Potatoe Blossoms

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When Too Much Rain is Too Much
August 2, 2008 09:36:39

This growing season has been just about the opposite of last year. By this time, the rain was over for the next 5 months. This year it just keeps on coming. We have had rain about every three to five days since January. The trees and grass and everything else seem to be growing like crazy. All the trees have lots of new growth. It is nice to see because last we wondered if they would survive.

Some crops in the garden have done well. The sweet corn was about the best I have grown. Very consistent and very few blank stalks. On the other hand, the potatoes are small. I have dug several hills and not found any large potatoes that would be suitable for baking. When I planted the potatoes I mulched them and the ground has been muddy ever since. When I go out and dig them now in August the ground is muddy underneath the mulch. The same is true for the tomatoes. Yesterday I picked a couple of little roma tomatoes. Those were the first we have had and yesterday was the first of August. The ground is just muddy under the mulch. The plants were slow to grow when set out because the weather was wet and cool. Now they have growth, and there are green tomatoes on the vines but none have ripened.

The green beans have done well and I have picked several messes off a row that is only about 15 feet long. They also continue to bloom and will have more in a few days. The only problem I have had with the green beans is keeping the rabbits out. Sorry to say, I have not been able to get any okra to grow hardly at all. I have planted it a couple of times and it germinates and then just sits there and does not grow much.

Carrots have been a real disappointment. They were planted early enough but most of them are not bigger than my finger and most are smaller. I also have not been able to get a crop of beets to grow either.

I would say that we have just had too much rain for some of these crops. The ground has not really dried out and drained which may inhibit some of these plants. Last year we were wondering if this year would be dry and hot. Well the heat is starting up now. It has been and will be in the 90s the next few days. I think it will be hot for a while and warm for even longer.

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