Two garden plots started. We have caterpillars attacking the Zucchini. Trying to control them just by picking them off, so far. The broccoli, onions, peppers, and tomatoes are doing well.

Starting seeds for the fall garden. We will have 2 plots this time. Starting Zucchini, Broccoli. Tomatoes, and Onions. We have black plastic over the beds to try to "bake out" nematodes and other possible pests/diseases.

The Southern Peas are pretty much done. The Pole beans grew very well. No significant pests and minimal care for both of these type of beans. The pole beans were not very good for eating. Maybe I let them get too ripe.

Planning for the fall garden- Broccoli, and maybe Zucchini.

Starting to harvest some southern peas(Black eyed peas). The pole beans are starting to get more pods. They all seem to be thriving in the hot weather. No significant pests or diseases. The tall wire cages are working well.

Southern Peas and Pole beans growing, doing well so far. Should have a pretty good harvest in 3-4 weeks.

Pole beans and southern peas (Black eyed peas) planted. Germination rate for the seeds was near 100%. The lower parts of the trellises for the pole beans are in place. These beans can get very tall. It looks like the summer rains have started.

Looking forward to working on the new community garden again on 6/25

Skip ahead in the garden. Lots of tomatoes. I pick them early so they don't get attacked by pests. The plants are starting to dwindle and the beans are done. Looking forward to pole beans and southern peas(which are really beans) during the heat of summer.

This is kind of a difficult gardening time in central FL. The daytime temps are high, but the rainy season hasn't started yet. The plants are stressed and need a lot of water. (Especially in raised beds).

Lots of tomatoes, no ripening yet.

Attack of the aphids and caterpillars. The tomatoes still look pretty good, anyway. Ladybugs to the rescue for the aphids(hopefully). I may need to try an oil spray. I may need something different for the caterpillars. On the other hand, I don't want to harm the ladybugs.

Lots of tomatoes. Waiting for ripening. Our weather has been hot and the plant bed continues to dry out fast.

Tomatoes are doing great.

The peppers did not make it. I think they got "Southern Blight". Its a fungus and it can attack a number of vegetables. It sounds like it is a little bit hard to get rid of. One way is to kill it by "baking" the soil. I can do this in late summer by covering the garden with black plastic for about 4 weeks and the ground will heat up and kill the fungus.

There are some spots on the tomatoes. I think its either a fungus or bacterial infection. The plants are still doing very well. If it gets worse I will need to find some organic, biodegradable way to treat it.

The raised beds dry out fast, especially when its not the rainy season here.

Elliot Spitzer for president!

We've had some good rains over the last week. The tomatoes are growing well. The picture shows some leaf miner damage on a tomato leaf, which is caused by the larva of a small fly. It may or may not be a problem. Some sources say it does not cause a lot of damage.

I planted a few new peppers.

1st tomato seen today. Everything growing well. We finally got some rain. The beans have sprouted well.

I have used some organic fertilizer on the Tomatoes and Peppers. It's from Gardens Alive and it works great- I have had good luck with it before.

Many blossoms on the tomatoes. Still need rain. Unseasonably warm. The drip irrigation system is being improved.

On the political front- How are we going to pay for all this military activity? Should we have war bonds or a war tax?

Tomatoes are doing well. 1 pepper died, 3 others are on the way out. 2 are doing well. The stems turned brown at the bases on the ones that did bad. I don't know why. We need rain.