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Garden Gate:  Worst Garden Year  |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 07:05:12 AM
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right there with ya ... Feel your pain, cause mine all but drown. I will be replanting beans and squash this weekend in hopes of getting a bit more out of it.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
www.whitesheepfarm.com
http://whitesheepfarm.wordpress.com/ |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 07:56:23 AM
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The only thing I'm getting right now, is a handful of strawberries every day or so. It's so depressing. We lost so much this year from all that rain. I'm glad I never bothered to plant melons, and pumpkins this year.
I just looked at my squash - rotting plants and brown leaves. The cucumbers may come back, but the ground is still wet today. We are trying to tie up tomato plants in hopes to save those, but everything else is pretty much gone.
I'll do a fall planting of green beans too. I'm skipping the lettuce - lost that too. We did good on sugar snap peas, but sheesh, what a year. We are heading out to buy our sweet corn, and hopefully a road side stand will have banana peppers and green peppers for us to buy this year.
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
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Bella
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Karen
USA
274 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 08:16:43 AM
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Our garden is not very good this year either. Too much rain for the tomatoes, causing the leaves to turn yellow. Deer are mowing down just about everything. They have eaten all of the blooms off the squash, cucumbers, melons, etc. I did have a good crop of green peas, but not much yield for all the work. However, I don't intend to give up and have already started planning my end-summer/early fall garden. I know it's frustrating, but don't give up.
Karen
quote:
Originally posted by FieldsofThyme
Anyone else having their worst garden year ever? By that I mean, did your weather ruin you garden bounty this year?
I am so down about it, but it is what it is. First we were flooded with 17-18 days of rain, then bad storms. Now we are scorched by heat. I am not getting much from my garden and the storm may have ruined all of my pepper plants.
I have only stocked up 2 pints of zucchini relish. 
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
http://www.karencecilsmith.com/
"Just living is not enough, said the butterfly. One must have freedom, sunshine and a little flower." -Hans Christian Anderson |
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mscountrygirl
True Blue Farmgirl
552 Posts
Michelle
Lucedale
Mississippi
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 08:43:00 AM
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I have had a war with these horrible tomato worms with horns! And the cabbage worms have eaten almost all my plants but I get out there at least 3 times a day and pick them off. My eggplant, peppers, and sunflowers look good. Tomato's are improving since I discovered and destroyed the worms eating the plants though. I am not giving up! Gardening is NOT for the faint of heart!
It all comes back to the ground!
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 09:57:59 AM
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Mine is GREAT!!!!
Diana
Sister #273
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Edited by - gramadinah on Jul 16 2013 12:20:12 PM |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 12:34:53 PM
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the blood, sweat and tears of being a farmer/rancher, I have not had any rain this year to speak of, an occasional spit as a cloud flys by, 105 plus temps and wind that is like standing in front of a furnace on full blast...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 2:59:45 PM
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Oh Tina,
I wish there was a way to ship you some of the 13+ inches we have had already this spring and summer!
I do feel for you as well ...
I will try to remember the steps to that rain dance.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
www.whitesheepfarm.com
http://whitesheepfarm.wordpress.com/ |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 3:21:45 PM
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Hubby and I dug up 3 of our potato plants (we planted 31 lbs.) and there is nothing but rotten potatoes underneath them. I hope to get enough for summer meals. Some are still green, but the ones I dug up died off after the last blast of rain.
We planted 50-some pepper plants, and I have one banana pepper plant coming back to life, but most don't look good at all.
Like Hubby said to me, "it is what it is." I guess I got my year off from the garden. Or somewhat anyway.
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2013 : 3:34:13 PM
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Still sad tho Kristina, it is what it is, but still a lot of work and time and $$ goes into it.
Like I said I am not giving up the battle ...
How is you jam canning coming?
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
www.whitesheepfarm.com
http://whitesheepfarm.wordpress.com/ |
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Hoosiermom
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
Beth
Alexandria
IN
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2013 : 02:04:38 AM
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we are in the same situation with most of my garden. I had a great crop of green beans & it looks like my corn will be good but most everything else is not doing well because of heavy rains. I was hoping for a bumper crop with everything this year so I could do a lot of canning since I didn't do any last year due to the drought. We just can't win!
Beth |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2013 : 04:47:51 AM
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Teri, I was able to put up 15 jars of black raspberry jam, and about 4 of mixed berry. However, the rain kept us from being able to pick any more, and now they are pretty much done. I don't have enough Queen Anne's Lace here this year either, but I keep checking. I tried to freeze flower tops, but they are too delicate and just break apart (unlike red clovers).
Corn is in now, so Hubby and I drove south to a produce stand that sells wonderful sweet corn. I have a bushel sitting here waiting for me to freeze up today. Since I am pretty much sure I won't have any peppers, I am now looking to buy those too. And beets. We lost almost all of them but a scant few.
I feel kind of "lost" this season. I should be canning pickles, relish, cooking up loads of squash, and even canning beets. I need to find something to put up, or I will go crazy. I tried to buy banana peppers yesterday, and only found 6 at one produce stand. It's a bit early, so I'll have to keep checking.
I guess I can wait now, until the end of the season, to buy my pressure canner. No hurry in needing it now.
Yes, the cost to put all all of our plants in is a loss for us. Not to mention buying and replanting seeds. We put in over 300 onions too.
