Vegetable Gardens

[VA-165 Boomer]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?

[angelicmadrigal]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?

My dad has grown a garden since I was born.

However, I have not inherited his or my mother's green thumb. I love plants, I just hate growing them. I don't mind helping with harvesting or water, but planting and weeding i hate.

But here's what's getting grown in my family:

DAD"S GARDEN: sweet corn, broccoli, peas, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermeloon, cucumbers
MOTHER"S GARDEN: peppers (many varieties), zucchini, squash
GRANDPARENTS: kolhirab, green beens, tomatoes, onions, peppers, pumpkins, zucchini,

FRUIT
Dad: pawpaws, apples
Mom: figs
Grandparents: apples, raspberries, peaches

My family also has LOTS Of flowers.

[VA-165 Boomer]

Our garden consists of lettuce, onions, 29 "better boy" tomato plants, snow peas, squash, bell pepper, zucchini, beets, spinach, and cucumbers. The only thing that didn't come up this spring was some eggplant seeds that had been given to us. We've have more rain than usual this year and our garden has really taken off better than any other year that I can remember.

[chicklet35]

I am growing 3 tomato plants, 2 squash, onions, radishes, lima beans, carrots, and watermelon. I'm about to get several tomatoes from my plants and have already been using onions! Everything else is coming along very well too. Also have several strawberry plants that I mainly grow for my kids they like to pick them off and eat them, especially my youngest. I can't wait for those tomatoes.:D

[VA-165 Boomer]

I am growing 3 tomato plants, 2 squash, onions, radishes, lima beans, carrots, and watermelon. I'm about to get several tomatoes from my plants and have already been using onions! Everything else is coming along very well too. Also have several strawberry plants that I mainly grow for my kids they like to pick them off and eat them, especially my youngest. I can't wait for those tomatoes.:D

There is nothing, I repeat nothing like the first ripe tomato out of the garden every summer! Ours usually arrive around the first week in July but last year ripened in late June.:dance:

[hremom]

This year we're growing green beans, peas, tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage, radish, lettice, carrots, pumpkin, zuccini, watermelon and cantalop. Nothing tastes better than home grown produce! However, corn and onion are grown so abundantly around me I get them for free so I don't waste my garden space on them. Same for potatoes and asparagus grows wild, though I hate it I do harvest it for my hubby and mom.

[JohnRandolph]

Cherry, Big Boy, and Roma Tomatos, Bell, Wax, and Jalapeno Peppers, Onions, Zucchini and Crookneck Squash, Kentucky Wonder and Kidney Beans, Purple Hull Peas, Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Okra. Covers about 3000 sq ft.
I got lazy and didnt get around to planting any melons this year.

Ive got Grapes, Peaches, Plums, Paw Paws, figs, a Pear and a Persimmon planted, but they are a few years away from being mature enough to produce.

[PeterGriffin]

City and "co-op" gardener. In planter boxes I have all the usual herbs, basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, marjoram, dill, and a couple of 'maters and peppers. Nothin' like waking up and making an omelette with fresh peppers, 'maters, and herbs. When they get too big I cut them down and dry them for homegrown herbs year round and cutting them back seems to slow them down from bolting.

My next door neighbors lot is a bigger than mine and most of mine is taken up with a pool and a patio, so we have a deal worked out where I help him with the gardening chores and we take whatever we need. Lots of baby squash, carrots, onions, tomatoes, dewberries (like a blackberry except more tart, I don't really care for them too much), various peppers, buttercrunch lettuce, arugala. Stuff comes up early here in SE Texas, I've been eating just about everything since late April. Only downside is that there are only a few varieties of tomatoes that will stand up to the heat and humidity, I miss growing the really oddball heirloom tomatoes. Tried here and they just either get diseased, heat stressed, or ate by bugs.

I don't know if we really save that much money, but we sure like having fresh produce. Even when I was single and living in the city I always had a little garden going, just something I picked up from my folks.

[VA-165 Boomer]

City and "co-op" gardener. In planter boxes I have all the usual herbs, basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, marjoram, dill, and a couple of 'maters and peppers. Nothin' like waking up and making an omelette with fresh peppers, 'maters, and herbs. When they get too big I cut them down and dry them for homegrown herbs year round and cutting them back seems to slow them down from bolting.

My next door neighbors lot is a bigger than mine and most of mine is taken up with a pool and a patio, so we have a deal worked out where I help him with the gardening chores and we take whatever we need. Lots of baby squash, carrots, onions, tomatoes, dewberries (like a blackberry except more tart, I don't really care for them too much), various peppers, buttercrunch lettuce, arugala. Stuff comes up early here in SE Texas, I've been eating just about everything since late April. Only downside is that there are only a few varieties of tomatoes that will stand up to the heat and humidity, I miss growing the really oddball heirloom tomatoes. Tried here and they just either get diseased, heat stressed, or ate by bugs.

I don't know if we really save that much money, but we sure like having fresh produce. Even when I was single and living in the city I always had a little garden going, just something I picked up from my folks.

Which variety of tomato seems to work the best for you?

[JohnRandolph]

City and "co-op" gardener. In planter boxes I have all the usual herbs, basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, marjoram, dill, and a couple of 'maters and peppers. Nothin' like waking up and making an omelette with fresh peppers, 'maters, and herbs. When they get too big I cut them down and dry them for homegrown herbs year round and cutting them back seems to slow them down from bolting.

My next door neighbors lot is a bigger than mine and most of mine is taken up with a pool and a patio, so we have a deal worked out where I help him with the gardening chores and we take whatever we need. Lots of baby squash, carrots, onions, tomatoes, dewberries (like a blackberry except more tart, I don't really care for them too much), various peppers, buttercrunch lettuce, arugala. Stuff comes up early here in SE Texas, I've been eating just about everything since late April. Only downside is that there are only a few varieties of tomatoes that will stand up to the heat and humidity, I miss growing the really oddball heirloom tomatoes. Tried here and they just either get diseased, heat stressed, or ate by bugs.

I don't know if we really save that much money, but we sure like having fresh produce. Even when I was single and living in the city I always had a little garden going, just something I picked up from my folks.

See, you take the dewberrys (about a quart and a half) and put them in a baking dish and sprinkle a cup of sugar over them. Then you take another cup of sugar, a cup of flower, one and a half teaspoons of baking powder and enough milk to turn this into a batter (about like pancake batter) and pour it over the berries. Pop it into the oven and bake until the topping browns... Spoon it up while hot into a bowl with some BlueBell vanilla icecream.

[PeterGriffin]

Which variety of tomato seems to work the best for you?

I've only been here two years so I'm still figuring it out but there's one called Heat Wave which seems to works best all through the summer, but the tomatoes themselves are kinda 'ehhh'; still better than store bought, but not as good as you would expect from homegrown.

Big Boys, Better Boys, Bush Goliath seem to be doing pretty well, but they'll still crap out in the middle of the summer. I've tried my all time favorite Brandywines every growing season and it's sad to watch what happens to them...lol. Seems like only the heavily hybridized ones have a chance around here.

[PeterGriffin]

See, you take the dewberrys (about a quart and a half) and put them in a baking dish and sprinkle a cup of sugar over them. Then you take another cup of sugar, a cup of flower, one and a half teaspoons of baking powder and enough milk to turn this into a batter (about like pancake batter) and pour it over the berries. Pop it into the oven and bake until the topping browns... Spoon it up while hot into a bowl with some BlueBell vanilla icecream.

Usually what I do is put them in a saucepan, cover with water and add sugar to taste and a shot of Cointreau and cook it down to a glaze that goes over cheesecake or ice cream :D I like your idea a lot though, might have to give it a whirl, thanks :)

[JohnRandolph]

Usually what I do is put them in a saucepan, cover with water and add sugar to taste and a shot of Cointreau and cook it down to a glaze that goes over cheesecake or ice cream :D I like your idea a lot though, might have to give it a whirl, thanks :)

Bisquick works too, use the pancake recepie. In fact, I recommend it for now, because I am not too sure I remembered the quantities correctly.

[VA-165 Boomer]

I've only been here two years so I'm still figuring it out but there's one called Heat Wave which seems to works best all through the summer, but the tomatoes themselves are kinda 'ehhh'; still better than store bought, but not as good as you would expect from homegrown.

Big Boys, Better Boys, Bush Goliath seem to be doing pretty well, but they'll still crap out in the middle of the summer. I've tried my all time favorite Brandywines every growing season and it's sad to watch what happens to them...lol. Seems like only the heavily hybridized ones have a chance around here.

We like the better boys for taste and shape, small core but we have had a problem with redhorse aphids killing our plants no matter how much we battle them, they seem to get our plants long before the first freeze.

[JohnRandolph]

I've only been here two years so I'm still figuring it out but there's one called Heat Wave which seems to works best all through the summer, but the tomatoes themselves are kinda 'ehhh'; still better than store bought, but not as good as you would expect from homegrown.

Big Boys, Better Boys, Bush Goliath seem to be doing pretty well, but they'll still crap out in the middle of the summer. I've tried my all time favorite Brandywines every growing season and it's sad to watch what happens to them...lol. Seems like only the heavily hybridized ones have a chance around here.

End of July is about it for tomatoes down here. Shading them with screen cloth can sometimes buy you another week or two. IF you can keep the plants alive to the end of summer, they will start back up when the nights cool down to 70-75 degrees.

[hremom]

I've only been here two years so I'm still figuring it out but there's one called Heat Wave which seems to works best all through the summer, but the tomatoes themselves are kinda 'ehhh'; still better than store bought, but not as good as you would expect from homegrown.

Big Boys, Better Boys, Bush Goliath seem to be doing pretty well, but they'll still crap out in the middle of the summer. I've tried my all time favorite Brandywines every growing season and it's sad to watch what happens to them...lol. Seems like only the heavily hybridized ones have a chance around here.


I have an uncle who lives in Texas, he puts put an afternoon canopy to protect them during the hottest part of the day and his tomatoes are wonderful! I'll try to get the varity he grows and details on how he does he canopy, I know it's something he rigged up himself. He grows so much they supply the neighbors for the summer and still put up their own katsup, salsa, and stewed tomatoes...... he even sends me some for Christmas.

[SimpleRichLady]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?

Not this year. Lack of time to devote to garden. Last year I had cucumbers, chilli pepper & okra.

This year I plan to pick vegetables from a farm in the town that is open to public for free pickup

[VA-165 Boomer]

Not this year. Lack of time to devote to garden. Last year I had cucumbers, chilli pepper & okra.

This year I plan to pick vegetables from a farm in the town that is open to public for free pickup

Sorry to hear that SRL. Thats when neighbors come in handy!

[DONTTREADONME]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?I love the vegetable garden. We always grow tomatos, black berries and strawberries. Every year is different, but usually involves several of the following; carrots, beets, Italian squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, corn, kolrobi and some sort of bean. We always try something different each year.

[NascarGirl2448]

There is nothing, I repeat nothing like the first ripe tomato out of the garden every summer! Ours usually arrive around the first week in July but last year ripened in late June.:dance:

You must not have had the horrible drought we did!! We tried planting tomato plants last summer, and they bombed out big time. Although we got several of those little cherry tomatoes throughout the summer. However anything bigger than that would usually go bad by the time it ripened. I don't know if it was due to the drought or what, but it seems like it must have been, because we kept the danged things watered constantly!!!

[CountryGirl]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?

I used to be CRAZY into gardening but experienced over-kill via a public garden that I used to tend. After year 6 I began to hate spring so I laid off the gardening. This year I seem to be getting back into it with herbs and veggies but am running late.

Big pots of basil, dill, thyme, cilantro and rosemary are on the deck near the grill so I can pick and use them as I'm cooking.

The vegetable garden has 3 types of tomatoes - Early Girl, Supersonic and Roma. Burpee burpless cukes, yellow crookneck squash, green peppers and hot peppers are the only other things in the vegetable garden at the moment. I might add some melon plants and hope they have time to catch up.

I should have started earlier but life kept getting in the way. Our growing season is long so I should be able to begin with plants and do okay.

[rob_b52]

I cannot have a vegitable garden in my yard because the mobile home community management says that those things attract skunks and groundhogs. I could get away with an herb garden, or I could just grow them in little plant pots on my window sill.

[JohnRandolph]

You must not have had the horrible drought we did!! We tried planting tomato plants last summer, and they bombed out big time. Although we got several of those little cherry tomatoes throughout the summer. However anything bigger than that would usually go bad by the time it ripened. I don't know if it was due to the drought or what, but it seems like it must have been, because we kept the danged things watered constantly!!!

When they went bad, was it a black spot that grew larger from the bottom of the fruit?

[angelicmadrigal]

When they went bad, was it a black spot that grew larger from the bottom of the fruit?

That sounds like a disease or blight of some sort to me.

[JohnRandolph]

That sounds like a disease or blight of some sort to me.

Blossom end rot. Has 2 causes, lack of water and low calcium levels in the soil.

[angelicmadrigal]

Blossom end rot. Has 2 causes, lack of water and low calcium levels in the soil.

yuck. So how do you fix lack of calcium, adding bonemeal to the soil?

[JohnRandolph]

yuck. So how do you fix lack of calcium, adding bonemeal to the soil?

That or ag lime.

[Fire Watch]

I have 10 mater plants, strawberries, cucumbers, squash, watermelon, cantelope, eggplant, and a wild blackberry bush.

[Dreamy]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?

tomatoes,cukes,peppers in our little patch of farmland. lol

[NascarGirl2448]

When they went bad, was it a black spot that grew larger from the bottom of the fruit?

Must have been because the danged things were moldy on the bottom. Either way, we gave up on the idea of growing tomatoes this summer.

[VA-165 Boomer]

I have 10 mater plants, strawberries, cucumbers, squash, watermelon, cantelope, eggplant, and a wild blackberry bush.

Good luck with the cukes!:cool:

[Fire Watch]

Good luck with the cukes!:cool:
I'm using Miracle Gro gardening soil. They're going nuts.

[JohnRandolph]

1st cherry tomatoes came off the vine today...
The Mrs. put up 3 quarts of squash.

[JohnRandolph]

Bump

Am giving away squash and cucumbers to folks I work with, its coming off faster than the Mrs. can put it up.

[VA-165 Boomer]

There is a possibility G/L will be contacting you. :angel:

[PeterGriffin]

Bump

Am giving away squash and cucumbers to folks I work with, its coming off faster than the Mrs. can put it up.

LOL. Awesome. When the squash starts rollin' you can practically watch it grow. I like to pick them on the smaller side; you can pick a squash plant clean, water it, and come out the very next day and do it all over again.

A possible thought, if you find the right customer or restaurant, squash blossoms are quite the delicacy and wholesale for over a dollar each. At farmers markets in San Diego they go for about $3 each, just for the friggin' blossom.

[JohnRandolph]

LOL. Awesome. When the squash starts rollin' you can practically watch it grow. I like to pick them on the smaller side; you can pick a squash plant clean, water it, and come out the very next day and do it all over again.

A possible thought, if you find the right customer or restaurant, squash blossoms are quite the delicacy and wholesale for over a dollar each. At farmers markets in San Diego they go for about $3 each, just for the friggin' blossom.

For the blossom? Somehow I dont see the locals picking up on this trend.

[VA-165 Boomer]

Bump

Am giving away squash and cucumbers to folks I work with, its coming off faster than the Mrs. can put it up.

Paperthin slices of both yellow squash and zuchini when very young are two favorite ingredients in my weekend breakfast omlets. We have blossoms. It won't be long now.

[PeterGriffin]

For the blossom? Somehow I dont see the locals picking up on this trend.

If you there is a gourmet Mexican or Italian restaurant around, they'll buy 'em for good money, although I agree the economics are a bit different.

A little history:

http://www.strauscom.com/farmfresh/ffsblos.html

Some recipes:

http://www.seasonalchef.com/recipe0805b.htm

When I lived in San Diego my friends Mexican grandmother would makes us a simple fried and salted blossom that was soooo good. She would cook up all day as long as I kept the squash blossoms.

It would be a tough business venture because of the hours long shelf life, but if you have that much squash you might try playing around with some of the blossom recipes.

[JohnRandolph]

Paperthin slices of both yellow squash and zuchini when very young are two favorite ingredients in my weekend breakfast omlets. We have blossoms. It won't be long now.

I chop purple onions, jalapenos, garlic, bell peppers, and tomatoes for my breakfast omlettes. I will give the squash a try.

[JohnRandolph]

If you there is a gourmet Mexican or Italian restaurant around, they'll buy 'em for good money, although I agree the economics are a bit different.

A little history:

http://www.strauscom.com/farmfresh/ffsblos.html

Some recipes:

http://www.seasonalchef.com/recipe0805b.htm

When I lived in San Diego my friends Mexican grandmother would makes us a simple fried and salted blossom that was soooo good. She would cook up all day as long as I kept the squash blossoms.

It would be a tough business venture because of the hours long shelf life, but if you have that much squash you might try playing around with some of the blossom recipes.

Gourmet around here is the BBQ joint and the Chinese buffet, but I will see if I can interest the Mrs. in the recipes. Thanks.

[Nevarwinter]

My parents and grandparents always had some type of vegetable garden.

I want to start one, and I have an inherited green thumb, but I lack the time to get it done.

[Ninjacorpse]

Just tomatoes and peppers this year, I went over board last year and refused to use pesticide so everything except my peppers and tomatoes were ruined.

[PeterGriffin]

Just tomatoes and peppers this year, I went over board last year and refused to use pesticide so everything except my peppers and tomatoes were ruined.

I've done that before, gotten too ambitious. It can get away from you in just a few days and the next thing you know all you've done is create a critter buffet line.

[pattyk]

Just tomatoes and peppers this year, I went over board last year and refused to use pesticide so everything except my peppers and tomatoes were ruined.

reminds me of the Simpson's episode where Bart's school was growing an organic garden, with Marge being in charge of it.

so many bugs, she started sneaking out at night and spraying it with pesticides

hilarious

[PeterGriffin]

reminds me of the Simpson's episode where Bart's school was growing an organic garden, with Marge being in charge of it.

so many bugs, she started sneaking out at night and spraying it with pesticides

hilarious

That was King Of The Hill :)

[Ninjacorpse]

I've done that before, gotten too ambitious. It can get away from you in just a few days and the next thing you know all you've done is create a critter buffet line.

I was pretty upset I only got 6 ears of corn out of there, they were damn good though.

[VA-165 Boomer]

I was pretty upset I only got 6 ears of corn out of there, they were damn good though.

Note: one can cook sweetcorn in the microwave with a wonderful result. Butter and salt, if you wish, wrap in wax paper and heat on high for two minutes per ear. Better than cooking in water because there is no loss of flavor. And much faster than stovetop.

[outfromunder]

There is nothing, I repeat nothing like the first ripe tomato out of the garden every summer! Ours usually arrive around the first week in July but last year ripened in late June.:dance:

outside of intimacy with a woman, there is nothing better than a plate of garden raised tomatos and green beans and cucumbers and new potatos on a hot july night sitting under a ceiling fan on my patio.

JD

[JohnRandolph]

outside of intimacy with a woman, there is nothing better than a plate of garden raised tomatos and green beans and cucumbers and new potatos on a hot july night sitting under a ceiling fan on my patio.

JD

My first Romas and Big Girls came off the vines yesterday. Picked the kidney beans and okra too.

Another few days and the peas will be coming off.

[Chucky]

Let's see...

In NJ in the 60s we did corn, cherry tomatoes, string beans and peas. In the 70s in NY we only did tomatoes. In the 80s in FL we did oranges (you couldn't hardly stop them!)(yeah, OK, they're fruit, not a veggie). In the 90s in AZ we were lucky to get the prickly pear cactus to grow (makes great jam, btw). In the 2000s in TX we tried tomatoes again, but it was a lot of work (and water) for very little return. It looks like TN or WY is next (NH if I'm lucky...), so we'll check with the locals to see what does best there...

[Apatriot]

I've only been here two years so I'm still figuring it out but there's one called Heat Wave which seems to works best all through the summer, but the tomatoes themselves are kinda 'ehhh'; still better than store bought, but not as good as you would expect from homegrown.

Big Boys, Better Boys, Bush Goliath seem to be doing pretty well, but they'll still crap out in the middle of the summer. I've tried my all time favorite Brandywines every growing season and it's sad to watch what happens to them...lol. Seems like only the heavily hybridized ones have a chance around here.


I've read some garden columns here in NW FL that suggest that with Tomatoes, you should just plant a second crop in late August, and should be able to keep growing them until October or November. SE Texas shouldn't be that much different.

