Tomato Issues

I am very troubled by the state of my tomatoes. The top half is curled, flowers are few and hardly any are producing fruit. One plant has some yellowing on the older leaves. It started a few weeks ago when the temperatures shot up and there was much less rain, but it's not getting better now that things have stabilized a bit. As I investigated, it seems that there are a lot of aphids. So, is this aphid damage, or have they transmitted a disease (possibly cucumber mosaic virus or tobacco mosaic virus)?

My zucchini are struggling with the cucumber bugs also. I sprayed pyrethrin on everything, but I just don't know if it's too late.

June Pictures...Finally

These pictures were taken last week, but they are just now making it to the blog.

I've already been digging up a few potatoes as I've needed them, but I think they are just about ready for general harvest now. This week they appear to be dieing off. The early corn has started to tassle, and the pole beans have started to flower. The lima beans are now about 4 inches high.

The lettuce is starting to bolt, and I may have to harvest most all of it soon. I'm so excited that my lettuce did well this year. I also have tons of turnip greens, dill, and a few sunflowers. The broccoli and half my cabbages have been harvested, and the other half of the cabbages appear to be about ready now. I planted four canteloupes where the broccoli was this last week. It remains to be seen if they will do okay or not.

After a few hail storms, the onions are about ready for harvest. I've already gotten a few carrots, and I am pleased that they are doing well this year also. I can't say the same for the scallions. I have a few leeks that I think are still fighting among the weeds in the middle as well as a ton of swiss chard. I am still having trouble getting my beets to bulb though.

The remaining strawberries have done super well, producing a ton of runners. Unfortunately, I have let the weeds take over. That needs to be taken care of this week.

My herbs have done well for the most part. Here we have Italian parsley, chamomile, sage, chives, oregano, a salad mix, rosemary and spearmint. I also have thyme and cilantro that isn't pictured here. Unfortunately, the cilantro didn't germinate that well. I may need new seed for next year.

Here are the cucumbers, watermelon, squash, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes. I'm having some trouble with the tomatoes and squash. Some I think from cucumber beetles, and some I'm not sure about. (I will post more on that later.) The peppers and eggplant seem to be doing super well though.

Freezing in the Heat

This year is the first year that I have actually had enough vegies to be able to freeze some extra for later. Yesterday I was able to process about a quart of peas, and today I processed almost a gallon of broccoli. Of course, I might have been able to process more if I had stayed on top of the garden these last few weeks, but I'm still pretty pleased.

Freezing produce is super easy. And for vegetables, it's easier than canning because most vegies require pressure canning to be safe for preservation. (Tomatoes being the exception.) Although, I have been known to just through peppers, onions, and tomatoes in the freezer, there is a technical process called blanching. This requires minimal cooking in boiling water to stop the growing enzymes and then an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Other than being sure that your vegetables are washed well with no bugs, that's it. Process time varies, although it's generally the same time for boiling as ice bathing. Pick Your Own is my go to resource for food preservation, both canning and freezing.

Other accomplishments for today: I also picked four cabbages and weeded/pulled up bolting plants from the brassica bed. The broccoli is basically finished, so I'm pondering planting cantaloupe in its place. I replanted some butternut squash, although a couple just sprouted today. I also resprayed the eggplant. I think it's going to make it this year, but I need to figure out why the flowers are falling off. Is this the same as calcium deficiency in tomatoes and peppers?

Pictures tomorrow...

The Legumes that Went Out of Control

The Great Bean Takeover

May is always a busy time in the garden, but as always it is a crazy time at school as well. Crazy stress of finishing up = Crazy sickness as well... I am finally in the full recovery...err...relaxation of June. Huzzah! In that time, I have managed to finish planting peppers, squash, cucumbers and watermelon, although I still need to put in some basil plants and a yellow pepper. I have also picked a ton of broccoli and peas.

Unfortunately though, the garden has had to mostly fend for itself. That has led to some bolting of cooler plants such as lettuce and broccoli, but the worst problem as been with my green beans. I got them planted about three weeks ago, but did not get around to creating a trellis for them to climb. Those beans took fending for themselves literally! They just cozied up with the peas, and you could hardly tell which kind of plant was on the pea trellis. Today, I set about to fix the problem, and it was no small task. I untangled and pulled and unwove until I finally got the beans back in their row and the peas all pulled up. (In the process I picked and froze about a quart of shelled peas.) After the great untangle and fixing everyone's place nicely, I tried to set the beans up on their own trellis and planted lima beans in the peas' place. Overall, my new trellis method is rather nice; I just have to never underestimate the speed of pole bean growth.

It has become super hot, so that it is impossible to just set aside a day for gardening. I have to work for a few hours in the morning each day. So, tomorrow's goal is to take care of the brassica bed. Several cabbages are ready to be picked, as well as lots of broccoli. Some broccoli is flowering as is some other greens and stuff, so that's all ready to be pulled up. I will also try to add some grass clippings as mulch in that bed, and I may freeze some broccoli. It really depends on how I assess things tomorrow. I also need to replant some butternut squash, as that didn't really come up for some reason.

Until tomorrow....hopefully...