It's still fiendishly hot, but my veg are coming through with flying colours. I harvested my first beetroot and carrot thinnings the night before last, the year's first globe artichokes are imminent and even my tomatoes are coming on strongly after their earlier frost damage: despite my fears I only lost about 3 out of 15 or so plants (bring it on, Dr Charles!). And, serendipitously, some of last year's tommies have self-seeded where abandoned fruits have been squished on the ground, so I should be back up to a full tomato quota.
My only worry at the moment is the squash: roughly half have germinated and the other half remain resolutely seedlike despite judicious coaxing and watering. Should I sow more seeds or be more patient? I can't contemplate an autumn without a pile of pumpkins in my garage.
i'm going to have to bring it now! my little green guys just began to turn the first shade of orange today. beware! i'll resurrect the competition (took it down due to LA times readers, didn't want to confuse them).
Posted by: charles | June 24, 2005 at 01:08 AM
My Squash seeds took forever to come through, I'd given up on them and then all of a sudden they started appearing. So don't give up too soon. My worry is that some of them have now developed yellow coloured leaves, which I'm guessing is not a good thing. Anyone know?
Posted by: Dave | June 24, 2005 at 09:25 AM
Charles: didn't realise you'd been getting national media exposure!
My tommies are at least another month away from fruiting, I'd say ... so I am not going to be winning any "earliest tomato" category. But hey, I am just glad they're alive!
Not sure about the yellow leaves Dave - is it all of them or just a few? Could be a deficiency of some trace element (provided you've ruled out pests) - try giving it some seaweed fertiliser ... anyone else got a better idea?
Posted by: Jane Perrone | June 24, 2005 at 12:23 PM
Seaweed fertiliser?? Is that a make-it-yourself thing, or a buy-it-yourself thing? How and where for both?!
On the subject of fertiliser, where do you stand on 'feeding' your Tomatoes Jane? People are always telling me I should 'feed' my Tomatoe plants but I've always been reluctant to use anything other than water because I like the idea of calling them 'organic'. Is it really necessary to feed them, and if so, is there anything organic that can be used?
Posted by: Dave | June 30, 2005 at 01:26 PM
once again i've dragged you in, sundays update is up, one month till judging!
Posted by: charles | July 03, 2005 at 10:36 PM
I use liquid comfrey to feed my toms, and they seem to love it. To make it I just keep an old water butt topped up with fresh leaves, and it produces a constant stream of thick, foul-smelling but very nutritious (if you're a tomato) black liquid. Dilute it 40:1 and use to feed a couple of times a week.
When planting comfrey make sure you get a variety that doesn't creep - Bocking 14 seems to be the traditional choice, and it's what I've got. If anyone wants some root cuttings drop me a line - it's terribly easy to grow.
Posted by: Dan | July 04, 2005 at 10:30 PM