What did you do in the garden today?

[ChicksnMore]

A lot of people don't realize that goats are browsers, not grazers. They pick bits to eat here and there while they walk around. They don't graze through a pasture the way a horse or cow does. And yes, they love to eat trees. Mine would rather eat fresh fallen oak leaves than grass. They also nibble at the bark. I have to put up fencing around my young trees to keep them away so they don't kill them. Luckily there are many other interesting things to check out and nibble so they quickly move on to easier delectables, like my flower beds.

Your poor flowers! Mine loved our pond plants. They'd graze it to water level. But they had to get hungry to eat more then the flowers off London rocket.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Maybe Squash Vine borer? Can’t remember if yours are under netting.

What was planted in that space or bed last year? Maybe something has hatched and is detrimental.

No SVB.... My zucchini are growing inside my hoop house so I can confirm that SVB can't reach them. Squash bugs are another story though....but I've been checking them religiously. Some eggs but no nymphs or adults that I can find so I'm pretty sure they are not being overrun.

The only thing that could have overwintered are the squash bugs but I piled up all the mulch in the area and burned it right in the garden so it should have killed everything. Plus I did not plant my zucchini in the same area of the garden as last year.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Maybe it’s still to hot? Or something was sprayed in the area where it was collected?

Definitely could be the heat although they've been struggling since before the oppressive heat started. I know with 100% certainty that nothing was sprayed in the vicinity of the mulch unless it came from the sky above.

As for the plants themselves, I don't use any sprays inside this area of the garden except insecticidal soap and neem oil. Neither of those would hurt the plants. And these plants are protected on all sides by tall plants and/or structures so it is extremely unlikely that they would be affected from any spray from another property or the road.

In my opinion, that leaves 3 options:

1. Something sprayed from the sky above. Again, probably unlikely since my whole garden area would be affected and it's not.

2. Something from below ground....bad water from storm runoff, voles, bad nematodes, etc.

3. Something bad within the mulch itself. The only plants that are dying/stunted are those in close proximity to the mulch. The ones that have no mulch around them, even though they are a mere few feet away from the others, are doing fine.

 

[Elyrian1]

Starting to water one half of the garden one day, the other half the next, alternate so they dry out between a bit more and see if growth picks up. So watered one half quite extensively this morning, a good soak while I was running around feeding chickens, feeding cats, and checking on misc. stuff.

So through the walls this morning one of the roosters' crows was getting warped and twisted to sound just like a doorbell chime. I have no earthly clue how, just that it kept waking me up from my half-doze.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Thank you for your feedback on the vacuum sealers @igorsMistress and @Sueby. I just ordered the Foodsaver 2435 from Walmart. Their prices were better than Amazon, Bed, Bath and Beyond and the Foodsavers website. I checked the different models and thought this one was a good option for the price. And the shipping is free.

 

[bruceha2000]

Not as hot as some of you, but really hot for mid June here.

That is WAY TOO HOT!!! We are having a nice low 70's day here today

Dad passed away yesterday

I'm so sorry for your loss Sueby. Losing a parent is really hard.

We did our best working with the saw-blade attachment on our weed-whacker, but these Satan plants creep along the ground and destroy the blade when we try to chop them.

Wow, those must be some tough stemmed plants!

Time to get out the old-fashioned push-mower.

We have one but it doesn't like tall or thicker "stemmed" grasses.

3. Something bad within the mulch itself. The only plants that are dying/stunted are those in close proximity to the mulch. The ones that have no mulch around them, even though they are a mere few feet away from the others, are doing fine.

I have to think you've found your culprit given those facts. Not sure how to correct it other than getting rid of the mulch.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Gardeners Wet cold here.
May pull wool socks again today ... high 40's.
@Sueby I am so sorry Godspeed to him.

 

[DParker75089]

The Painted Mountain corn ears are putting on some length (this one is about 8"), but are still pretty skinny.

Some of the asparagus has decided to go for a 3rd wave of spears. I might have to cave in and harvest one or two just to test them out.

 

[Sally PB]

I filled in around all but the few short really short potato plants. They are looking good!

So are the tomatoes. The plants aren't very tall yet, but the stems and leaves look healthy and robust. Lot of them have flower buds too.

The store bought pepper plants looks good. One of the jalapenos has tiny flower buds. My starts are still alive, but are tiny compared to the purchased ones.

I cut about half of the garlic scapes. I read that you should cut them when the curl makes a full rotation.

Still waiting for the storm. I have no doubt that the heat will be here tomorrow.

 

[Acre4Me]

Wish my garden some good luck! We are in the moderate level of risk for a sucky storm-hail, possible derecho, straight line winds, possible tornados …so, hopefully the tomatoes and peppers and the rest of the garden comes out unscathed.