Anyone else having a great year of gardening?

[camochef]

Wow! I'm amazed at all those from Pa. that are having a great year. We're having the worst drought locally since we moved here in 1978. Severe high temperatures and dry, I mean really dry...watering almost daily.
I'm glad I cut back to 105 tomato plants from the usual 250-300 I normally plant out.
Still, have gotten a fair share of tomatoes, no complaints on the taste of many although a few were not the best.
Have some new ones that have really shined. Dana's Dusky Rose was leading in the black/purple category until yesterday when I tasted my first Bear Creek, it not only took over the black purple category, it took over best tasting tomato of the year, so far.
Barlow Jap was leading the Pink category ahead of Stump of the World and my old favorite Cowlick's Brandywine-P.L., until I tasted a Brandywine-Cowlicks-R.L. which jumped to the head of the pinks, but still behind Bear Creek in general.
Tarasenko6 is unchallenged in the red category, and Kelloggs Breakfast leads the orange/yellow/gold category.
Its only been two weeks since my first ripe tomato, (was quite late planting this year), but what a two weeks its been. Tomatoes are really putting out, my biggest problem is keeping up. Covered the picnic table with tomatoes yesterday, I know, everybody should have such complaints!
Enjoy!
Camo

[huntoften]

I think I jinxed myself with this post! We have had highs in the mid to upper 90[s for three weeks now...my tomatoes are dying a slow death. Still getting ripe fruit, but fruitset has stopped and fungal problems abound. Probably 50% of my tomatoes are dead or dying. The peppers are doing very well though.

[heirloomdaddy]

I'm having a pretty mediocre year. We haven't had 'summer weather' for more than a week at a time. June Gloom hit my tomatoes HARD and not until swallowing my pride and going non-organic, Daconil, is the problem even remotely contained. The good news is the moderate weather has allowed my fruit set to be consistent...just a lot of blossom end rot and moldy foliage. I'm definitely using a drip system and heavy mulch next year as opposed to relying on general cover lawn sprinklers.

As far as the cucurbits are concerned, we have had pitiful, pitiful pollination. One cuke from 3 healthy vines, and a couple of zukes. Next year I need to put major effort into attracting bees. We should have warm weather for another 2 months so we'll see what happens.

Fortunately, considering that this is only my 3rd year gardening, I have enough fruit to eat and am learning a ton. Next year will be much more productive hopefully.

[whistler]

Originally Posted by camochef

Wow! I'm amazed at all those from Pa. that are having a great year. We're having the worst drought locally since we moved here in 1978.

Here in Somerset (about 120 miles west of Gettysburg), the grass is still quite green, and in the Laurel Mountains it's downright lush. I made the drive out to Chambersburg for some peaches last week, and it was shocking how dry and burnt everything looks. (The peaches were terrific as always, though!)

Almost makes up for the 14 feet of snow we had last winter...

[Talon1189]

My "5" plants are doing very well so far.... This is my 1st tomato garden ever.......and my "Earthtainers" are doing awesome so far

[johnbro2]

NO, To much rain and hail to start, now heat in the upper 90's. not to mention blight and weeds are starting to take over the yard. Not much fun this year. John

[stormymater]

My plants are "Hitting the Slide" right, left & center. Brown crunchy climbing ever upwards, yellow with brown spots causing leaf drop & the newest offense - Maiden's Kiss & a heavily setting striped unknown have been felled by a white mold around their bases. Fried green tomatoes & green tomato chutney forthcoming.
What is that white mold?
It clearly disrupts the plant's vascular system, causing wilt but cuttings revive great - took 3 huge cuttings from each afflicted plant.
When I tear out the mother plants - can I replant or is that pernicious cr*p permeating the soil? Doesn't seem to be affecting the neighbors of Maiden's kiss...
What a hellish year for maters.

[Timmah!]

Originally Posted by stormymater

My plants are "Hitting the Slide" right, left & center. Brown crunchy climbing ever upwards, yellow with brown spots causing leaf drop & the newest offense - Maiden's Kiss & a heavily setting striped unknown have been felled by a white mold around their bases. Fried green tomatoes & green tomato chutney forthcoming.
What is that white mold?
It clearly disrupts the plant's vascular system, causing wilt but cuttings revive great - took 3 huge cuttings from each afflicted plant.
When I tear out the mother plants - can I replant or is that pernicious cr*p permeating the soil? Doesn't seem to be affecting the neighbors of Maiden's kiss...
What a hellish year for maters.

Southern Blight is what it sounds like you're describing. It extends a few inches into the soil. Deep tilling to bury it's reproductive bodies kills it. When one of my plants came down with it, I dug the soil out 6 inches deep in a 1 foot radius & tossed it along with the plant. I then drenched the spot with MycoGrow Soluble. That was a little over a month ago; it didn't spread to any of the remaining 9 plants in the raised bed. Make sure you bag the plant & the soil & dispose of it so it doesn't contaminate anything else. Solarizing, if feasible, is also effective.