I can definitely understand your frustration. I lost a lot of tomatoes last year to squirrels, it drove me nuts. You could always try taking them off the vine when they first blush and letting them ripen inside since they're more prone to attack once they are fully ripe. Not as fun but at least you'll have tomatoes and they'll be safe from the vermin.
Don't give up though! It's unfortunately part of a gardener's life to lose some crops to pests, it happens to all of us. Whether it be deer, squirrels, bugs, etc. On the ripening issue, I'm not sure what to tell you, except to give it more time. If it's TOO hot that can also slow things down.
Additionally, be glad for the green tomatoes you do have! It's been so lousy weather-wise here in the northeast that I have exactly 2 tomatoes and they are the size of a nickel. Trust me, we all have our share of frustrations but eating that very first ripe tomato makes it all worth it, imo. I hope you feel better soon.

You could spray a pesticide on them, unless you want to avoid chemicals. Theres also some organic methods like filling a bottle with water and a bit of dish soap.

I had a very similiar experience LAST year, about all my tomatoes (65 plants)ended up infested with stink bugs, leaf footed bugs, grasshoppers, those big ole horned worms, you name it.

I believe now that this problem was due to several factors (which you may need to look closer at as well?) I had great soil and a good amount of space etc.

1. I had a lack of supports for my plants, they grew large too quickly and got away from me, so they were pretty much a big sprawling jungle mess.

hence the reason for the next problem

2. Weeds got in and took over, due to the plants sprawling everywhere, it was about impossible to weed effectively

3. I did not have a regular pest control plan. In the beginning, I did the hand pick method, but these suckers multiply quicker than I could get em.

This year, I got all my plants caged and supported from day one,

I also have used some systemic pesticides that I discovered are quite effective. I one day had the beginning of the stink bug and leaf footed bugs showing up..I sprayed and have not seen them since. I used Orthene, which works systemically to get rid of sucking bugs. So far it is working and my toms are doing well.

I also pick them as soon as they show some color, all have ripened perfectly on my counter top.

EXACT same scenario with the squash & okra ...

Dont give up, just know that it gets easier every year. (I guess for me, I just learn more and more each year) And the set backs you just cant take them personally...hang in there.

I realize that what I have done may not be what you would choose, but for me, I'm willing to use pesticides responsibly to assist my garden. In GA it's about impossible to keep bugs at bay.

Sorry that things are not going well. Some seasons are like that, and I understand its been a strange spring and summer weatherwise in many areas of the USA. Don't know what zone you're in, but if you had a cool wet spring, it will still take time for plants to catch up once the warm weather hits. A similar thing happened here last year - a cool dry spring and early summer, followed by about two months of scorching heat. Needless to say, heat-lovers like tomato, peppers and eggplant took a long time to yield, and I never did get any red bell peppers. But I know that next year may be different.

Regarding the pest issue, again, the seasonal weather can have an impact on pest populations. But also, 'bugs' is a very vague term. It's worth putting in the time to figure out exactly what you've got. Without that knowledge you really can't come up with a targeted approach to controlling the pests. For example, if the main damage is coming from moth pests like tomato fruitworm (Heliothis zea) or hornworm, then Bt will provide relief without knocking out whatever beneficials you have working for you.

Anyway, good luck and hang in there!

Yeah, leaving anything on the plant to fully ripen is a recipe for disaster most everywhere.

Wait until the color begins to break or it's 1/4-1/2 colored then pick. It keeps the plants productive, too, for further flushes if the season length persists.

Fully ripe fruit rarely makes it intact around here (and a lof of the world, it seems).

Thanks for all the responses.

Its true, I have no idea what's eating my plants. I know something is "chopping away" at the ends of my vining plants, with half-moon bites in them. They look like a lawn mower got to them.

Some of my tomatoes have one small black spot on them.

One morning, I came out and there was a human-shaped bite out of some of my tomatoes and one of my pumpkins. Just one bite. Like some animal thought they'd like it, but didn't.

And my tomatoes just aren't ripening, but I talk to people and they're getting ripe tomatoes, which just makes me mad.

I am getting squash. Which I realized I don't like. Actually, every year I get loads of squash, and every year I say I'm never planting squash again, but I do anyway to fill space, and then its the only thing that does well. I have patty pan squash, zucchini, and crookneck. I don't like any of it, and neither does my family! :D

I'll definitely try the bt. Also, I did NOT stake my plants! That is probably part of it.

