Yesterday I found that several of my tomotoes have a big black hole in the bottom. According to things I found on the internet, it means that there was too much of a fluctuation between wet and dry, but they are in an earthbox. Any thoughts?? I fill the boxes twice a day, morning before work and when I come home.

You have blossom end rot, a whole discussion of which is in this very thread.

I grow tomatoes in old fashioned dirt and this is the first year in about seven that I've had any BER, so it must have something to do with weather conditions. However, it only affected the earliest fruit on a couple of the several varieties I grow.

On the other hand, one of my varieties (fuzzy and yellow, forgot the name) got absolutely destroyed by some sort of wilt. The plant is completely dead now, which I have never seen this early in the year.

I've been getting some nice produce out of my garden. Unfortunately, the squash and tomatoes in my earthbox have some sort of fungus (powdery white stuff on the leaves) so I'm not sure what the yields will be there though I do get some tomatoes.

Here's a recent small haul:


The fat round eggplants are delicious. I'll definitely be planting those next year.

thaiobsessed wrote:I've been getting some nice produce out of my garden. Unfortunately, the squash and tomatoes in my earthbox have some sort of fungus (powdery white stuff on the leaves) so I'm not sure what the yields will be there though I do get some tomatoes.

Could be powdery mildew. With all the rain we've had, it's a good year for mildew, bad year for some plants. A lot of my garden is infested this year, including my sugar pumpkins.

Powdery Mildew Seems to be an issue in Chicago every year. It is for me and others Ive spoken with anyway. This year I proactively sprayed my susceptible plants ( Zucchini, cucumbers ) with a product from Gardens alive:
http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8066
It seemed to keep things going longer than most years, but last week I pulled my badly infected cucumbers out.

I often wonder if I should stop growing "heirloom" varieties of these plants and try to find a more engineered one that is resistant as I have this problem every year. I have a rooftop garden and I grow in SiPs(earthboxes), and this year i completely changed the soil in hopes of avoiding powdery mildew but it still found me.

For the past 3 years I have tried to treat the plants when the mildew began and while it may prolong their life, it inevitably takes over and reduces the fruit production to nill. This year once I saw it starting to take over i just pulled the plants and planted some Kale. No point trying to keep the plants alive if they arent producing. I'm going to give it one more attempt next year and if it fails again, Will just not grow plants that are susceptible.

My tomatoes are taking a beating this year. Everything was going ok (exceptfor the few with the root end rot) until a nasty storm came along and snapped two of the major stalks. I think next year I'm going to use the metal tomatoe cages and remove the trellace from my EB.

Wheattoast wrote:Powdery Mildew Seems to be an issue in Chicago every year. It is for me and others Ive spoken with anyway.

I can honestly say I've never had PM on an outdoor crop; not that I'm an expert or anything, just have had a garden for many years. Because I haven't had it, hearing that it's often an issue here made me curious. I primarily grow heirloom veggies, though not all and I've only had gardens in two locations - one out in the country south of the south suburbs and one on the rooftop here in Chicago.

I do recall reading about research related to controlling PM. The research showed milk to be more effective than any of the chemicals used. I think it was done in fields in South America (the research). Can't remember the crop.

I also grow African Violets and they are prone to PM. It's almost always lack of air flow and dry air.

But, since it's linked to lack of air flow and dry air, I wonder if there is something similar that contributes to it outside? It is humid here, so that doesn't make sense.

A bit of research and I found the following:

"Powdery mildews are severe in warm, dry climates. This is because the fungus does not need the presence of water on the leaf surface for infection to occur. However, the relative humidity of the air does need to be high for spore germination. Therefore, the disease is common in crowded plantings where air circulation is poor and in damp, shaded areas. Incidence of infection increases as relative humidity rises to 90 percent, but it does not occur when leaf surfaces are wet (e.g., in a rain shower). Young, succulent growth usually is more susceptible than older plant tissues."

And:
"Once the disease becomes a problem:

* Avoid late-summer applications of nitrogen fertilizer to limit the production of succulent tissue, which is more susceptible to infection.
* Avoid overhead watering to help reduce the relative humidity.
* Remove and destroy all infected plant parts (leaves, etc.). For infected vegetables and other annuals, remove as much of the plant and its debris in the fall as possible. This decreases the ability of the fungus to survive the winter. Do not compost infected plant debris. Temperatures often are not hot enough to kill the fungus.
* Selectively prune overcrowded plant material to help increase air circulation. This helps reduce relative humidity and infection."

Ah, so it can overwinter. That may help explain why some people get it over and over again. And it needs humidity to get started - that we have a lot of.

