The Fora: A Higher Education Community

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: polly_mer on June 12, 2019, 06:39:10 AM

Title: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: polly_mer on June 12, 2019, 06:39:10 AM
This week, I am in charge of the garden because we're in the desert and someone has to water.

How's your garden looking?  What are your biggest triumphs and concerns?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: sprout on June 12, 2019, 12:14:28 PM
After 6 years in the house, I'm finally starting to get enough returning plants that I'm contemplating new beds.  But I'm leaving town for a week and half and Spouse is in charge of watering, so we'll see what survives.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: the_geneticist on June 12, 2019, 01:59:06 PM
Figured out that we are really good at growing: radishes, beets, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries
Weather/bugs/pathogens are an issue for: lettuce, leafy greens (collards/kale/etc.), beans, corn
We are good at growing, but not good about eating: basil, snow peas

I'm trying tomatillos for the first time and the plants are getting HUGE.

Biggest concern is we now have LOTS of garden boxes and potted plants and trees and more potted plants. . .
It takes a long time to water it all.  And it's so hot here that it must be done every day.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on June 12, 2019, 03:56:01 PM
Just now getting herbs and the first snow peas.  Got flowers coming on the beans and on one early pepper plant.  Long, wet, cool spring has everything confused.

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: the_geneticist on June 12, 2019, 04:32:37 PM
Oh, and a concern: squirrels

Do folks have any methods that work for keeping them from chomping through your fruits & veggies?  They have happily finished off the last of the oranges and a good amount of our strawberries.  The neighbor says they eat his pomegranates.

I'm worried about my figs and cherries and corn.  Do I spray the plants with hot sauce?  Surround them with used cat litter?  Stand outside with the hose to squirt them?  Or just resign myself to sharing the bounty?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on June 12, 2019, 06:16:53 PM
One of the reasons I really wanted a house with a yard (see house buying thread) was to be able to have a garden, so I'm looking forward to that next year!

For now, I've got herbs, a tomato (which has started to set fruit) and some flowers on my balcony. Also a pair of sweet potatoes that were determined to grow in my kitchen so I gave in and potted them up.

I also get my first CSA share of the season tomorrow, which is always exciting.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: much_metta on June 18, 2019, 05:41:56 AM
Been harvesting blueberries since Memorial Day.  Finally reached the point where we are picking more than we immediately eat when we get inside.  Most recently it was about 3 pints, nearly all from one bush.  Interestingly enough, I planted two varieties (for pollination) and the birds are completely ignoring one and eating everything on the other.  Guess I lucked out. 

Strawberries are another matter--birds are getting about 80% of them.  Don't have time to install a bird-safe bird netting, so just resigned myself to sharing them, which is too bad because they are amazingly good. 

Lost two of my four grape vines to the winter and the other two look like they'll only reach about 20% the size they were last year.  I doubt they'll survive another year.  It stinks, because they just reached the size large enough to allow to fruit last summer and I got tons of grapes from both of them. 

Squash vine borers got my zucchini again this year.  I tried the aluminum foil wrap, but they found a way around.  So far, they haven't gotten the cucumbers or pumpkins, but I'm spraying them with neem oil every week and hoping the rain doesn't keep that from being effective.

I tried the Ruth Stout method for potatoes this year--total failure.  The straw quickly matted into a dense brick that the spuds couldn't get through and they all rotted. 

This year, I'm growing my own sweet potato slips from Beauregards leftover from last year's harvest.  I've had great success at getting them to sprout and getting the slips to root.  Too early to tell if the transplants will be productive, but if they are, I'll definitely be doing this again!

Planted 20 peppers this year (2 each of 10 varieties).  We had multiple late frosts that killed many (which had to be replaced) or damaged others, so it's off to a slow start.  They are 6-12" shorter than I would expect for this time of year.  We'll see if the later maturation makes a difference for the pests, which are usually a problem.

The bush beans I planted a few weeks ago are going great.  I used an inoculant this year and it's clearly making a huge difference.  I never have any trouble with beans until the pods start to mature, then pests and disease are usually a problem.  Not sure how that will go this year--I haven't tried beans in 2 years. 

All of my producing stone fruit trees have lost everything to gummification.  I know it's pest related, but haven't been able to find anything that works. 

Herbs are robustly growing.  Have to prune back the Greek oregano at least once a month to keep it from overgrowing the bed.  Rosemary bushes are 5' and I have to massively cut them back in spring, summer, and fall just to keep them from getting woody and overgrown.  I have so much that I can't give it away.

Sharing all this with the kids is the best part.  Metta-let #1 never turns down a chance to go out to the garden, no matter how hot it is!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 18, 2019, 06:24:35 AM
What's gummification?

For squirrels, etc., I'm seeing a lot of top-and-sides fencing in the gardens I go by each day.

Most use PVC pipes and large-mesh rubber surrounds with a similar top, or a chickenwire lid.

Rabbits are all over the place, and the time I grew cherry tomatoes on my back porch in large pots, thesquirrels got them all.

I can't garden where I am now--landlord has the place overplanted (and is outside as we speak, pruning the grape arbor over the driveway) but the pear tree by the door produces quite well for the little squirrel that likes to leave half-eaten pears on top of the gatepost...

They used to put a couple of lifesized owl-figurines-onna-stick in the tree, but wrecked half the tree by pounding nails into it to secure the stick, and had to prune the dead part 'way back....could have done a longer stick in the ground, but they don't think ahead much...they just gave up, I guess.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Trogdor on June 18, 2019, 07:39:58 AM
We're selling our house, but we don't move out until late July. I decided to plant my veggie garden anyway, and whatever is growing when we move out will be a housewarming present for the new owners.

I keep the squirrels away with cages built from half inch metal hardware cloth. They fit right over my raised beds, which are all the same size, and I can move them around depending on what's ripe. I start them over the lettuce bed, then move them to the strawberries, and finally put them on the squash/zuchinni.

My solution to the squirrels eating tomatoes is to just grow cherry tomatoes and other small but prolific tomatoes.  When I tried to grow large tomatoes, I'd end up with fewer, larger tomatoes, and losing each one was a big loss. The squirrels would steal them but only take a few bites, ruining the whole tomato. With small tomatoes, The squirrels get a few, but most survive, and at least they don't waste most of what they steal, since each tomato is just enough for a squirrel snack. 

the only solution I've found to squash vine borers is to cover the plants with row cover fabric or mosquito netting to keep the moths off them. I keep them covered until I start seeing female blossoms, which is usually mid-late july. Remember, the first set of blossoms is usually all male, and won't produce fruit. The female blossoms dont show up until a few weeks later. By then, the vine borer moths have stopped laying eggs. Then I cover them with the metal mesh cage to keep squirrels away.

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on June 18, 2019, 08:05:01 AM
Our Graden is doing pretty well this year, especially the cool season crops (has been a cool, rainy spring here).  I have been planting a lot of perennial fruit plants over the years and many are starting to bear fruit, so the long game is starting to pay off...

Also, we planted a few pot plants this year, because we can.  I have them in pots (pun intended) because I dont know if they will finish in time in my climate, so I can bring them into the shed if needed.  They are growing like weeds, hopefully they dont get out of hand.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: backatit on June 18, 2019, 09:16:04 AM
Pretty grim right now, actually. This is the season in the South where you retreat inside and hold on for dear life, whilst timidly watching the jungle outside try to take over. Come September I'll attempt to hack it back, but there is simply no use right now. I was weeding the beds right up next to the house the other day, and a day later it looks like I did nothing. The jungle is persistent, and terrifying, although it looks nice from a distance. I hack it back yearly (and I do mean hack, machete and bushhog - we have acres of vines and it gets really thick and overgrown), and watch it encroach for the rest of the year. This isn't really gardening; it's more like holding one's ground...
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 18, 2019, 01:22:06 PM
I've used the plastic forks handle side in the ground trick to keep out critters. It's worked fairly well on the rabbits and squirrels. What seems to be my bigger problem are the bugs that like to snack on my eggplant, cauliflower, and broccoli plants. We had a terrible time last year with bugs getting our Japanese eggplant before we did.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: much_metta on June 19, 2019, 06:09:20 AM
Trogdor:  Thanks for the tip on squash vine borers.  Unfortunately, where I'm growing most of the plants is in raised beds shared with other plants that need pollinators now, so I can't easily cover them.  If I can't find anything else that works, I'm either going to have to give up entirely on curcurbits, or redesign my entire raised bed garden so I can try the covers.  I've got good covers already, and may be able to cover the pumpkins with a little creative thinking.  I've also heard that you can plant zucchini 10 weeks before the first frost date in the fall and it will be past the time the borers lay their eggs, so I might be able to get a fall crop--don't know yet if I'll try it.

Also, thanks for the tip on the squirrel cages from hardware cloth.  That might be an interesting alternative to bird netting that I could use over my strawberries.  Unbelievably, the many, many neighborhood squirrels leave my garden mostly alone, including the strawberries, but the birds are another story.

mamselle:  "gummification" is the name for a condition where stone fruit (and sometimes branches on the trees) get this oozing "gummy" substance on them, typically clear, though it can be a more amber color, too.  It's caused by pests boring into the fruit (or tree) and is a reaction of the fruit/tree to try to seal the wound and prevent future disease/rot/pests.  Once you see it, really the only thing you can do is pick the fruit and dispose of it to prevent further infection/infestation.  Prevention is the only way to keep it from ruining the harvest, but I haven't found anything that stops whatever pests are causing it, though I'm not giving up yet!

Best of luck to everyone!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Juvenal on June 19, 2019, 08:42:26 AM
My interest in gardening-for-food has long since waned.  Nearby trees have grown through the years and filched most of the useful sun; weeds have taken over what used to be the veggie area--and do quite well, to be sure.  This year's garden?  About a square foot with one tomato in it. 

I did not even buy the seedling; it was one of several given out at a dinner party, genealogy unknown.  The seedling was struggling in the minute pot that it was sprouted in, and, well, I felt sorry for it.  So I bought a big pot and mixed up some compost and transplanted it.  And it looks fine, managing on what sun it gets.  I don't really expect it to ever produce fruit, but watching it suddenly be released from its unfortunate childhood environment is very rewarding.  Squirrels have already rooted at the soil in the pot, however.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on June 19, 2019, 11:06:50 AM
Things to try: larger colorful fake snakes (little ones, the raptors try to eat them...)(move around periodically for max effect). 

Red pepper flakes sprinkled liberally over beds/pots.  May need occasional refreshing after heavy rains.

Try interplanting calendula with your eggplants.  The sticky of them attracts and traps many things.  And they are perky.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: magnemite on June 19, 2019, 11:58:29 AM
We lost most of our garden space last year when we put in a garage, but now over the past few weeks I have built six raised beds using reclaimed cedar fencing, used four half-barrels that held whiskey, and a host of large pots to begin growing our gardens again (GOGA!). Filled them all with four yards of nice soil, and they are planted with a mix of seeds, and starts from a plant place. The corn, squash, lettuce, peppers, beans, peas, Brussels-sprouts, pumpkins, cucumbers, gourds, herbs, rhubarb are all growing nicely, and they enjoy the nearly 18 hours of sunlight we have now. The blueberry crop is sparse, as we moved the bushes a bit too late in the spring, and the heirloom grape is doing well after its move.

The bane of our gardening is the pernicious bindweed, and our goal is total eradication this year. Not sure if it will be accomplished, and advice appreciated.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on June 19, 2019, 01:47:36 PM
Quote from: magnemite on June 19, 2019, 11:58:29 AM
The bane of our gardening is the pernicious bindweed, and our goal is total eradication this year. Not sure if it will be accomplished, and advice appreciated.

Give up, you will never win...

There is likely years worth of seed hiding in your soil, so eradication in a single year is not very realistic, but a noble persuite.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Trogdor on June 21, 2019, 05:15:48 AM
A few days ago we looked at a house (we're in the market for one) that had half it's yard covered in japanese knotweed. the stuff was 10 feet high in some places.
The realtor had no idea what it was. "look at all this pretty bamboo looking stuff!"
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on June 21, 2019, 06:48:27 AM
Quote from: Trogdor on June 21, 2019, 05:15:48 AM
A few days ago we looked at a house (we're in the market for one) that had half it's yard covered in japanese knotweed. the stuff was 10 feet high in some places.
The realtor had no idea what it was. "look at all this pretty bamboo looking stuff!"

Oh dear!
I invite you to come join us one the "buying a house" thread Trogdor-- lots of house buying happening this summer.
http://thefora.org/index.php?topic=158.0
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 21, 2019, 07:38:03 AM
Quote from: Trogdor on June 21, 2019, 05:15:48 AM
A few days ago we looked at a house (we're in the market for one) that had half it's yard covered in japanese knotweed. the stuff was 10 feet high in some places.
The realtor had no idea what it was. "look at all this pretty bamboo looking stuff!"

Is that what some people call "kudzu"? Or is that different?

A friend who does a large community garden and I were discussing that the other day...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: drbrt on June 21, 2019, 08:00:15 AM
Quote from: the_geneticist on June 12, 2019, 04:32:37 PM
Oh, and a concern: squirrels

Do folks have any methods that work for keeping them from chomping through your fruits & veggies?  They have happily finished off the last of the oranges and a good amount of our strawberries.  The neighbor says they eat his pomegranates.

I'm worried about my figs and cherries and corn.  Do I spray the plants with hot sauce?  Surround them with used cat litter?  Stand outside with the hose to squirt them?  Or just resign myself to sharing the bounty?

We always used tobasco
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lillipat on June 21, 2019, 08:05:37 AM
Plus and minus.  I am no gardener, living in a neighborhood of enthusiastic ones (not that they're eager to tend to any but their own, you understand.)  So I resolved this year to focus on a limited area, and I'm pleased to report that several of my new-last-August dwarf daylilies are putting on buds and have the potential to be very nice in a couple of years.  However, yellow nutsedge, the bane of my late husband's lawn life, has appeared extra-early this year, and is thriving as never before.  So, 1 flower bed to the good; the entire front lawn to the bad.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 21, 2019, 09:32:47 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 21, 2019, 07:38:03 AM
Quote from: Trogdor on June 21, 2019, 05:15:48 AM
A few days ago we looked at a house (we're in the market for one) that had half it's yard covered in japanese knotweed. the stuff was 10 feet high in some places.
The realtor had no idea what it was. "look at all this pretty bamboo looking stuff!"

Is that what some people call "kudzu"? Or is that different?
Different invasive plant.  Worse. 

Japanese Knotweed, the Plant That Just Won't Die (http://slate.com/technology/2019/05/japanese-knotweed-invasive-plants.html) by Henry Grabar in Slate
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: magnemite on June 21, 2019, 11:56:55 AM
I read that knotweed article, and that stuff sounded quite nasty!

Perhaps a planting at certain golf courses may be a fun idea?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 21, 2019, 12:31:49 PM
Don't think I'd want to go there....

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on June 27, 2019, 10:52:30 AM
Ah, critters and gardens.  My squirrels mostly haunt the ground under the birdfeeder - the dog may have something to do with that.  Rabbits, when dog is in the house, may wander in to drink from the birdbath and snack on the lawn but I haven't noticed them in the garden.  The birds confine their nibbles to the blueberries with occasional nips at tomatoes or peppers.  The most diverse snacking is actually done by the box turtles, but they're limited by neck-length.

