Terrace Square Foot Garden: Summer Planting Diary Week3
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Week3: July 14, 2024 - July 20, 2024
Key Tasks: Thinning seedlings, checking for pests and diseases, choosing and installing supports, and introducing a bug hotel.
Day 14: Sunday, July 14, 2024 - Light Rain
Observation and Records: Observation Time - 1 PM
Today, our peppers sprouted the tiniest little shoot, barely visible without close inspection.
Another pumpkin seedling also emerged, but it needs to catch up quickly to its sibling (the first pumpkin sprout), or it might get thinned out. The plant world is a tough place!
Our other seedlings are growing taller, but I’m worried that several days of cloudy weather might cause them to stretch towards the light, making them leggy and weak. Gardening experts, please check if my seedlings are showing signs of etiolation (stretching towards light) and leave a comment if you have advice. Your insights could help other readers too!
Please help to check if my seedlings are showing signs of etiolation
Today's Tasks:
No watering today due to the rain.
Experience and Insights:
Etiolation (Stretching Towards Light):
Overview: Etiolation is when plants grow rapidly and become elongated in low light conditions to reach more light, resulting in weaker stems.
Causes: Plants stretch to find more light when there isn’t enough.
Consequences: The stems become thin, weak, and prone to falling over. Weak plants can’t support healthy leaves and fruit, affecting yield and quality.
Solutions:
Supplement Light: Use grow lights during cloudy days to ensure plants get 6-8 hours of light daily. (Installing grow lights on my terrace is tricky and hard to manage.)
Rotate Plants: Regularly rotate the planting containers to ensure even light distribution, preventing one-sided growth. (Moving the Square Foot Gardening box is difficult without a base and wheels.)
Maintain Spacing: Avoid overcrowding plants to ensure each plant gets enough light. (Current light issues aren't due to overcrowding.)
Given my situation, I can’t easily fix the etiolation problem. But the good news is the rainy weather is about to end.
Tomorrow's Plan:
If the rain stops, we will start selecting and installing supports.
Day 15: Monday, July 15, 2024, Light Rain
Observations and Notes: Observation Time: 1 PM
Today, another tiny pepper sprout emerged. Out of the three seeds planted, two have now sprouted.
Our two Bitter Melon seeds also finally sprouted today.
The only seed that hasn’t sprouted yet is Eggplant, and it’s been six days since planting.
Today's Tasks:
The rain finally stopped this afternoon. I checked the soil moisture with my finger, and it still doesn’t need watering. We saw the sun in the evening, and tomorrow looks promising for clear skies.
I researched the vegetables we planted and selected suitable trellises and supports.
Experience and Insights:
Choosing Trellises and Supports:
Trellises and supports are essential for climbing plants or tall plants to grow properly without falling over. Here are some tips for choosing them:
Trellises:
For terrace or balcony gardening, trellises are usually placed against a wall. Consider the wall size, which might limit the types of plants you can grow. Aim for at least a 6-foot-high trellis to avoid limiting your plant choices. Remember, this height is from the soil surface to the top of the trellis, not the base of the planter box. Don’t forget to account for the height of raised beds.
Choose sturdy, durable materials for outdoor terraces or balconies to withstand strong winds. I opted for a linen net on my terrace wall. Linen nets are eco-friendly and can be composted when they wear out.
I didn’t choose wooden trellises because they are bulky. For city terraces or balconies, more flexible solutions are preferable.
Supports:
Select supports based on the height of different plants. Common sizes are 3 feet, 4 feet, and 5 feet. Choose sturdy, durable materials.
If your terrace or balcony is windy, use multiple supports to form a stable structure like a triangle or quadrilateral. Without strong winds, a single sturdy support is enough.
Have some twine or other tools ready to tie plants to the supports. Avoid using wire, as it can damage young stems.
Some supports are modular and adjustable in height, which is very convenient for urban terrace or balcony gardening.
Tomorrow's Plan:
If it’s sunny tomorrow, I’ll carefully inspect for pests and diseases and add this step to our daily monitoring routine.
Day 16: Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time: 5 PM
Today, all three pepper seeds have sprouted. The second seed that emerged is currently the healthiest.
Despite being under intense sunlight all day, the soil remains very moist. I tested it with my finger, and there are no signs of dryness at all.
The eggplant seeds still haven't sprouted, and it's been seven days since planting.
The most important task today was to start checking the seedlings for pests and diseases, which will be done twice a week from now on. Today's inspection showed no signs of pests or diseases. One of the Bush Beans has a leaf with a crack, but after a closer look, there are no signs of pest damage, likely caused by the wind.
Today's Tasks:
Inspected the seedlings for signs of pests and diseases and found no issues.
The soil is sufficiently moist, so no watering was needed today.
