year though. One of my raised beds is in direct sunlight for 95% of the time. Pretty much everything I put there is guaranteed to die this year. Since I don't really have a better place to put a raised bed, I'm going to make a frame for some sunblock fabric that will block 40%-50% of the sunlight. Also, I'm planning to build a drip irrigation system set on a timer so I know the plants are getting plenty of water.

Same here.

30+ straight days of 100+ degree temps has absolutely prevented the tomatoes from being able to produce fruit. I get plenty of blossoms, but can't get them to last long enough to pollinate, before they shrivel up from the heat. The plants themselves grew like weeds, since I buried a soaker hose in the planting bed, then planted around where it was running (I have an electronic timer that's gone off, every morning, at 5AM, to water the plants).

So the only thing that looks good now, for possible harvesting, is the jalapeno plant I put in, IF it will cool off enough (soon enough AND long enough) for it to be able to grow blossoms and pollinate.

So far as your sun shield idea, I remember my buddy saying that when he made a shade with cheesecloth, it worked out pretty good. They still got sun, just not direct scorching sun. You might try that.

Oh yeah.....and whoever, on the internet, wrote that cottontail rabbits won't eat on tomato and bell pepper plants......evidently never met the rabbits in my neighborhood! Lost a half dozen plants to those suckers (who obviously never read that website either! LOL). But, since they weren't producing in the heat anyways, I'm leaving them alone.

I do hope to get in a late crop, though. If the weather guessers are right, we might have better weather this fall for growing crops than we've had up to now. :thumbsup:

 

[HydroSqueegee]

Where do you live?
.

south west ohio, dayton area.

this is the worst year I've had. last year was worse disease wise, but I got a lot more crop before everything was killed.

 

[BoomerD]

You should be able to find different kinds/types of shade cloth in your area. Home Depot and Lowe's both sell it, or, you can buy on-line.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/shade-cloth

 

[spidey07]

Same here.

30+ straight days of 100+ degree temps has absolutely prevented the tomatoes from being able to produce fruit. I get plenty of blossoms, but can't get them to last long enough to pollinate, before they shrivel up from the heat. The plants themselves grew like weeds, since I buried a soaker hose in the planting bed, then planted around where it was running (I have an electronic timer that's gone off, every morning, at 5AM, to water the plants).

So the only thing that looks good now, for possible harvesting, is the jalapeno plant I put in, IF it will cool off enough (soon enough AND long enough) for it to be able to grow blossoms and pollinate.

So far as your sun shield idea, I remember my buddy saying that when he made a shade with cheesecloth, it worked out pretty good. They still got sun, just not direct scorching sun. You might try that.

Oh yeah.....and whoever, on the internet, wrote that cottontail rabbits won't eat on tomato and bell pepper plants......evidently never met the rabbits in my neighborhood! Lost a half dozen plants to those suckers (who obviously never read that website either! LOL). But, since they weren't producing in the heat anyways, I'm leaving them alone.

I do hope to get in a late crop, though. If the weather guessers are right, we might have better weather this fall for growing crops than we've had up to now. :thumbsup:

I've planted tomatoes late before. Now is pretty damn late for my area but you may be able to find some well established plants and put them in (two feet tall, some blossoms already). By the time they start trying to set fruit the temps may be lower. Depends on your area.

First frost will kill them though so check your first frost date and see if you have the typical 70 day mater.

 

[fatpat268]

So far as your sun shield idea, I remember my buddy saying that when he made a shade with cheesecloth, it worked out pretty good. They still got sun, just not direct scorching sun. You might try that.

Yea that might work, but at the same time, I'm looking for something a little more permanent. I'm planning on getting a custom job done by these guys:
http://www.igcusa.com/greenhouse-shade-cloth.html

Not too bad. I can get a 50% White shade cloth with dimensions of 20'x20' for around $100. I'll probably need less than that, but I haven't measured the area out yet.

I do hope to get in a late crop, though. If the weather guessers are right, we might have better weather this fall for growing crops than we've had up to now. :thumbsup:

Yea, I'm trying to prepare another batch of seedlings of various stuff. Should be able to grow until at least late October/early November when it starts getting close to freezing outside (oh god, I can't wait :wub. Also my tomato plants have been thriving so far, so my goal is to keep them alive until the weather starts cooling so that they can eventually produce something. The problem is, is that they're slowly being invaded by leafminers which is another pain in the ass.

You should be able to find different kinds/types of shade cloth in your area. Home Depot and Lowe's both sell it, or, you can buy on-line.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/shade-cloth

Yea, I've checked Home Depot/Lowes, and the best they have is cloth in rolls of 6'x12'. I could probably make that work, but it's not ideal. Also, my local nursery stocks something bigger, but they want ~$200 for a 12'x12' cloth. But yea, I'm getting one there for next season.

