Help for Summer Stressed Plants

[@lindag4484]

My garden had a rough start in the spring. We had late frosts, then a record-setting late freeze. There are almost no apples in New Hampshire this year because of that freeze. But, after several summers of drought, we had rain this summer. My grass is still green in August and my garden has never looked this good so late in the season. Temps in the upper 70s and low 80s and upper 50s at night are also a factor. I like the idea of foliar feeding and will likely try that next year when my gardens could be more stressed again. Thanks!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wow- a rough start indeed!! I'm so glad to hear things are doing well now though!

[@wingrider1004]

The idea to shade your sensitive plants on the east side of taller ones...nice. That's a keeper :)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It's so simple, but I never planned my fall plantings well enough to have it work out the way I wanted-- I'm just trying to be more aware of where I'm planting fall veggies this year!

[@danmathers5896]

PA has been weird this year as well. Been using liquid fish fertilizer as well and has helped! But you are right the blossoms are closing up from the heat

[@brianczuhai8909]

Liquid Alaska 5-1-1 got me out of the slump.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It sounds like it's been weird in a lot of places this year! I'm glad the fish fertilizer has helped.

[@debbiegibson6113]

Could you talk about grasshoppers? They are the most destructive pests I've ever had to deal with. They can eat a garden in what feels like minutes. If anyone has help to offer PLEASE DO SO!!!! I enjoy your videos and look forward to each and everyone. ❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hoping someone can offer some first hand advice here! We've got plenty of grasshoppers here, but they do minimal damage in the garden so I've never really gone on defense against them. I'm guessing insect netting might work well though.

[@JubileeHomesteading]

Invite birds with bird feeders... They prey on grasshoppers.

[@janvondrak8417]

"Keep the soil covered" Oh Jenna, can you please keep repeating this to my blackbirds?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh my goodness, I know it! This is the first year I've had trouble with birds scratching away all my grass mulch... they've never done that before!

[@bethsands7665]

Awesome, well rounded and important garden advice , great job. My daughter is just starting gardening and will enjoy this wealth of knowledge enabling her to plant and grow successfully .

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you so much! And I'm very glad to hear your daughter has begun gardening!

[@jolenef.9548]

Great info! So ready for cooler temps in TX. And cute overalls! 💕

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@lwallick5565]

You are always a wealth of information! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

So nice of you!

[@Pixieworksstudio]

Thank you! I always look forward to your videos.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm so glad!

[@JulesGardening]

Very detailed. Thanks Jenna. Hope all is well.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! You too!

[@Ok-Mardy]

It seems like it's always a new problem to contend with! I had the most wonderful spring garden conditions with a gorgeous looking garden then July comes with unbelievable rains followed by extreme heat! Each region has such unique issues this is a very timely video!❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

So very true! And it seems like as soon as I have one problem figured out, Mother Nature sends me a new one 😆

[@daryljackson9790]

Your videos always seem to come out at the right time and you make it so easy to follow and understand, I got several tips that may help me in my own garden. Thank you so much for the content, it has helped out tremendously as I learn how to feed myself and my family on our own property. 😊

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm so glad to hear this- thank you!

[@raymondkyruana118]

Yeah I totally agree on the foliar feeding! This is the first time that I tried doing it consistently from seedling stage, at the time of transplanting, and for a bout a month after and I was amazed! Just some simple fish fertilizer combined with Biotone at the time of planting cured nearly all my transplant shock and the plants grew bigger than I have ever seen even with all the stressers that this strange year brought about and that you mentioned (Wild fires, hot and dry spring, very wet August, insane pest pressure). After the 1 month period I sometimes hit it with some compost around the base or some more organic granular fertilizer but honestly if you have a deep amount of good soil you don't have to do much except manage all the crazy amount of growth haha

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for sharing your experience with foliar feeding- I'm glad to hear it's worked so well for you!

[@dougtexas9075]

Very well presented. I give you an A+++++. Being in Texas, it is unusually hot, 105 - 107 F. Entirely too hot !!!!!!!!!! It wasn't this hot last summer. I'm trying to teach my wife the benefits of mulch. Every time I put out mulch, she pulls it away. She thinks I am killing the plant.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!! And WOW, yeah, makes our week of 90 F seem almost cool!

[@annawakefield4256]

Thanks for another great video! As a fellow soil health nerd I so appreciate you talking about it and bringing awareness to this understated topic ❤️

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wonderful to hear from a fellow soil health nerd!!

