Taking a short break. Trimmed the back yard, which can be a chore in some spots.
We have Zinnias!! I have been trying to grow them every year since moving in here. This is the first year they have actually grown! I'm guessing sodium has been an issue before now. Only a few so far but a good sign.
Hoping this is a good omen for strawberries next year.
Weeds keep rotating. Get one kind under control and another takes hold. However, the good thing is that the secondary weeds are easier to control than the primary ones. The primary weeds largely assist in their own demise. They wind up first acting as mulch in irrigated areas. I pull them before they seed and either compost or till them straight in. That improves soil composition and increases acidity, which helps kill them off. Secondary weeds can follow the same pattern in some ways, especially where I want grass. Compost or till the weeds in, add grass seed. Weeds improve soil, helping grass to grow, crowding weeds out. Others just have to be pulled or cut often enough to wrestle them under control by brute force.
The heat for the last few weeks has bleached the plants a paler shade of green. Not good to apply fertilizer when it's that hot, so just have to deal with it. Temperatures are largely cooling down to 90's or even 80's. Low crops are suffering the most. Original plan was having tomatoes in place to help moderate soil temperature, alternating rows of high and low crops. That didn't happen as planned. Maybe next year. With the weather change, hoping to see the low crops improving.
South garden looks rather bare with lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions and cilantro gone. Green beans, melons and pumpkins are coming in gradually. While they are mostly heat loving plants, there is a limit to that.
Few tomato plants on that side are gaining size slowly. However, the ones in the north garden started slowly and then suddenly exploded out and up. That's what I'm hoping for in the south garden. If true to weather patterns, I have about 4 months left to the growing season, so plenty of chance for it. We were picking watermelons in Oct last year.
Probably time to take down the short corn this weekend. Have to check it later. Giant blue corn is still only half height so far.
We have Zinnias!! I have been trying to grow them every year since moving in here. This is the first year they have actually grown! I'm guessing sodium has been an issue before now. Only a few so far but a good sign.
Hoping this is a good omen for strawberries next year.
Weeds keep rotating. Get one kind under control and another takes hold. However, the good thing is that the secondary weeds are easier to control than the primary ones. The primary weeds largely assist in their own demise. They wind up first acting as mulch in irrigated areas. I pull them before they seed and either compost or till them straight in. That improves soil composition and increases acidity, which helps kill them off. Secondary weeds can follow the same pattern in some ways, especially where I want grass. Compost or till the weeds in, add grass seed. Weeds improve soil, helping grass to grow, crowding weeds out. Others just have to be pulled or cut often enough to wrestle them under control by brute force.
The heat for the last few weeks has bleached the plants a paler shade of green. Not good to apply fertilizer when it's that hot, so just have to deal with it. Temperatures are largely cooling down to 90's or even 80's. Low crops are suffering the most. Original plan was having tomatoes in place to help moderate soil temperature, alternating rows of high and low crops. That didn't happen as planned. Maybe next year. With the weather change, hoping to see the low crops improving.
South garden looks rather bare with lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions and cilantro gone. Green beans, melons and pumpkins are coming in gradually. While they are mostly heat loving plants, there is a limit to that.
Few tomato plants on that side are gaining size slowly. However, the ones in the north garden started slowly and then suddenly exploded out and up. That's what I'm hoping for in the south garden. If true to weather patterns, I have about 4 months left to the growing season, so plenty of chance for it. We were picking watermelons in Oct last year.
Probably time to take down the short corn this weekend. Have to check it later. Giant blue corn is still only half height so far.
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