<p>@lookingforward–what kind of black cherry tomato did you plant? I’m looking for a black cherry for next summer.</p>
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<p>This is a loss. I love sun golds!</p>
<p>It was referred to as “black cherry.” I just googled and the photos are what I have. A great grower. But, I’ll ask- this talk is about to send me out for corn, at the farm where I got the plants.</p>
<p>I have no red tomatoes period. I have to pick them in green because there are thefts out there. I also put in some corn plants, with the drought problem, who can afford to buy corn to eat. I had about 80 corns a few years back, nothing beats homegrown corns and tomatoes.</p>
<p>My tomatoes plants fell off the deck ledge yesterday when a big gust of wind came out of nowhere. Three green tomatoes fell off but maybe they will ripen off the vine. I am about ready to pitch the plants. :(</p>
<p>I bought delicious sweet corn the other day at the farm stand. 6 for $3. </p>
<p>I think most of the corn that was affected by the drought is feed corn and corn sold to make HFCS, not sweet corn on the cob.</p>
<p>No jump in sweet corn prices in the supermarkets here in the center of the universe. Perhaps it’s because our local area has not endured the same drought conditions as the midwest farm belt.</p>
<p>Jym, I’m a rookie when it comes to eggplants. Therefore, I’m just winging it. No visible fruit yet on the Fairy Tale eggplants. Pretty flowers, however. LOL.</p>
<p>Pulled up the zucchini this morning. The three plants only produced two zucchini and looked like death warmed over after the recent episode of high temperatures. Fortunately, other plants seem to be on the rebound, to wit…the Golden Jubilee and the Black Krim tomatoes. Although the output from both is small. Golf ball size tomatoes are so frustrating. I think I needed a stronger base of organic fertilizer in my potting soil.</p>
<p>Got ready for a fall crop today by planting bok choi, sugar snap pea, yellow wax bean, parsnip and Italian beets.</p>
<p>My Anaheim chilis have a few on each plant and my delicata squash has put on a big burst of growth. Had to restake the tomatoes & I broke a few branches. Oops.</p>
<p>Bok choi, Eureka yellow stringbeans, Italian beets and the peas have all sprouted well. The parsnips are a dud. Just checked a gardener’s website that said parsnip seeds are rarely good for more than one season. Oops. My parsnip seeds were ready for pre-school. Today I put in the ground seeds for radicchio, collard and mustard greens. Compost box for 2013 is coming along. Chopped up the watermelon rind, swiss chard ribs, orange peel, eggshell and leaves from the neighbors yard waste and tossed it all in. Got some peas growing in the compost to generate some helpful nematodes. Anyone ever toss beef or pork bones into their compost bin?</p>
<p>It’s really best to keep animal products out of the compost. They could contain/grow pathogens that are not easily killed by the composting process.</p>
<p>Eggplant plants were totally eaten up by some bugs, no matte what I sprayed/sprinkled the leaves with. Cherry tomatoes are still going gnagbusters and there is yeat another lone heirloom tomato on one of the plants. Expect a bird will get that one too :(</p>
<p>I’m also having problems with chipmunks, rabbits, something eating my tomato plants. The plants are in planters with wheels on the patio…any suggestions on how to keep animals from eating the tomatoes? We prefer our vegetables to be in patio planters rather than in the ground, but I’m not sure if putting them up on the table or on stands would do the trick…</p>
<p>My lemon tomatoes turned out to be Genovese. My friend’s Black Krims turned out to be lemon tomatoes. Lucky for me, the Genovese taste much better than the Lemons. Ate a couple of Genovese, and a Black from Tula (yum!) and a Prudence Purple, but most still green. Not a good year for peppers and eggplants. TONS of beans!!! And, strangely enough, what is doing better than absolutely everything (other than my 40 artichokes) are purple tomatillos! Taken over everything!</p>
<p>The cipolini onions were small but delicious. Next year, will be put in a place with less shade. Italian chard is a real winner! Anybody want some kale?</p>
<p>As for animals, I suggest a small to medium-sized terrier.</p>
<p>^^Ha, ha, thanks, mini…that’s not going to happen anytime soon! Anyone else with suggestions? Thanks.</p>
<p>I still haven’t figured out what’s attacking my tomatoes and figs. My guess is birds and/or some kind of rodent. What i finally have done is to wrap the plants with bird netting.
It’s black plastic and very light weight. I laid it over the plants, surrounding the entire plant down to the soil line. I secured it to itself and the pot rims with wooden clothespins. So far so good!</p>
<p>Sheepster, thanks for the tip about animal bones. I guess I should purchase gardener’s bone meal instead.</p>
<p>Good idea - commercial bone meal has been sterilized. Also, check with someone such as your county extension or master gardeners group to see if the components from bone meal are needed for soil in your area. For instance, it is often recommended that lime or eggshells be added , but in our area, lime is naturally abundant in the soil.</p>
<p>I used netting once on my fig trea and caught three huge snakes. They SOUNDED like rattlesnakes, but animal control says they were gopher snakes. Haven’t wanted to go through that gain, but the birds seem to be getting the perfectly ripe figs. </p>
<p>The netting blew off the tree, and they got caught in it.</p>
<p>Oh good, I’ve been putting crushed eggshells in the compost pile for weeks.</p>
<p>Eggshells don’t decompose at my house.
They repel slugs though.
;)</p>
<p>Sheepster:</p>
<p>Good idea re: netting. I’ll ask the Garden store about it for next year’s crop.</p>