Dragon Fruit Project

 

Dragon Fruit Project

This has been an interesting season for a number of plants that I've been working with. Here are various pictures of open and closed dragon fruit blossoms, developing fruit, and other images I thought would be interesting. 

Finger Lime Project

 Overhead view of finger lime tree

Immature fruit and blossoms

The finger lime tree

 Ripening nicely, June 10, 2012

New fruit, June 17, 2012

New fruit have set! June 23, 2012

 Slowly but surely, the ripening process continues.

The Finger Lime Project

I've been experimenting a bit with citrus the last couple of years, with a particular emphasis on exotic or unusual varieties. This is an Australian Finger Lime tree that is bearing fruit this season. I have a number of grafted finger limes (not pictured) that aren't doing too well. 

It's the last week in June (2012) and it looks like it's simply a matter of waiting until the finger limes ripen until they are harvested. I can hardly wait! The tree has been watered weekly and fertilized every 7-10 days with an liquid organic fertilizer diluted to half strength. 

The Southern California Pumpkin Patch

 'Thai Kang Kob' squash

 'Marina di Chioggia' squash

Cucumber beetle attack!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

At a Still Undisclosed Location Somewhere in Southern California-The general growth of the giant pumpkin plants has been reasonable in spite of a fairly aggressive attack by cucumber beetles. Spraying will occur soon. I also transplanted two varieties of squash this morning: 'Marina di Chioggia' and 'Thai Kang Kob'. We'll see how they do. 

 The pumpkin patch now has 4 different varieties, planted in 5 mounds, July 5, 2012

 The 'Atlantic Giant' giant pumpkins have recovered!

 The 'Marina di Chioggia' vines of June 18, 2012 are doing well.

 'Musquee de Provence' seedlings are in.

 The 'Rouge Vif D'estampes' (Cinderella) pumpkins are in.

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!


I am very happy to report that the cucumber beetle attack has been quelled! All the new leaf and vine growth on all of the giant pumpkins look healthy. This early morning, I transplanted 'Musquee de Provence' and 'Rouge Vif D'estampes' seedlings. Unfortunately, the 'Thai Kang Kob' seedling that I planted June 18th, did not survive, so it was removed. I am grateful that the weather was cooperating splendidly at 6:45 a.m.. It was very cool and overcast, probably in the mid-60s. Fortunately, it's stayed that way so the new transplants will have an extra day to adjust to their very different surroundings. I am hoping that tomorrow will be cool too.


Overall, I am pleased that the giant pumpkin vines are showing some real growth. I also fertilized everything in the patch too. The sandy soil doesn't hold very many nutrients, so I'll be trying to fertilize more often.


I am really looking forward to seeing how some of the new pumpkin varieties do this season. 


July 25, 2012


Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!


I visited the pumpkin patch this afternoon. The good news is that I have a couple of fruit, about the size of a tennis ball on steroids. The unfortunate news is that the heat and lack of water have definitely taken their toll on the varieties that I most recently planted. That is, they are dead. So, back to giant pumpkins!