I picked figs again today to give a visiting friend - have to be careful of the giant wasps that have taken abode in the big fig tree.
Friend said the little purple ones from the tiny tree are tastier.
Fig preserves/jam/mostarda/something one of these days.
I am assuming these tomato plants are doomed, but if @bogman or anyone else knows what this is, I’d love to know.
Don’t remember seeing anything quite like it before, although I have seen dry, crispy leaves at the bottom of plants.
What was different most recently was hotter than usual temps, during which there was a little bit of precipitation, and then fires. The plants weren’t touched by the fire, and this started just before the fire, but there are lots of ashes on them.
While the leaves on the different plants vary from dark grey to pale yellow, none are wilting, and most of the damage is at the bottom and center of the plant.
At first I thought it was spider mites, but now I’m assuming it is several things, including fungal, and I rarely have fungal problems. I’m guessing late blight?
Oh, well. The peppers seem okay, and i guess ican make room for a September planting.
The wrinkly/dead brown leaves - I had those, many of the plants survived though. I sprayed with neem, watered with neem, and fertilizes.
Thanks @Saregama. Neem sounds like a good idea. If only it wasn’t going to be so hot ! I’ll trim some sick leaves, feed, then try neem this evening.
Anybody started/starting a fall garden? I hope to try another box of beans soon, and then sugar snaps and sweet peae when I yank the tomatoes.
Shrinkrap, the bottom image looks like Spiraling Whitefly, which I didn’t know, still don’t know if it’s in CA. It’s in FL and makes those white patterns when the female lays eggs. I downloaded that image and zoomed in to see what are almost certainly nymphs, larval insects. There may be other things going on.
Neem can burn foliage in very hot weather, but that would evidence on upper leaves. If you are spraying any insecticide, natural things like neem, the adults may be scarce if the neem prevents maturation. That white, cottony wax can be formed in many shapes. That wax also protect the pests. If you don’t have a pocket microscope, I’d recommend this one, by Carson. Once you get a really close look, there may be answers.
Again, I don’t know if spiraling Whitefly is yet in CA. But, that’s what the bottom pic looks like. Might be good to call the local Agricultural Extension agent. Spiraling Whitefly also infests peppers and a lot of food crops. More imported pests, ugh!
I just neemed. I have been spritzing with 70% rubbing alcohol, which does a bang-up job on aphids, fyi.
Thank you @bogman. I definitely think at least one thing is spiraling whitefly. And thanks for the microscope reference. I do have a handheld digital one, but it seems to require being hooked up to a computer by USB to use. I recently saw one that snaps on to your phone, but can’t seem to find the one that was recommended, so if anyone has one of those, id love to learn more about it.
Also, in the last two weeks, I have sprayed only once, besides with water, and that was with Monterey Garden Insect Spay with Spinosad. I sprayed the leaves a time or two with plain water, mostly to remove ashes and maybe discourage spider mites, and I once dusted with diatomaceous earth.
Another melon, splitting so i picked it. The stripes are not vivid but I think its Tiger Baby.
Tastes pretty good!
Looks so tasty!
Looks refreshing. A melon is ready when it is splitting? Is there another way to tell it is ripe?
I waited too long, and it may have cracked as I was cutting it off. I try watching for the tendril where the melon attaches to the vine turns brown, but for whatever reason, each of the three I’ve picked so far ended up with only the smallest encouragement, a touch with the tip of a knife, to continue splitting along the path of least resistance. I should probably stop watering forays efore, assuggestedby @bogman, but I’ve had several plants in one self-watering containers.
Thanks for being my editor! I really need to do something about this keyboard!
How did your lemongrass do? I was inspired, and dipped mine in rooting hormone and set it in some water almost a week ago. I THINK this is a root, and that the top is protruding a bit more than it was. Any thoughts?
Looks like that’s a “sprout”.
It’s definitely a root and new growth. Sometimes I get the new growth before the roots pop out. I’d leave it in water for longer, till more roots emerge. Then switch to soil.
My 2” WF stump is nice and tall now, but it took much longer than when I regrow them in my apt - probably the cold spring/summer here until recently.
I brought my serrano plant back!
Aerated soil, trimmed some of the old leaves back, fertilized several times with the stuff I’m using on the tomatoes (kelp and compost tea).
Flowers and fruit!
The green or Anaheim peppers from my very last batch of seedlings are fruiting!
Still a while to go, but so cute!
Saregama, those leaves have leafminer larvae, which tunnel between the upper and lower epidermis of the leaf. Pesticides for food plants have a hard time reaching the larvae, which is protected by the leaves’ cuticle (outer waxy layer). So, hand picking and killing the larvae is a good start. Heat, over 150 degrees will kill the larvae. The adults are tiny flies. Spinosad can help. Here’s a link to more info.
The revived serrano - so many flowers and tiny adorable fruit starting, also some that have grown fast!
Sadly, several of the tomato plants appear to be infected with Verticillium Wilt 
I gave two rows a military haircut before I got exhausted. Will do another couple of rows tomorrow.
Pepper plants always seem like a reprieve to me in the fall. New growtth, new flowers , just when I’m about to give up on the tomatoes.
