What did you do in the garden today?

[Paz]

any idea why this year tomatoes blossomed but never had fruits? I thought it was hot but I have 4 plants now and the problem persists.

The tomatoes really like warm weather, so the blooms won't turn into fruit if it's too cold at night. They would also not produce fruit if there isn't enough difference between day and night temperatures. The bees who are often required with solanums don't really like the cold either, so they go to sleep, even if they are needed. It could also be a lack of nutrients, the plant needs tons of energy in order to produce fruit, minerals are the plant's way to produce more energy.
Here are the solutions:
If it's too cold (under 16 Celsius) during the day, give up.
If it's too warm at night, wait a bit.
If the bees are not there, but the temperatures are fine, blow on the flowers.
Check the electricity of the soil to see if it needs a fertiliezer, in any case, some chicken poop would do no harm.

The to,atoms also really like to grow after cabbages, so if you don't live in Australia, now is the time to plant some cabbages, when they're ready, pick the cabbage, while leaving the rest of the leaves in the soil, when spring arrives, prepare the soil as you usually do, with the cabbage leaves cut inside. That can work with broccoli and cauliflower as well.

 

[Paz]

Garden is not done, lazy to pull the tomato shields the brussle sprouts.

they actually do quit well together.

 

[Sueby]

Not much happening in the garden, I do need to get some compost out one of these days.

I hear y'all on the price of fencing - I ordered 1x2 welded wire to reinforce the small run after the bear & it wasn't fun. A 36in x 50 foot roll was $120 on Amazon, thankfully I only need a little bit! So anyway, I need to do that this weekend. He ended up getting in the small run thru the hardware cloth he ripped (bottom 3 feet), he tried to get thru the 1x2 welded wire (top 3 feet) but that held so I figured I'd cover the HC with WW.

I put away all but 1 hose. I wait till the freeze comes because once it comes I have to water the chickens from the kitchen sink. I need a few dry days to collect leaves - I usually try for 3 bags of mulched leaves to put down on the snow so the girls will venture out.

Started thawing the peppers & pulling stems last night to make the hot sauce today. I ended up with them completely filling the 20 quart pot, I'll weigh them soon so I can upscale the recipe. Not sure if I'm cooking the sauce inside or out, we'll see how my post COVID lungs handle the burn.

 

[Ascholten]

Can't you throw the peanut shells in the coop as bedding?

YOu might be able to. They are awful damp though they been soaking in water for a day or so then sucked on. The reason for the freezer is because they get moldy real quick. With all the flavors and spices in them the girls might try to eat them too, not so sure how that'd pass thru a chicken or how good it'd be for them either TBH.

Aaron

 

[chickengr]

The tomatoes really like warm weather, so the blooms won't turn into fruit if it's too cold at night. They would also not produce fruit if there isn't enough difference between day and night temperatures. The bees who are often required with solanums don't really like the cold either, so they go to sleep, even if they are needed. It could also be a lack of nutrients, the plant needs tons of energy in order to produce fruit, minerals are the plant's way to produce more energy.
Here are the solutions:
If it's too cold (under 16 Celsius) during the day, give up.
If it's too warm at night, wait a bit.
If the bees are not there, but the temperatures are fine, blow on the flowers.
Check the electricity of the soil to see if it needs a fertiliezer, in any case, some chicken poop would do no harm.

The to,atoms also really like to grow after cabbages, so if you don't live in Australia, now is the time to plant some cabbages, when they're ready, pick the cabbage, while leaving the rest of the leaves in the soil, when spring arrives, prepare the soil as you usually do, with the cabbage leaves cut inside. That can work with broccoli and cauliflower as well.

well, I guess heat and lack of bees. I have noticed bees are missing this year. luckily I'll be the next one to leave this place. thanks for the tomatoes/cabbages information.

 

[Sueby]

Hot sauce is just about done, last batch in the canner & milled out goods in the dehydrator out in the mud room. I got about 15 quarts of finished sauce & canned it in half pint/pint & quarts. Half pints to give to people who think they can handle it (Lord knows I certainly can't).

The production line.

Making hot pepper flakes.

Sooooo glad that's done - took 4.5 hours so not too bad but I'm still coughing.

 

[jerryse]

Finished planting my trees .

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Gardner's,
No active rain cells right now.

 

[Ascholten]

any idea why this year tomatoes blossomed but never had fruits? I thought it was hot but I have 4 plants now and the problem persists.

Excellent question, I am seeing that too. Plant had blooms on it but don't seem to see any fruits. Not even starters that fell of later. I don't want to say no pollinators because everything else IS producing... Edit: not to mention I have 4 beehives on premise, so KNOW that bees are seeing them. Even if the honey bees are being picky, the bumble bees don't care if it's a flower, they'll stomp all over it !!

Aaron

 

[Elyrian1]

I had that problem with my tomatoes as well this year. I blamed the heat. One plant started producing and its still going strong, the other gave me five cherry tomatoes and is still flowering with no more fruit.