Posted on 06/26/2009 5:06:01 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232
Good morning to all of you gardeners. It is time for some of us to start harvesting the fruit of our labor. Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Eggplants, Zukes, Cukes and Hot Peppers! What wonderful veggies have y’all harvested so far and what veggies are you anticipating the most?
I suspect it is leaching due to heavy rainfall. The rest of the plant looks healthy. I would leave it alone. Are others doing the same? I reread .. you answered that question. lol
I observed your red mulch ... and there is a big marketing push that talks about using red mats under tomatoes, peppers and such. Is that your motivation and if so have you seen a difference.
I have twelve plants 6 heirlooms and 6 hybrids as a test plot with red plastic film. That same complement of plants are 60” away without dthe film.
Supposedly light wave length changes and such. Perhaps more is that the film conserves moisture around the plant. Nonetheless, I hope my crude experimentation gives some definitive results.
I put up two quarts of roma tomatoes yesterday. I told my wife that the jars of tomatoes were like art - such beautiful colors. They are wonderful to look at!
We’ve harvested snow peas, pod peas, onions and strawberries. Next thing we should get is leaf lettuce. Tomatoes are just getting blossoms. I guess we’ll have to wait for much else.
I would peel them. Eggplant peels don’t get soft.
Also some recipes recommend soaking the eggplant in saltwater to remove bitterness.
put me on the ping list!
No mulch as cover ... just some composted material and a bit of aged cow manure mixed with good quality garden soil. This is an area where I get about 6 full hours of sun, that I eked out of an old garden bed, as I am completely surrounded by shading ancient trees. ;)
My Romas didn’t do well this year. I think I planted them too late. We have mostly Sunmaster and Pink Oxheart Tomatoes. My wife didn’t want to cook the oxhearts, but we just have too many to eat fresh.
We also have a lot of yellow pear tomatoes we cooked. Those are so sweet, I hate to cook them. They taste so good and I snack on them when I pick the garden.
I gave my cousin and another lady several tomatoes and squash at church last couple of weeks. They sure are enjoying getting the fresh veggies. I will probably take more this Sunday.
>>What wonderful veggies have y’all harvested so far and what veggies are you anticipating the most?
Aha-ha, harvest? I got my first flower on one tomato plant yesterday. CT has seen April-today with maybe 10 sunny days. No wonder it’s called New England.
I think my veggies are all going to rot this year if it doesn’t get sunny soon.
I am looking forward to green beans and onions most, partly because it is the first time I have planted them (novice gardener here). But for enjoyment, I am looking forward to the salsa cruda I’m gonna make from the tomatoes and chiles. Sometime in August or Sept the way things are going (sigh).
This time last year I had cherry tomatoes to have every night with dinner.
Oh and somehow I am not on the pinglist. Could you add me? Thx!
LOL ... no that’s not my pic anyway! It’s a cute one I ran across this morning on the ‘net. And thought it was perfect for the thread. ;O
Sounds like the plants are not getting enough sunshine. Mine get about eight or more hours a day. I have two or three that only get about 5 - 6 hours and they have yellow leaves and have not put on a single tomato.
Actually that’s not my photo ... I was too lazy to get out my camera ...it’s from a garden forum. But that is exactly what the 2 plants look like.
I’ve not seen the red film you speak about here ....just the black. You’ll have to report on your experiment! Maybe you should apply for Stimulus Funding from the gubment .... jes sayin’! ;)
I wish I could get more sunshine ...but it would necessitate cutting down huge trees. I think this “test” will be kinda inaccurate b/c we have had very little sun this month so far ...it’s been cool and very wet ... and tomatoes can be fussy.
I also know that I put them too close together .. but I got carried away when I found some nice heirloom plants at the garden center.
YOU BOTH HAVE
ADDED TO THE WEEKLY GARDENING PING LIST
I think you are correct Arrowhead ... it has been a awful growing season in zone 6 ...not nearly enough sunshine.
ping
While waiting for work computers to come online, I found this thread and thought of you.
xxoo
I’ll have to check from home, since I am only getting the dreaded red X on most threads today.
Well, we have had nothing but HOT weather here in Texas. I think I may plant some tomatoes in January next year.
Yum.
How long for eggplant normally? I am not a fan, but several family members go bonkers for them...
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