Experience and Insights:
How to check for pests and diseases, detailed steps include:
1.Observe the overall growth status:
Growth rate: Check if any plants are growing slowly or looking wilted.
Overall color: Look for yellowing leaves or any abnormal plant coloration.
2.Inspect leaf surfaces and undersides:
Look for bite marks, discoloration, spots, or curling.
Check Leaf Surfaces
3.Examine the stems:
Check for damage, discoloration, or signs of rot.
Check Leaf Undersides and Stem
4.Check the roots:
If there are abnormalities in the leaves or stems, gently dig up a plant to inspect the roots for rot or pest damage.
Common pest and disease signs:
Aphids:
Symptoms: Small green, black, or brown insects on the leaves, causing yellowing or curling leaves.
Treatment: Spray leaves with soapy water or introduce natural predators like ladybugs.
Powdery Mildew:
Symptoms: White powdery spots on the leaves, usually starting from the top.
Treatment: Spray leaves with a 1:1 mixture of milk and water or use commercial fungicides.
Snails and Slugs:
Symptoms: Irregular holes in leaves, usually seen in the morning or evening.
Treatment: Manually remove small numbers or use commercial snail and slug traps for larger infestations.
Additional benefits of terrace or balcony gardening:
Growing on a terrace or balcony, especially on higher floors (around 10 stories or 100 feet), significantly reduces the likelihood of ground pests like snails, slugs, and aphids.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Thin out some of the faster-growing vegetables.
Day 17: Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Sunny
Day17 Before Thinned Out the Seedlings
Observations and Records: Observation Time: 5 PM
Eggplant Sprout
Today, the eggplant seeds have finally sprouted. Now, all 11 types of vegetables have emerged.
Despite the past two days of sunlight, the soil remains very moist.
Today's Tasks:
Preparing the Old Flower Pots.
The soil is sufficiently moist, so I only sprinkled some water on the plant surfaces.
To accommodate the seedlings removed during thinning, I prepared some old flower pots, added new soil, and watered them.
Thinned out the seedlings of all vegetables except for pepper and eggplant, reducing the number of seedlings in each square to the recommended amount for Square Foot Gardening.
Transplanted one seedling each of zucchini, okra, bush bean, and radish into the old flower pots, hoping they will thrive in their new environment.
Experience and Insights:
Day17 Finished
Why Thin Seedlings:
When seeds are sown too densely, the seedlings compete for resources, which can limit their growth. Removing excess seedlings and re-planning the planting space ensures that each plant has enough room.
Benefits of Thinning:
Promotes Healthy Growth: Reduces competition among seedlings, allowing the remaining ones to receive ample sunlight, water, and nutrients.
Prevents Pests and Diseases: Decreases the risk of pest and disease spread due to dense planting, improving ventilation.
Optimizes Growth Space: Ensures each plant has enough room to grow, enhancing overall yield and quality.
General Steps for Thinning:
Day17 Cut Radish’s Stem
Determine the Timing: The best time to thin seedlings is when they have developed 2-4 true leaves.
Select the Strongest Seedlings: Observe the seedlings at each planting spot and keep the healthiest, strongest ones.
Remove Excess Seedlings:
Method 1: Gently pull out the excess seedlings with your fingers or tweezers, taking care not to damage the roots, making them easier to transplant elsewhere.
Method 2: Use scissors to cut off the excess seedlings close to the ground. This method minimizes disturbance to the nearby seedlings' roots but does not allow for transplantation of the cut seedlings.
Maintain Proper Spacing: Follow the Square Foot Gardening recommendations to ensure each square has the appropriate number of plants.
Day17 Transplant Zucchini
Tips and Tricks:
Choose the Right Time: Thin seedlings in the cool, moist mornings or evenings to reduce stress on the plants.
Keep the Soil Moist: Maintain soil moisture before and after thinning to aid recovery and growth.
Proper Pruning: After thinning, you can prune the tops of the remaining seedlings to promote root growth. Only prune those that have grown too tall and weak; just trim the new leaves at the top.
Repeat Thinning: If the seedlings are still too dense, thin again in a few weeks.
Day17 After Thinned Out the Seedlings
Plan for Tomorrow:
Install support structures for some of the faster-growing vegetables.
Day 18: Thursday, July 18, 2024, Sunny
Today, I was out all day and returned late at night. I took a quick look at the seedlings, and they all appear to be doing well with no issues.
Day 19: Friday, July 19, 2024, Sunny
Day 19
Observations and Records: Observation Time: 5 PM
The pepper and eggplant seedlings are growing slowly, still only having two leaves each, so they are far from being ready for thinning.
The seedlings transplanted two days ago are mostly doing well, except for one radish seedling that seems a bit weak.
