"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away?"

Author: Unknown

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Update On The Garden

      I called my county extension agent again, and she offered to send some of my plants to the college to see whats going on with them... for free. Cant beat free. She said it would take about a week. I have about 1/2 of my tomato plants left. The ones that are thriving, are growing hug. I am 5'6" tall, and there are a few starting above my head. There are also lots of blooms and baby toms.

My first little baby hot pepper for the season. You can barely see it. It's all of about 1/8" across.


One of my garlics are blooming.


My first time growing cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage. Sorry, I already picked the ready cauliflower  :)
My second time growing peas. My first time trying Super Sugar Snap  Peas. I ran out of room in the garden for now. I will try some more later in the season.

My newly sown herbs: Cilantro, Basil, Marjoram, etc. I placed them at the base of my water fountain to keep them moist for sprouting..
As you can see I am babysitting three of my grand daughters for the past couple of days. Far left, I put in 3 quick rows of Pole beans. Stringless Blue Lake. Next to the right, is my Kennebec potatoes. They grew to over 3 ft, then flopped over and grew at least a foot more. Still waiting on blooms. I have seen 2-3.. Then farther right is the tomato bed with T-frames. Some of these are pushing 6 foot tall already. Then there is the enclosed garden. In the front of the fence I have some cantaloupes,  and watermelon.



I love the baby blues and hint of green in this Hydrangea. There are only a few places I can grow it to get bloom. It blooms on old wood, and I am pushing my zone with it. If I leave it in an unprotected area, the branches die, come back next year, but wont bloom. This one is growing in the back of my house, protected from cold winds by the house.
I like the multiple petals of  this pretty Rudbeckia.
Beautiful pink Powderpuff Hollyhock.



Thursday, June 13, 2013

Disease and More Disease! When Will It End









I have determined it was not actually a calcium deficiency, but disease effecting my precious tomatoes. Out of the 80 I have had to pull approx 10 plants. removed diseased limbs. I am somewhat sure I have the dreaded Fusarium Wilt (no cure), and some Early Blight as seen in pic 5. Also possibly White Mold, according to the county extension agent. I have sprayed everything twice with a bleach spray which is a combo of 1 gallon of water and 5 oz bleach. Most of my plants look good. I am just praying that Fusarium doesnt spread around to everything thats left. I am going to purchase Copper Dragon per extension agent recomendation,and probably Mancozeb as well per someone's advise from a tomato forum. I had such high hopes for my garden this year. I am getting quite a few bloom on the tomatoes and also some setting fruit.


Sunday, June 09, 2013