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Post by nana on Jul 25, 2016 16:30:16 GMT -5
This is what happens when you combine six tomato plants, chicken manure, and an inability to prune effectively. If my Sun Gold cherry tomatoes creep into my bedroom at night and choke the life out of me, I will only have myself to blame. FYI, the trellis they are on is 5 1/2 feet high and they show no signs of stopping. Too little too late, I have started hacking off branches that are shading the peppers and herbs on one side and the beans and chard on the other. Also, I always let the milkweed grow to attract Monarchs, (although I haven't seen any this year). It doesn't know how to play nice either. I never learn.
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Post by cinnabar on Jul 25, 2016 18:13:42 GMT -5
Had the tomato do that to me too. Had to hack my way into the garden to find/pick. The milkweed here is in full bloom, what a sweet aroma. Saw what I think was the largest monarch hovering around. Will look for the eggs later when they are large enough to see without wading into the rest of the perennials. Miss the veggie garden this year, maybe next.
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Post by chipperhiker on Jul 29, 2016 10:24:41 GMT -5
Nana, we'll know what tell the police if they come around asking questions!!!
I don't prune mine at all, and two years ago I had 63 plants that looked similar. Same thing - fertile soil, plenty of rotted manure, and they were just massive! They set about 1200-1500 pounds of fruit, it was totally insane, and I was hoping to sell them at the roadside, but I got hit by late blight that year after a cold wet spell, and I was only able to salvage about 20% of the crop for canning (all pressure canned, by the way, for safety). Still a lot, but a huge loss, and i wasn't able to let any ripen on the vine, so a flavor hit, too.
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Post by nana on Jul 29, 2016 19:23:50 GMT -5
That blight is a killer. It's been hot and dry so far, so I hope we'll avoid it this year,but when it hits it's a nightmare. Overnight your vigorous healthy plants go belly up, and nothing you can do. Years ago it didn't seem to be such a problem. I think it is either the same blight that caused the Irish famine, or related to it. It must have been like the end of the world for them. A good lesson to not put all your eggs into one basket...
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Post by chipperhiker on Aug 7, 2016 14:05:46 GMT -5
It is exactly the same fungal blight, nana. My tomatoes went from beautiful to black and melting on the vines in a matter of 4 days. No exaggeration. : (
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Post by nana on Aug 8, 2016 7:16:33 GMT -5
I live in fear of that blight. A few plants are starting now to get that one where the leaves start to yellow at the bottom, but the plant doesn't die. It's not bad yet, and I will still be able to have what appears to be a few thousand cherry tomatoes. I tried to plant mostly resistant varieties.
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Post by chipperhiker on Aug 9, 2016 1:21:58 GMT -5
Yeah, early blight is no fun , but it's not a total crop killer, either. I hope you never see late blight, nana. It's awful.
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Post by nana on Aug 10, 2016 8:57:25 GMT -5
I've seen it happen once. I hope never again.
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