On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 17:05:11 -0400, Mary McHugh
wrote:

The cukes are not getting pollinated completely. I have not one
eggplant despite blossoms. The only peppers I have are the lilacs and
the one California Wonder bell that I bought fully grown. The Thai hot
chiles are producing and the basil looks great.

True to rainy conditions, all but 3 of my cuke seedlings were wiped
out by slugs, even when using copious amounts of escar-go (we are
talking 3 packets of seeds....several hundred of them...none lasted
past germination). I had been planning on massive canning operations,
but will have to scale back (I planted new seeds 2 weeks ago but they
might not make it...seedlings are only an inch tall now).

The peppers sort-of like this weather. But if the weather stays damp
AND gets cooler like it was in June (mid-sometimes LOWER 50s F all
month long), then things will change. Tomatoes will be a banner
year, dozens are over baseball size out there but not turning red.
They're doing well mostly because I'm using a newly-tilled
7-hr-per-day sun spot in the back yard. And good thing, what with
tomatoes going for $2 / lb at the store lately.

The zukes are stunted, yellow squash is rallying. No pumpkins at all.

The local bumblebees are true soldiers, some going out in the
heaviest of rain. Winter squash and pumpkin fruits are skyrocketing,
most of the acorn squash and pumpkins are over softball size now. The
butternut and spaghetti have some catching up to do, but not much.

Next year, I'm just hoping for semi-normal weather.

I would prefer mother nature laid out her itinerary of weather ahead
of time. Last year I could've grown cactus and sagebrush with great
success....if I was told ahead of time this year, I could've gotten
the mushroom, cranberry and rice paddies ready.

Dan