Summer Hawaii 2023

[MissS]

What a fabulous and fun idea! The table, the food and the apparel make it the perfect summer event. I can see why it needs to be an annual event. How fun!

[Mark_Thompson]

Did a big prune of my summer patch in the rain the other day. It’s looking real rough but may drop me a few more fruits yet.

Opened up a new patch, did some soil amending, wifey helped me mulch it and plant the first eight plants. Mostly saved seeds from the “Wildling Panamorous Mix” so small semi-determinates. Hopefully this new patch won’t be as disease-y!

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[bower]

Disease resistance is so important. I had a rough season to remind me of that!

I know another grower doing the Wilding panamorous this season, and mentioned that some were very disease prone but others not at all. So there's a good chance you will find some disease resistant strains if you grow out enough of them.

[Mark_Thompson]

I grew the mix last year in the winter/ spring so the plants saw a solid amount of rain. There were varying degrees of disease resistance and a big range in fruit size and taste.

So this year I’m growing out two of the best ones that I saved seeds from. Six of one variety and maybe one or two of another just depending on space.

[Mark_Thompson]

My big patch is down to less than half the number of plants I started with. Very few fruit set but still a handful. @bower your KPEPI/Kitten Paws Pink are still giving me a few little fruits every couple of days. And one lonely Amish Paste/Maxifort still cruising right along.

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[bower]

Wow Mark, that is really cool that the plants adapted decently to your conditions after being raised in mine!
Amish Paste has done well for other growers here last season too.
What is the September season like in your location?

[Mark_Thompson]

The gift that keeps on giving for sure. September can be a hot sticky one. Usually some days with light winds which makes it feel even hotter than normal. So far this month we have had .9" of rain. So a dry one, which is nice, allowing some of my foliage to make a comeback.

[Mark_Thompson]

I'd like to make this pic of Malachite Box the last one for my summer garden pictures. MB was my first fruit this year back on July 11th, so I think it's fitting. This was the first year I've grown it and it earned a spot in the starting lineup fo sho. I'm starting to plant my winter plants like broccoli and cover crops, so I think I will start a new grow log. It was the worst cherry tomato year I've ever had, but my patch of slicers did well. On to the winter garden and to daydreams of 2024. Thank you everyone for your encouragement and generosity.

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