My husband thinks I should put miracle gro fertilizer on everything, but that doesn't make sense to me. I have lots of fruiting already.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I feel a bit better. I have to accept that a lot of this is weather.

rjinga,
What is the systemic product's name in the Orthine line?
Thanks

* Posted by lsst (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 21, 09 at 20:22

rjinga,
What is the systemic product's name in the Orthine line?
Thanks

That's what I was wondering, since I always look up whenever I hear of anyone using a systemic pesticide on edible crops. I looked it up, and the chemical is Acephate, with information in the link at the bottom.

Here is a link that might be useful: PesticideInfo report

I know exactly how you feel !! Although, this is my first year gardening, I just said almost exactly the same thing to my husband last night about things ripening so slow. It was so exciting when the plants were new and growing so quickly. However, I planted on May 19 and have so far only harvested 4 cucumbers, 2 cherry tomatoes, 2 squash, and 1 eggplant.

I posted just last week about my lost tomato (neighbors??? squirrels???) and the yummy omelet that I did NOT get to have that was going to be made with my first fresh tomato, sauteed onion, and feta cheese. And that tomato isn't the only one that has been lost. Just the one that I got the closest to actually eating. Some of my tomatoes just disappear all together ... no sign of partially eaten leftovers. : (

I try to keep up my spirits because there are lots of other things on the plants (cukes, eggplant, bell peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon, hopefully sweet potatoes under the ground, beans almost ready to bloom). I think the best thing we can do is take a 2-week vacation to the beach, then when we come back lots more things will be ready !!!! Sounds like a good plan to me ... I may mention it to my husband tonight.

I can SO relate to all of the discouraged posts here. We have raised beds with good soil. Last year we had a pretty good crop. This year I have NOTHING. The plants are whimpy. Nothing is blooming, including the Zucchini and the Tomatoes. It was a cool June and not it's a very hot July. The moisture seems about right, but I'm really wondering if I'm going to see any veggies. Any thoughts for a frustrated Southern Oregon gardener?

I live in Marin County at an elevation of about 1000', and it's STILL dipping into the upper 40's at night, and it was like this for the last 2 summers. Next year I'm going for black plastic and row covers (or perhaps bonnets, since I don't exactly have rows). And I'm going to start my more finicky plants (peppers and eggplants) much earlier, transplanting into larger pots until the outside night temps are at least mid 40's. I have one pepper that's been 2" tall for the last 2 1/2 months.

You know something's wrong when your lettuce looks fantastic at the height of the season. I have to say, though, my squashes are taking off and the toms are blooming nicely.... but I'm growing them on ladders and pruning them, as well as separating them more than last year to give them more sun exposure and therefore more heat. I actually think they're blooming at a smaller size than last year. Dunno if that's pruning, more heat, or both.

At least I don't have to worry about rain deluges until winter, when it doesn't matter so much. Still, though, I hear about people only half an hour away in a warmer climate than mine who are shoulder high in vegetables. Well, I DO have lettuce and radishes.

rjinga, Orthene is nasty, toxic stuff. I hope you are following the label recommendations, especially "days to harvest". In my opinion, Orthene should not be used on edible plants. It also kills bees. I use it in the greenhouse on ornamentals; it's very effective against aphids.

Hey Midsummergarden, about the temptation to 'fill in the space', maybe you could fill it in with something where you're less invested in the end result, rather than prolific but boring squash?

I interplant with flowers and annual herbs to help with pest control by acting as trap crops, supplying food for pollinators and beneficial insects, because some are edible or just because I love how they look. My favourites are nasturiums, calendula, fennel (usually at least one bulb bolts to seed so I leave the flowers for the insects and harvest the seeds later in the season), queen anne's lace, cornflowers, basil, and alsyssum. This year I'll also have german chamomile, corn cockles and poppies. The great thing is I don't have to stress about whether I'll get ripe fruit off them (they always flower without any extra effort from me : )), and I don't have to fret about chewed leaves. In fact the whole point of the nasturtiums is to give the aphids and cabbage butterlies something other than my veggies to eat : ).

