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Post by epaul on Jul 30, 2024 14:04:40 GMT -5
Terry, when it comes to prunnings, so much, ok, all of it, depends on whether you have determinate plant (meant to grow like a bush; stays in the cage, sort of) or indeterminate (wants to grow like a vine; will grow all over the place if you let it.
(there are varieties that will confuse the definitions)
Your plants appear to me as if they are indeterminate as it looks like they are going to get pretty tall, if you let them. But, they could be very vigorous determinates. I'm just guessing. And I can't give good advice until I know what variety you planted (all I need is the name of the variety and I will know... usually).
In short: If the plants are indeterminant, your wife is right. Prune. If they are determinate, you are. Leave them be.
Indeterminant plants (like Early Girl, Big Boy, Big Beef, most any heirloom or heirloom cross) benefit from regular pruning... especially if you want to get an earlier harvest. A plant only has so much energy. By pruning extra vegetative growth (suckers and unwanted stems) you encourage the plant to put more of its available energy into fruit production.
By nature (genetics), an indeterminate plant still thinks it is a vine in the tropics and has darn near the entire year to spread out and produce fruit all season long across as much jungle as it can cover. Pruning sends a message that it is no longer in Kansas and it better get the fruit show on the road (metaphors).
Whatever. Tomato growers have come to learn that if you want earlier tomatoes, (and early is what really matters) you need to prune indeterminates or they will put too much of their energy into vegetative growth (plant-thinking about the long term when there is no long term).
Typically, at the beginning, a grower will chose two or three stems to serve as the framework of the plant and pinch off any attempt (suckering) by the plant to start another stem. These two or three stems will be supported by stake, string, or cage. Eventually, a determined indeterminate will win out and more stems will develop and all might get away from you.
But the important pruning part is the early part, get those first sets of fruit in the bank. Get a framework. Support that framework. Pinch off the suckers that would start a new and unwanted stem. (don't pinch off the growth point, tip, of your wanted stem, pinch off the suckers that develop down below between leaf and stem)
With a determinant plant, (one that wants to grow like a bush. Celebrity is a well known example, as is any tomato that says "for container growth") leave it alone.
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Post by epaul on Jul 30, 2024 13:34:43 GMT -5
For now, if the soil isn't waterlogged, if it is just good soil you can dig into without getting all muddied up, get some liquid Miracle Gro or equivalent that you can apply in a liquid form and give those plants a quick shot of N. (don't work in granules, get something that liquid or is water soluble and can be applied in a liquid form. You have no time to mess around with granules) If a couple measured shots of liquid N don't perk those plants up and lead to new growth with a nice green color after a week or two, then there is another problem. But, you won't know unless you add N now. Do it for science!  |
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Post by epaul on Jul 30, 2024 13:19:31 GMT -5
Don, those are clearly unhappy plants (including your pepper plants). The indicators are the pale green (yellowish) leaves and clear lack of vigorous foliage growth. There are two factors that can causes this, and they are related: 1) Lack of nutrients (specifically nitrogen). Nitrogen is the focus here. If nitrogen is lacking, the plant's leaves will be pale green to yellow, especially the new growth leaves. Repeat, if the new growth leaves are light green to yellow, that is almost certainly a lack of nitrogen (bottom leaves can turn yellow for a dozen reasons, some natural, don't worry about them, just clip them off). 2) Nitrogen is soluble. Once your N fertilizer has converted to nitrate, it will go where the water goes. Heavy rains and too much water will do two things: - the excess water will flush out nitrate and carry it away when it drains away - excess water that hasn't had time or ability to drain away will fill up all the pore space in the soil, leaving no space for the oxygen soil bacteria requires to produce more nitrogen. My good guess is that your raised bed has run out of nitrogen and that explains the yellowed new growth and lack of growth in general. This shortage of N could have been present at the git go or may been exacerbated by heavy rains or too much watering. Regardless, it is there. Your raised bed is a closed system. Plants will extract nutrients which means nutrients will need to be added. With additions of organic material, soil bacteria will create nitrogen by breaking down (eating) this organic material. But, it is a slow, ongoing process. And if the soil gets waterlogged (saturated, with water filling all the pore spaces in the soil leaving no room for oxygen) not only is much existing N washed away, no new N is created and the plant is starved. Roots need bacteria and bacteria needs oxygen. I am not a fan of manure as a fertilizer. Manure contains very little nitrogen. It will feed the bacteria that produces nitrogen. But so well any organic input, most of them cheaper, lighter, and easier to work with than those wet heavy bags of manure (that can be chock full of weed seeds). Continue to add organic material, but also, next year, mix in a couple cups of some type of pelleted "timed release" broad spectrum fertilizer.  If you are living with a die hard organic gardener type, add the fertilizer at night. |
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Post by epaul on Jul 30, 2024 12:30:31 GMT -5
I had a negative impression of Kamala Harris' public persona (the only part of her I (or any of us) was ever privy to). I saw baseline of defensive smugness and a tight, forced joviality (she bombed on SNL).
