Posted on 06/19/2008 9:01:34 AM PDT by Gabz
June 2007
May was just about as demented weather-wise as a month can be! First—the cold, reinforced by drought, then wind and more wind. Rain, more cold, and some more wind from a different direction! It sort of felt like maybe we were actually in Auntie Em’s house, spinning round and round, being pelted by rain and buffeted by wind coming from every direction and wondering what in the world was going to happen to us.
What few plants survived the frost, and didn’t succumb to the drought, gave up in the face of an extremely long and miserable nor’easter. If they weren’t blown out of the ground or broken off, they were twisted like clothes in an old fashioned wringer.
All the crazy weather could have had something to do with the fact that May had two full moons. How many of you noticed? There was one on the 2nd, and another on the 31st. Depending on what time zone you live in, this year’s blue moon could fall in May, June, or July. How’s that for confusing?
Ever heard the term once in a blue moon? What is a blue moon? Some say a blue moon is two full moons occurring in the same month. Two full moons in the same month is a rarity because a full moon occurs about every twenty-nine and a half days, give or take.
At one time once in a blue moon meant something very unlikely to happen. Still another meaning is this: there are historical examples of the moon actually turning blue! When Krakatoa exploded in 1883, it’s dust changed the atmosphere so much that it produced spectacular sunrises and sunsets for years. It also turned the moon blue for about two years. Dust storms and forest fires can also cause this phenomena. A prolonged drought and dust storms on the Indian continent caused it to happen in 1927 and immense forest fires in northeastern North America did it again in 1951.
Though the term once in a blue moon has been around since at least the sixteenth century, by the mid-nineteenth century, visible blue moons, though rare, happened enough that people adapted the phrase to mean a fairly infrequent event. Something that happened enough to make note of, but not frequently enough to be pinned down to specifics.
Blue moon is also used, mostly in songs and ballads, to mean sad and lonely. Don’t you just love the English language, with all it’s idiosyncrasies?
Many people plant by the signs of the zodiac, and by the moon’s phases. Most of us just plant when we have time and the ground is ready and the weather co-operates. Before you scoff at planting according to the moon, keep in mind that the pull of the moon shifts the balance of water all over our planet four times a day, creating high and low tides. You have to figure that anything powerful enough to do that has to have quite an effect on everything else on the planet!
One of the best things about June, besides gardenias and hydrangeas blooming, is mimosas, and I don’t mean the beverage!
Natives of Japan and other countries like Iran, mimosas are small to medium-sized trees. They can grow twenty to forty feet tall with attractive, showy blooms and fern-like leaves. The fragrant flowers resemble pom-poms and range in color from dark pink to light salmon and every shade in between.
Mimosas were introduced to the United States around 1745 and have since spread from New Jersey to Florida to California. They can be quite invasive, choking out native shrubs and trees.
The good news, if they’re where you don’t want them, is that they are short-lived, usually around fifteen years or so. Not such good news if you plant one in your yard for an ornamental tree. Just about the time they get big enough to provide some shade and be really beautiful, they croak.
Mimosas can spread by seed or by roots sending up sprouts. Mimosas are members of the legume family and their seed pods resemble long, flat beans. The seed pods add an unusual touch to flower arrangements. Ripening in the fall, the seed pods disintegrate rapidly, so be on the lookout for them if you want to keep them.
Mimosas, also called silk trees, are rapid growers. Sprouts can grow three feet in a summer! The seeds have impermeable coats that allow them to remain viable for years. In English—the seeds are very hard and will retain their ability to germinate for a long time—as much as fifty years! Mimosas tend to grow in clumps and reproduce freely, don’t seem to have any disease or insect problems. Too bad tomatoes aren’t more like mimosas!
As late as the mimosas leafed out this year, it may be well into July before we see any flowers! Just like people, hummingbirds, bees and butterflies adore mimosa blooms. Often, the hummingbirds will even nest right in the mimosa. Look carefully for a little—think toddler’s fist—hammock that looks like both ends have been tied together to form a u-shape. Seems impossible that anything that tiny could house a couple of bird babies, but that’s a topic for another column!
The flowers and seed pods can be a nuisance if the tree is planted too close to a drive-way or sidewalk. When wet, the blooms can stick to your car or any flat surface, and once dry, can be the very devil to get off. The pods can be unsightly and messy when they fall. Despite the disadvantages, mimosas can add a wonderfully tropical feel to any yard. They don’t seem to be fussy about soil requirements or placement, although they won’t tolerate deep shade.
Don’t forget mid-June is time to plant pumpkins! It’s also a good time to plant gourds and butternut squash. Letting the vines die naturally and the (hopefully) lower humidity in the fall will help make their shells harder so they will last longer.
Even though this is from last June, it sure could describe what I've been through the past month or so!!!!
Thanks again to Garden Girl for sharing her columns with us.
I just KNEW I should have posted this last night.........
