I just wrapped up my summer garden, and honestly, I'm relieved! The tomatoes were being attacked by pests when ripening, so I decided to pull all the remaining fruits to make green tomato chutney. The eggplants? Total disaster. They were completely ruined by pests and just stopped producing. My cowpeas are infested with aphids, and it turns out that's why the ants loved them so much! Plus, there's this pest that cuts into the pods to get to the peas—I swear it's my new nemesis. I had to pull the zucchini and watermelon a few weeks back because of squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and squash vine borers. The only survivors are my sweet peppers, which finally seem close to harvest after a slow start. I'm done with this summer season and hoping for a better autumn! I've sown lacinato kale, bok choy, spinach, broccoli rabe, radishes, and sugar snap peas. What have you planted for the next season?
6 Answers
I'm ready to pull out my plants too! I've still got a month of decent weather, but I'm tired and want to move on. I've got kale, broccoli, lettuce, and spinach waiting to go in. What about you?
I chopped my tomatoes but my peppers and cucumbers are thriving! I'm looking to direct sow some snow peas and start kale and carrots soon. I'm curious about the weather, since it's been cooler this summer.
I also pulled my squash today—good riddance! My tomatoes and peppers are still going strong, though. I just put in snap peas, carrots, radishes, beets, and napa cabbage.
In Northern California, we've still got summer going strong! I haven't even hit my 'Still Summer' phase yet. Just yesterday, I removed a baby hornworm from my garden; those things can be a pain!
Ugh, I totally feel you on the pest struggles! I've been lucky here in Michigan with minimal pests. My tomatoes are still producing, and I’ve got lettuce, radishes, and beets doing their thing. I'm just waiting until the weather drops consistently to decide on my fall crop.
This is my first year gardening, and while it was mostly hit or miss, I just put in my fall crops of cabbage, beans, lettuce, and chard a few weeks back. Fingers crossed they do well!