I wish I could re-plant squash because the vine-borers were done for the year.  They completely destroyed my hopes of early zucchini and have recently gone after the cucumbers, so I'm afraid they're still active here.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 27, 2019, 11:18:23 AM
We are growing a limited selection of edible things (mostly herbs, and attempting a few varieties of chili pepper) in containers on the deck. We may step that up next year, because the very local organici-ish farm where we used to get our produce and eggs has been sold off to become a housing development.  :(

The herbs are doing fine -- we'll see how well they hold up in the heat, which will likely depend on how often I remember to water them.

The peppers seem to be flowering and setting fruit, but some of the nascent fruits are falling (or being knocked) off.  My containers seem to be very popular with the chipmunks, so it's possible that the peppers are a casualty of chipmunks rooting around in the pots.  Otherwise, I'm not sure why they'd drop.  Anyone have experience growing chilis?

Otherwise, we mostly do native-ish and pollinator-focused plant gardening, with a few non-native plants that were here when we bought the house (and the invasive weedy things we haven't been able to eradicate).  Our "lawn" mostly consists of violets (which I love) and ground ivy (which some insects love, and I can't get rid of).  The heavy-clay soil is being aerated by moles, though not as evenly as we'd like. 

Early-to-mid-June is a bit of lull in flowering things: the early-season woodland wildflowers are long done, and the late-summer prairie plants haven't gotten going yet.  At the moment, the following plants are putting on a good show:
The common milkweed stalks have buds, and looks like it should flower soonish, if the deer don't munch off the flower heads.  Have I mentioned that the deer here eat everything, including the plants they're allegedly supposed to avoid?  They eat milkweed leaves (toxic), lobelia (toxic), etc.

Our first monarch caterpillar has stopped eating and formed a "J" and should pupate this afternoon.  (Yay!) 

The spicebush swallowtail caterpillars in our sassafras shrubs (but not in our spicebush!) have been making leaf-tacos, which is where they hang out when they're not munching, but they seem to be disappearing one by one, and it's probably not because they're pre-pupal.  They are fascinating and hugely entertaining as temporary "pets" on a stem of sassafras in a bottle, but after having one overwinter as a chrysalis and then not emerge in the spring...or summer (despite being kept in a ventilated aquarium outside -- maybe too dry?), I've stopped bringing them inside at all.  Probably at this time of year they wouldn't try to overwinter, anyway, but I don't want to take responsibility for them if I can't be sure I know how to care for them properly.

Thursdays' Child, I love box turtles!  In the decade we've lived here, I've only seen them about 3 times, but I like when they put in an appearance.  (They don't seem to be a major player in the Things That Eat My Plants category.)  I always wonder how old they are.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Vhagar on June 27, 2019, 03:43:00 PM
Hey, my first post in the new fora! Hi everyone!

We bought our house four years ago. The first two were really just about keeping what the previous owners had done neatly groomed. Then last year, we took out the boxwood hedges and all the greenery in the front and planted roses where the hedges were and started a pollinator pocket with perennials where the greenery was. Two (of five) roses didn't survive the winter (they were ill going in) and only about half of the perennials came back. So, this year, made some replacements. Then we took out a huge row of hedges between our house and the neighbors' (we took a poll; both households hated it). So now, my neighbor and I each working on our side of the fence. I have more roses, azaleas, clethra, and some ground cover. THEN I decided to get into some climbing roses; two in the back next and one on the front. I have planted a bunch of spring bulbs and daylilies at the sides of the house and by the driveway.

So, it was all coming together this year. The plants are immature, but everything was doing well. And then...there was a tornado, which is unusual, but not unheard of, in our area. Both of the big trees in the front yard were snapped in half. They fell and squashed my lilies. It has been a lot of clean up. Today, the city came and took out what was left (they were city trees, luckily). Now with no trees and a bunch of young plants, the front of the house looks surprisingly bare. I am hoping that the city replants something. Those trees were so nice!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 27, 2019, 04:13:14 PM
Glad you made it, Vhagar!

And oh, no!  re: your trees!  What kind(s) were they?  I hope they'll replant, too. 

On the bright side (literally), unless your young plants are all strict shade-lovers, I guess they'll enjoy the extra sunlight!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Vhagar on June 27, 2019, 07:11:10 PM
They were some sort of maple trees. We estimated about 50 years old. They turned the most beautiful red in the fall. I will miss that. I will NOT miss the raking though.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 28, 2019, 07:11:26 AM
We have had a lot of rain this year which apparently the mint loves. I have never seen it this tall. I'm looking for suggestions on uses besides my usual watermelon/feta/mint salad and mojitos.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 28, 2019, 12:40:45 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 28, 2019, 07:11:26 AM
We have had a lot of rain this year which apparently the mint loves. I have never seen it this tall. I'm looking for suggestions on uses besides my usual watermelon/feta/mint salad and mojitos.
Our mint is loving it, too.

We use a version of this chutney in a coconut milk-based chicken curry, but it's also good as a dipping sauce (go light on the cumin):
https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/mint-coriander-chutney-recipe/

Here's the NYT's Lebanese tabbouleh recipe (tastes best when you let it sit for a bit so the flavors can meld; we omit the garlic): https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012585-lebanese-tabbouleh

We also brew a lot of mint iced tea.  Harvest several springs, bruise them up a bit to release the minty oils, and then throw them into the pot of water as it's heating up.


Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on March 08, 2020, 10:00:25 AM
Garden is weeded and mulched, peas are planted, radishes and greens should be planted this afternoon, tomatoes and peppers have been started indoors.  It's been a really mild winter, but I'm not ruling out another round of freezing weather this month.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: paultuttle on March 22, 2020, 03:02:50 PM
Our camellias bloomed last week, our azaleas just burst forth over the past few days, and our daffodils are continuing (they started two weeks ago).

Most flowering trees are showing their best and brightest colors at the moment, and most leaves have unfurled. Birds are waking us up in the mornings, squirrels are playing everywhere, and ants are trying again to establish a foothold in our kitchen.

Spring has definitely sprung.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on March 23, 2020, 08:27:44 AM
Question for experienced gardeners: after a year's hiatus, I plan on trying to grow some vegetables again. I've never had great results and am wondering about soil pH. Do those pH testing devices (the ones with two metal probes you stick in the dirt) sold on Amazon actually work? I know the right thing to do is send a soil sample to a lab, but I suspect my state's agricultural extension service is not operating at full capacity right now and I don't want to wait three months for test results.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on March 23, 2020, 09:48:09 AM
(Not knowing...)

Could you just put a piece of litmus paper in the soil for a bit, take it out, and see what it says?

Of course, finding litmus paper might be like looking for TP at the moment...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Antiphon1 on March 23, 2020, 10:09:27 PM
Those soil tests on Amazon do work. 

The real catch is diagnosing the composition of your soil.  You may want to look into any Master Gardener clubs in your area.  They can guide you as to the best methods for amending/preparing the soil in your area. I'd try to see if one of the club members would be willing to look at photos of the area or be willing to chat with you on the phone so they can get a better idea about the conditions you are working with. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: polly_mer on March 24, 2020, 07:03:33 AM
Quote from: spork on March 23, 2020, 08:27:44 AM
I suspect my state's agricultural extension service is not operating at full capacity right now

People might still be doing work from home available by phone or email through the extension as well as any Master Gardener clubs as Antiphon1 suggests.  I'm told part of the "fun" here is so many microclimates that soil quality alone is insufficient to get good results for common vegetables.  I was told to mistrust the standard recommendations based on geographical areas that don't take into account our changes in elevation and oddities related to wind/water local movement.  We even have observable fun with the snow all gone from soil patches that get sun during the day and big mounds of snow remaining in shady spots.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on April 14, 2020, 10:25:23 AM
All regional soil testing labs are completely closed because of the pandemic, so I bought a soil testing kit. pH is 6.0 - 6.5, which is ok for most vegetables, phosphorus is normal, but nitrogen and potash are depleted. So I'll be buying some fertilizers.

It was fun running chemical tests using little vials, reagents, soil, and water.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on April 14, 2020, 11:05:02 AM
Quote from: spork on April 14, 2020, 10:25:23 AM
All regional soil testing labs are completely closed because of the pandemic, so I bought a soil testing kit. pH is 6.0 - 6.5, which is ok for most vegetables, phosphorus is normal, but nitrogen and potash are depleted. So I'll be buying some fertilizers.

It was fun running chemical tests using little vials, reagents, soil, and water.

<smiles happily>
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:15:20 PM
Blocky planted his tomato plants outside yesterday.  So far, so good when Blocky checked on them this morning to start the summer watering schedule.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 18, 2020, 03:29:40 PM
I got all my veggie starts planted out this weekend since it FINALLY got warm enough-- 5 tomatoes, 2 peppers, 3 zucchinis, 3 cucumbers, snap peas, bush beans, basil. I still want to plant greens from seed, and some more herbs when I can get starts. I also found some potatoes in the back of the cabinet that are wanting to grow so I've set those out to hopefully start sprouting and will then cut them up and plant them.

This is a new gardening climate for me (bought the house last summer too late to grow anything), so it's all a bit of an experiment, but its a good summer for it since I most likely won't be going anywhere.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:47:55 PM
Can't say as I call myself a gardener, but I planted some old potatoes, and they're doing fine. Carrots are coming up, and the cat grass is massive. As for the rest, I think I have some kale and peppers coming up, but I couldn't say. Or maybe one of 'em's squash?

No sign of the sunflowers yet.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on May 19, 2020, 05:11:51 AM
I started tomatoes, squash, and some herbs from seed this year - and a bit late too. The squash is looking like it could be transplanted soon. I need to move the tomato seedlings to some larger pots for now. The herbs, who knows? The basil and tarragon don't look like they're doing much. Some of the dill has started to get tiny fronds. I also had no idea how delicate dill was when I ordered the seeds so hopefully it makes it.

I also picked up some eggplant at a local garden center. I've been hardening those off and they can be planted today or tomorrow.

I've also started using my lettuce ends (two romaine, one butter lettuce) as starters. The romaine are set in small cups of water, waiting for roots to show. The butter lettuce is the farthest along but I think it may need to stay potted indoors. Even in shade it seems to droop when outside. I'm hoping the romaine does better.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 19, 2020, 05:22:42 AM
I've started carrots and potatoes before, but I didn't realize you could do the green-and-leafy's that way as well!

You learn something new everyday...!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 19, 2020, 06:28:46 AM
I didn't know you could start lettuce from ends either-- now I want to try with the romaine in my fridge.

The scallions in a jar of water on the windowsill thing really does work-- Now I feel duped into buying many unnecessary scallions in the past when I could have had a self-renewing supply! I wonder how long I can keep the same bunch going?

And the dill won't stay delicate archaeo-- it will get very tall with big flower stalks later in the summer, so give it plenty of room where you plant it out (and it will self-seed, which is either a feature or a bug depending on how you feel about volunteer plants coming up all over your garden next year).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on May 19, 2020, 06:56:33 AM
Here's a link if anyone is wondering about the lettuce thing: https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening-news/salad-garbage (https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening-news/salad-garbage)

Edited to add: I change the water nearly daily and just use what's in the tap. It also sits on the window ledge of the kitchen window. I don't use any of the set up described in the link, so things grow a bit more slowly.

Puget, I consider self-seeding a feature. I'm a lazy gardener. Anything I can leave and do minimal maintenance on is a plus.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 19, 2020, 10:52:15 AM
There are several types of veg that you can grow from ends- celery, lettuce, carrot tops. I saw a video the other day where onions were grown from scraps (big bulbs of onion).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on May 20, 2020, 10:00:18 AM
Planting the extra potatoes and scallions I knew about - celery and lettuce will be tried soon.

I think I'm about to be over-run with snack cucumbers.  I planted three of a self-fertile variety and 10 flowers bloomed yesterday....
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on May 20, 2020, 10:21:48 AM
It took until Monday for the muriate of potash I had ordered to arrive. So now I've got tomato, basil, and Japanese eggplant seedlings in the dirt, along with seeds for cucumbers, onions, acorn squash, and chard.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on May 22, 2020, 04:50:30 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 19, 2020, 10:52:15 AM
There are several types of veg that you can grow from ends- celery, lettuce, carrot tops. I saw a video the other day where onions were grown from scraps (big bulbs of onion).

Some of these are ok, but for most I don't think it makes much sense and for some it would be a waste.  For example, for the bulb onion, if it grows, will probably just flower and be a waste of space.  For carrots, you will not get a proper carrot even if it grows.  Better off just growing them from seed...

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 22, 2020, 08:05:01 PM
Quote from: Kron3007 on May 22, 2020, 04:50:30 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 19, 2020, 10:52:15 AM
There are several types of veg that you can grow from ends- celery, lettuce, carrot tops. I saw a video the other day where onions were grown from scraps (big bulbs of onion).

Some of these are ok, but for most I don't think it makes much sense and for some it would be a waste.  For example, for the bulb onion, if it grows, will probably just flower and be a waste of space.  For carrots, you will not get a proper carrot even if it grows.  Better off just growing them from seed...

The carrot tops will just grow the greens, not the root. And I did see someone grow bulb onions from scraps (as long as the hairy root part was present). It was pretty neat to see. Although, flowers are still good to attract pollinators. :)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: sinenomine on May 23, 2020, 04:15:31 AM
After a slow start thanks to a cool Spring, my flower garden is coming up quickly. Only a couple blooms so far, but the hummingbirds and bees are monitoring things regularly.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on May 23, 2020, 09:21:38 AM
Quote from: mamselle on May 19, 2020, 05:22:42 AM
I've started carrots and potatoes before, but I didn't realize you could do the green-and-leafy's that way as well!

You learn something new everyday...!

M.

Talk about coincidences!  Yesterday I was reading through book reviews as part of my collection development work, and lo and behold I saw this new item:


Regrow Your Veggies:  Growing Vegetables From Roots, Cuttings, and Scraps, by Melissa Raupach and Felix Lill


It got a favorable review.  I'm considering it for our collection.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 23, 2020, 10:46:56 AM
The potatoes were tiny but tasty.

I had enough to make a creamy potato chowder with bacon and celery.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on May 26, 2020, 04:46:40 AM
I planted my eggplant. Some of my squash seedlings were far enough along that I put them outside to harden off. I think I'll move them to the garden bed today or tomorrow. I transplanted some of the tomato seedlings to larger pots. Those have also been left outdoors since our weather has finally seemed to turn the corner, although I'll bring them in for any heavy rain/winds until they're bigger.

Of my herbs, the basil seems to be doing the best. The tarragon and dill haven't show much growth lately.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on May 26, 2020, 10:31:27 AM
Gardenia blossoms
Stained and wilted in the rain
But the shrub is well
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 27, 2020, 06:48:39 AM
After a couple of weeks of rain/clouds/mist/gloom:  weeds.  I just cleaned out the herb bed last week, making sure to pull up the roots (mainly chickweed and some crabgrass), yet here they are again.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 28, 2020, 11:48:33 AM
Everything seems to be growing well so far-- the tomatoes and peppers are inching upward in their cages, the zucchinis are getting big and about to bloom, the peas I started inside are climbing their trellis and the ones I planted from seed have all sprouted.

