More of Today's Pick

We are making fried green tomatoes in an hour.

What the @!*¥®£€¡ is THIS

A few days ago I thought it was water spots from city water. But no, it is a type of mold. My options are limited, but first I must figure out exactly what this mold-like threat is. Will post HERE updates

Update #1 : What you see on the leaf is powdery mildew. It is very common and I am to blame for its spread. Don't water in the afternoons or at night! Or should I say, avoid getting the leaves wet! Organic solutions will control this. My concoction to kill this in my next update tonight below this.

Update #2 My formula to kill powdery mildew is neem oil, baking soda (lower pH), sulphur, and joy soap. Will update with before and after pics.

Eggplant, Right?

Looks so bizarre I am questioning what it is! Sharp thorns on the vegetable itself. Hmmmm....

UPDATE : Yes, the outer shell with thorns has burst at its seams letting the eggplant within emerge. I am guessing exposure to sunlight is necessary for the eggplant to develop color.

Today's Picks

Notice the tomatoes are getting bigger that I pick.

Garden Throws Me A Joke

Ha ha very funny

Taste Test: Steaming Big/Small Squash

Everyone says that the big squash will be too tough. So I am steaming the biggest one with a small one to see what MY preference is.

Update: lightly steamed, I have no preference between small or large squash. Both are awesome!!

Beautiful!!!

Some of yesterday and today's pickings

Every Day, Like an Easter Egg Hunt

This is today's pickings. I want to document every single thing I pick. The plants are getting so big that I have to really get down with my hands and look hard not to miss anything.

Squirrels, Chipmunks....Tomorrow I Open The Can

I will use non-lethal means and I am creative enough not to have to resort to killing the bastards. Two jalapeno peppers got nibbled on and that did it for me. Whatever device I create or find to instill terror in the squirrels and chipmunks, I will share here. Again, no physical harm intended.

When To Pick Squash

General rule is pick when 4 to 8 inches long, 2 to 3 inches diameter.  Bigger ones tend to be less palatable? I will be the judge of that with my mega squash. But I am picking ALL others tonight that fit the above criteria.

Pulled Some From Garden Today

The big tomatoes are not far from ripening. The beans, okra, eggplant, etc. will take more time.

What a Rare Event

To see this at any time of year is so rare for the state of Georgia.

When Pick Squash

General rule is pick when 4 to 8 inches long, 2 to 3 inches diameter.  Bigger ones tend to be less palatable? I will be the judge of that with my mega squash. But I am picking ALL others tonight that fit the above criteria.

Very Impressive Banana Pepper Yield

Sturdy plant to hold this weight up. Will use a ruler for next picture of this plant. I do not remember these peppers growing this big in Alabama "regular garden soil".

Tomatoes Ripening Now

I can see a big change in 24 hours from lime green to yellow to orange to red. I had my fifth cherry tomato but I am eager for the big ones. Only about half a dozen large tomatoes are showing signs of ripening.

Yes! An Epic Squash

When I saw this, I just started laughing out loud. Isn't this a bit big? Go! Go! Bigger!

Meet The Green Beans

Not too exciting....yet.

Three Hundred of These

Actual photo of ONE of the hundreds...Now get to work!!

Praying Mantises EVERYWHERE

Yes, they hatched and they are everywhere and they jump and yes they are creepy as hell. When I first came around the corner they were all just staring at me like I was supposed to bring them something.

How Big Will This Banana Pepper Get?

I wanted to pick it so bad, but I want to see just how big it will get.

Third Tomato from Same Bush

Yes, they are delicious

Likely Tropical Storm Georgia Bound?

Looking at AccuWeather this area has a high chance of development and will move North then West in the direction of Georgia. Lots of good rain.

Looks Like a Squash

Very impressed at the speed in which these squash are growing

First Tomato

Perfection. It is the cherry variety.

Tomatoes Getting Much Bigger

I think it is time to start putting up chipmunk defenses.

F I R E

Noticed on the tag that this was the shape of a mature jalapeno. So I picked it and ate half. Quickly found myself running for the kitchen to douse the fire with sugar. I read somewhere to use sugar to stop the burning sensation. Works well for me. But I used Truvia made from Stevia.

