Before this year, I have hated the idea of thinning anything from the garden. Mostly because it has been so hard getting things to grow in the first place. Then insect attacks and various things have been known to kill off large sections of crops.
That sentiment has not included weeding.
This year I have had to give in and start thinning some things. That's a definite positive. Means the garden is finally in a condition where things grow well enough without dying off to make it required.
I had to thin the Cosmos around the tomato plants more. A lot more. I mostly just trimmed them yesterday. Today, I relented and pulled up entire plants. There is no shortage of additional Cosmos growing. When I did that, I found another wild tomato plant which was well developed. Plus a marigold plant already blooming. Neither could be seen before thinning. I transplanted the tomato vine to a better location. Apparently, Cosmos is a good plant for the garden because it both attracts pollinators and repels bad insects. Still lots left next to tomatoes but had so many they obstructed view and access, hence the thinning. Have to save lots of seeds from them this year.
Took down most of the cilantro to save seeds, which are in the thousands. Seeds are also known as coriander but I don't use that for cooking, so it's just seeds. Wait for them to dry as weather cools, then plant a second crop. They're also beneficial for many same reasons. Plus daughter loves it, it's high in various vitamins and low in calories.
One pumpkin vine was looking distressed. I ran a dedicated irrigation line to it yesterday. It looked better today but still not quite right. Checked leaves for squash bugs. Nothing. No adults, no eggs. Got to the main trunk. There is was. A male squash bug feeding on the main trunk. Got him and didn't see any others. Check how the vine is doing tomorrow.
Rest of the garden is picking up steam. Need to harvest onions tomorrow. Make way for bush green beans. I don't think they grew very large but can always use the small ones to make a garden spray, along with other ingredients. Just cutting the green onions and scattering them did wonders last year.
That sentiment has not included weeding.
This year I have had to give in and start thinning some things. That's a definite positive. Means the garden is finally in a condition where things grow well enough without dying off to make it required.
I had to thin the Cosmos around the tomato plants more. A lot more. I mostly just trimmed them yesterday. Today, I relented and pulled up entire plants. There is no shortage of additional Cosmos growing. When I did that, I found another wild tomato plant which was well developed. Plus a marigold plant already blooming. Neither could be seen before thinning. I transplanted the tomato vine to a better location. Apparently, Cosmos is a good plant for the garden because it both attracts pollinators and repels bad insects. Still lots left next to tomatoes but had so many they obstructed view and access, hence the thinning. Have to save lots of seeds from them this year.
Took down most of the cilantro to save seeds, which are in the thousands. Seeds are also known as coriander but I don't use that for cooking, so it's just seeds. Wait for them to dry as weather cools, then plant a second crop. They're also beneficial for many same reasons. Plus daughter loves it, it's high in various vitamins and low in calories.
One pumpkin vine was looking distressed. I ran a dedicated irrigation line to it yesterday. It looked better today but still not quite right. Checked leaves for squash bugs. Nothing. No adults, no eggs. Got to the main trunk. There is was. A male squash bug feeding on the main trunk. Got him and didn't see any others. Check how the vine is doing tomorrow.
Rest of the garden is picking up steam. Need to harvest onions tomorrow. Make way for bush green beans. I don't think they grew very large but can always use the small ones to make a garden spray, along with other ingredients. Just cutting the green onions and scattering them did wonders last year.
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