Container Makeover, Denver

[Barb_FL]

I haven't visited your thread in awhile. Your garden looks great;

I didn't know CO got so hot but I'm sure your nights cool off so your tomatoes will set fruit.

[carolyn137]

Ah yes, all the time I was in Denver at 1629 Locust,one block from Mt Hope Blvd that goes out to the airport and one block down from the 17th Avenue Pkway, as in high heat today,snow the next day,then possibly hail, water restrictions and on and on.

Bought my plants at a superb Nursery not far from that Cherry whatever huge place going south out of Denver.

And yes,I knew Broomfield very well.

Carolyn

[Gerardo]

Can't wait for cuke row to fill in. Really dig the custom stands for the fabric pots. Hope the fruits made it through the heat unscathed.

[Ricky Shaw]

Thank you everyone! And hiya Carolyn, Happy Birthday and so good to see you posting again.

When I first came to Colorado in 1974 hardly anyone had air conditioning even though they were in widespread use in the south. All new homes and most older houses have it installed now. The nights are dipping into the 60's and that gives the plants immense relief, I've got my fingers crossed.

[Ricky Shaw]

Big hail scare yesterday evening, main storm missed us by half a mile, but plenty of rain. Denver flooded with many gardens destroyed by hail.

I had my burlap shields up, though they were not tested. More called for, I think I'll leave them up for one more day.

[Ricky Shaw]

A nice break in the heat, low 80's for Thur, Fri, Sat and the plants are lovin' it. Everything has remained healthy, except a touch of leaf roll on a few regular leaf plants. The potato leaves, which I'd never grown one, seem to deal with the dry heat better than the regulars. The Elgin Pink has over 30 toms set, the Brand Boy's are loading up big time. The squash and zuchs, seem to grow a foot a night.

[habanero]

Ricky, all I can say is, I love the look of that garden. From your pics of snow to now, I just sit and gaze. Great job and now I know what a squared away garden should look like. Good luck with it this year.
habanero

[BigVanVader]

Everything looks fantastic Ricky! Especially considering the hail storm. Looks like you'll be eating some fresh maters soon!

[Ricky Shaw]

Thank you very much for the kind words. The success to this point amazes me. The mixing and watering is a good workout and I might continue to do it next year, just fewer tomato plants. I prune and inspect while I'm there, and it takes between 20 and 40 min. Next year, I'm bringing the cuke raised beds back along the trellises, 3 beds, 3ft x 4ft

[Ricky Shaw]

Might set some heat records today and tomorrow, high 90's. No casualties this week and all the plants look good, just slow on blossoms and setting fruit. The Crnkovic Yugoslavian has been a good performer, over 25 toms on the plant in the pic. And me in full garden regalia, headphones, kneepads, and boonie hat.

[jillian]

I am green with envy! You have the most INCREDIBLY AWESOME container garden I have ever seen. And your plants are just gorgeous!!!!!!!! Truly stunning.

[Ricky Shaw]

Thank you Jillian, I've seen your garden too. Very nice also! I hope everything holds on for us, and everyone.

Still hot and the forecast is 90's and dry for another week. Everything continues to grow and I'm getting some decent fruit sets. I've got extenders to 8ft on about half the cages now.

[AKmark]

Ricky, your plants look great, thanks for sharing some pics of them.

[Nematode]

In the middle of winter, in my imagination, my garden looks like that!
Now not so much.

Nice job.

[Ricky Shaw]

Every day is plus 90 lately, but the plants keep chugging along for the most part. Trying several pruning methods, from untrimmed through two-stem. Nothing has died in a long while, but there's leaf curl to some degree on most of the RL plants now. Have hit a lull in blossom sets with the heat, but by and large there are very good lower tress sets that formed prior to the higher temps. I'm pleased with the results so far.

This rouge Crnkovic Yugoslavian may beat the Moskvich to first bigger tom to ripen.