Starting to get some real production out of the garden...harvested enough tomatillos to make a large jar of salsa verde. Roasted the tomatillos and some jalapenos and a poblano on the grill, pureed with an onion, a couple more raw jalapenos and a couple of garlic cloves, white vinegar, a lime, salt and pepper. Delicious! Made some red salsa too--roasted tomatoes, garlic and jalapenos in the oven, a few pulses in the food processor with a bit of white wine vinegar, olive oil, dash of cumin, some tomato puree made earlier to thin it out a bit and s & p.

Next up--babaganoush, something else with eggplant that I can freeze (suggestions welcome); something with zucchini and cucumber since I have a lot to use up. Planning on pickling some cuke slices, tomatoes and green beans this week as well.

Love this time of year

My herbs have been loving this weather. Mint, basil and rosemary are growing like gangbusters. The tomato plant was looking great until our local squirrel decided he wanted to make it his personal salad green provider. I'm not sure it can be salvaged because I wasn't able to put up any sort of barrier before the darn squirrel got to it. I'm very sad. (ViewsAskew- I was so looking forward to sending you pics of our tomato bounty!)

-Mary

The GP wrote:My herbs have been loving this weather. Mint, basil and rosemary are growing like gangbusters. The tomato plant was looking great until our local squirrel decided he wanted to make it his personal salad green provider. I'm not sure it can be salvaged because I wasn't able to put up any sort of barrier before the darn squirrel got to it. I'm very sad. (ViewsAskew- I was so looking forward to sending you pics of our tomato bounty!)

-Mary

Well, someone enjoyed them! Too bad it wasn't you. Depending on how much damage he did and if there are still blossoms and tomatoes forming, you still may get something. I hope you do.

ViewsAskew wrote:
Well, someone enjoyed them! Too bad it wasn't you. Depending on how much damage he did and if there are still blossoms and tomatoes forming, you still may get something. I hope you do.

We hadn't blossomed yet. I was getting concerned, but the plant otherwise looked so robust that I figured it was a late bloomer. (ha) I won't give up on what's left, but I'm not expecting anything. Besides, Mr. Squirrel will probably get it first.

The GP wrote:

ViewsAskew wrote:
Well, someone enjoyed them! Too bad it wasn't you. Depending on how much damage he did and if there are still blossoms and tomatoes forming, you still may get something. I hope you do.

We hadn't blossomed yet. I was getting concerned, but the plant otherwise looked so robust that I figured it was a late bloomer. (ha) I won't give up on what's left, but I'm not expecting anything. Besides, Mr. Squirrel will probably get it first.

Get a puppy My old dogs never helped with this at all but I haven't lost a single grape tomato to the squirrels since acquiring Boudreau--the terrace is his domain and no squirrel has dared to challenge him. The funny thing is, he has absolutely no interest in them (or birds or any non-canine animals).

boudreaulicious wrote:Get a puppy My old dogs never helped with this at all but I haven't lost a single grape tomato to the squirrels since acquiring Boudreau--the terrace is his domain and no squirrel has dared to challenge him. The funny thing is, he has absolutely no interest in them (or birds or any non-canine animals).

Agreed. Lirio likes to pick the ripe tomatoes and eat them but no signs of any rodents. It could also be coupled with my deck being up high with no nearby trees.

pairs4life wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:Get a puppy My old dogs never helped with this at all but I haven't lost a single grape tomato to the squirrels since acquiring Boudreau--the terrace is his domain and no squirrel has dared to challenge him. The funny thing is, he has absolutely no interest in them (or birds or any non-canine animals).

Agreed. Lirio likes to pick the ripe tomatoes and eat them but no signs of any rodents. It could also be coupled with my deck being up high with no nearby trees.

Mr. X will love this reason as to why we should get a dog.

With luck, this will be about an ounce dried:



They were pretty dried on the vine, but it's just about 4 oz. of fresh Centennial hops. The Cascade plant gave much better yield, but for a first year I'm quite happy. It's the first time I've ever successfully grown anything EVAR, and I'm absurdly proud.

How long were the vines, and how did you support them?

The vines were probably about twelve feet long. I attached a random metal pole to a shed in my yard, and tied off some twine up and over the shed, between the top of the pole and stakes in the planters. I'll need to rethink the set-up for next year, as this set-up wasn't wholly convenient, though it worked out better than I expected. There was some tangling between the arms of the Cascade and Centennial, but luckily it was pretty easy to distinguish.