[RTchoke]

I'm getting rather jealous with ya'll talking about things you are picking form your garden right now. We can't even plant until end of May since it frosts here so late and is still cold. I have managed to get in the tomatoes and peppers and a couple of rows with the salad fixin's but that is all. It has rained here every day for weeks so there is no chance of getting out to plant more. To top it off it snowed yesterday and the temperatures are still hovering in the low thirties and hasn't gotten above 42 degrees in over a week.

:((

[Chucky]

I'm getting rather jealous with ya'll talking about things you are picking form your garden right now. We can't even plant until end of May since it frosts here so late and is still cold. I have managed to get in the tomatoes and peppers and a couple of rows with the salad fixin's but that is all. It has rained here every day for weeks so there is no chance of getting out to plant more. To top it off it snowed yesterday and the temperatures are still hovering in the low thirties and hasn't gotten above 42 degrees in over a week.

:((
Ever try a greenhouse? It might not pass the "economical" test unless it's big enough, but it would get you a longer season.

[RTchoke]

Ever try a greenhouse? It might not pass the "economical" test unless it's big enough, but it would get you a longer season.

we've thought of it, but it's just not feasible at this point. I start a lot of things indoors now, but we've had such rotten wet, cold weather the past three weeks I can't get it planted. The garden is just a muddy mess.

Come August though, I'll be complaining because it's too hot. :mrgreen:

[PeterGriffin]

I've read some garden columns here in NW FL that suggest that with Tomatoes, you should just plant a second crop in late August, and should be able to keep growing them until October or November. SE Texas shouldn't be that much different.

Yup, that's what I did last late summer/fall. I actually got a lot more production from the late season crop than the spring crop, and three of the tomatoes I was able to keep alive through the winter and they started putting off tomatoes again by early April. My neighbor who I co-op with says the same thing, get a lot better results from the fall gardens than the spring around here.

[JohnRandolph]

I'll get some pictures scanned in and figure out how to post them.

[PeterGriffin]

I suppose it is worth mentioning what with the tomato salmonella scare and all, I am feeling pretty damn smug when I'm biting into my homegrown tomato'. And I don't have to worry about salmonella or e. coli or any of that because I know for a fact that I'm crapping in the yard a good safe distance from my veggie plants.

[Lord Dreadmore]

fig and loquat trees, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn.

[JohnRandolph]

fig and loquat trees, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn.

I miss loquats. They will grow here, but the last frost is too late for them to produce.

[rosiegirl]

I've planted tomotoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, green beans and corn. I also have a few herbs.
I usually plant pumpkins too for the fall.

Not too much but it all tastes very good!

[JohnRandolph]

Pics are up.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008008.jpg
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http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008020.jpg

So, how about yall?
Share what you got.

[PeterGriffin]

I feel a little inadequate now.

[chichimama]

I'm hungry!

[PeterGriffin]

John, how do you keep the birds off your 'maters? As soon as mine start to blush it's a race for me to get them off the vine before the birds start pecking at 'em.

[JohnRandolph]

I feel a little inadequate now.

Dont, only a damn fool would set themselves up for that much outside work in the summer in Texas

John, how do you keep the birds off your 'maters? As soon as mine start to blush it's a race for me to get them off the vine before the birds start pecking at 'em.

Got me some rubber snakes from the toy dept. at WalMart. I drape them among the vines, move 'em every now and then.

[PeterGriffin]

Rubber snaaaaakes....hrrrrm...clever. I could not only get my tomatoes ripened on the vine, but have some fun around the house as well (Mrs. Griffin haaaates snakes).

[JohnRandolph]

Rubber snaaaaakes....hrrrrm...clever. I could not only get my tomatoes ripened on the vine, but have some fun around the house as well (Mrs. Griffin haaaates snakes).

My boy likes to hide them under his mother's pillow...
I am required to appear cross with him.

[rosiegirl]

Something is eating holes in my green bean leaves and cantaloupe.
Any suggestions on what to do?

[rosiegirl]

Pics are up.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008008.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008015.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008004.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008007.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008005.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008009.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008003.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008001.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008006.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/JohnRandolphSouthronPartisan/Garden/InTheGarden6242008020.jpg

So, how about yall?
Share what you got.

Holy smokes! My garden looks nothing like that.

[Darkblade]

I've only been here two years so I'm still figuring it out but there's one called Heat Wave which seems to works best all through the summer, but the tomatoes themselves are kinda 'ehhh'; still better than store bought, but not as good as you would expect from homegrown.

Big Boys, Better Boys, Bush Goliath seem to be doing pretty well, but they'll still crap out in the middle of the summer. I've tried my all time favorite Brandywines every growing season and it's sad to watch what happens to them...lol. Seems like only the heavily hybridized ones have a chance around here.have you considered using a cheese cloth shade for the tomatoes? that might either allow for more varieties or just extend the season for the ones you already use... i love the more novel heirlooms.who knew there were white, orange, striped, and black varieties? there is a big catalog that just contains varieties of tomatoes. you can probably get it from online though. something like "just tomatoes" i'll check it out when i find it again.

[Darkblade]

i believe it is totallytomatoes; http://www.totallytomato.com/sp.asp?c=39 not sure but it looks like it.

[Darkblade]

the catalog i had had a lot more varieties in it. it was as 1/4 inch thick and full of tomatoes and tomato supplies.

[Darkblade]

meh. anyway here is a tomatoe bonanza too: http://www.tomato-cages.com/tomato-seeds.html

[Darkblade]

and look at these: http://www.amishlandseeds.com/tomatoes_colors.htm

[PeterGriffin]

*sigh* I miss living in Cali where you could grow anything with almost no effort.

My neighbor has lived in this area his whole life and is an avid gardener, he hasn't had any luck with heirlooms around here, ever. The environment is just too extreme as far as temp and humidity, and the bugs will carry you off if you're not careful.

This springs tomatoes are just about cashed in, getting too hot for any new flowers and such. This fall I might try a few more Brandywines, don't really need to shade them in the fall though. I'd say it's a better growing season for tomatoes and peppers than the spring, at least in the two years I've been here.

[rosiegirl]

A little help with my bug problem please!! :)

[Darkblade]

depends on the type of bug; for aphids the best way to go is lady bugs and other natural predators. for some of the others i am not so sure.

[Darkblade]

there are tiny wasps that go after caterpillars. don't know about cinque bugs.

[PeterGriffin]

Malathion :twisted:

[rosiegirl]

Please tell me how I find out the bug type

[rosiegirl]

Malathion :twisted:


That sounds dangerous:eek::eek:

[Darkblade]

Please tell me how I find out the bug typea good way is to type tomatoe insect pests into a search engine: you will find photos of bugs and bug damage like this page from the colorado area: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/tompests.htm

[rosiegirl]

a good way is to type tomatoe insect pests into a search engine: you will find photos of bugs and bug damage like this page from the colorado area: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/tompests.htm

Thank you!

[PeterGriffin]

That sounds dangerous:eek::eek:

I was mostly teasing. I've used malathion twice when I lived in California, on orange trees that were so infested with fungus and rot and critters that the whole tree looked like a big fuzzy white ball. Took two applications over the period of a month, but a tree that looked like it might be too far gone (it was also half dead from lack of water) was putting out the best oranges I've ever had to this day within a year. It's super aggressive, but hey, what's a few mutated cells between friends? :D

Safer Soap is usually good for knocking down most household veggie garden pests and is very safe and mild.

[rosiegirl]

Safer soap ~ Okay where do I buy this?
I have holes on the leaves but I don't see any bugs.

[JohnRandolph]

Ask your local nursery supply. Not the mouth breather at the Wal Mart, Lowes, Home Depot garden center, but the guy at the real nursery. You might also pinch off a stem and show it to him.

[rosiegirl]

Ask your local nursery supply. Not the mouth breather at the Wal Mart, Lowes, Home Depot garden center, but the guy at the real nursery. You might also pinch off a stem and show it to him.

Good idea! I'll do that :)

[PeterGriffin]

Ask your local nursery supply. Not the mouth breather at the Wal Mart, Lowes, Home Depot garden center, but the guy at the real nursery. You might also pinch off a stem and show it to him.

^Best advice

[JohnRandolph]

Hey Pete
How goes your plants?

[JohnRandolph]

Bump for the spring planting.

Onions, garlic, cauliflower, and broccoli have been in the ground for a month. If I get a few minutes tomorrow, gonna plant some spinach and lettuce.

[RTchoke]

Bump for the spring planting.

Onions, garlic, cauliflower, and broccoli have been in the ground for a month. If I get a few minutes tomorrow, gonna plant some spinach and lettuce.

Already in the ground? Damn. It just snowed some more here today. I envy those of you that can plant before May. :))

[JohnRandolph]

Already in the ground? Damn. It just snowed some more here today. I envy those of you that can plant before May. :))

They are pretty cold hardy, and will survive several frosts and freezes.
I have to get out today and till up the winter weeds. Its cloudy, windy, and in the middle 70's here at the moment.

[janer]

I put in a small plot last year and started with herbs - I grew basil, oregano, lemon basil and Italian parsley. This year, I may try some tomatoes or strawberries if the new canine family member will stop making free with my plot.
When I was a kid, my Sicilian grandfather had the gift - grew everything and tended it all himself; there were, however, some wild blackberry bushes that were never tended, and produced great berries. I'm wondering what would be involved in putting one or two bushes down - our soil's the same. Has anyone every grown blackberries?

[Darkblade]

blackberries are extremely hardy and can grow just about anywhere. they are a wild plant as well as a cultivated plant. the wild ones just won't die. ever. and produce pretty good too. wild berries taste just fine and around here it is sort of a tradition to go out and gather them and make cobblers or preserves out of them. in this 24 hour media age gathering wild is dying with our elders but many still do it.

[Darkblade]

what you can do is take the canes and hold them on the ground and bury them along the cane towards the middle so that the top of the cane is exposed above the area you buried. the buried part of the cane will then grow roots and you can then cut the cane and dig up the now rooted tip of the cane as a separate but easier to handle small plant to transplant into your desired location.

[JohnRandolph]

blackberries are extremely hardy and can grow just about anywhere. they are a wild plant as well as a cultivated plant. the wild ones just won't die. ever. and produce pretty good too. wild berries taste just fine and around here it is sort of a tradition to go out and gather them and make cobblers or preserves out of them. in this 24 hour media age gathering wild is dying with our elders but many still do it.

I am gonna put up a trellis and get some thornless variety berries today to go with the peach trees that I was going to buy anyway.

[Darkblade]

I am gonna put up a trellis and get some thornless variety berries today to go with the peach trees that I was going to buy anyway.well i guess you can do the cane trick with tame cultivars too after they get a little growth on them.

[ValricoKate]

Already in the ground? Damn. It just snowed some more here today. I envy those of you that can plant before May. :))

we generally finish our last outdoor crop May June. Summer is just too wet and buggy.

We usually switch to summer plants around St. Paddy's day.
strawberrys and cabbage are just about done.

[ValricoKate]

http://www.earthbox.com/consumer/videos.html

got a couple of these for summer so I can keep them screened in and out of the torrential rains.
Summer is for earthbox other 3 seasons are for in the ground.

[JohnRandolph]

Lettuce and spinach are planted, should have done it last week. Gourds are in the ground too, though I suspect they wont survive the last frost of the year, which is generally about Easter. Didn't get around to going to town and getting the peaches or berries. I need to spend less time on line and get more done.

[PeterGriffin]

I took a chance after the last snap and put in a bunch of lettuce and leafy stuff too. Been eatin' some grade A salad all week :D

How the heck are ya JR?

[rmbrad]

I was having a cabin fever moment today, and started thinking about getting out to trim the apple tree. It will be another month before I start the Garden. I usually grow several types of tomatos. I "discovered" a couple of new ones last year. Sweet 100 cherry tomatos, and Brandywine. I usually have 8 to 10 plants. I also grow La-Roma. I am going to have to have cages made this year. I have an idea for makeing them out of rebar. All of my wire cages have collapsed every year, and I am tired of it.

I found a stringless Kentucky Wonder green bean, and a purple green bean (can't remember the name) the taste is fantastic, and they turn green when cooked. Big Burtha Bell Peppers seem to be the best for the area. There will be some poblano, and mild chili peppers. I usually finish the garden with Sugar Snap peas.

have several "strawberry" pots for hurbs. My Father-in-law farms 1000 acres and most of it is hybred sweet corn seed. This is the stuff that gets sold next year in the little seed packets for gardeners. I live in the middle of orchards, vineyards, and fields of potatos and onions, and it is cheaper to buy this stuff then grow it. Asparagas is grown in smaller fields.

Between freezing, canning, and drying, we lay away a fairly good supply of produce. I also have a smoker, and smoke a lot of meat. I can tell you that a sandwich made with smoked bologna, slices of fresh tomato, and onion is hard to beat.

[PeterGriffin]

How did the Sweet 100's do for you? I got a couple of those going this year, so far they're the healthiest, fastest growing plants in the garden. Still haven't found a strain that holds up very well in the Texas heat and humidity without constant tending.

[rmbrad]

How did the Sweet 100's do for you? I got a couple of those going this year, so far they're the healthiest, fastest growing plants in the garden. Still haven't found a strain that holds up very well in the Texas heat and humidity without constant tending.

They were the best cherry tomatos I have eaten. I am in Idaho, but the summers can run from fairly cool and dry to hot and humid. Nothing like you experiance in the South.

[JohnRandolph]

I took a chance after the last snap and put in a bunch of lettuce and leafy stuff too. Been eatin' some grade A salad all week :D

How the heck are ya JR?

Not too bad for an old fart. How is that boy coming along?

[TheFallGuy]

My wife and I are planning our garden. I found a place that sells choke cherry trees for cheap, so I'm going to plant a couple of those along with several other fruit trees.

So far, we've got a list of herbs and spices we'll plant along with lots of veggies. Spinach, squashes, tomatoes (lots of cherry tomatoes for our little boy). We just have to wait for global warming to stop dropping its dandruff on us.

[TheFallGuy]

They were the best cherry tomatos I have eaten. I am in Idaho, but the summers can run from fairly cool and dry to hot and humid. Nothing like you experiance in the South.

But you're in Nampa. That's not too bad. Along the eastern edge of Idaho it gets even worse. Though the potatoes from Ashton/St. Anthony area are the best. :D In Bear Lake you have to wait until late to plant anything. The only bonus is, your lilacs flower in June. :))

[itsrea]

Hi everyone... I'm late to the thread but I'm also going to be late to the planting too (we still have snow on the ground). We're planting our first garden this year.. neighbor plowed it up for us last fall, and will come back when he comes back from his winter home in AZ and plow in some fertilizer, etc.. we ordererd our seeds and plants today - and after hearing that there is a shortage on seeds, I hope we get them all.

We had to go for the fastest growing on everything in case we run into no-spring, short summer and hardly any fall like we had last year. But this is what we have planned:

Three kinds of peppers: Yellow Monster ; Red Beauty Hybrid, and California Wonder , plus a Tabasco potted plant,
Tomato are Big Beef Hybrid, Tomato, Sweet Baby Girl,
Lettuce will be some Simpson Elite and a Lettuce, Gourmet Salad Blend
Spinach, Melody,
Cantaloupe, Athena,
Bean, Blue Lake #274
Peas are Early Alaska, Pea, Oregon Sugar Pod, & Pea, Green arrow
Garlic, Jumbo Elephant & regular Garlic Sets
Onion Collection that has all three kinds, yellow, white and red
Herb Garden Collection
Asparagus, Giant Jersey
Swiss Chard, Bright Lights
Cucumber, Pioneer Hybrid & Cucumber, Homemade for Pickles
Squash, Summer Medley Hybrid Blend
Carrot, Sweetness
Radishes are Pink Beauty & Cherry Belle
Beet, Detroit Dark Red
Spinach, Early Hybrid #7

We have black berries that grow wild on the property, I use them for jams and for freezing for desserts over the winter.. I'd hope to get our fruit trees and the blue berries and raspberries in this year, but it's just not going to happen - money is too short.

Anyone know where I can order decent priced my canning jars this time of the year?

[missmel]

I was having a cabin fever moment today, and started thinking about getting out to trim the apple tree. It will be another month before I start the Garden. I usually grow several types of tomatos. I "discovered" a couple of new ones last year. Sweet 100 cherry tomatos, and Brandywine. I usually have 8 to 10 plants. I also grow La-Roma. I am going to have to have cages made this year. I have an idea for makeing them out of rebar. All of my wire cages have collapsed every year, and I am tired of it.

I found a stringless Kentucky Wonder green bean, and a purple green bean (can't remember the name) the taste is fantastic, and they turn green when cooked. Big Burtha Bell Peppers seem to be the best for the area. There will be some poblano, and mild chili peppers. I usually finish the garden with Sugar Snap peas.

have several "strawberry" pots for hurbs. My Father-in-law farms 1000 acres and most of it is hybred sweet corn seed. This is the stuff that gets sold next year in the little seed packets for gardeners. I live in the middle of orchards, vineyards, and fields of potatos and onions, and it is cheaper to buy this stuff then grow it. Asparagas is grown in smaller fields.

Between freezing, canning, and drying, we lay away a fairly good supply of produce. I also have a smoker, and smoke a lot of meat. I can tell you that a sandwich made with smoked bologna, slices of fresh tomato, and onion is hard to beat.

we have the purple green beans this year, too. It will be our first year. I am looking forward to tasting!

[missmel]

Looks like I am also late to this thread. I've been enjoying reading all the posts. Here is what we are doing this year:

indoor herbs:
basil
cilantro
chives
I have these on the windowsill in self-watering pots, and they are doing quite well. I like them close-by for cooking.

fruit:
strawberries
blackberries (thornless)
blueberries
raspberries (thornless)
watermelon
(the berries are going in on a bank that is getting watered, but has nothing decent growing on it - poorly planned irrigation put to practical use!)

veggies:
cucumbers
celery
potatoes
yellow sweet onions
garlic
tomatoes (amish paste)
sweet peppers
lettuce (red romaine)
blue lake beans
purple string beans
yellow crookneck squash
black beauty zucchini
Denvers half-long carrots

we are attempting a square foot gardening set up.

Also looking at some dwarf citrus for the patio, and additional herbs.

New strategy - has to have a practical use if we're going to water it.

[itsrea]

Looks like I am also late to this thread. I've been enjoying reading all the posts. Here is what we are doing this year:

indoor herbs:
basil
cilantro
chives
I have these on the windowsill in self-watering pots, and they are doing quite well. I like them close-by for cooking.

fruit:
strawberries
blackberries (thornless)
blueberries
raspberries (thornless)
watermelon
(the berries are going in on a bank that is getting watered, but has nothing decent growing on it - poorly planned irrigation put to practical use!)

veggies:
cucumbers
celery
potatoes
yellow sweet onions
garlic
tomatoes (amish paste)
sweet peppers
lettuce (red romaine)
blue lake beans
purple string beans
yellow crookneck squash
black beauty zucchini
Denvers half-long carrots

we are attempting a square foot gardening set up.

Also looking at some dwarf citrus for the patio, and additional herbs.

New strategy - has to have a practical use if we're going to water it.I forgot Cilantro...!!! :eek:

What is square foot gardening?

[hillplus]

I forgot Cilantro...!!! :eek:

What is square foot gardening?

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

I got the book from the library and it was quite informative. More plants in less space is the goal. Less weeds, less watering, etc...

[itsrea]

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

I got the book from the library and it was quite informative. More plants in less space is the goal. Less weeds, less watering, etc...Thanks for the link.. I bookmarked it for looking at later.

[JohnRandolph]

I had planned to spend the last three days getting my garden ready for planting, then it took to raining and hasnt quit yet. This old heavy clay on my place will take two weeks to dry up enough to work. Maybe by then we will have had our last frost.

I still have a lot from the last two years in the freezer and jars, I will probably go with zuccini, Roma tomatoes, Yellow wax peppers, jalapenos, some pickling cukes, okra, purple hull peas, and some sweet corn.

I've some cilantro and oregano in pots on our front porch.

[missmel]

I tried to get as many drought-tolerant varieties as possible - I'm in socal and we're looking at water rationing by summer.

We are in the mountain foothills, so we are still getting frost...

[Lady Liberty]

This year I'm trying an an heirloom tomato call 'costoluto genovese'. I can't wait to try them!

Am also putting in; Basil for pesto, cucumbers for pickling, dill, green beans, a whole bunch of herbs, and several different hot pepper varieties for pickling. There are some huge sunflowers and some smaller dwarf ones on the border.

Just for fun, I've started some oriental red poppy and clary sage seedlings. They'll go out front near the roses.

I can't believe next Friday is the Spring Equinox already!
~

[JoJo626]

Safer soap ~ Okay where do I buy this?
I have holes on the leaves but I don't see any bugs.

I always mix Ivory dishwashing liquid with water in a spray bottle to kill aphids and other pests on my rose bushes. You can also buy beneficial insects such as lady bugs to control pests.

