Stunted growth on perennials, blossom drop on vegetables and sad looking leaves on SO many plants have been our summer in Minnesota and surrounding areas. You can also catch my podcast on Spotify.
Listen to Today’s podcast: GB 8-11-26
In fact, much of the country has experienced heat waves and drought with many also having to deal with wildfires. Smoke, another factor harming our plants, and excessive heat have also kept many indoors instead of being able to enjoy the outdoors, tending gardens and enjoying nature walks.
And let’s not forget the humidity! Sometimes I felt like I could water my plants just from my sweat! Okay, that’s a stretch but, seriously, humidity also brought with it some fungal diseases. I talked about those on my Facebook and Instagram pages. Check them out. While some have experienced slow ripening, I’ve been fortunate with my tomatoes. They have really produced.
Enough so that I could make my own sauce. Check out these videos. Before and After, the Taste Test
Here’s the recipe: (note that I scaled this recipe for the amount of tomatoes I had and I always modify the herbs, etc. adding more of what I like, such as garlic)
5# plum tomatoes (I used my ‘Grape Juliet’, ‘San Marzano’, ‘Super Fantastic’ and ‘Sweet 100’s. 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 4 garlic cloves (minced), 2 tsp salt plus more to taste, 1/2 tsp pepper, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 sprigs fresh basil. Use a blender blend the tomatoes (core any larger tomatoes) I like my sauce non-chunky and this really did the trick. Melt butter in Dutch oven on medium heat, add garlic (I also put in a little diced onion). Saute till fragrant then add everything else. Boil the sauce down till it reduces by about 1/3. Stir to make sure it doesn’t burn. We made Naan bread pizza!
So what is there to do as we move through mid August headed to fall? Take stock of what’s going on and consider the changes you may HAVE to make and those you want to make. For me, because my husband had to chop down the scraggly, diseased lilacs, the garden I planted 3 years ago has to be rearranged.
The hostas now have too much sun and are NOT happy. I’ve moved them but not sure that will be their final space.
In other news I was chosen to trial a product called Spruce. A weedkiller that is safe for pets, people and bees. Video and more are on my Insta and Facebook pages and here on my Youtube page.
Bottom line, it works for sidewalk areas and driveways. It’s not for your lawn as it kills grass too. Sidenote, I’ve been volunteering at a non-profit organization doing some weeding and checking on their gardens. Rabbit damage is rampant.
I’ll leave you with some options if YOU’VE had perennials gnawed down. Allium, Yarrow, Lamb’s Ear and Blackeyed Susan.