 

[spidey07]

A co-worker has been battling blight for his second year on tomatoes. Decimates the plant and his tiny fruit have no chance (no cover for the fruit, they're busting). I told him to get his soil checked by ag-extension because it will just repeat it it's in the soil.

If you have this kind of blight, report it to ag-ext. They want to know if it's in the area. I am SO HAPPY I yanked half of my maters once I saw signs. Yeah, a lot of work, had to replant half of them but I'm reaping rewards by doing so.

I had early blight, so I yanked them before it spread. Pained me to do so.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Peppers can suffer from blossom end rot as well (though not as bad as tomatoes). It's a lack of calcium that causes it.

Just from the name itself that sounds like the problem. In what manner should I give them more calcium, or is it too late for this year?

Sunscald seems unlikely as many that are effected are more than adequately shaded by the leaves.

 

[snoopdoug1]

more/enough plant food?

I think this is my problem this year. I needed to feed them more. How do you know how much fert to put down?

 

[spidey07]

I think this is my problem this year. I needed to feed them more. How do you know how much fert to put down?

I use 10-10-10 granular fertilizer, about once a month. It's cheap and it's powerful.

 

[snoopdoug1]

I use 10-10-10 granular fertilizer, about once a month. It's cheap and it's powerful.

Any ideas how much each month for a small (16 sq ft) garden? I think I'm going to go buy a bag tonight.

 

[spidey07]

Any ideas how much each month for a small (16 sq ft) garden? I think I'm going to go buy a bag tonight.

A 25 pound bag is like 10 bucks. That would last you many seasons for that size. For something that small you could even use osmocote slow release stuff. It's expensive if you buy it in the containers at home depot, etc but if you buy by the pound at garden supply shops it's a much better deal.

But the bottom line is vegetables absolutely need fertilizer to do much of anything.

 

[snoopdoug1]

A 25 pound bag is like 10 bucks. That would last you many seasons for that size. For something that small you could even use osmocote slow release stuff. It's expensive if you buy it in the containers at home depot, etc but if you buy by the pound at garden supply shops it's a much better deal.

But the bottom line is vegetables absolutely need fertilizer to do much of anything.

Thanks for the help. Should I throw down 2 or 3 cups of (not the osmocote stuff) for that size?

 

[snoopdoug1]

Is this blight? Or is it just to hot? I have 1 tomato plant that looks like it's just going to bite the dust from the heat. I've tried to keep up on watering... and the other plants don't look near this bad. THoughts?

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=z94er&s=7
http://tinypic.com/r/2z7lxti/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2nv5c82/7

Also - my green beans are being eatten by something. They are still producing, so I might just leave it alone.

http://tinypic.com/r/23uo3mt/7

Finally, is there a way for me to post pics here? I couldn't find a way so I had to use tinypic All is not bad, as I have gotten a number of tomatoes from my "early girl" plant, and have got multiple green bean harvests.

Thanks in advance!

 

[spidey07]

Thanks for the help. Should I throw down 2 or 3 cups of (not the osmocote stuff) for that size?

There are directions on the bag. Honestly though for that size osmocote would be fine and you'd be assured of not burning your plants and won't have to do anything the rest of the season. You'll see results from the fertilizer within a week or two at most.

 

[spidey07]

Is this blight? Or is it just to hot? I have 1 tomato plant that looks like it's just going to bite the dust from the heat. I've tried to keep up on watering... and the other plants don't look near this bad. THoughts?

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=z94er&s=7
http://tinypic.com/r/2z7lxti/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2nv5c82/7

Also - my green beans are being eatten by something. They are still producing, so I might just leave it alone.

http://tinypic.com/r/23uo3mt/7

Finally, is there a way for me to post pics here? I couldn't find a way so I had to use tinypic All is not bad, as I have gotten a number of tomatoes from my "early girl" plant, and have got multiple green bean harvests.

Thanks in advance!

That looks like they're just hot. Make sure you don't water the foliage in this heat, will burn the leaves unless you can do it early morning before much sun. Water the soil only. Also looks like they need food (fertilizer).

A happy tomato will have very thick, dark green leaves and lots of them shading and protecting the fruit.

for posting pics - pics.bbzzdd.com

I know this is a pic of a hornworm, but mainly look at the color and happiness of the leaf, that's a happy tomato.

 

[snoopdoug1]

That looks like they're just hot. Make sure you don't water the foliage in this heat, will burn the leaves unless you can do it early morning before much sun. Water the soil only. Also looks like they need food (fertilizer).

A happy tomato will have very thick, dark green leaves and lots of them shading and protecting the fruit.

for posting pics - pics.bbzzdd.com

I know this is a pic of a hornworm, but mainly look at the color and happiness of the leaf, that's a happy tomato.

crap that's what I have been doing. I've been getting water on the leaves. i'll make sure I don't do that anymore. Thanks again for the reply.