Mid-Summer Gardening Practices
July 12, 2017
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Wonderful ideas. Our soil is quite clay also. We have been battling the mildew problem also. The soda and dishwash detergent work pretty well. Our frost usually comes mid October. I have not planted any pumpkins but may get some seeds and try. I had gourds last year and I understand what you mean about those bugs! Great post!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Lynn!
DeleteThanks for you input on the soda, dishwasher detergent for battling powdery mildew. I wasn't able to get any of it on my zinnias as we had so much rain. I just purchased some Neem Oil, so I will let you know how it works on powdery mildew too. The will be my first time to grow gourds, so I am looking forward to that too!
Oh I hear ya my friend. I gave up on having a basil plant in pots outside. I tried one inside, and failed at that too! We've been wetter than normal for the last two years and you are SO RIGHT about watching and adjusting. I've learned to deadhead my Plumbago plant, fertilize once a week, as well as the other flowers. My roses are doing well, but I have to really watch. Gardening is again such a metaphor for life both in the physical world and in the spiritual!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Dearest Anita!
DeleteYour gardens are the gardens of my dreams. But they would never thrive in our challenging Texas weather. We just don't have true seasons, so we run into all sort of bugs, fungus and such.
Yes, we live and learn in our gardens on all levels!
Your challenging Texas weather has an upside. You're learning SO much and sharing your knowledge and experiences with the rest of us.
DeleteI learned something today. I never would have guessed Texas has clay soil. I always thought dry climates tend to have sandy soil. I suppose in a climate that typically receives little rain clay soil is a blessing, but when it rains a lot, well, you now know the disadvantages,
xxx
Doreen,
DeleteGreat point, I am learning so much and I suppose it is that way with everything we have to totally immerse ourselves in it in order to truly gain knowledge. Working in my garden has certainly been a study! Some days I come out of there with ant bites, chiggers and a sunburn!
Thanks for your visit:)
Greats words of wisdom dear friend on gardening. I have been shocked as this has been the only summer in several years that we have not fought with pests in our little veggie garden. Just shocked too be honest. I did take advice from a friend this summer and I planted marigolds around my garden as I heard that would help keep critters at bay. Not sure if that is the real reason my little garden done me well this summer but hey, it worked for me! Marigolds from now on will go in my garden. My cukes seemed to be the only thing that did not do well. I am getting ready to plant some sunflowers too. I love them. Last year I had some that reached 7 1/2 feet. Enjoyed this post today dear Jemma. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Dearest Cindy,
DeleteThank you for sharing some of your gardening practices with us, the more we all share about our gardening experiences the more successful we will be. I am going to write down these tips that you are all sharing and do a post on them. Love that your garden has been happy this year and that sunflowers are on the horizon!
Hugs,
jemma
Good tips, Jemma. SOrry about your squash. My biggest pest in the garden continues to be rabbits. They're eating mandevilla leaves, one by one, for the first time in 14 years of planting the annual. I hope they like cayenne pepper on their leaves. ;)
ReplyDeleteRita,
DeleteYou made me chuckle...the rabbits have been crazy here too! A bumper crop of them. They took out 3 hibiscus of mine! Naughty bunnies!
Jemma
We have had so much rain! And yes, it is really taking a toll on many of the things we have planted. However, our herbs are in heaven.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that! My lemon basil is happy, the Thyme not so much:(
DeleteI am pushing through to Fall!
Girl, you sound like a serious gardener now! I have no doubt that someone who puts in the time that you do both researching and applying what you learn will have a better garden season after season. Meanwhile, I really think that you are building character as a gardener.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I love that quote at the end.
Dewena!
DeleteThank you for this vote of confidence, kindness and encouragement! Your uplifting words mean so much to me and I appreciate you:)
Hi Jemma,
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at the beautiful gardening you have achieved in Texas. With having lots of rain and also the heat it is so hard on plants but great breeding ground for bad bugs in the garden. Love all your tips. Have a good summer day.
xoxo
Kris
Thanks Dear Kris,
DeleteI understand now why Texas was part of the dust bowl and Tornado alley. Just living here can be a challenge at times, let alone growing! I will always have zinnias and sunflowers from here on out, they are such durable little blooms.
Great tips Jemma - I've been in the garden since 6 am trying to beat the heat with just a few breaks in between but I think I'm done for now until this evening approaches. Tat squash so frustrating!! My zuchinni looked very similar and then I cut off the bad stuff and an area of new green is growing, so we shall see what transpires. I plant in a new spot every year too and the same thing happens so I'm beginning to think I just need to plant them in July and enjoy in the fall and forget spring.. We'll see maybe next year. Also decided I'm liking the idea of a smaller garden more and more. Your space looks wonderful and speaks volumes for the hours you put into it. Kudos!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Carole
Beating the heat is the only way to go! I pushed it today as I became side-tracked with cutting my zinnias. Gotta keep em' blooming!
DeleteDefinitely challenging when you have a big garden, sort of like farming.
Hi Jemma,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your garden woes....your garden always looks so beautiful to me and puts my gardening ability to shame. We have our share of nasty garden pests here as well. Only a few of my lilies actually make it to bloom...I don't spray because of my dog....but perhaps should try something earth/pet friendly. I am sure your pumpkin patch will yield a healthy harvest....as for me, i grow fabric pumpkins and without pesky insects!! LOL! Some great gardening tips here....have a wonderful day! xo
I love your pumpkin patch and I am proud to say I am the proud recipient of some of them! Maybe we can do an etsy shopping week in October this year!
DeleteOh, your pumpkins sound wonderful! Fall is my favorite season, and I am already looking forward to it, too. :) Have a great day, sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteFall is my favorite season too! I have such happy memories:)
DeleteI love reading gardening posts lately. For years, I haven't had the time to get out there and tend and when I do, I have had disastrous results. I am generally not a good plant momma. However, this season, I have really been enjoying watering and deadheading my flowers, and on occasion, talking to them...they're very good listeners. ;)
ReplyDeleteGardens are the best listeners and sometimes all of the worlds problems are solved when I am digging in the dirt and planting!
DeleteBeing up north I haven't even thought about fall garden, but I did plant my pumpkin seeds in June before I went north. I didn't do many -- they spread. I have an imaginary picture of putting a little box by my curb and saying "Help yourself!" But we'll see. Thanks for the very good tips. No squash here but I'll remember this for future years.
ReplyDeletesome really great tips. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI have never had that issue with squash, thank God! I am dealing with some green caterpillar things that are eating all my cabbage....and Japanese beetles that are eating my roses. Oh, and a bazillion gnats that get into my hair the second I step outside for a second! Ewwwww!!
ReplyDeleteJemma, your garden looks pretty good considering all the rain you have had. So sorry those pesky bugs got to your squash plants. That sunflower is so pretty. I look forward to seeing your Fall pumpkins. I just bought a blue velvet pumpkin, and knowing it's early, I couldn't resist. : )
ReplyDeletelove, ~Sheri
A lot of my potted flowers are looking pretty darn sad right now after the deluge of rain we just had. Tomorrow is finally supposed to be cool and dry, so I can get back outside and start emptying water out of pots and saucers, deadheading, etc. The only veggies I'm growing this year are tomatoes - which have just started ripening - and KY Pole Beans, which are just now flowering.
ReplyDeleteOops, sorry...hit enter too soon! Was going to say that I'm amazed at your huge garden. Do you tend to this all by yourself?
DeleteSaving these tips, thank you for sharing! I just bought a new home so I don't think there will be much time to do a lot with the garden this year, but I feel like I'll be well-prepared for the spring.
ReplyDelete