[@Sweettomatovine]

Great tips and suggestions, Jenna🌺🌸🌸

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@brianczuhai8909]

Ditto here in SE Michigan with the weather and how things took a while to take off. My Okra finally started taking off a couple weeks ago. Tomatoes had been peaking, but developed Bacterial Spec literally overnight. I grew 14 varieties this year just to see which ones survive deceases better. I was going to not plant some varieties next year just based on taste, but they now might bounce to the top of the list if they survive the deceases better. Odd that we got a wet summer and August - which is usually bone dry. Gardening is a rollercoaster ride some times. You have to roll with what Ma Nature throws at you.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Same with my okra! Any early reads on the most disease resistant tomato variety(s) in your garden? I'm doing something similar this year- looking at lots of late blight and septoria leaf spot resistant cultivars. I've got some in trial that look promising!

[@mister-action1]

Your garden looks lovely. Those white butterflies or moths. Whatever they are got to my zucchini and are starting to get to my cucumbers. We had hard rain the other day. It washed the off the Kaelin clayand so they got me before I had a chance to redo the Kaelin clay. My tomatoes are still doing pretty well. Have a good evening Jenna!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear your tomatoes are doing well!

[@brianseybert2189]

Moderate to extreme drought since June in my part of WI. Now we have temps approaching 100F with 75% humidity for the next couple days, plants do not know what to do, lol. Appreciate mentioning soil biology regarding plant health, in my opinion really makes a difference. I use either a worm casting aerated tea or a just a worm casting extract as a foliar feed for my plants when struggling or stressed, seems to help them out. 1st year dealing with powdery mildew, a solution of lactic acid bacteria seems to be doing the trick. I am going to try that surround next year on my squash, birdhouse gourds and cucumbers. Enjoy your videos, another good one! Stay Well!!!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I still can't get over how nuts the weather has been all over the country! I sure hope it cools down for you soon!

[@ndbg46881]

I agree the smoke retarded plant growth even here in southern Maryland! I believe that contributed to more sun burn on my peppers and tomatoes than I’ve ever seen.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It certainly could have- less efficient photosynthesis= less foliage growth and foliar cover= sunburn! I'm sorry to hear it!

[@krissy1740]

Excellent educational video again! Thank you Jenna! You are the best!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@Beaguins]

Good basics, thanks! We've gotten very little heat this year up in northern Michigan (zone 4). This August has been cool, as have many previous Augusts. I think I'll get very few tomatoes or peppers, but I'll step up the fall crops to take advantage of the cool weather.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You've got the right idea, taking advantage of the weather that gets thrown your way, rather than trying to fight it!

[@brianczuhai8909]

Spill! we want to see those gardens of yours.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hoping to share an update soon!

[@outdooorsman]

you are the best!! love ya!im in jhonsville,have learned alot from you!!thank you

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@onetrick.pony1]

Great info and presentation!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@jeffbradford1999]

Just stumbled on your channel and it is amazing. You are a very knowledgeble and well spoken speaker. I have a need to know why, and you present that so well. 2023 weather has been so weird and here in 7b Ga. we are upper 90s to 100 with no rain. I want to have a fall garden but the heat may win.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you and welcome to the channel! SO much weird weather everywhere this year- I certainly hope fall gives you a break!

[@NicoleSmithGardening]

My Texas garden is super stressed! I was hoping for a little of that hurricane action, but it’s mostly missing us in the Houston area 😩

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm sorry to hear that! So many folks are dealing with such intense weather this year.

[@jjww7594]

Hi, Jenna, how I envy the Ohio weather where plants grow so well. My fav plants are in your garden. My area is high desert. Rain is sooooooooo rare. Even the warm weather plants are scorched/toasted under tarps. Leaves are crispy like kale chips! :) Mulching: How do you mulch without inviting rolypolies to hide in the mulch and to eat the plants? That happened in my garden when I mulched to keep moisture in. Surround: Nice if you can pack small quantities for sale for small home gardeners. No one to share the 25 lb bag. Thank you for all your informative videos. :) Keep up your great work. May I visit your garden? :)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You definitely have a challenging growing environment! I can't say I've ever had a problem with roly-polies eating my plants here (though they will). Mine primarily stick to dead/decaying plant matter (and they'll actually eat the mulch). You might find the tips offered here for roly-poly control helpful: growinginthegarden.com/5-ways-to-keep-pill-bugs-from-destroying-your-garden/

[@emullinsstreams]

I can say the temperature swings were horrible for my overwintered onions this year. Quite a few of them bolted early, plus I had issues with blight. Later, after harvesting, I noticed black aphids which I'd never seen before. The aphids have been horrible...black, green, and orange...they've been everywhere!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

My onions struggled this year! I've had more bolting than I've ever had in decades of growing. The aphids are also worse for me this year.