Some of the bok choy and water spinach seedlings also look a bit wilted, possibly due to the intense sunlight and high temperatures. I'll keep an eye on them tomorrow.
After watering today, some of the vegetables were lying flat on the soil. I'm not sure if this is normal, so I'll monitor them further tomorrow.
Today's Tasks:
The soil surface finally showed some signs of drying, but the soil a bit deeper is still very moist. Therefore, I only watered the surface layer in the evening.
The main task today was installing the trellis and support stakes for the zucchini, okra, and bush beans. Although bush beans typically don't need support, I noticed they were leaning, so I temporarily added stakes for stability. The trellis will take some time before it's fully utilized.
The Support Poles
Experience and Insights:
The Purpose of Installing Trellises or Supports:
In a Square Foot Garden, supports help plants grow upright, preventing stem breakage. Trellises allow climbing plants to grow vertically, maximizing sunlight exposure. Without a trellis, climbing vegetables spread out on the ground, affecting other plants and wasting space.
Vegetables Needing Trellises or Supports:
Install Support
Pumpkin (trellis)
Bitter Melon (trellis)
Cucumber (trellis)
Chili Pepper (support, 3-4 feet)
Eggplant (support, 2-3 feet)
Okra (support, 3-4 feet)
Zucchini (support, 4-5 feet)
How to Install a Trellis
Use Clips
Mark the wall at both ends of the planter box, at least 2 meters high, using a tape measure and marker.
Use a drill to make holes at the marked spots and install hooks with expansion screws. If you don't have a drill, you can use outdoor adhesive hooks, but remember to install them three days in advance with the provided glue.
Hang the trellis on the hooks. I used a jute rope net for this purpose.
How to Install Supports
Day 19: Finished
If the planter box is in a sheltered area, insert a support pole near the plant and tie the seedling's stem to the pole with clips or twine. Be gentle to avoid damaging the tender stem.
If the planter box is exposed to strong winds, use three or four support poles to create a stable structure and anchor them into the soil. If neighboring grids also need supports, you can link them together.
There's no need to install all the supports at once; you can add them as the plants grow and need more support.
Tomorrow’s Plan:
Watering.
Introducing an insect hotel.
Day 20: Saturday, July 20, 2024, Sunny
Observations and Notes: Observation Time: 5 PM
The sun was strong again today. The soil surface looked dry, but beneath the top layer, it was still very moist. I paid close attention to the vegetables that had drooped after watering yesterday. They were standing tall again, although they drooped once more after watering. It seems this is a normal reaction for summer seedlings.
The transplanted radish seedling still looks a bit limp. I worry that its roots were damaged during the transplant process.
Today's Tasks:
Day 20: The surface of soil is dry
Given the increased dryness compared to previous days, I watered the plants as usual. I checked the trellises we installed yesterday; they’re holding up well.
I found a decent, though not perfect, spot for the bug hotel, avoiding direct sunlight and heavy rain.
Experience and Insights:
Benefits of a Bug Hotel (for city terraces or balconies):
Bug Hotel
Pollination: Attracts beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, aiding in the pollination of vegetables and flowers, thus increasing yield and quality.
Pest Control: Draws in beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings that prey on pests, helping to naturally control harmful bugs and reduce pesticide use.
Biodiversity: Provides habitat, increasing ecological diversity on your balcony or terrace and creating a healthy mini-ecosystem.
Setting Up a Bug Hotel:
Choosing a Location:
Sunlight: Pick a spot with good sunlight but avoid direct, intense exposure.
Day 20: I choose the place for bug hotel
Protection: Ensure the hotel is sheltered from rain and strong winds.
Proximity to Plants: Place it near flowers or vegetables to attract insects close to the plants.
Material Selection:
Natural Materials: Use bamboo tubes, wood blocks, straw, pinecones, and other natural materials.
Variety: Offer a range of hole sizes and shapes to cater to different insects.
Making and Installing:
Frame: Build a frame from wood and fill it with natural materials.
Mounting: Hang or fix the bug hotel securely on a wall or the ground.
Value for Kids:
Educational Benefits:
Nature Education: Kids can observe insect behavior and learn about different species and their roles in the ecosystem.
Hands-On Skills: Building a bug hotel enhances kids’ manual skills and creativity.
Environmental Awareness:
Eco-Consciousness: Understanding the importance of insects fosters an appreciation for nature and environmental stewardship in kids.
Observation and Recording: Encourage kids to observe insect activity and keep records, boosting their observation and documentation skills.
Weekly Summary:
This week, we thinned some of the vegetable seedlings and installed trellises and supports for the faster-growing plants. We also introduced a bug hotel to start fostering a healthy urban garden ecosystem. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the fourth week. Please continue to support us as we share more of our gardening journey. If you’re interested, join us and start your own gardening adventure. Happy planting!