A bad hailstorm just took out my garden. :(

Well we had a nice big thunder bumper move through here two days ago and with it came a lot of hail and rain. I was shocked to go out after it passed and see all the leaves on the ground from the trees and all my shredded plants (perennials). As I walked around the house to the garden I was sad to see what was left of it. All those huge squash leaves were GONE! Only the stems of them remain...I can now see all the squash that have been growing but will they just rot now that all the leaves are gone? All my tomatoes I have been waiting on forever are now all bruised looking and yucky with most the leaves ripped or missing. Boy the things mother nature can throw at us. At least my potatoes are ok as they are underground. :)

Do you think the winter squash will survive?

This message was edited Sep 5, 2005 3:25 PM

Oh, that is discouraging! If you think the sunlight might be strong enough to shrivel the squash (that probably would happen here) you could rig some small pieces of shade cloth or something similar (old dish towels are good - lets light through but cuts down the intensity) over the individual fruits. They probably will go on to maturity. Good luck!

I recommend shade too.I think you'll be surprized how fast they recover.Hugs to you and your garden,Jody

Oh you poor thing - how devastating!!

But agree with the above posters that you may very well be surprised at the resiliency of your plants. Just continue tending them & I think in a few days you'll see many, if not all, start springing back.

Will keep my fingers crossed for you!!

Boohoohoo!! I know how you feel. My gardens are like my kids, when they hurt, I hurt. I agree, shade them, tend them, and they will probably come back. Keep us posted.

Oh, NO! I hope your plants bounce back. Since it's toward the end of the season, and they've had plenty of time to store energy in their roots, I'm guessing the perennials will come up just fine next spring.

I know how you feel. I had just finished all my annual spring plantings in the gardens and in about 25 containers on Memorial Day. Next day, as I was enjoying my efforts, a raging hail storm followed an hour later by terrific wind and rain undid all I'd done. You have my sympathy.

Al

Thank you. I will try shade cloth and see what happens. Sure hope they pull through.....so far no new leaves have started to show so I wonder if it is just to late in the season. Hope not.

Can't wait for an update! I'm keeping EVERYTHING crosed for you!

Even if new leaves don't show on the perennials this fall, I'm guessing they'll come back just fine in the spring. I know that doesn't help with regard to the squash & tomatoes in your veggie bed, but it's something.