Right now we only have a box with strawberries in it. We're in the process of relocating. Next season we are planning to plant another garden. In previous gardens we've had black-eyed peas, black beans, squash, bell pepers, corn (didn't do well), red potatos, strawberries, jalapeno peppers, banana peppers and tomatos. Our tomatos had the bloom end rot, too. I don't remember the name, but we used a spray on the plants that helped.

[TheFallGuy]

Hi everyone... I'm late to the thread but I'm also going to be late to the planting too (we still have snow on the ground). We're planting our first garden this year.. neighbor plowed it up for us last fall, and will come back when he comes back from his winter home in AZ and plow in some fertilizer, etc.. we ordererd our seeds and plants today - and after hearing that there is a shortage on seeds, I hope we get them all.

We had to go for the fastest growing on everything in case we run into no-spring, short summer and hardly any fall like we had last year. But this is what we have planned:

Three kinds of peppers: Yellow Monster ; Red Beauty Hybrid, and California Wonder , plus a Tabasco potted plant,
Tomato are Big Beef Hybrid, Tomato, Sweet Baby Girl,
Lettuce will be some Simpson Elite and a Lettuce, Gourmet Salad Blend
Spinach, Melody,
Cantaloupe, Athena,
Bean, Blue Lake #274
Peas are Early Alaska, Pea, Oregon Sugar Pod, & Pea, Green arrow
Garlic, Jumbo Elephant & regular Garlic Sets
Onion Collection that has all three kinds, yellow, white and red
Herb Garden Collection
Asparagus, Giant Jersey
Swiss Chard, Bright Lights
Cucumber, Pioneer Hybrid & Cucumber, Homemade for Pickles
Squash, Summer Medley Hybrid Blend
Carrot, Sweetness
Radishes are Pink Beauty & Cherry Belle
Beet, Detroit Dark Red
Spinach, Early Hybrid #7

We have black berries that grow wild on the property, I use them for jams and for freezing for desserts over the winter.. I'd hope to get our fruit trees and the blue berries and raspberries in this year, but it's just not going to happen - money is too short.

Anyone know where I can order decent priced my canning jars this time of the year?

After what global warming dropped on us earlier this week, two feet of snow, I think we're all a little late. :lol:

I'm pretty much starting from scratch. We just bought our house late last fall--good timing on the market, lousy time to buy/plant trees and such. I had to tear out three trees in the back--several pines and a crabapple. We have a tasty golden delicious apple in the corner so that stayed. There's six more trees that have got to go in the front. I also had to rip out a dozen rose bushes so this year we could plant what we wanted. Here's our list, so far:

Trees to plant:
Montmorency Cherry
Peach
Pear (I want Comice but you need two, non-self-propagating)
Apricot
Sweet cherry
Choke cherry
Hazelnut

Berries/vines:
Thornless blackberry
Raspberry
strawberry
blueberry
two varieties of grape (concord and a seedless red)

Herbs:
Basil (three varieties)
lemon thyme
rosemary
sage
cilantro
dill
chives
catnip
mints (ginger, chocolate, peppermint)
chamomile
there's more, I know it

Veggies and such:
Potatoes (red and russet)
Onion
carrot
turnip
parsnip
lettuce
cabbage
peppers
tomatoes (cherry esp)
beans
peas
bok choy
there's more, I'm sure.

Itsrea, check out the square gardening method. A lot of the ideas are great and useful.

[missmel]

I forgot Cilantro...!!! :eek:

What is square foot gardening?

lol! I forgot tomatoes! I am still waiting on my seed... luckily we have a long growing season.

[tinydancer]

Whoohoo. I found the gardening thread.

Let's get down to serious business. We moved to this lovely house last year and I had no time to get a vegetable garden going; only flowers.

This year it's pedal to the metal and I've got most of my seed orders out the door.

Huge problem though. SLUGS. Quizzillions of them. It was so bad last year that I was running around the neighborhood begging for left over beer so I could kill them.

Seriously. At dusk I'd watch them just creep out like a bad sci fi horror movie and attack my beauties. :sick: The gross factor topped the richter scale.

I'll take any not harmful to wildlife/cats/dogs/birds remedy.

The slug baits that are out there are toxic to all of the above or I'd use them.

And I need some sort of remedy that is really cost effective because I'm planting out about 1/2 an acre for veggies alone.

Thanks in advance,
tinydancer

[Lady Liberty]

Can you all believe this Friday is the Spring Equinox.... already?

[Lady Liberty]

Whoohoo. I found the gardening thread.

Let's get down to serious business. We moved to this lovely house last year and I had no time to get a vegetable garden going; only flowers.

This year it's pedal to the metal and I've got most of my seed orders out the door.

Huge problem though. SLUGS. Quizzillions of them. It was so bad last year that I was running around the neighborhood begging for left over beer so I could kill them.

Seriously. At dusk I'd watch them just creep out like a bad sci fi horror movie and attack my beauties. :sick: The gross factor topped the richter scale.

I'll take any not harmful to wildlife/cats/dogs/birds remedy.

The slug baits that are out there are toxic to all of the above or I'd use them.

And I need some sort of remedy that is really cost effective because I'm planting out about 1/2 an acre for veggies alone.

Thanks in advance,
tinydancer


Tiny,
I buy an organic (whatever THAT means in this case) slug/snail bait that is safe for pets from a quality nursery I like to visit. I have a dog and also don't want to poison the garden... but the snails were decimating the flowerbed and killing my calla lillies. It works for me... you might see if there's a product like it near you. If you need the name let me know and I'll pull it out and give it to you. Good luck!

[rhet 2]

Tiny,
I buy an organic (whatever THAT means in this case) slug/snail bait that is safe for pets from a quality nursery I like to visit. I have a dog and also don't want to poison the garden... but the snails were decimating the flowerbed and killing my calla lillies. It works for me... you might see if there's a product like it near you. If you need the name let me know and I'll pull it out and give it to you. Good luck!

If you set bowls of beer outside the area you've already begun working over -- where the dog cannot get to it, mind you -- the snails and slugs love the stuff and are drawn to it. They drown in beer. And the beer actually enriches the soil where you'll be planting at a future date. My alley outside the fenced yard is now some of the richest dirt on the place.

Then there are several plants like garlic and onions that you can stick in here and there among the flowers -- snails, slugs, and lots of beetles and caterpillar types hate garlic and rosemary, borage, calendula, tansy (very hard to find, tansy), dill, thyme, horseradish, yarrow, fennel, parsley, anise, and caraway.

Interplanting to attract hover flies, bees, ladybugs and repell the nasties has worked marvelously for me.

Plus this year I'm going to try the soap treatment: mix two teaspoons of a dish detergent like dawn into one quart of water, fill a spray bottle, and, when you see a critter you don't want, spray the plant, especially under the leaves. Wait an hour and rise the plant with the garden hose. Supposed to kill the eggs and the adults almost instantly, is non-toxic to humans, so you can treat the plant on the day you harvest the yummies, and if you rinse the plant, no damage to it either.

For tomato hookworm, my local ag extension agent says nothing works as well as spot 'em, pick 'em off, and sqush 'em underfoot.

To prevent diseases, NEVER touch the plant while it's leaves are damp and try to water only at root level. One cup of water per week, two spaced evenly during the week during hot dry weather, poured directly on the rooting area is better than mass watering. Especially if you add growth/production food once a month. I found that the Miracle Gro tomato food worked beautifully on all my veggies, just as their general for flowers worked on the ornamentals, and their special for hydrangeas and other acid lovers worked. Just leave a little circular depressed area around the stem. Living in drought prone West Texas with water shortages and rationing and water bills soaring, that has become critical for preventing waste.

Last year was my first since losing the farm years ago -- and I've got more tomatoes and green beans canned and squach and peppers in the freezer than we'll eat before the fresh comes ready.

But we're modifying the square foot gardening method to fit our own property limitations -- and using raised boxes and elevated walled beds to ease the physical labor involved -- it worked beautifully last year, so we're extending this year, working to create a veggie garden as pretty to look at as it is productive, part of an integrated landscaping scheme. So, last year, the bistro set sort of naturally gravitated out to the veggie-centered area and is already our favorite sitting area again this spring. Instead of sitting on the patio and looking out, we're sitting in the middle of and looking around.

So, this year, I'm adding some special herb-only beds called a "knot garden" to the bistro area in the hopes that LOTS of borage -- fly and mosquito repellent -- will make that one area more pleasant even in the late evening and after dark.

Where the veggie garden at the farm was WORK, this one is proving to be MEGA FUN.

[murphy]

For the blossom? Somehow I dont see the locals picking up on this trend.


Oh, my goodness! A squash blossom, stamen removed, small piece of aged Manchego cheese tucked inside, lightly battered, and pan-fried is a piece of heaven. Can't wait until I find the blossoms in my local foodie shops.

[murphy]

Late to the thread, but I'm always interested in what others are growing, and solutions to gardening issues.

It's still too cold here to think about planting, but this is what we've got on the slate for when it's time:

--grape tomatoes
--heirloom tomato (I think it was called a Russian pink...had it last year, grew well and tasted amazing)
--patio tomato (that's the name, we discovered it while renting...grows perfectly in a large pot...nice sized tomatoes, not too many seeds; it sits on the patio for "extra")
--hot peppers (called a pizza pepper, we have the "extras" dried)
--poblano peppers
--green peppers (my little brother grew chocolate colored ones last year!)
--herbs: flat-leaf parsley, basil, cilantro, chives, thyme, marjoram, mint (for mojitos, of course!!!)

I'd like to do some sort of strawberries, perhaps an ever-bearing to last the summer? My uncle grew a tomato plant in one of those hanging bags and it was massive...I wonder if it would work for berries, as we're getting limited on space?

[murphy]

Anyone else on here looking forward to ramps? Almost time to go foraging for the wild things!

[TheFallGuy]

If you set bowls of beer outside the area you've already begun working over -- where the dog cannot get to it, mind you -- the snails and slugs love the stuff and are drawn to it. They drown in beer. And the beer actually enriches the soil where you'll be planting at a future date. My alley outside the fenced yard is now some of the richest dirt on the place.

Then there are several plants like garlic and onions that you can stick in here and there among the flowers -- snails, slugs, and lots of beetles and caterpillar types hate garlic and rosemary, borage, calendula, tansy (very hard to find, tansy), dill, thyme, horseradish, yarrow, fennel, parsley, anise, and caraway.

Interplanting to attract hover flies, bees, ladybugs and repell the nasties has worked marvelously for me.

Plus this year I'm going to try the soap treatment: mix two teaspoons of a dish detergent like dawn into one quart of water, fill a spray bottle, and, when you see a critter you don't want, spray the plant, especially under the leaves. Wait an hour and rise the plant with the garden hose. Supposed to kill the eggs and the adults almost instantly, is non-toxic to humans, so you can treat the plant on the day you harvest the yummies, and if you rinse the plant, no damage to it either.

For tomato hookworm, my local ag extension agent says nothing works as well as spot 'em, pick 'em off, and sqush 'em underfoot.

To prevent diseases, NEVER touch the plant while it's leaves are damp and try to water only at root level. One cup of water per week, two spaced evenly during the week during hot dry weather, poured directly on the rooting area is better than mass watering. Especially if you add growth/production food once a month. I found that the Miracle Gro tomato food worked beautifully on all my veggies, just as their general for flowers worked on the ornamentals, and their special for hydrangeas and other acid lovers worked. Just leave a little circular depressed area around the stem. Living in drought prone West Texas with water shortages and rationing and water bills soaring, that has become critical for preventing waste.

Last year was my first since losing the farm years ago -- and I've got more tomatoes and green beans canned and squach and peppers in the freezer than we'll eat before the fresh comes ready.

But we're modifying the square foot gardening method to fit our own property limitations -- and using raised boxes and elevated walled beds to ease the physical labor involved -- it worked beautifully last year, so we're extending this year, working to create a veggie garden as pretty to look at as it is productive, part of an integrated landscaping scheme. So, last year, the bistro set sort of naturally gravitated out to the veggie-centered area and is already our favorite sitting area again this spring. Instead of sitting on the patio and looking out, we're sitting in the middle of and looking around.

So, this year, I'm adding some special herb-only beds called a "knot garden" to the bistro area in the hopes that LOTS of borage -- fly and mosquito repellent -- will make that one area more pleasant even in the late evening and after dark.

Where the veggie garden at the farm was WORK, this one is proving to be MEGA FUN.

The beer method works, but make sure you don't have racoons in your area. Drunk racoons are mean. :))

If you have a lot of slugs, too many to take care of, you can try the upside-down tomato plant method. Basically you hang the plant from some place, and force the stem to grow out the bottom instead of the top. This keeps the 'maters of the ground and inaccessible to the slugs.

Companion planting is one of the best methods, especially if you're going to limit the amount of chemicals you use.

[TheFallGuy]

Late to the thread, but I'm always interested in what others are growing, and solutions to gardening issues.

It's still too cold here to think about planting, but this is what we've got on the slate for when it's time:

--grape tomatoes
--heirloom tomato (I think it was called a Russian pink...had it last year, grew well and tasted amazing)
--patio tomato (that's the name, we discovered it while renting...grows perfectly in a large pot...nice sized tomatoes, not too many seeds; it sits on the patio for "extra")
--hot peppers (called a pizza pepper, we have the "extras" dried)
--poblano peppers
--green peppers (my little brother grew chocolate colored ones last year!)
--herbs: flat-leaf parsley, basil, cilantro, chives, thyme, marjoram, mint (for mojitos, of course!!!)

I'd like to do some sort of strawberries, perhaps an ever-bearing to last the summer? My uncle grew a tomato plant in one of those hanging bags and it was massive...I wonder if it would work for berries, as we're getting limited on space?

In a lot of hardware stores (Lowe's, Home Depot) you can find strawberries you can grow in bags. I've never tried it, though. So, if you give it a go, let us know how it worked for you.

[rhet 2]

Late to the thread, but I'm always interested in what others are growing, and solutions to gardening issues.

It's still too cold here to think about planting, but this is what we've got on the slate for when it's time:

--grape tomatoes
--heirloom tomato (I think it was called a Russian pink...had it last year, grew well and tasted amazing)
--patio tomato (that's the name, we discovered it while renting...grows perfectly in a large pot...nice sized tomatoes, not too many seeds; it sits on the patio for "extra")
--hot peppers (called a pizza pepper, we have the "extras" dried)
--poblano peppers
--green peppers (my little brother grew chocolate colored ones last year!)
--herbs: flat-leaf parsley, basil, cilantro, chives, thyme, marjoram, mint (for mojitos, of course!!!)

I'd like to do some sort of strawberries, perhaps an ever-bearing to last the summer? My uncle grew a tomato plant in one of those hanging bags and it was massive...I wonder if it would work for berries, as we're getting limited on space?

I'd KILL to grow strawberries, though A&M says forget for our area, so I'm going to try that bag method anyway -- hang the bags from an old free standing clothes rack -- the kind with four arms coming from the top -- that I can move around the yard to control exposure to harsh summer sun -- mornings and evenings in the sun, back to shade from the peach trees in the afternoon. And all because strawberries are one of my most favorite yummies. Ever-bearing are supposed to produce less because they don't put out as many long runners as the early and June varieties do. He got the stands for free when a store went out of business a few years ago.

I would not live long if I didn't supply jalapenos and chilis and cayennes and the chile piquenos to my crew and neighbors -- and make my own hot sauces to boot. Peppers are a bit part of my summer because they love 100 degree heat waves.

Big Boy, Early Girl, something called a Rutgers I've never tried before, some Romes for my own tomato paste and spaghetti sauce, two patios and something called a "jelly bean" also new for munching fresh. (The grandkids can strip a vine of all the ripe ones, vine to belly, in a nanosecond, I swear.) The jelly beans are going into the bottom of a recycled big plastic bucket he was given from a flooring company to also be hung and grow upside down. He's planning on growing cucumbers and winter squash out of the sides and the top. I won't be shocked if it doesn't work -- and will be delighted if it does.

And I've got a new breed of cantaloupe seed that a friend sent me from Israel that I'm dying to try. LOVE a melon on a hot afternoon -- eat a whole one all by myself, so I guess I shouldn't complain about grandkid "pigouts" on the 'maters.

[drylok]

I plant 6 318 ft rows of sweetcorn. I think I'll add some potatoes and tomatoes this year.

[Vaard]

my 2009 veggie garden will be:

cherry tomatos

brussel sprouts

radishes

broccoli

acorn squash

cucumbers

[rmbrad]

Rhet:

I am not a Strawberry lover, but my Dad loves them. He has some of the Earth Boxes that he grows them in (sort of a hydroponic situation). He swears by Ozark Beauty's.

I grew some new (to me) Cherry/Grape tomatos last year. They were called Sweet 100's, or Super Sweet 100's. I can't remember which. They were the best tasting little tomatos I have eaten.

I don't know what it is about kids and tomatos. My girls ate them to the point that their face broke out. We were told that this was from the acid in the tomatos. They wouldn't eat anything with Catsup on it. I never could figure it out.

I can't wait to be able to go to the garden with a bottle of White Wine Vinegar and raid the tomato plants. If you haven't tried fresh tomatos with wine or balsomic vinegar, you have missed a real treat.

[Samm]

At this moment in my vegetable garden I have a nice seasons crop of crystallized dihydrogen oxide. They must be at least two feet tall... ripe for harvest. ;)

[rhet 2]

Rhet:

I am not a Strawberry lover, but my Dad loves them. He has some of the Earth Boxes that he grows them in (sort of a hydroponic situation). He swears by Ozark Beauty's.

I grew some new (to me) Cherry/Grape tomatos last year. They were called Sweet 100's, or Super Sweet 100's. I can't remember which. They were the best tasting little tomatos I have eaten.

I don't know what it is about kids and tomatos. My girls ate them to the point that their face broke out. We were told that this was from the acid in the tomatos. They wouldn't eat anything with Catsup on it. I never could figure it out.

I can't wait to be able to go to the garden with a bottle of White Wine Vinegar and raid the tomato plants. If you haven't tried fresh tomatos with wine or balsomic vinegar, you have missed a real treat.

We had the same last year! Totally marvelous little continuous producing darlings -- perfect for growing in pots, too.

Ozark Beauty is the variety I'd pretty much settled on, yes. I hope this works, because one of my grandkids loves them as much as I do -- and I've got to produce enough for some to survive long enough to get to the kitchen. :))

Has anyone ever tried something called "lemon cucumbers"? The Bear Who Cuddles brought home the seed and insists that we try them -- when we've already got enough cukes to choke a family of 30 or more, IMO. He's gone NUTS over cucumbers of every weird shape and form he can find.

[spearmaster]

I am enjoying wilted lettuce and onions with my lunch today. The first bounty from my garden this year. Do we have any green thumbs in the membership? What are you growing and what are your favorite summer vegetables?

I've yet to grow anything myself, I only worked in my parent's and grandparent's gardens when I was living at home back in the day. Basically I did the labor. However I have though about starting me a garden this summer for the first time because I do love fresh vegetables.

[TheFallGuy]

I'd KILL to grow strawberries, though A&M says forget for our area, so I'm going to try that bag method anyway -- hang the bags from an old free standing clothes rack -- the kind with four arms coming from the top -- that I can move around the yard to control exposure to harsh summer sun -- mornings and evenings in the sun, back to shade from the peach trees in the afternoon. And all because strawberries are one of my most favorite yummies. Ever-bearing are supposed to produce less because they don't put out as many long runners as the early and June varieties do. He got the stands for free when a store went out of business a few years ago.

I would not live long if I didn't supply jalapenos and chilis and cayennes and the chile piquenos to my crew and neighbors -- and make my own hot sauces to boot. Peppers are a bit part of my summer because they love 100 degree heat waves.

Big Boy, Early Girl, something called a Rutgers I've never tried before, some Romes for my own tomato paste and spaghetti sauce, two patios and something called a "jelly bean" also new for munching fresh. (The grandkids can strip a vine of all the ripe ones, vine to belly, in a nanosecond, I swear.) The jelly beans are going into the bottom of a recycled big plastic bucket he was given from a flooring company to also be hung and grow upside down. He's planning on growing cucumbers and winter squash out of the sides and the top. I won't be shocked if it doesn't work -- and will be delighted if it does.

And I've got a new breed of cantaloupe seed that a friend sent me from Israel that I'm dying to try. LOVE a melon on a hot afternoon -- eat a whole one all by myself, so I guess I shouldn't complain about grandkid "pigouts" on the 'maters.

