Tomato Update

Late July Garden

First Tomato

My First Tomato of the Season

Sungold

July 25th

Peppers & Tomatoes...

Unknown Pepper

Unknown Pepper

So, the peppers I planted this year were a mixed bag of hot and sweet.

I have no clue what I am going to get.

Zucchini

Zinnias and other flowers 

Romas

Zucchini flowers

Sunflower Woes

My Sunflowers, before I left for NJ

My sad Sunflowers as of Friday, when I got back. The storm snapped their necks :( 

I am so bummed. 

So I cut them down

and the cats loved it

They are really pretty

Last Week

Riding with Josh to or from Sommerville



This is from last weekend when I went to pick up my new Peugeot with Leo and Josh, there wasn't enough room in the car after we loaded the bikes in the back, ooops

Home

Matt at the lake where I live in NJ

The Lake

Steve attempting to start the fire

Red spotted newt, I caught it on the hike to go cliff jumping

This was on my bed....

When I got home from NJ.

I love getting packages in the mail.

These are Libbey glasses.

I collect these things from the 50's-80's:

Libbey

Beautyware

Syroco

Pyrex

Corning Ware/ Correll

Buxton

but I am really particular about what of each I keep.

Ill post of this eventually.

A Few Days

In New Jersey, see ya later.

The Biggest Worm Ever

Zucchini for Supper

Leo and I had Zucchini from the garden for supper:

2 green Zucchinis

from the market:

2 yellow squash 

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

1 onion

1 clove garlic

&

Pasta

with a bit of salt & pepper

Sienna Baby

Sienna talking it over with the bird on the fence.

Soybean

Nasturtium

Baby Bird

This is what that crazy bird is attacking me for, this little baby hiding in a shrub next to my garden. It is so tiny.

More July

The Detroit of Gardens

The white glow on the 1st pole to the left is the bird

Instead of 'drive by shootings', I now have 

'Fly By Peckings'!

Resting in a tree above my garden is this cute little nest belonging to some simple little bird.

It must have recently laid eggs because  I went outside yesterday and this little guy was resting on the fence, really close to Sienna, odd for a bird to go right up to a dog.

In the top left is the nest, directly over the garden

Seconds later WHOOSH, this bird swoops down and pecks her. She runs, and WHOOSH, it swoops down, I turn, and smack, he flew right into me.

Sienna barking at the bird

I scream, Dan comes out and of course he doesn't believe me.

and then

WHOOSH, swoops down to Dan.

As if that wasn't ridiculous enough I went out to the garden today and the bird is waiting for.

I am now frightened to be out in the garden.

I bend down to weed and he dive bombing me.

Late afternoon and he is still watching me 

Orion watching everything, this window faces the garden

ugh

As of this morning my tomatoes ARE NOT infected with Late Blight.

So many people near me have spotted it, I am getting so nervous.

I pruned off the stems on the lower 4 in. of all my plants and am keeping a look out.

And the Tallest goes too....

Sungold

At just over 6ft tall and carrying 50+ tomatoes counted as of this morning!

Tomatoes 1,2,3......16

From 1-16, in order, the 1st tomatoes from each plant I am growing.

There are 3 more Mortgage Lifters, but sadly not even flowering yet.

Im so bummed...

The top is JULY 2008, the bottom is JULY 2009

Major difference

2008 had better squash growth

From all the rain and barely any sunshine the warm weather veggies are half of what they should be right now.

I'll be surprised if I get anything from my Pumpkin, Watermelon, Turk's Turban & Spaghetti Squash plants.

:(

Sunflower Growth

June 23rd ---------------- July 3rd

They grew a foot in 10 days.

Late Blight.... {cringe}

I've been checking daily, for Late Blight, which is sadly heading up the coast.

For those who don't know:

Late Blight is most notably know as the disease that was responsible for the Irish potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century.  Only effects potatoes and tomatoes and is caused by the fungus-like oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans.  It can infect and destroy the leaves, stems, fruits, and tubers of potato and tomato plants.

OSU Plant Disease Control

Symptoms: Water-soaked spots appear on leaves and stems, enlarge rapidly, and turn brown or black. Under humid conditions, a ring or surface of white mold may appear on the leaf underside at the lesion's edge. In cool, wet weather, blight may advance rapidly and ruin an entire field in a few days.  This is according to Oregon State University Pant Disease Control

It is caused by extended periods of leaf wetness, combined with cool to moderate temperatures and lack of sunshine (sounds like NE, hmmm) this combination results in perfect conditions for many crop disease pathogens.  The problem is that it seen later on in the summer, not now, and it is been reported in NY & NJ, not good.  It is carried by storm winds, which could help it land right smack in New England, our weather and lack of sunshine has created an ideal situation for the plant disease.  

July Garden

Orchidaceae

Garden Update pt. II

Garden Progress

Now that I can actually walk in the Garden without getting soaked, 

Here is an update:

Pumpkin, Turks Turban, & Watermelon

Zucchini

Strawberry Runners

Strawberry

Sungold