The Mid Season Blues

This is the time of year when many gardeners hit the wall.  It’s hot and humid,  there are mosquitos,  and the weeds seem to be on steroids. Staying motivated is difficult.

We’ve already eaten our first tomato and all the plants are basically doing well.  Friends are going away for long weekends while I’m trying to find the motivation to go outside in this weather and pull weeds or plant something after already working a full day.

Early last week I had the garden under control, but 10 days later, after a few days of rain, things are going crazy.  Weeds are everywhere and a small fungal issue before the rain has turned into some serious damage to the tomato crop.

I’ve had to regroup.  I’m going to trim the diseased parts from the tomato plants and spray them with copper, it isn’t a fungicide, but it’s an organic control which will slow the progression of the fungus.

I’ve also started attacking the weeds. I’ve decided to clear the pathways first. I usually let them get a bit weedy and trim them back with the weed wacker, but now I’m using a stirrup hoe and a rake to obliterate them and turn the paths back to soil only.

I’ve noticed that psychologically it helps to see the pathways clear,  but it also puts the weed problems into perspective,  the beds no longer look as out of control so it’s easier to get motivated. I’m also kicking things into fall mode,  starting lots of fall seedlings and planting seeds.

So if you have the mid season blues, get out there and get motivated,  there’s plenty of growing season left.