Fancy designs aren't necessary, even if you're planting in traditional rows you could just add a row or partial row of various flowers/herbs to break up the space in between your rows of veggies. Cosmos looks fabulous massed in blocks, as do poppies, cornflowers (aka bachelor's buttons) etc. Plants like calendula, alyssum and chamomile make great edging beside rows of taller plants. Nasturtiums trail all over the place, hiding all manner of ugliness (not unlike squash!). I use them to take up space around my autumn crops. They grow through winter into spring, then I pull them out and compost them as I need the space for veggies (saving a few around the summer crop of kale). Ditto with alyssum and calendula. I use them as place-holders until the warm season crops are ready to go in, along with the summer flowers.

Seriously, I highly recommend combining veggies and flowers/herbs. If nothing else, it adds colour and interest to the garden, not that most veggies aren't attractive in their own right.

Tracey

PS I'm planning on growing ONE tromboncino squash plant this next summer, after a hiatus of several years cause by being overwhelmed with zucchini from an incredibly vigorous (supposedly bush) plant. I hope I don't live to regret it!

95 plus is above the comfort zone for tom's, especially if the nighttime lows are also high. This is the likely reason for your troubles - heat stress. Check the florida forum for experts on weather too hot for tomatoes......

I'm there too. My husband is a laid off auto-exec. so we took some savings and started a market garden, something I have been wanting to do for years. While I didn't expect to get rich, I had hoped to come somewhat close to even. Timing has been everything this year. Spring crops all came in at different times(partially my fault) and now I am sittting on my warm weather crops, have some squash and cukes, but not enough to open the stand with. Tomatoes,peppers, eggplants and beans are just sitting, even the ones in the hoophouse. I said to my husband last night, wouldn't you know it, when we finally got around to setting up this business we would have the *coldest summer* in almost 100 years. Still have some time for things to come together. Yes, thats gardening!

More reason to have mostly reliable crops in your garden. In Michigan that will always be greens and other cool weather crops such as garlic and potatoes. Yes, it is the coldest summer in 100 years, but some lettuce I planted in shade is still going strong, and all other greens are strong also, and I have way more than we can eat. I am sure there are things that are trouble-free in Florida also. The secret of garden contentment is to have about two reliable crops at any given time, and to learn to like those.

If you have more than 20% of your garden in susceptible crops you are doing something wrong. My only wasted space are two melon (cantaloupe) plants, and I have long given up on peppers, eggplants, and okra. I will soon pull them to plant kale in their place. The same goes for market gardens I guess, though I understand that a tomato sells for more, and more easily, than a lettuce head. Surely farmers, 100 years ago, reasoned in a similar way.

Wise words glib.

Don't be discouraged. It can't all work all the time. A handful of ripe veggies a day is alright. All I get a handful of every day is male squash blossoms. They are yummy but quickly becoming a side dish every other day. Would be nice to have as much squash as I do blossoms.

So far, all I've produced, I pretty much left on the plant too long. My eggplant skin was tough. The first couple of squashes and zucchini's I picked had tough skin and seeds. The last couple have been OK. Some tomatoes got attacked by birds just as they ripened. I'm picking them earlier now.

I have no idea when to pick my bell peppers but they look like they are getting sunburned.

Then there is hornworms, aphids, thrips and leafminers. Lot's of maintainance.

Ania

My tomatoes are taking foever to turn green, had this really nice one finally turned red, I was so excited when I went to pick it and when I did....it had ber on the bottom. We planted pole and bush green beans did really well when we had the cooler weather back in June, then the 100 degree weather hit, they are dying or dead. Now I'm fighting the ants and aphids in the blackeyed peas (just starting to produce) but I think I'm winning that battle :) I do pick the tomatoes that are blushing and putting them on the counter to help production of the plants and they turn red quicker it seems. I picked two okra pods and put them on the counter and went back out to the garden, one of our cats ate part of it and tried to hide what was left it it, lol we also have some watermelons a couple about 2 lbs, and we discoved rackcoons in the field next to us :/ still love gardening with the good and the bad moments. glo

I guess I should be grateful that I'm surrounded by miles of asphalt.

I think sun ripens vegetables. I wonder if you might try pruning away some of the leaves. I think that when my veggies are covered by layers and layers of leaves that they take ages to ripen.