I planted greens from seed this past weekend and today they are coming up.

I also got some herbs in little pots with my grocery order (the kind you're supposed to just use from the pot on your windowsill) and stuck them in the ground-- so far they have all taken well to their new freedom, except the basil which is very floppy after being too long confined but starting to revive a bit.

My bare root strawberry starts finally arrived yesterday after being a week in transit-- they were sprouting, which I'm not sure they were supposed to be (they are supposed to ship dormant) so I stuck them in the the ground immediately and watered really well-- hopefully they make it, and if not they are guaranteed for a year.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 28, 2020, 12:08:52 PM
Green beans are coming in. Potatoes are growing. I also have some dill and parsley in pots.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 28, 2020, 12:17:22 PM
Things are growing, but I'm not confident I recognize anything apart from the potatoes and carrots. Pretty sure There's kale, peppers, squash, and a few sunflowers, but they're still fairly small and I'm not sure which is which (though I think I have a good guess about the kale and peppers).

The real problem is that it's also full of weeds, and it's hard to tell the weeds from the unfamiliar veg leaves.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 28, 2020, 05:59:09 PM
Editing a garden can be tough sometimes.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on May 29, 2020, 04:48:16 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 28, 2020, 12:08:52 PM
Green beans are coming in. Potatoes are growing. I also have some dill and parsley in pots.

The dill I started has completely wilted. I'm wondering if it's worth starting over.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on May 29, 2020, 10:20:24 AM
Please weed your gardens!  Studies have shown that most weeds are serious competitors - far better at acquiring the necessary nutrients than our wimpy, coddled, domesticated crops.  This means that not only do your crops under-produce, but the weeds get a chance to dump lots more of their seeds into the seed bank in the soil, thus guaranteeing you much annoyance for many future years.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 29, 2020, 08:10:04 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on May 29, 2020, 04:48:16 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 28, 2020, 12:08:52 PM
Green beans are coming in. Potatoes are growing. I also have some dill and parsley in pots.

The dill I started has completely wilted. I'm wondering if it's worth starting over.

Yes! Fresh dill makes great pickles.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 08:23:03 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 29, 2020, 08:10:04 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on May 29, 2020, 04:48:16 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 28, 2020, 12:08:52 PM
Green beans are coming in. Potatoes are growing. I also have some dill and parsley in pots.

The dill I started has completely wilted. I'm wondering if it's worth starting over.

Yes! Fresh dill makes great pickles.

I attempted it because I love it in cucumber salads. Okay, resolved to try again. I'll plant when it isn't threatening rain.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 02, 2020, 09:33:14 AM
I staked up the oriental lilies and weeded the flower beds early this morning, before the heat and humidity return later today.  The ground was like concrete after all the rain last week, so I had to dig around a bit to loosen the roots. . . and the kitten who recently adopted us decided to help.  A good time, mostly, was had by all (except when I was weeding on one side of the huge bee balm without realizing he was stalking me.  I nearly had a heart attack when he pounced.)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 02, 2020, 12:03:04 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 08:23:03 AM
I attempted it because I love it in cucumber salads. Okay, resolved to try again. I'll plant when it isn't threatening rain.
Dill (like cilantro) is a cool-weather crop.  If it's already getting hot in your area, that might help explain the wilting.  If you're not somewhere that's already hot, check that it's getting enough sunlight and enough but not too much water.

I've been growing it hydroponically indoors with a grow-light, with mostly good results (but occasional powdery mildew problems).

I also love it in cucumber salads, in tzatziki sauce, and for pickles.

Good luck!



My garden (intentionally-planted but somewhat neglected) at the moment consists mostly of native and nearly-native plants, especially wildflowers and shrubs, growing in the heavy clay soil of my yard.  I am pleased that the butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa, which had been kind of anemic-looking in past years) has come back in several places and is looking fairly robust, the blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is flowering, and the hummingbirds are enjoying the coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens var "Major Wheeler"). 

We have a heavy deer population here, so a lot of plants get nibbled, but so far most things seem to be surviving.

I splurged on a used whiskey barrel with a red-handled water pump and a downspout diverter to use as a rain barrel (like this: http://auntmollysbarrelproducts.com/rainbarrelsandmore/2012%20white%20oak%20pump%20rain%20barrel.jpg ), and it continues to function well and make me happy.  Especially last year, when a tree frog took up part-time residence in the watering can we stashed underneath the pump.

My goal for next year is to investigate mulch options to lay around the plants, so that the garden will look as intentional as it is, and to keep the ground ivy and misc. grasses/sedges/other weeds at bay.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 12:37:32 PM
Quote from: namazu on June 02, 2020, 12:03:04 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 08:23:03 AM
I attempted it because I love it in cucumber salads. Okay, resolved to try again. I'll plant when it isn't threatening rain.
Dill (like cilantro) is a cool-weather crop.  If it's already getting hot in your area, that might help explain the wilting.  If you're not somewhere that's already hot, check that it's getting enough sunlight and enough but not too much water.

I've been growing it hydroponically indoors with a grow-light, with mostly good results (but occasional powdery mildew problems).

I also love it in cucumber salads, in tzatziki sauce, and for pickles.

Good luck!


I was unaware of that. It is starting to get warm. I'll adjust where I put the new seeds I plant.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 02, 2020, 07:55:25 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 12:37:32 PM
Quote from: namazu on June 02, 2020, 12:03:04 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 08:23:03 AM
I attempted it because I love it in cucumber salads. Okay, resolved to try again. I'll plant when it isn't threatening rain.
Dill (like cilantro) is a cool-weather crop.  If it's already getting hot in your area, that might help explain the wilting.  If you're not somewhere that's already hot, check that it's getting enough sunlight and enough but not too much water.

I've been growing it hydroponically indoors with a grow-light, with mostly good results (but occasional powdery mildew problems).

I also love it in cucumber salads, in tzatziki sauce, and for pickles.

Good luck!


I was unaware of that. It is starting to get warm. I'll adjust where I put the new seeds I plant.

How about planting some indoors?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 03, 2020, 04:59:28 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 02, 2020, 07:55:25 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 12:37:32 PM
Quote from: namazu on June 02, 2020, 12:03:04 PM
Quote from: archaeo42 on June 02, 2020, 08:23:03 AM
I attempted it because I love it in cucumber salads. Okay, resolved to try again. I'll plant when it isn't threatening rain.
Dill (like cilantro) is a cool-weather crop.  If it's already getting hot in your area, that might help explain the wilting.  If you're not somewhere that's already hot, check that it's getting enough sunlight and enough but not too much water.

I've been growing it hydroponically indoors with a grow-light, with mostly good results (but occasional powdery mildew problems).

I also love it in cucumber salads, in tzatziki sauce, and for pickles.

Good luck!


I was unaware of that. It is starting to get warm. I'll adjust where I put the new seeds I plant.

How about planting some indoors?

They had been indoors. They were in our guest room since that gets good light. But upstairs is also warmer so I'll need to adjust.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 05, 2020, 05:57:23 AM
Does anyone have experience with caring for a Rose of Sharon? There's one planted in a bed we have in our backyard. It was there when we moved in. It's been shaped/pruned in such a way that has one central trunk and resembles a tree. We really haven't done much with it except cut back a few inconvenient branches.

The first 2 years we were in the house, it bloomed as expected. Last year, only half of it did. This year, it appears only a quarter of it will, based on where leaf growth is happening. Is it worthwhile at all to try and save it? If the number of branches I think are dead, actually are dead (3/4 of the plant) I'm not sure pruning it will save it.

I'm open to any suggestions.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2020, 10:20:47 AM
Is there any metal in the ground on the side where the leaves are dying?

Or is there a metal support for a whirligig or garden sign nearby?

We used to have them in the back of the yard along the alley and they grew like weeds...I don't think we every really did anything to take care of them.

But a soda can, lug nut, or piece of chain may be poisoning them.

I'd check that first.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: sprout on June 05, 2020, 10:24:42 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 05, 2020, 10:20:47 AM
Is there any metal in the ground on the side where the leaves are dying?

Or is there a metal support for a whirligig or garden sign nearby?

We used to have them in the back of the yard along the alley and they grew like weeds...I don't think we every really did anything to take care of them.

But a soda can, lug nut, or piece of chain may be poisoning them.

I'd check that first.

M.

Is this really a thing?  Does it just apply to Rose of Sharon or to other plants too?  I haven't heard of this as something to watch out for before.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2020, 10:28:35 AM
Yes.

I came back after a longish trip once to find half the ivy dying on the steps beside mybgarden.

The culprit?

A beer can someone had tossed in there.

I cleared it out and the ivy came back.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 06, 2020, 05:29:06 AM
I'd never heard that dill is a cool crop.  Here is steamy, hot Central Illinois (and Southern, where I grew up), dill grows like weeds.  The new one I planted in April just sat there, 6" tall, until the heat kicked in about 10 days ago; now it's 2" tall and filled out, and growing daily.

Speaking of:  if it weren't so hot and humid, I'd take a chair and sit and watch the sunflowers grow.  We measured, and they've put on 8" since Tuesday morning!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 06, 2020, 11:35:58 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on June 06, 2020, 05:29:06 AM
I'd never heard that dill is a cool crop.  Here is steamy, hot Central Illinois (and Southern, where I grew up), dill grows like weeds.  The new one I planted in April just sat there, 6" tall, until the heat kicked in about 10 days ago; now it's 2" tall and filled out, and growing daily.

Speaking of:  if it weren't so hot and humid, I'd take a chair and sit and watch the sunflowers grow.  We measured, and they've put on 8" since Tuesday morning!
Hmm.  I may be wrong about the implications of its alleged cool-weatherness, then, as it seems your experience provides at least one counterexample (as does, perhaps, the fact that it grows all the way down to zone 11!).  It may just be more able to tolerate colder temperatures -- but I was also under the impression from various sources that it tends to get scraggly and bolt quickly (and lose its oomph) in hot weather.  I'm in a similar climate zone to yours, but I've personally had much better luck growing dill inside hydroponically than outside during the summer. (Possibly user error on my part...)

Re: sunflowers: just bought a couple of dwarf sunflowers from our local farm.  One had its lovely yellow head bitten off within a day.  The other had its pot knocked over today, and also had its heads eaten off.  I'm not sure if it was chipmunks/squirrels, or whether a deer managed to reach in through the (not-to-code, widely-spaced) rails on our deck and nibble it off.  Hmph!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on June 06, 2020, 12:27:29 PM
It went from cool to hot here in a hurry this year-- we'll see if the peas make it (they really don't like heat and I got them in later than I should have since this was the first year for the garden at the new house). Trying to keep them very well watered to compensate.

Everything else seems to be enjoying the steaminess though. Zucchini and tomato plants are setting fruit. Just in the last week the bush beans have gone from two leaves to really bushing out. The strawberry starts that come just as bare roots are all growing leaves. Lettuce and mesclun mix coming up.

Today I planted more seeds-- dill (so we'll see about the hot weather thing), cilantro, sorrel (which I've never grown before), kale, and arugula.

I've been out mowing, weeding and planting all day in the heat, and came in just now as a big thunderstorm hit. Sitting inside now with all the windows open letting it cool down the house--- lovely, and even the cats are pleased and sitting on the windowsills.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 06, 2020, 12:53:27 PM
Quote from: Puget on June 06, 2020, 12:27:29 PM
It went from cool to hot here in a hurry this year-- we'll see if the peas make it (they really don't like heat and I got them in later than I should have since this was the first year for the garden at the new house). Trying to keep them very well watered to compensate.

Everything else seems to be enjoying the steaminess though. Zucchini and tomato plants are setting fruit. Just in the last week the bush beans have gone from two leaves to really bushing out. The strawberry starts that come just as bare roots are all growing leaves. Lettuce and mesclun mix coming up.

Today I planted more seeds-- dill (so we'll see about the hot weather thing), cilantro, sorrel (which I've never grown before), kale, and arugula.

I've been out mowing, weeding and planting all day in the heat, and came in just now as a big thunderstorm hit. Sitting inside now with all the windows open letting it cool down the house--- lovely, and even the cats are pleased and sitting on the windowsills.

Sorrel is quite good! It's definitely a perennial down here and has a tart flavor- almost like a Granny Smith apple.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on June 06, 2020, 03:51:26 PM
A new thing I started growing was shiso (perilla, sesame leaf).  Comes in greens and purples, very pretty.  Takes a lot to get going, but once it does it produces nicely savory flavored leaves to add to salads or wraps, or to eat as a side dish/appetizer.  Technically, it shouldn't have grown at all in the 5b where I had it.  I guess some of these plants just don't know the rules.

Just moved back west again, and now I have a serious balcony to populate.  Western exposure, so shade planning is merited.  It'll take a couple paychecks to get going.  Patience, my not-strength... :-)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: polly_mer on June 06, 2020, 07:54:24 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 06, 2020, 12:53:27 PM
Quote from: Puget on June 06, 2020, 12:27:29 PM
It went from cool to hot here in a hurry this year-- we'll see if the peas make it (they really don't like heat and I got them in later than I should have since this was the first year for the garden at the new house). Trying to keep them very well watered to compensate.

Everything else seems to be enjoying the steaminess though. Zucchini and tomato plants are setting fruit. Just in the last week the bush beans have gone from two leaves to really bushing out. The strawberry starts that come just as bare roots are all growing leaves. Lettuce and mesclun mix coming up.

Today I planted more seeds-- dill (so we'll see about the hot weather thing), cilantro, sorrel (which I've never grown before), kale, and arugula.

I've been out mowing, weeding and planting all day in the heat, and came in just now as a big thunderstorm hit. Sitting inside now with all the windows open letting it cool down the house--- lovely, and even the cats are pleased and sitting on the windowsills.

Sorrel is quite good! It's definitely a perennial down here and has a tart flavor- almost like a Granny Smith apple.

I love sorrel, but I'm bemused by the idea of planting it.  It's an edible weed where I grew up so one just picked it where it grew wild.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: archaeo42 on June 08, 2020, 06:15:45 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 05, 2020, 10:20:47 AM
Is there any metal in the ground on the side where the leaves are dying?

Or is there a metal support for a whirligig or garden sign nearby?

We used to have them in the back of the yard along the alley and they grew like weeds...I don't think we every really did anything to take care of them.

But a soda can, lug nut, or piece of chain may be poisoning them.

I'd check that first.

M.

No, no metal in the ground. It's in a center garden bed I have to weed regularly.

I'm going to try pruning back the dead stuff and see what happens. Part of it that hasn't leafed yet is definitely green so I'm hopeful.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 08, 2020, 07:16:22 AM
Right, I think there's a thing about apical dominance sapping the nutrients by forcing them to the tip, but if there are no leaves to metabolize them they go to waste and the plant suffers.

Something like that...a biologist can probably correct me if that's wrong, but yes, pruning would be the next good plan.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on June 08, 2020, 09:09:16 AM
I have a vindictive chipmunk (I think -- could also be squirrel or any number of other critters)!