I've got recipes for jalapeno jelly and Habenero jelly. Everybody, except my father-in-law, loves the jalapeno jelly. Good on toast, good on roasts, overall mmmmmMmmmm. The habenero jelly is great on roasts and stuff. I put it in chocolate cake as the jelly/jam layer that separates a two-layer cake. It gives a nice kick, but the chocolate and the gnosh help temper the heat. It's one of those whoa what was that? :drool:

Remind me to post the recipe somewhere sometime.

[TheFallGuy]

A couple years ago, my wife and I found seed packets for Alpine strawberries. They produce these sweet little strawberries perfect for little one year olds. My son loved to go outside and pick them right of the plant, ripe or not. :)) Then he'd stuff the cherry tomatoes in his mouth and wander about on the grass.

I just can't find the alpine strawberry seeds nowheres. :think: internets, time for a searching!

I finished putting up our little greenhouse today. I might be able to move some plants out there and get them started.

[murphy]

Does foraging count as gardening? I always go out with my dad for ramps (wild onions...brutal when raw, put in recipes, they're divine) and mushrooms (he has a friend who knows his mushrooms VERY well). I'd also like to gather some fiddlehead fern tops, but am not sure if they're "local" for me...google search, here I come!

[TheFallGuy]

Well, technically since you're not growing and tending them yourself, I'd say no.

But the reasons behind gardening, inexpensive, great food, I'd say yes. So, that must mean I "garden" my huckleberries I go picking in August.

[RTchoke]

I've got recipes for jalapeno jelly and Habenero jelly. Everybody, except my father-in-law, loves the jalapeno jelly. Good on toast, good on roasts, overall mmmmmMmmmm. The habenero jelly is great on roasts and stuff. I put it in chocolate cake as the jelly/jam layer that separates a two-layer cake. It gives a nice kick, but the chocolate and the gnosh help temper the heat. It's one of those whoa what was that?

Remind me to post the recipe somewhere sometime. - The Fall Guy

That would be great if you posted the recipe. I like to mold cream cheese in cute little molds -that's girly talk ;) - and pour jalapeno pepper jelly over the top so it flows over the whole thing and serve it with crackers, etc. Mango pepper jelly works good for this too. Yummy!

[RTchoke]

Alpine Strawberries.

Is this what you were talking about Fall Guy?

http://www.alpinestrawberries.us/

[rhet 2]

I WANT those recipes, friends. Oh, yes, I do. In part because I want it straight -- and in part because I want to blend it with chopped green tomatoes to create a tomato jelly, if possible. Cut a bagel in half horizontally, toast it, spread with cream cheese and put the habenero/tomato jelly on top of the cream cheese. One of my favorite Mex Food restaurants served that with scrambled eggs and bacon on the side when I lived on the border -- worth every single penny -- and I've never found the same anywhere else. But the older couple who ran that little cafe would NEVER share their recipes, and it's long long gone. Gotta figure out how to DYI it if I ever want to enjoy the same again.

[TheFallGuy]

I've got recipes for jalapeno jelly and Habenero jelly. Everybody, except my father-in-law, loves the jalapeno jelly. Good on toast, good on roasts, overall mmmmmMmmmm. The habenero jelly is great on roasts and stuff. I put it in chocolate cake as the jelly/jam layer that separates a two-layer cake. It gives a nice kick, but the chocolate and the gnosh help temper the heat. It's one of those whoa what was that?

Remind me to post the recipe somewhere sometime. - The Fall Guy

That would be great if you posted the recipe. I like to mold cream cheese in cute little molds -that's girly talk ;) - and pour jalapeno pepper jelly over the top so it flows over the whole thing and serve it with crackers, etc. Mango pepper jelly works good for this too. Yummy!

I added the quote tags around my post to clarify. Italics can be hard to catch sometimes.

I'll have to dig them up. They are high demand in my wife's family. I haven't had it in a while. :(

Mango pepper jelly? You have a recipe? I could alter that to peach pepper jelly.... My bro-in-law is allergic to tropical fruits.

[TheFallGuy]

Alpine Strawberries.

Is this what you were talking about Fall Guy?

http://www.alpinestrawberries.us/

That's one variety:

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/alpine_strawberry.htm

http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/veggies/strawberry_alpine.html

[TheFallGuy]

I WANT those recipes, friends. Oh, yes, I do. In part because I want it straight -- and in part because I want to blend it with chopped green tomatoes to create a tomato jelly, if possible. Cut a bagel in half horizontally, toast it, spread with cream cheese and put the habenero/tomato jelly on top of the cream cheese. One of my favorite Mex Food restaurants served that with scrambled eggs and bacon on the side when I lived on the border -- worth every single penny -- and I've never found the same anywhere else. But the older couple who ran that little cafe would NEVER share their recipes, and it's long long gone. Gotta figure out how to DYI it if I ever want to enjoy the same again.

I remembered I have the habanero jelly recipe on my computer. Here are two varieties:

Habanero Jelly

3 Orange or red bell peppers, large, fleshy (this is mainly for color)
5-10 habaneros, ripe (The more the spicier)
1.5 cup vinegar, white, distilled
7 cup sugar
1 pkg liquid fruit pectin

1. De-stem, seed, and remove membranes from bell peppers. Remove stems from habaneros--if you leave the stems and membranes it makes it spicier, removal can kill the heat.
2. In a food processor blend the vinegar, peppers, and habeneros until smooth mixture.
3. In a non-corrosive pan, bring the mixture and sugar to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cook 20 min.
4. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth into another pan. Add pectin and bring to a full rolling boil while stirring. Boil about one minute, remove from heat and ladle into sterile jars.

Should give you 7 half-pint jars.


Here's another recipe that calls for raspberries. I had a harder time getting this one to gel. Maybe someone can give me tips on where I'm missing something

3 habanero peppers (or more for greater heat!)
2 sweet red peppers
1 sweet green pepper
6 ounces fresh red raspberries
2 1/4 cup water
1 cup vinegar
1 pkg liquid fruit pectin
4 cups granulated sugar

In a processor chop peppers into a fine chop. Put all but 1/4 cup peppers in a saucepan with raspberries and water. Boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer and cook 15 minutes.

Press through a sieve or jelly bag. You should have 2 cups prepared juice. Return the juice to a cleaned pot. Add vinegar and reserved chopped peppers. Let cool 15 minutes.

Add pectin. Bring to a boil. Add sugar. Bring back to boil and boil hard for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, skim foam. Ladle into hot 1/2 pint jars leaving 1/8" headspace. Seal. Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.

It had great flavor, but didn't gel up for me. :think: Advice?

[RTchoke]

I added the quote tags around my post to clarify. Italics can be hard to catch sometimes.

I'll have to dig them up. They are high demand in my wife's family. I haven't had it in a while. :(

Mango pepper jelly? You have a recipe? I could alter that to peach pepper jelly.... My bro-in-law is allergic to tropical fruits.

Sorry, no..........I don't have a recipe. I bought it. :))

It was good though. :mrgreen: I'm sure if you search hard enough you could find one on the internet.

.........and thanks for the recipes. As for the jelling problem with the last one, it may be the pectin. I have never had good success with liquid pectin. I don't know why, but it never seems to jell well for me. We ended up with blackberry syrup once because it just wouldn't jell. Don't know for sure that is the reason, but maybe try it with the powdered pectin one time instead and see if it helps.

[rhet 2]

I remembered I have the habanero jelly recipe on my computer. Here are two varieties:

Habanero Jelly

3 Orange or red bell peppers, large, fleshy (this is mainly for color)
5-10 habaneros, ripe (The more the spicier)
1.5 cup vinegar, white, distilled
7 cup sugar
1 pkg liquid fruit pectin

1. De-stem, seed, and remove membranes from bell peppers. Remove stems from habaneros--if you leave the stems and membranes it makes it spicier, removal can kill the heat.
2. In a food processor blend the vinegar, peppers, and habeneros until smooth mixture.
3. In a non-corrosive pan, bring the mixture and sugar to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cook 20 min.
4. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth into another pan. Add pectin and bring to a full rolling boil while stirring. Boil about one minute, remove from heat and ladle into sterile jars.

Should give you 7 half-pint jars.


Here's another recipe that calls for raspberries. I had a harder time getting this one to gel. Maybe someone can give me tips on where I'm missing something

3 habanero peppers (or more for greater heat!)
2 sweet red peppers
1 sweet green pepper
6 ounces fresh red raspberries
2 1/4 cup water
1 cup vinegar
1 pkg liquid fruit pectin
4 cups granulated sugar

In a processor chop peppers into a fine chop. Put all but 1/4 cup peppers in a saucepan with raspberries and water. Boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer and cook 15 minutes.

Press through a sieve or jelly bag. You should have 2 cups prepared juice. Return the juice to a cleaned pot. Add vinegar and reserved chopped peppers. Let cool 15 minutes.

Add pectin. Bring to a boil. Add sugar. Bring back to boil and boil hard for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, skim foam. Ladle into hot 1/2 pint jars leaving 1/8" headspace. Seal. Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.

It had great flavor, but didn't gel up for me. :think: Advice?

I wish I knew why sometimes jellies don't gel. But it's been over 30 years since I last made any.

Recipes printed and in my book. Thank you VERY much.

Got the borage seed and the leaf lettuces in the ground today. Garlic in the beds around the two peach trees. The cabbage family is thriving and sugar snap peas germinating. Tomorrow, the caraway goes in with those -- supposed to be a mutually beneficial combo planting that increases production in both, though the caraway is a biannial and won't produce seed till the second year.

Tomorrow begins the experiment with really young tomatoes protected by big shiny coffee cans -- will be a pain in the neck to snap the plastic lids on them every night, but if I get a 4 week head start on the growing season, well worth it IMO -- especially since I'm only out a few seeds and have started others in the house "just in case."

Does anybody know what "salad burnet" is good for? And what to/not to interplant it with? Cause the Bear was given a packet of seed as a freebie for buying me some other herb seeds I'd requested -- and I haven't found it among the others for "companion planting."

He also was given seeds for something called "Rerilla Red" and "Perilla Green" shiso -- I've never heard of the stuff and have no idea how to grow and use it. ????????

And, does anyone know a reason why spinach can't go in with broccoli, since the spinach will harvest before the broccoli's big enough to need the room? I love spinach salad with a hot bacon vinegrette dressing and want some before the weather here gets too hot and dry for it.

Also, suggestions about how to preserve spinach for later use?????

[murphy]

Well, technically since you're not growing and tending them yourself, I'd say no.

But the reasons behind gardening, inexpensive, great food, I'd say yes. So, that must mean I "garden" my huckleberries I go picking in August.

I love going picking wild berries. My dad and I used to go almost every day in the late summer. First for black raspberries, then blackberries, blueberries, and elderberries. the blues and elders were easy to gather, but oh the work for the blackberries and raspberries!! We'd put long pants and sleeves on (my dad has this awesome pants/jacket set made out of heavy canvas)...he'd go ahead of me, blazing a trail back into the deeper parts of the berry patches (where the best and biggest berries hide!), and we'd come home with 3 or 4 five-gallon buckets full of them. My mom and I would can them, make jelly, and of course fresh pies (after I'd eaten my fill, of course!).

[Lady Liberty]

If you set bowls of beer outside the area you've already begun working over -- where the dog cannot get to it, mind you -- the snails and slugs love the stuff and are drawn to it. They drown in beer. And the beer actually enriches the soil where you'll be planting at a future date. My alley outside the fenced yard is now some of the richest dirt on the place.

Then there are several plants like garlic and onions that you can stick in here and there among the flowers -- snails, slugs, and lots of beetles and caterpillar types hate garlic and rosemary, borage, calendula, tansy (very hard to find, tansy), dill, thyme, horseradish, yarrow, fennel, parsley, anise, and caraway.

Interplanting to attract hover flies, bees, ladybugs and repell the nasties has worked marvelously for me.

Plus this year I'm going to try the soap treatment: mix two teaspoons of a dish detergent like dawn into one quart of water, fill a spray bottle, and, when you see a critter you don't want, spray the plant, especially under the leaves. Wait an hour and rise the plant with the garden hose. Supposed to kill the eggs and the adults almost instantly, is non-toxic to humans, so you can treat the plant on the day you harvest the yummies, and if you rinse the plant, no damage to it either.

For tomato hookworm, my local ag extension agent says nothing works as well as spot 'em, pick 'em off, and sqush 'em underfoot.

To prevent diseases, NEVER touch the plant while it's leaves are damp and try to water only at root level. One cup of water per week, two spaced evenly during the week during hot dry weather, poured directly on the rooting area is better than mass watering. Especially if you add growth/production food once a month. I found that the Miracle Gro tomato food worked beautifully on all my veggies, just as their general for flowers worked on the ornamentals, and their special for hydrangeas and other acid lovers worked. Just leave a little circular depressed area around the stem. Living in drought prone West Texas with water shortages and rationing and water bills soaring, that has become critical for preventing waste.

Last year was my first since losing the farm years ago -- and I've got more tomatoes and green beans canned and squach and peppers in the freezer than we'll eat before the fresh comes ready.

But we're modifying the square foot gardening method to fit our own property limitations -- and using raised boxes and elevated walled beds to ease the physical labor involved -- it worked beautifully last year, so we're extending this year, working to create a veggie garden as pretty to look at as it is productive, part of an integrated landscaping scheme. So, last year, the bistro set sort of naturally gravitated out to the veggie-centered area and is already our favorite sitting area again this spring. Instead of sitting on the patio and looking out, we're sitting in the middle of and looking around.

So, this year, I'm adding some special herb-only beds called a "knot garden" to the bistro area in the hopes that LOTS of borage -- fly and mosquito repellent -- will make that one area more pleasant even in the late evening and after dark.

Where the veggie garden at the farm was WORK, this one is proving to be MEGA FUN.

Your veggie garden sounds wonderful! I have always wanted to try raised beds, but haven't had the right space for it yet.

It is a real delight to look at one's garden and see food and herbs growing right along side beautiful flowers!

Good luck! Maybe we should all post a little picture later in the season?

[blackcatrun]

Alright: Ive been growing things for all my life.
What region are you in?
For dry climates the problem of heat is really not good for plants. They dry out fast have to put alot into the stalks to save the leaves.
Water at night but more important sounds sorta odd but use a little dish soap in the water once every other week. The water is obsorbed easyer by the plants. Just stop use of soaps a few days before harvest. Before harvest water well. A simple fix for blazing sun is easy. Two poles, four pieces of plastic pipe, and a sheet some strong twine. Dig a hole place piece of pipe in ground fill in around streatch out sheet and dig hole on other side do the same.Place poles in the pipe. Tie sheet to poles to form a sun block. As sun movesfrom east to west place on western side unless there is shade already.

[rhet 2]

Alright: Ive been growing things for all my life.
What region are you in?
For dry climates the problem of heat is really not good for plants. They dry out fast have to put alot into the stalks to save the leaves.
Water at night but more important sounds sorta odd but use a little dish soap in the water once every other week. The water is obsorbed easyer by the plants. Just stop use of soaps a few days before harvest. Before harvest water well. A simple fix for blazing sun is easy. Two poles, four pieces of plastic pipe, and a sheet some strong twine. Dig a hole place piece of pipe in ground fill in around streatch out sheet and dig hole on other side do the same.Place poles in the pipe. Tie sheet to poles to form a sun block. As sun movesfrom east to west place on western side unless there is shade already.

Northwest of Lubbock -- as dry and hot as it gets.

Last year, Big Lots had a giant clearance sale on a lot of stuff, including some cheap canvas topped beach umbrellas that stick right into the ground. We got ten of them -- and they move, sticking directly into the ground wherever needed.

With water shortages a crisis level problem, I've stopped watering the entire bed, too.

I found that watering in the wee hours before dawn and then a guick misting under the umbrella helped while the plants were aclimating to the heat. By August, the shade was no longer needed, because the plants were so totally established.

And trench watering where the plants are actually down in a long shallow and narrow line in the dirt (four inches wide and one inch deep), with scrap boards to reinforce a raised ridge of packed dirt on the outside of the trench for all the plants that edge the fence or a walkway. Fill the trench, wait for the water to soak in, fill it once or twice more. Stick your finger two to three inches down under the surface a few inches away from the trench -- if it's damp, the plant has plenty of water.

Once a week during the main season, with twice a week during the super hot/dry times for deep watering helped. The water goes straight to the roots and not out into "dead space" where the branches overhang ground, and spreads out in a fan pattern, so, the trench actually waters the little fibrous feeding roots close to the surface without water evaporating and without soaking the leaves, which encourages diseases and insects.

I cut a piece of old carpet into a circle, shave off all the carpet fibers from the top, cut a second hole in the middle for the stalk to grow through and a slit up one side so I can put it around the bedding plant after I've given it its first water at transplant time. I put this in a shallow depression around the main stalk when I plant it, fill that ring with large river stones -- DO NOT USE the small pebble sized -- larger ones only -- lying on top of the carpet ring to create a sort of plant by plant well. Then I use the watering can or the garden hose turned way low to fill only that one circle a few times, while the upper levels of the dirt around the stalk remain covered with cedar mulch.

The carpet backing prevents weeds, recycles what would be landfill rot, rots to become a soil improver, prevents the larger rocks from sinking into the soil so fall cleanup was a breeze -- pick up the rocks in the trench or circle to store till spring, remove what's left of the carpet to the compost bin, remove the dead plant stalk and roots, restore the trench and smooth the wider bed area, and heap with leaves raked out of the lawn.

This spring, I've removed the leaves that didn't rot, found the trench still there beautifully ready for planting, and the beds only needed a surface raking three-four inches deep to break and crumble the soil with my handy fork while I SAT on a cushion I made to fit the rail around the beds. NO SHOVELS needed -- since nobody and nothing had actually walked on those planting areas since I dug them out last year.

Working a little crystalline fertilizer, compost and composted cow, and a bit of ant/bug killer into the top three inches of the designated planting area will help that problem, too -- I HOPE!

And covering the designated areas with clear plastic raised the soil temp by 5 -10 degrees faster than the surrounding areas -- the ground temp is now ideal for tomatoes, even though the air temp is still way too cool at night and in the mornings. Mid-to-high 70s in the afternoons -- perfect for tomatoes, squash, peppers, cukes -- the warm weather yummies -- whereas later, when mornings and evenings are perfect, afternoon heat will be disastrous for young plants.

So, to give them that headstart on the too-hot weather, I'm putting them in with a coffee can or plastic jug I've been saving all year to warm the air surrounding the baby plants -- which are WAY smaller than what I bought at nurseries last year. Once the morning chill is no longer too much for them, the protecting ring will be removed. The clear plastic gives them light, and slapping a lid on the coffee cans protects them at night, while they're getting reflected light from the shining silver cans as the sun moves around.

I'm hoping that the tin cans and jugs with top cut off shoved down a bit as the stalk climbs above the outside rim will protect from cutworms and caterpillars, too, as well as forming a nice watering well. And mounding cedar mulch up around the outside of the can should prevent the metal from overheating at the same time the mulch stops weeding problems. And cedar repels insects, too.

I used the mulch heavily last year and the only weeding I had to do was yank a really sturdy daring little invader when I saw one, which was quite rarely, even though we've got burmuda grass right up to the edge of the veggie and flower beds.

I'm EXPERIMENTING -- and learning the hard way. And it's FUN!

You know what's sheer fun? Harvesting fresh baby carrots in mid January from where they've been growing delightfully under a thick pile of oak and sycamore leaves. :))

[Vaard]

for raised beds, i cannot speakly highly enough of the "fake wood" like trex and such.......


i built by raised beds out of 2x6's of the trex decking (had to special order 2x6 sizes).....

stuff never will rot, next to impossible to break and no leeching of chemicla sinto the soil like you get with pretreated........


and comes in a variety of colors to match your house or other things.......

[TheFallGuy]

I love going picking wild berries. My dad and I used to go almost every day in the late summer. First for black raspberries, then blackberries, blueberries, and elderberries. the blues and elders were easy to gather, but oh the work for the blackberries and raspberries!! We'd put long pants and sleeves on (my dad has this awesome pants/jacket set made out of heavy canvas)...he'd go ahead of me, blazing a trail back into the deeper parts of the berry patches (where the best and biggest berries hide!), and we'd come home with 3 or 4 five-gallon buckets full of them. My mom and I would can them, make jelly, and of course fresh pies (after I'd eaten my fill, of course!).

You forced this quote out of me...

...and your father smelled of elderberries! pttttttthhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbt!

[rhet 2]

for raised beds, i cannot speakly highly enough of the "fake wood" like trex and such.......


i built by raised beds out of 2x6's of the trex decking (had to special order 2x6 sizes).....

stuff never will rot, next to impossible to break and no leeching of chemicla sinto the soil like you get with pretreated........


and comes in a variety of colors to match your house or other things.......


Ooooh, nice thought. Must check that stuff out.

