I wonder if my catfish chum would keep rabbits out of the garden ? It certainly keeps the buzzards away.

Well, my wonderfully producing cukes gave up a few weeks ago after in infestation of aphids combined with high temps. That's okay, those 2 big tubs produced 15 qts of pickles. So we decided to see what would happen with a Fall garden of sorts. We replanted cuke seeds Sunday afternoon (Aug 28). Might be a little late but we will see. As of Tuesday afternoon, I already had 22 little sprouts about 1 inch tall coming up. Now we will wait to see if they make it to maturity and produce before any freezes. Hope to put up more pickles and give away a few qts at Christmas. Also planted a couple tomotoe plants we picked up from Home Depot. They were already about 1 ft tall and as of yesterday they had grown a couple more inches (no telling after this rain). Still had a couple of other tomatoe plants hanging on from the summer, green stalks and bushy but not setting any blooms lately. Of course, a couple of tomatoe worms got on the bushes and started stripping the leaves. A healthy dose of sevin dust took care of that but still waiting to see if they produce anything else. I think the rain and cooler temps will get things started.

It should...I don't think this will be as harsh of a fall/winter as last year, so hopefully you will get to harvest some...I have plenty of peppers and a lot of my tomato plants are producing once again. The Lemon Boy plants are still producing even in 100+ degree weather...Which was a HUGE surprise to me...

According to the Farmer's Almanac, it will be much colder this year, but much less snow. Usually here in N. Texas though, the really cold temps don't hit until late Jan. - early Feb.

You are right, it is supposed to be colder in the northern part of Texas...I don't garden there anymore and rarely pay attention to y'alls forecast...Good catch you knucklehead...BTW, how's the foot?

Still broken and not really any better, unfortunately. I snuck out and went to the garden the other day, only to nearly kill myself tripping over a bed. Note to self: follow the boss' orders, stay in the house.

Um, MSR, if you tick your wife off bad enough to have her put your bed outside, you should share the story...



















In 2002, I had to use a cane to get around and fell when I went outside to look at a garden my mom had planted...It took a few hours for me to be able to crawl back into the house...My dog, Preema, was laughing at me when I got back...Okay, she can't laugh, but with her under bite, she looks like she's laughing...

Dogs won't laugh at you until you go back inside. Cats, on the other hand, will rub your face in it.

Tiny Melons...

updates?

Well, the newest update is that I'm still getting lots of peppers and my tomatoes are making a very strong comeback...I've also decided to plant okra in the spring...I'm going to use it as a windbreak, and to produce food...

How is everyone else doing?

Very poor year, here. Have some peppers still growing, and planted more beans and squash a few weeks ago. I bought a yard of professional bedding soil from Living Earth in Lancaster, and even with regular fertilizing I think there is something lacking in it. Next year I will have to have the soil tested to see what it needs.

I have a question for people who've grown sweet potato vines in the past...I planted 6 in 2008 and had 1 come back in 2009 (these are supposed to be annuals). This year, we planted a bunch in planters (about 24 plants in 6 planters) and I'd like to know if you've been able to keep them alive year round...I can put them inside if need be and they'd receive plenty of sun. I just don't want to waste my time...I'm tired of spending $2.00/plant (and sometimes more) and then having them die off...