First it ate the heads off my sunflowers (which were not yet to the seed stage!).

Then it nibbled off my flowering Mexican sage stems at the base and left them for dead on the deck, each in turn on subsequent days.

Today it's excavated my succulent pot and nibbled off one set of leaves.  Maybe it's thirsty...

Need better protection for my potted plants against chipmunk antics.  Any ideas (besides hoping one of the neighborhood snakes visits and acts as a...deterrent)?  I could cage/cloche some stuff, and have laid down pieces of tile/rock on patches of bare dirt to discourage excavation.  Maybe could put down some chicken wire over some dirt in some places, but I'm not sure how to work it around the existing plants without damaging them.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 08, 2020, 10:09:51 AM
Quote from: namazu on June 08, 2020, 09:09:16 AM
I have a vindictive chipmunk (I think -- could also be squirrel or any number of other critters)!

First it ate the heads off my sunflowers (which were not yet to the seed stage!).

Then it nibbled off my flowering Mexican sage stems at the base and left them for dead on the deck, each in turn on subsequent days.

Today it's excavated my succulent pot and nibbled off one set of leaves.  Maybe it's thirsty...

Need better protection for my potted plants against chipmunk antics.  Any ideas (besides hoping one of the neighborhood snakes visits and acts as a...deterrent)?  I could cage/cloche some stuff, and have laid down pieces of tile/rock on patches of bare dirt to discourage excavation.  Maybe could put down some chicken wire over some dirt in some places, but I'm not sure how to work it around the existing plants without damaging them.

Cover everything in hardware cloth, or bird netting (all 3 dimensions). Buy some rubber/plastic snakes?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 08, 2020, 02:59:32 PM
Yeah, chipmunks and squirrels are soooo cute...and death to gardens.

I gave up when, after constructing a 3' x 3' cover out of chickenwire and old 2x4's, I saw the squirrel perched on top of the thing, reaching in through the mesh to grab the last of the tiny green baby cherry tomatos I'd so hoped to see go red. His weight had lowered the top to a point where he could get at it.

So make sure it's further than squirrel's-arms' length away and tightly taut...

Little varmints....

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on June 08, 2020, 04:03:27 PM
Quote from: namazu on June 08, 2020, 09:09:16 AM
I have a vindictive chipmunk (I think -- could also be squirrel or any number of other critters)!

First it ate the heads off my sunflowers (which were not yet to the seed stage!).

Then it nibbled off my flowering Mexican sage stems at the base and left them for dead on the deck, each in turn on subsequent days.

Today it's excavated my succulent pot and nibbled off one set of leaves.  Maybe it's thirsty...

Need better protection for my potted plants against chipmunk antics.  Any ideas (besides hoping one of the neighborhood snakes visits and acts as a...deterrent)?  I could cage/cloche some stuff, and have laid down pieces of tile/rock on patches of bare dirt to discourage excavation.  Maybe could put down some chicken wire over some dirt in some places, but I'm not sure how to work it around the existing plants without damaging them.

Too late for this year, but all my tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas and strawberries are in two of these:
https://www.gardeners.com/buy/raised-garden-bed-with-frame-and-covers/8596999.html#start=56&sz=38
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on June 10, 2020, 09:53:55 AM
First cherry tomatoes starting to show color!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 10, 2020, 11:24:05 AM
The winds from Christobal laid my sunflowers over every which way yesterday. They're starting to straighten themselves up again, mostly.  I might have to put up some stakes and string for them by the weekend.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 10, 2020, 11:46:25 AM
The way those (relatively) thin stalks support those big, seed-filled heads always astonishes me.

Sorry yours were bowing in the wind....hope they don't break.

With staking they'll probably be OK.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 18, 2020, 03:36:58 PM
I gardened today and I am wiped out, but happy. TONS of weeds to pull.

In other news, I planted some ginger (that was budding) in a pot outside and now I have a cool ginger plant. The leaves even smell gingery! I plan to transplant it to a long shallow tray so that I can grow, and hopefully harvest, the rhizomes. This is the first time I planted ginger, so I'm really excited. Not sure if it would survive the winter down here, so I'll keep it in a pot for now.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on June 19, 2020, 11:27:40 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 18, 2020, 03:36:58 PM
I gardened today and I am wiped out, but happy. TONS of weeds to pull.

In other news, I planted some ginger (that was budding) in a pot outside and now I have a cool ginger plant. The leaves even smell gingery! I plan to transplant it to a long shallow tray so that I can grow, and hopefully harvest, the rhizomes. This is the first time I planted ginger, so I'm really excited. Not sure if it would survive the winter down here, so I'll keep it in a pot for now.

Ginger is a true tropical - it'll go dormant if you expose it to comfortable temperatures for too long.  However, if you prevent the pot from drying completely or freezing, it's easy to overwinter.  The most likely pest is spider mites, so be sure to keep the humidity up and hose down the under sides of the leaves occasionally.

I'm about to harvest the last of the garlic and will probably put a couple of summer squash in their place, but with insect barrier fabric over them because the borers have already gotten the other plants.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 19, 2020, 02:03:29 PM
The basil, thyme, and rosemary I was given (which I have no space for planting) have been passed on to a student's mom who likes herb gardens.

Win-win.

;--}

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 19, 2020, 06:45:41 PM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on June 19, 2020, 11:27:40 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 18, 2020, 03:36:58 PM
I gardened today and I am wiped out, but happy. TONS of weeds to pull.

In other news, I planted some ginger (that was budding) in a pot outside and now I have a cool ginger plant. The leaves even smell gingery! I plan to transplant it to a long shallow tray so that I can grow, and hopefully harvest, the rhizomes. This is the first time I planted ginger, so I'm really excited. Not sure if it would survive the winter down here, so I'll keep it in a pot for now.

Ginger is a true tropical - it'll go dormant if you expose it to comfortable temperatures for too long.  However, if you prevent the pot from drying completely or freezing, it's easy to overwinter.  The most likely pest is spider mites, so be sure to keep the humidity up and hose down the under sides of the leaves occasionally.

I'm about to harvest the last of the garlic and will probably put a couple of summer squash in their place, but with insect barrier fabric over them because the borers have already gotten the other plants.

I'll probably bring it inside when it gets colder. Spider mites are horrible. I think they killed a rose I have been overwintering for the past 20 years, when I couldn't take care of it (long story). I also have several pineapple plants that I grew from tops that are at least a decade old. They spend their time outside in the summer and come inside during the winter.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on July 06, 2020, 07:04:42 PM
No one has been posting about their gardens lately-- maybe we are too busy gardening?

Veggies are coming fast and thick now.  I'm picking a steady stream of tomoatos, plus snap peas and the first of the green beans.

After a long weird stretch where my zucchinis were not producing any male flowers so they weren't getting fertilized, at least some of them seem to be growing nicely now. The plants themselves are huge! 

Basil has gotten big enough to contemplate pesto. One of my favorite summer dishes is a simple pesto pizza with just pesto, fresh mozzarella and garden tomatoes, so that will be on the menu soon.

How do your gardens grow?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on August 03, 2020, 06:48:58 AM
Double post nearly a month later-- anyone else still gardening?

The tomato boom is in full swing! A couple weeks ago I was thinking maybe next year I should plant an extra plant or two. I'm no longer thinking that.

Cucumbers have started to really produce too-- they are pickling type, which are also good fresh, but I think some pickling is in order soon.

I needn't have worried about the slow start on the zucchinis either. So far I've only overlooked one to the point of it getting as large as my arm, but they take constant vigilance. Did you know that August 8th is National Sneak Some Zucchini onto your Neighbor's Porch Day? Luckily so far my neighbors have been willingly taking both zucchinis and tomatoes.

The strawberries I started from bare root starts this spring are thriving and putting out runners, and since they are ever-barers I think I may get an August crop from them.

All and all, I'm quite pleased with the first year of gardening at the new house, and the first time gardening in this climate (I was renting before). Despite a slightly late start since I started from scratch with putting in new beds this spring, it doesn't seem to have slowed things down much. Next year I'll be able to get an earlier start on cool season crops with the beds already in place. I also want to put in raspberries (which were out of stock this spring amid pandemic gardening shortages) and maybe some dwarf fruit trees-- less lawn, more food!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 03, 2020, 06:55:58 AM
My squash is taking over the landlord's plot beside it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: sprout on August 03, 2020, 08:29:52 AM
I've pretty much let my garden run rampant this year.  But every now and then when it's not too hot I go out and dig up dandelions.  It's very therapeutic.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 05, 2020, 11:05:27 PM
I bravely ventured in today to weed and make room for the healthiest of the plants.

I don't much care for potatoes, but I have more than I can shake three sticks at/than at which three sticks I can shake.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 06, 2020, 08:02:40 PM
Potato chowder is tasty.

Also saag aloo, au gratin potatoes, potato salad, ummm.....many more things....

M.

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 10:37:59 AM
I just ate half of a cucumber from the garden (Straight 8 variety, I think) and it was !@#$%^ awesome! Soooo goood.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 11, 2020, 11:50:09 AM
I just rerouted the squash monsters out of the raspberry canes and towards the fence. It was a pretty epic task.

Then I re-weeded everything, and culled a bunch of carrots and kale which were being choked out by the squash. Oof!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 11, 2020, 01:17:15 PM
Carrots and kale in....salad?

Or...Heated with a bit of coriander, ginger and garlic, maybe some cloves (like a saag paneer or saag aloo, but with...kale instead of spinach and carrots instead of the potatoes or cheese...?)

Sounds interesting!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 02:04:42 PM
Sounds like someone is craving Indian food...I'd go with you!

I'm gardening vicariously this season via farm boxes, and have been enjoying the variety and unexpectedness of the offerings.  Except the two massive bunches of cilantro.  I like cilantro.  But really, TWO massive bunches?  I shall have to wedge some into the freezer...
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on August 11, 2020, 02:23:26 PM

SO MANY TOMATOES! That's all I came to say.

Quote from: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 02:04:42 PM
Sounds like someone is craving Indian food...I'd go with you!

I'm gardening vicariously this season via farm boxes, and have been enjoying the variety and unexpectedness of the offerings.  Except the two massive bunches of cilantro.  I like cilantro.  But really, TWO massive bunches?  I shall have to wedge some into the freezer...

Consider a batch of cilantro pesto. Unexpected and delicious.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 03:00:18 PM
Definitely on the list.  Have blender, will paste!  :-)

Pickling some lovely cukes, peppers & carrots the lazy overnight way.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 05:40:07 PM
Quote from: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 03:00:18 PM
Definitely on the list.  Have blender, will paste!  :-)

Pickling some lovely cukes, peppers & carrots the lazy overnight way.

Best way to do it. I made a micro batch (in a jam jar) of refrigerator pickled cucumbers and jalapeno today.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on August 11, 2020, 06:20:27 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 05:40:07 PM
Quote from: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 03:00:18 PM
Definitely on the list.  Have blender, will paste!  :-)

Pickling some lovely cukes, peppers & carrots the lazy overnight way.

Best way to do it. I made a micro batch (in a jam jar) of refrigerator pickled cucumbers and jalapeno today.

I do like doing quick fridge pickles-- I have a big jar of spicy pickled green beans currently in the fridge-- but this weekend I for real canned 4 pints of home grown pickles. Hadn't canned since I used to do it with my mom, so I was pretty pleased that I didn't mess anything up and all four jars sealed right away when I took them out of the pot.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 11, 2020, 07:49:40 PM
Quote from: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 02:04:42 PM
Sounds like someone is craving Indian food...I'd go with you!

I'm gardening vicariously this season via farm boxes, and have been enjoying the variety and unexpectedness of the offerings.  Except the two massive bunches of cilantro.  I like cilantro.  But really, TWO massive bunches?  I shall have to wedge some into the freezer...

Or, dry it on some gauze racks/paper towels/whatever you have and then pulverize it.

Also a good curry spice....yeah, I just finished a batch of curried chicken, but am already thinking masala next....

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 09:16:26 PM
Quote from: Puget on August 11, 2020, 06:20:27 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 05:40:07 PM
Quote from: San Joaquin on August 11, 2020, 03:00:18 PM
Definitely on the list.  Have blender, will paste!  :-)

Pickling some lovely cukes, peppers & carrots the lazy overnight way.

Best way to do it. I made a micro batch (in a jam jar) of refrigerator pickled cucumbers and jalapeno today.

I do like doing quick fridge pickles-- I have a big jar of spicy pickled green beans currently in the fridge-- but this weekend I for real canned 4 pints of home grown pickles. Hadn't canned since I used to do it with my mom, so I was pretty pleased that I didn't mess anything up and all four jars sealed right away when I took them out of the pot.

I've been putting off learning how to can (just basic stuff, like pickles and acidic/sweet things). Maybe I ought to try it out if I can get some produce from the farmer's market.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 12, 2020, 06:37:31 AM
I have a tiny 9x12 patio with containers. Tomatoes are producing like mad—unexpected because I thought the record July heat would slow pollination, but I've frozen a couple hundred large cherries.
Also a hundred delicious hot peppers, probably overdid that series of plants. Some pickles made and more to come  Though the cucumbers are slowing down And beans!  Lettuce indoors as it has been too hot outdoors.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on August 12, 2020, 06:41:48 AM
The Mighty Wind from Monday evening got the stand of sunflowers in one of my raised beds.  Several stalks were snapped off, and one huge clump on the corner was uprooted, so yesterday we got out some galvanized pipe and twine and tied up what we could salvage.  All of the stand were over 6' tall, with some as tall as 8-9'.  They laid over the row of 4' zinnias right to the south of the sunflowers.

It's cloudy and humid today, so hopefully things will start to stand back up and straighten out.

(And of course, I'm glad that's the worst damage we got, especially seeing the damage around ALHS's hometown of Cedar Rapids.)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on August 12, 2020, 07:24:07 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 09:16:26 PM
I've been putting off learning how to can (just basic stuff, like pickles and acidic/sweet things). Maybe I ought to try it out if I can get some produce from the farmer's market.

It's really not that hard, but it is a bit more like chemistry than cooking (or at least the way I usually cook)-- you really, really have to follow the recipe to the letter, because the acid or sugar has to be the right concentration for it to be safe, and everything has to be boiled before and after, following the directions for the exact length of time. But as long as you do that, high acid or sugar things like pickles, tomatoes (with addition of some acid), fruit in syrup and jams are very safe, and it's very clear if a lid hasn't sealed (in which case put the jar in the fridge for eating soon).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 12, 2020, 10:10:43 AM
Quote from: Puget on August 12, 2020, 07:24:07 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 11, 2020, 09:16:26 PM
I've been putting off learning how to can (just basic stuff, like pickles and acidic/sweet things). Maybe I ought to try it out if I can get some produce from the farmer's market.

It's really not that hard, but it is a bit more like chemistry than cooking (or at least the way I usually cook)-- you really, really have to follow the recipe to the letter, because the acid or sugar has to be the right concentration for it to be safe, and everything has to be boiled before and after, following the directions for the exact length of time. But as long as you do that, high acid or sugar things like pickles, tomatoes (with addition of some acid), fruit in syrup and jams are very safe, and it's very clear if a lid hasn't sealed (in which case put the jar in the fridge for eating soon).

