The EarthTainer "Farm" July, 1 - (Gone Fishin')

[rnewste]

The earlier Varieties are now kicking in:


RAF (from Clara)


JD Special C-Tex


Jet Star


Solar Flare

As we have been getting strong Sun lately, I've put up the Coolaroo shade:



The screen permits about 50% transmission:



And the Tastywine and Caitydid have hit 56 inches tall today:



The Big Bertha and Colossal planted 2 per 'Tainer are doing well:





The Blanca Sweet-Peppers are now producing:



The Sweet Success cukes have hit the rafters:



This year, I am letting the ones growing over the 73 inch cage cascade back down on the outside.

Some of the ripe ones today:



The Sweetcorn has hit maturity and I've started to harvest today:







And lastly, the Utah Tall Celery grows at a slow but steady pace:



The next 2 crops of Tendersweet 277A are coming along as well:



Some of today's tomatoes:


Odoriko, RAF, Gary'O Sena, Jet Star

So.... this is my plan for "supervision" of the garden for the rest of the Summer:



Raybo

[JamesL]

Raybo,
Wow, wow, wow, ad infinitum!!!

[rnewste]

Thanks James!

Been a lot of hard work to get to this point - so hopefully, I can kick back a bit for the rest of the growing season.

However, looking at last year's written notes, this was about the time when I got hit by Aphids and Whiteflies - - so best to be vigilant (from the Hot Tub).

Raybo

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Very nice!

Craig

[FIT BMX]

That looks like a great container garden!

[z_willus_d]

Ray, everything looks spectacular, particularly that corn. I'm curious re: the the Gotta Have It! corn -- how did you know it was ready? Yes, I know what they say on the pack, but I'm curious as to your process. Also, what was the average circumference at the thickest point around the corn cob? I think mine are getting about there too.

Something about those tomatoes seem too good to be true. They're just so very unblemished, saturated, and proportional. Tell it true, you're really a Photoshop wiz right?
-naysen

[Sun City Linda]

"Puuurdy" as our old friend would say. What happened to him anyway? Cant remember his name, long winded fellow and have not seen a post from him in months...

[rnewste]

Naysen,

I read a Thread on another Forum where the conventional wisdom is to pick corn approx 3 weeks after silks appear. Mine have gone 4 weeks now (we've had really cool weather in the San Jose area this June, with temps typically reaching a high of 75 or less) so I think you need to play it by "ear" depending on the variety and weather conditions in your locale.

Raybo

[z_willus_d]

Ok. Several of mine have shown silk for at least three weeks, and temps here are well over 90 every day. The cobs seem to be around 2.5-3" in diameter, so they still seem a bit anemic. I guess I'll pull one and see what she's got.

Thanks,
Naysen

[rnewste]

Naysen,

You can *slowly* pull the outer husk back from the top a bit and see if most of the upper nibs have developed. For small lot corn, don't expect to see it out to the very tip, as you would see at Safeway. Pollination in our smallish plots is never as intense as large acreage planting like the farmers do.

Another "sign" is to pierce one of the nibs and you should see a white milky flow. If you wait too long, the nibs become a bit ripply and hard.

Raybo

[meadowyck]

all I can say is I wish you were my next door neighbor.

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by meadowyck

all I can say is I wish you were my next door neighbor.

Jan,

Sort of a "Neighbors With Benefits" kind of thing. I contribute tomatoes, Peppers, cukes, and our next door folks who are originally from Rome, make the most wonderful Italian dishes out of them. However, the sweetcorn NEVER leaves the property.

Raybo

[z_willus_d]

Ray, that pic you posted above of your cob seems well endowed (well nibbed?) enough. If I can hit similar nib potency, I'll be plenty satisfied. I'd heard the milk poke test, but wasn't sure when to start testing. We have a 4th barbeque coming up, so I'll aim to harvest a few cobs for that event.

I've been manually pollinating in hopes of improving the odds. My plot is even smaller than yours, with my three InnTainers in progressing stages of development.
Thanks,
Naysen

[rnewste]

Naysen,

Just keep the right "perspective" on expectations regarding your sweetcorn. My ears are never as big as corn I see at Safeway - but mine taste 100% better.

Same analogy to "factory grown" strawberries out here. They look massive sitting on a cheesecake - - but are virtually tasteless. I remember going out into the fields around Oswego N.Y. and picking some of the most tasty strawberries I've ever had. Small, but really packed with flavor. California strawberries simply don't compare.

I think you will find your home grown corn far better than store bought.

Raybo

[Mlm1]

That is an amazing garden. I see the pictures are a week old so I bet you are busy harvesting after this warm week.

Marla