It's going on close to four months now, and what a journey it's been. After the loss of all our Zuchinni Hybrid plants to disease, as well as multiple tomatoes, it finally looks like we're in the clear.
All it took was some overdue attention to the soil and the pests.
Just like every other post in this garden journal, I provide the link to the previous update. Follow them all back to the beginning, if you like, to see how it all unfolded.
@inalittlewhile/garden-update-day-101-zucchini-no-more-preventative-measures
Open Netting Looks Like A Stage
Because birds and possibly rodents kept munching our tomatoes, I put together a net enclosure. It's built so the front can flip up over the top. Once open, it sorta looks like a stage with all the tomato plants ready to jam.
There were a few losses even after I put up the enclosure. Once the glue traps went down, however, the tomato assaults ended.
The Shadier Side Isn't Growing As Well
Shade hits our planter stage right then moves across to stage left as the day wears on. That's opposite as you're looking at it from the audience's viewpoint.
Because they were already struggling with less sunlight, the tomato plants on the shadier side were affected worse by the white flies.
They're still producing as you can see from the Oregon Spring plant above. Though the plants may bounce back from the Miracle Grow treatment I added to the topsoil, it would make a good place to add more herbs.
One Lonely Beefsteak Tomato
This suffering plant stage right has our first Beefsteak tomato. It shouldn't be long before our second Beefsteak plant begins to produce. I just hope the net isn't preventing bees from getting to the yellow flowers.
This Beefsteak plant sits stage left where the sun hits longer and is finally booming upward. My wife's favorite variety, we can't wait to see the tiny bulbs form inside the flowers.
Early Treat Hybrid
Perhaps the green color of the glue traps are deterring the rodents from entry. Whatever the case, they have remained empty at the base of the plants.
The Early Treat Hybrid plant in the image above is the last on the side with less light. Tomatoes are still growing on it just like the others.
Over To The Sunny Side
As this Red Cherry Tomato plant came up, it produced a handful of fruit. Now, it's absolutely shooting towards the sky. Several clusters of flowers should be showing buds very soon.
In the very back stage left corner is a second Oregon Spring plant. It has outgrown every other plant and continues to be the top producer. See how bushy it is looking down from above?
We Got The Herbs
Where the tomatoes struggle in the shade, the mint and basil do quite well. Some kind of bug or caterpillar snacked on a few leaves, but our mint plant is bounding otherwise.
Getting down and dirty with my knees on the concrete allowed a nice shot of springing Basil. When it's time for Italian, we got the herbs! Clipped right off the plant, you couldn't find it more fresh.
Limes For Vitamin Sea
Out on our patio there's lots of sunshine for Vitamin D. For salty seafaring folk, there's also plenty of Vitamin C. It fights off the scurvy and tastes great in sparkling watery beverage.
Limes the size of a small fist keep filling up with juice. The limbs of the tree are hanging over and snapping from the weight. Some of these beauties are ready and we pick them as needed. By all appearances, we'll have limes for months to come.
A Ledge, Potted Plants, & A Birdie In The Window
How much for that birdie in the window? The one with the cascading tail feathers!
Our potted plants don't produce any food. At least not for us. Hummingbirds stop by on a regular schedule and dip their needle like beaks in the flowers.
Dash, our new Cinnamon Conure, sits on her suction cup perch in the window. We're not sure she really knows what to do about the hummingbirds yet.
Thanks for viewing and as always....
Images Courtesy Of My Galaxy S10+
Bottom Image Courtesy Of Hive.io Brand Assets
Want To Join The HIVE Community? Use My Referral Link To HiveOnboard.com
