2012 PNW gardens progress

[johnnytwofingers]

So, the last two days have been pretty nice I must say. I feel like I have abused spouse syndrome, you can treat me like crap for months, but be nice for one day and all is forgiven!

Weekend is coming and I won't be cooped up in the office though....does this mean rain?

[janezee]

Mmmmm, yeah. Better get that tarp ready again.

I worked my tail off yesterday and the day before, and couldn't lift a finger today,
and it's going to rain for the next four days, supposedly.
My tomatoes grew an inch in the last 2 days. Peppers are still shrinking.
Peas are coming in.
Isn't April just around the corner?

j

[Tania]

after two nice and sunny days we are back to rain again. Sigh.

But, the good news is I checked my potatoes this morning, and wow - found some very large new tubers. Right in time with the garlic scapes... guess what I will be cooking for dinner today

Picked some broccoli shoots too, they are so good.

Took pictures of all my tomato plants and lettuces in the last two days. Some grew quite a bit, but no massive fruit set yet, I guess it is too cold/rainy/cloudy.

Check them out here: http://goo.gl/photos/dlJsbYfWQe . I will be uploading them to TOMATObase once we complete the software upgrade (which happened to be quite involved this time, many reports broke).

I hope this weather is not bringing us any late blight any time soon... keeping my fingers and toes crossed 24/7. Potatoes look great so far, and I hope they will continue to stay healthy in the next 2 weeks...

[Tania]

Watching the heavy rain this morning, I was thinking again: "I can't believe it could be so much water coming from the skies for so long!"... Then I thought about all the folks in many areas who were not getting ANY rain for so long... and I understood... WE ARE GETTING ALL THIS WATER here in PNW. With all the technological advancements, it should have been possible by now to 'help' to distribute the rain to the areas that need them most... (well... now I am talking about climate change, aren't I??? ).

We should officially call September-June our PNW monsoon season, ***the longest on earth***.

I bet I am not the only frustrated PNWer here. This thread has been pretty quiet lately, and I am curious how everybody's tomatoes and other warm season veggies are surviving in this weather.

[johnnytwofingers]

Originally Posted by Tania

We should officially call September-June our PNW monsoon season, ***the longest on earth***.

Implying July August won't be non-stop rain? God I hope you're right!

My babies are doing a bit better since they've been covered from the rain but still not great. Seems like I haven't been getting a lot of fruit set from my tomato flowers, despite doing lots of electric toothbrush pollinating.

Been eating lots of lettuce though!

[pdxwindjammer]

I wish I had some news to report! I started my seeds so long ago but once I hardened them off outside, it was so darn cold that none of them grem much. Then we had a bit if a heat wave and they all took off, growing very well! I was going to put them in my community garden plots but then the heavy rain came down... and down... and down.

I didn't even start planting my tomatoes and peppers until 2 weeks ago and finished about a week ago.

Most of my tomatoes have flowers but none of my peppers do. I am still optimistic that I will have great production, just a bit later than usual.

Today it is raining again and I wish I could send it to the folks that need it in the mid west and south.

I just saw that there was a very big storm in the mid Altantic region and I hope everyone out is okay!

[Tania]

Yesterday's harvest - it warmed up my heart a bit in this rainy weather... I spent a good part of the day today hunting slugs, was completely soaked twice!

[Simone]

Originally Posted by Tania

Watching the heavy rain this morning, I was thinking again: "I can't believe it could be so much water coming from the skies for so long!"... Then I thought about all the folks in many areas who were not getting ANY rain for so long... and I understood... WE ARE GETTING ALL THIS WATER here in PNW. With all the technological advancements, it should have been possible by now to 'help' to distribute the rain to the areas that need them most... (well... now I am talking about climate change, aren't I??? ).

I´am very sorry for you to hear that.

In the west of Germany we had nearly such an awful weather but now, since 5 days, we can see the sun again! Before that: just rain, just grey clouds and the plants were suffering from too much rain. I had some little lakes in my garden and the beans were turning to a "nice" yellow.

