Fall Planting Time

We have figs…

And muscadine grapes ….

Getting the garden in shape
Today was the first day of the awesomeness that is called fall. Finally we got a break from the heat and I took this opportunity to get some gardening done.

First I cleared all the dead plants out of one of the square foot gardens to make room for young healthy plants. I kept one tomato plant and some borage (for companion planting).

From Photo Challenge

Next I added some peat moss and compost to the soil that already existed in the bed. I additionally threw in some Perlite I had sitting in the garage. Perlite helps aerate the soil.

From Photo Challenge

I planted half a dozen random tomato plants, a squash, and a watermelon (totally out of season – this is an experiment). In between the tomatoes, I planted random small plants in a survival of the fittest fashion. It will be interesting to see what survives the next few weeks. Eggplants, basil, and corn are in this group. Finally I staked the tomatoes to prepare for the growth.

From Photo Challenge

Infirmary

Here is what is leftover from my summer seedlings and purchases. I have them in what I now call the infirmary. They are sickly and need constant care. What survives out of this group will fill later holes in the garden and share the cool weather garden with the leafy greens.

From Photo Challenge

Key Limes

From Photo Challenge

We have Key Limes and they are good. I can’t wait to make my first cocktail from our backyard lime bush.

Swallowtail

A very unusual caterpillar has been eating the crap out of our grapefruit tree. I killed two of them before I discovered that they are the caterpillar of the swallowtail butterfly.
I discovered two chrysalis and one other caterpillar chowing down. I am going to let the tree get abused for now, besides it gives us no fruit anyway. I love butterflies.

From Photo Challenge

Nitrogen Deficiency

We have 4 citrus bushes in our backyard and over the past few weeks I have noticed that one is going into decline. This weekend I was able to do a little research on the matter and I think I have come to the conclusion that my bush has a nitrogen deficiency. The UF extension office web site has wonderful advice on every kind of issue that a gardener could have in Florida. It is a great resource to use. I have officially diagnosed the problem with the Eureka Lemon as Yellow Vein Chlorosis. This also could be caused by water damage. To treat this problem, I will be monitoring the irrigation in the area and I have applied some cottonseed meal I had in the garage to increase the nitrogen levels a bit. Hopefully I will be able to save our only lemon bush.