Replaced 18 Gallon Peas with 2 Sweet Bell Peppers

The peas did quite will in the containers. I am using 18 gallon containers as from my Knol article. I cleaned out 1 container of peas and weeds and planted 2 green bell peppers in the container.

I added peat moss to the soil but did not add fertilizer. You can easily over fertilize peppers. You end up with to many leaves and less peppers.

Completed My Upside Down Tomatoes

I learned last year, as I already new but am stubborn, that water is always an issue and so is weight with upside down tomato gardens. As much as I was tempted to put in a indeterminate cherry or a heavy plant, I didn't.

I replaced (mixed actually with peat moss and fresh soil)  the dirt in the containers and gave them a healthy sprinkle of 10-10-10 fertilizer.

I completed 2 - 5 gallon buckets using Florida Hanging Basket determinate cherries.

I completed 2 -5 gallon buckets using Big Dwarf determinate tomatoes (4 ounces I think)

I complete 2 - 2 1/2 gallon buckets with Big Dwarves also.


The Big Dwarf variety is suppose to grow about 2 feet and set fruit. I am searching for a variety that works in 5 gallon and smaller buckets.

My Garden Knols are About to Hit 100,000 Page Views

I've been writing Garden Knol Articles for about 18 months. I do it as my hobby. It is a fun reward to see them hit 100k in page views (which should be this weekend). The next marker is 250,000. It's very easy to do. If you have a hobby or a specialty, I'd recommend writing an article. Google Knols are Google's match to Wikipedia.

It's a very easy system to navigate to get yourself publish on the web.

Tomato Troubles Already! Argh.

(Added) I don't think it's a virus. Insects or stress maybe. I am going to dust my plants and replace the tomatoes that are damaged. My hot-house tomato that has been in the ground since April 4th and isolated from everything else has 1 growing tip with curled leaves. There are about 9 other tips that are perfectly fine. Since it is a determinate tomato, I am just letting it grow with very light pruning.  I only have about 60 plants left. Why worry.  Plenty of replacement plants that are all fine.




It seems 3 of my tomatoes have a strange leaf curl disease. I'll post a picture after the storms. Two plants are mine, I grew. One plant is from Riverhill Nursery. Two plants are next to each other and the other is in a separate plot. The leaves on the bottom are perfectly normal and growing normally the new growth from the top is, what's the technical word, messed up.

The new growth is green but the leaves are curled and distorted and smaller. This happen to 3 tomatoes last year on a different plot. Very bizarre. I planted all 3 plants the the same. No other ingredients besides 10 10 10 fertilizer. I read epsom salt can cause problems but haven't used it yet.  The two tomatoes next to each other had the aspirin planted with them. However, the third aspirin plants is healthy and growing quite nicely. Any tomato detectives out there?

Article on Leaf Curl Virus

I don't know if this is it. But time to collect data and ideas.

Great Link to Tomato Diseases

The Tobacco Etch Virus looks similar to leaf pattern.

Well here is a detailed article on Tomato Etch Virus. The transmitting agent are aphids. I had masses of aphids on my perennials. I've been smashing and dusting them. This may not be it disease wise but aphids are amok in my garden. Time to dust.

Details of the Tomato Etch Virus

Going to dust them now and yank them tomorrow. Argh!

Lesson Learned:  Aphids can carry virus. Dust.

Solarizing the Vegetable Garden

Below is a link to solarizing garden soil. I think this one is very informative. The bottom line from several articles is you need at least 4 weeks of summer sun to solarize. Most articles agree 6 weeks is optimal and some say 8 weeks. The soil should be tilled and ammended as you wish and the big key is watering it. The soil should be thoroughly soaked to 12 inches. The plastic should be 1mm to 5mm thick. Some say 2mm and they all say not over 5mm.

Solarization will kill nematodes, eggs, insects, fungus and disease. You should lay the plastic 1 foot beyond the parameter of the garden space and secure the edges with rocks and dirt. The idea is to keep the heat in.

I think this could also be used to bring you soil out of winter and into spring earlier by heating it up. A few weeks of solarizing may not kill everything but it would warm you soil up sooner and deeper then normal.

Well lunch is over back to work.

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=339&storyType=garde