Friday, September 26, 2014
Garden, hardly worth the trouble
Abominable creature
Beats me why they call it the Tobacco Hornworm if it eats tomato plants.
Most of our pathetic harvest this year. Its the first year we actually have edible pears. Managed to harvest six more or less healthy ones out of about 25 we started with.
Acorn squash, not so much
Seems the Powdery Mildew got it bad no matter what I put on it to control it
A total of three acorn squash no more than 3 inches across each
And only the second of two yellow squash (courgettes)
Also suffering from Powdery Mildew, I doubt it will make it more than a week longer
Even the maples are confused this year
This one has not dropped it seeds yet and its late September. Usually they drop in spring.
And the Sunflowers are oblivious to the sun, they just look the other way
But I guess winter is not too far off
I know it's not funny but those sunflowers seem to be acting like spoiled children turning their backs like that. I like the variety of colors.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I grew tomatoes in containers surrounded by rolls of fencing to save them from deer, rabbits and groundhogs. I was tying up some branches when all of a sudden I see this large green worm sitting on the branch in front of my face. I'd never seen a horn worm and it was huge. I was so ticked off that I hadn't seen it much sooner I grabbed it with my bare hand and tossed it on the ground and "rubbed" it out!
Amazing how each year is different in how these plants grow. Think this year's performance is due to higher Spring rainfall? Seems like anyone's guess is as good as another.
At least the tomatoes you did get are really nice.
Hi Leslie, The weather was definitely off this year here in Maine. We had a lot of cold in the spring. Lots of gray rainy days. I think that played a part in it. Things really seemed to stop growing suddenly. My bell pepper plants are stunted and peppers are barely a couple of inches across not even close to harvest. Every time I water one of the pepper plants it wilts. Can't for the life of me figure it out. Those Early girl tomatoes are supposed to be twice as big. And I just can't seem to grow anything without all these blights affecting it. If it isn't that its the bugs. I picked off about 25 of the hornworms a couple of months ago when they were about a half inch across. This one must have remained well hidden only apparent as the leaves thinned out. The oaks are dropping acorns like rain quite early too. I am told it is a sign of not enough hot weather and a cold hard winter to come.
DeleteSorry you've had a poor year with it again. It seems like your climate is against you. I suppose you could grow in a poly tunnel but the cost would off set any saving from the veg. Also it wouldn't help with the bugs. Our tomatoes get left alone. Normally just blight we worry about.
ReplyDeleteYes Kev, it seems the excessive ambient moisture and gray skies promotes a lot of blights. Then when the sun comes out, it does so quite suddenly and it just scorches the leaves that have not got used to the harsh sun. The last time I tried growing squash the same thing happened. I think it may be a localized issue within our area. Others in the neighborhood are having the same problem. Still confused as to why every time I water my bell peppers they wilt. Makes no sense to me.
DeleteMy chickens eat up the caterpillars here, even the woolly boogers that don't hurt anything. Must be getting cold up there, it's chilly way down here in the South.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind raising a few chickens, but as we live "in town" we are not allowed chickens, though with the number of possums and foxes around here chickens would not last long. Temps here hit 80 degrees yesterday, but had been dropping in to the high 30s at night the week before. I think we juts got our indian summer. Its forecast to be in the 50s next week.
DeleteThe sunflowers are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI thought Ishoul d do some gardening after I retiered few monthes ago but can not find the peace of mind to doing so.
Yael, I don't know what it is like to grow anything in the relatively arid conditions over in Israel, and I certainly can't seem to do much with the vegetables. But I seem to do OK with flowers, except for the silly sunflowers that seem to ignore the sun rather than follow it as they are supposed to. The squirrels will eat them just the same I suppose. It takes a little effort but it brightens up the yard, and it seems to slow down traffic a bit as at least some passing cars seem to take a few seconds to appreciate the bright colors instead off accelerating right through the stop sign on my corner.
Delete