Lacking spare funds for much at all, we've been using recycled packing crates and salvaged wood -- it works, but cleaning it up is a pain and then it's often bowed or cut slightly off the square, so Bear winds up doing a lot of Yankee ingenuity-izing to make it work. Though the first boxes he built just for flowers lasted a good 5 and 7 years, a permanent box would be sooooooooo nice!

[rhet 2]

You forced this quote out of me...

...and your father smelled of elderberries! pttttttthhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbt!

You guys make me YEARN for my childhood -- wild blackberries and raspberries and muscadine grapes in our area. They just TASTE better than some of the cultivars do. Maybe it was the thorns and the bugs that enhanced the flavor -- and maybe it was the DYI idea that we kids had done something the adults really appreciated, made a real contribution while stuffing our faces -- one for the mouth, one for the bucket, one for the mouth, one for the mouth, one for the bucket -- had to get the rhythm just right.

That and a watermelon from between the corn rows, busted open right in the field, warm and wet and sticky juicy sweet, running down your parched throat and running down your shirt front at one and the same delicious who-cares moment in time, so you had to either dunk yourself in the stock tank or stand under the hose in the garden before you could go inside to change for supper and listen to "manners do too count, young lady, so just you sit up straight and use that napkin PROPERLY, you hear me!" lectures on how to be a Lady fit for company to be with.

[TheFallGuy]

You guys make me YEARN for my childhood -- wild blackberries and raspberries and muscadine grapes in our area. They just TASTE better than some of the cultivars do. Maybe it was the thorns and the bugs that enhanced the flavor -- and maybe it was the DYI idea that we kids had done something the adults really appreciated, made a real contribution while stuffing our faces -- one for the mouth, one for the bucket, one for the mouth, one for the mouth, one for the bucket -- had to get the rhythm just right.

That and a watermelon from between the corn rows, busted open right in the field, warm and wet and sticky juicy sweet, running down your parched throat and running down your shirt front at one and the same delicious who-cares moment in time, so you had to either dunk yourself in the stock tank or stand under the hose in the garden before you could go inside to change for supper and listen to "manners do too count, young lady, so just you sit up straight and use that napkin PROPERLY, you hear me!" lectures on how to be a Lady fit for company to be with.

:))

Just put the grapes (seedless red and concord) and some Ozark strawberry starts in the ground.

I just realized I've got a plumbing problem to boot. Went to turn on my external pipes (shut off is inside) and it's dribbling water from the knob. Turned it off and it's still dripping. :frown: Not sure how to go about fixing it. So, I might have to call home warranty and have them send out a plumber. There goes $55. :evil:

Tomorrow I go out to get the montmorrency cherry. Hope I can find one that'll produce next year. :drool:

[rhet 2]

Check the washers first. They harden up over the winter and should be replaced every spring. Just had to do all three of our own outside water lines.

[rmbrad]

:))

Just put the grapes (seedless red and concord) and some Ozark strawberry starts in the ground.

I just realized I've got a plumbing problem to boot. Went to turn on my external pipes (shut off is inside) and it's dribbling water from the knob. Turned it off and it's still dripping. :frown: Not sure how to go about fixing it. So, I might have to call home warranty and have them send out a plumber. There goes $55. :evil:

Tomorrow I go out to get the montmorrency cherry. Hope I can find one that'll produce next year. :drool:

There is a packing in these valves. The leak is probably coming up the shaft that turns when you turn the "knob". Look below the "knob", and see if there is a six sided "nut" shaped thing that the shaft below the "knob" runs through. If there is, simply put a wrench on this nut, and tighten it. The leak should go away.

I hope the sensor doesn't block this explanation, and ban me.

[TheFallGuy]

There is a packing in these valves. The leak is probably coming up the shaft that turns when you turn the "knob". Look below the "knob", and see if there is a six sided "nut" shaped thing that the shaft below the "knob" runs through. If there is, simply put a wrench on this nut, and tighten it. The leak should go away.

I hope the sensor doesn't block this explanation, and ban me.

Thanks for the info, I'll see if that fixes the problem.

Just picked up some rosemary. Mmmmmm. Smells so good.

Edit to add:
Aww hell, it's late, so I won't bother making another post.

I took a closer look at it and I'll try to describe it as best I can. I live in a 1962 rambler. Water from the city comes into the basement via copper pipes. Before the main shut off for the house, it splits, one branch for the internal main, the other for the external. The knob is where the leak is coming from. It's got a lot of crap on it, like hard water stains and mineral deposits on the outside of the piping. I'm thinking something will have to be replaced as it is not in the best condition--IMO. I'm thinking rhet has the right idea on this--washers or o-rings need to be replaced.

[JohnRandolph]

I dont plant much from seed, mostly just peas and corn.

I set out my peppers, bell, jalapeno, wax, yesterday. Also okra, zucchini, and cukes. Although the climate isn't conducive, I am gonna try to do some strawberries this year. I also replaced a peach and a persimmon tree that didn't make it from last year.

[Lady Liberty]

<snip> I can't wait to be able to go to the garden with a bottle of White Wine Vinegar and raid the tomato plants. If you haven't tried fresh tomatos with wine or balsomic vinegar, you have missed a real treat.

Boy, that sounds delicious.... Balsamic sprinkled on warm tomatoes from the vine! Thanks for the yummy idea.
~

[rhet 2]

Has anyone ever done the potatoes in a tire thing? I've got 5 tires planted with seed potatoes forming rings in the alley behind the backyard fence on the north side of the yard and am thinking about horseradish in the triangle between each tire closest to the fence with okra in the triangle toward the front of the area we're laying in.

But being north of the fence and lack of the full 8 - 10 hour sun exposure because of shade from the fence concerns me.

But that's a four foot wide strip of wasted space between the fence and the driving lane that the city owns, and we're allowed to use up to 3 feet of it. Most people just let that area go to weeds and grass, mowing it a few times each season. So pretty isn't critical since only the garbage truck driver and an occasional short-cut walker ever see it except when people take out the garbage to the dumpster.

I've read of people using shiny material like white plastic and even tin foil covered boards to reflect sun back toward a too-shady area.

Ideas, pro or con?

[TheFallGuy]

Has anyone ever done the potatoes in a tire thing? I've got 5 tires planted with seed potatoes forming rings in the alley behind the backyard fence on the north side of the yard and am thinking about horseradish in the triangle between each tire closest to the fence with okra in the triangle toward the front of the area we're laying in.

But being north of the fence and lack of the full 8 - 10 hour sun exposure because of shade from the fence concerns me.

But that's a four foot wide strip of wasted space between the fence and the driving lane that the city owns, and we're allowed to use up to 3 feet of it. Most people just let that area go to weeds and grass, mowing it a few times each season. So pretty isn't critical since only the garbage truck driver and an occasional short-cut walker ever see it except when people take out the garbage to the dumpster.

I've read of people using shiny material like white plastic and even tin foil covered boards to reflect sun back toward a too-shady area.

Ideas, pro or con?

I've seen it done, not sure on the results, though. I have the advantage of getting 50lb bags of Idaho russets for cheap--you know, the kind that are about a foot long each and tasty!

[rhet 2]

I've seen it done, not sure on the results, though. I have the advantage of getting 50lb bags of Idaho russets for cheap--you know, the kind that are about a foot long each and tasty!

Now that could make me weep -- the same costs an arm and a leg down here. Think that's why they're called "Idaho 'tatties"?

Top them with FRESH chives cut just as the tatties come out of the oven -- fresh chives are a billion times better than dried ones from the spice racks in the grocery stores. And down here, under a pile of leaves, they grew all winter long. INCREDIBLE on top of tomato soup, too. And in a stir fry and a stew. And over baked chicken breasts.


I'm serious about using that otherwise wasted strip of ground. Not least because I'm tired of fighting weeds out of it.

What about those cheap solar battery things you hang on a wall or a fence in the sun and stretch a connecting line to a light elsewhere?

I've found the lights with their own solar batteries on top of them for lighting walkways utterly wasted money -- work just fine for a couple of months and then they're dead and gone.

[TheFallGuy]

There is a packing in these valves. The leak is probably coming up the shaft that turns when you turn the "knob". Look below the "knob", and see if there is a six sided "nut" shaped thing that the shaft below the "knob" runs through. If there is, simply put a wrench on this nut, and tighten it. The leak should go away.

I hope the sensor doesn't block this explanation, and ban me.

That was the problem and now it is fixed. Thanks for the advice.

[RTchoke]

I've seen it done, not sure on the results, though. I have the advantage of getting 50lb bags of Idaho russets for cheap--you know, the kind that are about a foot long each and tasty!

Lucky you. All I can get is Washington potatoes............and I live in Idaho. I've only had an Idaho potato one time in my life and that is when someone went down to Boise and brought some back.

[TheFallGuy]

Now that could make me weep -- the same costs an arm and a leg down here. Think that's why they're called "Idaho 'tatties"?

Top them with FRESH chives cut just as the tatties come out of the oven -- fresh chives are a billion times better than dried ones from the spice racks in the grocery stores. And down here, under a pile of leaves, they grew all winter long. INCREDIBLE on top of tomato soup, too. And in a stir fry and a stew. And over baked chicken breasts.


I'm serious about using that otherwise wasted strip of ground. Not least because I'm tired of fighting weeds out of it.

What about those cheap solar battery things you hang on a wall or a fence in the sun and stretch a connecting line to a light elsewhere?

I've found the lights with their own solar batteries on top of them for lighting walkways utterly wasted money -- work just fine for a couple of months and then they're dead and gone.

There's nothing quite like a fresh red potato out of the ground. Just wash the dirt off and chomp, chomp. Ohhh tasty.

Now that I've got my grapes in the ground, it's snowing. Just light stuff, enough to get the ground wet, but not enough to stick. Ahhhh global warming.

I'm not sure what you'd want to put in those. Since they're in the shade you might try something that tolerates shade, or since you're in a hot environment, maybe that's where you could try the strawberries. Who knows?

As for lights, you need special lights that give full spectrum for plants to be able to use them.

[VA-165 Boomer]

Lucky you. All I can get is Washington potatoes............and I live in Idaho. I've only had an Idaho potato one time in my life and that is when someone went down to Boise and brought some back.I heard some nice things about a variety called golden yukons ( I think). Person said they have a very buttery flavor? Anyone faniliar with them. I haven't even turned my garden yet. Still cleaning up from the ice storm. I bought my seeds though and a gooseberry bush.

[RTchoke]

I heard some nice things about a variety called golden yukons ( I think). Person said they have a very buttery flavor? Anyone faniliar with them. I haven't even turned my garden yet. Still cleaning up from the ice storm. I bought my seeds though and a gooseberry bush.

Yukon Gold potatoes and yes, they are good. At least I like them. :mrgreen:

I buy them by the huge bag at Costco. They make the best mashed potatoes.

[TheFallGuy]

Lucky you. All I can get is Washington potatoes............and I live in Idaho. I've only had an Idaho potato one time in my life and that is when someone went down to Boise and brought some back.

What???

You gotta go east. Get some of the great potatoes over by Ashton/St. Anthony/Rexburg area.

You up in the panhandle?

[RTchoke]

What???

You gotta go east. Get some of the great potatoes over by Ashton/St. Anthony/Rexburg area.

You up in the panhandle?

Pretty much. I'm too far North I guess.

I'm not driving 7.5 hours for a potato. :mrgreen:

[TheFallGuy]

Pretty much. I'm too far North I guess.

I'm not driving 7.5 hours for a potato. :mrgreen:

Coward!! :mrgreen: ;)

Not just A potato, The Best potatoes! :lol:

I understand though.

[rhet 2]

Coward!! :mrgreen: ;)

Not just A potato, The Best potatoes! :lol:

I understand though.

ANY potato is better than no potato.

But, IMO, Idaho is the best of them all.

Which said, with money short and costs going up, no can do except on very rare and special occasions. Not quite yet Ireland, 1848 -- but pushing it. :((

[TheFallGuy]

ANY potato is better than no potato.

But, IMO, Idaho is the best of them all.

Which said, with money short and costs going up, no can do except on very rare and special occasions. Not quite yet Ireland, 1848 -- but pushing it. :((

Here ya there. Figured out what you're going to do with the tires?

I purchased a couple tomato starts (99c each Sweet Super 100s, Big boy, and another) and we have some seeds started so we'll be able to stagger them a bit. Mmmm

[rhet 2]

Here ya there. Figured out what you're going to do with the tires?

I purchased a couple tomato starts (99c each Sweet Super 100s, Big boy, and another) and we have some seeds started so we'll be able to stagger them a bit. Mmmm

Tires are planted with potato sets. Here's hoping I did it right and they grow, 'cause the Bear sure wants this to work.

Something I do NOT like is killing off my tomato sets. I panted the seeds in sterilized pots and dirt as instructed, got 100% germination, then in the past two days, six of the 16 Big Boys have withered up and died -- first the leaves curled and turned all yucky brown, then the stems just shriveled. They're all in the same six pack, which I've been trying to harden off till I can get them planted.

Ideas? as in HELP! :((

[TheFallGuy]

Tires are planted with potato sets. Here's hoping I did it right and they grow, 'cause the Bear sure wants this to work.

Something I do NOT like is killing off my tomato sets. I panted the seeds in sterilized pots and dirt as instructed, got 100% germination, then in the past two days, six of the 16 Big Boys have withered up and died -- first the leaves curled and turned all yucky brown, then the stems just shriveled. They're all in the same six pack, which I've been trying to harden off till I can get them planted.

Ideas? as in HELP! :((

Did they catch a fungus or something? Virus? Make sure they're separate from your others.

[JohnRandolph]

Tires are planted with potato sets. Here's hoping I did it right and they grow, 'cause the Bear sure wants this to work.

Something I do NOT like is killing off my tomato sets. I panted the seeds in sterilized pots and dirt as instructed, got 100% germination, then in the past two days, six of the 16 Big Boys have withered up and died -- first the leaves curled and turned all yucky brown, then the stems just shriveled. They're all in the same six pack, which I've been trying to harden off till I can get them planted.

Ideas? as in HELP! :((

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Have you called your county extension agent?

[rhet 2]

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Have you called your county extension agent?

She lives in the same area and stops by occasionally. According to her, anyway, we've got the prettiest veggie garden in the area, just because we've worked so hard to use the boxed garden method.

Haven't shown her my tomato seedlings, yet.

The biggest fear I've got is, if they HAVE acquired a fungus, I'd introduce the crap to the garden if I transplant them.

What I'm sorely tempted to do is throw them all out and start over -- there's three to four more weeks before last danger of frost date -- and better strong healthy ready to go babies than spindly little shriveled up and maybe diseased ones, yes?

Right now, I'm thinking too much water, not enough light has damaged the poor dears.

[JohnRandolph]

She lives in the same area and stops by occasionally. According to her, anyway, we've got the prettiest veggie garden in the area, just because we've worked so hard to use the boxed garden method.

Haven't shown her my tomato seedlings, yet.

The biggest fear I've got is, if they HAVE acquired a fungus, I'd introduce the crap to the garden if I transplant them.

What I'm sorely tempted to do is throw them all out and start over -- there's three to four more weeks before last danger of frost date -- and better strong healthy ready to go babies than spindly little shriveled up and maybe diseased ones, yes?

Right now, I'm thinking too much water, not enough light has damaged the poor dears.

We got 2" last night, more on the way this afternoon. With my clay there is still standing water in my garden this morning. I havent bought my tomatoes yet, there havent been any Roma's available and except for a couple of cherries they are the only tomatoes that I grow anymore. It'll be a good two weeks before the ground out there is dried enough for me to try to plant.

I too am expecting that there will be at least one more good frost between now and Easter.

[rhet 2]

We got 2" last night, more on the way this afternoon. With my clay there is still standing water in my garden this morning. I havent bought my tomatoes yet, there havent been any Roma's available and except for a couple of cherries they are the only tomatoes that I grow anymore. It'll be a good two weeks before the ground out there is dried enough for me to try to plant.

I too am expecting that there will be at least one more good frost between now and Easter.

I'm setting out the healthy Big Boys now, just in case this whatever-it-is spreads among the seedlings -- covering them with coffee cans because we've got cold and wet forecast for Friday and Saturday -- have enough clear plastic to cover the cans, after I put the lids on 'em.

And I just threw out TWELVE seed pots with Roma seeds I planted three days ago -- MOLD on top of the potting soil I used! I want to weep in frustration.

Instead, I'll get some different potting medium and start again, counting my blessings that I've only lost 3 days.

My ag buddy at the U. suggested exposing the seed pots to hot steam from the shower -- put the planted pots in the bathroom, turn the shower on HOT, and shut the door. When all the hot water is gone, turn it off but leave them in the bathroom -- seeds need WARM SOIL, not light, to germinate -- it's after germination you need the light.

But, if I've already got mold-infected dirt in those seed pots, no way this would work -- so outside they've gone for exposure to UV, since at the moment we're sunny and in the mid-low 70s.

Plus, the Bear Who Cuddles sort of objects to starting to shower in his bathroom only to find it's cold water only for humans. And his daughter is beginning to fuss about the trays of seed pots all over the cabinet and floor in her own bath. Not that that's going to stop me from trying with the NEW pots of romas. :mrgreen:

[hremom]

It's still too cold here for serious gardening yet. I'm planting my
peas, carrots, lettice, beats and radishes, this weekend.

I have starters inside for tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers,
squash, zuccini, cantalope, watermellon, pumpkin and green
beans and fava beans.

I bought a tomato tree to see if it is as great as they advertise.
I'm also putting in two blueberry bushes and a row of blackberries.
We already have two apricot trees, four apple trees and a plum tree.
Oh, and we have raspberries.

My neighbor has a different variety of plums and a cherry tree, we
share fruit to make jams, dried fruit and canned pie fillings for
winter time. It's a lot of work in the summer but it makes a huge
differnce in our food budgets.

[rhet 2]

It's still too cold here for serious gardening yet. I'm planting my
peas, carrots, lettice, beats and radishes, this weekend.

I have starters inside for tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers,
squash, zuccini, cantalope, watermellon, pumpkin and green
beans and fava beans.

I bought a tomato tree to see if it is as great as they advertise.
I'm also putting in two blueberry bushes and a row of blackberries.
We already have two apricot trees, four apple trees and a plum tree.
Oh, and we have raspberries.

My neighbor has a different variety of plums and a cherry tree, we
share fruit to make jams, dried fruit and canned pie fillings for
winter time. It's a lot of work in the summer but it makes a huge
differnce in our food budgets.

Both less expensive AND better tasting AND more nutricious because it doesn't get harvested still green and sit in trucks and on grocery store shelves while the vitamins disintegrate.

For example, an ear of corn loses HALF it's food value within 30 minutes of being picked -- or so my ag prof friend tells me. To get maximum food value, you should eat it within that 30 minutes.

And, when we were kids, picking, shucking, and eating an ear of sweet corn right in the garden, no cooking needed, was one of the most appetizing wonders of our young lives. I still adore eating peas right off the vine -- sweetest, crispiest, most taste-bud delighting treat in the world.

Your garden plan sounds like a real treat, IMO. And, by mid June, I'll envy you that cooler season, while I fight to shelter still tender plants from a way-too-hot afternoon sun combined with hot, dry winds.

And I'd kill for some blueberry bushes -- but no way to get them the required light without the sun cooking the bushes before the berries come ripe.

[VA-165 Boomer]

I'm setting out the healthy Big Boys now, just in case this whatever-it-is spreads among the seedlings -- covering them with coffee cans because we've got cold and wet forecast for Friday and Saturday -- have enough clear plastic to cover the cans, after I put the lids on 'em.

And I just threw out TWELVE seed pots with Roma seeds I planted three days ago -- MOLD on top of the potting soil I used! I want to weep in frustration.

Instead, I'll get some different potting medium and start again, counting my blessings that I've only lost 3 days.

My ag buddy at the U. suggested exposing the seed pots to hot steam from the shower -- put the planted pots in the bathroom, turn the shower on HOT, and shut the door. When all the hot water is gone, turn it off but leave them in the bathroom -- seeds need WARM SOIL, not light, to germinate -- it's after germination you need the light.

But, if I've already got mold-infected dirt in those seed pots, no way this would work -- so outside they've gone for exposure to UV, since at the moment we're sunny and in the mid-low 70s.