I may add a third, more interesting/fickle variety next year, but I'll wait until I taste the brews with these hops before deciding. Both kinds certainly smell and taste good--the Centennial especially so--but yeah, we'll see. PM me if you have other queries. Also, I think there's an old hops-growing thread around somewhere that I'll try and dig up.

Looks great! How do you plan on drying them- have you built an oast?

I have the same problem with different varieties getting tangled together, just going by smell always works.

Just going to leave them on that screen in a hot attic room for a couple of days, until it's down to about 25% of its fresh weight. I really just want to get some of the possible grassiness out--they won't be around long enough to go bad or lose potency. As we're in the process of fermenting an all wet-hopped beer, I'm looking forward to doing an all-dry-hopped version of the same, just to observe wet vs. dry hops side by side.

boudreaulicious wrote:Peppers: jalapenos, habaneros

Ive been munching these jalapenos all week, and added some to my gumbo trinity. Excellent.

I ate the habanero last night by itself , and some on a pizza I had. Really good, great flavor, and nice heat.

Impressed at the quality of peppers that came out of a city garden for sure. I am guessing that hot July and August did these peppers good.

Thanks again Jen.

jimswside wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:Peppers: jalapenos, habaneros

Ive been munching these jalapenos all week, and added some to my gumbo trinity. Excellent.

I ate the habanero last night by itself , and some on a pizza I had. Really good, great flavor, and nice heat.

Impressed at the quality of peppers that came out of a city garden for sure. I am guessing that hot July and August did these peppers good.

Thanks again Jen.

Lots more where those came from--good, steady yield for the last month and lots more coming. Poblanos, bananas and ghost peppers looking great as well. Just let me know if you want more.

boudreaulicious wrote:
Lots more where those came from--good, steady yield for the last month and lots more coming. Poblanos, bananas and ghost peppers looking great as well. Just let me know if you want more.

definitely want more of the jalapenos, habaneros, and a sample of the ghost. maybe @ the picnic? I should have a few portions of the Berkshire sholder I am smoking Saturday to trade.

jimswside wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:
Lots more where those came from--good, steady yield for the last month and lots more coming. Poblanos, bananas and ghost peppers looking great as well. Just let me know if you want more.

definitely want more of the jalapenos, habaneros, and a sample of the ghost. maybe @ the picnic? I should have a few portions of the Berkshire sholder I am smoking Saturday to trade.

DONE!

Harvested the remains of my Cascade hops plant today. Overall, a good haul: from a first year plant, I got almost 20 ounces wet, ten of which went into our current brew in two separate additions; the rest is drying as we speak.

A particularly charming bunch:



The haul, less ten ounces.



I'm going to dry these down to around two ounces, and throw them into something with the ounce of dried Centennial I picked earlier.

What's in my garden? Squirrels... They have eaten every last tomato on my plants over the last few weeks (thanks Razbry, for letting me have some of yours at the picnic). How do I make them stop eating my produce. Set up little tiny squirrel gallows as a deterrent?

you can make a simple wire noose along their favorite pathways.

or just let them eat the tomatoes.

Get a puppy--preferably one that doesn't like tomatoes (so no Portuguese Water Dogs --Saw Pairs For Life's pup devour a vineload!!)

boudreaulicious wrote:Get a puppy--preferably one that doesn't like tomatoes (so no Portuguese Water Dogs --Saw Pairs For Life's pup devour a vineload!!)

justjoan has also witnessed a certain vegetable loving Portie in the garden.

thaiobsessed, what about these homemade pepper sprays to put on the fruit & then just make sure you wash off before you consume. Is your garden at ground level?

Ours is up high and we've had no animals eat anything, aside from ourselves, and the aforementioned Portuguese Water Dog who thinks the garden is for her.

boudreaulicious wrote:

jimswside wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:
Lots more where those came from--good, steady yield for the last month and lots more coming. Poblanos, bananas and ghost peppers looking great as well. Just let me know if you want more.

definitely want more of the jalapenos, habaneros, and a sample of the ghost. maybe @ the picnic? I should have a few portions of the Berkshire sholder I am smoking Saturday to trade.

DONE!

this batch of peppers was top notch. Pretty much all gone. All were perfect for munching, some became part of recipes, but most were eaten raw.

You have the pepper growing down my friend.

btw how was the berkshire p.p.?

jimswside wrote:
btw how was the berkshire p.p.?

glad you enjoyed the peppers--was hoping the warm weather would last a bit longer--lots of flowers on all the plants but doubtful that I'll get another round.

As for the Berkshire--it's in the freezer awaiting some time at home to cook something with it--it's been a bit crazy lately. Looking forward to it though!!