Right. I have done a little research, but I suppose I just need to jump into it (Maybe I need a kick in the ass?). Thanks Puget!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on August 12, 2020, 12:51:29 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on August 12, 2020, 06:37:31 AM
I have a tiny 9x12 patio with containers. Tomatoes are producing like mad—unexpected because I thought the record July heat would slow pollination, but I've frozen a couple hundred large cherries.
I've oven-dried excess tomatoes, but wouldn't have thought to freeze them.  Do they reconstitute well, or do you then use them for sauces, etc. where the texture's unimportant?  What's your freezing process?

Enjoy your tomatoes!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 13, 2020, 05:14:46 AM
Namazu, once frozen they can be thawed and used in gazpacho (where, as you suggest, texture doesn't matter) or any cooked dish (chili, pasta).  They don't return to an approximation of their fresh state the way peppers do.  I Just vacuum seal fresh ones with no prep other than washing.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on September 01, 2020, 07:18:21 PM
How's the end of the season going for everyone?

Things are beginning to wind down a bit here, but I still have one kind of tomato (called Chef's choice) which had given me a slow trickle for a while but is now ripening TONS of large yellow tomatoes -- the plant is a beast, pushing up against the 6 ft. top of the critter-proof enclosure, and so weighed down with tomatoes I'm amazed it is still standing. Most are palm sized, but I picked a monster today that weighed in at 1 lb. 3 oz. It will definitely be the plant that produced the most total weight in tomatoes for me. I sort of accidentally ended up with varieties that spanned the season well-- I've continuously had tomatoes since the end of June.

Other than that I still have lots of basil (need to make and freeze more pesto) and other herbs, and kale, plus the volunteer squash that grew from the compost and appears to be an acorn squash, and some potatoes I stuck in the ground on a whim far to late and may or may not have produced much. Oh, and the ever-bearing strawberries are living up to their name and still producing a few at a time.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on September 02, 2020, 06:49:01 AM
The heat finally shut tomato production down; some scattered blooms so maybe I will get a few more. Beans and hot peppers did really well.  Time to plant some micro tomatoes indoors (plants are micro; cherries are about regular size)--nothing like reaching over to a plant in the dining room and grabbing a fresh cherry in January with snow on the ground!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 02, 2020, 07:18:51 AM
Trying to determine when to harvest the monstrous squashes.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on September 02, 2020, 04:19:27 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on September 02, 2020, 06:49:01 AM
Time to plant some micro tomatoes indoors (plants are micro; cherries are about regular size)--nothing like reaching over to a plant in the dining room and grabbing a fresh cherry in January with snow on the ground!

Love that image!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 02, 2020, 05:06:10 PM
Oh, also. I harvested the grain from my cat grass (...oat?) and have dried it, and will undertake threshing in the near future. Just for fun. It won't yield much, but I've never done it before.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on September 02, 2020, 05:24:58 PM
The giant tomato has become delicious tomato-basil soup. Eaten with grilled cheese of course.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on September 02, 2020, 09:34:46 PM
Yum!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: emprof on September 04, 2020, 10:48:49 AM
I'm so excited this year, I FINALLY after years of trying got decent tomatoes and greens!

cons:
Our stand of corn barely produced at all and was flattened by storms.
The basil bolted so fast i barely had time to use it
Something ate my green bean plants and they produced only a handful of beans.
Squash vine borers ate my zucchini plants, but I am fighting back and so far pumpkins are flourishing. But they're producing only male flowers - great for making stuffed squash flowers, not great for making pumpkins.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 04, 2020, 10:53:03 AM
The front squash and mystery stalk (...a late sunflower?) perished to the deer overnight. Everything in the back (which is fenced in) is going strong, however, and I should probably harvest more of the potatoes and try my hand at the carrots.

Who knows when the squash can be harvested, though. It keeps its own time.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 08, 2020, 06:11:31 PM
Reviving.

I went to the campus Community Garden today and the volunteers and I found some secret watermelons! I think there were six rather large melons (not sure if they're yellow or red flesh). So much to do.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 08, 2020, 07:11:27 PM
Harvested eight squash. One more is still on the vine; I'm gonna leave it until we get a frost.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 08, 2020, 07:22:10 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 08, 2020, 07:11:27 PM
Harvested eight squash. One more is still on the vine; I'm gonna leave it until we get a frost.

What type of squash?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 08, 2020, 07:39:50 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 08, 2020, 07:22:10 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 08, 2020, 07:11:27 PM
Harvested eight squash. One more is still on the vine; I'm gonna leave it until we get a frost.

What type of squash?

Two spaghetti, two butternut, and four (well, five) mystery.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on October 08, 2020, 08:17:05 PM
I'm still harvesting tomatoes, and have been continuously since the end of June! We've had a few near misses with frosts but no real ones so far.
Some of the peppers also made a surprise second batch. Other than that, it's down to lots of kale and herbs left. I should plant garlic soon, as well as more flower bulbs in the ornamental parts of the garden.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on October 09, 2020, 11:41:44 AM
Definitely winding down. Peppers are smaller, cubes long gone, and tomatoes waning. Fingers crossed that we will have a few more weeks
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 09, 2020, 02:06:33 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 08, 2020, 07:39:50 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 08, 2020, 07:22:10 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 08, 2020, 07:11:27 PM
Harvested eight squash. One more is still on the vine; I'm gonna leave it until we get a frost.

What type of squash?

Two spaghetti, two butternut, and four (well, five) mystery.

Silly me. Two acorn, two butternut, and five mysteries-which-are-probably-spaghetti.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on October 19, 2020, 06:08:39 AM
I've put one chili plant and two basil plants in pots as preparation for bringing them inside over the winter. The leaves on the basil plants are tiny and yellowy. I've heard that magnesium is good for plants, e.g., Epsom salts, which is magnesium sulfate. Any idea if making a solution out of OTC magnesium oxide supplements will work?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on October 19, 2020, 08:03:01 AM
I'm still finding gardenia blossoms!  From a plant that has never before produced them after June.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 19, 2020, 09:18:33 AM
It's getting chilly down South. I brought all of my tropicals inside to overwinter. My ginger plant has some yellowing leaves. I'm not sure if it has too much (or not enough) water, not enough sun (though it can live in part shade) or needs some type of soil supplement. It does have some new growth, so I plan to wait and see what happens. Anyone else grow tropicals?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on October 20, 2020, 12:14:49 PM
Quote from: spork on October 19, 2020, 06:08:39 AM
I've put one chili plant and two basil plants in pots as preparation for bringing them inside over the winter. The leaves on the basil plants are tiny and yellowy. I've heard that magnesium is good for plants, e.g., Epsom salts, which is magnesium sulfate. Any idea if making a solution out of OTC magnesium oxide supplements will work?

Spork, I'd recommend giving them a dose of a complete fertilizer - one with micronutrients - rather than guessing about which nutrient is lacking.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on October 20, 2020, 01:54:44 PM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on October 20, 2020, 12:14:49 PM
Quote from: spork on October 19, 2020, 06:08:39 AM
I've put one chili plant and two basil plants in pots as preparation for bringing them inside over the winter. The leaves on the basil plants are tiny and yellowy. I've heard that magnesium is good for plants, e.g., Epsom salts, which is magnesium sulfate. Any idea if making a solution out of OTC magnesium oxide supplements will work?

Spork, I'd recommend giving them a dose of a complete fertilizer - one with micronutrients - rather than guessing about which nutrient is lacking.

I did a chemical analysis of my garden's soil in the spring, and added what was indicated as deficient -- nitrogen and potash. These plants are now in pots, with potting soil on the bottom and around the sides.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on October 28, 2020, 10:42:41 AM
A while ago I thought the garden was done for the season. But I'm now picking more tomatoes, peppers, and beans than I did in August and September thanks to no frost and very moderate temps. About to search for canning lids for salsa. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: emprof on December 09, 2020, 06:00:35 AM
We've had so many temp swings,  my early daffodils got confused and are blooming! I hope  they've got enough energy to go again in March.

But the real reason I'm looking forward to spring is that I planted my first peony in the fall! And my toddler and I are adding a strawberry patch to our garden,  to be her responsibility.

What are you looking forward to in your spring garden?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on December 10, 2020, 08:22:44 AM
My indoor micro tomatoes have just produced their first fruit, parsley, coriander, and arugula now up and joining the prolific lettuce. Waiting for thyme and Rosemary to root. Rooting basil was quick and easy but the thyme and rosemary are taking a lot longer. They are part of a Christmas present, so I am hovering anxiously.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 10, 2020, 10:23:50 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on December 10, 2020, 08:22:44 AM
My indoor micro tomatoes have just produced their first fruit, parsley, coriander, and arugula now up and joining the prolific lettuce. Waiting for thyme and Rosemary to root. Rooting basil was quick and easy but the thyme and rosemary are taking a lot longer. They are part of a Christmas present, so I am hovering anxiously.

Nice!

I have German thyme, lemon thyme, flat-leaf parsley, some variety of mint, some variety of ginger and some variety of turmeric growing in my home office. I should probably plant some lettuce/kale/arugula.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on December 10, 2020, 10:32:36 AM
Looking at German thyme as another possibility now.....but running out of room under the grow lights
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Charlotte on December 10, 2020, 11:44:29 AM
Anyone have some tips for good sources of information for beginner gardeners? Also, what is the best way to figure out the names of plants you have inherited but do not have any identification?

I'm a total newbie at this, but enjoying the new hobby!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 10, 2020, 12:47:27 PM
Quote from: Charlotte on December 10, 2020, 11:44:29 AM
Anyone have some tips for good sources of information for beginner gardeners? Also, what is the best way to figure out the names of plants you have inherited but do not have any identification?

I'm a total newbie at this, but enjoying the new hobby!
There are some apps that can help you identify plants. I usually look at leaf shape, leaf color, stem color, flower color, number of leaves per stem, height/width of plant, etc.

Here are some other questions that you may want to consider:

Does the plant have a smell when the leaves are rubbed/crushed? Does it have blooms? Does it have obvious fruit? Does it have a large taproot?- tubers?- rhizomes?

Can you tell that I'm very interested in plants? :)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on December 10, 2020, 01:25:21 PM
Quote from: Charlotte on December 10, 2020, 11:44:29 AM
Anyone have some tips for good sources of information for beginner gardeners? Also, what is the best way to figure out the names of plants you have inherited but do not have any identification?

I'm a total newbie at this, but enjoying the new hobby!

Gardenweb.com and its vegetable and flower sub forums have a wealth of information, and there are folks there who garden for a living and are very helpful both in growing and identification. Gardeners world on Prime is superb as well
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on December 17, 2020, 07:06:21 PM
Just ordered 10 raspberry and two grape bare root plants ( to be delivered in March at the right time for this zone), and lots of seeds. Don't want to risk them being out of stock again like last spring (though the pandemic gardening fad may have ebbed), and there is something heartening about preparing for spring planting on the day of a snowstorm near the darkest day of the year.

Any of you other gardeners also pursuing seed catalogs?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 28, 2020, 04:37:10 PM
Just dug up some of my ginger from the living room. I now have a fresh hunk of ginger waiting for me to use it. Maybe put it in some ginger cookies? Interthreaduality...
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Charlotte on February 23, 2021, 05:36:36 AM
How is the garden prep going for everyone? Trying anything new this year?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on February 23, 2021, 06:38:23 AM
This will be my second summer in my house-- last year I put in a veggie garden, and despite a somewhat late start due to having to clear a jungle of overgrown stuff and add fresh soil, it did quite well (especially tomatoes which I had continuously from late June to first frost in late October). This summer I'm adding fruits-- most won't produce for a few years so they're an investment in the future.

Spring still feels like a long way off here, but I've pre-ordered a bunch of things as dormant bare-root starts that will be delivered in late March (when at least in theory the ground will be thawed enough to plant them): raspberries (10), blueberries (2), wild plum (2), bush cherry (1), currant (1), grapes (2), rhubarb (2).

I also already have my veggie seeds for the season, and will start some things in the enclosed porch in March/early April.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 23, 2021, 05:40:31 PM
My dream is to clear out part of the back yard and put in a huge fenced in veggie garden. For now, I'll have to content myself with gardening on campus.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on February 23, 2021, 06:21:54 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 23, 2021, 05:40:31 PM
My dream is to clear out part of the back yard and put in a huge fenced in veggie garden. For now, I'll have to content myself with gardening on campus.

How about starting small with something like this? https://www.gardeners.com/buy/raised-garden-bed-with-frame-and-covers/8610966.html?VariationId=P_5637161785

Raised bed and fence all in one. I have 2 placed to form an L (plus some additional in ground beds, but you can fit a lot just in the raised bed).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on February 24, 2021, 08:27:41 AM
I'm confined to a 12 x 12 plot and find Earthboxes invaluable. They are food safe and last; the ones I got 13 years ago still look brand new.  You can get casters for mobility, I add tall stakes and fence wire or plastic netting as necessary.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 24, 2021, 12:45:38 PM
Quote from: Puget on February 23, 2021, 06:21:54 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 23, 2021, 05:40:31 PM
My dream is to clear out part of the back yard and put in a huge fenced in veggie garden. For now, I'll have to content myself with gardening on campus.

How about starting small with something like this? https://www.gardeners.com/buy/raised-garden-bed-with-frame-and-covers/8610966.html?VariationId=P_5637161785

Raised bed and fence all in one. I have 2 placed to form an L (plus some additional in ground beds, but you can fit a lot just in the raised bed).

Nice, but a little pricey. We have 20+ raised beds at work, so lots of fun for me. I'm also going through our seed inventory and it's a little overwhelming. My floor is covered with seed packs.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 09, 2021, 07:41:28 PM
I started 7.5 dozen chili pepper plants (several varieties) the other day and I started 2.5 dozen sweet peppers today. My marigolds are sprouting, but I'm still waiting on sweet peas (and I soaked them). Favas are currently soaking.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on March 10, 2021, 06:04:19 AM
Will start sweet peppers next week, and tomatoes, one new to me, next week. Have already started kale.  I grow micros indoors, sits going to get a bit crowded....
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 13, 2021, 07:46:54 AM
The porch is covered with seed pots and seeds are sprouting!

It's a beautiful, sunny day. Birds are singing, cats are howling (skip that) and I actually want to take a walk to the park.

And then, I'll come home and start more seeds. Maybe herbs today? Marjoram, Thai basil, tarragon, parsley, cilantro, dill ....

I think I'll also start some milkweed, calendula and more veg (cherry tomatoes [various types], sweet peppers, eggplant, peas...

What is everyone else starting?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 29, 2021, 06:32:53 PM
The home improvement thread somehow turned into a discussion of home grown tomatoes and basil, a topic I never tire of, but which is more appropriate here--

How's everyone's garden coming along?
So far I've planted the little bare-root blueberry, cherry and plum starts that arrived (still little sticks, but mostly showing signs of budding), and started my peas (snap and snow). I need to plant lettuce and kale seeds this week, and start everything else in pots in enclosed porch aka greenhouse, as we are about 6 weeks out from our last frost date.

