We had a visit from Thelma Adams who offered information about:
Gopher Trapping- Place the trap into the gopher hole as far as you can and while holding the trap insert a rod through the back opening of the trap. This will not allow the gopher to push the trap out and you are more likely to get him.
Tomatoes that are splitting open – This is from uneven watering due to the weather, the wind, humidity & heat. The ground can be wet and you can still have the splitting. There is not much you can do about the weather.
Squash/cucumbers - mildew problems are hard to avoid due to the humidity. There are mildew resistant types however it does not eliminate the mildew problems. Tip keep all the lower leaves trimmed, do not crowd the plants they do need air flow, both will slow the mildew problems and trimming will also aid in keeping insects from climbing onto the plant.
Onion – bulb onions need the top half uncovered in order for them to grow the bulb. If you have mulched around them move the mulch back away from the bulb only. You may leave mulch between bulbs and/or in the roll to aid in water retention.
Sweet potatoes – You plant from slips. You can grow your own slips; A. put 3 tooth picks in a sweet potato and place in a glass of water. Once the slip comes out you will see roots next to the potato, break it off at the roots and plant the rooted end. B. cut the sweet potato in half length wise and place the cut half onto moist soil and wait for the vine to grow again look for the roots and cut or break the slip off and plant. Note: White flies will visit your garden if you plant sweet potatoes.
Good summer crops – Okra, peas purple hull or any type of black-eyed pea, snap beans, watermelon, cantaloupe & peppers are all good.
Please remember we do have limited space and vines can be trained to trellis; trellising does take nearly daily attention especially for plants that normally do not grow up, to get the maximum results.
Note: Peppers, egg plant & in-determinent tomatoes are able to live and fruit up to six years if maintained. You can prune the peppers in the slow growth periods to aid in their survival; leave at least 1/5 of the foliage. In-determinent means they will continue to bloom and fruit, to determine the type your plants are, check the description on the seed packets.
Gardeners noted they are having good production of squash & tomatoes. One gardener reported harvesting approximately 12 pounds of fruit in one week.
Beans that produce in the summer – Concesa, contender, yard long types and yellow wax.
We would like to thank Thelma Adams for the wealth of information she passed on to the gardeners today and for her "sage" advice!
Here's an article on Thomas Jefferson's garden. Note that the word "failed" was so often used in his garden diary. So don't worry too much about our failures, live and learn.
Judy Sanders
Gopher Trapping- Place the trap into the gopher hole as far as you can and while holding the trap insert a rod through the back opening of the trap. This will not allow the gopher to push the trap out and you are more likely to get him.
Tomatoes that are splitting open – This is from uneven watering due to the weather, the wind, humidity & heat. The ground can be wet and you can still have the splitting. There is not much you can do about the weather.
Squash/cucumbers - mildew problems are hard to avoid due to the humidity. There are mildew resistant types however it does not eliminate the mildew problems. Tip keep all the lower leaves trimmed, do not crowd the plants they do need air flow, both will slow the mildew problems and trimming will also aid in keeping insects from climbing onto the plant.
Onion – bulb onions need the top half uncovered in order for them to grow the bulb. If you have mulched around them move the mulch back away from the bulb only. You may leave mulch between bulbs and/or in the roll to aid in water retention.
Sweet potatoes – You plant from slips. You can grow your own slips; A. put 3 tooth picks in a sweet potato and place in a glass of water. Once the slip comes out you will see roots next to the potato, break it off at the roots and plant the rooted end. B. cut the sweet potato in half length wise and place the cut half onto moist soil and wait for the vine to grow again look for the roots and cut or break the slip off and plant. Note: White flies will visit your garden if you plant sweet potatoes.
Good summer crops – Okra, peas purple hull or any type of black-eyed pea, snap beans, watermelon, cantaloupe & peppers are all good.
Please remember we do have limited space and vines can be trained to trellis; trellising does take nearly daily attention especially for plants that normally do not grow up, to get the maximum results.
Note: Peppers, egg plant & in-determinent tomatoes are able to live and fruit up to six years if maintained. You can prune the peppers in the slow growth periods to aid in their survival; leave at least 1/5 of the foliage. In-determinent means they will continue to bloom and fruit, to determine the type your plants are, check the description on the seed packets.
Gardeners noted they are having good production of squash & tomatoes. One gardener reported harvesting approximately 12 pounds of fruit in one week.
Beans that produce in the summer – Concesa, contender, yard long types and yellow wax.
We would like to thank Thelma Adams for the wealth of information she passed on to the gardeners today and for her "sage" advice!
Here's an article on Thomas Jefferson's garden. Note that the word "failed" was so often used in his garden diary. So don't worry too much about our failures, live and learn.
Judy Sanders
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