I had it all formatted and ready to go and was actually quite proud of my efforts, but decided to let it sit and post it when I got online this morning.
A storm blew in from I know not where and POOF — out went the power. That will teach me.........
Good information about not planting mimosa trees :-).
I’ve harvested 5 cherry tomatoes so far, but Pat’s gymnastics teacher is bringing in gigantic zucchini and lots of yellow crookneck squash. I guess he planted earlier.
I love mimosa trees, but they are definitely what my grandmother always referred to as a “dirty” tree. She had a Java Plum tree beside the lanai at her house. The fruit made a fabulous jam, but man oh man, that was one DIRTY tree. It provided great shade from the Florida afternoon sun, but dang it was messy and when the fruit was ripe if we didn’t get it cleaned up everyday the stench of the rotting fruit was gagging.
I’ll have to ask my Aunt if she still has that tree or did they finally get rid of it.
My tomatoes are looking sad. The vines are withering already and the bottom leaves are brown. The only ones still looking halfway decent are in pots OUT of the full sun.
We have a lot of cucumbers this year. I accidentally missed one the other day and the next day I picked them, it was about 14” long. Fresh cucumber and tomatoes for lunch every day. YUM.
We talked about planting a flowering tree in our front yard when it looked like the elm would die ... but it recovered.
I actually planted a few tomato plants this year. I have gotten about 5 nice sized one off already and have thoroughly enjoyed them. YUMMMMMM. Nothing like home grown.
Due to our cooler than normal spring, my tomatoes are not where they should be, but the broccoli looks like something out of a Tarzan movie. We also have two garbage cans full of yukon gold spuds which are doing quite well. (Southern Puget Sound)
We have several full-sized tomato plants that are doing well, but none of the tomatoes are ripe yet.
Were harvesting fruit from First Lady, Early Girl and Grape sized cherry tomatoes from our container beds...Upside down container plantings.
A question for all of you... Why do some of he plants have yellow leaves, and seem to drop blossomes??? Thanks...
**I just KNEW I should have posted this last night.......**
LOL
Procrastination is my sin,
It brings to me great sorrow.
Perhaps I shouldn’t practice it,
Maybe I’ll start tomorrow!
Words to live by—at least for me! I am the world champion procrastinator!
Glad you enjoyed the article!
Hubby picked a 5 gal bucket of beans Sun eve. I’m afraid that will be about it. The vines are drying up. Gabz, Diana—I think you’re getting all our rain!
**Why do some of he plants have yellow leaves, and seem to drop blossomes???**
Could be heat (?), too much/not enough water, variety, or disease/insects.
If you’re getting maters from your early girls, you should have others kicking in about 10 days from now! :)
My balcony tomatoes (medium sized fruits on supposedly 4 foot stalks) are just starting to appear. The plants are loaded with blossoms so I should have a great crop, maybe enough to share with the entire neighborhood! (Small neighborhood) Cucumbers seems to be the same way too. Can hardly wait for my pesticide free, salmonella free crops to mature. Fresh produce grown yourself is one of the best things about warm weather.
TAKE IT'S ALL YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, one of the best things about the back yard was the mimosa tree in the back yard. Simply beautiful and very fragrant. However, is does self-propogate at a most annoying rate.
“Why do some of he plants have yellow leaves, and seem to drop blossomes?”
The yellowing is “chlorosis” which is from over-watering. Actually you may not be OVER-watering, but you’re most likely not feeding your plants enough. Remember that when they’re in a pot, you have to “feed” them because the nutrients get used up very fast, and also washed away through drainage when you’re watering.
So, give them a weekly dose of fertilizer, but don’t over-do it. (Pick off the yellow leaves; they’re dying anyway and won’t come back to life.)
Blossom drop is caused by any of these reasons, but it’s mostly related to big temperature swings or a plant that’s “stressed out” for one reason or another. So take your pick and adjust accordingly!
* Temperature Too High or Too Low
* Lack of Pollination
* Nitrogen - Too Much or Too Little
* Humidity Too High or Low Humidity
* Lack of water
* Stress from insect damage or disease
* Too Heavy Fruit Set
I don’t want to be greedy! We just need a little bit!
Much better than my abbreviated version!
Still raining in your neck of the woods?
Agreed! My sales are down 4% due to having not a single rain-free weekend for the entire Spring Season.
Granted, I’m thankful it’s only been 4%, but still.
The basement is nearly dry, so that’s a good indicator that more rain will be here tomorrow or the next day. :(
My garden is doing OK. Nothing seems to be stopping the weeds, that’s for sure!
Hey, Gabz! I’m going to attempt to make Hot Pepper Jelly in the next few weeks. I have frozen peppers from last season (green bells, garden salsa and jalapeno) that I think will make a nice combination of sweet and hot. :)
DO NOT talk to me about weeds.........
