Composting

Composting is easy and requires little for results produced.  Years back at my own surburbia home I had a small composting pile.  It was a new adventure for me that produced some very rich mulch.  This small enclosed, above ground, fully shaded box (yes it looked like a coffin) was tended with more care than the garden some years.  It was watered regularly, soil diligently turned, had an ample amount of fruits/veggies/lawn clipping and was aided by a couple of dozen bought and transplanted earthworms. Oooh to watch them in action!  Turn over any cirtus rind to find it loaded with crawlers.  Of course with play comes work.  Work was defense against tiny little, 6 legged, ankle biting pests.  Ants could, would, and did wipe out earthworms in an instant.  So far no ants in suburbia composting pile but it is in dire need of composting 101.  Let the fun begin!

New Life

Maybe...  Surburbia home owners decided to try compost pile luck for remaining season on yellow tom and orange peps. I bid you good luck. When digging holes into base of compost pile these ugly little buggers were discovered. EEE Yuck ,talk about heebie-jeebies!!! They was some major squaking going on by myself and others. Of course mine was in total disgust while little godzillas were in total fasination. Fasination or not, didn't see any of them picking up pooping bugs. Never doubt the suburbia man's Fear Factor. Too bad no Joe Rogan or $50 G's for this chivalrous move, all for the glory of the camera.

Sayonara Colors

Believers of omens say death comes in three.  Seems to be true, if I believed. Weather being what it is, growing season ending and treacherous life plants have endured (look at toms strength in pic two) I have called it quits for yellow toms and orange peps. They gave a good life (pic one is today's crop) and they will give a good death. Plants may not have be given a penny for the undertaker and they weren't buried with cats for protection but they were retired with honor. While a circle of friends watched, plants were de-bucketed, de-rocked, placed upon compost pile and bidden fare well.

Pic two shows yellow tom being carried, for about an hundred feet, to compost pile by its base. Boy Howdy look (pic three) at those roots!!!  Being raised in a wind funnel turned out to have its own advantages. Really gonna have to find bigger buckets for fall planting.

Redder Yet

Peps are finally gonna turn red with no doubt tough skins. If, when it gets too hot outside for jalapeno peppers that their heat intensity decreases, will bell peppers lose their sweetness too? The last two yellow peps had a fantastic crunch yet not as sweet as their predecessors. Are blemishes factors of heat, water, or end of season?

As a side note today's weather was great compared to yesterdays 100+F. It was a mere 97F. That is like a cool spring day with the breeze blowing as it did.

Inside Looking Out

What else could be better than picking fresh veggies at 9am to start your day?  Maybe picking 'em when my day started a few hours earlier?  Looking at all that delicious yellowness (pic one) with luscious green and SHADE behind it.  That says the day is going be great.  Right?  One glance at pic two (101F @ 3:30pm in suburbia and 107F on Venus) you'll think twice about how the day turned out.  Oh and by the way, pic two was taken from inside with lovely AC running at a cool 78F.  Aah!!!

Radiating Heat

Don't know weather to call this bright red ball of fire at 6:45am this morning a good morning or a warning.  According to the people who determine these things, daily temps are going to be 100F+ all week on Venus.  What's worse is that it is going to feel close to 110F.

So glad I moved to suburbia where it is only going to feel like its between 100F-105F!!!

I've Called It Done

Feel free to pay your respects during visiting hours and thank you for your thoughts during this difficult time.  These are the sole remaining flowers on entire plant along with eight toms in various sizes.  According to the Aggie Horticulture and the USDA, Venus's plant hardiness is located in climate zone 8B.  When looking on USDA's map it shows Venus divided into zones 8B and 9A.  Either way, Texas Gardener states once daily temps reach into the 90's with night temps staying in mid 70's, a tom plant season is over.  Well Venus has had those temps for the last month.  Until the fall, adios good buddy!

A Weeks Collection

Yup you read correctly, this is a weeks worth of cherry (we should call them pea) toms.  Isn't it just sad.  Small, water-logged, pitiful.  Whats worse the caretaker is up to almost a gallon of water a day!  All that water is not cost effective when results are this weak.

Mini Blossoms

Oh what a sight, new blossoms!  Without a doubt these blossoms are being attributed to Mondays rain shower.  Too bad collected canoe water had to be tossed.  Water collection is great, mosquito larva not so great.  It was such a waste.  Guess there is one advantage to living on Venus, collected water gets too hot for larva formation.  Mmm, boiled larva, if your (no way NOT me) into that kinda thing!!!

Berry Bugs

Ooof.  Berry plant is bugged again.  Being that there has not been any bugs since beginning of season and they are not eating the fruits, I am not terribly upset.  Constant diligence is still needed otherwise I could come out one day next week to half the plant being eaten.  Looked all through leaves and in mulch for other signs and found none.  Guess a morning scouting expedition is in order.

Yellowing Peps

Here I was discussing that these two oranging peps were going to be the last fruits produced before summers' heat became to hot.  That's what I get for underestimating this plants resiliency.  I am thinking that these peps will be ready to eat by this weekend on top a plate of spring lettuces.  Ooh what a color contrast!

