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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 23) June 17
Free Republic | 06-17-2011 | Red_Devil 232

Posted on 06/17/2011 5:12:35 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232

Good morning gardeners. My tomato plants are struggling to survive these hot brutal sunny days. Their leaves are all curled up trying to save water. Temperatures are consistently in the mid to high 90s. My winter and summer squash along with all of my hot and sweet pepper plants are doing great. It does not look like any of my Opailka or Viva Italia paste tomatoes will make it through so I have restarted some more seeds in the hopes I can get them transplanted in time for a late harvest. I have about 4 Marion tomato plants that are in the rear of my garden that are doing well for now. They get some shade in the late afternoon so I will put my new paste tomato transplants in that same area of the garden. I may be down but not out!

If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. Our Freeper community is full of gardeners, each with varying interests and skill levels from Master Gardener to novice.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening; recipes; weekly
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To: Mama Shawna
In the last few days, some of the leaves on my my tomatoes and some of the peppers are turning white and getting really thin. Any ideas as to what this might be? Under/over watering? Too much sun all at once?

Too much sun all at once. I have learned this the hard way.

61 posted on 06/17/2011 8:25:05 AM PDT by matt1234 (ObamaCare: Killing mommies for commies.)
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To: Texas Fossil

I have seen people put in 3 or 4 stakes around each tree and wrap burlap or shade cloth


62 posted on 06/17/2011 8:28:41 AM PDT by tubebender (The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas)
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To: texanyankee

Look out the window, the wind gusts are 26 mph. Weather channel says it almost 90 now and will be 103 again. San Angelo will be 109. Excuse me a moment while I go hug the A/C and give the filter a vacumming.


63 posted on 06/17/2011 8:35:00 AM PDT by bgill
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To: Arrowhead1952
Most of the farm stock tanks went dry, and we had someone come and doze the silt out of the bottoms.

We had our tanks dredged out in the 70s. Had to haul in water for the cattle and us.

64 posted on 06/17/2011 8:36:52 AM PDT by bgill
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Comment #65 Removed by Moderator

To: tubebender

My husband does all that oil checking and mechanical stuff. I can’t count the number of times that he refused to let the kids get back into their cars and drive back to college until he changed the oil It became a family joke.

We were late to his sister’s wedding because he decided to change the oil and the brakes just before we were to leave from our home in the Bay Area and start on the drive to Fresno! It was so embarrassing. His father was standing in front of the church, pacing, when we drove up. This sister never did even like us, but she made us march up to the front of the church in front of everyone who was on time! That was 35 years ago, and I still remember it.

The oil wil be checked.

Then there are the instructions. 3 books full of instructions! I’m going to need a whole file drawer to hold all the paperwork on this machine!


66 posted on 06/17/2011 8:43:22 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Red_Devil 232
I have a question and hope someone can give me some advise...
I had 2 tomato plants last year and they did very well. As a matter of fact, I had so many tomatoes, I gave them away on a daily basis.
This year I got 4 plants and the tomatoes are growing wonderful.... Now to the problem:
Every single tomato has blossom-end rot! I understand this is due to lack of lime in the soil and in the plant itself.
Did anyone have this problem? Should I try to save them or should I just start all over again?
Thanks
67 posted on 06/17/2011 8:43:58 AM PDT by ANKE69 (German Conservative and proud of it!!!)
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To: bgill

We just had the shallow tanks and shallow ends of the others cleaned out. Most of them still had quite a bit of water left. Three of them are 15 feet or deeper when full. The others are only 5 - 7 feet deep.


68 posted on 06/17/2011 8:53:44 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (zero hates Texas and we hate him back. He ain't my president either.)
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To: momtothree

Yes. It’s not called transplant shock. It’s marketed under several names. Sometimes larger garden centers sometimes have it marketed under their own brand name. Just ask the store manager for a product to us to “lessen transplant shock”. You pour it on the newly planted shrub, tree, etc. when first planting. But you can use it later too. Dilute with water, according to the instructions, first.

Another alternative is fish fertilizer. But, I’d check with one of the Master Gardeners around here on that. A dose of fish might stress a rhody that is already suffering.

Ask Daisyjane69 or Diana in Wisconsin.


69 posted on 06/17/2011 9:05:18 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Texas Fossil; Red_Devil 232

What is “willow tree water”?


