Fall Garden 2009

Here is two more.

A expanded view

Here are some Earthboxes waiting for the 2nd tomato planting next month

watermelon on the left, Acorn squash on the right. They will sprawl along the fenced area.

As always, I only "farm" in containers (of many types) , and use only coconut coir (this year mixing perlite in with it (80/20 mix)

Bob I'm so envios(sp)..I'll be lucky if my garden last 2 more months..Darn..

tubbytee - The main reason I live down here is for the 9 month gardening. It's my only hobby and love it. The other main reason is 9 months of beautiful weather. When we retire, my wife wants to spend half of June, July, August, and half of September up north.

Migrating is good.

"Oh no, you're leaving!!"

Oh, hooray, you're back!!"

Everyone loves you more! LOL!

Bob: Your 80/20 mix is that 80 percent coir and 20 percent perlite? I'm going to use something like that in my smart pots and when I water all my medium down when they are in the EBs and smart pots I'm going to use a compost tea/sea magic mix instead of water this time just to see what happens. Give them an extra boost I hope.

Your green EB looks a tad different than the others, is an older EB or what?
joy

The one on the end is the one Garden Patch I bought. Yes- 80 coir/20 perlite.

Bob: Thanks, I'm going to be getting around to my fall garden soon, want to get these bugs under control first, my canna lilies are looking sad also. So; have my work cut out for me this week. All it did was pour down there in south FL while I was there, and it didn't rain here the whole time I was gone. Now, that I'm home again, it's done nothing but rain, is that stuff following me around or what? LOL
joy

I like those agro-tower pots used as single containers. I guess you can always stack them later if space gets scarce. As for bugs, it has been almost a bug free summer for me except for harlequin bugs. Everything I have planted from the cabbage family of plants gets covered with them. The only other plants they seem to bother is sunflowers but only if they are first hatched out on the cabbage type stuff. Go figger!

We got a lot of wet stuff falling from the skies here in the hill country lately. At first I almost didn't recognize it but then I remembered that we use to have lots of it when I lived in Louisiana and over there they called it "rain". Really wet stuff. My dog has never had wet feet before and refuse's to go out into the yard. These local Texans seem to make some connection between rain and religion because when it starts raining they stand out in it and shout "Thank God." It scared the beejesus out of my neighbors 8 year old kid who experienced it for the first time in his life. :-) I dont know whats causing this strange weather. Must be global warming or sump'n!!

Jaywhacker: My poor garden has been taking quite the beating by bugs, I found an orange melon from being badly attacked by squash bugs, bought myself 2 bottles of malathion, as I just planted out most of my fall garden. I hope squash bugs hate broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, beets and onions? My poor cannas have taken quite the bug beating in front yard also, treated with systemic; but now am out and only one place in town carries it. So have to wait til they get more in.
joy

Hey Jay! What stops harlequin bugs, cause I've got cabbage family seedlings inside waiting for a cool day 2 get planted out. THX. Linda

harlequin bugs are a type of stink bug, malathion usually takes them out pretty well. I didn't get the pretty harlequin ones, I got stuck with the ugly brown prehistoric looking ones. LOL After using malathion I am going to switch over to this stuff called "3 season oil", it's supposed to be organic and that is what the local nursery uses, so thought I'd give it a try this season. I hate those stink bugs and squash bugs, they are terrible.
joy

I cant remember the name of the stuff and I have thrown away the container. Bought it at Home Depot in small container with a squeeze pump sprayer. But what works best is just to pull the plants and destroy them. Who needs that buggy old stuff anyway? The frozen veggy department at HEB sells them cheaper than I can grow them anyway if I am having to fight the bugs. I like flowers better. Guess if hard times is a-coming, I better learn to eat flowers. :-) Have you tried Vinca with a little cream and cane sugar sprinkled on them?

This message was edited Sep 16, 2009 7:33 PM

HERE WE GO !!!!! The first of the new season. It's a Roma

LIFT OFF! Keep the pics coming Bob.

Yeah, you lucky devil you, you are just perfect for toms, I gotta wait (sob sob).
joy

Bob you never cease to amaze me! By the way.. the photo of the cat and the frog is precious beyond belief.

P.S. The lettuce is kicking butt now!

