Tomato hornworm, gross huh?
Dear Carol and Mary Ann and all of our other friends,
I am not happy with the photo above. It was early morning, and the shutter moved so slowly that I blurred it. By the time I realized my mistake, I had already committed the blankety-blank tomato hornworm to the netherworld. I am only including it as representative of my garden as a whole this summer. The spring veggies were great, but summer not so much. Plagued by tomato worms (and other creepy crawleys), lack of space for the sprawling summer veggies, June weather that thought it was August, and now August weather that thinks it’s fall, I am throwing in the towel. I hate to focus on the negative, so this is my last letter about vegetables. Carry on without me if you will. I understand.
Ugh, I'm using Nola bait for these guys next year
I am sick of cucumbers, and honestly, there was never enough to share with our local food bank through Plant a Row for the Hungry. Just enough to make me not want to eat them for awhile. I like cukes, but I’m not in love with them. I pulled the vine from the ground yesterday.
The tomatoes are still green, but quickly growing. For largest tomatoes and largest plant, the winner is: ‘Giant Belgium’. It is six feet tall and has resorted to leaning against one of the crapemyrtles for support. I hope I get a tomato from it. I don’t like fried green tomatoes, so I’ve decided to make tomato pickles if the silly things don’t ripen before frost.
Focusing on the positive, R. 'Carefree Beauty' against an old split rail fence
The melons are still rambling with no fruit. This tells me pollination is still down in spite of the flowers.
About the space issue, I’ve already discussed it with HH, and we are going to make a new garden for the veggies this winter and let it sit. I told him I need it before February. However, that isn’t entirely true. I have enough space to grow spring lettuces, spinach, kale, radishes and chard in the garden, so if it’s later, that’s o.k. too.
As for a fall garden, I am just not in the mood. Continue harvesting your veggies girls, and adios to the letters, but not to you. I’ll try again next spring.
I am new and trying to learn my way around and actually I am lost, lol…. Anyway reddirtramblin I live in Oklahoma and am trying to find Flowering Carpet roses for fall planting do you know of anywhere in Okla. City or Tulsa?
CRM, thanks so much for stopping by. Although I responded via email, I thought I should here also to help others. I haven't seen Flower Carpet roses in awhile. However, I have seen the Drift roses, which have similar attributes at Home Depot. Otherwise, most of the roses are done for the year at the nurseries. There are some Knockouts (Double I believe) at TLC.~~Dee
I hope the tomatoes will come through for you, Dee! Bless your heart, it's been a long, hot, stressful summer. Here's to a happier fall!
Oh, well Cindy, there's always next year. 🙂 ~~Dee
Some years I feel like you, so tired of gardening. And heat, And crop failures. My biggest disappointment was the attempt at growing in bales. This year I'm hanging in. Going to try a few late season greens and maybe some turnips.
But I can see that you are a true gardener. You are already talking about next year.
Thanks Patsy Bell. I haven't quit anything but the veggies for this year. Well, and I haven't quit the tomatoes at that.~~Dee
Dee, I'm excited to read that you are going to make a new garden for veggies this winter! How exciting. Hope springs eternal that next year will be better. It will be!
Oh, Carol, it will be. For one thing, those blasted hoppers are going to be hit with Nola bait so that they don't each my perennial hibiscus and everything else.~~Dee
I am sorry you are discouraged, but you are smart to cut your losses. No sense feeling obligated to do something that should give you pleasure, but isn't. And I think you have enough on your plate. By the way, do you still need plugin help?
I think I might still need plugin help indeed. Will send yo an email.~~Dee
Hi Dee! I hope there are more positives than negatives in your garden. Last year was not good for me, I was not proud of my tomatoes. This year, they make me happy. Life is like a zebra – black stripe, white stripe, black, white, etc. It should be white for you next year!
Whaaaaaaa! I hear you on the veggies and fruit. I am as happy to patronize my local fruit/veg stand as anything at this point. I can only imagine how disappointed you are with the tomatoes. As the grateful recipient of all your extra seeds, I know you planned for a great garden and harvest. Let me say: Better Luck Next Year!
I am starting to feel much the same way about my garden! It's my first in-ground vegetable garden, and I was so excited at the prospect, but the weather has been a challenge. My two full-size tomatoes are just now starting to produce ripened fruit. I've had an abundance of cucumbers also, plenty of jalapenos, and a steadily producing cherry tomato. I've seen a mere two zucchini, zero yellow squash, and just the beginnings of some bell peppers that I doubt will have time to ripen before fall makes its full arrival known. I haven't resorted to yanking it all from the ground quite yet, but I've been tempted to do so a time or two. Thanks for making me feel better about that desire! Here's to a better year next year! (@lindabeth on Twitter)
If it's any consolation – the tomato horn worm turns into a spectacularly beautiful moth!
That’s the spirit! We gardeners are like Cubs fans – wait ’til next year. Gardening is a humbling experience, as it repeatedly shows us that we aren’t in charge, no matter how much we try.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Signs and Portents =-.