It’s been a GOOD day - we finally, after almost a month, got our big tractor back from the shop today - yay!!! We had a nice rain about 2 weeks ago which greened everything up from a brown and crunchy state. Tuesday, we got 1.5 inches of rain and everything, especially the weeds/grass in the fields is growing! There will be some major bush hogging going on this weekend.
I’ve been making tomato pies to use up the tomatoes before they start rotting and now I’m about “even” .... what is coming off the vines, I should be able to use/eat without too many accumulating. The bell peppers are coming in. I have two baseball-size Cucuzzas and a Trombetta that I’ve let go, just to see how big it will get. The cukes are slowing down - finally. I just wish the poblanos would do something - no peppers on 4 plants and I’ve only gotten two jalapenos on one plant (the other has none) so that’s been a disappointment.
A relative visited Tuesday (great way to spend a rainy day - visiting!) and he said he uses powdered milk to keep his tomatoes from getting blossom end rot - works like a charm. He just works a little in the soil around the plants. I did some research online and some folks also spray their plants with milk to discourage fungus growth - very interesting stuff - here’s a link (good overall website, too):
Milk and Tomato Growing
http://www.harvesttotable.com/2009/05/milk_and_tomato_growing/
Yep - good source of water soluable calcium. Thanks for the link. Interesting stuff. Glad you got some rain.
Thank you, I knew milk was good for more than putting in cakes and quick breads (instead of water)bath soaks, drinking.
It is called : Tobacco Mosiac Virus
It is a virus that once it becomes established , the control is for the infected plants should be cut out, removed and destroyed.
A good photo of the virus effects on plants and fruit can be seen at :
< / http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-control-mosaic-virus-on-tomatoes.html \ >
It can be spread through the contact by tobacco products or where plants from the Nicotiana family are , or have been grown.
One of the controls for prevention is having cigar and cigarette smokers wash their hands in milk .
Apparently , milk holds not only fungicidal characteristics,but also some anti-viral properties.
Tobacco Mosiac Virus can also occur airborne , downwind of tobacco drying facilities , or in proximity to flowering plants of the Nicotiana family.
Qiviut , your post reminded me of my strickly organic farming days , and Tobacco Mosiac affects so many solanaceous plant in the garden.
Thanks for the reminder about milk products and their anti-fungal and anti-virus properties.
Thanks for posting the link!