Oh dear

There is something wrong with the tomatoes, actually, I think there is more than one thing wrong with them.
They all look a bit droopy.

The leaves have little holes in them,

some of them are dark in places, back and front,

Some stems are yellow and dying,

and some have slime on them half way along and the stem is mushy.

some of the main stems seem to have bore holes in them near the base,

There appear to be no flowers now when there were the other day,

the name of this tomato is 'tropical'. I thought it would like growing in the tropics, but ,apparently not.
Some of the leaves look as though they have had milk spilt on them and it has dried. I know your not supposed to cry over it but still......

there are miniscule little black beasts on some of the plants and a brownish dust on the underside of some leaves.

I took the desperate measure of taking out all the bottom leaves and then moling in the hope that the air passing through might help, sort of kill or cure. T went to 'Farm and Garden' in his lunch hour to try to buy something but they told him to come back with some leaves to show them. They also said that they may have to inform the ministry as it may be serious. I don't think the beans or the cucumber look quite right either.

So, we have

crossed

the ravine

and T

is preparing

the

new beds

on the other

side,

where,

I hear,

the soil

is

rich.

Someone had to do it!

The ravine, not having

been cleaned out since

Ivan, except what the

rain washed down, full

of old galvanise and the

products of Mr R's pigpen, was awash with unsavoury solids and

unmentionable objects. T, making inroads towards a clean ravine!

The babies ready for their new beds.

Cabbage, cauliflour and celery

from the nursery in Grantine

Any chance you might share that cheese sandwich?

Progress!

Today, Carnival Sunday, began, as tradition dictates, with torrential rain.

Successive banks of dark, heavy clouds, sweeping down from Grand Etang deposited the long awaited water that raced down the ravines and tumbled down the drains to the audibly raging river below the garden.

Only when the rain falls so hard that you cannot hear yourself speak as it hammers on the roof, do you realise the importance of keeping drains clear and moling the plants.

I really wanted to go and check to see if everything had been washed away but I knew that the ground would be like soup if I ventured out while the rain was still falling.

Eventually, almost lunchtime, there was a break in the clouds and Xena and I headed for the garden.

Somewhere near the mango tree, my feet went from under me and I slid about 10' down the hill, as gracefully as I could muster, carrying the umbrella, cutlass, bag with seeds, juice and the strips of torn sheets to tie up the tomato plants!
(the improvised leaves from the coconut tree that I used before were not a good idea as they rot)
Slightly shaken, embarrassment kept to a minimum as Xena seemed to be the only witness, a quick assessment assured that, apart from a very muddy backside, all was well and nothing lost! T has always impressed upon me that , in the event of a fall- throw your cutlass- which is definitely good advice, if you have time to follow it!!







All seemed well in the garden.



The cucumbers were bearing,









the okra seem to have appreciated the moling and weeding that was done earlier in the week and have grown enormously,










the yard fowl, undaunted by the weather,
discuss bug preferences by the
sweet potatoes.

I hope that they delight in the
pointy nose bugs that I spotted on the
tomatoes and squished.














Xena, as the thunder rolls,
is not amused.


















For years, I always thought that this little, local,
small leafed basil was called 'come and poke'
as my husband told me.
It wasn't until several years later that an
English, Grenadian friend of ours overheard
my misnomer and after much amusement,
corrected me.
It is known as 'common pork'.
However, I still think what I thought I heard
my husband say, is better!













The first fruits of our labours!













Time to go, before the weather closes in.
Next visit, plant more beans, mole what needs moling, pick cucumber and beans, thin last bed of carrots and clear drains.