The eggplants are doing well, growing nicely and have blooms on them. These usually seem to do well, for us anyway, once it gets hot. They are kind of slow going at first then just go crazy and we end up with more eggplants every few days.
Look at this. Three jalapeños almost ready to be picked! We love a jalapeño added to a dish for a little heat. These should do well.
This is the tomatillo. It is COVERED, and I mean covered, in blooms and tiny tomatillos. There is no doubt that this plant loves our climate and conditions, so I guess we will make sure we learn some tomatillo recipes.
This is one of the tomatoes, and of course has green tomatoes growing on it already. I believe this is one of the Homestead 24 varieties, which again, does very well in our heat and humidity. We planted two of them just to have tomatoes for sure if the others didn't produce any.
Here is one of the cherry tomatoes, lots of yellow flower blossoms all over it so it is happy as well.
Remember a few weeks back I posted about the "black krim" heirloom variety and how it had the withered looking leaves? This is a closeup now, it's bounced back and looks like it will make it. It's a bit behind the rest, about half the size of the others, but it will hopefully come back.
The squash plants are the only two that seem to be struggling. They have yellowing leaves and were covered in blooms but have lost a few of those blooms. I'm thinking might not be enough water? Or too much water? Any suggestions?
Now that summer is almost upon us (90+ degrees forecast every day this coming week). We have increased the watering to 30 minutes every day. It had been 30 minutes MWF and then I'd water extra on the weekend, but it seems like they need a bit more water.
The herbs are doing well and the sweet potatoes are still green. As we've said, this is more of a test right now to see if this remote control watering is going to work. As of now, it's 'so far so good'.
Squash needs a lot of water so you might want to actually circle each plant with the soaker hose.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'll work on that. Thanks again! (learning as we go, ha).
DeleteYour veggies are looking incredible - well done.
ReplyDeleteYeah - squash / pumpkins / marrows = plenty water. And lotsa compost. :)
Cool, thank you much!!!
DeleteCheck for insect damage to the stems too. I couldn't figure mine out last year and it turned out to be stink bugs.
ReplyDeleteStink bugs? dang, i'll have to look for that. Thank you!
DeleteTomatillos are really productive. I usually found that I couldn't keep up with two plants. Sadly my husband wasn't into them like he was into tomatoes. He loved the tomato salsa, but didn't like the tomatillo salsa.
ReplyDeleteThey haven't started their paper husks yet, I feel like they are behind but I guess we'll see. We do love tomatillo salsa, it's so fresh and good. But I understand.
Delete1st Man - i'll tell you a little squash secret that we have learned from EVERYONE on the internet who knows how to grow squash...are you ready?
ReplyDeletestart a big giant compost pile somewhere in the yard. save all of your compost in town and ask others to save compost for you. make a big giant pile in the yard and plant the squash in the compost pile. we are trying it this year and so far it is working. give it a try this year or next. but apparently squash love growing in compost....and compost is always wet inside so no need to water and it is always decomposing and aerating....something that squash apparently love.
much love to you and 2nd Man! your friend,
kymber
Really? That's pretty awesome. Thank you. Might be too late (since we're getting hot quickly) but we do get a 2nd chance in the late Summer/early Fall so we'll see what we can do. Thanks!!! Much love to YOU both.
Deletenone of my squash grew last year except for the seeds that sprouted in my compost and they grew like crazy! your tomatillos should do well. i got TONS of them on 3 plants last year. and the plants get huge. we are almost as hot as you, almost 90 today.
ReplyDelete90 is not usual for you is it? Yeah, we're in the 90's all week, ugh. Can't wait to see about the tomatillos. We do like them.
DeleteI hope you are keeping notes on what works and what doesn't for your "test garden" .... I always think I'll remember from one year to the next, but no ... it never happens... so life is a test garden for me!! Plus sometimes revert to how we did things in the Seattle WA area .... in error, of course .... AZ gardening is MUCH different!!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, have a little binder I"m keeping notes in. This is really the first year, so it's all a learning experience. I bet it's way different in AZ. Almost like desert gardening I guess huh?
DeleteI live in Cedar Hill TX, and I always found that squash will do well directly in the ground. If I planted them in raised beds or pots, they would get a lot of flowers but stay small with the yellowing leaves you're experiencing. Also, I read your bio. That's so cool that you're from the Heights! I used to sing at their little opera company, years ago. Anyway, garden looks great, look forward to more updates! - Lisa
ReplyDeleteWell first of all, HI! And welcome!!! I know the opera company. Opera in the Heights? Sad to say we haven't been though, but i think we should get that corrected huh?
DeleteHmm, interesting about raised beds. Thank you for that. We don't really have any place to put them in the ground (our ground at the farm is horrible, clay, I'm sure the squash would NOT be happy, ha.). But I will check that out. Thank you and don't be a stranger!!
Lovely peppers. And the tomatoes - lucky you! It's always so thrilling seeing the first tomatoes of the season. Ours were just put in the ground recently, so we have a ways to go before seeing any beautiful green orbs.
ReplyDeleteThey are very exciting to see. Since we didn't have a garden last year, this is truly like the first crop. Very excited to see it all develop!!
DeleteI was going to suggest that you not water every day but your plants are certainly flourishing so ignore me. I don't grow squash so can't offer any home grown advice. I do however grow butternut pumpkins (though I think you guys call these squashes) and zucchini which are similar I think. I have noticed mine struggle if they get too much water when they are young but I am no expert.
ReplyDeleteHa. you are funny. Hey, it could be too much water, who knows. We are very hot here now, the rains have stopped and none in the forecast and it's also 90's daily. But the squash bed is the first on the soaker hose line and gets the most water.
DeleteYou can use some of your tomatillos to can some salsa verde! We love it! Its very easy to can, goes in a hot water bath. You don't pressure can it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't know that was not a pressure canning thing. Wow, great, I'll have to look up some recipes!! Fingers crossed!
DeleteI rarely water and the tomatoes taste sweeter-Granny did a test last year on that for me- and I think it concentrates the sugar more. I also grow all mine in raised beds and I think the no/low watering causes them to have deeper roots and makes them more hardy. I would have said to water the squash less, but apparently no one else is saying that. I also plant mine in little hills. I think that is so the main plant doesn't sit in water and rot. That's why I would have said less water. The yellowing makes me think, still, too much water. Otherwise they'd wilt and turn brown. Like others have said, grow them in a compost pile- no weeding, no watering, and great outcome.
ReplyDeleteYour gardens look great, though. If you have access to compost, make sure to add it to your raised beds in the fall and/or spring. The soil will settle and need to be refilled- at least ours does- and the compost is great for adding your extra minerals. Of course, our beds don't look as pretty as yours do.
Really? Hmm, will keep that in mind. We love a sweet tomato. I think the squash might be too much water, I'll have to check that out. Can't hurt. Thank you for the compliment, we'll see how it all comes out.
DeleteAnd by the way, our beds will be looking well used in a couple of seasons, no worries there!