Don’t Give Up on your Garden!

It’s easy to become discouraged when raising food for your family and things don’t go as planned. Between insects, weather, and plant diseases, gardening can be darn right difficult. But DON’T GIVE UP! Keep trying. Today Deb offers you not only encouragement but ideas to save your garden even when it looks like the odds are stacked up against you!

[@teeser2436]

We finally got rain but only a day or two here in Mtns of Ga. And the heat is terrible. Breaks my heart for all your hard work .Praying for rain for all that need it.❤️🙏🏻

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

I heard rain on the roof Saturday night and got excited. But it very quickly stopped. It didn’t even measure in the rain gauge. Sometimes I think those sprinklings cause more harm than good.

[@PepperplacewithShawna]

I pray these things that are hindering your efforts will be resolved. I am overloaded with squash bugs, too. My yellow squash didn't come up, but zuchinni are full of them. I have had a good harvest from them, though. I am going to try one more time for the yellow squash. My tomatoes have been great.❤

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

Yep. My tomatoes and even peppers are great. They love this heat. I picked one squash so far. But it’s not looking good for cucumbers, squash, or melons. I hope your garden is productive! There’s no greater feeling than raising your own food.

[@cindykolan6724]

So sorry. Your gardens are usually so healthy. Praying for relief for you and your farmer neighbors.

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

You know me! I just keep trucking along. Tomatoes look good if they can get some consistent rain.

[@yesidtac7863]

Muchos animos❤

[@pamsmith7369]

I grew tomatoes for over forty years! Had great crops year after year. They grew under a lilac bush. I never pruned them, used drip irrigation or anything special! Then I moved, started raised beds; then the deer, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks found me! So if it isn’t one thing, it’s six others! A fence around the raised beds is helping a lot this year. So far nothing is bothering the tomatoes, cukes or peppers. I tried eggplant for the first time and have four eggplants popping out. Hopefully no beetles or borers will bother them. Last year we had whitefly on the cruciferous veggies; never again! However, we here in eastern PA have had severe drought, as well. I watered every night and hit early tomato yields and a large cuke already; some pepper poppers and banana peppers. Finally got two small storms for about 1 1/2” of rain total. Helped a lot! But VERY HOT! 100* for a week! Finally broke and went down in the fifties and low sixties overnight and nice, dry temps during the days. Not too bad for early July! Good luck everyone!

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

Thank you for sharing all your garden experiences. I agree, 30 years ago gardening just seemed easier and I don’t know what changed. I planted seeds and they grew, end of story. Now it’s a matter of conquering a dozen issues all at the same time. Some battles we win. Many battles we lose. But I’ve worked too hard to quit! Thanks for watching and commenting. Bless you.

[@ourlittlegingerbreadhouse6000]

Hi, just found ur channel, fellow gardener here, new subscriber excited to support you ❤❤ beautiful garden and property, what a blessing. I'm in zone 5 and our garden is flourishing. I do 80% perennial fruiting garden and 20% vegetable, all natural absolutely no chemicals at all. Were in the middle of strawberry season and getting bountiful harvest. My dad was just here this morning and got a huge salad bowl full ❤❤

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

We had beautiful strawberries this year too! We’ve only lived here for a year and a half. Some days it feels like we’ve accomplished so little. But other days I look back to how that garden was a hayfield just last year. We are zone 6. So not too far from your zone. Keep gardening and thanks so much for your comment!

[@sherihicks1427]

Oh Deb! I'm so sorry about your drought! We were in one, also, until last Sunday. Cracks in my in-ground garden 1-inch wide took a few rains to start closing up. Our yard was drying up, too. And yes, the bugs are bad. I've never seen so many grasshoppers as this year, but we also have lots of preying mantis!! The cicadas began about a month earlier than usual, as well as the crickets! Our apple trees bloomed a good 2 weeks early, my tomatoes almost all have fruit, which is not normal. But the sun has been horrific! It has scorched and out-and-out burned lots of my beautiful little hand-grown seedlings. I planted pole beans, and they are yellow (even though I have fertilized), and have taken so long to really grow. My ground cherries, some of my dill, and all but one fennel and one hibiscus got burnt all to heck. I can't get zucchini, yellow squash, cantaloupe, or cucumbers to even come up. Some of the seeds are getting eaten. Another problem I've had is critters digging out my newly planted seedlings. Whatever they are digging for was in there before I planted. Why are they digging now? One of my ESTABLISHED tomato plants got dug out and cast aside last week! One thing helps me: God is in His heaven and He is in charge! I know He will take care of us. In the meantime, I'm doing all I can.

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

I feel your struggle. This year has just been tough. Gardeners just put so much love and work into their gardens. It’s so hard to watch it get destroyed. I’m not giving up the good fight yet. Tonight I tried another product: Diatomaceous Earth. It may take a lot of work but I’m a hard worker. My flowers are struggling too. Mostly from lack of water. It’s been at least 3 weeks of no rain. We may get rain Thursday. I water daily but my veggies have to come first. Thank you so much for your garden update. I love to hear how others are doing. Keep trucking along and Bless you.

[@sherihicks1427]

@@JustDoSomethingHomestead yes DE works. Often, I have put it on, not realizing rain was coming! 😂 But most of all, I have been praying over my gardens this year, more than any other. It just feels like success in the garden is needed more than ever. Yet, the Spirit keeps whispering, "Trust Me...trust Me..." I know we can trust Him!

[@vickyboyer2384]

Wow. You planted that many times. Sw IN struggling with growing. Potatoes are great but my strawberries are boiled before they turn red. I just moved and need to fill 3 beds before I can grow anything else. Oh I have a few carrots. Lol thanks for video.

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

Yep. I planted those cucumbers and squash that many times. I’d stop but I’m no quitter. lol. I’m still battling those bugs but it’s getting better. Hopefully I’m done replanting. Thanks for your comment. And happy gardening!

[@mariacenteno3859]

It's funny this video shows up. Last week I planted 2 sunflower plants, marigolds and zinnias that I had on pots in my outside garden. I went on vacation for 5 days. My dad was watering my plants but the rabbits ate everything. 😪😪😪. They don't eat my cucumber plants or zucchini but they ate all of my flowers that I was so excited to see bloom. But I still can start sunflowers from seeds and that's what I did yesterday.

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

I’m so sorry the rabbits made a smorgasbord of your hard work! That’s so discouraging. I love flowers as much as vegetables but wow it’s been a tough year! Keep trucking along. I planted 30 more sunflowers yesterday. I hope to plant more tomorrow. Thanks for watching! Bless you and happy gardening.

[@mariacenteno3859]

@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Thank you. Some zinnias are still alive and the marigold plant that was kind of eaten by the rabbits, kept growing, there are 2 flowers about to bloom lol. I enjoyed your video. God bless.

[@duaneprater1865]

Tennessee is in that drought. Lost most everything. Lol

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

I’m soooo sorry. I’m still trying to beat the odds. But it’s extremely discouraging.

[@duaneprater1865]

@@JustDoSomethingHomestead I think you can. Good luck.

[@beck1393]

I'm fighting aphids, any suggestions??

[@JustDoSomethingHomestead]

I had aphids early and eliminated them. I used soapy water. It actually worked. lol. I squirted the leaves every day.

[@beck1393]

@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Thank you, will definitely try!!