Lasagna Garden update #10

This is a video response to my friend across the pond in Scotland, Resaxz, who also is having tomato woes. I hope his problem isn't as serious as mine though. The weather worked against us this year -- next year has to be better, right? Let's hope. In the meantime, this is what Blight looks like everyone. I am bummed to say the least because I have very little tomato sauce and salsa in my "extended pantry" because I was going to make my own. And I had tons of tomatoes on my vines to do it even though I only had 5 paste (plum) tomato plants. Oh well. Life and the homestead goes on. I will have to get my gardening "mojo" back as I still want to try experimenting with growing cold hardy veges late into the season. Anyone have any ideas why some portions of my beds (which earlier in the season grew beans, spinach, and broccoli just fine) are sudden "barren" and not sprouting even weeds -- please share. That has me absolutely stumped. It's got to be some kind of soil imbalance, but as to what, I don't know.

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Tags:

• Tomato blight
• homesteading
• hobby farm
• gardening
• no til gardening
• lasagnna gardening
• economic collapse
• preparedness

[twomiracles]

The tomato blight may have hit you because there isn't a lot of space between the tomatoes to ventilate well and get them dry after a rainy spell..It helps to go out and gently shake the plants to get them dry faster. Or pick some of the leaves off to give more breathing room to the plants? Just an idea ..

[Michigansnowpony]

@twomiracles -- It was epidemic last year. Even folks raising tomatoes in upside down containers got hit with it. I guess conditions were just right AND the local authorities thought it was present in some nursery stock that went all over. This year, I raised all my own tomatoes from seed and no problems (different weather too). I'm growing my Romas on stock panels for support which is working out well.

[ivankinsman]

We got the same blight in Poland as well - think it is 'potato blight' so affects all the same genus family as potatoes. We might try these yellow tomatoes next year. Swiss chard looks v. nice. Do you spray with insectiside for critters and also fungii? We do.

[Michigansnowpony]

Sorry Ivan -- just saw this comment / question! No, I don't spray with anything, but I'm not a "purist" when it comes to gardening organically. So, if I have a big problem, I'll spray. From what I understand, once you have the blight, there's very little you can do.

[littlemouseshouse]

wow. that is so sad. i have it to and most of mine were starts from the green house. and my valonteer toms r doing fine as well.

[Michigansnowpony]

That's interesting. . . I am definitely going to start all my own plants next year. I've been wanting to do that anyway for a long time.

[1994buttons]

Take your unripend tomatoes, put them in a paper sack and close then every few days check for ripened tomatoes. I live in Utah and some years I end up having to do this with lots of tomatoes because of a shortened season. You can use a box too, but just make sure the lid stays closed. Good luvk next year!

[kris51586]

Spinach needs a lot of nitrogen to grow well, I'm guessing all the nitrogen was taken out by the earlier plantings and there wasn't anything left for it to grow on.

[cwaj]

Bald or empty spaces...................Have you tried add in compost to the soil. every two weeks? Not a lot, just turn in some.

Potatoes. Grow in Peat moss, compost, and vemiculit. Soft easy soil.

[cwaj]

Bald or empty spaces...................Have you tried add in compost to the soil. every two weeks? Not a lot, just turn in some.

[jeannamilner]

Hum, I would wonder if that little plot of land was infected with some type of GMO product. Just my 1st thought while watching this video.

[sgaucoin]

Pruning and pinching off of the tomatoes might help with better air circulation and help avoid blight. Some people advocate removing most of the tomato leaves once the fruit has set on the plant. This will, they say, encourage better fruit growth (energy goes to the fruit instead of growing leaves). We use chard like spinach for cooking.

[VivianRinSC]

I know it's too late but green tomatoes make for an excellent relish. You can make relish from anything or pickle them. :)