End of summer mess

[b54red]

As usual the late summer requires some additional chores that I hate.

Cleaning out my greenhouse and getting it ready for fall and winter crops is a real pain. I have to start very early because despite a small air conditioner in it the greenhouse becomes an oven by 10 in the morning making working in it pure torture. I can't believe what a slob I have been since last winter and the total mess I left in there. What I thought would be a one day job has taken a week of early morning cleaning.

Keeping the massive growth of suckers under control on my existing tomato plants in the garden. I don't know what it is about late summer and fall but the plants seem to go into overdrive producing suckers from the base to the top this time of the year and keeping them removed is a near daily chore.

Where did all these big weeds come from? How did I miss them when they were small enough to just pull up for the last few weeks? I guess the Roundup will have to be used one more time cause I am not hoeing that mess.

The really bad thing about cypress mulch is removing it from the beds so you can prepare them for fall planting.

Diseases that are minor problems during the first part of the season seem to take delight in appearing much more frequently this time of the year especially Gray Mold and spot and speck diseases. The frequent rains we have been getting are making fungicides nearly useless most of the time so fighting them is much more difficult.

Oh well, it has been a really good season without any tomato-less weeks so far and some really fantastic tasting tomatoes. Time to get out there and pick off the tomatoes that have burst from the heavy rains and throw away those tiny misshapen bell peppers that are nearly useless right now. I hope the heat will hold off for a few hours so I can get a few things done before meltdown.

Bill