Hope you will not have so many problems with your tomatoes, so that you can offer great seeds again!

Best wishes,
Simone

[janezee]

Oh, shoot, I wrote a reply yesterday, and must have forgotten to hit "Post" before moving on to other pages!

Tania, I feel your pain. We aren't getting quite as much rain as you, but it's colder on the island than north and inland. I'm planting today, because the plants I put in my neighbor's shed with windows and skylights have responded appropriately, and are ready to go in the ground. Unfortunately, she thought they needed some direct sunlight last week and left them out in the rain for the slugs and snails to feast on. I lost my only surviving Wild Sweetie from Carolyn to a big fat snail that was sitting and digesting it. S/he paid with its life.
About a dozen other tomatoes bit the slime, and the slime bit the dust. I don't have as many extras as I thought. But I'll get by.

Lettuce and spinach and Asian greens are going in my new raised bed on legs. (There's a few photos in the BIY section of the one I built for Mom.)

Peas are still doing well, and the garlic is enormous! I can't believe that it will be able to have anything left in the ground, it's putting so much energy into the greens!

The sun is peeking out for a little while, so gotta go.......

j

[meadowyck]

Oh, I'm also sorry to hear about the sunless days, I'm a sunshine girl myself. The eight years I spent in northern Ohio just about did me in, very few days of sun and when the rain coming it just stays. I love my Florida rain, as it might rain everyday (if your lucky) but it moves in and then moves out rather fast. But when we had TS Debbie it was almost like being back up north.

To be honest I don't see how folks live up north, I have to have my sunshine.

[Tania]

Simone, I am so glad to hear that the weather is improving in your area! Hopefully you'll have a nice long summer.

Jan, I was thinking that I would not be able live down south, as it is way too hot for me Between very hot and rain, I'd choose rain. However, for my tomatoes I'd be very happy to tolerate higher temperatures and lots of sunshine .

Jane, I think we both will have a great garlic harvest.

Garlic scapes with new potatoes and lots of fresh oregano were awesome for dinner Today I made pizza with freshly picked broccoli and lots of garlic scapes, it turned out great.

[janezee]

Mmmmmm, I'm on my way!

I can't complain. Peas are really a favorite of mine, and they're prolific now.

This fall, I'll be growing some garlic that has scapes. I think that Music is a hardneck that I might try. This year I have Inchelium Red, a softneck. I'm so excited! It's my first time with garlic, and I have high hopes.

I drove by a neighbor's house yesterday, and they had a cart with a sign, "Free Garlic." I quickly pulled over to see. Every one of the plants had a single clove at the base of the greens. No scapes, and no full heads. Half a wheelbarrow's worth. It was sad.


I took a few to use in my garlic/hot pepper/ginger spray mix for deer and rabbits. Sure hope my garlic is doing better than that!

Enjoy those new potatoes. In New England, it's a tradition to have new potatoes, peas, and salmon for the Fourth of July. Sure miss that there, but it's actually easy to replicate the meal here.

j

[Tania]

I cannot believe this darn cold rain is going for the 2nd day in a row, and it is HEAVY. 51F now and it hit 55F high yesterday. Looks like we are back to winter again.

We certainly do not need any more water coming from the sky, but it continues to come!

I have heard folks from California complaining about their 'cold' June "hardly reaching 75F..." Well, I am jealous.

Cannot dig potatoes for the 2nd day - it is too much rain and soil is just mud.

[PNW_D]

Truly unbelievable weather of late - but have a look at what is coming up Tania

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/cabc0308

My indoor 'garden' is doing well - ripe peppers and eggplants!!! Even the tomatoes I planted at our shared community garden are doing well - I spotted a wee Galina on Sunday

[Tania]

D., I have seen the forecast, but how many time they forecasted this and it never happened? Especially looking at what is happening outside now . I am keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow the weather will magically change and summer will come finally.