[@emullinsstreams]

@@GrowfullywithJenna I also noticed that the onions I did harvest had started splitting instead of being 1 round bulb. It kind of helps to know I wasn't the only one having issues! May I ask what you did/do when it comes to aphids?

[@mikefrench3800]

Great info,I'm guilty of overwatering lol

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I think lots of folks are guilty of the same! I'm a chronic underwaterer... it's why I struggle with container plantings!

[@franksinatra1070]

Pests really are a problem late summer. If you don't check everyday things can really sneak up on you quickly. I use a lot of netting but the white flies seem to find there way in any how and have really infested my brassicas. I spray with neem almost every day but with only limited success. They are still producing so I'm not too concerned. As long as I can keep the caterpillars out.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

So true! And they're SO bad this year. I have to pin my netting into the ground with metal landscaping pins to keep the cabbage whites out.

[@lindadiefenbach811]

About mulch: here’s my conundrum-I put straw on most of my beds and grass in a few others. after having a complete infestation of squash bugs and nymphs on almost all of my plants within the last month I took the straw off . What I found is that the beetles and squash bugs were living in the straw, then climbing up into all of the cucurbits type plants to feed. After some research I found that squash bugs particularly like straw. 😢 then I looked at the beds I had put grass on and found that the grass was stopping water from getting to the soil. I completely understand the philosophy of keeping the beds mulched, but the insects seem to thrive in the mulch.

[@657449]

Very informative video.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad you think so!

[@Raul28153]

nice soil sampler. Maybe I'll make one after I get my rock rake. Right now, the rocks are too numerous and large for that. Everyone I know has reported a weird growing season. About Agri Grow: It is potash. it is 0-0-1. I wonder if I can get ionic potash by soaking wood ash in water. Hardwood ash has tons of potash. I can neutralice any pG altering with a little sulfur.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Ooh- that is a good question! If you test out soaking wood ash in water, I've love to hear how it goes.

[@Raul28153]

@@GrowfullywithJenna I am soaking some now but I don't know how long it'll take. This is near the end of the season for me in zone 6b. but I will remember you when I do use it.

[@raymondkyruana118]

WOW!!! What variety are those pink/fuchsia zinnias? I've never seen such a full and floriferous plant before!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

One of my favorites! 'Uproar Rose' zinnia!

[@corydickey6977]

My strawberries 🍓 this year the new albens taste tart but look to be ripe but then let them stay on the plant longer then they start tasting sweet . They get real big like my June berries which they are really sweet. I try to keep them fertilize and plenty of water . Not sure where to look for information on them. I've followed your channel and Love ❤️ your garden.

[@steverobinson5492]

Thx Jenna. Another great video laced with solid science and experience. New pest for us this year has been birds pecking and feeding on foliage. Considering a decoy….maybe an owl. Any thoughts?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! For the birds, I might try that bird scare tape (the silver reflective kind)- or some folks even string up aluminum pie tins. I've tried the decoy owl in my garden and it doesn't seem to have much effect on the local birds!

[@TheAndroid3k]

Been struggling with blight on my tomatoes, myself. Been spraying with hydorgen peroxide, switching to baking soda/neem oil mix tomorrow. Hoping they will last another month or two.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope they hold out for you!

[@annawakefield4256]

Could you please post a link to the type of black shade cloth you use? 😊

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I use this one: www.gardenport.com/collections/shade-panel/products/40-shade-cloth-netting-black-6ftwidth

[@emkn1479]

Ugh, the insects this year! I think we might actually get some cucumbers from our THIRD sowing. The first two didn’t stand a chance. I grew these under insect netting until they were sizeable. I’m still fighting off the pests though 👎 The rage I feel sure has made me less squeamish about squishing them left and right 😅

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

They are BAD this year. I'm seeing insect pests in my garden this year that I've never seen or dealt with before... it's very odd!

[@emkn1479]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Same! I’ve seen at least 3 new unwanted guests 😫 We need a week of harsh weather this winter 🙏

[@meriah_swope]

I LOVE the collapsible netting over the squash at 19:20. I found one from gardeners supply that look similar but it says its for bird netting. Does this help with squash bugs/vine bores?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

The one I have does seem to keep the squash bugs & borers out, but does NOT keep the cucumber beetles out.

