Dog Days of Summer

Despite the dog days of August, the hibiscus started a second round of blooms

 The Celebrity tomatoes are growing rapidly.  In two weeks they have grown about a foot.  The drip is great!

 My bell pepper plants are almost as tall as I am.  Last week I heard a presentation by Mr. Fannick from Frannick's Nursery.  He recommended to spread two tablespoons of Epsom salt around each plant and water in well.  The Epsom salts add magnesium which pepper plants love.  I tried that today.

IRIS in August

I didn't know iris bloomed in August.  I picked the bloom and brought it inside to enjoy.  With this 100 degree heat, it wouldn't last a day outside.  This way I can enjoy the yellow bloom for a few days!

Plant Tomatoes In August

This week I planted six Celebrity tomato plants in one raised bed.  Before planting, I spread about a cup of vegetable fertilizer, dug it in and then watered very well.  I have drip set for Mon. Wed, and Sat. for 45 minutes.  Given our 100 degree weather this week, I've used water from my rain barrel for the days when the drip is not scheduled.  The plants have already doubled in size.  Also, I watered in the tomatoes with a water soluble fertilizer the first day.  I don't plan to fertilize again until I have thumbnail size fruit on the plants.  Don't want to encourage foliage yet.  On the second day after planting I noticed several chewed off leaves....a tomato horn worm had already attacked!  I picked off the worm and threw it into the yard for the birds to eat.

The eggplant and bell peppers are still holding on.  When we got back from our month long trip to the NW, there were about a dozen eggplants ready to pick.  They were a little dried out but still good.  I have the drip going just to keep them alive during the heat of the summer.  When it gets cooler in the fall, I expect them to explode with fruit.

My Beautiful Yard After a Week of 100 Degree Weather

Even after a week plus of hundred degree weather and one month on the road in July, our yard looks beautiful.  SAWs even sent me an email that we were under the neighborhood average for water use in July.  That's because of our efficient drip irrigation in the back yard and our once a week deep watering in the front yard.  The backyard drip is set for 45 minutes, Mon., Wed, and Sat.  I'm increasing it to one hour this week just because we are predicted to have another week of 100 degree plus.  The front yard is set to run on Friday's in three, fifteen minutes intervals at 7:00 am, 8:15 am and 7:00 pm.  I have drip set up for 10-15 minutes for our potted plants every other day.

THE END (of the spring vegetable garden)

Today was clean up day for the spring vegetable garden.  I pulled out the last of the tomato and cucumber plants.  The  bean leaves and vines are in the beds turning into compost.  I discarded the tomato leaves and stems but composted the cucumbers leaves/stems.  To prepare for the summer/fall garden, I spread about an  inch of compost on each of the beds either from our compost bin or from purchased cow manure/compost from Lowe's.  The drip has been turned off theses beds so the direct heat and sun should solarize the beds.  I left the egg plant and pepper plants.  The drip is set for three times a week (45 minutes) just to keep these plants alive until the fall.  My experience is that once the nights start cooling down in the fall, I should have lots of fruit set from these plants.

With the temperature to reach 104 degrees today, we are into the depth of summer when nothing grows.  My goal is just to sustain life.....  The drip is set for one hour, three times a week in the back yard.  I have drip set for about 10-15 minutes for my potted plants about three times per week.  The lawn sprinklers in the front are set to run 15 minutes at each station, three times during the day on my scheduled day to water--Friday.  We are leaving for one month up north and west.  I hope things will be alive when we get back.  We do have a rain sensor set on the system so if it rains 1/2 inch, the system will not water.

Spring Blooms in Washington, DC, Early May 2013

Josh Hass & Margie Noonan

 Josh Hass, Margie Noonan, Susan Noonan

Joe & Susan Noonan

Happy Birthday from Joe

Joe surprised me with this special birthday message spelled out in bricks!