Too Much Water?

Waterlogged... 

The tropical storm finally hit us. It's been raining cats and dogs since last night with brief pauses. I was able to go out an check on things but really nothing else. 

All I saw was droopy plants from eyes view to eyes view. It's horrible. I said something about it to Mr S but he thinks once the sun comes out that the plants will perk back up. I on the other hand am worried because of all of the years past crop reports. I remember one year, 2006 maybe, the strawberry crop was ruined due to excessive rain. I also remember one year when Wendy's, yes the fast food place, had signs on there drive-thru windows saying "we'll only add tomatoes if asked" another example of crop shortage due to rain, excessive amounts. I'm worried our gardens are going to be rained out. There was puddling next to the beds and like I said before each and every plant was on droop mode. We've had a lot of rain. That is evident from how many entries I've written in the last few months talking about how I couldn't garden due to the rain. 

Ugh! I hope we have a dry and sunny spell soon. Veggies and fruits rather be dry than over watered my strawberry plant from last year was proof of that. My Mom's Mother's Day hibiscus is more proof, she put it in a glass planter with no drainage holes (with the plastic bucket) and it was dying. Once we removed the glass container and let it get some sun and drain it grew leaves and the most beautiful enormous flowers. It grew then all summer and even a few this past winter, inside. Water equals good in proper doses but trust me your plants will come back from under water where they may not from a waterlogging.

Ripen Up

Red, Red, & Red...

It was dark and cloudy out today because of the tropical storm that was coming our way. It seems that it took a detour a little later but either way the sky was dark and not great for gardening. Even so I went out to check on everything to make sure that if the storm did hit hard that all of the stakes and trellises were deeply held and that the containers were on steady ground. When I finally got around to checking on Patch I instantly noticed the brightest most perfect strawberry I had ever seen. It was the perfect strawberry red with a wax shine. It looked like the apples the big companies wax before shipping but of course it wasn't waxed it was just perfect. After taking a look I looked over all of the other strawberry containers. No e of the strawberries,except for the one in the 5G container, were ready for picking but they were a nice shade of pink turning red, a few not all. I ran to grab my phone, clippers, and harvest basket and harvested my first berry. I went to lunch with my Mom shortly after and brought the berry with me to show her but she thought I was giving it to her. I didn't have the heart to tell her I wasn't so she tried the first PM strawberry. She said it was sweet but probably needed another sunny day of ripening or two not so sunny days, like today. I had planned to wash it, cut it in half, and share the first taste with Mike but I'll do that with the second berry.

Harvested berry.

Pinkish red berries ripening in 5G.

Ripening berry on the Topsy.

Green Arrows...

On my way back in from lunch I went over to look at the green beans because they were a little droopy. I noticed that our first beans are finally coming in. It's amazing. There so cute and small but look just like what the mature beans will look like minus the fuzz. Exciting! I need to tie them off with string because they won't hold, at all, once the beans get any bigger.

Each flower becomes a bean.

Bigger beans on another plant.

Tomato in Patch...

I noticed my first growing in the container in PM today. It's very small but I'm glad to see that the container seems to be sufficient. 

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. 

Color Everywhere

There are different colors of fruiting plants popping up all over the garden. 

Our beautiful and light green tomato-berry.

Dark green and striped super fantastic tomatoes.

First baby yellow stuff-able patty-pan squash blossom.

First sign of pink/red on the ripening strawberries. This one is from the Topsy.

Rain & Storms

It's been raining for the last two days that's why I haven't updated on the progress of the garden but tomorrow is supposed to be in the low-80's and sunny. I'll be doing quite a bit outside for the first part of the day and then going out tomorrow night to celebrate my 8 year anniversary with the love of my life. I'll make sure to take a video and really let you know how the past week of high heat and rain has affected the garden. So far well...

Touring

Giving the Tour of Potagar...

I gave my mom and older sister Angela a tour of the garden when they were dropping me off, after getting our nails done and some Starbucks, at home. I walked them through from the driveway eggplant all the way to the Topsy Turvy full of soon-to-be strawberries. I showed them the things I planted in containers yesterday like the eggplant and pepper. I told them about how the heat had caused the watermelon leaves to quadruple in size over the last, now, 5 days. I showed them where the tomato-berry plant used to stand and how it stands a foot taller. I routed the purple and beautiful green arrow green beans towards them so that there view of the color and blossom was not obstructed. I showed them each and every new tomato; told them how the first one had doubled in size and said, "isn't it funny how the growing tomatoes look like they just came out of the fridge. They look crisp and cool." That was said to very little if no response from  either party. Then I moved on to the Lemon Balm and reminded my Mom of how small the plant was just 2 weeks ago when I broke off a leaf for her to smell and get familiar with. When we got to the onions my sister did say "Look Mom green onions. I don't know that the green shoots are green onions but the onions planted are Texas sweet and yellow. I did appreciate the enthusiasm though. I hadn't gotten much so far. After the little lift we moved on to the squash. I pointed out the baby crooknecks and told them about how stuffed squash blossoms are a popular dish. I then showed them how they would grow up the tepee'd trellises to make a hanging vertical situation. Mentioned how it would be nice to see the patty-pan's compared to the crooknecks. Then we moved on to Patch.

Touring Patch...

When we moved into Patch Market I felt like the interest peaked just slightly as I showed off my iceberg lettuce heads and pointed out that they hadn't started compacting until this week. I pointed out my limp and possibly dying slips, that I'd grown from a potato. I showed them the carrot greens and told them about how I planted more radishes just for them. Both my sister and Mom ate the last batch. I moved on to the strawberries proud as can be. I pointed out every large strawberry in the 5G container and mentioned that I was hoping for ripened berries by next week. Finally, I moved over to the Topsy Turvy and spoke about how they weren't as good as the 5G but that I had a lot of berries and they were getting better everyday. I also mentioned that I was surprised considering the Turvy is made to grow strawberries specifically. When were about to turn and walk back the way we came I remembered my tomato plant and pointed it out quickly. I didn't think they cared to see more so I said two words and lead the way back to the car to bid them adieu. 

It's funny... 

They weren't uninterested they just weren't as interested as I thought they would be or at least as fake interested as they should have been. I would have liked a couple "oohs" and "ahhhs" but that's not them. My mom isn't one to gush and my sister, although much more enthused then my mom, isn't into gardening. I actually wasn't upset by her reaction as much as my Mom's but to be honest she'd been a little quiet the entire trip. So it may have had to do little with her excitement or interest. I was disappointed that she wasn't more phony but that's okay. I'll keep asking them to tour and bring them veggies. I am happy that my sister wants my veggies for her new endeavor into juicing. That made me very happy, but like I said her reaction was pretty good and maybe even better than I thought thinking about it now. It was my mom because she asks about my garden everyday, which I like, but I thought she asked because she was interested not just to ask. Maybe she was just in a weird mood. 

I watered the plants in Patch, this evening, after they left. Mr. S. watered the PS plants this morning.

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.