Yes, I use mega fertilizer

This is 2.7 L per plant every few days. Some people won't believe me.

Garden Entering Fast Forward

These banana peppers ready very soon.

Making 19 Tomato Plants From 3 Plants

3 of my tomato plants are so tall and bushy that I decided to take some cuttings to root and plant. You cannot tell that I took cuttings from any of the three plants. My rooting method will be to place the cuttings in about 12 inches of water that is aerated with an aquarium air diffuser. Anything that pumps air into the water would work but I think the massive output of a diffuser bubble maker puts higher amounts of oxygen into the water for faster rooting.

First Significant Rain

EG12 had not received a "real" rain since I began April 1. By "real" I mean measurable and over half an inch. Today has been an all day soaking event. Currently, the rain gauge is showing a little more than 1 inch with more to come.

Creepy Photo of Fukushima Tomato Mutation

Look what Fukushima radiation does to a Tomato plant! Creepy!!

The worst vegetable mutation | Fukushima Diary

Security Camera Captures Garden Terrorist

Chipmunks are grave dangers to tomato plants. Do not know what I will do if they eat or attempt to eat a single tomato. It will not be a pretty picture if I declare war on the bastards. I will do everything I can to avoid opening a can of "Whoop Ass".

First Sweet Banana Pepper

Don't go grocery shopping when you are hungry. Same is true for me with gardening. It is hard to resist eating these prematurely.

Stevia Plant from Seed

Not very impressed with this plant. Germination was weak and growth has been pathetic. But then again, I planted these as a novelty plant and should have given them a little more TLC.  Lesson learned: the smaller the seed the more care required to "launch". It's also my fault for letting nosy birds peck them to death looking for worms that weren't there which probably explains the magnitude of the damage they did.

Don't Don't Don't Don't P-Panic!!!!!

Here is a perfect example of "too much of a good thing is bad". Because the compost is sooooo airy, it does not hold water well. Many of my plants are now so big that their water needs are soon to exceed what the compost and container can provide, aka wilt. I knew this problem was coming, but not so soon. My solution is to create an irrigation "drip system". Basically it is a long hose that goes from plant to plant to plant that drops small amounts of water on each plant according to its needs. These systems are commercially available, but I cannot afford to buy one. Therefore, I am forced to use materials I already have or can get for free to make my own custom made drip system. Until then I will have to water by hand and not let 24 hours pass without visually checking on them. With summer temperatures coming, plants can crash fast regardless of where they are planted and some have little tolerance or ability to recover from wilting.

As always, I am literally sitting in my garden typing on my phone (Android using Swype).

Birth of an Eggplant

All eggplants are pushing out blooms.

Inspired by Cooler Weather

I am rushing to put plants in their individual containers in their final spot. My garden is not going to be your average backyard garden. It is going to be a work of a art....a masterpiece! I just  wish the flowers would grow as fast as the vegetables. ALL of the vegetables are blooming already.

Again, the reason all plants are growing in pots is because the soil where I live is so poor, or should I say not up to my standards. The better the soil the better the plant. I have done this experiment before in Alabama. Plants grown in compost grow massively bigger than the ground without it. I am using 100% compost with horse manure on top (which has lots of earthworms). The reason plants grow so fast in good compost is due to roots being able to easily spread far and wide.

Results of Growth Experiment

A few short weeks ago I gave a friend an identical plant in an identical pot to put to the test my methods and hers. I will let you guess which plant is mine.

Remarkable Tomato Growth

The yellow container was the size of this plant on April 1, 2012. Look at it today! How big will it be in 5 months?!

Look Who Showed Up Today!!!

Never thought I would be in the right spot at the right time to take this photo again!! This Monarch had no fear of me whatsoever.

Beautiful Stunning Yellow Squash

This is why I plant flowers in my garden in addition to vegetables. I have zinnias, but they are weeks away from blooming. Just you wait!

38th Day Photographic Progress Report

I went through the tomato plants ( many varieties ) and took some photographs of some of the bigger tomatoes to show what can be accomplished in just over one month. Can you imagine my fifth month?!