Pity me, for I had total crop failure on the 'maters this year

[Mojo]

Mojo! Not you?!

Yes, me. I picked a handful of cherry tomatoes in late April and that was I-T! Now it wasn't for lack of trying, I had sixty plants out. I think it was a combination of several factors:

1. Rain: there was just So. Much. Rain. Some of the plants could not take all the water, even in my raised beds; the rest had pollination issues, I think.
2. Hail: Friday the 13th of May, we had a hail storm that is going to cost me a new roof. But that was not the most grievous harm of the day. The hail knocked most everything off my plants. My neighbor said he lost almost all his tomatoes that day as well.
3. Insects (or lack thereof): around the time I saw the first (and last) cherry tomatoes, I also saw stink bugs. Wicked early of them this year, but we had a warm winter, so... Stink bugs just use neem oil like deodorant, so after consultation, I bit the bullet and went to something a bit stronger. The stink bugs disappeared --but I think the pollination rate suffered as well. Darned if I do, darned if I don't.
4. gosh darnoodley nutria: I LOST AN 8' POMENGRANATE BUSH IN ONE NIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER! I about lost my mind over who could've done it until I saw teeth marks on my willow tree. Nutria have moved back into the pond behind the beds, and they started digging holes in the beds. Then, they began knocking over bushes and stripping the green fruit. Squirrels, we can tolerate, but nutria are just too much. I hope the recent floods pushed them out of the ponds, but this could be a long-term losing fight.
5. Possible chemical interference: this one is a long-shot, but I don't think I was getting as many blooms as I ought to have had. The only explanation I can posit is that the manure I got from my in-law's stables had something from the horse feed that retarded blossom formation.

I have squashes, and some eggplant, and the peppers are making a good run of it now. The melons are starting to really take over, as they should at this time of the season. About half my vines are still alive, and I may try to keep them alive through the fall. But it's depressing, it really and truly is. I finally had a chance to grow out the Serendipity seeds from the very last SETTFest, and now they're gone.

Mojo is sad.

[AlittleSalt]

That stinks Mojo. You are a gardener, and I you will grow more next year. I started some tomato seeds a week or so ago. I think you still have time to try some tomato plants - especially cherry tomatoes. I started mine outside for a fall garden. I live between DFW and Waco. It can happen.

Today, I pulled out the remaining tomato plants in our garden due to nematodes and too much rain. The garden actually looks good now. Those dying plants were very depressing to look at. Now, I see that empty garden space - not as a failure, but as a chance to grow again.

[cjp1953]

Man,I'm very sorry for your loss,I went though that a few years ago.Hope the rest of your garden produces for you.

[Ed of Somis]

I always have a great deal of respect for folks that can garden in Texas...and such places. Like I have said many times...if I can't grow stuff successfully where I live....I am not too good! Sorry about your losses...

[My Foot Smells]

That blows, Houston has been bludgeoned this year. I was informed that Arizona had the #1 pecan crop, I said "whaaaaat?!" But it is easier to control too little water, as too much rain - ain't a dern thing you can do about it.

[Starlight]

How sad! I feel for you. Salt has a good point though, look on the positive side as a chance to grow again. Hopefully Tx has had enough rain for awhile now and things will get back to normal for that area.

I don't know what a Nutria is, but I really feel for you losing your pomegranate bush. It takes forever for them to grow and produce. If the roots haven't been damaged to badly maybe you can bring it back.

I hope the rest of your season is lots better.

[My Foot Smells]

A nutria is a beaver like aquatic animal with a tail more like a big wharf rat. They are very destructive and likely the cause of Katrina breech, as they burrow into the levy. They also breed like rats. They had a bounty down in the big sleazy on them, but just making a dent.

Had some on my creek. Course all the rednecks went out and shot 'em up. Thank goodness, guess rednecks do serve some sort of purpose after all.

[Starlight]

And I thought I had probms with all my chipmunks. What a nasty looking critter.

Poor Mojo really is having it bad this year with those things.

Mojo... would spraying your plants and such with pepper spray maybe help deter those nasty looking critters? it would mean having to spray after every rain and probably in between times, but it keeps deer and squirrels away. They get a bit of that hot pepper spray a few times and they usually find someplace else to go eat.

[Worth1]

The nutria is actually very cute.
It isn't a rat, they make great pets and even better BBQ.

Worth

[brownrexx]

Yuk, I am glad that we don't have those. If there is one thing I have learned from this forum, it is how difficult it can be to garden in the South. I had no idea that the insects, diseases and critters were so different.

Tomatoes are pretty much self pollinating though so lack of insects should not be so much of a problem but all of that rain could be. I also know that tomato pollen becomes damaged and does not pollinate properly after the temperature hits about 90 degrees. When that happens here I get no new tomatoes until the temperature drops back down below 90.

[Worth1]

https://youtu.be/5NKFf1mALlc

https://youtu.be/-NKqA1Gga3g

[MarianneW]

Time to go shoot yourself a new fur coat?

Esh, hope next season is better!

[Worth1]

Okay you did not lose your pomegranate bush it will come back bigger and better than ever before from the roots.

I had one die after the root girdled the trunk and killed it.
I pulled up the dead part and then the next year it came back as big as ever from the roots.
If you want it to not be a bush prune all but three or so shoots.
It will make a nice tree.


Worth.

[cjp1953]

Originally Posted by Worth1

The nutria is actually very cute.
It isn't a rat, they make great pets and even better BBQ.

Worth

Remember seeing Andrew Zimmer on Bizarre Foods eating those.That guy will eat anything!!!!!

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by cjp1953

Remember seeing Andrew Zimmer on Bizarre Foods eating those.That guy will eat anything!!!!!

Here is some all done up fancy like for the city folks.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...66551975785089

Worth