August 23 Update

Lisa is planting lettuce (planted some brassicas a couple weeks ago). Below Prince has some nice romaine seedlings under their sunflowers which may have gone in the end of July.

The tomatoes are still yielding, though the 2" of rain last Thursday or Friday seems to have reinvigorated the early blight.

The peppers are doing absolutely nothing--trying to research what's wrong--looks like planting after tomatoes is part of the problem but a number of different possibilities for cause.  Need to deep dig beds.

Trying to figure out how to plant some winter cover while we still have summer and fall crops and while doing some fall tillage.

The Italian zucchini has gone to town--Lisa has 2 big ones here and two more on the plant.  The asters are starting to bloom.

August 15 Status/Lessons on Tomatoes

Gathered a lot of tomatoes this morning.  Had some rain over the weekend.  No glads--they seem about played out.  The second planting of glads in late May? didn't do well at all.  I think planting over a month between mid March and end of April is best.

The leeks are doing very well, Lisa pulled the stocks, the asters have buds on them, the Italian squash is bearing well, the okra is shading the beans and peppers, which aren't doing well at all.  Lisa says she won't allow volunteer sunflowers next year.

On tomatoes: first, don't put basil and tomatoes in same bed--the netting interferes and isn't needed for basil. Second, watering the center of the bed is difficult with the netting. Third, take out poles that go higher than the netting posts.  Fourth, secure the cages well--a number leaned this year.  Fifth, cut short pipe pieces to hold the horizontal pipe within the bed.  Sixth, have the sides of the bed higher than the soil if possible. 

August 1 Status

Still dry and very hot.  Watered this morning after pruning early blight affected branches.  Some on most of the plants, even the PP which seemed to recover.  Not sure whether to do copper treatment again.

Harvested maybe 6-8 more tomatoes, we have two or more bowls full on the counter.  Also some glads, mostly yellows and oranges this year, a couple blues although Lisa didn't like the looks of one I cut.  Most of the peppers are looking thriftier.  The Italian zucchini is climbing the support, need to add one for another branch. Lisa got a couple more eggplant 2-3 days ago.  The sunflowers are blooming and the okra are taking off.

July 26--Zucchini support

Had 1.25 inches of rain yesterday, today is cooler and a lot drier but just a couple degrees lower.  Harvested tomatoes and put up support for Italian zucchini--left it way too long and may have damaged one runner in trying to train it to the support.

Hot Hot July 23

Heat index 120 yesterday, 105 plus 78 dewpoint.  Lisa harvested 2 eggplant yesterday, the vermi...  wilt doesn't seem to be too bad and lots of fruit on the plants. Pruned tomato branches of early blight.

July 19

Getting about 5 tomatoes a day, plus some glads.  Still some early blight on some tomatoes.  Lots of eggplants. Gave one cabbage to Caroline today, one to Ann-Marie earlier in the month, have 2 left.  Volunteer sunflowers are blossoming but Lisa doesn't like the blooms.

July 13 Storm

Storm dumped 2.65 inches in about 30 minutes Wed. evening. 3 eggplants 2 peppers and 3 tomatoes were tilted over--need to be sure to stake them next year. 

Lisa's resown beets and more beans.  The chard is growing, leeks looking good. Still early blight on the MH at the end, though the PP at the other end seems to be revived.