Veggies 2 (and other Edibles!)

absolutly Victor!!!! and believe me I have plans for more veggies next year....

boy mildew just multiplyed!!!! I can' beleive it... I am soooooooooo upset... the cukes and zuccinis!!!! oh what do I do??? just take all the leaves out??? can I use the same thing I use for the roses???? oh I am upset!!!!! I don't want to loose my crop!!!!

Introducing ............ TOMATO TECH 2000!!! The more plastic the better the tomato! (Please note the patented nutrient delivery device that eminates from the base of the plant.)

The crowds are going wild! Women and children weep openly in front of this, a miracle of technology. Others nod, gravely, in appreciation.

This message was edited Aug 10, 2007 11:06 AM

Meanwhile, the artichokes chill out a couple of rows over, wondering what the fuss is all about.

watersedge - do you think that the red mulch really increases production?

I think it might. I have a lot more Sungolds than before but we also had a warmer summer and I amped up the compost in this bed considerably this spring.

I surely doesn't hurt.

With the plastic and direct irrigation. Fertilizer 5-5-10 would help with the size on the tomato's.

This message was edited Aug 10, 2007 10:06 AM

The Brandywines down on the end of the row are so big that they need to be tied to the support. The stem won't support them with out cracking. Any bigger and I'd need a cleaver to cut them with.

I have used it for about five years until this one. I ran out and did not get any more. I was a believer in all the research, etc. However, I must be honest and say I see no difference whatsoever this year. If anything, the production is actually higher.

looks nice and organized... like a classroom... I fell like taking attendance!!!! my tomatoes are growing so much they feel like a tomato jungle!!!! I didn't prune!

watersedge . . . I'm in awe of the neatly tied tepees. When I tried making a few the event turned into a Buster Keaton not-so-silent movie. It would have been merciful if the Keystone Cops had arrived and beat me with clubs.

I goning to put my 2 cents in here., then I am done for the day.

Last season stunk - too much rain. I am not the only one that say's this here in New Hampshire. BIG - farms took a direct hit.

This season is tremendous ( even thou we had the April snow storm). Just like Pirl said - July is when you will see things (tomato's - etc.) take off. July was great with the warmth, sun, and the rain we had.

The saying with corn. July knee high. That is the measurement other than a ruler the farmers use. We were ahead of the knee high in July.

Long run - Early Crop.

Agreed, schickenlady.

David_Paul, it'd be unfair for me to not say that I make gardens look perfect for a living.

If there's a road trip to Maine in May, you should stop by the estate I work at. We have a big bulb tour. I just finished designing and ordering bulbs. There oughta be some nice elements in it this year.

Watersedge....can't we all just rent out the Estate for our road trip?????? Sounds like it is just gorgeous there.........loved all your pics.........and those tomatoes and arties are very healthy looking. Mine are sure missing something this year.......I think it's called sunlight. BUT, I do have a nice big yellow guy shaping up at last.

It has been raining here all day. I'm just sure all the tomatoes waiting to get ripe are going to crack! But we needed the rain - my rainbarrel was empty!

It was getting pretty dry here too, Yankee. The rain has stopped here now and the sun is out. Picture perfect ....and low humidity..........Enjoy the weekend!!

I just pulled up two winter squash vines (from an Earthbox) that had turned brown and crispy--Evil Squash Borer!! Boo, hiss. I now have several Sweet Dumpling squash in various stages, which I will cure for a few weeks and see if they are edible. My question is: How can I avoid this pest next season? I've heard about floating row covers--is this the best line of defense? Sounds rather complicated.
I'm a newbie to veggies, in case anyone couldn't tell!

AYankeeCat . . .. rain just stopped here. I'm running out to harvest before they split too. Should have done it yesterday.

I have volunteer winter squash of some kind growing in the compost pile. When do I harvest them?

Still raining lightly here. Received 1.5" so far today.

Yes, CCG, use the floating row cover next year.

Thank you, Arlene, for your response about the need for a " floating row cover." I love that name. Sounds quite romantic. I will use it.
I find that my experience with growing veggies alternates between rapture and despair. Well, maybe not quite that intense. . but I tend to take the successes for granted (cukes, zucchini, tomatoes) and loudly bemoan my faliures with the more challenging ones.
The thing about gardening is that it keeps you humble!! Probably a good thing.

I finally have broccoli.
Andy P

Congrats Andy. I never grew it. Let us know how it tastes!

And lots of Purple Beauty peppers.

Yum to both!

Victor, I grow it every season, that's Green Goliath.
This is Ivory Hybrid pepper.
All 3 pics are from today.
Andy P

Wow, Andy, mine have been gone by for some time now. Yours look great! Nothing like just picked, dark green broccoli!

Do the dark Peppers have a distinct taste? Never tried them.

The broccoli was very slow this year. The peppers were faster than usual.
Both the purple and Ivory peppers are heavy producers. I get the Rainbow mix from Park seed. 6 or 7 colors in a pack of seed. This year they are mostly purple and ivory with a couple green Early Thickset. I have yet to get a chocolate or orange one.

I couldn't pass a blind test between any of them. Occasionally one is extra sweet, probably a very ripe one. I'm making a big batch of Chili tomorrow to use up all the peppers and tomatoes. I have lots of tomatoes, lol.

SarahsKeeper...some Nyagous purple (well, black . . . well . .. really dark brown) tomatoes to go with those purple peppers:

We always found the brown peppers the sweetest.

Good idea on the chili to use up the tomatoes! By Labor Day weekend we'll be overloaded again.

Broccoli..yummmm. Can I start that now for fall harvest? I understand it's a two season crop. Any other fall crops that I can look into planting now? My Zucchini is about done I think - I'm guessing the white on the leaves is mildew. Do the plants usually recover or should I rip them out? I only have 3 of them.

zuccinnis.... they keep coming out of the raised bed... and fall over... they misbehave... well a lot of my plants misbehave!!!!

and a tomato jungle... very misbehaved tomatoes

Kassia....little plum tomatoes?

ah... I don't know what they are called... but they have a weird shape.... here is a pic of the jungle!

Nasturtiums....that is an interesting pairing. Use them in salads?

Have you thought of letting tomatoes grow down from the deck?

yes, and the nasturtions taste pepery... great combo....

hey, never thought about that... at least the bunnies would not get them!!!!