WORTHINGTON — What a strange spring and summer 2025 has unfolded. A long cold dry winter slid into a warm, dry spring which finished into an overly hot, humid, wet summer.
What is going on?
The crops in our area look fantastic!
What about your gardens, your landscape plants?
I’ve noticed some odd things going on in my garden. My tomatoes are five feet tall and thick, but the tomatoes have been slow coming. Here we are into August and I’ve only picked about a dozen cherry tomatoes. My larger tomato plant has one really big tomato on it that’s been deep green for about two weeks now and that’s it. I’m hoping that it ripens before something gets it.
I did have a great bean crop and they are gearing up for a second round. My cucumbers have given me quite a few distorted shaped fruits and now the vines have a fungus. They have been pulled!
My zucchini have given me some squash if I can find them among the giant leaves. I also have a Buttercup squash that is loaded with flowers that are blooming until they fall off — no pollination going on. Finally, in the last couple of days they are starting to produce small squash. The vines are huge, just no action.
My lilac bush is reblooming again this year. All of my shrubs and perennials are so thick and lush that they are almost overgrown, but I have petunias that are struggling and marigolds that won’t bloom. We’ve got more quackgrass than ever and we have our lawn treated!
Does this look like your yard, your garden or your landscape? What is going on?
Don’t get frustrated. It’s Mother Nature showing she’s still in charge. Our weather is changing and we need to learn how to handle the changes.
Things to note — there is not much you can do for some of the oddities going on. Fertilizing doesn’t always help with a pot that’s struggling. Sometimes we just have to throw in the towel.
My petunias that are struggling have a couple of weeks to look better, or I’m going to just give up on them for this year.
The fungus on some of my plants is not worth treating. Most fungicides need to be applied at the first sign of a fungus. If you are seeing dieback, as with my cucumbers, it is too late and you will be wasting your money to treat them now. Pull them and dispose of all infected plant parts and leaves.
If you have a fungus on a shrub or perennial, cut out the infected part and get rid of it. Watch next year for early signs of recurrence. It may possibly be this year’s conditions. Insects can be treated for. Try using environmentally safe products or methods first before using synthetic products. Always follow all label instructions. PROTECT OUR POLLINATORS!
Herbicides for weeds should also be used according to label instructions.
Don’t give up! Don’t get frustrated! Every gardener has setbacks that can’t be controlled by what we do. Do what you can, follow good practices and try again next year.
If you have any questions or problems you need help with, you can reach out to the Minnesota Master Gardeners at extension.umn.edu; search Ask a Master Gardener. You fill out a form with your question and someone will get back to you within a couple of days.
You are not alone!
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