I posted a slightly earlier version of this graph last week, but here's an updated and corrected one. I'm posting this because it's really interesting to see the SHARP uptick in production over the last couple of weeks. You can see the red dots leap up to overtake 2020's numbers (our previous "year to date in August" benchmark). Why do we think we're seeing this? Well, it's always a bit of a roll of the dice in a garden the size of TJ's garden. We're big enough to be a handful taking care of, but small enough that a few patches of powdery mildew, a handful of squash vine borers, or a tomato fungus can make a big impact on a monthly yield. But aside from luck, I think what we're seeing is probably:
- working a lot harder to keep nitrogen levels up. We started the year with a soil test that told us our nitrogen was completely depleted and our phosphorus and potassium were in good shape. We've been trying to keep up with fertilizing this summer to keep the nitrogen in better shape.
- water management: we spent the early part of the spring/summer digging lots of mounds to keep our tomatoes' feet out of the wet. We test our moisture levels regularly, and the tomatoes in particular have mostly been sitting at a really nice moisture level with very little additional watering. Mounds can be a little tricky water-wise, because it's very hard to keep the moisture levels consistent-- they can vary vastly within one square foot. But where we got seedlings in the ground in June or earlier, they seem to be a net plus. (They're not working great for direct-seeding later in the year, though.)
- heat: there's not much we can do about this one. We're seeing much happier peppers this year now that we keep them permanently under shade cloth. We have been adding/removing shade cloth elsewhere to help manage heat/drying out, and that probably helps. And a couple of years ago we started picking tomatoes green and just barely blushing due to catbirds-- this also circumvents the very hot weather-- tomatoes don't turn when it's too hot.
- volunteers helping treat for squash vine borers and powdery mildew. We've had a big problem with these this year, but enthusiastic volunteers have saved a couple of rows I thought we'd have to pull out entirely, and our squash harvest is starting to climb again. We also have a second planting of cucumbers which are just starting to yield.

Whew, that's a lot! Do any of you keep garden records and have anything to add about your experiences of adapting to conditions to increase your yields? ... See MoreSee Less

Join us in the garden next Saturday 8-10 to see some of this garden beauty for yourself. ... See MoreSee Less

Did you know that this exotic looking flower is actually a native Virginia pollinator AND has delicious fruit? Come visit the garden between 10-noon tomorrow (Saturday) during the county fair, and you can tour our Plot Against Hunger vegetable garden with TJMS teachers and garden managers, and tour our native pollinator garden with our resident Master Naturalist. We will have packets of native pollinator seeds to give away— gathered by our students in our very own pollinator garden.

Image description: a frilly, spiky pale lavender passionflower in the shade of our pollinator garden. ... See MoreSee Less

It’s a glorious day in the garden— cool and sunny. Join us for a volunteer shift from 8-10 as we harvest for Plot Against Hunger/AFAC, plant winter crops, and weed. ... See MoreSee Less

We are pinching back our basil today to prevent flowering, and we have a LOT of basil. If you’re in the mood for pizza tonight, drop by the garden in the next 30 minutes and take some home. ♥️🍕 ... See MoreSee Less