We had a terrible year.
Monsoons in the Spring that washed everything out, then heat & drought.
Things are most bizarre this year. We have NO bugs....none.
You can leave your porch light on...and nothing, leave your screens open...NO mosquitoes.
Few butterflies, few Humming Birds...
but at least NO Fire Ants....not a single mound.
That HAS to be one of the signs of the Apocalypse.
The Asparagus (our favorite) and Strawberries were superb,
but those are early harvest, before the weather turned foul.
Because of the high humidity in Central Arkansas, we fight "Early Blight" every year.
Once a tomato plant starts showing those yellow spots with brown in the center...that plant is DONE.
Even if you harvest fruit from the top leaves, it doesn't taste right (coming from a diseased plant).
As soon as you spot Early Blight, you might as well pull up that plant, and carefully REMOVE it from anywhere near your garden using Universal Precautions. Never touch a healthy plant after handling a diseased one. Blight spreads by spores. Never, EVER compost a diseased nightshade.
(or ANY nightshade for that matter). (Nightshades = tomatoes & potatoes)
So far, the best success we've had is to lay down a Soaker Hose.
Cover it with newspaper, then a layer of straw. Plant the tomatoes through the straw & newspaper, giving them PLENTY of room for ventilation, leaving a very small hole (just enough for a mature stalk).
Never "top water", use the soaker hose, and be careful not to overwater.
I am amazed at how long newspaper & straw will keep the ground moist & healthy.
We have found that if we can keep the raw soil from splashing on to the lower leaves, we can significantly prolong the life of our tomatoes before the blight strikes.
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