Juanita

Bob -- Sorry I did not take pictures of my seedlings but I'm in a lot of pain because of the increase of my post poli syndrome which is always followed after a severe stress situation and it does not get better. Every time I want to take a picture it either rains or I'm just too uncomfortable. I did transplant them outside two days ago into 4" & 6" square containers and they are doing very well in the coir. I was expecting transplanting shock and losing a few but it didn't happen? I used the coir in one of my EBs as transplant soil as it was easier for me to work with at the time and of course in the shade.


This message was edited Sep 27, 2009 10:35 AM

TPlant: Teach that grandson how to use the camera. LOL He can get the pics for you, then we can all cry, as tomato season is over up here for me anyways, my okra is slowing down now too and the eggplant. Got lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, beets, spinach, cabbages and soon strawberries; but no tomatoes (sniffle, sniffle).
joy

Here is the first cuke of the season almost ready to pick

First acorn squash growing very fast. It's still in the high 80's during the day and high 70's at night.

Even with these temps, my tomatoes are pollinating

Bob: I'm getting highly upset with someone, they told me they couldn't plant the tomato seeds I gave them down there because it was too hot. Hmph, he will hear about this one. LOL
joy

Bob -- UNBELIEVIABLE!!!! They are not supposed to pollinate at these temperatures? Wish Carolyn would pay attention to this forum? Maybe she could provide an explanation? It must be your fertilizer! Are the plants directly exposed to the sun?

These tomato plants are outside my screen getting full sun all day. I am amazed as you are.

Bob: You go there, I want to see some toms ya'll, I can't grow them yet, it's 51 degrees here already.
joy

Bob --- Guess I'll start earlier next season and give it a go although I tried one year and had nothing but sunburn and all kinds of diseases? It has to be your fertilizer which, unfortuneately, Ican only use on my roses and other flowering plants as they love it. I have had and do have beautiful roses all summer not as large as fall winter variety but never the less , I had roses for my grandson to take to his teacher. That fertilizer is miraculous!! I will soon be buying more fertilizer and coir.
All my tests yesterday were great except I do have some sort of bacterial gastoritis in my system which is minor and have to go for a breath test to determine what kind as the doctor could not take any samples from my intestines for fear of excess bleeding as I am on Plavix which could cause severe bleeding but I feel terrific now that I know the truth.For now all I have to do for the gastoritis infection is to contiue my heart meds and get back on Prilosec.

All sounds good buddy !!!! Picked the 1st cuke yesterday. The wife cut up the whole thing and put it in her salad for lunch and took off before I could get a bite.

Just save some that fertilizer for me and my roses.

Fantastic garden, Bob. Great pics! You'll be eatin' high on the hog soon!

I've been looking for a good heat tolerant tomato, one that pollinizes in high temps and saw some Amelia plants at a box store this past summer, first time I've seen them offered here. Is that an Amelia you have pictured? Or is that a different variety that also handles high heat?

Hope you guard the next cuke! Maybe you should put a red flag on the next one, telling your wife that one is "experimental" and you need to keep a close eye on it! :>)

Shoe

Thanks Shoe,

Amelia is one of the varieties that I planted and Top Gun and Bella Rosa. All are heat resistant and have good disease resistance. Just look at the growth so early in the season. Good idea for the next cuke, thanks.

ive always wanted to grow acorn squash, just dont have a clue if its a sping or fall veggie her in gainesville

In your area March or August is the planting months according to the Florida Planting Guide. Down here it is Sept. and that's when I put my plants outside. You are too late right now, but March isn't too far away, sort of.

Bob: Those tomato plants look beautiful. You say you are planting heat tolerant/disease resistant types? Hmmm, do the tomatoes get big?
joy

Joy- Medium (8 to 10 oz) Show your boyfriend in Ft. Lauderdale the tomato plant picture and ask him if it is too early to plant tomatoes.

I'm keeping a close eye on that Bella Rosa. Looking good so far. Can't wait to hear the taste report.

B Bob - Your plants are lookin' good!

Ok. I've got about 15 containers filled with your coir and my tomato seedlings. They've been in for about 10 days now and seem to be doing well. I'm going to keep some on the screened patio and move some out to the full sun. We'll see how they compare. Also have a bunch in the ground.
Only heirlooms for me but next year I may try some of the whitefly resistant vars you've told me about. Keep the pics coming. I'll post a few when they're worthy. See ya,

Flip