Welcome to day 120 of my garden journal and the someteenth or twentysome post therein. As I've done in each update, you can follow the link below to view the one before. Once there, you may do the same until you go all the way back to the start.
https://peakd.com/gardening/@inalittlewhile/garden-update-day-109-pests-no-more
It's kinda cool, now that the garden has come so far, to see its stages back to the beginning. The Hybrid Zucchini are no more, though we were able to harvest a few nice ones.
Pests have been an issue from the start. They wiped out our carrot stalks (which were in a poor location anyway) before they ever had a chance to grow.
## DIY - Raising The Roof On The Bird Net
Whatever it was, birds or rodents (or probably both), I had to take action to stop the loss of all our tomatoes! What you see in the image is an improvement on the original DIY build.
When I first made the net enclosure, I used old curtain rods. These were hammered into the ground. The net went over and was duct taped to the rods.
We have a picture hanging set that came with these small nail in hanging clips. They worked along the fence to hold the net in place.
It worked well for the past three weeks....until now. Adding a couple treatments of Miracle Grow and organic pesticide to kill the white flies really helped. So much that our Red Cherry Tomato plant is mooning!
## But How To Raise The Roof?
I knew it needed attention so yesterday I took action. Poking around our garage, I found an old Ladderball set. The short rods that are used to build the ladder for the game were perfect length.
Thinking I'd have to lash something to the existing curtain rods, there was no need because the Ladderball rods were hollow. All it took was sliding them over the curtain rods to the right height and applying more duct tape.
## Wire To Add A Rectangular Roof Top
How the enclosure was before, the net just hung down and layed over the tomato rings. Now that the plants are getting taller, the net was resting on their leaves.
Not that it was a huge deal, but running a wire from rod top to rod top was easy to do. It was simple to cut grooves in the tops of the plastic Ladderball rods.
Starting on one end, I hooked the wire into the groove and wrapped it around the rod. Taking the other end of the wire, I began feeding it through the net until I reached the other rod.
Having already cut the groove in the far rod top, I quickly fastened the wire and Presto!, a new roof for the netting. It offers much more space for the tomato plants to boom!
## Lagging Shady Side
From the beginning, the Oregon Spring, Beefsteak, and Early Treat Hybrid plants on the shady side have been slow growing.
It didn't help upon transplant that I failed to break up the roots. A rookie move for sure! Still, a good majority of tomatoes (which the pests mostly ate) have come from that side.
A few weeks back, I thought I'd have to pull them and add more herbs to that side. Adding the Miracle Grow and organic pesticide, however, has helped them spring back to life. They're showing new growth along with those important yellow flowers.
## Bursting Sunny Side
It's no surprise that more time in the direct sun has helped the other half do better. Not to mention, they also got nutrients and a white fly spray. Apparently, this mix added together is the reason I had to raise the roof on the netting.
On this side sits a second Oregon Spring tomato plant that stopped growing tall. Instead, it grew bushy! It currently holds a few tomatoes that will soon be ready for picking.
A lone Red Cherry Tomato plant was lagging at first, but not anymore. Now it leads the pack. I may have to add some nails to the fence and tie this sucker up just to hold it!
Finally, a second Beefsteak that was also dragging behind is now reaching for the sky. It has a couple sets of flowers we hope will get pollinated and bud.
Though it's nearly mid August, we'll have plenty of more sunshine here in Southern California. The way these plants are going, tomatoes should fill the table soon enough.
## Herbs
Basil and Mint sit in the shade next to the lagging tomato plants. They don't seem to be suffering the same fate as they prefer less sun.
My wife was just saying it's time to trim some off and bring the cuttings over to her mom. She does have some returning of favors coming her way.
## Limes
Like most of these posts, I'll end it by showing the opposite side of our back patio where the lime tree sits. These balls of citrus are past ready! If I can talk my good woman into it, there may be some Key Lime Pie in our immediate future. She loves it so chances are good.
Up top and down low, the tree has limes hanging everywhere you look. Perhaps I will make it to the beach this summer and bring home some fish for Seviche. Gotta find something to do with all these limes and tequila is not on the menu.
Thanks as always for reading and...
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