What did you do in the garden today?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

My battery operated fan arrived it’s great. I ordered another that is solar powered/ rechargeable as well as rechargeable with usb cord. When I first moved in here the power supply was really stable and reliable. Then we’ve been gradually getting power failures that are lasting longer and longer. I do have a portable generator but it doesn’t make sense to hook it up for less than 4 to 6 hours. Along with the second fan I ordered a pair of matching led lamps. Much nicer to look at then my beat up lantern. Tomorrow it’s back to gardening and picking more green beans. I forgot this picture I took this morning.
I have a lot of baby tomatoes popping up from the vines.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Well rain started last night around midnight. Big ground shaking bangs and very flashy lightning. All night... Hard to sleep through that... Still pouring buckets this morning. Acu-rite gauge says we've gotten 4 inches of rain so far which might be low since I haven't recalibrated it yet. Supposed to rain until the afternoon and then pick up again later this evening into tomorrow...

The best part? It's 70 degrees!!!

I think we get that storm here in Delaware tonight. This heat wave has been brutal, I'm drenched in sweat daily. 70 degrees would be Very Welcome about now.

 

[akroberts1085]

Oh & my melon plants already have bacterial wilt - they don't even have fruit yet. Stupid cucumber beetles. Debating on trying under cover next year or just giving up on melons.

Don't give up on melons. Use a grow bag and add a little bit of sand.

 

[Acre4Me]

I have a bean question, I know @Acre4Me is very knowledgable on this subject. The black turtle beans are really producing a lot. I planned on letting them dry on the bush but I’m concerned about bugs eating them.

I let them dry on the plant. I have insect problems on green pods, not usually when drying. The bigger problem is moisture bc they can mold/mildew which ruins the beans. So, tall trellis or other means of good airflow. For bush beans I put stakes along the row and use at least 2 layers of twin. One about 8” up, next about 3-4” above that. And more if needed. This way the beans grow up, and pods stay off the ground. If mostly dry, but rain or cold (freeze) coming, I’ll pick them a little early. Then shell them, and all my drying is in open containers or in a large all-wire colander.


The Cherokee Trail of Tears black pole beans I grow are pretty vigorous. They try to produce a second crop, but the season isnt long enough, and I get more mold/mildew problems in that second flush.

Oh & my melon plants already have bacterial wilt - they don't even have fruit yet. Stupid cucumber beetles. Debating on trying under cover next year or just giving up on melons.

Mine too-this year is disappointing. There are a couple types that look ok, not great.

I applied third round of predatory nematodes. They hit up to 200 types of insects, cucumber beetle being one type -and fire ants too(although no fire ants are here)! So, I’m hoping with 2-3 applications remaining I’m going to have a better year next year.

 

[cj2024]

This is a new type of Haden mango we have in Hawaii. The original Haden mango tree grows very large and have fibrous large fruit. However, this new type of Haden mango is fibreless and grow medium size with wimpy twisted branches that touch the ground if not pruned off. I haven't seen it sold in Florida nurseries yet.

I only got about a dozen of these mangoes this year, because my OCD got the better of me when I pruned the branches that were touching the ground at the beginning of the year.

I will build up the soil around the base with Kellog Amend and composted chicken manure. I'll spend about a hundred bucks to get it ready for next year's harvest.

One of these mangoes would cost about $4.99 a pound at my local grocery store. The mango in the picture weighs exactly one pound.

 

[chicken opey]

I thought that might be a bean! Do you like them? How do you eat them?

The snake beans have a very mild flavor and take on whatever seasoning you use. I pan fry w bacon grease

 

[Molpet]

I have a fan that goes around my neck. This is the first year I have used it. Sorta wimpy but it does help.
Of course it's not available but this is what I have

 

[Sueby]

Don't give up on melons. Use a grow bag and add a little bit of sand.

They grow fine, they just get bacterial wilt way too quick here from the cucumber beetles. It's undercover or nothing here (or pesticides, which I won't do).

I applied third round of predatory nematodes. They hit up to 200 types of insects, cucumber beetle being one type -and fire ants too(although no fire ants are here)! So, I’m hoping with 2-3 applications remaining I’m going to have a better year next year.

Sooo interested in how this turns out for you.

 

[Sueby]

I have a fan that goes around my neck. This is the first year I have used it. Sorta wimpy but it does help.
Of course it's not available but this is what I have
View attachment 3893919

I got one of those too for hot flashes, I need to dig it out! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Molpet]

I got one of those too for hot flashes, I need to dig it out! Thanks for the reminder.

I got this before covid and forgot about it too. My poults are at the "let's spend the night in the trees" stage. If I'm out there at 7 pm I can keep them out of the trees and herd them in after 8. Sitting out there in still air at 110f real feel wasn't cutting it... even in the shade. I thought boy would a fan be nice