My Garden Crisis - it's over - Good News & Bad

[BVGardener]

I've always said that rain is like steroids to tomato plants. At least that is what I have always observed and not just tomato plants. I had written off full grown eggplants to being completely dead a couple of years ago only to receive a nice rain shower and within two days those same eggplants were perfect in health.

I was hoping for a light rain shower last week and that is what I received. Last Friday night, we received a nice, very light rain shower. It was so light that even though I did not have any mulch down, there was no backsplash on the plants. And the great thing is that I received yet another of those rain showers Saturday night.

Here are a couple of photos of what is fairly representative in the garden. I did have to prune some of the damaged foliage on some plants.









Talk about doing a 180 as far as things taking a major turn for the better. But along with the good news there is a great deal of bad. I did get hit pretty hard as far as plants that did not make it. A few plants I pulled to check the root systems. But I did lose a good 24+ varieties.

As you can see, I only have a small amount of mulch applied but should have that completed on Tuesday.

So let me finish this post with a bit more good news....I observed the first variety to start developing fruit of the season.

Jay

[Tomstrees]

congrats! After having done it myself last season, I knew they'd pull through! You may lose some: but not all and thats the good thing.

~ Tom

ps. did I tell you I got one of those lemon seeds you sent me to sprout?

[duajones]

Great to hear that things have turned around for you Jay.

[Worth1]

What Garden crisis?
Did I miss something?

Glad to see all is well.

Worth

[bryanccfshr]

This is great news. THe leaves are great mulch.

[BVGardener]

Thanks folks. The main reason for my panic was that it would end up being something soil related. More specifically, something I added like the composted manure. In fact, I originally blamed composted cow manure for the introduction of root knot nematodes into my garden. I've spoke with some folks that specialize in this area and they have convinced me that the rkn were not introduced to the garden via an outside source. As much as I am looking forward to ripened fruit, it will also be interesting at the end of the season when I can pull up fully mature plants and inspect the root systems to see if I have kept the rkn in check.

A secondary reason for my concern is that any major setback in growth is a setup for very limited to no fruit in this part of the country. We have already had some days where the humidity has been tough. But thats what you get when you live in the southern part of Texas.

Jay

[feldon30]

*hugs my raised beds*

[matereater]

glad to hear all is on the mend and looking good

[gardenhappy]

Those are looking great!!! I'm so glad to see i'm not the only one using leaves to mulch with,i see all these GREEN gardens then here is mine brown from the leaf mulch!!! What kind of string system is that??

[BVGardener]

I now have two Polish Dwarf plants setting fruit. Really surprised to see that already.

gardenhappy, those leaves really come in handy for me. I have an almost endless supply of them and they make for cheap, effective mulch. The string system is the Florida Weave Method.

Jay

[BVGardener]

More good news....both of my Polish Dwarfs have set fruit. I'm really surprised at how quickly they set fruit too.

Right now, this is the growing zone as far as climate goes. The temperatures are just right and the plants are responding accordingly. Not just the plants in the garden. You would not believe the growth on the dwarf project plants within just a few days.

Jay

[bryanccfshr]

Good to hear. I can't wait to get home tommorow and inspect for fruit set! Very exciting to hear you having such great recovery.

[BVGardener]

We are currently having wicked storms right now. Glad I added more mulch before I left for work this morning. Super heavy rains right now but don't know if that is what I'm getting 25 miles away at home.

Jay