It's turning red! Another likely zucchini fail and stuff.

 

The tomato is coloring! Should be ready by the weekend by color but for flavor..that's another matter. Just because a tomato is red does not mean it has all the sugar possible for flavor. A little chemistry/plant secret to pass on.

I learned from a coworker years ago who had worked at a vineyard that grapes are mostly acidic and then get sweet. The vintners (wine makers) knowing their plant chemistry figured out that in order for a fruit to turn acid into sugar they need warm/hot weather and lower water content in the soil to concentrate those sugars. Tomatoes are in the same category but considering I have more fruit on this plant and a lot of foliage feeding it so I'm reluctant to cut back on the water considering the weather. I will wait until this baby is as red as I can tolerate (or until next Wednesday whichever comes first) and then pick it. Since the tomato on the back side of the plant is about as big but is in more shade I don't think that one will color up as quickly. It's about a week or so behind this one.

I watered thoroughly this morning and took stock of flowers and fruit and all that. I mentioned before about the zucchini leaves getting 'adult' coloring and this is what I meant.

No that isn't mildew.

Also, another zucchini that I hadn't noticed before that opened the flower while I was away and now it's closing and I don't think it got pollinated. Again.

I want my zucchini dangit! I saw another tiny one that was also failing so I'm wondering if I should cut back some of the leaves shading the top so the flowers are more exposed for pollinators. This is another point about how fast they grow having the flowers only last for one day is not good when there's no bees or other pollinators around. Time to get me some flowers to draw in bees and butterflies. 

On another topic: Jade plants and what they really like.

In more sun and bigger

In more shade and smaller

I am not a big fan of Jade plants for the same reason why some people don't like succulents. They are everywhere, rarely put any good show of color on and just....blah.

What I wanted to point out is the difference between having it in the full sun and in shade. For best color they will go in the shade. Nice dark green leaves more bush like habit and still sturdy as an ox. When it is put in more sun the leaves tend to get lighter, the edges get a bit of orange and they just look washed out. You'll notice that the leaves that are more shaded on the larger plant are darker green. So there's the truth to my hypothesis. Also the taller one may have been pruned that way due to it being so much closer to the sidewalk.

There are dozens, if not  hundreds, of succulents that will tolerate a dry or semi dry shade area. These can take regular water as long as it isn't standing in it for long periods of time and keep on plugging on. That thick stem and those leaves aren't fat because they're pretty, they hold water for when there isn't any. 

Remember the picture I took of the jade plant at the end of the vegetable garden? I took the picture in May when it was still cooler and there was still some water in the ground from winter. Sort of.

That bush is now somewhat shriveled and looking less green due to the heat and lack of water. I have been taking pity on it and watering it every other time I go out and water my plants but not a lot. Why? Two reasons: First, if it's hot the hose heats up and there's hot water coming out that I don't want to water my plants with, second, I hate seeing a big healthy plant like that suffering. I'm not going to waste water just running the hose on bare dirt and weeds so why not benefit something from the extra water?

So heat is good for some but not even succulents look good when it's hot and dry. That's the way they are. 

I am looking forward to my trip to Disneyland next week. Going to take lots of pictures of not only stuff and things but their wonderful landscaping and hanging plants! The groundskeepers do as much as anyone in keeping the park looking perfect and healthy and it is very much appreciated by this plant geek.