Meanwhile crocuses are blooming, daffodils and tulips are poking up, the lilacs are leafing out, and as evidenced by my allergies all the trees have started blooming this week.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 29, 2021, 07:24:27 PM
Today I started:

lettuce
kale
broccoli
Moonflower
celery
jalapeno

I also transplanted tomatoes, marigolds and fava beans.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 29, 2021, 10:33:30 PM
My empress tree seeds have yet to germinate. I'm gonna have to plant the veggies soon, though. Can't be as late as last year!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Aster on March 30, 2021, 08:53:13 AM
I'm performing a slow replacement of all of my wood-based, raised beds with more durable materials (e.g., concrete, that fake wood stuff).

I've painfully discovered that my raised beds made from treated cedar wood will still quickly start rotting away after a few years. I have some 7-year old beds that are literally hollowed out from rot.

Meanwhile, I've got a cinder block bed dated from the mid-1990's that hasn't measurably suffered any long-term damage.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on March 30, 2021, 09:03:20 AM
Lunchbox peppers have true leaves, kale and some lettuce starts moved outside, and 2 kinds of tomatoes now seeded. Also basil, zinnias, and marigolds on this gorgeous warm day.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Aster on March 30, 2021, 03:41:55 PM
Can anyone recommend a good leaf blower that also vacuums? I am tired of picking up leaves and would rather have something suck them up. I'm leaning on a corded Black and Decker model with a metal mulching blade, but I have zero experience with vacuums and would welcome any advice.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on March 31, 2021, 12:26:57 AM
Check your local ordinances for the legality of their use, and times permitted.

But, for the sake of your neighbors' sanity, air quality, and noise pollution levels, maybe just think of raking as good, healthy exercise and stick with that?

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on March 31, 2021, 10:52:14 AM
We took out three garden beds a few years ago because I was tired of doing armed battle with the squirrels to get a few tomatoes.  They were wood and needed replacing, so they went back to lawn (well, clover and chickweed that got mowed).

I got a wild hair a few weeks ago, after the landlady finally got the sweet gum tree trimmed (i.e., back to a trunk with a few sprouting twigs), to take advantage of the lack of squirrel bleacher-seating to garden again.  (Yes, I know they'll still be around; I might have to set the GSD grand-dog on squirrel duty to earn his keep.)

So, 4, 8x3x1 galvanized steel raised beds are in transit from their warehouse, soil will be booked for delivery today, and I've already started buying some seeds.  A potato tower will also be established, maybe this weekend. 

I just like to watch stuff grow.  The veggies and some additional time and replacement/new plants in my flower beds (all thanks to an out-of-the-blue bonus at work) is my frivolous spending for the year. I'm looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 31, 2021, 11:54:08 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 31, 2021, 10:52:14 AM
We took out three garden beds a few years ago because I was tired of doing armed battle with the squirrels to get a few tomatoes.  They were wood and needed replacing, so they went back to lawn (well, clover and chickweed that got mowed).

I got a wild hair a few weeks ago, after the landlady finally got the sweet gum tree trimmed (i.e., back to a trunk with a few sprouting twigs), to take advantage of the lack of squirrel bleacher-seating to garden again.  (Yes, I know they'll still be around; I might have to set the GSD grand-dog on squirrel duty to earn his keep.)

So, 4, 8x3x1 galvanized steel raised beds are in transit from their warehouse, soil will be booked for delivery today, and I've already started buying some seeds.  A potato tower will also be established, maybe this weekend. 

I just like to watch stuff grow.  The veggies and some additional time and replacement/new plants in my flower beds (all thanks to an out-of-the-blue bonus at work) is my frivolous spending for the year. I'm looking forward to it.

Exciting! I've been lusting after the galvanized steel beds for awhile. Can you fence in the area to keep the squirrels out? Bird netting? A car battery or two wired up to an electric fence?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Aster on April 01, 2021, 09:12:37 AM
Stuff like this is fairly popular if one doesn't want to go nuts with more elaborate cages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXo5i-z4_HE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNJTJp1C3A
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 01, 2021, 10:22:17 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 31, 2021, 11:54:08 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 31, 2021, 10:52:14 AM
We took out three garden beds a few years ago because I was tired of doing armed battle with the squirrels to get a few tomatoes.  They were wood and needed replacing, so they went back to lawn (well, clover and chickweed that got mowed).

I got a wild hair a few weeks ago, after the landlady finally got the sweet gum tree trimmed (i.e., back to a trunk with a few sprouting twigs), to take advantage of the lack of squirrel bleacher-seating to garden again.  (Yes, I know they'll still be around; I might have to set the GSD grand-dog on squirrel duty to earn his keep.)

So, 4, 8x3x1 galvanized steel raised beds are in transit from their warehouse, soil will be booked for delivery today, and I've already started buying some seeds.  A potato tower will also be established, maybe this weekend. 

I just like to watch stuff grow.  The veggies and some additional time and replacement/new plants in my flower beds (all thanks to an out-of-the-blue bonus at work) is my frivolous spending for the year. I'm looking forward to it.

Exciting! I've been lusting after the galvanized steel beds for awhile. Can you fence in the area to keep the squirrels out? Bird netting? A car battery or two wired up to an electric fence?

LOL.  I'm a country girl, so a 12-gauge shotgun with bird shot or rock salt would be my first choice.  However, we're in town, where such things are frowned upon by the civilized folk.....It might come down to some kind of fine-mesh fencing or cover, but I hope I don't need it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 01, 2021, 10:29:11 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on April 01, 2021, 10:22:17 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 31, 2021, 11:54:08 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 31, 2021, 10:52:14 AM
We took out three garden beds a few years ago because I was tired of doing armed battle with the squirrels to get a few tomatoes.  They were wood and needed replacing, so they went back to lawn (well, clover and chickweed that got mowed).

I got a wild hair a few weeks ago, after the landlady finally got the sweet gum tree trimmed (i.e., back to a trunk with a few sprouting twigs), to take advantage of the lack of squirrel bleacher-seating to garden again.  (Yes, I know they'll still be around; I might have to set the GSD grand-dog on squirrel duty to earn his keep.)

So, 4, 8x3x1 galvanized steel raised beds are in transit from their warehouse, soil will be booked for delivery today, and I've already started buying some seeds.  A potato tower will also be established, maybe this weekend. 

I just like to watch stuff grow.  The veggies and some additional time and replacement/new plants in my flower beds (all thanks to an out-of-the-blue bonus at work) is my frivolous spending for the year. I'm looking forward to it.

Exciting! I've been lusting after the galvanized steel beds for awhile. Can you fence in the area to keep the squirrels out? Bird netting? A car battery or two wired up to an electric fence?

LOL.  I'm a country girl, so a 12-gauge shotgun with bird shot or rock salt would be my first choice.  However, we're in town, where such things are frowned upon by the civilized folk.....It might come down to some kind of fine-mesh fencing or cover, but I hope I don't need it.

Not the cheapest, but these work great: https://www.gardeners.com/buy/crop-cage-4x8/8596539.html?utm_campaign=PLA&utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_source=google&SC=GGLPLA&gclid=CjwKCAjw3pWDBhB3EiwAV1c5rFF_DBEEOczJ_MNgn5MVdZjflva-U9kQi__wKv7eHg_dKxHuXhPQiBoCZDsQAvD_BwE
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 01, 2021, 10:33:18 AM
Those are nice, Puget!  Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 01, 2021, 02:29:03 PM
Good idea, Puget.

The Squirrel King is my nemesis. We have words on a daily basis. We especially had words after someone dug up my new seeds. I have also been known to use a paint ball gun.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 03, 2021, 10:26:25 AM
The bed kits are here, and I got a load of nice soil delivered yesterday!  Woo-hoo!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 03, 2021, 10:31:27 AM
I think some of the empress tree seeds are germinating. Gonna have to plant my veg seeds soon.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 04, 2021, 08:46:01 AM
Three beds built (I did most of one all by myself!).  On to filling with soil!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 04, 2021, 10:13:21 AM
Exciting news from everyone. We had a Community Day in the garden this weekend. Lots of helpers. They really accomplished a lot!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on April 20, 2021, 07:17:15 AM
Looking for suggestions:

I'm going to move a shrub to the back yard and would like to replace it with a perennial that puts out red or yellow flowers (front yard is on the north side of the house, gets partial shade, so I want warm colors). Height should be anywhere from 6" to 2'. I'm in hardiness zone 6b.

I already have a few red poppy plants in the yard, blooms are nice but they don't last very long.

Also there is often a bumper crop of rabbits. Tulips get eaten down to the soil.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 20, 2021, 07:51:20 AM
Lots of gardening activity here--

My raspberry and grape dormant bare root plants arrived in the mail and I got them planted this weekend-- hopefully they will all survive and start growing (but if not they are guaranteed for 1 year).

My enclosed porch is full of starts from seed- zucchini, cucumber, basil, dill, cilantro, and various flowers.

The peas are all out in the garden already and starting to climb their trellis. I planted kale, arugula and lettuce seeds in the garden this past weekend.

Parsley, sorrel and, lemon balm and mint have come back from last year, the thyme survived the winter, and the garlic I planted last fall is up and growing fast.

I pre-ordered my tomato and pepper starts from an annual fundraiser plant sale for pick-up May 15 (when we can safely plant out). They also had tomatillos this year so I ordered one as an experiment.

Quote from: spork on April 20, 2021, 07:17:15 AM
Looking for suggestions:

I'm going to move a shrub to the back yard and would like to replace it with a perennial that puts out red or yellow flowers (front yard is on the north side of the house, gets partial shade, so I want warm colors). Height should be anywhere from 6" to 2'. I'm in hardiness zone 6b.

I already have a few red poppy plants in the yard, blooms are nice but they don't last very long.

Also there is often a bumper crop of rabbits. Tulips get eaten down to the soil.

How about day-lilies? Yellow flowers (which are edible!), prolific and easy to grow. The bunnies may eat some of them, but they produce new flowers every day (deadhead regularly to prolong the blooming season).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on April 20, 2021, 08:48:07 AM
Daylilies: great suggestion, thanks! I'll look around to see what colors are available.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: memyself on April 20, 2021, 09:14:56 AM
Quote from: Puget on April 20, 2021, 07:51:20 AM
They also had tomatillos this year so I ordered one as an experiment.
Tomatillos don't self-pollinate so you will need at least two plants in close proximity.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 20, 2021, 11:27:41 AM
Quote from: memyself on April 20, 2021, 09:14:56 AM
Quote from: Puget on April 20, 2021, 07:51:20 AM
They also had tomatillos this year so I ordered one as an experiment.
Tomatillos don't self-pollinate so you will need at least two plants in close proximity.

Good to know! I guess I shall have to obtain a second one.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 21, 2021, 12:06:42 PM
Quote from: spork on April 20, 2021, 08:48:07 AM
Daylilies: great suggestion, thanks! I'll look around to see what colors are available.

Stella d'Oros are a nice rich golden yellow, and they bloom like mad all summer. 

I got a couple of true red mini dahlias to plant near mine; they should set off the daylilies that much more (along with several other red/purplish/pink perennials I picked up last week).

Here, the cardboard boxes all over my yard and garden looked just lovely, what with the couple of inches of snow they got yesterday.  I've left them on, since we're probably going back down into the mid- to upper-20s again tonight.  I hope my peonies, next to the house and still under their boxes, are OK--they were already budding a week ago and are just loaded this year. 

The new leaves on the street trees the city planted south of our house last year are gone--they look like they've had boiling water poured on them.  Other trees in the neighborhood have had their leaves frozen off for the second time now this spring.

The forecast is for temps near 80 by this time next week.  Dandy.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on April 21, 2021, 11:55:43 PM
Quote from: spork on April 20, 2021, 07:17:15 AM
Looking for suggestions:

I'm going to move a shrub to the back yard and would like to replace it with a perennial that puts out red or yellow flowers (front yard is on the north side of the house, gets partial shade, so I want warm colors). Height should be anywhere from 6" to 2'. I'm in hardiness zone 6b.

I already have a few red poppy plants in the yard, blooms are nice but they don't last very long.

Also there is often a bumper crop of rabbits. Tulips get eaten down to the soil.
If you want native plants, some good (and colorful, pollinator-attracting) low ones for shade include:
- Columbines (Aquilegia canadensis) (https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b400) -- red flowers with yellow accents in spring
- Wood or celandine poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) (https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m450) -- bright yellow flowers in spring and in some cases reblooming in summer (not to be confused with the extremely invasive yellow-flowered plant called celandine!)
Both of the above tend to reseed freely in my yard.  They are both ephemeral, though, and won't last all summer.

Other possibilities include:
- Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) (https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cola5) -- bright yellow aster-type flowers in late spring

Taller than you may want, but really great for late summer color and hummingbird/butterfly value, is cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d940).  The plant has a taller (2-4') spike of bright red flowers.  Similarly, Monarda didyma (https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cola5) has fantastic red flowers but is in the 2-4' range.



Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 22, 2021, 06:11:10 AM
Students will be harvesting French Breakfast radishes today. That is all.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on April 22, 2021, 06:22:39 AM
Quote from: namazu on April 21, 2021, 11:55:43 PM
Quote from: spork on April 20, 2021, 07:17:15 AM
Looking for suggestions:

I'm going to move a shrub to the back yard and would like to replace it with a perennial that puts out red or yellow flowers (front yard is on the north side of the house, gets partial shade, so I want warm colors). Height should be anywhere from 6" to 2'. I'm in hardiness zone 6b.

I already have a few red poppy plants in the yard, blooms are nice but they don't last very long.

Also there is often a bumper crop of rabbits. Tulips get eaten down to the soil.
If you want native plants, some good (and colorful, pollinator-attracting) low ones for shade include:
- Columbines (Aquilegia canadensis) (https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b400) -- red flowers with yellow accents in spring
- Wood or celandine poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) (https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m450) -- bright yellow flowers in spring and in some cases reblooming in summer (not to be confused with the extremely invasive yellow-flowered plant called celandine!)
Both of the above tend to reseed freely in my yard.  They are both ephemeral, though, and won't last all summer.

Other possibilities include:
- Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) (https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cola5) -- bright yellow aster-type flowers in late spring

Taller than you may want, but really great for late summer color and hummingbird/butterfly value, is cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d940).  The plant has a taller (2-4') spike of bright red flowers.  Similarly, Monarda didyma (https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cola5) has fantastic red flowers but is in the 2-4' range.

Columbines, noooooo! :) I had some of these in the back yard, and they propagated like crazy. There is even one in a crack in the concrete stairs to the front door that I haven't been able to kill yet.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on April 22, 2021, 10:21:59 AM
Quote from: spork on April 22, 2021, 06:22:39 AM
Columbines, noooooo! :) I had some of these in the back yard, and they propagated like crazy. There is even one in a crack in the concrete stairs to the front door that I haven't been able to kill yet.
Haha!  We also had a gloriously stubborn plant growing out of a crack in our asphalt driveway.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on April 22, 2021, 01:11:14 PM
Pull hard, get all the root you can, and then dump bleach on it (or squirt some in the hole) if there are no nearby aquifers to be affected (interthreaduality).