[@ZEUStheKingGermanShepherd]

💯💯

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

👍

[@TheTrock121]

I just pulled a 14' bed of cucumbers exposing some Collared Greens I planted in the Spring that have been deeply shaded all Summer. Should I wait to see if they recover and start growing, or just cut them back and see if the new growth is ready for sunlight?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'd give them a little time to recover-- if they don't appear to be after a week or so, I'd cut them back at that point.

[@Javaman92]

Hi Jenna. It's been quite a summer here in upstate NY. The heat everyone else has been getting never made it up here. It's been in the 70s most of the time. BUT the rain has been nonstop! It's been crazy. My garden has done fine. Last year I was amazed at how low my pest pressure was. I think I jinxed myself. lol The Japanese Beetles have been relentless on my new grapes, my new raspberries and even on my new rhubarb! They even like my zinnias. I'm thinking that perhaps I should consider feeding these new permanent plants. Any thoughts on that? I'm curious. You didn't mention it, but did you have a control for your experiment with your foliar feeding?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad to hear your garden has done well this season! I don't get many Japanese Beetles here (at my mom & dad's it a different story), but I have noticed that they like to congregate and feed on smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) which is abundant in my garden. I used to stress about pulling all the smartweed, but now I leave it as a trap crop of sorts for the Japanese beetles! I would definitely feed the permanent plantings especially after a period of stress such as insect feeding. And regretfully, I didn't set up a true control (side by side, same cultivars), but I did have plants of the same type that I fed versus did not feed. For example, I fed all the peppers in the front of the garden, but none in the back of the garden and none at mom & dad's. Same with tomatoes, cucumbers and several other crops. Obviously, too many variables in there for it to be a properly structured scientific experiment, but still gave me a pretty good read on the effectiveness! The biggest shocker to me was the difference in the peppers & tomatoes!

[@Javaman92]

@@GrowfullywithJenna thanks for the additional information! I think that what you did adds a good amount of weight to the outcome. I'd be comfortable saying that it was worthwhile to do the feedings. I'll add some fertilizer. ☺

[@Javaman92]

@@TheDankFarmer thanks, yes I've also heard good things about it. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

[@dustyflats3832]

If I did a soil sample here it would probably fall apart before I pulled it up. Extreme drought. Yes, it’s been a bad year for gardening. In WI we had rain in January, March weather in April, unwarned frost before Memorial Day after having 90s all month which broke dormancy too soon and many plants died or damaged badly. I had to replant most of over 50 plants and surprisingly my flats were not hit. THEN the drought, smoke, grubs, vine borer, potato and J. Beetles. I’m using Milky Spore for grubs as they eat feeder roots and stunt plants. Oh, let’s not forget the rodents like never seen before VOLES😵‍💫 and every kind of wildlife imaginable. The deer left one unprotected sunflower-how gracious.🤬. We just got 3-1/2” of rain about a week ago and we almost forgot what it looked and sounded like. AND now, the heat dome is over us and we may see triple digits the next couple days reversing the rain we just received. Amazing enough we are turning out some produce. It wasn’t without Great effort! I had enough with hand watering and installed drip irrigation on July 11th and we had about an inch of rain on the 12th-go figure. We hadn’t seen any rain except then and a week ago. I used mulch, shade fabric and watered sometimes twice a day. Fertilized at planting and midway through. Our humidity was like a desert and windy at times. I learned to use kiddie pools to successfully grow celery, found radishes only grow under shade fabric and practiced better spacing for rutabagas, carrots and still trying to figure out what’s with the beets not forming for like ever. I am proudly sitting with flats of onions, tomatoes, peppers and cabbages that need stored and processed. I need a root cellar as I have no basement and thought of creating an above ground cellar with freezer building panels. I just can’t decide where it should be built as I would like it shaded or I could cover it with wood chips as I found a great supplier. The squash in some delivered clay soil are going bonkers.😊 I hate to say it, but I’m sort of glad this season is about done ✅ I would just like more season for the fall flowers and peppers. It seems when they are really doing well we get frost. Any pointers on what to do with plants to winter over from outside would be a great video. I don’t want to bring in bugs. Plants like bay leaf, rosemary, white sage. Dahlia bulbs and geraniums. Would like to try the pull up and bag method on geraniums. Have you ever tried that? 117*F heat index tomorrow 😮. I’m glad it will move out by Friday as this is something I can’t handle. Stuck inside all winter and now at times because of air quality and heat!?! We have family in TX and I don’t know how they manage. At least they can go out in the winter and they aren’t as threatened by the smoke. It’s been bad for most in one way or another and they say hotter next year😵‍💫🙄

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm certainly glad to hear you've ended up with veggies despite what Mother Nature has thrown at you this season-- just unbelievable!! I sure hope it cools down for you soon.

