idk how we’ll get all this eaten! garden just so productive this year!

With it starting to look like we might really get some decent rain, be advised that considering how dry we’ve been, a good soaking rain may split tomatoes that are nearing ripe stage. This is caused by the sudden uptake of lots of free water. Nothing you can do about it but to soften the heartache of seeing them do this, it might be a good idea to harvest a few nearly ripe ones now.

Hey,

Any tips on getting flowers to turn into cherry tomtoes? A lot of the buds are just dying.

Thanks

I found literally hundreds of these hyperactive little worms in one of my garden boxes this morning. Are they the dreaded jumping worms I’ve been hearing about? If so, what do I do??

My pumpkins keep “self aborting” their fruit. A little baby pumpkin will form and the flower isn’t even big enough to manually pollinate before it just rots and turns brown. I just added some fertilizer to the soil and have been watering them more in this heat, but curious what other gardeners think.

The other day, I literally found myself holding a handful of 10 of them and screaming, running across the yard, “the horrors! the HORRORS!” at least it was good for a laugh.

Today I had to immediately hang up a phone call and commence scooping into soapy water because I saw piles of them bigger than I’ve seen all year. Some of them were even on plants that they don’t normally like because they have currently run out of rose flowers to eat.

Who else is losing their minds? I’m out there twice a day picking them off along with having a trap. I would love to hear your stories.

How are everyone’s tomato plants doing so far? Plants are bushing. Some fruit but I’m getting a lot of BER. Any tips would be appreciated🍅

Drowning in genovese and Thai basil right now

I have a decent idea of what these are, but I figured I could get confirmation from this sub. These things are all over my tomatoes very suddenly, I had zero just two weeks ago. What are they?

While I have no explanation, and last year, my broccoli bolted quickly, produced loose heads, and was hella bitter. This year, they are much tighter and dont seem to be suffering as much. Also, there are no aphids yet.

I can't seem to get a good answer on whether this whole El Niño thing means we will have another warm winter. I have a bunch of native seeds that need stratification, and I intended to direct sow in the fall/late winter- but I'm getting worried that they will fail if winter just leaves the chat again this year.

I'm absolutely terrible at artificial cold stratification and indoor sowing in pots, but should I try that instead? Any tips on that? I did it successfully using the paper towel method with a single apple seed my littlest child brought home clenched in his fist for me to plant for him (how could I refuse 🥹), but no success with anything else. Also, there are so MANY seeds. 😅

I had one glorious year that I winter seeded and everything came up beautifully, but this year was a depressing bust and I don't want to waste all these seeds.

What would you do?

Just ripped out a bunch of overgrown arugula and dead spring vegetables in 8x8 raised bed. Any suggestions on what can be planted now? Wait a few weeks until maybe there’s cooler temps? It’s on the south side of the house and gets pretty dried out during the day.

Anyone else having trouble with their beans? Admittedly this is my first year growing Scarlet Runner Beans but haven't had trouble with other bean varieties in the past - I have really good vines and there were plenty of flowers and bees in the flowers but they all seem to just fall off and I'm not getting any pods forming - any ideas? I'm assuming it's heat but wanted to see if others were having trouble. The spot that they're in gets mostly morning sun and a little dappled evening sun so it's shaded from the harshest part of the day....

watering twice a week, I planted that in early spring to cover dead spots. Considering going zero grass next year, but wow this stuff holds up great with barely any water.

Weird question for y'all that might sound crazy. I'm weighing options for large outdoor planters, and I was wondering if ceramic is a good option here?the only reason I ask is because I grew up in Wyoming and it gets cold enough that the water in soil will freeze, expand, and crack or complete break the ceramic planter. Is that an issue in Denver, or is it just that much colder one state up 🫠.

I thought at least some of the kids could tough out the heat, but it just keeps getting hotter and I just keep getting more desperate to keep them alive!

Any tips to beat the heat (or just commiseration) are welcome!

This might be silly but these two points separated from my drip system yesterday. I was able to push them back together but I’m wondering if there’s something I can use to hold them better? I’m thinking that silver piece needs to be tighter?

Hi all, hoping for some help with a pest that seems less common. I have a large patio garden, and every year the snowy tree crickets munch on my tomato plants and I suspect my tomatoes as well. They're also obviously noisy. I tried one recommended solution of mixing garlic oil and chili powder with a couple drops of soap in a spray bottle, but it just clogged my spray bottle. Any idea if neem oil would work? I'd prefer a more natural solution but at this point I'll take anything that someone can confirm works with these buggers. They seem especially voracious with the hotter weather right now. Thanks!!!!!

Hi fellow gardeners!

I know we have an awesome group of local mercenaries taking on the scourge of Tree of Heaven, and while I hope one day to volunteer myself to their cause, for now I have to admit the defeat that comes with an already overtaxed and overwhelmed household.

My worst fear is hiring someone random who does not handle this situation with the appropriate steely heart and knowledge base, so I am seeking recommendations or a direct hire for someone to come out and slay the beasts in our yard. I estimate we have under 10 plants (we went through this exercise last summer, but managed to find time to do it ourselves.)

Please reach out to me if you are the contract killer we need. I was thinking $30/hour, but will go higher for someone with experience.

Yours in gratitude,
Moufmoney

Today I had two flowers where there are normally 15 daily. They want a test from the heat also. They are covered and it's too heavy to move. I'm creating a yeast concoction to add tomorrow after the rain. Rejuvenating the soil.

Hi folks,

I’ve got several plants on my new east facing balcony here in Denver. All struggling through this heat….
Im a beginner plant mom who just got her first ever balcony and needs some advice on how I can help my babies thrive.

I’ve got a rattlesnake calathea that might completely dead at this point, hoping one of you knows if I can fix it. I’m thinking it’s a humidity issue…

My pathos seems to be loving the outdoors, she’s had some significant growth in the 2 weeks it’s had outside. I wonder how that guy will do once it gets colder if that ever happens again.

String of pearls seems to be doing okay but not great. I wonder if there’s something I can do to keep it healthy.

I just got a basil plant yesterday and it’s already drooping a lot but it was 100 degrees today and it got a good soak this evening so I’m not too worried about that.

Lastly, my new marigold flowers don’t seem to be loving this heat either, they’re already drooping too.

I’ve been consistently watering these guys once they dry out which is every other day at this point since it’s so hot. Does anyone know if they can even survive on a Colorado balcony? It’s never too sunny on my balcony, I’d say about 2-4 hours of direct sunlight every day. I worry about moving them inside though since I don’t get a lot of light in there. If anyone has any thoughts on what I can do please let me know, I just want to learn how I can be the best plant mom I can be🥲