Plus, the Bear Who Cuddles sort of objects to starting to shower in his bathroom only to find it's cold water only for humans. And his daughter is beginning to fuss about the trays of seed pots all over the cabinet and floor in her own bath. Not that that's going to stop me from trying with the NEW pots of romas. :mrgreen:I read an interesting ad online the other day. I don't know if this fellow was correct ot not. He claims his Dad grew tons of tomatos every year. He also said he had seen fully developed plants with fruit on die in 48 hrs. I myself have experience this due to everything from mold to aphids. He claims limiting the leaves on the plants helps reduce exposure to phids and cuts down on mold. Apparently a plant can survive with as little as three plants and reduction of plant growth leads to more fruit. Air circulation is a priority. Opening the plant by removing unneeded branches and leaves helps tremendously. Of course this fellow is selling his fathers techniques but it wasn't more than the cost of a tray of Better Boy plants. ( My plant of choice) I haven't decided yet if I'm gonna bite but I can relate to the problems he discussed.

[rhet 2]

I read the other day that too many leaves and leaf stems uses up to much nutrient and is one of the leading causes of mold and damage by aphids. Healthy plants with fruit on die in 48 hrs. I have experienced this frustration. Apparently plants can thrive with as few as three leaves. Air circulation is a priority. By removing leaves and leaf stems more water and nutrients go to producing tomatoes. Some guy is selling the info but its not as expensive as losing a tray ful of plants to mold and bugs. I haven't made up my mind yet but I may try reducing leaves this year.

He's not the only one.

ALL the sites and books I've read advocate removing sucker branches on tomatoes -- and since I'm trellising these, I'm definitely going to restrict how many side branches I permit growing in which directions to force them to grow fruiting branches along the trellis supports.

I've also read numerous articles and book chapters about topping pole beans to force side shooting and fruit production instead of allowing their energy to go into wasted upward growth beyond the supporting frame they climb. Going to try that with both my beans and my sugar snaps and see what happens.

What's getting my goat are the little spindly seedlings I'm getting out of the germinating seeds inside the house.

Had the same thing with the cabbage family seedlings I set out two weeks ago, and the cauliflower are really taking off all of a sudden -- though the broccoli are remaining tall and lanky, leafing out just a bit only at the very top of the seedlings.

Nursery bedding plants look so much fuller, happier than my own seedlings, it's really got me BUGGED.

I wish I could afford the nursery transplants -- but no can do. GOTTA make my own seed-out feasible.

ALL suggestions in how to get my own seed germination to look as healthy and vigorous as the nurseries do are more than welcome!

[TheFallGuy]

He's not the only one.

ALL the sites and books I've read advocate removing sucker branches on tomatoes -- and since I'm trellising these, I'm definitely going to restrict how many side branches I permit growing in which directions to force them to grow fruiting branches along the trellis supports.

I've also read numerous articles and book chapters about topping pole beans to force side shooting and fruit production instead of allowing their energy to go into wasted upward growth beyond the supporting frame they climb. Going to try that with both my beans and my sugar snaps and see what happens.

What's getting my goat are the little spindly seedlings I'm getting out of the germinating seeds inside the house.

Had the same thing with the cabbage family seedlings I set out two weeks ago, and the cauliflower are really taking off all of a sudden -- though the broccoli are remaining tall and lanky, leafing out just a bit only at the very top of the seedlings.

Nursery bedding plants look so much fuller, happier than my own seedlings, it's really got me BUGGED.

I wish I could afford the nursery transplants -- but no can do. GOTTA make my own seed-out feasible.

ALL suggestions in how to get my own seed germination to look as healthy and vigorous as the nurseries do are more than welcome!
One trick I've used is to get those cheap greenhouse starter packs Jiffy makes and use them. Since it's cold here, I will sometimes put them on a heating pad and let them get nice and cozy. Course this last batch went out to a little portable greenhouse my folks-in-law got us two years ago only to go into the garage when the wind nearly blew the greenhouse away. :eek:

I need to strap something onto the bottom to stabilize it, so when a breeze hits it, it doesn't collapse on itself. That thing got everything nice and toasty in there. And then it snowed. :(

[rhet 2]

One trick I've used is to get those cheap greenhouse starter packs Jiffy makes and use them. Since it's cold here, I will sometimes put them on a heating pad and let them get nice and cozy. Course this last batch went out to a little portable greenhouse my folks-in-law got us two years ago only to go into the garage when the wind nearly blew the greenhouse away. :eek:

I need to strap something onto the bottom to stabilize it, so when a breeze hits it, it doesn't collapse on itself. That thing got everything nice and toasty in there. And then it snowed. :(

Well, the snow and ice have come to Texas -- high today of 32 -- and I'm going to see if burying my 'maters inside coffee cans works -- spent yesterday afternoon piling dirt high up around the sides.

ARe those starter packs really worth the added cost? 'Cause I'm tired of this spindly seedling thing.

Also, know of a good basic feed to encourage faster growing I could give the little darlings both inside and out already transplanted?

Can you attach the greenhouse to something heavy, like posts in the ground? Maybe use an auger and post hole digger to set four corner posts two feet down -- don't concrete them in or anything like that so they can be removed later on -- wedge more posts between the four at ground level like "footers" -- and then connect the greenhouse supports to those posts, so the posts are inside the greenhouse walls but holding the supports that came with it steady against the wind?

[blackcatrun]

That or ag lime.

Bone meal is great for alot of larger plants like pumkins and melons. I also use egg shells to help the soil in between bone meal treatments.
I dry them out and crunch them up. They really seem to like eggsshells better so I try and use them more often.

Also a product called "super thrive" is one of the best plant foods in the world. If you can find Super thrive get it and watch what happens to your garden it goes nuts.

[rhet 2]

Bone meal is great for alot of larger plants like pumkins and melons. I also use egg shells to help the soil in between bone meal treatments.
I dry them out and crunch them up. They really seem to like eggsshells better so I try and use them more often.

Also a product called "super thrive" is one of the best plant foods in the world. If you can find Super thrive get it and watch what happens to your garden it goes nuts.

Alright!

Bone meal and lime are problematic for a soil additive here, since we fight a 7.5 and higher ph as the norm -- melons and squash types ADORE our natural dirt without amendments at all. I have to use a lot of peat moss as an acidifier, instead. The hydrangeas HAVE to have their bi-annual peat moss additives. Otherwise, they bloom whitish-green and pinkish -- and bloom production in terms of size and numbers is WAY reduced.

(Living in West Texas, for somebody who adores mountains, pines, and tromping through woody acreage is DEPRIVATION in spades, let me tell you!)

Crop rotating to use beans and peas as natural nitrogen injectors is working GOOD for tomatoes and other heavy feeders.

Eggshells and coffee grounds/tea leaves -- mega mandatory additives, IMO -- but I compost in an old garbage can first, adding lots of crunched up tree leaves.

Did a search for the Super Thrive. Several online sites discussing it, both pro and con -- most are VERY positive -- but there are warnings NOT to use it except in the early growth stages, drop it especially during bloom and fruiting stage. Several really strongly recommended for sickli-ish slow to sit up transplants.

Available supposedly at Lowes as well as several online sellers.

Am DEFINITELY getting some before Sunday, when the weather breaks and the "babies" have had time to recover from today's nastiness.

I'll try to do a comparison test, using it on one set of broccoli but not on the other -- both sets seeded and germinated and transplanted at the same time under comparatively similar conditions -- just to see if there's noticeable difference within a two week frame of time. How's that, you think?

[TheFallGuy]

Well, the snow and ice have come to Texas -- high today of 32 -- and I'm going to see if burying my 'maters inside coffee cans works -- spent yesterday afternoon piling dirt high up around the sides.

ARe those starter packs really worth the added cost? 'Cause I'm tired of this spindly seedling thing.

Also, know of a good basic feed to encourage faster growing I could give the little darlings both inside and out already transplanted?

Can you attach the greenhouse to something heavy, like posts in the ground? Maybe use an auger and post hole digger to set four corner posts two feet down -- don't concrete them in or anything like that so they can be removed later on -- wedge more posts between the four at ground level like "footers" -- and then connect the greenhouse supports to those posts, so the posts are inside the greenhouse walls but holding the supports that came with it steady against the wind?

I went to one of our IFA stores and purchased 4 tomato plants for 99c each. They're healthy and growing in my window right now. I know how you feel about the spindly seeds, but I'm not sure there's much to help them. I'll try and do some more research today. Between doing my much delayed taxes and work.

As for the greenhouse, it's on a cement patio in the backyard. We have one of those corner lots with lots of front yard. If I do what you suggested, I eat up a good portion of either the garden or little children's running room. The patio is large and off to the side--was used for a hot tub. I've got plenty of material the previous owner left in the garage to add the extra weight to the bottom and hopefully reinforce it.

[Liberty1980]

Hey guys! We do a garden every year. This year we're adding lettuce and spinach to our list.

We've got our corn planted (did that last weekend). Our spinach, lettuce, and potatoes are coming up nicely. And right now we're waiting for it to dry out a little to plow again the spot for all our tomatoes. We get better boys and grape tomatoes every year.

We're debating if we should do peas this year or not.

[Liberty1980]

Also, If any of you have a good easy way to make a homemade pea sheller, PLEASE let me know!

[JohnRandolph]

Also, If any of you have a good easy way to make a homemade pea sheller, PLEASE let me know!

I've never seen one, but do a search on it. I betcha one of those survivalist, or Mother Jones type sites may have something. Heck maybe even somebody more conventional may be able to help.

[rmbrad]

Rhet:

I got in a toote to get my garden started early a couple of years ago. I started the tomatos and peppers from seed. They were under a grow light, and were just as you discribe "spindely". I took them to a local garden shop, and as soon as the plant expert saw them, he said these were grown under artificial light. I don't know if he was right when he said that the artifical light caused this or not. I know my loving Wife put an end to my experiment when I started looking at seeds the next year. I think the exact quote was "No way in heck are you going to have those things all over the house again this year".

[Liberty1980]

I've never seen one, but do a search on it. I betcha one of those survivalist, or Mother Jones type sites may have something. Heck maybe even somebody more conventional may be able to help.

Don't worry about doing a search, I was just wondering if anyone here had made an effective one. Thank you tho. :D

[itsrea]

He's not the only one.

ALL the sites and books I've read advocate removing sucker branches on tomatoes -- and since I'm trellising these, I'm definitely going to restrict how many side branches I permit growing in which directions to force them to grow fruiting branches along the trellis supports.

I've also read numerous articles and book chapters about topping pole beans to force side shooting and fruit production instead of allowing their energy to go into wasted upward growth beyond the supporting frame they climb. Going to try that with both my beans and my sugar snaps and see what happens.

What's getting my goat are the little spindly seedlings I'm getting out of the germinating seeds inside the house.

Had the same thing with the cabbage family seedlings I set out two weeks ago, and the cauliflower are really taking off all of a sudden -- though the broccoli are remaining tall and lanky, leafing out just a bit only at the very top of the seedlings.

Nursery bedding plants look so much fuller, happier than my own seedlings, it's really got me BUGGED.

I wish I could afford the nursery transplants -- but no can do. GOTTA make my own seed-out feasible.

ALL suggestions in how to get my own seed germination to look as healthy and vigorous as the nurseries do are more than welcome!Rhet, many nursery plants look great because

1.) Time is money - Nurseries don't have time (water, heat, workers, etc) to have their shelves tied up in letting plants germinate naturally, so they are given mega doses of watering that are full of all kinds of growth stuffs. It's like a football player using steriods - he may look great but his insides ain't doing so well.

2.) Nursery plants are grown in ideal environments.. heat, lights, watering is kept at just the right place 24/7 where your plants are not grown that way.

But overall I'd bet your plants will be healthier - and your plants will probably live longer.. the ones fed hormones and growth stuff are reputed to be shorter lived.

[Liberty1980]

rhet-

One thing we do is allow the tomatoes to grow naturally until their branches start drooping from the weight. Then get a piece of rebar and put in near the trunk. Use bailing twine (it's biodegradable) and loop it around the branch and tie it to the rebar to support it. Our limbs get pretty long, but we pull tons of tomatoes off of them. This allows the plant to grow naturally and you're not restricting it by trimming any limbs or making it grow to a certain apparatus.

[rhet 2]

I went to one of our IFA stores and purchased 4 tomato plants for 99c each. They're healthy and growing in my window right now. I know how you feel about the spindly seeds, but I'm not sure there's much to help them. I'll try and do some more research today. Between doing my much delayed taxes and work.

As for the greenhouse, it's on a cement patio in the backyard. We have one of those corner lots with lots of front yard. If I do what you suggested, I eat up a good portion of either the garden or little children's running room. The patio is large and off to the side--was used for a hot tub. I've got plenty of material the previous owner left in the garage to add the extra weight to the bottom and hopefully reinforce it.

Boy do I hear you about not giving up a single micrometer of the the green-growing and run-play areas. I'll pray the added weight will make the concrete more usable.

And that's $4.00 I've got to have for car insurance and utilities -- both shot up AGAIN, just like everything else EXCEPT our income has done -- so the bedding plants are just not an option, not this year, not on social security retirement "money."

I'm also thinking the artificial light is part of the spindly seedling problems -- especially since the cabbage family transplants have doubled in size and added LOTS of new leafs since transplant.

Normally, I would never have transplanted them in the first place -- just because they're not what I'm used to buying from the nurseries -- nowhere near as vigorous and healthy looking as I anticipated.

But, if setting them out spindly and icky instead of full flourishing strong and already bushy can be offseat by post-transplant hormone treatments -- or if pre-transplant hormone treatment could get me the same or near-same quality as what I'd buy at the nurseries, then by George, hormone treatments are worth a shot.

I mean, how much can a few drops of Super Thrive add to the cost of a single seed?

(And, YES, I AM planting just one seed per pot -- "waste not, want not" is suddenly the song of my life! And I've got the cost of every seed calculated down to the half-penny approximate based on the number the packet CLAIMS it contains. Have you ever tried to plant JUST ONE carrot seed in just that ONE spot three inches from where you planted the last one? No can do -- but I've got it down to just three per little fingerprint -- so I only have to waste two in the thinning to be done next week. THAT is what last year I would have called "pitiful"! Lesson: do NOT retire and try to survive on the Gubmit Dole. I had forgotten the early marriage years of making pennies scream in agony. :)) )

So, rmbrad, the hubby has two choices -- go back to work full time -- or live with trays full of germinating seeds for my garden -- and BUILD MORE BOXES for his darling little wifelet to fill with FOOD for his belly. :))

Liberty, do you just let the new sprouts that form between a main branch and the stalk on a tomato to continue growing? I did that last year -- and the extension agent said that was actually costing me fruit production, that pinching out what she calls "sucker branches" produces a more controlled growth and allows the plant to focus on fruit, not growing branches and leaves.

And every book and article I've read, the county agent, AND my ag prof coffee drinking buddy all say PLANT PEAS where you want to plant tomatoes and squash and peppers next time around.

Last year, I had ordinary peas where I'm putting this year's tomatoes -- got tired of shelling the dumb things and seeing how little actual edible yummies came out of so much ground space -- so this year, I've put Sugar Snaps -- whole pod is edible -- and pole Kentucky Wonders where the tomatoes were last season.

My spinach is going out right at the top edge of the watering trench I formed for the peas -- because all the naturalist websites say spinach and peas benefit each other.

Carrots mixed with chervil are planted as a bed edging in front of the broccoli and cauliflower, which should harvest by mid May, in time for squash and melons in their place. Chamomile is going into the cabbage and broccoli beds, too.

Unless one of you other, more experienced gardeners tells me that's a bad idea, anyway.

In front of the tomatoes, I plan on horehound, basil and lovage, and then, between the herbs, a two foot by one foot square for the yellow crook necked squash.

The zuchini this year goes in the tree ring around the plum tree, onions and garlic EVERYWHERE I can tuck 'em -- especially around the base of the roses -- with borage and leaf lettuce added to the rings around the two peaches -- a wedge shape planted with onions with garlic as the bed edger, an equal wedge with the lettuce, a second wedge with more onions and garlic, with a fourth wedge of borage.

I've got pennyroyal -- supposed to repel flies and mosquitoes ?????????? maybe -- to plant between the paving stones of the walkways and the sitting areas.

But I haven't got clue one what to do with the fennel and the "salad burnett" seeds I was given. sigh

I think I've REALLY got to get a move on digging out that special "knot garden" just for herbs asap. A low triangular-ish herb bed that sits on the OTHER side of the walkway where it y's out in two different directions from the patio/back door to the veggie/bistro area would also force traffic to stay on the walkway instead of trampling the flipping lawn.

I'm trying to keep MOVEMENT and the flow of the eyeballs with some unseen little surprise plantings in nooks here and there in mind when laying out the veggie beds.

AND trying to interplant with bug repellant plants to HOPEFULLY reduce chemical use as much as realistically possible -- keeping in mind that I am NOT sold on the PURE ORGANIC ONLY stuff -- some of it seems maybe useful -- but I'm not a fanatic, not by a long shot.

So, I'm a greedy little INFO CONSUMER big time when it comes to the garden.

[itsrea]

We got our fir trees planted yesterday... 54 in all. Only ten of them in the front, some along the property line between us and the neighbor from hell, three in a triangle that will be a cool place for sitting in the afternoon someday, the rest out back between us and the berry bushes.

Rick dug the holes and I crawled around planting them. Then we staked them and covered them in that orange plastic stuff... It will be somebody's own private park-like forest someday (we planted far enough from each other to get the riding mower through them.

I was hoping the newness would keep the elk away from them for awhile but honest to gosh I think they smelled them, and while the adults didn't even try to get through the plastic the yearlings did, so I spent the evening racing out the back door yelling at them to get out of my trees... did it so many times the last time they all walked off to where the rail corral fence was before this winters snows flattened it and then all of them turned around and watched me.

:rolleyes:

The cows have pretty much run the bulls off.. they'll calve late May or early June - the babies are putting on weight, the cows are getting awkward and grumpy so I didn't leave my porch when yelling at them lol.

We can't do any veggies yet.. still too cold. In fact White Pass is supposed to get another 15 inches of snow this evening.

But we sure enjoyed yesterdays dry weather even if it was overcase.. first time I've been out without a coat since before Christmas!

[TheFallGuy]

Boy do I hear you about not giving up a single micrometer of the the green-growing and run-play areas. I'll pray the added weight will make the concrete more usable.

And that's $4.00 I've got to have for car insurance and utilities -- both shot up AGAIN, just like everything else EXCEPT our income has done -- so the bedding plants are just not an option, not this year, not on social security retirement "money."
I hear ya. And I pray for ya. The weight should solve part of the problem. I think the others, rmbrad and liberty hit on a few good points. Get the seedlings into real light. The lights we use in our homes doesn't provide the full spectrum. However, you can get full-spectrum bulbs for specific areas of your home. The problem is, they're more expensive. Why pay for what God delivers everyday?
Normally, I would never have transplanted them in the first place -- just because they're not what I'm used to buying from the nurseries -- nowhere near as vigorous and healthy looking as I anticipated.
Get them out in natural light first to help temper them.
But, if setting them out spindly and icky instead of full flourishing strong and already bushy can be offseat by post-transplant hormone treatments -- or if pre-transplant hormone treatment could get me the same or near-same quality as what I'd buy at the nurseries, then by George, hormone treatments are worth a shot.
Make sure you follow directions. Don't want to kill the plant in the meantime.
Liberty, do you just let the new sprouts that form between a main branch and the stalk on a tomato to continue growing? I did that last year -- and the extension agent said that was actually costing me fruit production, that pinching out what she calls "sucker branches" produces a more controlled growth and allows the plant to focus on fruit, not growing branches and leaves.
Cut the betweeners. Think of them as little sucker branches. Train your plants to grow up in the ways of food production when they are young and when they are mature.... :D
And every book and article I've read, the county agent, AND my ag prof coffee drinking buddy all say PLANT PEAS where you want to plant tomatoes and squash and peppers next time around.

Last year, I had ordinary peas where I'm putting this year's tomatoes -- got tired of shelling the dumb things and seeing how little actual edible yummies came out of so much ground space -- so this year, I've put Sugar Snaps -- whole pod is edible -- and pole Kentucky Wonders where the tomatoes were last season.
This probably has to do with what the plants actually do to the soil. Some are nitrogen fixers, some strip the soil of everything (like corn). Crop rotation is extremely important so you don't burn out your soil.
My spinach is going out right at the top edge of the watering trench I formed for the peas -- because all the naturalist websites say spinach and peas benefit each other.
I'll keep that in mind.
I've got pennyroyal -- supposed to repel flies and mosquitoes ?????????? maybe -- to plant between the paving stones of the walkways and the sitting areas.
Pennyroyal is a good spider repellent too. I'm going to put it next to the little green boxes for sprinklers. Black widows love moisture and that is prime real estate for them. I hates them!
AND trying to interplant with bug repellant plants to HOPEFULLY reduce chemical use as much as realistically possible -- keeping in mind that I am NOT sold on the PURE ORGANIC ONLY stuff -- some of it seems maybe useful -- but I'm not a fanatic, not by a long shot.

