Terrace Square Foot Garden: Summer Planting Diary Week7
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Week7: August 11, 2024 - Augest 17, 2024
Key Tasks: Fertilize the vegetables during their flowering period, introduce ladybug egg cards for pest control, and perform hand pollination.
Day 42: August 11, 2024, Sunday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
This afternoon, we had a thunderstorm with heavy rain, which thoroughly watered the soil. The Soil Tester showed that the moisture level is just right. Thankfully, the downpour didn’t damage the Bush Beans’ flower buds.
Today's Tasks:
I placed ladybug egg cards today to help prevent pests like aphids and whiteflies.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Tomorrow, I’ll apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate to the Bush Beans with flower buds to promote blooming and fruiting.
Day 43: August 12, 2024, Monday, Heavy Rain
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Day 43: Bush Bean Buds
It rained heavily again today, providing the soil with plenty of water, so no additional watering was needed. The rain continued until the evening.
Some of the Bush Beans' flower buds were knocked off by the wind and rain, but many remained unaffected.
The ladybug egg cards placed last night mostly hatched today. I couldn't find the ladybug larvae due to the heavy rain, but I hope they're okay.
The eggplants are starting to grow well.
Today's Tasks:
Day 43: Chili Pepper and Eggplant
Repositioned the knocked-over stakes and plants.
The plan to fertilize the vegetables with potassium dihydrogen phosphate was postponed due to the heavy rain.
Experience and Insights:
Heavy rain can significantly reduce the effectiveness of fertilization, so it's best to avoid fertilizing during such weather.
Tomorrow's Plan:
If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I'll fertilize all the vegetables nearing their flowering stage with potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote blooming and fruiting.
Day 45: August 14, 2024, Wednesday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
It rained heavily again yesterday, thoroughly soaking the soil, so there was no need to water today. The soil is still very moist.
New flower buds are continuously forming on the Bush Beans.
The exciting news for today is that the bitter melon has bloomed its first little yellow flower.
Today's Tasks:
Repositioned the stakes and plants that were knocked over by the heavy rain.
Applied potassium dihydrogen phosphate to the vegetables to promote flowering and fruiting.
Experience and Insights:
Day 45: Flower of Bitter Melon
Benefits of Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate:
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate is a nitrogen-free fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium, making it an efficient source of these nutrients.
Phosphorushelps promote flower bud differentiation and blooming, enhancing the quantity and quality of flowers. It also improves the plant's ability to absorb nutrients and water.
Potassiumimproves fruit quality and yield by increasing sugar accumulation, making fruits fuller and sweeter. It also strengthens the plant's resistance to drought, cold, pests, and diseases.
Usage Recommendations:
Timing:Potassium dihydrogen phosphate is typically used during the flowering, fruiting, and fruit enlargement stages to meet the plant's phosphorus and potassium needs.
Application Method:It can be applied through root fertilization or foliar spraying. When spraying on leaves, ensure proper dilution to avoid burning the foliage. If possible, apply the fertilizer directly to the soil near the roots.
The concentration of potassium dihydrogen phosphate may vary depending on the manufacturer, so always follow the instructions for dilution.
For vegetables far from flowering or fruiting, continue using a nitrogen-rich general liquid fertilizer.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Perform hand pollination if necessary.
Day 46: August 15, 2024, Thursday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Male Flower
It rained late last night, so the soil is very moist, and there’s no need for watering.
The bitter melon has sprouted many flower buds. I learned how to distinguish between male and female flowers.
Today's Tasks:
None
Experience and Insights:
Femail Flower
How to Easily Identify Male and Female Flowers in Bitter Melon:
The female flower has a thicker stem that resembles a small bitter melon.
The male flower has a thinner stem.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Wait for hand pollination.
Day 47: August 16, 2024, Friday, Showers
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Day 47: The mysterious little plant
We had some showers this afternoon, leaving the soil moist, so no watering is needed.
Four female bitter melon flowers have bloomed, but not a single male flower has opened yet. Without male flowers, I can’t perform hand pollination.
The Bush Beans' flower buds have finally bloomed, revealing pale purple flowers.
The mysterious little plant that was the first to sprout is now growing tall in another pot, but I still have no idea what it is. Does anyone know?
Today's Tasks:
Day 47: Flower of Bush Beans
I woke up early today, ready to hand-pollinate the bitter melon, but none of the male flowers had opened.
Experience and Insights:
Bush Beans are a worry-free vegetable—they self-pollinate, so there’s no need for hand pollination. Just protect the flower buds, and you’ll have a harvest.
Female bitter melon flowers that aren’t successfully pollinated won’t develop further and will eventually drop off, meaning one less bitter melon to harvest.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Anxiously wait for hand pollination.