Suburbia Crops

One full week since leaving Venus.  Looking pretty don't you agree?  Yes, the red pep has some watering issues, as you can see by brown spotting. What was interesting was that when pep was cut into, water poured out onto cutting board (pic two).  Strawberries didn't make to diner like everything else.  Just wish the berries weren't so small.  At least they taste good.  Had my first taste and I thought they were extremely sweet, sweeter than store bought.  No wonder they never last once picked.

Oh and guess what?  Since moving, collection buckets on Venus were left behind.  Today I discovered a canoe behind suburbia's garage half filled with yesterdays' water!!!

Changes in Latitude

What a difference a change is location can do for plants. These poor red pep plants (first pic) have been green for the longest but would not change colors. They have been in suburbia for less than a week and are changing.  It could be the INCH of rain the received this morning!!!  I have a feeling that skins are going to be tough but hopefully they will taste sweet.

This is the first fully developed fruit from mini red pepper (2nd pic).  I would be more excited except that there is only one other fruit set and there are no blossoms. Of course it has been through some tough times so I have not given up on it completely.  Now to see what this tiny pep (about the size of a large green grape) tastes like.

Update June 20th:  mini red pep was toughed skinned, strong in taste and not sweet.  This is not a reliable assessment.  Will await further peps for a more valid result.

Not Moving

Just look at these itty bitty grape toms.  Other than producing very tiny toms, which taste great (so I've been told), the plant seems to be looking no worse for wear.  Unfortunately grape tom will not be moving this weekend to life off Venus.  Going to have to find a way to transport it laying down.  Plant is too tall to fit under truck's camper shell next weekend.  To move yellow tom, the bucket is gonna be laid over slightly in bed of truck for the long haul.

Update Monday June 18th:  This is a weeks worth of fruits for both the yellow and grape toms.  Not such a bad haul for near 100F days!  Sorry pic wasn't added yesterday, I did not have a way to upload it.

Bee-licious

That's what friends are for....  That was such as great song in the 80's by Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston.  I am sad that there have been bee issues on Venus but I am thankful that there are friends without issues and they are more than willing to share their wealth.  Isn't fresh honey in a mason jar the most inspiring sight?  The jar was full on Monday when it was delivered but what can I say... mmm it is so yummy!

Golden Growth

Something about the color yellow surrounded by green is visually pleasing (even if I don't eat them).  As you can see the plant looks crunchy but it is still producing glorious yellow toms by the plentiful.  Caretaker agrees plant will benefit from move to suburbia and thinks it can endure the hour long trip.  Here's to wishful thinking.  Moving to suburbia will make fellow residents happy for they enjoy yellow toms more than red!!!  That is music to my ears.

Tom is Dying

Yup, consensus says the grape tom is not gonna make it.  First pic is all the branches that have been cut of grape tom since Sunday.  Second pic shows how tiny the fruits are setting.  Caretaker says tom on the left is about the size of a large raisin (or a raisin when plumped with liquid) and that there have been no new fruits set since leaving.  Another bucket bites the dust.

On a happier note, moved buckets are loving suburbia.  It is amazing what life off Venus will change.  Plants were watered Sunday morning, Sunday night once settled in new life and Tuesday night.  That's it!!!  Tom plants left behind were watered three times each yesterday.  That's 96oz of water and they still look scorched.  Think I will move yellow tom this coming Sunday to life in suburbia too.  Besides the two yellow peps, four berries have been collected.  Unfortunately berries are still small in size.  Snipping fruits off for the month of May did little to increase fruit size.  The plant does look better than before so experiment was not a total loss. 

Update June 16th:  When collecting yellow tom I decided that grape tom  did not look any worse than when left with caretaker so I am taking it to suburbia too.

Strawberry Runs

As you saw yesterday the strawberries are developing very early resulting in tiny fruits. Other than small fruits the plant seems to be taking on a whole new life in suburbia. Leaves are greener, fuller and more robust and for the first time ever the plant is producing runners! Watch out tulips plant, here come berries.

Rooted

Been watching this bucket of roots for two weeks wondering if and when it was gonna fall apart.  Did some detailed readings on root spacing for plant growth.  There is some debate was to what size pot some plants actually need.  Of course bigger is always better; especially cucs, gourds, and certain toms.  Bonnie plants had a great break down of plants by pot sizing.  Garden Web Forum (the third and fourth posting) gave some great information on soil and additional pot sizing.  However, it was at the Soil and Health Library site where I found the most detailed literature.  Here they discussed at length overall root importance, its growth at various stages, gave pics representing stage development, and had an intensive list of vegetables. 

As it turns out, both cucs and zuccs are not well suited for buckets.  They need lots of growth room for ever expanding root structure; several feet laterally and up to 24" inches in dept.  In order words, root structure killed both plants.  Live and learn.  And now you know, and knowing is half the battle!!!

Tom Attackers

There are gobs and gobs of these little flowers but no fruits setting.  The obvious answer would be lack of pollination but since that hasn't been a problem before I am wondering if it is internal.  For the last two weeks collection has been a pint or so a week.  Upon this mornings picking it was noticed that flowers were dying with no new fruits.  Tom plants stayed at original location and are being cared for till this coming weekend.  Long distance plant care is difficult even with caring hands.  Looks like I need to read on additional tom plagues.

