EarthTainer "Farm" July 16 - "Best of Times; Worst of Times" (pics)

[rnewste]

This year with all the Spring rain, we've had perhaps the worst Season for insects and fungal diseases in the Bay Area in years. Constant spraying with Sevin is barely keeping the aphids and other insects in check. Serenade treatments are not effective. Yellowing is setting in big time:



Some of the plants have taken an early "dirt-nap" already. German Red Strawberry and Danko were the first to go:



Some good news however, is that the plants that are hanging in there are producing wonderful tomatoes. Here is a cluster of Goose Creek that are tremendous (of course, in the Tomaten Dunger fertilizer):



And my star performer continues to be a pair of Big Beef located on their own:



Mostly green still and growing like crazy:



The first crop of corn is pretty much finished:



and the second crop is developing now:



Peppers are doing extremely well this Season in spite of the insects:



But are a bit too crowded. Next year, only 4 plants per 'Tainer:



First year for Cukes in 'Tainers and just picked my first DIVA today (thanks Duane for your seeds):



Also have Burpee Burpless which are doing well:





So all in all, not a bad year, but I've lost some good plants way too early in the Season. Next year, the fungicide spraying will commence May 1, even if the plants look totally healthy. I waited until June 20 to start spraying, and by then it was too late for some of them.

Raybo

[dustdevil]

Raybo, always interesting to see what's going on in Tainerville.

[rnewste]

I was thrilled earlier this Summer, as for the past 4 years I was hammered by Powdery Leaf Mold / Mildew. This year, not a trace of it.

Then, these darn Psyllids came to roost. Well, at least certain varieties like Goose Creek, Indian Stripe, JD Special C-Tex, Purple Haze, and Druzba are doing OK (so far).

I've got about 20 seedlings growing now for the Fall crop. I may (unfortunately) get the opportunity to plant them early....

Raybo

[amideutch]

Ray, were you using anything else besides Serenade for a foliar? Ami

[Timmah!]

Healthy plants look nice. Those toasted plants just look brutal. Hurts my feelings & they're not even mine. What a stark contrast: The big, bright red tomatoes agains the backdrop of the brown foliage.

[rnewste]

ami,

I had started regular sprayings of Exel LG and Serenade on June 20, which in retrospect was too late. This year, we seem to be hit with a double whammy of Psyllids, plus lots of Spring rains causing early blight, etc.

Next year come May 1, I am going to start with weekly sprayings of Permethrin, and on alternating weeks, spraying Serenade. As fruitset commences, I will "down-shift" from Permethrin to Sevin, hoping the Psyllids are killed off by then. I have Daconil in reserve for the fungal challenges, but I would prefer to hold off on that option.

Timmah,

Yeah, makes for an interesting contrast in colors...

Dang, and I wanted to spend more time this Summer with my Yellow Ducks in the Hot Tub....

Raybo

[Dewayne mater]

Ray it is sad to see disease take a toll like that in Cali, but something I've come to expect here in North Texas. Like you, I will start much earlier with preventatives next year, especially Exel G, Serenade and Actinovate. I see no possible downsides to those and plenty of upside. In fact, I'm taking that approach with Fall maters, which I put out this a.m. Did a Mycho drench upon planting, which I wonder how much good that will do given the soiless environment in a tainer, but figure it can't hurt.

The Big Beef is astounding in its apparent imperviousness to disease! How is the flavor? The look and number of the fruit seem excellent. Are those F1s, what is the source? I definitely want to give that a shot next spring.

On tainer's in general, I'm wondering what if any good it would do to have even more space between them? My 3 were about as close as yours and it seemed as those disease started on Stupice, and quickly spread from one tainer to another. Since disease can be wind blown, I don't know if more space would help or not, thoughts?

Jerry

P.S. I'm still going to put a few pics of my first tainer experience, as soon as life gets out of the way. :-)

[Dewayne mater]

Ray: I'm sure you've already googled up this cite, but if not, there is a good collection of info about Psyllids, including several control options. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7423.html

Maybe some of the methods mentioned will help. Good luck.

[hasshoes]

Well Ray, if it's any consolation, your "worst" plants still look better than my " best " blighted plants last year. ;0) Sorry you got struck by all that crap, I know it sucks. . . especially when they're all nice and green and you're thinking about all the ways you're gonna eat them. :0)

Weather here is the polar opposite of last year--- last year one of the darkest seasons and months (also insanely wet and cold- our heat would turn on in June even July!) since the beginning of record keeping (the 1800's- and that includes *all* months- including January)----- THIS year I just read that we had one of the warmest June's on record! And we have a drought!!!! Crazy climate!

Anyway-- if you have the same conditions next year--- maybe buy some beneficial insects if you don't want to spray? I bought ladybugs last year and still have tons this year. I'm not sure if they'd be the best choice for your bugs though--- I think there are like 5 or so diff. types of beneficial bugs you can buy.

[Timmah!]

I'm gonna surround my garden with a border of trap plants & interplant with repellent plants next season.

[shatbox]

Fantastic looking peppers! I wish I could get results like that in ground.

sBox