June 2021 Container Garden Tour
Summer has official begun. While many gardeners around the country are just getting started and starting to see some real growth in their gardens, here in Florida, zone 9a, we are winding down. Its been several weeks, time for an updated garden tour.
Gardener’s Nemesis
Insects, my constant nemesis, are really starting to do some damage in the garden. We had 3 tomato plants almost completely decimated by hornworms. Thankfully, I notice the destruction early and Philip located the hornworms and removed them. The three plants have recovered well. Lots of new growth and blossoms are following. Tomato harvest has dropped off significantly, but I have fertilized and am starting to see more blossoms and some green fruit. I’m hoping we might get another run before these plants die off. While editing this video, I saw the need for some serious pruning in the tomato patch and have since cleaned that up nicely. I have already purchased seeds to start paste tomatoes for the fall.
Bush Beans
The green beans have also been hit hard by insects. While bush beans do well in containers, I do not have near enough plants to harvest enough beans for even a single meal at a time. We started with 12 containers, with 2 to 3 plants in each container. We are down to half that now. I pick green beans a few at a time and stick them in the fridge until I get enough for a meal. Last year was our best harvest of green beans and we planted over 300 plants. I can certainly see the necessity of planting so many so that we can harvest enough to sustain us for the year.
Peppers are Prospering
The peppers are looking amazing. We have had quite the harvest from just the few plants that we have. They have been the least hit by insects but do show some minor damage. The peppers are loving the hot summer and are covered in blossoms and fruit. Just a few plants is perfect for just the two of us.
Slowest Horse is Catching Up
The cantaloupe was a slow starter. So slow in fact, that I had given up that it would do anything at all. Then one day, I looked and not only had it taken off, but it was also already blossoming. We have not had great success with cantaloupe in the past, so hoping we will get a few.
Struggling Plants
The cucumbers are hanging on. They also got a serious pruning after editing the video. Two plants have been enough for us. Just enough to keep me I salads. They are looking ruff, but holding on.
If you noticed the lack of zucchini in the garden tour, that’s because they were the first to fall after the insect’s attack. I harvest only two zucchinis before I lost them.
Our fruit trees are struggling a bit with brown leaves. Not at all sure what has attached them. We still have one lone apple hanging on. We will have to cut it in half and enjoy the harvest when it finally comes!
Take a Walk with Me in the Garden
Come along and see for yourself how our garden has progressed. Join me for a June Garden tour of the 2021 container garden. If you missed the initial tour of the garden, check it out here.
About the Author: Barbra-Sue Kowalski grew up on a small hobby farm. She was always drawn to farm life, however, she was stuck in an urban life far from her roots. Barbra-Sue was a single mom for 13 years, raising her 3 children on her own. She met Philip in 2018 and they married in 2021. Between the two of them, they have 5 grown children and 4 grandchildren. These empty nesters are following their dreams! As they both turn 50, they are building their off-grid homestead to live the life that they dream about. Learn more about Philip and Barbra-Sue here. Contact them here. To leave a comment on this post, please scroll down.
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