End of summer

[ksmith]

In what will likely be the last of the tomato news for 2009, I had to trash almost all of the fruits I picked earlier in the week. I was able to salvage two Crims, but the rest had either molded or sported the blackened bruising that, from all I've seen, indicates blight. I bundled up the bad tomatoes and stuck them in the garbage--I didn't want to compost them and risk spreading the disease. I may have issues next year as it is--they advise replacing the top layer of soil of a blighted garden in order to get rid of as many spores as possible.

In the "Guys are Sick" category: watching the Royals-White Sox game. Sox at bat. Royals catcher throws to second to catch a runner trying to steal, and in the course of his follow-through, manages to punch the Sox batter in the groin. Sox batter drops like a rock, and Ken Harrelson and Steve Stone, the announcers, couldn't announce the game for laughing--Harrelson said it was the most he laughed in 34 years of announcing. The trainer who came out to check on the batter was laughing. Even the batter was smiling after he got to his feet.

Had a massage today. I needed it. Then I had a haircut, Needed that, too.

Comments

[threeoutside.livejournal.com]

I've been following your tomato drama all season (vicarious thrills; I don't have a garden) and you're not the only one by far to suffer the blight fate. I'm in Omaha and the Extension gardening advisors have had articles in the paper about tomato woes all summer, and now it sounds like most gardens are succumbing to the blight, too. I'm wondering if you could lay down black plastic and leave it until it's planting time next year, maybe residual spores might cook to death? Just a thought, it's been many years since I gardened. Good luck!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you followed the garden posts. I know some folks did, but I'm guessing others weren't interested. I enjoyed posting, though, and I'm glad I took photos along the way.

I pulled out and bagged the plants today. Raked through the soil and picked out as many blighted tomatoes and leaves that I could find. I am wondering if the storebought Roma was my carrier--it sported brown, shriveled leaves right from the beginning. As summer went on, the shriveling increased, but tomato production was good. Then the leaf-browning moved to the Sweet 100.

I am hoping that the total collapse came as a result of some cool nights and the end of season weakening of the plants. But I am going to phone the local Extension office and see what they recommend I do. I hope I don't have to remove soil.

[(Anonymous)]

We, also, were blighted. I think the black plastic idea will work, but ask your extension office first.

We are lucky and live in the country: we're going to layer hay on top of the cleaned-off beds and light them on fire! Fire! Hehehe! Fire!

Jody in PA

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I still have some peppers, lettuces, and herbs to harvest, so I have to delay any soil treatment. But I am going to try something after the beds are cleaned off.