July 12, 2021
As I write this we have been several weeks without rain here in north Idaho. So far I have been able to keep the lawn and garden watered but it has been a challenge. I often water very early in the morning and after the sun has set in the evening rotating between the yard and garden. This has really helped.
My Beefsteak tomatoes are suffering from physiological leaf roll as they did last year, presumably from weather stress. They are well watered and I have added calcium to the roots. It has been helpful to know that even if the stress is removed, the leaf curl will not go away but neither will it hamper production. The plants are growing like crazy and flowering as well. They just look so sad!
My Brandywine tomatoes are doing very, very well! They are in two patches: one is in a fully mulched, clay/loam soil in Ponderay. It is on a little hillside in full sun and so far the plants are happy and have set bloom. The other patch is in layered soil, mulch, peat moss, more mulch and composted barn cleanings. These plants have also set bloom. Both patches have marigolds nearby for pest control. And I am watering at ground level to keep the leaves dry. Strangely, the Brandywine tomatoes are not suffering from leaf roll to any degree.
My squash and pumpkins have all set flower and are responding to the heavy mulch treatment. The potatoes are sending up spectacular, strong stems. I am now in the process of hilling them with more compost and mulch.
As the hot summer continues I have made use of a sub-irrigated grassy area. My horses will not eat this particular grass as it is rough to the tongue. So, I am mowing it and mixing it with barn litter. I then spread it between the garden rows to help retain moisture. So far, so good.
My small engine repair guy is not able to get to the wood chipper for a tune-up. So for as much as I wish wood chips were in my immediate garden future, they are not. This is sad as I was hoping to get that part of the project in place early. But now it looks like mulching with grass, barn litter and shredded Japanese Knotweed debris will have to do.
Japanese knotweed is an invasive weed in Idaho and was already present when I purchased the property. It shades the south side of the farm house and I keep the stand severely mowed for control. The shredded dead stalks pose no threat to the garden. However, one day an excavation of the area will be required to remove the plants and their aggressive root system. It is a great space to plant grapevine and possibly build an arbor out from the south facing windows to provide shade until the nearby fruit trees can take over.
This last week I took the first greens out of the garden including Butter lettuce and beet greens. The garlic scapes were delicious. So the layered garden concept is working in my herb garden as well. I plan to keep it up all summer and into the fall.