Terrace Square Foot Garden: Summer Planting Diary Week8 & Week9
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Week8: August 18, 2024 - Augest 24, 2024
Key Tasks: Perform hand pollination, choose fertilizers suited for different growth stages, and implement organic pest control methods.
Day 50: August 19, 2024, Monday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 3 PM
For the past couple of days, we've had heavy afternoon rains, so the soil is well-watered and doesn't need additional watering.
The good news today is that the bitter melon’s male flowers have finally bloomed, but the bad news is that the female flowers that bloomed earlier have already wilted. Unfortunately, this means the first batch of male and female flowers missed their chance to pollinate, so we'll have to wait for the next round.
On a brighter note, a female zucchini flower has started to form, and it looks promising that it might bloom alongside a male flower.
Day 50: Cucumber's Male Flower
The cucumbers also bloomed today, but only with male flowers, and I didn't see any signs of female buds. However, this is normal for cucumbers, and the timing for male and female flowers should align soon.
The pumpkin has also developed a few buds, which I suspect are all male flowers.
Today's Tasks:
Even though the female bitter melon flowers had already wilted, I still attempted hand pollination. I gently removed the wilted petals from the female flower and touched the male flower’s stamen to the female flower’s stigma. However, I could tell that the stigma had already hardened, so the chances of successful pollination are slim.
I carefully cut off the male cucumber and bitter melon flowers, placed them in a food bag, and stored them in the refrigerator. This is supposed to help preserve the pollen’s viability.
I also applied potassium dihydrogen phosphate again to encourage more flowering. At the same time, I fertilized the leafy greens and the still-growing peppers and eggplants with a general liquid fertilizer.
Experience and Insights:
Day 50: Zucchini's Female Flower
Bitter melon and cucumber flowers have very short bloom times—cucumber male flowers open in the morning and wilt by evening. This makes it crucial to check the plants frequently during the flowering period, especially in the mornings when pollination is most successful.
It’s common for the first flowering cycle of bitter melon and cucumber to have male and female flowers that don't bloom simultaneously, so there's no need to worry. Just keep observing them daily.
One downside of growing on a terrace or balcony is the lack of insects for natural pollination, making manual intervention necessary.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Continue observing and be ready for hand pollination at any time.
Day 57: August 26, 2024, Monday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Day 57: The bitter melons that didn’t get pollinated
I finally returned home this afternoon. After nearly a week away from my Square Foot Garden, I can see that the vegetables have grown much denser overall.
The first batch of bitter melon flowers—both male and female—missed their blooming period and have all wilted. The bitter melons that didn’t get pollinated are still growing, but they’re starting to show signs of wilting and will likely drop off soon. I’m hopeful for a second batch of flowers, though I haven’t seen any new buds forming yet.
The female zucchini flower bud that formed last week is showing signs of withering, likely due to the ongoing heat and insufficient watering from Dora. I’m hoping that thorough watering will help it recover.
Day 57: Pumpkin's Female Flower
The cucumber has produced many male flowers, but still no sign of female flowers. We’ll have to wait for the second batch.
The pumpkin’s male flowers have started to open, and female buds have formed but haven’t bloomed yet—something to look forward to in the coming days.
A small white flower has bloomed on the pepper plant, and the eggplant has developed a bud, though these two plants aren’t as lush as the others.
Of the six water spinach seeds I planted, five have sprouted, which is an acceptable germination rate.
Today's Tasks:
Day 57: Pepper's Flower
I pruned some of the withered leaves from the plants.
Dora and I gave the garden a thorough watering.
I checked for pests and found some whitefly eggs on the okra leaves, which I removed by hand.
Experience and Insights:
Watering seems simple, but it’s easy for the soil to dry out in the summer, so it requires daily attention. As the vegetables grow larger, their water needs increase significantly, so the amount of water should be gradually adjusted.
When growing vegetables on a city terrace or balcony, it’s crucial to pay extra attention during the flowering period, especially for vegetables that require hand pollination. Missing the bloom means missing out on a good harvest.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Day 57: Pumpkin's Male Flower
Continue observing the plants and be ready for hand pollination.
I’ll also apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate again to encourage more flowering.
Day 58: August 27, 2024, Tuesday, Light Rain
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Day 58: new bitter melon female flower
Today, we welcomed a little visitor—a bee! It quickly took over my job, buzzing busily from flower to flower, so I didn’t need to do any hand pollination.
A new female bitter melon flower bloomed today, and I’m confident it was successfully pollinated.
The female pumpkin flower also opened, and I watched as the bee moved back and forth between the male and female flowers, so pollination should be successful.
Day 58: pumpkin female flower
The zucchini has grown so tall that it toppled over. After a close inspection, I found that the stem is intact and not broken.
Today's Tasks:
Applied potassium dihydrogen phosphate to all the vegetables except the leafy greens and water spinach.
Hand-pollinated the bitter melon.
Normal watering.
Pruned the dead and yellowing leaves.
Day 58: zucchini fall
Experience and Insights:
Bees collecting pollen can efficiently pollinate vegetable flowers. In nature, this is the primary method of pollination. A single bee can visit hundreds of flowers in a day, which is more than enough for a small city balcony garden.
However, since bees and other insects may not visit every flower, supplementing with hand pollination can be beneficial.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Continue observing and be ready for hand pollination at any time.
Day 60: August 29, 2024, Thursday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Day 60: Bitter Melon
Over the past couple of days, the pumpkins have continued to bloom, and the bees have been showing up for work daily.
The new water spinach is growing well.
The largest bitter melon that missed the pollination window has turned orange and may soon drop off.
Day 60 Eggplant
Exciting news—our eggplant has finally bloomed! There’s just one flower, but it’s a beautiful pinkish-purple, adding some visual appeal to the garden.
Today's Tasks:
Thoroughly watered the plants.
Day 60 New Water Spinach
Pruned any withered leaves.
Experience and Insights:
As vegetables grow larger, their water needs increase significantly.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Continue observing the garden and be ready for hand pollination as needed.
Day 62: August 31, 2024, Saturday, Sunny
Observations and Records: Observation Time - 5 PM
Day 62 Chili Pepper
The first female pumpkin flower that I hand-pollinated is turning yellow, similar to the bitter melon that missed its bloom. I’m a bit worried that the pollination might have failed.
The pepper plants have produced more flowers.
Day 62: Zucchini
Some of the zucchini’s female flowers are turning yellow before even opening—I suspect this might be due to the lack of water during the nearly week-long period when I was away.
Today's Tasks:
Day 62: Pumpkin
Thoroughly watered the plants.
Tomorrow's Plan:
Continue observing the garden and be ready for hand pollination as needed.
Keep an eye on the female pumpkin flower to see if the pollination was unsuccessful.