Scents

The soil has developed a scent. I probably wouldn't know what it is but for the trip to Florida. While I've encountered it before, I never really knew what it was. It is the smell of soil acidity, caused by Sulfur and the bacteria consuming it. The fact that the scent is so noticeable means that the beneficial bacterial count is increasing rapidly and reaching very high levels. 

So, with the soil composition improving, soil acidity rising and nitrates in the well water, the need for soil amendments is decreasing. By next spring, it's possible that only normal fertilizing will be necessary and much less of that. I will keep testing the pH because that will give me an idea of the sodium condition and treat with more gypsum accordingly. 

Not seeing any spinach coming up just yet. However, weather has still been warm during the day, so it's probably still too hot for it. 

Still a few more weeks of good tomato weather. Have lots of tomatoes still on the vines. 

Still corn that hasn't finished growing. Weather should remain just warm enough for it to finish forming.

Have some good size watermelons and one that is getting really huge!

Guess I must have waited too long to pick some green beans. Some vines appear to have stopped producing already. Bummer. Still quite a few which are producing. 

Got more pumpkin vines which have sprouted and getting large enough to look like they may well produce some small to moderate size pumpkins. 

Finally got some flowers growing besides sunflowers. Have lots of marigolds, both front and back yards. Nothing extreme but it's a start and much better than anything previous. 

So, still getting there.