I was personally convinced she would need a personality transplant if she were to have a chance to beat Trump.
No longer.
I don't know what changed, but it wasn't me. I now see a different Harris on my TV set, one that is personable, energetic, optimistic, and charming. Nor am I the only one seeing it, judging from the comments of some of the strategists from both sides of the aisle pulled in to analyze the election for paper and network.
Maybe I never saw enough of the old Kamala Harris, but this new one is undeniably loose, relaxed, comfortable and twinkly-eyed. And she is killing it on the campaign and on TV spots. Harris will not be the easy target for the Republican misogyny campaign Hillary was.
Don't know what, if anything, changed, but Kamala Harris is now clearly very, very comfortable in her shoes.
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 20:14:09 GMT -5
And why work so hard at conjuring up whatever it is you are trying to get at (a contrived Republican talking point).
One, why bring up "Why aren't you bothered Harris won no primaries"? That is a silly argument and a silly concern. It was not possible for Harris to win any of the Democratic party's presidential primaries as she wasn't a candidate running for the Democratic party's nomination for president at the time any of the primaries were held. You could just as sensibly have asked Democrats, "Why are you not concerned that Harris has not built a space ship with warp drive and flown to Alpha Centauri?"
Why be concerned about the impossible and ridiculous? Are you not familiar with the events that have transpired in this last month, a month in which there were no primaries for Harris or anyone else to run in?
Two, as for an open convention, the convention is open. Anyone who wished or wishes to declare an intention to run for the Democratic Party's endorsement for president at the Convention was and still is free to do so. I don't expect any will as 99% of the delegates to this convention have decided, of their own free will and volition, to support Harris.
(did you get the part about these delegates deciding by their own free to support Harris?)
Most people who are not desperately thrashing about to come up with Republican talking points are greatly relieved the Democratic party has avoided potentially disastrous confusion and coalesced around Harris in a unified attempt to win the election and stop the Trump from knocking down any more walls.
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 19:52:11 GMT -5
... Doesn't it bother anyone that you're being steam rolled into accepting a nominee who didn't win a single primary AND won't face an open convention? Where's the democratic process in that? It was a screwy, approaching dire, situation. Lot's of opinions and guesses. Biden threw his support to his vice president, Harris. 99% of the elected delegates to the Democratic convention support Harris, appear to be enthusiastic about Harris, and are indisputably greatly relieved with how a dire situation turned un-dire and is now positive. As Dub has pointed out, a political party's national convention operates by the rules its party members decide to operate by. The candidate the convention selects then enters a Democratic election, the national election for president of this country; a National Democratic Election in which every citizen of this great country has a right to enter their vote, you know, the Constitutionally Decreed Democratic Election for President that Trump has just promised his dear, sweet Christians he will put an end to once he is elected. If you are so concerned about a Democratic will being thwarted, why look at an imagined mouse when there is an actual lumbering elephant trashing the house. |
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 18:49:53 GMT -5
Morning!
