Yesterday for instance, was a perfect example. For over a year, my garage was jam packed with junk left over from our last garage sale. It was also a catch-all for anything we didn't want in the house. I've been wanting to tackle it for the last 8 months, and so we did. It felt so good to create four piles of stuff in the driveway. Of course there was the keep and the charity piles, but there the garbage pile was broken into dump and recycling piles. Very Seattle of us.
While we were moving everything out, I came across my seed potatoes that didn't make it into the ground this year. I knew there were plenty of Buttes left, but I couldn't give them away. I had known they were trying their best to grow sans dirt, because I kept seeing the box. It looks like this.
I've been surprised that it was starting to form leaves in a mostly dark garage with, I repeat, no dirt. However, if that wasn't surprising enough, I was downright shocked to find this inside.
Look at the spaghetti noodles all bound up inside. Absolutely insane! Life will find a way I guess. These will be composted next chance I get. And I thought the sprouts were long when I planted them at about a foot. Now they're well over three feet in some cases. Crazy. I just had to share.
About all had time to do in the garden that day was to water. While I was doing it I spotted a ripening tomato. It was one of my big ones (I didn't recall having any big ones).
It was ever-so-apparent that I haven't had time to LOOK at my garden of late, because as great as this tomato looks from the top, look at the bottom.
I haven't noticed any other BER (Blossom End Rot) on any other tomatoes in my garden, which is pretty good since I am growing all heirlooms with no particular resistance. Thank goodness my inattentiveness didn't come back to bite me. I am not sure if BER is contageous or not, but it doesn't appear to have spread. Whew!
Lastly, I had to snap this pic while I was watering. I still haven't pulled my spent cauliflower. I'm not sure how much longer it needs to harvest seed from it, but I don't need the space right away, so I may just wait it out.
Ugly I know, but that's what taking a month off will do to your garden.
I had really hoped to get out more into my garden this week.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
http://howtomakecompost.info
Hi there Sinfonian!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your almost ripe tomato! Yummy! What variety is it?
I've got some BER this year too. I wonder what causes it?
It feels really good to declutter and get rid of old stuff, doesn't it?
Welcome home from your camping trip... now for some relaxing time in the garden!
You're clearly busy. Enjoy your new, decluttered garden and welcome home.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have read about BER (I have about 4 plants that I bought from Walmart that has it) is that the soil needs calcium. It is not a disease type thing that will spread to other tomatoes but a soil issue. It is a calcium deficiency. They say to put any type of calcium enriched things (eggs, tums, and I think ...forgot the name...some type of salt?) to the soil and that might help but it is something that you need to do before planting. So next year, add some sort of calcium to your soil for tomatoes and that should prevent it. I was not happy with the answer, but my mom said that she has had it in the past and it just went away so we are hopeful. There are tomatoes on that same plant that so far, have not had BER.
ReplyDeleteHope it helps! I didnt have much help with my broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower this year except one cabbage. I am hoping to grow some this fall but I want to have one or two go to seeds so I can find out how to do it. But I really dont have any spaces available for fall crops!
Good luck! I would love to have my garage cleaned out as well. Do you hire out? hehe
I may remember wrongly, but I thought I heard on KUOW's Weekday Greenday's Panel that blossom end rot is caused by moisture changes in the soil. Ah yes UGA says:
ReplyDelete"It may be caused by low soil calcium, low levels of calcium in the maturing fruit, or other cultural factors -- [[[particularly fluctuating soil moisture]]]---. This disorder is usually most severe following extremes in soil moisture (either too dry or too wet). These conditions result in a deficiency of calcium available to the maturing fruit, at the spot where damage becomes apparent."
Those are some crazy potatoes! Bummer about the BER. Hope you can prevent any more of it!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if those containers make the fruit more susceptible because I'm using wicking containers as well and I have 2 different types of tomatoes and nearly all of the fruit has BER. What can I do to prevent it?
ReplyDelete