Perfection!!! (Sorta)

What else is there to say?  Perfected inside and out!  Admit it, you want them too!!!

Update June 13th:  Ate pep on right last night and it was not very sweet.  UGh!  However ate smaller pep (left) today and it was great!

Moveable Buckets

In the words of Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat (PBS cartoon series), "Here we go go go go on an adventure..." These poor plants! They deserve some type of achievement award for all their hard work. Enduring winds, floodings, excruciating heat (currently it's 97F and feels like 105F @ 7:30pm) and now relocation. I kept telling them that this move was to their benefit. No more Venus temps in the industrial park, just normal everyday backyard suburbia heat. Oh what an improvement it will be! Maybe with some additional luck they will start looking less scorched, especially the orange peps.

Glory in Mornings

Have you ever wondered why something, no matter how dreary, will look better in the fresh morning sun? Is it a new days coloring shedding different perspective or magical powers at work? I had been feeling a little down about zuccs loss but after viewing plants basked in morning glory, I remembered that the glass IS half full.

On a whole, plants seem to be surviving Venus's intense heat with exception of grape toms (top middle of pic). Something is attacking resulting in dying leaves, branches and whole stems.  No it is not the big orange beast contaminating collected water with slobber either. There are no visible signs so attacker must be internal. Hope to solve before its death.

Additional Coloring

Look what a week has done in colors!  Pic one is pep from last weeks posting.  Not that dramatic right?  Pic two is same pep from this Mondays posting.  Now that's crazy.  If you look closely through pic two you can see the remaining green left on pic one's pep.  I've never had a fresh orange pep and I can barely contain myself not to pluck one right now.  What's worse is once plucked I still have to wait for 'em to chill.  My mouth is watering.  No need for lemon pepper or any of that nonsense either, just a knife.  Yes a knife, I am not a savage.  Ok maybe a little but I will withhold for proper manners!

Just A Little

A little goes a long ways.  This was the darkest patch of clouds that could be found in the five second shower.  If the pic would have been a little more to the right it was blue skies.  In the second pic you can see how the ground is dry behind the down spout.  The water on the ground was because the bucket had just been filled with city water.  15 seconds of glory gave two yellow buckets and one and half metal pails worth of clear cool refreshing water.  Yeah!

Basilicous

Haven't mentioned the sole remaining herb in awhile.  Suffering since the beginning, the basil is now starting to look pic pretty.  I won't go so far as to say perfect for there is still tons of room for improvement.  Now that I know its developed some strength I wont be afraid to take some cuttings for recipes.  The red Tupperware pitcher is just for looks, there has been no transplanting yet.  Can't you smell it?

New Berries

Yeah, new berries!!!   It seems like all that work has paid off.  Plants look green and lushious and low and behold they are loaded with nubbie-less berries.  Whats better I just heard on noon newscast; RAIN is coming.  Buckets are empty, plants are starting to crunch.  Should I start singing again?  I can get the umbrella.

Coloring

Turn and face the change....  Yesterdays loss, today's improvement.  Used a heavy duty trash bag cut to size to place under bucket to collect water run-off in zucc bucket.  When placing yellow pep into bucket this colorful sight was discovered.  Pic from last week was pep on other side of plant.  Looking good!  Black plastic bag was also used on yellow tom to stop water in cuc bucket.  Lets see what these do now.

Zucc Loss

Ugh, well that did not work either.  Was it just a little too late or did it need it to be tilled in or placed at the bottom of the bucket?  Whatever the case the zucc is done.  Gonna use extra bucket under toms.  Two of the three plants that I wanted are gone but the toms look great!

Veggie Envy

 Just look at this basket of veggies! This was just one of six collected along with a large armload of swiss chard. All in all there was a dozen yellow squash, four long cucs (slightly too large), that gorgeous eggplant, a large bag of Kentucky Wonder green beans, a dozen or so bell pepperes and two dozen banana peppers. Gosh how I wish my experimental bucket garden was doing better, I really wanted fresh veggies this year.  Luckily for me the owner was veggied out for the week so majority was sent home with me. Mmm, mmm, mmm!!!

Zucchini BER

ARGH!  Did you know that squash can get BER too?  Not me.  BER on squash is not like on toms.  Here it will rot (kill!) whole fruit.  Good grief Charlie Brown!!!  There's not been a single fruit that has grown past 6" long and lived to be eaten.  If chose to pick early (wasn't butter and lemon pepper calling...) then fruit will lack seeds and harvest will be small.  This morning's loss called for action.  According to some quick research the plant was either suffering from lack of mulch, pollination or calcium.  Being fruits grow past an inch or two, I'm going with the later.  Deficiency can be solved with dairy (dried milk, dried egg shells) or TUMS.  Haha, the zucc have stress too!!!

Happened to feed personal army eggs this AM.  Shells were washed, dried, crushed and placed under mulch.  Flowers were plucked to help deter BER.  Lets see what happens.