GG, we know you are not greedy, but I’m sure Diana and I could both part with at least 50% of what we’ve got, and knowing Diana’s generous nature I’m sure she would even offer more :)
Diana, your pepper mix sounds divine!
Anyone who thinks humans are not weather sensitive should work a couple of weekends at a garden center. it is unreal what a difference a few degrees/sun/clouds/rain can make!
We’re about to give up on the garden. Everything is drying up. Have to get the potatoes and vidalias dug. The nut grass seems to be the only thing that is thriving. Wonder if you can eat it? LOL Too bad we haven’t heard from swampsniper in awhile—he’d probably know!
Your pepper sauce sounds really good! I like them, they just don’t like me! :(
Anybody heard from him/ his daughter?
I’ve got flowers on my eggplants and just spotted one on a habanero pepper plant (we have SIX of those :-). We had a terribly cold May, and only one week of real heat so far in June. I think I’ll be getting a lot of vegetables in late summer!
Thanks for the ping.
I will post the link, interesting article, on a tree that does well in California and does not grow here.
Thanks for the advice.
I’m currently feeding them once a week 1 Cup og Miracle-Gro for tomatoes per plant. is it possible that is not enough???
Thanks.
That should be OK. I think the box recommends feeding 2-4x a month while watering.
FYI... Big news here GG...I caught that mole that has raising Cain in my back yard. I will be digging the soft neck Garlic this weekend and the Stiff Neck in 10 days or so. We are getting a few Raspberries but the Strawberries have slowed down? We replaced the bird netting over the Blueberries yesterday.
Try adding a tablespoon of Epsom salts to a gal of water and use it each time you fert. :)
Woohoo! Good for you! Moles do a lot of good, but it’s not worth the damage they do.
Raspberries.... UMMMM Wish they would grow here! I do love the black ones!
Do you have trouble with birds getting caught in your netting?
Only when when one gets inside and they panic when we shoo them out
Good article and I wish him well.
I saw and heard something I haven’t seen since I can’t remember when. I was watering at the garden center the other day. I got to one of our shrubs, one we’ve had for 2 years. We whacked it back pretty good last year, and it’s bushed back out. It’s a cleyera, similiar to a red tip but without the disease problems. for what ever reason, some of the cleyeras bloom—most don’t. This one is in full bloom and smells really sweet, like eleagnus. It was covered with the small bumbles, to the point where you could actually hear them a good distance away. There were probably 100-150 bees, at least, working the plant. They weren’t touching the petunias or salvia right beside it, just that. I got up close and personal,had to water teh shrub anyway. I had a ball watching and listening to them. Made sure I told my boss—he’s pretty allergic—not that he would have gotten that close anyway!
I watched them for a good 20 mins or so, got nearly in the plant with them. Brought back a lot of memories. I used to play around Daddy’s hives when I was little. Unfortunatley, there wasn’t a honeybee in sight.
Yowsers!
The closest I’ve ever even been—or want to be—to marijuana is a Texas Star hibiscus I have growing at the end of the house! Very similiar leaves at first glance.
You’d be surprised at who grows pot, LOL! I have various “head cases” in my store all the time looking for lighting systems, watering systems, bat guano, etc.
From Little Old Ladies to obvious teen dopers.
That’s life in a Liberal City for ya! ;)
When I was mixing the MiracleGro yesterday, I mistakenly put Boric Acid (a Tablespoon) in each gallon of MiracleGro. I guess I just can’t be trusted... I hope it won’t do any harm to the tomatoes.
I’ll watch them carefully and report the results.
Craig
Don’t know if boric acid will hurt plants or not—Borax is an extremely effective soil sterilizer! Hope your maters are ok! If I get time I’ll do some research and see what I can come up with!
Tomato Loco Update:
This week has been a harvest to remember...
Early Girl, First Lady and Red Siberian Grape tomatoes, more than we can eat.
I just gave them the regular Miracle-Gro fert for the week, with no additions.
All seems well... at the container farm.
Thanks All for your Advise and Help!
Craig
YAY!
I can't find any local tomato plants that are small enough to fit in my “Tomato Loco” planters, so I'm starting more from seeds. Red Siberian have already sprouted, Tomato Bush, Silvery Fir Tree hopefully will sprout soon.
Anyone who has a suggestions for Tomato plants for containers... pls let me know.
Thanks All for your patience, Craig
Getting late for starting them from seed. Try taking cuttings off your older plants. Most of the time they’ll root.:)
I just transplanted the first of 4 Red Siberian plants, which were restarted from seed on July 15th. They had reached approx 5" in height and appear very vigorous. The Tomato Bush Silvery Fir tree are approx 2" in height now... so I'll wait a week to transplant them. We never have Frost in Santa Barbara, so the growing season is not a problem. Thanks All, Craig
too cool! Glad they’re doing well! Ours here are about gone. Couple of weeks of high nineties with a heat index in triple digits...
Never heard of either of those varieties. Let us know how they turn out!
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