So, I'm a greedy little INFO CONSUMER big time when it comes to the garden.
Keep us posted on how it works. It sounds like you're doing everything you can to keep bugs from eating your plants. And share what you have found works. I know I'm learning a lot here. ;)

[TheFallGuy]

We got our fir trees planted yesterday... 54 in all. Only ten of them in the front, some along the property line between us and the neighbor from hell, three in a triangle that will be a cool place for sitting in the afternoon someday, the rest out back between us and the berry bushes.

Rick dug the holes and I crawled around planting them. Then we staked them and covered them in that orange plastic stuff... It will be somebody's own private park-like forest someday (we planted far enough from each other to get the riding mower through them.

I was hoping the newness would keep the elk away from them for awhile but honest to gosh I think they smelled them, and while the adults didn't even try to get through the plastic the yearlings did, so I spent the evening racing out the back door yelling at them to get out of my trees... did it so many times the last time they all walked off to where the rail corral fence was before this winters snows flattened it and then all of them turned around and watched me.

:rolleyes:

The cows have pretty much run the bulls off.. they'll calve late May or early June - the babies are putting on weight, the cows are getting awkward and grumpy so I didn't leave my porch when yelling at them lol.

We can't do any veggies yet.. still too cold. In fact White Pass is supposed to get another 15 inches of snow this evening.

But we sure enjoyed yesterdays dry weather even if it was overcase.. first time I've been out without a coat since before Christmas!

Your not my mom are you? :)) She wanted to order about 90 trees to plant on their place up in Idaho. I told her no. My little brother thanked me. We were able to cut it down to 30 or so. We can do this in stages, especially since her lot is all river rock.

[VA-165 Boomer]

rhet-

One thing we do is allow the tomatoes to grow naturally until their branches start drooping from the weight. Then get a piece of rebar and put in near the trunk. Use bailing twine (it's biodegradable) and loop it around the branch and tie it to the rebar to support it. Our limbs get pretty long, but we pull tons of tomatoes off of them. This allows the plant to grow naturally and you're not restricting it by trimming any limbs or making it grow to a certain apparatus.And if you cut rings of nylon from old hosiery and use them instead of twine the static electricity will stimulate the plant while it's growing and aid in the growing process.

[Liberty1980]

Rhet, yeah, do like thefallguy said. Keep only the main sprigs on the branch. Also, you can pinch off some of the first blooms so they don't start producing fruit too early. This will allow more time for the plant to get structurally sound so it won't have too much weight on smaller, weak branches.

[Liberty1980]

And if you cut rings of nylon from old hosiery and use them instead of twine the static electricity will stimulate the plant while it's growing and aid in the growing process.
i'll give that a try.


we use cheap panty hose and kneehighs to apply sevin dust. just fill it with some and pat the powder on the plants.

[itsrea]

Your not my mom are you? :)) She wanted to order about 90 trees to plant on their place up in Idaho. I told her no. My little brother thanked me. We were able to cut it down to 30 or so. We can do this in stages, especially since her lot is all river rock.Weyrehaeuser has sales here every year.. four or five around the state and you can buy 50 - 100 - 150 trees by lot (you cna also buy them individually).. they list the kinds they may have, but they may not have all varieites at any given sale.. we went halvsies with a friend from church... we were going for white firs - strong, pretty, and drought resistant so we wouldn't have to worry about watering them so much, but there were none at our closest sale, so we ended up grand firs (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/abies/grandis.htm). We chose two year old bare root trees so they have a better chance of surviving the next winter.

And I COULD be your mom :)) I wanted 100 (they were only $40 for the hundred), but Rick actually got pale, weak looking and almost keeled over.... so I settled for half of a lot.

And I'm glad I did... we're on old river bed, with only about two inches of real soil and grass/weed (in other words REAL EASY to dig into), but it took us most of the day to get those in and we are STILL barely able to move today.

[itsrea]

Because this has been a rough winter on me (because of my osteoporsis and osteoarthritis) I find myself wandering the house late at night and have taken to watching "Forensic Files"...

A couple of nights ago there was one about children getting really ill (one baby died) in Seattle.. all with the same symptoms - all had that deadly e-coli that there is no cure for...

By process of elimination they found that one of the orchards supplying apples to a company who produced apple juice (they didn't pastureize it) had dear droppings on the ground under the trees... they tested the droppings and although it did not have the same DNA as the e-coli the children had, there was e-coli present in the droppings. They figure that even tho they weren't supposed to pick up downed fruit, the pickers probably did... the bacteria was transferred to the fruit from the droppings.

We often have both deer and elk droppings under our prune tree - so I've made Rick knows not to pick up any downed fruit.. we're going to toss it into the forest across the road instead.. but as a warning I thought I'd mention it here to be sure your gardens are protected from wildlife because their droppings could spread e-coli to your foods.

(that company that produces apple juice now pasturizes the apples - cooking kills the germs)

[Liberty1980]

thanks for the warning. Somehow that never crossed my mind. But most of the time when veggies fall on the ground the ants get to it pretty quickly to get the water from it, so you hardly ever consider getting anything from the ground to consume (unless it's vine-like stuff).

[Liberty1980]

Which brings me to a thought:

Growing cucumbers: put up a section of chain link fence along the line of seeds. When the sprouts start to grow, wrap them around the fence and get them to grow up it. It'll allow you to pick cucumbers without the odd white underbelly and you don't have to bend down and sort thru the big leaves to find them.

[rhet 2]

Because this has been a rough winter on me (because of my osteoporsis and osteoarthritis) I find myself wandering the house late at night and have taken to watching "Forensic Files"...

A couple of nights ago there was one about children getting really ill (one baby died) in Seattle.. all with the same symptoms - all had that deadly e-coli that there is no cure for...

By process of elimination they found that one of the orchards supplying apples to a company who produced apple juice (they didn't pastureize it) had dear droppings on the ground under the trees... they tested the droppings and although it did not have the same DNA as the e-coli the children had, there was e-coli present in the droppings. They figure that even tho they weren't supposed to pick up downed fruit, the pickers probably did... the bacteria was transferred to the fruit from the droppings.

We often have both deer and elk droppings under our prune tree - so I've made Rick knows not to pick up any downed fruit.. we're going to toss it into the forest across the road instead.. but as a warning I thought I'd mention it here to be sure your gardens are protected from wildlife because their droppings could spread e-coli to your foods.

(that company that produces apple juice now pasturizes the apples - cooking kills the germs)

GOOD WARNING!

Now I'm very glad I've been so finicky about pooper scoopering after the dog and washing hands before handling any of the plants. If you smoke, also wash off the nicotine from your hands --and poison all plants if transferred to their leaves.

We had a 'possum invasion late last summer. And shooting firearms is NOT ALLOWED now that we've been added to the city boundaries. :(( Anybody got tips about how to get rid of the things?

Because the city animal control wouldn't even come try -- (some benefit for city incorporation, right? Instead of a well, we pay the city for ever-increasingly expensive water. Instead of a generator, we pay through the nose for city supplied electricity. Instead of wood burning stoves, natural gas -- yeah, PAY SOME MORE. And instead of burning the trash -- and composting the plant-based stuff -- we pay for garbage trucks to roar down alleys. :wall:)

I MISS the farm and the ranch more every single day. Those cows -- AND the deer -- sound luscious. It's been a long long time since I tasted fresh buttermilk.

Tansy DOES repel ants -- have fought argentine ants for a long time -- and they do NOT build their nests anywhere near where I've planted tansy. But be very careful. Tansy can be deadly for humans.

All of the mints do, too. Ants hate mint nearly as much as they do tansy.

And for years, I've used garlic to fight aphids. That one I do know works -- buy a head, divide into individual cloves, peel most of the dried outer peel off, plant with the pointy end up just poking its nose out of the soil -- the root end is rounder and has a center where the old roots grew -- easy difference to spot. You can buy it at garden centers, but I've had equal success with the cheaper stuff in the grocery stores.

And I'm sternly warned to keep dill far from the carrots, tomatoes and caraway -- but am told it benefits cabbage family, lettuce and cukes.

I've never grown cukes before, not in a kitchen garden setting, anyway.

Mine are planted against the fence, ready to climb it instead of growing sprawled on the ground == of which ground I've got way too little as it is without covering it with sprawling veggies. IF the coffee can protectors work, that is, given this cold snap -- if not, I've got some more in seed pots.

Plus, I've got three of those big tubs that trees and bushes come in from the garden shops, and I'm going to see if cukes will grow in those -- if so, I can scatter several throughout the flower bed areas to climb those fence slats, too, back behind the lilies and other decoratives.

And I've always used nylons for ties -- make a great sling for climbing melons, too, I'm told. Did fantastic for tying tomatoes last year -- and they're reusable if you're careful to untie them and run 'em through the washer.

Take a ruined pair of panty hose and cut off the legs just at the crotch. Cut straight down the leg to the toe and then cut into 1 inch wide long strips -- each strip can be cut long enough to fit a specific job. And the top part, being thicker, cuts into nifty slings for heavier weights and tie backs for trees and shrubs that need something a tad tougher than the leg parts. Those socklet types are PERFECT for ties, too. And the best part is that after years of wearing suits and heels, I've still got TONS of the things with runners in them I just couldn't quite force myself to throw away..... yet. And they're far less noticeable than garden twine -- maybe not as good as the green gardener's tape -- but FREE! :mrgreen:

Now, some of them are going to be dedicated to Sevin Dust applications -- would never have thought of that one! :clap:

Oh, one more use for the panty hose -- fill one with potatoes and onions and apples and hang it in the garage -- anyplace cool and dark -- if you tie a quick knot between each item, the fruits never touch each other, so, if one rots, the others are not contaminated.

[TheFallGuy]

Because this has been a rough winter on me (because of my osteoporsis and osteoarthritis) I find myself wandering the house late at night and have taken to watching "Forensic Files"...

A couple of nights ago there was one about children getting really ill (one baby died) in Seattle.. all with the same symptoms - all had that deadly e-coli that there is no cure for...

By process of elimination they found that one of the orchards supplying apples to a company who produced apple juice (they didn't pastureize it) had dear droppings on the ground under the trees... they tested the droppings and although it did not have the same DNA as the e-coli the children had, there was e-coli present in the droppings. They figure that even tho they weren't supposed to pick up downed fruit, the pickers probably did... the bacteria was transferred to the fruit from the droppings.

We often have both deer and elk droppings under our prune tree - so I've made Rick knows not to pick up any downed fruit.. we're going to toss it into the forest across the road instead.. but as a warning I thought I'd mention it here to be sure your gardens are protected from wildlife because their droppings could spread e-coli to your foods.

(that company that produces apple juice now pasturizes the apples - cooking kills the germs)

Just shoot the elk for eating your fruit. Elk is good steak. :D

Try planting some mints and stuff around the tree. That might help shoo them away.

[itsrea]

Just shoot the elk for eating your fruit. Elk is good steak. :D

Try planting some mints and stuff around the tree. That might help shoo them away.LOL elk don't shoo away... if they don't like the taste of something they pull it out of the ground and throw it over their shoulder to get it out of the way....

:boohoo: In that link to the tape that I post a guy says, 'the women around here hate the elk', and that is pretty much the truth... they're VERY distructive. :((

[rhet 2]

LOL elk don't shoo away... if they don't like the taste of something they pull it out of the ground and throw it over their shoulder to get it out of the way....

:boohoo: In that link to the tape that I post a guy says, 'the women around here hate the elk', and that is pretty much the truth... they're VERY distructive. :((

so are late March ice storms :(( :((

I haven't yet gone out since it's still in the low 20s -- but from the window I can see the dead leaves withering on the trees and the lillies and the other decoratives. I dread to look at my food supply.

Are you not allowed to shoot the damned elk? I would, game warden or no.

[itsrea]

so are late March ice storms :(( :((

I haven't yet gone out since it's still in the low 20s -- but from the window I can see the dead leaves withering on the trees and the lillies and the other decoratives. I dread to look at my food supply.I know, we're getting snow as I type.. poor birds had moved back, getting ready to build nests and now they're hunkered down under the trees in the bare spots - some of them are actually hunked down under the roof on the back deck.. we'd already used all the wild bird seed so put out a whole loaf of bread when the snow started sticking.

Are you not allowed to shoot the damned elk? I would, game warden or no.Some people do - I suspect mostly women - although I won't - I think they use bbguns - we'll put up an electric wire to keep them out of our veggie garden - Dick told Rick he'll show him how to run the electric and put up the fence when they get here from their winter home.. they should be coming in in about two weeks. I don't even try to put in flowers... I do have a couple of roses that were here when we moved in... they survive the snow each winter and the elk each summer, I don't have a clue how... lol

And a couple of green things up under the trees by the front deck, but the deck caved in from snow in December, so we're going to pull it completely out (we have to shovel up and over the railing, which is incredibly hard on our backs), and once the deck is gone the elk may eat up under those trees too.

Last winter I got up for a drink of water in the middle of the night, saw movement and stepped over to one of the kitchen windows (in the dark) and was eye to eye with a huge elk cow.. we both jumped lol... they were eating the cypress that border the front walk - next morning there were whole branches pulled down or hanging down, broken, where the elk has tried for the nice tender branches at the top.

I don't like the elk that close to the house - they've been known to go aggressive and break windows, so I want the cypress pulled out.

And, btw, if you haven't figured it out yet.. the cows I was talking about are elk cows.. we don't run cattle on our little acre and a half.

[rhet 2]

I know, we're getting snow as I type.. poor birds had moved back, getting ready to build nests and now they're hunkered down under the trees in the bare spots - some of them are actually hunked down under the roof on the back deck.. we'd already used all the wild bird seed so put out a whole loaf of bread when the snow started sticking.

Some people do - I suspect mostly women - although I won't - I think they use bbguns - we'll put up an electric wire to keep them out of our veggie garden - Dick told Rick he'll show him how to run the electric and put up the fence when they get here from their winter home.. they should be coming in in about two weeks. I don't even try to put in flowers... I do have a couple of roses that were here when we moved in... they survive the snow each winter and the elk each summer, I don't have a clue how... lol

And a couple of green things up under the trees by the front deck, but the deck caved in from snow in December, so we're going to pull it completely out (we have to shovel up and over the railing, which is incredibly hard on our backs), and once the deck is gone the elk may eat up under those trees too.

Last winter I got up for a drink of water in the middle of the night, saw movement and stepped over to one of the kitchen windows (in the dark) and was eye to eye with a huge elk cow.. we both jumped lol... they were eating the cypress that border the front walk - next morning there were whole branches pulled down or hanging down, broken, where the elk has tried for the nice tender branches at the top.

I don't like the elk that close to the house - they've been known to go aggressive and break windows, so I want the cypress pulled out.

And, btw, if you haven't figured it out yet.. the cows I was talking about are elk cows.. we don't run cattle on our little acre and a half.


I would not want elk that close, either. Nor deer. Their hooves alone can shred a garden in nothing flat -- what little they don't eat of it.

Good news is, the tomato transplants are happy as larks. When I took the lids off their coffee cans at noon, there was still ice on the lid -- but inside the can there was discernible difference in air and soil temp and the little babies are just sticking their little noses up into the sunlight reflecting off the INSIDE of the can as happy as can be.

The cauliflower seems to have survived -- but the broccoli got hurt badly. Onions and garlic are bouncing back, too. Cabbages are not precisely happy, but I think they can recover. Some of the peas may be goners, but most look viable. Maybe.

NEXT TIME I GO NUTZOID WITH PLASTIC SHEETS over everything I can manage, even if I have to climb a ladder and tie bags over the tree tops all by my little old grandma self.

Does anybody know whether or not peach trees can survive if their leaves get frozen off AFTER they've set fruit? Can/will they leaf out again? Will they throw the baby fruits or not? This is only their second year -- and I've yet to taste a single fruit since I discarded their babies last year in order to foster root and trunk development. :((

[itsrea]

I would not want elk that close, either. Nor deer. Their hooves alone can shred a garden in nothing flat -- what little they don't eat of it.

Good news is, the tomato transplants are happy as larks. When I took the lids off their coffee cans at noon, there was still ice on the lid -- but inside the can there was discernible difference in air and soil temp and the little babies are just sticking their little noses up into the sunlight reflecting off the INSIDE of the can as happy as can be.

The cauliflower seems to have survived -- but the broccoli got hurt badly. Onions and garlic are bouncing back, too. Cabbages are not precisely happy, but I think they can recover. Some of the peas may be goners, but most look viable. Maybe.

NEXT TIME I GO NUTZOID WITH PLASTIC SHEETS over everything I can manage, even if I have to climb a ladder and tie bags over the tree tops all by my little old grandma self.

Does anybody know whether or not peach trees can survive if their leaves get frozen off AFTER they've set fruit? Can/will they leaf out again? Will they throw the baby fruits or not? This is only their second year -- and I've yet to taste a single fruit since I discarded their babies last year in order to foster root and trunk development. :((I don't know... when frosts happened this late my family went out all night with smut pots... you might want to call a nursery and ask what to do now that the frost has burnt the leaves?

[TheFallGuy]

I know, we're getting snow as I type.. poor birds had moved back, getting ready to build nests and now they're hunkered down under the trees in the bare spots - some of them are actually hunked down under the roof on the back deck.. we'd already used all the wild bird seed so put out a whole loaf of bread when the snow started sticking.
It's these late storms that catch us by surprise. I think I lost a couple of plants I put outside. Sigh. Start again. At least I was smart enough not to put out the tomatoes
Some people do - I suspect mostly women - although I won't - I think they use bbguns -
You'll need a higher caliber rifle for elk, at least a .270, some go with a .300. A good sized elk will last in your freezer quite a while. Plus it tastes better than beef and is healthier. :D


we'll put up an electric wire to keep them out of our veggie garden - Dick told Rick he'll show him how to run the electric and put up the fence when they get here from their winter home.. they should be coming in in about two weeks. I don't even try to put in flowers... I do have a couple of roses that were here when we moved in... they survive the snow each winter and the elk each summer, I don't have a clue how... lol

And a couple of green things up under the trees by the front deck, but the deck caved in from snow in December, so we're going to pull it completely out (we have to shovel up and over the railing, which is incredibly hard on our backs), and once the deck is gone the elk may eat up under those trees too.

Last winter I got up for a drink of water in the middle of the night, saw movement and stepped over to one of the kitchen windows (in the dark) and was eye to eye with a huge elk cow.. we both jumped lol... they were eating the cypress that border the front walk - next morning there were whole branches pulled down or hanging down, broken, where the elk has tried for the nice tender branches at the top.

I don't like the elk that close to the house - they've been known to go aggressive and break windows, so I want the cypress pulled out.

And, btw, if you haven't figured it out yet.. the cows I was talking about are elk cows.. we don't run cattle on our little acre and a half.

Elk do get to be a problem. The farmers I know hate them 'cause they'll get in the feed barns and mess all over the feed so no other animal will want it. Seriously, I'd find out about the legality of shooting them for eating your trees and such. It might be perfectly legal whether in season or not. (and then I can come visit for a little :drool: elk steak :drool: )

[itsrea]

It's these late storms that catch us by surprise. I think I lost a couple of plants I put outside. Sigh. Start again. At least I was smart enough not to put out the tomatoes

You'll need a higher caliber rifle for elk, at least a .270, some go with a .300. A good sized elk will last in your freezer quite a while. Plus it tastes better than beef and is healthier. :D

Elk do get to be a problem. The farmers I know hate them 'cause they'll get in the feed barns and mess all over the feed so no other animal will want it. Seriously, I'd find out about the legality of shooting them for eating your trees and such. It might be perfectly legal whether in season or not. (and then I can come visit for a little :drool: elk steak :drool: )The only time it would be legal to shoot a elk other then a legal one during hunting season is if he or she is attacking me or some other person... seriously. The herds here are growing so fast we contacted the state lat year and they sent up a rep... big meeting at the community center.. people came from alllll over... we asked for some cow tags to be issued to locals only... to thin the herd where it's healthy we were hoping that 200-300 tags would be issued... the results?

30 tags have been issued to professional hunters only - none are going to locals... if we have 'A' cow that's damaging property and we can PROVE it the professional hunter will come up and try to shoot it.

You got the 'A cow'? The herd that comes into our yard is one of the smaller herds of over 1000 head in the 33 miles of valley between Morton and Packwood...... we get anywhere from 10 to 30 to 45 head at a time just on our property (a acre and a half)... but the people that range cattle get even more - take a drive up highway 12 and once you're past Morton you will see herds that are over 100 strong on both sides of the highway.

And, IF we can prove they are doing our property damage a professional hunter will come up and kill ONE cow.

One.

