re: 2020 Garden Thread

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Is my pot too small? Just getting smoked by the summer sun? Not enough water?

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Most likely just getting too much direct sunlight. The heat in LA is fricking brutal to just about everything. Move them a into a partial shade area

I'm still getting a few tomatoes. I already pulled my cucumbers. I plan on doing my first ever fall garden this year.

I am a novice at gardening, but a few observations from the past few years (I mainly grow jalapenos and hotter, so I don't have big bell peppers). Not saying its right by any means either, so anyone can correct me

Be careful on the watering. Too much and if the plant is laying fruits it will store excess water in the fruit and potentially rot. My jalapenos all looked blistered and rotted by the time they matures last year and I think I was overwatering thinking it was sun damage.

I think peppers are supposed to be a little water stressed once they start fruiting, it puts more energy into the actual peppers. I've been watering mine about every other day, once the internal soil goes from damp to moist.

I side dress the plants with blood meal about once a month, use fertilizer as directed about every other week.

I collect rainwater in a few buckets for my plants that aren't in direct sun. Rainwater really makes plants perk up compared to tapwater.

But I think it's probably temp. My plants were getting droopy after a week of 95+ degrees and then we got a rain and 75 the past few days and they look healthy as ever

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Fall garden is so much easier in S, Louisiana.

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Totally agree, and it is my favorite time of the year to garden. With our mild winters, many things you can grow in the fall and into early summer survive just fine.

Leaf lettuces, Swiss Chard, Kale, Spinach, onions, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, garlic, collard and other greens all do very well in our climate.

Cucumbers, pole beans, tomatoes can all do well until the first frost, then it's done-----that is, if we even get a frost.

Pulled my cucumber plants today. I’m done. I have 50 quarts of pickles. We’ve been eating tomato and cucumber salads like crazy. I’ve given a bunch away. And there was still a ton of small ones left on the plants. I just can’t take any more.

Same with the tomatoes. Luckily, the plants are all just about done.

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I pulled half my tomato plants today. Some spot disease got them pretty bad but I was over it anyway. Problem is that spot seems to have jumped to a couple of my peppers. Trying to control that now

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Yeah same on my tomatoes. I stopped caring. Not treating them. There’s still some fruit on the plants, but they’re not setting anymore. Luckily my peppers aren’t being affected. They’re doing great.

I’m gonna let my beans roll. I did a staggered planting, so I have some new vines going up and I should be able to get some consistent bean production through fall.

I’m gonna start some fall tomato seeds in July. Doing Bush Champion II and Beefmaster. Big slicing varieties. I think I have enough salsa.

When should I start cabbage? August? I looked at the LSU ag planting guide and it says August, but I’m not sure if they means seeds or transplants.

290 day growing season down here, crazy

I moved my peppers under some shade. I think they were getting roasted by the sun

On another note, my little hydroponic experiment is going well so far. Three yellow squash harvested and three more beginning to develop. I have some full spectrum lights to replace my normal 5k plant starting lights but haven't gotten around to hanging them. It has been a fun little experiment so far. I'm trying to see if I want to scale up and take it outdoors this fall.