I almost missed this little booger, but with a double-take, I realized, "THAT is not a leaf. THAT is a big nasty caterpillar." I had a caterpillar run-in in Minnesota this summer, and since then they just freak me out. Willies up the neck type thing.
As I continued to examine my tomato plant, I thought to myself, "This nasty thing is eating my plant!"
Um, this thing was like 5inches long. There was no way I was squashing that thing under my shoe. I'd rather grab the tongs and fling him to kingdom come. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
When I went out to look for him again there were no more signs of tomato devastation and he was gone. Phew!
In other news, this tiny little pepper (about 3-inches) was one of two awful peppers I harvested from my garden this year. The tomatoes in the background are 4 of about 8 that have turned. So, it wasn't a wonderful year for peppers, beans or tomatoes, but the jalapenos and basil loved the heat wave!
So, another garden year gone. I'm a little discouraged. I think that Jeremy was right ... the soil in our backyard isn't the best. And conditions in the last several years just haven't been good for Kansas gardening.
How did your garden turn out? Should I try again next year?
Here's what my mother (the master gardener) does, she takes her old vegetable peels and other compostable material and buries it. She doesn't put it in a compost bin or anything like that, she just buries it all in her garden bed. She had the richest soil! Me, I bought good garden soil from a company that sells that stuff by the truckload. I got one pick-up load and used it for my raised beds and put the rest in the flower beds. Nice dirt! You can do this and I think it is worth it!
ReplyDeletekeep trying Lisa. Maybe Ben will make a bucket for the topsy-turfy way to plant tomatoes. we got a lot of cherry size from his attempt for the first time. weather does play a big part. our tomatoes didn't do so well this year/
ReplyDeletethanks for the tips ladies!
ReplyDelete