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2013 : 04:59:20 AM
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Our soil here in Michigan is much sandier than what I had back in Ohio. In an effort to make it better I added a lot of organic matter, including a couple of bales of straw. Now the texture is much better, but I think maybe the fertility is low. I didn't get the soil tested, that is on the agenda for next year. Everything is pale green, not dark, so I suspect a nitrogen shortage. With all the rain whatever nutrients were in the sandy soil must have washed right out. I was trying to avoid chemical fertilizers but I am thinking it is time for Miracle-Gro!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2013 : 10:05:13 AM
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I've thought about this a lot as I see our garden do so-so this year. How would one get along if they didn't have grocery stores to fall back on? How does one eat "what is in season", when the season fails us? How do we eat healthy when we are so dependent on mass produced food?
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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lovinRchickens
True Blue Farmgirl
3442 Posts
Kelly
Pipe Creek
Texas
USA
3442 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2013 : 10:16:50 AM
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Oh my I am with Tina, we are so dry no rain this season to speak of. Plants are week looking at times, slow to grow, and so slow to produce. I too think my soil is week so I am adding all the micronutrients back into the soil to give it some help for the winter growing crops to come. But getting handfuls of this and that out of the garden each day, however nothing to can at all. At least if feeds us for now and hoping the winter garden will be better. I wish we could all share the rain, sounds so many have too much and a few of us are in such need of it. Nobody give up though
Farmgirl #5111
Blessings
~Kelly~ |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2013 : 5:13:22 PM
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The veggies are not as good as usual. Peas were not as plenty and were stumpy from too much rain. Had a hard time getting things to start up and go, and everyone says their gardens are terribly behind.Then we have had one of the worst invasions of Japanese beetles ever. I invested in a beetle bag which has been great. On the up side, the flower bed is prettier than ever, and we are harvesting more raspberries and blackberries than ever before. It is frustrating when you put a lot into a garden, but things like weather can't be controlled.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
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hudsonsinaf
True Blue Farmgirl
3162 Posts
Shannon
Rozet
Wyoming
USA
3162 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2013 : 11:54:56 AM
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| Our garden is on one hand doing great, and on the other, horrible. Our tomato plants have all but died, but still giving a couple tomatoes here and there. Our pepper plants, and bush bean plants, on the other hand, are doing great. Not having tomatoes is stressing me though :( I usually try to put up lots of jars of tomatoes, tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, tomato paste, and salsa.... enough for our family of 8 for the year. Not sure what I am going to do yet! From what I've heard, many of the gardens in this area are having the same issues! |
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queenmushroom
True Blue Farmgirl
985 Posts
Lorena
Centerville
Me
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2013 : 5:56:19 PM
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Omg our gardens are not doing good either. No turnips, carrots, beets, lettuce. Squash pumpkins peas and sunflowers ok.then dh sprays (sorry not organic) some kind of plant oil on the beans which are struggling anyway. So no beans either! Then hr fertilized the squash and cucumbers and got fertilizer on the leaves of some plants burning the leaves. UGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!! On top of no rain and having to.lug 5 gallon water buckets to 1 of 4 plots a night isn't making things easier
Lorie
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2013 : 9:02:15 PM
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After a couple of not so good garden years, we are having a good year. Got to put in our plants early and even though the heat was a bit late in arriving, we are doing well now. Maybe next year it will be your turn!
Marianne |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
274 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2013 : 08:54:56 AM
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No pumpkins or melons. Very few sunflowers and only 1 zhuchinni so far.
STYX the Band rocks!
Support your local organic farmer.www.localharvest.org
Monsanto you Stink!! |
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mscountrygirl
True Blue Farmgirl
552 Posts
Michelle
Lucedale
Mississippi
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2013 : 2:01:17 PM
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Its going better for me but the tomato worms are horrible this year! Its been raining so I don't get them until they have already eaten up my plants!
It all comes back to the ground!
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2013 : 3:31:11 PM
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I'm so sorry to hear that some of you are having such a tough time with your gardens this year! All that work, time and investment... gone! That's horrible! Mine was looking very good until recently. I'm still keeping a hopeful positive outlook - with the help of God I'll get enough of some of the veggies to get us through the winter. I'll definitely be grateful for whatever comes! :)
Saying a prayer for everyone!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Dorinda
True Blue Farmgirl
1023 Posts
Dorinda
St. Cloud
Florida
USA
1023 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2013 : 10:03:18 AM
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My garden did pretty good this year but I started a little early on it. So I was ahead of all of this rain. Everything has been harvested. But I have not planted anything else yet because of all this rain.
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
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coaloha
True Blue Farmgirl
502 Posts
Pam
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2013 : 10:39:44 PM
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Summer is a challenging time to garden in Phoenix, but I was determined to grow things this summer. My herb garden is in big pots and is doing well, but my veggies...the cottontails ate everything I put in and nibbled away at my dreams of squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers until all that was left was spindly little stems that died in the heat. I enjoy having the rabbits in my yard, but I need a better system to keep them out of the garden! I feel like Mr. McGreggor trying to keep Peter Rabbit out. I will try again this fall; the nice thing about Phoenix is that we can garden all year long.
Pam
Farmgirl #1075 |
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Garden Gate: Worst Garden Year |
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Worst Garden Year