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: namazu on April 22, 2021, 05:39:15 PM
Quote from: mamselle on April 22, 2021, 01:11:14 PM
Pull hard, get all the root you can, and then dump bleach on it (or squirt some in the hole) if there are no nearby aquifers to be affected (interthreaduality).
To me, columbines growing out of cracked asphalt are a feature, not a bug.  We have also let the native violets overtake our lawn.  They're gorgeous when in full bloom.  At least, I think so.  (I'm sure we're bringing down property values in the neighborhood.)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on April 22, 2021, 06:45:13 PM
Ah, in that case, let 'em grow!

I actually like flowers going wherever they want to go, but at times when I've 'shared' a lawn with others, I had to barber it to suit their tastes (which were pretty restrictive.....when I left, I discovered they'd hacked down a beautiful forsythia bush I'd pruned and gotten to flower again, after it had lost vigor, and put in itty-bitty little nothings in its place because they "looked neater.")

<<De gustibus non disputandem>> apparently applies to gardens as well...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 22, 2021, 06:58:45 PM
Quote from: namazu on April 22, 2021, 05:39:15 PM
Quote from: mamselle on April 22, 2021, 01:11:14 PM
Pull hard, get all the root you can, and then dump bleach on it (or squirt some in the hole) if there are no nearby aquifers to be affected (interthreaduality).
To me, columbines growing out of cracked asphalt are a feature, not a bug.  We have also let the native violets overtake our lawn.  They're gorgeous when in full bloom.  At least, I think so.  (I'm sure we're bringing down property values in the neighborhood.)

I'm with you-- I love the violets and don't know why anyone would try to evict them from the lawn. They are also the only thing that seems very happy to grow in the bed under my pines, so they are welcome to it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on April 24, 2021, 05:42:34 AM
Quote from: mamselle on April 22, 2021, 01:11:14 PM
Pull hard, get all the root you can, and then dump bleach on it (or squirt some in the hole) if there are no nearby aquifers to be affected (interthreaduality).

M.

It would be more environmentally friendly to just spray them with round up...
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on April 25, 2021, 09:29:15 AM
Lettuce and kale doing well.  Peppers still indoors for next 3 weeks. problem:  one variety of tomato has leaves that are quite yellow. Everything else in same potting soil w same fert is fine.  On advice bought Epsom salts and painted some leaves with dilute mixture and watered one with same mixture.  No change

Advice welcome.

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on April 25, 2021, 09:31:45 AM
Any stray nails or aluminum tabs from soda cans stuck in the soil anywhere?

Metals sometimes poison the plant and make the leaves turn yellow.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on April 25, 2021, 12:03:13 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 25, 2021, 09:29:15 AM
Lettuce and kale doing well.  Peppers still indoors for next 3 weeks. problem:  one variety of tomato has leaves that are quite yellow. Everything else in same potting soil w same fert is fine.  On advice bought Epsom salts and painted some leaves with dilute mixture and watered one with same mixture.  No change

Advice welcome.

Which leaves are yellow old or new growth)?  Is it the whole leaf or just between the veins? 

Could also be pH.  Do you know your water?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 25, 2021, 12:36:12 PM
I've been busy this weekend--
Used leftover pavers from the patio project the pave the path through my back veggie garden area
Put in edging along the beds on both sides
Assembled a garden arch at the entrance to that path with grape starts that will hopefully grow up it eventually planted on either side, plus scarlet runner beans to grow over it this year
Potted up my zucchini and cucumber starts into bigger pots.

Next weekend: edging along the flower beds, planting bush beans, and probably potting up some of the other starts.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on April 26, 2021, 05:54:35 AM
Quote from: Kron3007 on April 25, 2021, 12:03:13 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 25, 2021, 09:29:15 AM
Lettuce and kale doing well.  Peppers still indoors for next 3 weeks. problem:  one variety of tomato has leaves that are quite yellow. Everything else in same potting soil w same fert is fine.  On advice bought Epsom salts and painted some leaves with dilute mixture and watered one with same mixture.  No change

Advice welcome.

Which leaves are yellow old or new growth)?  Is it the whole leaf or just between the veins? 

Could also be pH.  Do you know your water?


The seedlings are in potting soil in 4-inch pots and the yellowing was working its way up. Veins were still green but the remainder of the leaves was yellow. Each leaf would then die.   Oddly this affected only 1 variety of seedlings; the others were fine.  I gave them a full strength shot of fert late yesterday and they seem somewhat better.

I've never tested the ph; that's a great idea, and Mamselle's comment on stray metals is interesting. (Everything is in potting soil and still indoors for the next 3 weeks, so no garden soil).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 26, 2021, 07:56:13 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 26, 2021, 05:54:35 AM
Quote from: Kron3007 on April 25, 2021, 12:03:13 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 25, 2021, 09:29:15 AM
Lettuce and kale doing well.  Peppers still indoors for next 3 weeks. problem:  one variety of tomato has leaves that are quite yellow. Everything else in same potting soil w same fert is fine.  On advice bought Epsom salts and painted some leaves with dilute mixture and watered one with same mixture.  No change

Advice welcome.

Which leaves are yellow old or new growth)?  Is it the whole leaf or just between the veins? 

Could also be pH.  Do you know your water?


The seedlings are in potting soil in 4-inch pots and the yellowing was working its way up. Veins were still green but the remainder of the leaves was yellow. Each leaf would then die.   Oddly this affected only 1 variety of seedlings; the others were fine.  I gave them a full strength shot of fert late yesterday and they seem somewhat better.

I've never tested the ph; that's a great idea, and Mamselle's comment on stray metals is interesting. (Everything is in potting soil and still indoors for the next 3 weeks, so no garden soil).

Could it be a watering issue? Is the dirt damp? Early blight? Not enough light? Too much fertilizer?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on April 26, 2021, 09:21:45 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 26, 2021, 05:54:35 AM
Quote from: Kron3007 on April 25, 2021, 12:03:13 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 25, 2021, 09:29:15 AM
Lettuce and kale doing well.  Peppers still indoors for next 3 weeks. problem:  one variety of tomato has leaves that are quite yellow. Everything else in same potting soil w same fert is fine.  On advice bought Epsom salts and painted some leaves with dilute mixture and watered one with same mixture.  No change

Advice welcome.

Which leaves are yellow old or new growth)?  Is it the whole leaf or just between the veins? 

Could also be pH.  Do you know your water?


The seedlings are in potting soil in 4-inch pots and the yellowing was working its way up. Veins were still green but the remainder of the leaves was yellow. Each leaf would then die.   Oddly this affected only 1 variety of seedlings; the others were fine.  I gave them a full strength shot of fert late yesterday and they seem somewhat better.

I've never tested the ph; that's a great idea, and Mamselle's comment on stray metals is interesting. (Everything is in potting soil and still indoors for the next 3 weeks, so no garden soil).

This type of yellowing in the lower leaves could be magnesium deficiency.  This can be caused from a lack of magnesium (which is why you were advised to give epsom salts), but can also result from other things such as over watering or even over fertilizing (especially with high K fertilizers).     

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on May 04, 2021, 05:02:08 PM
Neighbors up the street had their brick front stairs and stoop demolished. The core was a bunch of fairly large rocks, which they gave to me, and I'm building a low free standing border wall along one side of my front yard. Also I've moved a bunch of ostrich ferns into a circle around a wild apple tree. Have not gotten around to putting in a daylily yet.

I've moved the two potted Thai chili plants that I kept alive all winter outdoors to the back porch. Some of the old, large leaves are wilting and turning brown but there is new leaf growth. I think this is because nighttime temperatures are dropping below 50 F.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 05, 2021, 06:31:10 AM
Quote from: spork on May 04, 2021, 05:02:08 PM
Neighbors up the street had their brick front stairs and stoop demolished. The core was a bunch of fairly large rocks, which they gave to me, and I'm building a low free standing border wall along one side of my front yard. Also I've moved a bunch of ostrich ferns into a circle around a wild apple tree. Have not gotten around to putting in a daylily yet.

I've moved the two potted Thai chili plants that I kept alive all winter outdoors to the back porch. Some of the old, large leaves are wilting and turning brown but there is new leaf growth. I think this is because nighttime temperatures are dropping below 50 F.

Free stuff is wonderful and reusing it also keeps it out of a landfill.

I've overwintered chilies before and they tend to do well inside.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 05, 2021, 08:20:58 AM
Quote from: Kron3007 on April 26, 2021, 09:21:45 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 26, 2021, 05:54:35 AM
Quote from: Kron3007 on April 25, 2021, 12:03:13 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on April 25, 2021, 09:29:15 AM
Lettuce and kale doing well.  Peppers still indoors for next 3 weeks. problem:  one variety of tomato has leaves that are quite yellow. Everything else in same potting soil w same fert is fine.  On advice bought Epsom salts and painted some leaves with dilute mixture and watered one with same mixture.  No change

Advice welcome.

Which leaves are yellow old or new growth)?  Is it the whole leaf or just between the veins? 

Could also be pH.  Do you know your water?


The seedlings are in potting soil in 4-inch pots and the yellowing was working its way up. Veins were still green but the remainder of the leaves was yellow. Each leaf would then die.   Oddly this affected only 1 variety of seedlings; the others were fine.  I gave them a full strength shot of fert late yesterday and they seem somewhat better.

I've never tested the ph; that's a great idea, and Mamselle's comment on stray metals is interesting. (Everything is in potting soil and still indoors for the next 3 weeks, so no garden soil).

This type of yellowing in the lower leaves could be magnesium deficiency.  This can be caused from a lack of magnesium (which is why you were advised to give epsom salts), but can also result from other things such as over watering or even over fertilizing (especially with high K fertilizers).     


It's now looking much better!  Fertilized and added a small amount of extra magnesium.  All plants now have lush dark green foliage and, weather gods willing, can begin the hardening off process in a few days,
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 05, 2021, 12:42:14 PM
It's been a busy couple of weeks here!  Between alternating days of cold/rain and windy days in the 80s, we've managed to nearly all of our projects done since Easter.  We're both recovering from the aches and pains (and I think we spent as much time sitting and taking breaks some days, as we did actually working--being 60+ and creaky in the joints is a bitch for getting work done!), things look good.

In the garden:  I replaced my tomatoes that froze in the late snow, planted okra, cucumber, watermelon, and cantaloupe seeds; sowed kale, and planted a row of beans and another of peas (both to be followed up with weekly/biweekly plantings). I also set out six butter crunch lettuces.  All these join my colored bell peppers, leaf lettuce, carrots, beets, onions, and snow peas.

In the herb bed:  I added a German thyme and a chocolate mint, as well as sowing basil seed and planting some leftover onion sets.  All those join my chives, sage, parsley, rosemary, Mexican tarragon, and catnip plants. I left room to put garlic in later in the year.

In the flower beds around the house, I cleaned up and added a few fill-in perennials.  And Saturday, ALHS helped me dig up and divide my 4 old clumps of daylillies--they now cover about 15 feet, three feet deep! I also filled my big whiskey barrel planters (pink double impatiens ringed by white/bronze begonias) and two hanging baskets (purple sweet potato vine ringed by white splash foliage).

ALHS has a couple more bags of mulch to put down (waiting for things to dry out a bit between rains) in the flower beds around the house; he also put down edging, fabric, and mulch all around the new garden beds.

Now I just need to add some flower seeds and a few plants to my pollinator garden, and the real work will be all done (save watering, picking, and making trellises for the melons, cukes, and tomatoes).  From what I hear, I might have to take a mortgage to afford the wood frames for the trellises! I also want to add one more garden bed to make a screen from the nosy neighbors, but that will take only a couple of hours to build, fill, and plant.

I'm very happy and excited to be back gardening after a couple of years off.  (Also very sore!)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 06, 2021, 08:01:16 PM
ALH:

You have been busy!

I love chocolate mint! We have German thyme and lemon thyme (smells wonderful).

I hear you on the being sore part. I went to the garden today and my body hurts.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on May 07, 2021, 04:58:38 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 05, 2021, 06:31:10 AM
Quote from: spork on May 04, 2021, 05:02:08 PM
Neighbors up the street had their brick front stairs and stoop demolished. The core was a bunch of fairly large rocks, which they gave to me, and I'm building a low free standing border wall along one side of my front yard. Also I've moved a bunch of ostrich ferns into a circle around a wild apple tree. Have not gotten around to putting in a daylily yet.

I've moved the two potted Thai chili plants that I kept alive all winter outdoors to the back porch. Some of the old, large leaves are wilting and turning brown but there is new leaf growth. I think this is because nighttime temperatures are dropping below 50 F.

Free stuff is wonderful and reusing it also keeps it out of a landfill.

I've overwintered chilies before and they tend to do well inside.

The same neighbors who gave me the free rocks also gave me three lavender plants because they are turning part of their backyard into a patio. The plants are scraggly and I've temporarily stuck them in the ground in a shady rather than sunny area; don't know if they'll survive.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on May 08, 2021, 03:01:36 PM
I decided to create an edge around my vegetable gardens in the backyard using cobblestones. A visit to a local landscaping company revealed that it sells cobblestones for 40% less than Home Depot does. Waiting to hear back from a second landscaping company about prices before I pull the trigger on a delivery.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 08, 2021, 05:00:19 PM
My empress tree seeds don't appear to have germinnated (or, they did and died of mould?). So I've started again. I also planted the small front garden a few days ago, just with sunflowers and catnip.

The landlords have finished their back garden reno, so I can plant some stuff now. Maybe tomorrow. A late start again this year, but it should be OK!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 14, 2021, 03:43:37 PM
I dumped the failed empress tree seedlings in te front garden, and it looks like one made it! It's inside and safe from the deer now, and we'll see what happens. The front garden has three sunflowers sprouting, too, but I suspect the deer will get them.

I finally planted in the back garden this morning. Potatoes, chives, kale, sunflowers, and even a few corn seeds. We'll see what comes up! It's late, but it was late last year, too.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 19, 2021, 10:16:37 PM
I think my empress tree sprout has withered to death.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 20, 2021, 09:30:18 AM
It's amazing what a couple of inches of rain, a couple of sunny days in the 70s/80s (much warmer than the dreary weeks of 60s we've had recently), and a couple of good feedings (a general spray with MiracleGro and a good dose of epsom salts and bat guano) can do for a garden. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 20, 2021, 11:40:49 AM
Flower seedlings planted and tomatoes and peppers need one more day of hardening off before they too will be in their final containers.  So dry here. 90* yesterday; very different from our cold wet May last year.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 20, 2021, 12:19:42 PM
Everything is in the ground and growing well so far. It is getting hot here too, and I can practically see the zucchinis growing (and am wondering what I was thinking planting four instead of three this year).

I'm trying to set up more automated watering so I can have it come in really early in the morning when it will evaporate less and plants supposedly take it in better-- shopping around for programmable faucet timers.  I also just bought more soaker hoses and a cheap drip irrigation system for the raised beds so we'll see how that works when it arrives.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 20, 2021, 01:07:29 PM
Zucchini bread for everyone on the Fora!

Yea!!!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 20, 2021, 06:01:27 PM
Our fava beans have been going nuts, which is funny since it's really been warming up over here. They were planted at the end of the fall semester (last year).

