End of the Line

The cucumber was done.. no cukes, no blossoms. I had probably 10 or so total over the season. The tomato had a few left almost ripe. I picked them and took down the Topsy Turvy's. All in all, it was fun. The crop wasn't huge, and the tomatoes were small (golf-ball size). However they were good to eat. I don't think the Topsy Turvy's would survive another season. The sun significantly weakened the plastic--much like a blue tarp that's left in the sun. When I took the dirt out I was surprised at how small the root system seemed to be. I grew tomatoes last year and they had quite a healthy system. These were minimal by comparison. Not sure why... I fertilized and God knows I watered. Anyway.. that's it.

 

Trouble

I have been eating tomatoes and cucumbers for quite a while now.. and they are great. I was watering every other day. When the weather got hot I had to go to every day. I would come home and find the cucumber wilted. The tomato wilted too, although to a lesser degree. Today I came home and the cuke was wilted after a single day. I decided that the soil was compacted and the water was running down the inside of the bag. I water until the space above the dirt in the bag fills with water. By that time the water is running out the opening in the bottom where the plant stems emerge. Anyway, I climbed up and the soil was very hard and compact. I worked it over with a metal probe, loosening. I then added a little fresh soil to the top. Hopefully that solves the problem.

 
 

change!

Note the color in the tomato! Also, the cucumber is getting long so I am letting it wrap around the post on the patio cover.