[@dustyflats3832]

@@GrowfullywithJenna we cooled down, however the unusual heat for September is returning this weekend until about Tuesday. Humidity not as high this time, but upper 90s. Yes it’s amazing we produced anything-been a lot of watering. I did learn today that some beets I let grow along fall planted broccoli were shaded and actually produced large beets! So, along with radishes, beets also need to grow in shade here or they don’t develop bulbs.

[@nchestercountynews4955]

Ever look at JMS v. purchased fertilizer?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Not yet- but it is on my 'to do' list!

[@nchestercountynews4955]

@@GrowfullywithJenna get a bucket fill it with grass clippings 3/4 , put in some leaf mold, add water, cover, come back in a month or two, (clothespin on nose) dilute 1:10 water and put on garden.

[@terrysilcox4080]

Here in NE Ohio too much rain and cool temps overnight has my garden in bad shape ! Really bummed.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm sorry to hear that!!

[@markkory8059]

Me too!

[@shellisspace]

With a calcium deficiency, after watering with eggshells that have been soaking in vinegar, how long would it take to be noticed? My sweet peppers are rotting as soon as they start to ripen

[@johnjude2685]

I've got behind, too. After the big rains did weeds grow.... Hay are you going to DIY a great apple pie or stove top apple crisp (I've lost my old quick stove top apple crisp..Also I want to outdo my wife's apple pie that is good or great. Thanks for all you do for us. Noticed your numbers are higher, Maybe because I'm bragging on your videos always. Thanks

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I appreciate your support very much! And I'm just getting ready to harvest apples at my parent's, so I may have to try & work that in!

[@hoosierpioneer]

I think my cucurbits leaves were affected by the Canadian smoke.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Very possible- I've seen pictures of beans with incredible damage on the foliage from the smoke! Some plants are incredibly sensitive to environmental pollutants.

[@lisaelanna]

Me too (central Ohio), I’m only just now starting to get cucumbers from a plant I put in the ground (after several weeks indoors) in late April. My okra, beans, and even broccoli are similarly stunted.

[@juliemulie1805]

I'm stressed! Tired of chigger bites, sweating to death, and days canning in the kitchen!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

No kidding! I could do a whole separate video on TLC for stressed gardeners 😄

[@stephenmonath3982]

Maragolds under peppers?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I've got both marigolds and zinnias planted with my peppers- no particular reason other than to mix things up a bit (and I like the way it looks). I don't adhere to traditional companion planting, but do find that the more diversity I can include in my garden beds, the better.

[@justpyrite591]

August is almost over...

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

True, but oddly enough, here in my area we JUST started getting the hot weather that we'd typically see starting in July.

[@brianczuhai8909]

Hey, do more videos, lady. I take note in the drooping sunflowers which I just cleared out of my garden. It's not a negative. It's just the natural life cycle of the plant. Plus, I'm new to most of this. Liquid fertilizer scared the bejesus out of me. But I like it for ease and quickness of use and effectiveness. Scary brown though. Figure it all out. I have no problem following and giving you credit. That's why we need to see your successes and failures. Did you grow too many cucumbers? And not pickles?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'd love to put out more videos, but 1 a week is about my limit right now. Researching, filming and editing each video takes me several days. I try to share my successes & failures each year- I think that it's important to show both! And I grew a mix- I think I ended up with 3/4 of the cucumbers being picklers, and 1/4 being slicers.

[@brianczuhai8909]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Your videos are more of the teaching type on a specific topic. I’m also looking to your videos to compare and contrast your crops/issues to mine. Plus, your onions were still up, at the 20:28 mark? Or are those bunching onions? Ours are down/pulled here. I’m pulling beets about now. Just did some replants. At the 12:20 mark, what are you going to do with your cucumbers? Put them in the frig? Quarter them for pickle spears? Tomatoes, you freeze, process later. My Cayenne peppers I use to spice up my fermented pickling. I may use them later for fermented hot sauce.

[@cathflonaturals7149]

You and Gardner Scott can be related. You both do a very great job teaching us newbies. You could be @gardenerscott daughter. ❤❤❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's a wonderful compliment, thank you!