Come Again

Garden Slows...

The cooler weather has stunted the sudden boom of our burgeoning gardens. I did notice many new tomatoes that were a result of the heated boost and ripening strawberries but since things have slowed. A little less daily change is occurring as things acclimate to the average spring breeze and heat, low-80's. I expect that things will ripen a little later than expected unless the heat rises before July drastically. Around here July and August are hot and humid but most of the plants will have spent there time in the soil by then and be coming to there second cycle or completed there cycle. Some will produce riper and sweeter fruits and veggies and some will just start production like the melons but on the overall PM is a spring garden. So hopefully I'll get the heat I need soon enough to plant all the cycles i'd planned. 

Leafy Greens...

Although the lettuce didn't wilt or die during the highly heated days of last week I did notice that they started to tighten and form heads. The iceberg type plants weren't doing this before our high-90's days. I've since pulled a few leaves back from the head and harvested them but I don't know that they'll grow those beautiful large loose leaves we were getting in the beginning. I may not have executed the "cut & come again" method as properly as I'd thought. 

The other cool weather crop that I saw change in was the spinach, the Bloomsdale long-standing spinach, it seemed to really be blooming at first and then all of a sudden a few of the bigger better looking plants went to seed. it was incredible how quickly it all happened in maybe 24 hours the plants that bolted went from lush and ready to perform a "cut & come again" to seed. Once a plant has gone to seed you either must pick the entire plant or let it flower and seed to , well, collect the seeds. So I harvested those plants and a few of the leaves from plants that hasn't bolted for a nicely sized salad. The same happened to the spring mix but not in such a drastic way. A few of the leaves went to seed, maybe 4 out of 70, and other grew an enormous amount. Either way it was obvious that they needed a good harvest to start the "come again" process. So I clipped them at the base near the root and have been keeping an eye on there regrowing. It's only been a little more than a day so nothin to report yet. 

Otherwise, things are good. Even my dead and ailing slips seem to be taking root and growing more healthy with each passing day. I don't know, yet, that all 4 will make it but from the looks of the leaves they seem to be trying. 

How does your Garden Grow

In the HEAT!

The plants have absolutely boomed. I was 1000% right. The heat has changed the garden completely over the last 4 days, for the better. 

Tomato Plants...

The tomato-berry plant that didn't grow one inch taller for two months has grown about a foot in height and has put on about 4 more blossoms. Mr S. pointed it out to me and I was shocked. It's completely shot up. 

The first tomato in the far right and front plot has doubled in size and all of the tomato plants are breaking out of there tepee stakes. I had no idea they would get so big and be so strong. The tomato plant in the back, on the right, has completely cured itself. It use to had rust and now its a beautiful vibrant green and large plant. The tomato that was taken down by my wooden "Charlie brown" box trellis has overcome its shock and grown about 4 inches in width along with all the rest. It's amazing, truly. 

Plants are so big there breaking the tepees. 

Carrots...

The Danver126 carrot plants have shot up in part I'm sure to the thinning and most of all because of the heat. They are at least 3 inches taller and much fuller. The red core Chantenay's are doing the same. They haven't grown as tall as the Danvers but they are filling out and looking lush. I think the red cores needed the warmth but don't have the same properties a the Danvers. I specifically chose Danver126 carrots because they are one of the few varieties that likes the warm/hot weather opposed to the usual  cool/warm weather carrots enjoy. So it makes sense that the Danvers are thriving just a little more. 

Seascape Strawberries...

The 5G strawberry bucket, the container I thought was a dud, is doing better than the rest. Te plants are at least a foot tall, the berries are bigger and closer to being ripe enough to pick, and there are at least another 20 flower buds ready to bloom on top of the 30 strawberries already growing. It's unbelievable because it was the slowest to start but has changed so quickly and surpasses the rest. 

The 8G bucket is just doing okay. It has a few strawberries but the plants are much shorter and the berries much slower. They'll definitely produce a few tasty morsels but I don't think I'll be getting a pint from each of the 4 plants in that container. I may be wrong like I was with the 5G container but its doubtful. They should have rooted and strengthened and started to grow, in height at least, by now. 

On the other hand, the Topsy Turvy is doing very well. It has at least 20 berries growing at the moment and another handful of buds in the waiting. The plants are about 10-12 inches tall and the berries are big. Not quite as big as the 5G bucket just yet but big enough. The Topsy Turvy has finally found a stable spot. The hook is holding and the plants seem to thrive from that and the heat. 

I wouldn't be surprised if I was eating my first berry by Weds. of next week. 

Biggest berry in the 5G bucket.

Bush Sugar Baby...

I planted the watermelon plants in the recycling bin container a few weeks ago and like the tomato-berry plant the little seedling hasn't grown almost at all since the transfer. I was worried that I had shocked them or that the day of chilly weather had stunted them permanently. That wasn't the case though they needed that long hot day heat just like Smart Gardener said they would. The watermelon plants have absolutely tripled in size. They have four huge leaves that were not there Sunday. The heat has awakened them and they are ready to work. It's great. That's really all I can say. I've been looking forward to eating two main items from my garden; watermelon and strawberries. So I'm excited to see that they are finally moving. 

Original size at transplant and for the few weeks after.

Size after 4 hot long days. Still looked like the above on Sunday. 

Cucurbits...

The patty-pan and crookneck squash plants are doing pretty well they aren't in the best spot for there needs. The raised bed tends to become completely shaded after about high noon. So they haven't gotten to enjoy the hot days as much a the other plants but they are still thriving. The patty-pan plant has 4 new squash blossoms. The left-back crookneck has 2 yellow baby squash on it that have grown about a quarter of an inch and the front-right crookneck has new blossoms and one baby squash growing. So they are doing well but would be doing better had they been able to enjoy the direct sun more. 

The cantaloupe in the container had grow significantly in width and height and has 3 new blossoms on it. The cantaloupe still in the Bonnie store containers need to be planted, desperately need it. They have blossomed and grown and I'm sure there running out of room but the bed they were supposed to be in has an enormous amount of grass growing in it. Way more than that of the problematic squash bed. That's why we haven't transferred but need to.

Left-back crookneck plant.

Cucumber flowers. 

Everything Else...

Everything else is growing well and has loved the heat. Even the lettuce and spinach have remained crisp and are standing tall. The sweet potato plants in Potagar are doing amazingly but the ones I planted in Patch yesterday don't seem to be doing that hot. They were all wilted and dead looking when I went to water them today which is weird because sweet potato plants absolutely love the heat. They were the plant that required the latest transfer date. So I don't know if it was the slips or the overbearing heat right at transfer but they aren't looking too hot. I hope they make it.

The lemon balm has doubled in width and is a beautiful shade a green with a beautiful fragrance. The basil is taller than ever and the green beans finally have beans forming.