More garden pics

Here is the latest garden pics, the squash is really starting to take over everything. But just in one bed. The other bed it is still fairly small. I think it is just the varieties and I will have to take note of which ones get big. The tomatoes are also starting to get bigger and the corn is starting to think about growing. I know the water is the biggest problem. We have not gotten any measurable amount of rain (maybe a trace) since I planted. It is all city water or some rain water (my 4 - 55 gal drums are all empty now.) And to top it off it is very windy, constantly. I am hoping soon we can get some rain. The only problem is we really need the rain while it was cool. Rain plus heat = perfect situtation for powdery mildew and other diseases.

The heat is also making the aphids multipy like crazy and I can keep up with spraying a homeade soap spray so I have enlisted some help by buying some ladybugs and hoping they don't get blown away and stick around to keep up with the aphid population. Plus the no rain/wind/heat is great for spider mites as well. The ladybugs are supposed to eat them as well. We will see. It is so hot I can't even spray Neem Oil or the other organic oils in fear it will burn the plants.

All I know is I am dreading my water bill this month. :(

Lates pic

Actually these pictures are from a couple days ago but things are growing well. The squash is starting to flower and I have baby cucumers and tomatoes everywhere. The spider mites and aphids are still giving me problems and with the heat and wind is making it difficult to control. But each year/season gives it's own unique challenges.

From the first pic you can see my porch with the other plants as well. The potatoes are in the large blue buckets and there are some herbs and lettuce in the other containers. The green bags have strawberries (try 2) and the other pots are peppers, or basil and even a few sunflowers. Yes, there is a topsy turvy as well. I figured it was on sale last year so I would try it this year. So far I am not very impressed. In the background along the house you can also see one of the four rain barrels that I have set up to collect water from the gutters.

Farmers Market and garden update

Well, I have been selling produce again at Farmers Market. I have had lettuce, radishes and some onions. I hope this next week will be the rest of the lettuce (not much left due to the unusual heat). There are baby tomatoes on a lot of the plants and flowers on the eggplant and some peppers. Basil is growing slowly and the zinnas are starting to flower. I have alot of planting scheduled for this evening. The squash is starting to get larger and the cucumbers are almost long enough to tie to their trellis. The garlic is suffering a bit in the heat, but not much control over that. (I might have to get the shade cloth out again. Also the corn is about 1-2 inches tall. Everything was fertilized last night and I am watching the weather to see if I can spray an organic pesticide (basically a dormant oil) on my tomatoes, peppers and peas since there are aphids and mites bothering them. I don't want a full blown infestation on my hands. The jujubee tree is doing well (I need to fertilize) but the peach tree is very sad looking. Alot of the leaves are half brown and I am loosing some fruit due to the lack of rain and heavy wind. Time to start watering. We are 14" below normal for the time of Oct - now. Every time it looks like it might rain it dries up before it gets here. I know everything would really take off if I could just get some non-city water on it, but the rain barrels are virtually empty except the front yard which is for the azealas only. Ordered the drip irrigation/soaker hose today. Hopefully it ships in time to be here for the weekend. I will still have to hand water the deck plants (potatoes included) and container plants, goji berries, etc... but it will save my 30 min an evening watering.

A new update

Well, here is another pic of the garden today. Things are starting to grow and I saw my first baby tomatoes as well. It is very windy and dry and I am hoping that soon we might get some rain.

Latest update

Well, here is a picture of the garden on 3/31/11. Pretty much everything is planted and with the 'Big Event' helping out last weekend I have mulch down between the beds which makes it look very nice. I will give a plant count later. The last project is figuring out the drip irrigation system which will most likely be a soaker hose system.