Re: [gardeners] 4th of July in the garden
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 04 Jul 2000 07:21:42 -0500
Sounds like a good day Craig. As to the squash replanting, I don't remember
where you live but I live in USDA Zone 9b, SW Louisiana and just planted
zucchini. Hopefully I am late enough in the season to avoid the dreaded squash
vine borers and will get a crop. I'm depending on it since my edible gourds only
produced vines this year, the little gourds fell off as they grew. Expect that
was from rain at the wrong time.
Certainly wish my bells had done as good as yours, we got exactly 3 peppers off
3 plants. The hot chiles are going bananas but needed some sweet ones to even
out the sauce this year and ended up having to buy them. I have two Thai Hots
that overwintered in my garden, both are abut 5 feet tall by 3 feet around and
producing every day. They are about 18 months old now. My friend Sam has
paprika, Longhorn, and sweet banana pepper plants that are the same age and have
produced consistently over that period. Peppers (chiles) are tender perennials
and if protected will continue their growth.
Good luck with the squash.
George
Craig Watts wrote:
>
> As you may remember, we had a hail storm that hit and garden damage was bad.
>
> Life goes on.
>
> The green beans have done very well. Picking 13 to 15 per plant. Ate a bunch
> and canned the rest. I always plant Blue Lake (Wyatt-Quarles) as they produce
> prolifically.
>
> Bell peppers have been wonderful. Years past were very thin walled, this year
> they are supermarket perfect. Pulled about 16 from 6 plants!
>
> Yellow squash seams to be hurt the worst. I think the storm weaken them enough
> to let the vine borer have his way. They are producing, but their days are
> limited. Any comments on replanting them at this time?
>
> Did something good with the tomatoes. Ever notice how they out-grow those
> round tomatoe cages? Well I took two of those tri-fold square cages and laid
> them across the tops of the round stand up's. The plants grew right up thru
> and "fell" over the top I had laid out. Very sturdy and supporting the plants
> well. Kinda looks like a tomatoe hedge. With my long arms harvesting is not a
> problem.
>
> Corn is weak and probly won't do well. Too much time spent with my son's
> b-ball team. (Good trade off). They won the bronze metal in the state games
> and are on their way to Orlando for the A.A.U. National 10 yr. old
> Championship in August. I'll be along as coach.
>
> The good news is that I wintered 2 red haboniero (sp) pepper plants and they
> are doing wonderfully this year. Last year they had just gotten to size when
> mother nature sent her first blast of frost. I hurried outside with a shovel
> and two 5 gal. buskets. Didn't do much for the interior "decor", but hey! I'm
> a guy!
>
> I got some horse radish roots from up north and am basically clueless as to
> when to harvest. They have been in the gornd since fall. The greens came up
> well and have sort of died off. Should I let them go? I do know they will take
> over the garden if not contained.
>
> Time to pile peppers on the kitchen isle and warm up the canner. Ya'll have a
> good fourth a be safe.
>
> Craig Watts
>
> (footnote- thanks mother nature for the free black berries. they've been
> wonderful!)