I wasn't expecting that the gardening season would end so suddenly...
I killed half of my garden today, and I didn't see it coming...
Bye Bye, Tomato Jungle
It started very innocent and perfectly according plan. Because it's getting way too cold at night, I decided to bring all unripe tomatles inside, so they would at least have a chance to ripe.
Unfortunately, I had to completely destroy my tomato plants in order to be able to reach all tomatoes.
Since the greenhouse was mainly filled with tomato-plants, it's very awkward to see it this empty.
But I had no other choice. At night, we have temperatures that are only just above 0°C, which causes tomatoes not to ripe any further.
I'll tell you more about what happened with the tomatoes in one of my next posts.
One By One
Because of my physical condition, I haven't been able to take the same prevention measures against diseases as last year, neither have I been following up as close.
I knew a couple of plants were infected with something. For a long time I suspected it to be spider mite, but now I'm not so sure anymore.
I will need to show the pictures to someone who has more knowledge about diseases than I do to identify what was going on.
All I know is that it was spreading around the garden at warp speed.
Chayote
I already reported about my Chayote plant being sick. Garlic & Neemoil spray seemed to slow it down, but is obviously not a cure.
I keep removing all infected leaves - the plant really looks like a skeleton now - and I'm crossing my fingers that the plant will live long enough to produce at least one prickled Chayote.
But I'm not putting my hopes up. They are still so very small...
Click image to enlarge
Although the plant has only a few leaves left, I refuse to give up on it.
This is the second year I'm trying to grow Chayote, but last year's plant got sick before it could grow fruit. As sad as it may sound, this is the closest to growing Chayote I've come, and I want to do everything to be able to taste at least one of the fruits. I do hope it's very delicious, after all the TLC I gave it.
Contagious
While I was watering the plants, I noticed that a couple of leaves of the squash plant on one side of the garden had turned black. I knew the plant was suffering from a mildew infection, but I've never seen leaves turn black almost overnight.
I removed the infected leaves, and continued watering all plants.
I noticed the fig leaf gourd had grown a lot again - this plant must be the world record holder when it comes to growing speed. He had grown straight through the cucamelon trellis and was getting cosy with one of the Yacon plants.
I noticed immediately that the fig leaf gourd showed the same symptoms as the squash and the Chayote. The infected leaves had reached the Yacon.
Click image to enlarge
Now, I love all my plants, but the Yacon is my absolute favorite one. Although it's known to be pretty resistant against diseases, I could see some leaves were infected already.
That was the drop! I went completely bezerk and started removing the leaves that showed signs of infection like a madman.
Afterwards, I cut the fig leave gourd into pieces. Trying to infect my Yacon? He was instantly given the death penalty.
I was pumped with adrenaline, and although the vines were really hard to remove because of the trellis, I didn't even think of giving up. The plant had to go.
The cucamelons in between both plants were casualties of war. They stopped growing fruit like a week ago, so it was not a big loss.
Madness
After I had removed the entire plant, I was so angry that I couldn't stop. So while I was at it, I also removed 2 more squash plants with the same symptoms.
Still, I hadn't found peace ...
The greens of the Jerusalem Artichokes were obviously infected too. I had noticed that about two weeks ago.
Click image to enlarge
Since I was still in the mood for destruction, I cut all the 2 meters long greens, leaving the plant with like 20cm of greens above the ground.
Click image to enlarge
The rage wasn't over, but after cleaning up I simply had no energy left. I was dead tired, and extremely disappointed. This was definitely not a story with a happy ending.
Up until yesterday, all you could see in this corner was green. Now, all that is left is my precious Yacon and some calendula flowers.
It makes me sad just to look at it.
Click image to enlarge
After I went inside and upstairs, I really cried my eyes out. I never imagined it to end this way.
The worst thing is that I know if I had taken more precautions, I would have been able to prevent this mass-murder... I think.
So all the blame is on me, and that makes me so angry...
More Work To Do
Since it can't get any worse, I will continue on the path of destruction tomorrow.
The squash plant that had black leaves has to go too. Next to it are the lemon apple cucumbers. Their best days are behind them, so they will fall victim too.
I did know the end of the gardening season was near, but I had hoped to be able to end it in beauty. Not like this.
My poor little plants.
To end this post in a positive note: I did harvest 3 fig leave gourds and one mini squash.
Click image to enlarge
Lesson To Learn
Every year again, I tell myself not to get emotionally attached go my veggies, but every year I fail.
Who knows... maybe next year... lol
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