8-03-17 Garden Update
I had a bit of a busy week so this update is late, but there’s plenty to talk about.
We had a wind storm this week, so a few things got blown around. No major damage.
Garden Log
Container 1
It’s worth noting that this container seems to have something wrong with its weed cloth. Whenever the water runs out it’s brown - full of dirt it looks like. I’m assuming it won’t be a problem before we take that container apart and plant something new in it.
- Bush beans - Sadly all of the beans rotted off, but the plant itself is doing well. Maybe it will survive until the fall and it can really start producing for us.
- Flowers - I tore out the white flowers which were closest to the bush beans to give them more room. They’re doing well in their new home and the beans have a little more space.
- Ginger - Still somewhat pathetic.
Container 2
The eggplant is producing new flowers - two of them right now. I took off some of the low-hanging, holey leaves. It’s still growing well, but some beetles have started to become attracted to it:
Apparently they bite into the plant and suck out the sap, which makes the leaves look like this:
I pick them off when I find them and the plant isn’t horribly hurt by them so far.
Container 3
This container is currently shaded.
This container also had a bout of mushroom growth:
It seemed to have been fueled by excess rain and a few days of sun has apparently cleared it up. I’ll keep an eye on it though. I don’t know when I can get this container apart to add some drainage to it.
- Parsley - Making steady progress I suppose.
- Big pepper plant - We had a harvest event - seven peppers which were ripening. Sadly, they also had some damage on them (pictures are below). The only reason I was keeping most of the branches on the pepper plant was to support the peppers, so I gave the pepper plant a serious haircut: The remaining leaves are under the shade and hopefully will do nicely. There were some blooms but I haven’t seen if they’ve developed into peppers yet.
- Pepper sprouts - None have sprouted. Closing this chapter out.
- Turmeric - Still big, still healthy.
Fruit Trees
Papaya
Still alive, growing some I think?
Avocado
No major movement on the avocado pits sprouting. I’m told it takes a long time though, so I’m changing the water every so often and keeping an eye on them.
Plan
Container 1
Potentially remove the other flower come fall.
Container 2
Patience: the eggplants will come.
Container 3
I’m sprouting some poblano seeds that I might plant in here: the peppers should cross-pollenate and make some interesting peppers…
Container 4 - Planned
Possible options:
- Yellow squash
- Cherry tomatoes
- Okra
- Southern Peas
- Sweet potatoes
I’m leaning toward cherry tomatoes at the moment.
Fall/Winter
We’d like the following plants:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Green onion
- Spinach
- Kale
- More greens
- Carrots
- Broccoli
I’d like at least 6 containers by October 1st.
Fruit Trees
We want the following fruit trees:
- Avocado
- Mango
- Lime
Harvest Log
Our green/yellow pepper harvest:
Harvest Date | Green Pepper | Tomato (Beefsteak) | Beans | Eggplant |
---|---|---|---|---|
Up to now | 12 | 11 | 0 | |
6/17/17 | 2 | 5(3) | 0 | |
6/24/17 | 0 | 0 | ||
7/3/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
7/10/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
7/17/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
7/24/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
8/3/17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
To Do
N/A
Resources
- This page has a good list of summer crops for Florida
- UF Extension Office Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Gardening Know How article on Common Pepper Plant Problems