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We are a friendly and active bunch, our diaries a verdant palate cleanser from the heavier fare in the the world. Please share your stories, anecdotes and photos. Ask questions, or simply introduce yourself. Shout Out to the lurkers too.
This Garden Blog is published every Saturday at 9AM EST, year round. We comment throughout the week and have some funny content for the group each Sunday. Thank you all for stopping by this week and we hope to see you next Saturday as well.
I have over 100 tomato plants in my backyard garden, over 86 varieties; if you count Sully varieties, I am growing around 95 varieties, currently. I nerd out over tomatoes, admittedly. It's been a stellar tomato year. Since seeding in March, I have lost around six tomato plants. Three of those were Sully plants, which had diseases I've never seen before in my garden, so it wasn't a gardener error. Sometimes seeds come with disease, it happens. Since transplant in early May, the only plants I've had to pull were the three Sully's. I do have some bacterial speck, but it won’t overtake the garden until the last few weeks.
It's been three months since plant out and my tomato plants are still going strong. In a drought, with windstorms and hungry critters. I know my hot stuff when it comes to tomatoes. Mother Nature is trying to turn my yard into Arrakis.
I’m sharing an interesting Q & A with Craig LeHoullier, a deity of sorts in the universe of tomatoes. One point he made particularly resonated with me, the significant impact that taking your eyes off the juicy red ball can have regarding fungal issues on tomato plants. I absolutely see the difference a half hour with some scissors makes in my garden. Pruning the triple D's for all plants is one of the best habits that can extend our garden seasons.
DDD - Diseased, Dead, Damaged.
C.LH. Q & A with Away To Garden Website
I am not the queen or god of tomatoes, but can I be the Bene Gesserit of tomatoes? I have identified one line to continue the breed out from the Sully seeds given by DHM. I have mastered the Worm (squash vine borer) though, so perhaps, actually, I Am the Kwitsatz Haderach? I'm a bit Mentat-ish at times.
Or is DHM the KH? He can be King of tomatoes, no argument there. Or Leto II.
SQUIRREL. Need a 'I Heart Tangents' t-shirt.
DHM's Sully Project diary: DHM Sully Project Info
Common Issues in the August Prairie Garden
Baron Hopkonnen and their nephew bunnies are still at it. So glad I bagged my melons, but I did lose one before I caught on. I've also seen some chew marks on my winter squash. Which annoys me to no end, as you guys know the high timecost for me to get any winter squash in the first place, per the drought, SVB et al.
In painful news, A bee finally stung me. Last time I was stung, I was five.
I knew it was coming. Two weeks ago, I was oohing and awing over the plethora of pollinators in the garden. It occurred to me that I hadn't been stung at all yet, which is notable per the number of bees and wasps I see, and my ease around them. I get right up into their business with my camera, often.
Enjoying all the bees, I said to myself "dammit, now I am going to get stung for putting that thought into the universe".
And I did, a week later. A startled bee zapped me while we were both working in the watermelon patch. Surprised me honestly. Hurt too. "Hello!", said the August garden.
I'll allow these next photos to tell the rest of the story.
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All that said, most of these troubles are pretty typical for an August garden in a dry prairie season. I've been able, mostly, to fight Mother Nature's move to convert my yard to Arrakis. Sietch C.Elisabeth?
My garden is lovely, a source of many smiles. Yet, in August, the garden gets a bit tired. Fair enough, she's worked hard. When winter comes, she will have easily earned her nap.
Happy Endings
Thank you all for joining me today, I wish you all a lovely lush Saturday.