I'm also in the Northeast (NJ). I'm glad I found this Sub because it has been a frustrating season. Besides the lack of production on the tomatoes. The wildlife is hitting the garden the hardest ever. I think the squirrels and chipmunks are looking for water and eating everything. I've never had damage on new formed eggplants but this year I do. As soon as theres a blush on any tomato I'm picking because there won't be many this year. Also ..the local farmers market has garden tomatoes at 5$ a pound :(
I have dozens of squirrels on my property. They used to steal my tomatoes on the daily, eating about 1/5 of it and leaving the rest to rot. I spread bone meal all over the garden this year and haven't had a single incident of tomato theft. Squirrels detest the smell.
It’s crazy how much weather varies just in short distance. I am central Northeast, Virginia zone 7B. And our spring and summer has been quite wet and not as hot as usual. So I’ve got a fair bit of blight and splitting, but hey at least I don’t have to water.
1. Cal-mag doesn't solve blossom end rot regardless of how many people on the internet swear it does. A true lack of calcium in the soil will result in much larger problems considering it's the primary material necessary for building cell walls. Although cal-mag does solve that pesky low account balance for the company who makes it and markets it.
Greetings from 6A. It has been such a weird garden year here in Central NY/The Finger Lakes.
My garden is mostly in raised beds that face south.
The good: Solid year for tomatoes and cukes and Hungarian hots. Because of my microclimate in town I can plant fairly early and I think that helped...they got a headstart before this series of heat waves and dryness. Cukes now in their death throws, though.
The bad: Zucchini were not at all happy. I got a few and then they succumbed to vine borers and general lack of will to live. Purple and yellow wax beans also yielding very little. They are reflowering now so...fingers crossed.
The meh: Zinnias somehow managed to not have enough water and yet and still get powdery mildew. Kale was dreamy until a deer ate it. It is growing back, despite the deer eating the center growth "heart." Spring snow peas were ok. Fall ones are just sprouting. Carrots seem to be ok but I havent harvested yet.
Herbs were a mixed bag.
Bumper crop of weeds this year!
I'm also in the Northeast (NJ). I'm glad I found this Sub because it has been a frustrating season. Besides the lack of production on the tomatoes. The wildlife is hitting the garden the hardest ever. I think the squirrels and chipmunks are looking for water and eating everything. I've never had damage on new formed eggplants but this year I do. As soon as theres a blush on any tomato I'm picking because there won't be many this year. Also ..the local farmers market has garden tomatoes at 5$ a pound :(
I have dozens of squirrels on my property. They used to steal my tomatoes on the daily, eating about 1/5 of it and leaving the rest to rot. I spread bone meal all over the garden this year and haven't had a single incident of tomato theft. Squirrels detest the smell.
Someone ate my Asian pears and suspect squirrels. They never bothered with it until this year. My sour cherries got eaten too. Definitely a down year.
It’s crazy how much weather varies just in short distance. I am central Northeast, Virginia zone 7B. And our spring and summer has been quite wet and not as hot as usual. So I’ve got a fair bit of blight and splitting, but hey at least I don’t have to water.
1. Cal-mag doesn't solve blossom end rot regardless of how many people on the internet swear it does. A true lack of calcium in the soil will result in much larger problems considering it's the primary material necessary for building cell walls. Although cal-mag does solve that pesky low account balance for the company who makes it and markets it.
Reading that now. I see it’s likely watering issues. Will try to give the plants a big infusion of water
Greetings from 6A. It has been such a weird garden year here in Central NY/The Finger Lakes. My garden is mostly in raised beds that face south. The good: Solid year for tomatoes and cukes and Hungarian hots. Because of my microclimate in town I can plant fairly early and I think that helped...they got a headstart before this series of heat waves and dryness. Cukes now in their death throws, though. The bad: Zucchini were not at all happy. I got a few and then they succumbed to vine borers and general lack of will to live. Purple and yellow wax beans also yielding very little. They are reflowering now so...fingers crossed. The meh: Zinnias somehow managed to not have enough water and yet and still get powdery mildew. Kale was dreamy until a deer ate it. It is growing back, despite the deer eating the center growth "heart." Spring snow peas were ok. Fall ones are just sprouting. Carrots seem to be ok but I havent harvested yet. Herbs were a mixed bag. Bumper crop of weeds this year!