[TheFallGuy]

The only time it would be legal to shoot a elk other then a legal one during hunting season is if he or she is attacking me or some other person... seriously. The herds here are growing so fast we contacted the state lat year and they sent up a rep... big meeting at the community center.. people came from alllll over... we asked for some cow tags to be issued to locals only... to thin the herd where it's healthy we were hoping that 200-300 tags would be issued... the results?

30 tags have been issued to professional hunters only - none are going to locals... if we have 'A' cow that's damaging property and we can PROVE it the professional hunter will come up and try to shoot it.

You got the 'A cow'? The herd that comes into our yard is one of the smaller herds of over 1000 head in the 33 miles of valley between Morton and Packwood...... we get anywhere from 10 to 30 to 45 head at a time just on our property (a acre and a half)... but the people that range cattle get even more - take a drive up highway 12 and once you're past Morton you will see herds that are over 100 strong on both sides of the highway.

And, IF we can prove they are doing our property damage a professional hunter will come up and kill ONE cow.

One.

:shakes head: :hug: You have my deepest condolences. This is what happens when idiots are voted into office and stupidity reigns.

I'd suggest getting petitions going and getting as many people from all over to sign it that more needs to be done. Then lambast the administration as incompetent and uncaring of landowners' rights. Then start sending them bills for repair when the elk herds damage your property.

:sigh: Wish there was something more that could be done.

[rhet 2]

:shakes head: :hug: You have my deepest condolences. This is what happens when idiots are voted into office and stupidity reigns.

I'd suggest getting petitions going and getting as many people from all over to sign it that more needs to be done. Then lambast the administration as incompetent and uncaring of landowners' rights. Then start sending them bills for repair when the elk herds damage your property.

:sigh: Wish there was something more that could be done.

Yeah.

:wall:

They've obviously overgrazed their own normal areas; otherwise they wouldn't be invading human space and endangering human families because, obviously, the predators that would normally slaughter those cows and calves are not able to do enough to maintain BALANCE. And stupid fools in the Green Freak movement and their political TOOLS don't know the meaning of the word BALANCE to protect ALL life forms, especially the poor human LIFE FORMS they don't comprehend and despise so much.

Rea, I've got an image of your property -- like Jerusalem surrounded by Babylonian troops -- in elk costumes-- with you and Rick standing on the battlements and seeing the angel army invisible to the enemy between you and the dumb elk beasts. I pray it is a true vision by the Will of the LORD. -- because it's only a matter of time till someone DOES get seriously injured. And I pray that some dumb idiot politician's wife or kid gets to see the REALITY of the elk threat the hard way -- not hurt or killed or anything -- just scared out of their wits by the REALITY of "Mother Nature" out of balance because of Green Freak stupidity and ignorance -- and then watch how many tags you guys get! :wall:

[TheFallGuy]

Bumping this from wayyyy back.

Just put in four fruit trees. Early Elberta, Montmorency Cherry, Stella Cherry, and Moorpark Apricot. Weather was perfect for it. Cold but not snowing.

I've decided I hate crabapples. I chopped several trees down when we moved in and of all of them, that is the biggest pain to remove the stinking stump. I was going to put one of the cherry trees where it stood, but I guess I'll put a tree there next year after I get this (*^&%$%&^%&$$!!!!! stump out.

[Darkblade]

C-4!

[TheFallGuy]

C-4!

:))

Problem is, the stump's next to my house and also next to the gas meter. While it would definitely remove the stump, it would also remove a sizeable portion of my son's bedroom.

:))

[rhet 2]

Bumping this from wayyyy back.

Just put in four fruit trees. Early Elberta, Montmorency Cherry, Stella Cherry, and Moorpark Apricot. Weather was perfect for it. Cold but not snowing.

I've decided I hate crabapples. I chopped several trees down when we moved in and of all of them, that is the biggest pain to remove the stinking stump. I was going to put one of the cherry trees where it stood, but I guess I'll put a tree there next year after I get this (*^&%$%&^%&$$!!!!! stump out.

Mulberries -- take one out and 15 more sprout elsewhere.

Still fighting the things after 15 years! mega barf

Trick when it's inaccessible -- take out as much as you can get to, and remove as much of the bark as you can -- then use your drill to hole right in the center of the remaining trunk -- fill with liquid herbicide, seal the hole with parafin -- the herbicide penetrates the tree right down to its roots to kill the entire growth way back beyond the trunk. Once its dead, use the drill to literally drill a billion holes close to each other and then take it out with a crow bar used to break it out in chunks.

Takes forever, but it's GONE -- and you can do a little everyday without killing yourself -- and Grandmas CAN remove huge old tree stumps all by themselves, yes, indeed, we can.


Problem: don't plant there for at least 6 months after you take out the now dead critter.

[rhet 2]

Report on my experiments:

1) coffee cans do NOT make an adequate temporary greenhouse for transplanted tomatoes -- do not let enough light reach the babies -- have now replaced with plastic tents -- pieces of coat hanger wire bent to form a u-shaped cone stuck into the dirt along the trench where the tomatoes, beans and cucumbers are planted with clear plastic covering them

[VA-165 Boomer]

Bumping this from wayyyy back.

Just put in four fruit trees. Early Elberta, Montmorency Cherry, Stella Cherry, and Moorpark Apricot. Weather was perfect for it. Cold but not snowing.

I've decided I hate crabapples. I chopped several trees down when we moved in and of all of them, that is the biggest pain to remove the stinking stump. I was going to put one of the cherry trees where it stood, but I guess I'll put a tree there next year after I get this (*^&%$%&^%&$$!!!!! stump out.I like to get them down to the ground level and pour a box of icream salt on top and cover it with dirt. Next spring you will probably be able to take it out with a shovel. The salt really breaks them down.

[rhet 2]

Experiment report # 2:

Tried the Super Thrive on Thursday morning -- DEFINITE slight improvement in plant strength in previously transplanted babies and strong difference in new transplants

-- pre-treating the soil in the seed flats before planting the seeds is seeing earlier germination and stronger germination with the basil I tried it on -- 7 to 10 day germination is normal, and the ones I soaked with the Super Thrive are already crowning, nothing from the flat right beside the treated one -- and I'm seeing a HUGE improvement in the tomato, squash, and cucumber seedlings that had already germinated. The ones I treated are standing tall, stems noticeably stronger, tertiary leaf out starting, so they're going to be demanding transplant asap, while the ones right next to them are both shorter and less sturdy stem wise, without the new tertiary leaf formations.

Guys at three different garden centers admitted they're using this stuff themselves, which is part of the reason why their bedding plants are so much more advanced than my own.

1/4 tsp per gallon of warmish water -- will repeat application on Wednesday.

Right now, I'm liking the results, for sure.

[TheFallGuy]

Mulberries -- take one out and 15 more sprout elsewhere.

Still fighting the things after 15 years! mega barf

Trick when it's inaccessible -- take out as much as you can get to, and remove as much of the bark as you can -- then use your drill to hole right in the center of the remaining trunk -- fill with liquid herbicide, seal the hole with parafin -- the herbicide penetrates the tree right down to its roots to kill the entire growth way back beyond the trunk. Once its dead, use the drill to literally drill a billion holes close to each other and then take it out with a crow bar used to break it out in chunks.

Takes forever, but it's GONE -- and you can do a little everyday without killing yourself -- and Grandmas CAN remove huge old tree stumps all by themselves, yes, indeed, we can.


Problem: don't plant there for at least 6 months after you take out the now dead critter.

That's the point I'm at right now. However, I don't want to crowbar them all out. I've been digging around it for a while and using a mattock to cut out a lot of the roots. But it is still a beast. It's too bad, 'cause I wanted to plant the stella there, looks like I'll have to wait 'til next spring to plant a different tree. :think:

1) How do you sterilize your pruners/clippers?

2) What are you using to help boost your plants? Product name?

[rhet 2]

That's the point I'm at right now. However, I don't want to crowbar them all out. I've been digging around it for a while and using a mattock to cut out a lot of the roots. But it is still a beast. It's too bad, 'cause I wanted to plant the stella there, looks like I'll have to wait 'til next spring to plant a different tree. :think:

1) How do you sterilize your pruners/clippers?

2) What are you using to help boost your plants? Product name?

Patience, dear one.

It's only on tv that landscapes happen overnight.

A landscape actually takes a lifetime and is the joy of home ownership -- you'll be working to improve something around the place 40 years from now -- whichever place you're living in by then. :))

I dip mine in bleach water and wipe them off with a bit of old towelling I don't mind tossing into the trash can with the nipped off bits of shrubbery.

It's called Super Thrive -- the Bear got it at Lowes for under twelve bucks, our local pricing -- and I'm daily more impressed with the results of just the first treatment. Can hardly wait for second application tomorrow.

I filled the old tin watering can at the kitchen sink with water slightly warmer than I would get a baby's bottle, added 1/4 tsp of the Super Thrive and soaked the test plants thoroughly.

And, when the outside temp has been in the 70s, I've been carrying the seedlings out into the sunshine.

I've got a crooked necked yellow squash seedling that is four inches tall now with three new leaves sprouting at the crown -- and it's sticking straight up in the air, not trying to scrawl along the ground at all. It was the first one to germinate, two weeks before the first treatment. The one other that had barely surfaced before the first dose is already 3 inches high, strong and proud, with much more advanced secondary leaf out -- and the two that hadn't stuck their noses up at all are even more advanced than #2 had been. But the most impressive of all are the zuchinis -- they look far stronger than anything I've ever gotten even in the garden shops. Even the freeze-damaged cabbage families are fighting back where they've had the treatment.

We've got high/low forecasts of 70+/40+ for the next 7 days, with Apr. 14 the last freeze of record with maybe some rain on Saturday, so these darlings are going to their new home this week and next.

[JohnRandolph]

Broccoli is for the most part picked and put up.

Tomatoes are set out, except for cherrys, I havent located any locally.

I've replaced the peppers and cukes that the frost killed last week.

Cauliflower are making heads.

Corn is starting to break through the ground.

Once the soil warms a little more, I'll get my peas planted.

[TheFallGuy]

It keeps global warming on us. Not enough to stick in the valleys, but enough to prevent me from putting anything out.

[JohnRandolph]

It keeps global warming on us. Not enough to stick in the valleys, but enough to prevent me from putting anything out.

Global warming killed my peppers and cukes, burned back the squash, though I am hoping that it will come back, burned back my grapes and killed the new growth on one plum tree. It has kept it too cool for peas to germinate. This time last year I had blooms on my peppers and my tomatoes.

One advantage in any economic downturn, I have a longer growing season here in these southern climes.

[snagswolf]

Anyone have any experience with wisteria? I've planted some seeds in pots, and they've sprouted and are about 8 inches high, but I've read that wisteria from seeds doesn't flower for 10-15 years.

I plan on going back to the (beautiful) mother plant where I got the seeds from, and taking some cuttings, and trying that. Supposedly, they flower much quicker.

Checked out the prices at a nursery, and a single plant was over $70. Too rich for my blood (and not as fun).

But I've heard some people complain that wisteria is a bear to maintain once it gets going. I plan on trying to do the tree thing - pruning it into a tree without a support.

Any tips or warnings would be appreciated.

And my damn tomato seedlings keep dying. :(

[JohnRandolph]

Anyone have any experience with wisteria? I've planted some seeds in pots, and they've sprouted and are about 8 inches high, but I've read that wisteria from seeds doesn't flower for 10-15 years.

I plan on going back to the (beautiful) mother plant where I got the seeds from, and taking some cuttings, and trying that. Supposedly, they flower much quicker.

Checked out the prices at a nursery, and a single plant was over $70. Too rich for my blood (and not as fun).

But I've heard some people complain that wisteria is a bear to maintain once it gets going. I plan on trying to do the tree thing - pruning it into a tree without a support.

Any tips or warnings would be appreciated.

And my damn tomato seedlings keep dying. :(

Most woody plants flower on mature branches on last years growth, which is why seedlins take so long to produce flowers. Cuttings, if you can get them to take are the way to go.

Round here, wisteria is like a weed once it gets established. I have seen one pruned to a tree. My parents tried to do it with one, but it stayed too spindly to be self supporting, even after 10 years.

[snagswolf]

Most woody plants flower on mature branches on last years growth, which is why seedlins take so long to produce flowers. Cuttings, if you can get them to take are the way to go.

Round here, wisteria is like a weed once it gets established. I have seen one pruned to a tree. My parents tried to do it with one, but it stayed too spindly to be self supporting, even after 10 years.

Thanks. Yeah, I heard the tree thing is tough, but I'm just not in the mood to build a pergola. And I'd like to have a situation where I can control it, rather than it growing wild over a structure.

Did your parent's wisteria bloom well?

[JohnRandolph]

Thanks. Yeah, I heard the tree thing is tough, but I'm just not in the mood to build a pergola. And I'd like to have a situation where I can control it, rather than it growing wild over a structure.

Did your parent's wisteria bloom well?

Yes, it did real well, lots of blooms, it just never grew a thick enough trunk to hold itself up.

[snagswolf]

Yes, it did real well, lots of blooms, it just never grew a thick enough trunk to hold itself up.

Well, it's going to be at least a year before the cuttings grow and get planted, so maybe I'll be in the mood to build something by then. ;)

[itsrea]

Anyone have any experience with wisteria? I've planted some seeds in pots, and they've sprouted and are about 8 inches high, but I've read that wisteria from seeds doesn't flower for 10-15 years.

I plan on going back to the (beautiful) mother plant where I got the seeds from, and taking some cuttings, and trying that. Supposedly, they flower much quicker.

Checked out the prices at a nursery, and a single plant was over $70. Too rich for my blood (and not as fun).

But I've heard some people complain that wisteria is a bear to maintain once it gets going. I plan on trying to do the tree thing - pruning it into a tree without a support.

Any tips or warnings would be appreciated.

And my damn tomato seedlings keep dying. :(I don't have experience with wisteria specifically, but do have experience with starting wood stalk plants from when I worked at the nursery and from living with my grandfather and working in the orchards with him.

Take your cutting as a combination of old wood and new wood - take some with no flowers.

Take several cuttings.

Cut off all the leaves.

Cut the green stalk down to about four stumps (from where you cut off the leaves).

Cut the old wood stalk up, leaving about four stumps for roots.

Wrap in wet papertowels and put in the fridge for a day or two while the cutting shock-out.

Keep the papertowels wet.

When you're ready to plant, dip the wood stalk in powdered hormone and plant in a mixture of seeding/root soil and perlite.

Water often. Don't flood water.. mist water often enough to keep the soil wet.

The roots should be long enough to go into the ground next Spring.

If your starts die just start over... you'll get the hang/right combination of cutting back, fridge time, soil mixture and watering as you grow in confidence about using this method of starting wood-stalk plants from starts.

:)

[VA-165 Boomer]

Still too wet in SE MO to plant my garden but at least it isn't snowing.

[JohnRandolph]

Its raining here today, I got lucky and had a few dry days before my days off and I got my 'maters in.

[itsrea]

We got the chicken manure spread last week, but days of rain have kept us from getting it plowed into the soil... Sunday and Monday we woke to a new sprinkling of snow on the mtn tops around us... not as cold here at 1000 feet, but too cold to plant.

The onion sets, mosquito plant, and the seed packets have arrived from the seed catalog.. I'm hoping they give us another week or so before sending the plants themselves.. we still have to get the electric fence up.

We're babysitting the Youth Minister's baby this week as they attend a conference over in the Tri-Cities area.. so he's going to come help Rick put it up.

SOON I hope.
lol

[JohnRandolph]

Thats it, I'm done. The melons, tomatoes, corn, peanuts, okra, cukes, peppers, peas, and squash are all in the ground and growing. Peas started sprouting Monday. Cauliflower are just about all picked as are the broccoli. Lettuce wont last much longer before it bolts. Been seeing squash blossoms for a week. Two heads of cabbage are firming up (somebody gave the two plants to my wife, we don't eat enough of it to grow otherwise) Ive seen the first tiny cucumbers, been adding cilantro to my salads.

Now its a matter of keeping it weeded and watered till its all in and canned/frozen.

[snagswolf]

Discovered a local nursery that has a wide variety of tomato plants, so I got one each of:

Chocolate Cherry
Banana Legs
Cream Sausage
German Red Strawberry
Black
Wapsipinicon Peach
Sausage
Limmony
Tomatillo

Also, started from seed:

Sweet 100 (my favorites)
Endless Summer
Big Boy
4th of July

Plus, in addition to other vegetables, got some 'Caroline Cross #183' watermelon seeds, where the envelope claims "Gigantic and delicious watermelons, many over 200 lbs."

200 lbs? If you hear a story of a Pennsylvania man being killed by a watermelon rolling over on him, don't expect any new posts from me.

[Darkblade]

nice tomato varieties.
also on your watermelon, they may be noticeably bigger than normal...but there is a secret to growing monsters. first you select a healthy looking plant and feed it liquified compost. then when it blooms select one bloom/immature melon and prune all other bloom/immature melons off. for each plant you want to attempt growing a giant melon on. depending on where you are you might want to take other steps like a cheese cloth shade or a mister. of course you can just grow the plants as normal without culling melons and stuff. but what culling mellons off does (and this works for fruit trees too though obviously you only cull part of the fruits) is it ensures all the plants energy goes to building the remaining fruit or melon to maximum potential. all the water, all the nutrients and the plants lifeblood goes to making the surviving fruits big.


Discovered a local nursery that has a wide variety of tomato plants, so I got one each of:


Plus, in addition to other vegetables, got some 'Caroline Cross #183' watermelon seeds, where the envelope claims "Gigantic and delicious watermelons, many over 200 lbs."

200 lbs? If you hear a story of a Pennsylvania man being killed by a watermelon rolling over on him, don't expect any new posts from me.

[snagswolf]

nice tomato varieties.
also on your watermelon, they may be noticeably bigger than normal...but there is a secret to growing monsters. first you select a healthy looking plant and feed it liquified compost. then when it blooms select one bloom/immature melon and prune all other bloom/immature melons off. for each plant you want to attempt growing a giant melon on. depending on where you are you might want to take other steps like a cheese cloth shade or a mister. of course you can just grow the plants as normal without culling melons and stuff. but what culling mellons off does (and this works for fruit trees too though obviously you only cull part of the fruits) is it ensures all the plants energy goes to building the remaining fruit or melon to maximum potential. all the water, all the nutrients and the plants lifeblood goes to making the surviving fruits big.
Thanks for the advice.

But I'm much too kind-hearted to deprive several watermelon the chance of survival so that one may grow larger. ;)

[StoneScratcher]

I bought starter-seed trays and started seeds inside. Herbs, peppers, spinach, beets, zukes & cukes and I bought some heirloom tomatos, but I used plastic tags and a sharpie marker and when I put them out in the sun, the labels faded. :think: I know the beets (they have tiny red stems), but the rest of the seedlings? :eh:

Also, they are so long and leggy, I think they're all going to die (except the cukes--or are they zukes? :think: ).

I guess I've made a secret garden, because I'm clueless to what is what...

[JohnRandolph]

Spotted my first 'mater to day. A Roma about the size of a quarter.

[USMCmom]

We planted our garden last weekend and it was down to 21 degrees this morning...I hope my little plants made it! I do have a question though...I have searched everywhere for garlic. Do you plant seed or bulbs? Where can you find a place to buy them? Also when growing walla walla sweets...do they have to be dried after they come out of the garden before we can eat them?

[snagswolf]

We planted our garden last weekend and it was down to 21 degrees this morning...I hope my little plants made it! I do have a question though...I have searched everywhere for garlic. Do you plant seed or bulbs? Where can you find a place to buy them? Also when growing walla walla sweets...do they have to be dried after they come out of the garden before we can eat them?
I've never grown it either, but it sounds interesting:

http://www.ehow.com/how_317_grow-garlic.html

May have to throw a few in the garden to see what happens.

[StoneScratcher]

We planted our garden last weekend and it was down to 21 degrees this morning...I hope my little plants made it! I do have a question though...I have searched everywhere for garlic. Do you plant seed or bulbs? Where can you find a place to buy them? Also when growing walla walla sweets...do they have to be dried after they come out of the garden before we can eat them?

I planted garlic chives, and they were seeds. I saw bulbs for some kind of garlic, but I didn't get them because I thought why plant a bulb of garlic, why not just buy the bulb (less money) at the grocery store and eat it instead? :think:

All of my beets strings (lol!) fell over and died...:frown:

[JohnRandolph]

We planted our garden last weekend and it was down to 21 degrees this morning...I hope my little plants made it! I do have a question though...I have searched everywhere for garlic. Do you plant seed or bulbs? Where can you find a place to buy them? Also when growing walla walla sweets...do they have to be dried after they come out of the garden before we can eat them?

I just bought three or four clumps/bulbs out of the produce aisle at the grocery store. Broke 'em up and poked them into the dirt. Worked fine.