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.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

doing well

Things seem to be going well. Had some yellow leaves last week, but this week looks great

June 20

 
 
 

 
 
 

Success

The new cucumbers are growing and I have honest-to-god tomatoes on one of the vines.

 
 
 
 

looking good

The new cucumbers seem to be doing better. The tomatoes are still growing up. I think they will change their minds when the fruit comes on. Lots of blossoms on one. I assume it's the early variety. Sprayed for some little bugs yesterday.

 
 
 

A New Beginning

So much for the old cukes. Planted 2 new ones. It's hard to get them planted with only 2 hands. You can see the results.

 

The Cuke is Toast

3 week... 2 leaves.. not good. Going to replace it with a sturdier plant if I can find one.

 

 

 

 

2 1/2 weeks

I'ts at almost 3 weeks. As seen below, the tomatoes seem to be ok. I think one of the cukes has gone to the great salad in the sky. The other isn't doing well either. They spent one night in the garage this week to avoid the frost. Handy!

May 15

 

 

 

Hmmmm

Here are pics from today.. Friday, May 5. The tomatoes are doing great. Not so the cucumber. My best guess is that I was a bit to hard on the little root balls when I planted them. Last night was close to 32 so they spent the night in my kitchen.

Friday, May 5

 
 
 

So far so good

I took these 3 pics on May 1. The cucumbers look a tad sick. The tomatoes look good. One is trying to grow up. You can see the foam disk in the bottom where the plants come out. Added some all=purpose fertilizer.

May 1