Tomato Season ~ really? Always Learning.

"So, Mom, when are your tomatoes going to be ready?"

"I feel like we have totally missed tomatoes this summer."

Comments from my two daughters in the past week or so. Evidence that my garden, harsh and embarrassing as it is, has just not been productive. AT ALL. Thank goodness for the farmers markets!!

I don't know about anyone else out there but this year I have just had the worst production of nearly all my vegetables. The tomatoes, squash, eggplant, peppers, dill, peas. Nothing seemed to go right for me this year. 

Things started out pretty well this spring! Had minimal winter weeds and tackled the ones I had early on in the spring. Spread corn gluten on the area where I knew I would not be planting seeds as it is an inhibitor to seed germination. Mixed in the manure laid in the fall. Laid shredded leaves on the top to inhibit other weed seed germination.

Got the pea seeds planted early with inoculate to promote germination. Planted carrots, mustard, parsnips, ginger, potato starts, lettuce, kale and started tomatoes at home. The onions, beets, garlic, parsley and chives thrived through the winter. Things were looking up, indeed!

Then along comes the bizarre temps and irregular rainy season we had in late may and early summer. I was glad to not have to water much but frustrated that the heaviness of the rain could damage the root systems of my tomatoes and other plants. I think this may have been a major factor in the definitely poor root development on my plants this year. Indeed, I checked them all as I have pulled them out of the ground and the root systems were just so minimal. Last year, I recall pulling out the tomato plants with roots up to 3' in length. Not so this year.

The only thing that has proved fruitful (pun intended) is the pumpkin plants which emerged out of my new compost pile! Not knowing what it was initially, I transplanted some to a second part of the plot and gave some seedlings to other gardeners. Did not know what it was until I saw pumpkins in my neighbor's plot! I was jealous, but patient!

I now have seven pumpkins on the vine!! I think a couple of the others might have not matured because I counted 10 last week. I was reminded of something this year, which I should have remembered: when you fertilize your soil in the spring, you will generally get more leaves and more male flowers on your plants. (Too much Nitrogen in the soil will do this.)  I don't know about you, but nearly EVERYONE I spoke with this year mentioned lots of flowers and very little fruit production on cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. This might be a reason.

In addition, with fewer bees to pollinate our flowers, it is important to recognize the male from the female flowers. I have attached two photos of the two different flowers - the male is usually on a longer stem and the female has a bulbous area on the underside of the flower.  The key: go out to your garden in the morning with a Q-tip when the flowers are open and manually pollinate your flowers. Your production will be significantly better if you do this! (that might be why I have so many pumpkins this year!)

So, with summer behind me, my eldest daughter ensconced at VCU in Richmond, my youngest daughter started 10th grade at South Lakes on Tuesday, I think it is time to prep the garden for fall and winter. Today, I weeded and watered the garden. I also planted radish and turnip seeds. I planted two times of carrots about 8 days ago which have already sprouted. Woot woot!

All I need to do now is prep the rest of the garden for the cole crops like broccoli and cabbage, lettuce, onion, garlic, beets, spinach and peas.  Oh, and the other thing I need to do: spread corn gluten for holding back the winter weed seeds which have already begun to surface their little leaves (see photo). 

Ah, my rambling may have brought me to an end finally! Enjoy the fall and give the cool weather crops a chance! I wish you and me much luck!!