Weekly Gardening Thread – 2009 Vol.10 – July 17

Free Republic | 7-17-2009 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Wow! Unusual Cool Weather For July!

[Red_Devil 232]

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[cripplecreek]

If it cools down much more we’ll have snow. I’ve already had two nights in the 40s this week.

[lysie]

Good morning. Thanks for the start.

[Red_Devil 232]

It has been normal here in Central Mississippi, mid to high 90’s all last week. Today and through next week highs in the low to mid 80’s with lows down to high 50’s. My tomato plants are goung to enjoy these temps.!

[momincombatboots]

My tomatoes will not vine ripen, although there are many of them. I do not know if it is too cool and rainy or what. More rain and cool today.

[OpusatFR]

I have thrips in my tomatoes. I’ve treated with Pyola which has suppressed them, but this is the fourth week of the battle.

I have Biocide, but it can kill bees so I haven’t used it.

Any suggestions?

[who knows what evil?]

I actually had some idiot from co-op extension tell me to pick them (and aphids) off the leaves as soaps and insecticides "aren't good for the environment". I tried the ladybug route...save your money. I've had success with neem-based soaps, but you have to keep at it...bumper crop of aphids in New England. I KNEW G-d was going to hit us with Bilical plagues in they passed gay 'marriage' up here. :-)

Summer may stop by for a day today, then back to the cool stuff.

[Red_Devil 232]

Insecticidal Soap, Permethrin, Yellow sticky traps.

[cripplecreek]

We’ve only had a handfull of nights when we stayed into the 60s. We’ll have to return to the traditional greens and root crops here in Michigan.

I’ve got a guy coming over this afternoon to see what he needs to do the framing for a new greenhouse to replace my old porch. I may even put a small woodstove out there to keep the chill off at night so I can get started in February or March.

[Arrowhead1952]

The tomatoes are about done for the summer. It is way too hot here. We are under mandatory water rationing already. I think we have had almost 30 days of 100+ this year.

There have been something like 20 record highs here this year, and no rain for weeks. Today should be be the last consecutive day of 100 temps.

Rain IS in the forecast for the weekend, but not enough to stifle the extreme drought we are in, and anyone who is sick and tired or rain, send it to Texas.

[Daisyjane69]

Gonna be 111 here in S. Utah. I’m going to bed soon so I can work outside early before I start looking like a weenie on the grill!

Figs look good. Grapes are awesome. Lawn is brown (sprinkler problem, maybe). Tomatoes are under shade in my carport, and trying to hang on and ripen. Pineapple guava and bottlebrush are living large in this heat!

[CH3CN]

It's barely 60 degrees here and calls for mid-50's the next few nights. My tomatoes won't ripen, my zuchini won't zuke, my okra won't oak, and it's a contant battle with the fungus. We've had only 5 days of temps in the 90's and have had the AC off most all the time. If this gets much worse it's going to snow.

I want my Global Warming, NOW!

[Daffynition]

Picked the FIRST tomato on Tuesday. Her name was *Amy* ... we are so excited, we named the tomatoes while we wait anxiously ....still wet with cool nights in NE ... things are slow.

[Red_Devil 232]

My tomatoes are going crazy producing fruit. So many tomatoes I have fallen way behind in canning them. Today will be a marathon canniing session for me.

[Red_Devil 232]

Amy looks to be quite a dish!

[Daffynition]

LOL ... she was! All her sisters are brothers are already spoken for! ;)

[hoosiermama]

add me please.....Just finishing up our Master Gardener booth for the fair....always looking for folks with new ideas.

[Red_Devil 232]

Pineapple guava I wonder if it would do well here in Central Mississippi? Do you know what kind of low winter temps it can withstand?

[hoosiermama]

We just humid here....Everything is growing well. Including the weeds.
The peas were as tall As I am this spring. Wild raspberries are almost gone....Now are picking beans, thorn less blackberries, The tomatoes, peppers and summer squash are just coming on, and the lettuce onion etc have been great.

Have a wonderful crop of onions and garlic this year and the winter squash and pumpkins are setting on nicely.

OTOH not a piece of fruit on any of the fruit trees.

The local markets have an abundance of corn and our world famous melons. The local farms have sandy loam, I have southern IN yellow clay...Somethings I just rely on the farmers a couple of miles from the house.