May 27, 2019
Three of my tomato plants have fruit on them. I'm considering cutting back on the water already because I'm tired of not getting ripe tomatoes until August. Putting plastic around them makes me feel like I've cut the water back already so I may wait until I see some wilt before I water under it. The ground around them is still wet and might force the roots to grow out to it. It's been raining off and on for days now so maybe I'm just blowing smoke..
The row of bush beans planted in the wet side of the garden with afternoon shade have systematically been girdled by sow bugs, allowing tiny black sugar ants to suck their juices out. Every few days there would be one more plant laying down. I keep finding areas that grow healthy plants in the summer months, but not in the spring. The arc of the sun has contributed more to my failures than I realized because it encourages sow bug activity by allowing wet soil for them to live in..
May 28, 2019
Memorial day, the official start of summer. We gather in cemeteries to honor the fallen, and fly war machines overhead. Perhaps we should teach our children not to kill. Check the twist ties on your tomatoes to make sure they haven't gotten too tight. I've almost girdled one before. Get your wall-o-waters pulled back to increase air circulation..
June temperatures should be warm enough to not require them. I think wind sheltering is still a good idea though because too much evaporation from the leaves probably interferes with growth. Another planting of corn can become a Memorial day tradition, along with strawberry shortcake. I seem to grow strawberries for the birds and raccoons, but I know some of you get to eat yours..
May 29, 2019
The corn I planted May 3rd is about three feet tall and so thick with leaves that it looks like I planted them too close together. The ground is so shaded that if I tried to grow beans and squash under the stalks there would not be enough sunlight. The Indians that were able to accomplish three sister plantings must have had thinner, taller plants. Early Sunglow Hybrid corn is what I planted, a foot apart in every direction, and you can't see down the rows. I decided to read the seed packet and discovered the rows are supposed to be three feet apart..
That's not going to happen. I always get two ears per plant, and if I refrain from overhead watering, each ear is fully developed. Planting close together increases my yield significantly.( You do the math)..