Don't know nuting bout no Square, but I have set up auto-alerts on all my cards that near-instantly alert me by email and text of charge that occurs. Over the last couple three years, this action has given me instant notification of fraudulent charges three times. Usually, my phone will beep with a text alerting me of the charge before I have left the store.
I love the feature.
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 16:59:11 GMT -5
Thanks, John!
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 15:32:17 GMT -5
I just noticed that my cat is right-pawed (as I watched her quick repeated jabs to the nose of my daughter's new, and undeterred, puppy over the weekend).
(handedness might be a mammal thing. I never noticed my gecko to show a preference one over the other.)
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 10:48:23 GMT -5
Garden center plants are fine. The only reason to start with seeds is if you want to for some reason. I start seeds because:
1) I like to try newer varieties that garden centers don't offer (garden centers tend to offer older, tried and true varieties that customers are familiar with)
2) I "push" the season and start my plants earlier than the outfits that supply garden centers. By the time the local nursery gets its first shipment of six-inch plants, I will have some that are two feet.
But, if you don't have the means or desire to "cheat" the season (greenhouse or lugging large potted tomatoes back to the basement when a frost threatens) local nurseries offer fine tomatoes at a good time for general garden plantings.
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 10:32:29 GMT -5
Do you by any chance play your banjo around them? That will just about wipe them out right there. Other than that, I only have general guesses to offer.
In a garden with good drainage (raised bed checks that), all a tomato plant should need to thrive is at least a half day of good sun (full is best), warm days, and water. Given your raised bed and the warm summer, the only variable I listed that I can imagine being missing from your raised tomato bed is enough sun. But, if you got abundant foliage in the paste, your bed must be in a good spot.
So...
Are your plants growing slowly but otherwise look blocky and healthy?
Or are they growing slowly and look whimpy and scrawny with leaves that don't have a nice solid dark green color (either general yellowing of entire leaf or leaf spotting that grows in coverage and creates dead, crusty patches).
Have you gotten heavy rains?
Is your raised bed comprised primarily of a soil less potting mix or with real dirt, some cow manure and some home-cooked compost?
Can you post a photo of the plants?
Odds are I won't have a clue or be able to help in any useful way regardless of extra information. But, if you provide it I will take some guesses
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Post by epaul on Jul 29, 2024 9:30:23 GMT -5
I'm an avid follower of womens' beach volleyball, especially Brazil's team.
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Post by epaul on Jul 28, 2024 22:31:22 GMT -5
Why are my photos so darn small? They do get bigger if I click on them. Do they get bigger if you folks click on them.
But, still, they are screwy photos. I take them with my phone then download them to my computer. That's normal, right? Why are they so small? They didn't use to be.
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Post by epaul on Jul 28, 2024 20:59:58 GMT -5
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Post by epaul on Jul 28, 2024 18:36:56 GMT -5
Probably not a bad idea to have an Olympics thread. I'll be watching the opening ceremonies this afternoon, got other things to do tonight. It will be a nice distraction from the politics. 👍 Yep, indeedy! |
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Post by epaul on Jul 28, 2024 15:38:21 GMT -5
Does he have to play it off the police officer's arm?
"Just hold very still, sir."
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Post by epaul on Jul 28, 2024 12:50:17 GMT -5
Morning!
Will prolly hit 90 again today by heat's peak. I cease to function at any temperature over 85.
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Post by epaul on Jul 28, 2024 10:37:24 GMT -5
... The Table was set, and meant, for all. And we, in all our glorious queerness, we were, and are, at The Table, too." Mind you, I was speaking for Bill. Not me. Just wanted to clear about that. |
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Post by epaul on Jul 27, 2024 23:24:13 GMT -5
He is completely bonkers!
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Post by epaul on Jul 27, 2024 19:37:38 GMT -5
Well, Rob, just I saw your driveway on Google Earth, and holy crap, it really is dirty.
(rent a steamer first, then power wash. And, sheesh, you dry your boxers on the porch railing?)
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