70 posted on 06/17/2011 9:10:11 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: tubebender

If I had known earlier this year about the sun exposure issue I might have been able to correct the shade issue. That would not have fixed the humidity issue which I think is also a problem. At this point, I doubt anything else past what I have done will help.

I had some thoughts of putting plastic over the tree under the shade of the boxes so I could raise the humidity. At this point I doubt that would help.

Am questioning if there is any hope of this improving or if I should simply remove the trees that are not making it.

I even have a Cowart Muskadine grape that has not put out. The wood looks OK, have watered it faithfully 2 times per week since I planted it but nothing has happened. That plant was bought from a different source than the fruit trees. Bought strawberries and blackberry plants from that source and they are doing great.


71 posted on 06/17/2011 9:11:55 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one)
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To: Daisyjane69

Thanks for the information. I’ll make a note of it. It is so helpul to hear of others’ successes and disappointments with vendors.

Ever hear of Angie’s List? You dould start a Daisyjane69 list! LOL


72 posted on 06/17/2011 9:13:01 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic
What is “willow tree water”?

It is a tea extracted made from small pieces of new growth willow tree branches. Cut in 1" pieces and pour hot water over the branches and let set for 1 day. Then refrigerate for up to 2 months. Willow trees are rich in the hormone that most commercial rooting hormone is made of. The willow tree water can be used to water a plant cutting or place the stem of the cutting in the water for 2 hours before placing in wet potting soil. I have never used it, but am about to try.

73 posted on 06/17/2011 10:02:52 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one)
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To: Texas Fossil

I hadn’t thought of vinegar with the water. LOL. Around here we don’t ‘think’ about making our soil acid. Mainly concerned with keeping in moisture while it’s so hot and dry and keeping down weeds. We got nearly a yard of pine mulch from a neighbor who had stumps ground down. This weekend’s chore is spreading it around the blueberries, raspberries, roses and maybe cherry bushes if we have enough.


74 posted on 06/17/2011 10:35:53 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: Texas Fossil; Red_Devil 232

I have deleted my bookmark for the Texas A&M ag site. Perhaps some FReeper Texan can supply it? I am concerned about the new sprouts from below the grafts and I think you will need advice closer to home


75 posted on 06/17/2011 10:59:36 AM PDT by tubebender (The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas)
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To: bgill

Yeah, I was on the low side when it comes to the wind speed. I heard gusts were over 20mph.

It says 96 degrees at the house and it’s not even 1pm.


76 posted on 06/17/2011 11:03:26 AM PDT by texanyankee
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To: Texas Fossil
The 10 day weather forecast for Benderville Not exactly beer drinking weather but we have great local seafood like tomorrows Oyster Festival in Arcata
77 posted on 06/17/2011 11:05:31 AM PDT by tubebender (The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas)
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To: Black Agnes

We have some pine needles from our now almost dead Afghan Pines. I have not tried to rake them but that should not be hard.

I think the soil PH where I planted the blueberries is neutral to a little below neutral PH because of the natural rain drainage on that soil and it is sandy. I have 2 PH meters but they are stuffed away somewhere and I have not measured it.

I think the major issue is regulation of moisture and extremely strong sunshine, very hot weather and high dry winds.


78 posted on 06/17/2011 11:31:42 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one)
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To: tubebender

I have the A&M site in my bookmarks. There is a lot of good reference material there.

Thanks.


79 posted on 06/17/2011 11:33:11 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one)
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To: Red_Devil 232; All
Thanks for the thread RD. We have had a severe thunderstorm with strong winds and deluge of rain this morning. Electricity went off right in the middle of my post.

It is a cool 79 degrees on the way to 89 high and 72 low which is just about perfect for Missouri weather this time of the year. Have a great weekend. God Bless.

Hubby uncovered his harvested wheat yesterday, and it got a little sprinkle before he got it covered with plastic. Hope it doesn't get ruined.

Tomato plants all got blown over. Corn made it through okay. This week I planted more corn, tomatoes, cukes, beans, cantaloupes, and spinach(in a pot).

I still have lettuce, carrots, and onions in the winter garden. I will pull it all out this weekend(weather permitting)to make room for more beans and maybe another cantaloupe. Hubby is still working on last 2 raised beds where I will plant heirloom corn, beans, and watermelons.

80 posted on 06/17/2011 11:37:19 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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