Healthy Strawberries and Tomatoes
Author: Administrator // Category: organic gardening, Raised Bed Garden, Vegetable Gardening
Everbearing Strawberries are Japanese Beetle Free
Despite a visit from the Japanese Beetles last week (which I removed promptly and drowned in soapy water), the Everbearing Strawberries are producing a fine, sweet crop of fruit. I have not encountered any more of the voracious pests that can easily destroy a crop overnight.
There will be fresh strawberries for our Sunday morning waffle breakfast tomorrow, along with blueberries from northern Minnesota, a treat from a co-worker. I added some of the blueberries to our morning oatmeal today, and I doubt that there are better tasting blueberries anywhere.
Unfortunately the tomatoes growing on the plant in the Topsy-Turvy upside down tomato hanger have not fared so well in their fight again blossom-end rot. Most of the tiny little tomatoes develop black ends before they get larger than my thumb. I’ve been keeping them evenly watered and it doesn’t seem to have helped much. I may try adding Tums to the water, as I’ve read that the added calcium can help against BER.
The tomato plants in the raised bed garden are very healthy looking and have not had any BER at all. I think the soil mixture that I used in the beds and in the upside down tomato hanger were from the same batch of compost, perlite, and peat, so they all got the same start.
Roma Tomatoes Grown in a Raised Bed Garden - No BER Problem Here
Above is a photo of the Roma tomatoes that are growing in the raised bed garden.
Below is a photo of the Roma tomatoes that are growing in the upside down tomato hanger.
Roma Tomatoes Growing in Upside Down Tomato Hanger Have BER
I’ll have to remember next year, that the Roma tomato plants seem to do better in the raised bed. Seems the elongated tomatoes are more prone to BER. Cherry tomatoes might be a better choice for tomato planters. Honestly though, in general I think the upside down tomato planter is a little too high maintenance for me. Tomatoes do wonderfully in raised beds, and as long as I have the room for the gardens, I don’t really see an advantage to the tomato hangers, unless there is no room for a garden. Even then, I would probably just plant them in pots.
Tags: blossom end rot, Everbearing strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, Japanese Beetles, Raised Bed Garden, upside down tomato planter
July 25th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I just looked up blossom end rot in one of Jerry Baker’s books. He says it is caused by them growing too fast that they don’t get enough calcium, which you already knew. He gives the recipe for one of his tonics, but he also says that each time you water to sprinkle ground-up, dried eggshells around the base of each plant and water them in well. Never tried it, would be interested to know if it works.
July 25th, 2010 at 11:22 am
That’s sound like an easy tip to try. I’ll give it a shot and see if it helps. Thanks for the info Sunny Day!
July 25th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Gardening is on my list of things I want to learn. Your plants look great.
Mona : )
July 26th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Lovely blog and a great post. I haven’t tried the upside tomato yet, but you seem to be proving that perhaps it isn’t such a good idea.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
BTW, thanks for the pick!
July 26th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
I’m going to try a tip that Sunny Day shared with me and that is to add crushed egg shells to the top of the soil and water well. This is supposed to help add calcium to the plants which should alleviate the blossom end rot. I added some eggs shells tonight and will let you know if that helps.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
You’re welcome – loved your post – what a great way to celebrate each of your children!