Posted on 06/28/2013 1:01:56 PM PDT by greeneyes
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And sometimes, like 2011, I just lost everything. My worst year ever.
/johnny
That’s when all my roses died. That year killed almost everything in Texas with 105-107 for so long and no rain even in the spring leading up to that. But, we’re talking food and not roses.
We have these high temps in Texas every year (leave out 2011 when there was no rain either and temps didn’t budge from those high numbers). So, how are your plants doing right now?
Let me ask this question: Is it light the plants need or is it the sun hitting them that they need? That is important to know.
I have put up shade cloths a couple of days when I could see the plants suffering. That was for the squash.
Plants need light, some need direct sunlight, some do well with partial shade, some only do well in shade.
My tomatoes and peppers only get about 4 hours of direct sunlight a day, and that seems to be working well.
Ground temperature is also very important. That's why I have the heavy mulch, to protect from heat, and to retain water.
/johnny
“Ground temperature is also very important.”
When I was studying fabric pots, one incentive to use them was they keep roots cooler. Another reason was, excess water flows through the bags so the plants don’t get water logged. The water will filter though both the sides and bottoms of the bags.
When I read instructions on seed envelopes, most of the time it says “direct sun” seven hours a day - something like that and tomato envelopes say that. So, you are not doing that - you are not “using” that much sun. I suppose it is your experience that has told you to limit sun and don’t go by the directions “exactly”. That part I don’t know but I will remember what you say.
I know now the sun is not necessarily a plant’s best friend.
/johnny
“Packages are printed for wide locations, but we’re in a niche area, and local conditions dictate how to arrange things.”
Now, I know.
When the plant is approximately 6 inches tall, trim off all the lower branches, leaving a crown of 3-5 healthy leaves. Dig a hole deep enough to bury the entire plant to the crown. Before you put the plant in the ground, drop in a handful of 3% rock phosphate and water well. The rock phosphate will force the plant to grow strong stems, and produce a lot of blooms & fruit. The portion of the plant buried in the ground will develop a root system, strengthening the plant.
I did that, and my Black Krim are 6ft tall with a lot of tomatoes. I'm just waiting for them to ripen.
Try adding 3% rock phosphate to your soil.
I haven't checked soil temperatures. I have a pot filled with catnip that I use as a gauge. When the catnip starts to shrivel, I turn on the watering system for a couple hours until it begins to recover.
We're planning a keyhole garden also, but I want to cover mine with a dome-type structure (to keep the deer away). It may be awhile though. Other projects take precedence.
I do it all the time.
Whew, Austin, TX hit 108.
That’s almost spittin’ distance. I was In Bandera today for a car show and a bar-b-que cook-off. It seemed like most of the people there were in the river cooling off.
Hubby is out hooking up a water fountain for the birds. When I was hand watering the garden this evening, two lizards were enjoying the shower.
Speaking of hand watering, I’m hearing some towns are moving from Stage 2 water restrictions to Stage 3. I don’t know if it’s the heat or what but the electricity has flickered on and off the past 3 days. This isn’t good what with summer just beginning.
A big issue I'm seeing is that the city puts residents on stage 2 & 3 restrictions, yet golf courses and other businesses still spray away.
I use drip watering and overhead watering in an enclosed environment to reduce evaporative losses.
Oh good! So I have another shot at it! Approximately when should I start sprouting things for my fall garden?
They are sweet peppers. Taste about like the green, yellow, red, orange, lilac peppers.
There are minor differences. The yellow and orange ones taste sweeter to me than the red, lilac, and purple ones.
I grow them all. I have 45 sweet pepper plants growing in my garden now. Several of every color I can find.
It’s always bad to overhead water vegetables. Drip is the only way to go.
"seems to me if I sprayed water on the plants in the heat/sun, they would boil to death."
Absolutely true. You need to drip irrigate.
Do the purple peppers get very big ?
I’m wondering when to pick them.
I picked on the other day and it tasted sweet/mild, like their larger cousins...
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