We also have things like swiss chard, lettuce, radishes and carrots growing. Blueberries have also formed, but are not blue yet. Pepper plants are flowering, but I have no idea what kind of pepper they are since the students didn't label them. :)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 21, 2021, 05:45:00 PM
The back garden has sprouted some potatoes, a sunflower, one corn, some raspberries, and a mystery plant.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 21, 2021, 07:31:41 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 21, 2021, 05:45:00 PM
The back garden has sprouted some potatoes, a sunflower, one corn, some raspberries, and a mystery plant.

Oooooo! A mystery plant. What do you think it could be?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 22, 2021, 08:34:25 AM
My hollyhock that was growing so huge and beautiful and deep green has rust.  Recommendations for a good commercial anti-fungal spray?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 23, 2021, 08:38:25 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 21, 2021, 07:31:41 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 21, 2021, 05:45:00 PM
The back garden has sprouted some potatoes, a sunflower, one corn, some raspberries, and a mystery plant.

Oooooo! A mystery plant. What do you think it could be?

Transient geraniums? No clue!


A slug is eating one of my front-garden sunflowers. Oh well.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 23, 2021, 09:03:25 AM
We are having an interval of July weather this weekend. I sort of pushed it working outside in the heat yesterday so today I'm resisting the temptation to go out and weed. I may spend some quality time in the hammock however.

Things are really taking off-- Tomatoes and tomatillos have flowers on them, zuchs have tons of buds, bush beans are coming up (I swear none were up yesterday and today several are an inch + high!), peas are getting tall and should flower soon, lots of green strawberries and more flowers. The arugula needs thinning and the thinnings will be big enough to eat, so that will be the first real harvest (besides herbs).  On the flower side, the first iris opened today, rose is just starting to open too, and rhody is almost in full bloom.

Quote from: AmLitHist on May 22, 2021, 08:34:25 AM
My hollyhock that was growing so huge and beautiful and deep green has rust.  Recommendations for a good commercial anti-fungal spray?

For an organic option, try Safer 3-in-1 Spray
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 23, 2021, 10:08:47 AM
Thanks, Puget.  I'll look for that spray!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 23, 2021, 10:12:16 AM
For slugs, anyone who had Dr. Sweet for paleontology at Ohio State will recall the answer.

Put out a good-sized Mayo lid full of beer.

The get drunk and die happy.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on May 24, 2021, 07:25:51 AM
My gardenias have burst into bloom like I've never seen before over the weekend.  This morning I was able to pick enough to put in several places at home, and have some to take to work.  Now I have gardenia scent to combat the lingering mustiness from the wet spring.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 24, 2021, 12:38:26 PM
Newly planted tomatoes and peppers weathered the uncharacteristic heat this weekend and are enjoying temp 30* lower. Hoping beans will be up soon. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 24, 2021, 12:46:38 PM
I have to tell this story...every time I see someone mention "beans" it comes to mind.

A staff assistant at one of the churches in GA where the N/P I have worked for in the past has its annual meeting told me about how her son (now 21) got his family nickname.

Her husband's a caterer and they grow a lot of their own produce, including corn, beans, peas, etc. Apparently, when her son was a very tiny baby, she called him "her little butter bean" and the nickname stuck as an affectionate one.

After awhile, though, she thought maybe he'd outgrown it, and, when he'd reached the manly age of 5, she started using other endearing terms instead.

But one night, he crawled into her arms and said, "Mama, will you please call me 'your little butter bean' again?"

So she did.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 25, 2021, 11:21:29 AM
Awww.  That's lovely.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Stockmann on May 25, 2021, 08:24:14 PM
I'm neither particularly talented nor particularly knowledgeable about gardening, but I've been doing a fair bit of gardening since moving, partly for practical and aesthetic reasons but also because it helps me de-stress. This includes:

-Creating a path in the front garden. Much of the front garden is covered with ivy rather than grass, so a path was kind of necessary to ensure access to the whole thing without squishing the ivy. I made it with dark marble pebbles, clearing it by pushing as much as possible of the ivy to either side. I'm very pleased with how it looks. I have leftover pebbles so I've been putting them as decoration in multiple places.
-Planting lavender. This was mainly for scorpion-repelling purposes (along with putting pieces of cedar wood in strategic locations) but it reputedly also repels mosquitoes and flies.
-Removing some kind of parasite from a pine tree - it's a sort of waxy balls. I've also been using potassium-based soap solution for it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 26, 2021, 05:46:23 PM
Any news on the mystery plant?

             ......Inquiring minds....

                                                         want....

   to know.......

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 27, 2021, 11:56:40 AM
I cut the last of one row of leaf lettuce this morning before the storms.  The other row will need to get used over the weekend.  It all sat and sat, until the warm weather came in, then it all shot up at once!

All else is growing nicely, except the watermelon seeds (only one had sprouted, and I didn't find it today) and the okra, which is probably just late coming up because it's been so cool. Tomatoes and peppers are blooming; kale and spinach and peas and beans are all growing, as are the cantaloupe and cucumbers.  Herbs and onions are nice, too. I'll need to thin/transplant beets over the weekend, and plant another row of beans.  The zucchini and yellow squash are growing like weeds.  I might need to put some of the plants on FB marketplace; I hate to just toss them.

Flower seeds have sprouted and are growing well, even the nasturtiums (which can be slow to start when direct-seeded).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 27, 2021, 02:11:40 PM
Wow, sounds like you could stock a couple of farm stands!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 27, 2021, 03:04:37 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on May 27, 2021, 11:56:40 AM
I cut the last of one row of leaf lettuce this morning before the storms.  The other row will need to get used over the weekend.  It all sat and sat, until the warm weather came in, then it all shot up at once!

All else is growing nicely, except the watermelon seeds (only one had sprouted, and I didn't find it today) and the okra, which is probably just late coming up because it's been so cool. Tomatoes and peppers are blooming; kale and spinach and peas and beans are all growing, as are the cantaloupe and cucumbers.  Herbs and onions are nice, too. I'll need to thin/transplant beets over the weekend, and plant another row of beans.  The zucchini and yellow squash are growing like weeds.  I might need to put some of the plants on FB marketplace; I hate to just toss them.

Flower seeds have sprouted and are growing well, even the nasturtiums (which can be slow to start when direct-seeded).

Good deal, ALH! We are a little behind on squash over here. I disposed of some 'squash bugs' and eggs today. I'm envious of your zucchini!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: the_geneticist on June 01, 2021, 02:13:48 PM
Corn is tasseling, watermelons are making tiny photo-melons, artichokes are nearly finished, Swiss chard & kale getting a bit stressed in the heat (time to harvest & eat/freeze), the carrots that the cats left alone are growing nicely, tomatoes are making fruits, broccoli that we chopped back in Fall is ready to harvest again.
The leeks are limping along, I might need to transplant them to better soil.  The last of the beets from winter are HUGE and need to be pulled before they go to seed.  Herbs are LOVING the heat and the bees are loving the herbs.  So much so that I've had to hand-pollinate the watermelon flowers.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 01, 2021, 03:08:17 PM
I have this image of you running around, elbows akimbo, going "bzzzzzz! bzzzzz! Watch out, watermelon flowers, here I come! Bzzzzzz! Bzzzzzz!"

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 02, 2021, 11:26:11 AM
I need to put some bone meal and Scott's Bloom Booster on the peas, tomatoes, and peppers (and flowers) this weekend--the Miracle Gro ad epsom salts are growing nice foliage, but now I need BLOOMS!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on June 03, 2021, 06:46:18 AM
I've got actual, if tiny, peppers!  Was so very cold here last week I was afraid they would sulk, but production is quite good.  The tomatoes aren't producing much and our forecasted temps in the mid nineties starting this weekend won't help with pollination.  Lettuce seems about done. Kale is flourishing.

Quote from: AmLitHist on June 02, 2021, 11:26:11 AM
I need to put some bone meal and Scott's Bloom Booster on the peas, tomatoes, and peppers (and flowers) this weekend--the Miracle Gro ad epsom salts are growing nice foliage, but now I need BLOOMS!

I need to do the bone meal thing too. How much do you apply per plant?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 03, 2021, 08:48:40 AM
The mystery plant turns out to be weird kale. Makes sense, since that's where I thought I planted the kale. It just looked so. Weird.


Still nothing on the empress tree front.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 03, 2021, 10:26:29 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on June 03, 2021, 06:46:18 AM
I need to do the bone meal thing too. How much do you apply per plant?

I think I'm going to work up the ground between the rows of peas (using my trusty old butter knife and kitchen fork--I'm much less dangerous with them than actual hand cultivators/transplanters!) and around the peppers and tomatoes.  I'll probably use a good 3-4 tablespoons around the tomatoes and peppers, and just eyeball it for the peas to give a 1/4" or so cover to the soil, then work it in and water. 

I'm probably going to lightly prune/cut back the ends of the peas, too--the vines are going crazy, so hopefully that little shock plus the bone meal will inspire them to bloom.  It's going to be time to pull them before long, since it's going to get hot soon.  Everything got a late start, between the new beds and the late snow and ensuing cool, cloudy weather.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on June 03, 2021, 03:33:50 PM
For the first time since last summer, I have finally been able to tend to my yard AND my flower beds. Usually, I have to pick between focusing on one or the other.

Edit: Oh, wait a minute. The reason I have the time to work on both is because I decided not to grow any food this year.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 05, 2021, 10:33:01 AM
I processed the last of the fava beans. I washed, shelled (but did not de-skin), blanched and froze them. It was a pain in the butt.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 05, 2021, 10:36:22 AM
I thinned/transplanted beets yesterday.  They look like hell/death today.  Oh well, at least Kid #1 got a couple of bags of nice greens from the pickings.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 10:49:08 AM
Youth! What happened to the beets?

Maybe I didn't look back far enough, but I didn't recall their being in danger!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 05, 2021, 01:16:06 PM
The corn sure is growing! Wow!

And I might even manage a sunflower or two in the deer-proofed garden, which will be delightful.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on June 07, 2021, 01:24:23 PM
Picked my first strawberries and peas yesterday. Not all of them made it inside ;-)
Also arugula and basil, so I need to make pesto tonight.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 07, 2021, 01:27:06 PM
The landlords have opened another raised bed for me. What on earth will I put in it?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 07, 2021, 02:33:49 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 07, 2021, 01:27:06 PM
The landlords have opened another raised bed for me. What on earth will I put in it?

A bean trellis?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on June 07, 2021, 02:45:39 PM
My cherry tomatoes have set fruit but the longed for bigger ones don't seem to have yet. 

I'm envious of the extra raised bed, EPW. Beans do sound awfully good if you are so inclined. They are not a pain in the butt.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 07, 2021, 06:46:58 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 07, 2021, 02:33:49 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 07, 2021, 01:27:06 PM
The landlords have opened another raised bed for me. What on earth will I put in it?

A bean trellis?

Could do, but had no bean seeds on hand. Instead, I went for snap peas, sunflowers, corn, butternut squash, scallopini, and zucchini. And a small corner for my last empress tree seeds, just in case (I'm getting more)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on June 10, 2021, 07:16:05 AM
The abundant rains have created an abundance of spring blooms.  Unfortunately the constant rain and overcast has reached the point of ruining the blossoms on the plants.  The magnolia blossoms, gardenias, and roses are all looking pretty sad right now.  If we can ever get less rain and more sun, they might perk up and create a good secondary blossoming.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 10, 2021, 10:27:47 AM
Kid #1 and I cut all the spinach, buttercrunch lettuce, and kale this morning. I blanched and froze some spinach (having forgotten just how little it yields), and she'll use some of the other spinach and a small head of buttercruch or two for salads.  The rest will go to juice and smoothies. 

After the trimming and bone meal, the peas are blooming.  There are several small tomatoes on the plants, and more blooms. The peppers have lots of buds but not much in the way of blooms yet.  Getting the lettuces out will free up some ground (and nutrients) for them, so that plus some epsom salts and a good watering in a day or two should help.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 10, 2021, 10:31:14 AM
You guys should definitely be running a farm stand.

I'd come!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 16, 2021, 01:27:48 PM
Had to trim back the kale and potatoes today, before they could choke everything else out.

Looks like the late-planted sunflowers and corn are doing well, and some peas have sprouted up, too. Maybe there's a squash or zucchini in there? I can't tell.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 16, 2021, 02:48:10 PM
I transplanted some okra from a member's plot (planted it way too close together) and it took! Yard long beans are growing well. I do need to spray the cucumber vines with some kind of deer repellent since those boogers are eating them again. Maybe I'll mix some garlic and hot peppers as my mix. Not sure yet. Oh, and we have blueberries!

I'll check out what Tuesday's group did tomorrow morning. Hopefully, we have some new plots that have been built.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 16, 2021, 03:42:16 PM
Do marigolds repel deer?

Or maybe that's some other critter.

I forget.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 16, 2021, 05:09:40 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 16, 2021, 03:42:16 PM
Do marigolds repel deer?

Or maybe that's some other critter.

I forget.

M.

Yep. And I think nasturtium do as well.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on June 18, 2021, 11:02:23 AM
The peas apparently heard me tell ALHS the other day that since they weren't blooming and it's getting late and hot, I'd probably pull the vines this weekend.  When I watered this morning, I had to lift the bloom-laden vines out of the way to get between the beds with the hose!  (I need to put in a couple of stakes and twine to neaten them up, but even by 8 a.m. it was too damned hot to mess with.)

After watering, I did tie up a few tomato branches (need to put in a better trellis system after payday at month's end).  The peppers, tomatoes, squash and zucchini are all responding to the bone meal, bat guano, and epsom salts (the peas, too!)--all are blooming heavily. 

The squash bed has leaves as high as my shoulders! But the plants are all loaded with blooms.

And the kale and spinach that Kid *1 and I cut last week look like they've never been touched--everything has regrown nice new leaves already.

I have three hollyhocks all planted last year:  one is about a foot tall; one got rust and after spraying got trimmed to about 2 feet tall; and one is about 8' tall and loaded with buds, about a third of which popped into huge white blooms this week.

There's no real chance of rain in the next 10 days' forecast, so I'm going to be doing a lot of watering to try to keep everybody alive in the heat.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on June 18, 2021, 11:59:04 AM
No rain till November or so here, so the twice daily water inspections continue. 

Have had radishes, peas, mustards, kale, and yellow squash.  Got beets & tomatoes nearly ready. 

I also have the weirdest aphids on the planet, eating the things that are supposed to repel them and ignoring the usual tastiness.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 18, 2021, 12:22:36 PM
Ladybugs eat aphids.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on June 19, 2021, 07:41:14 AM
I give up. I've stopped watering the lawn and flowers. Hello brown grass and dead flowerbeds of shame.

I can't keep up with the heat & dryness of my climate.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 19, 2021, 08:26:31 AM
Quote from: lightning on June 19, 2021, 07:41:14 AM
I give up. I've stopped watering the lawn and flowers. Hello brown grass and dead flowerbeds of shame.

I can't keep up with the heat & dryness of my climate.

:(
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 19, 2021, 06:41:14 PM
Got more pawlonia seeds in the mail, gonna try again!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 02, 2021, 09:35:12 PM
Dug up my potatoes (too early?), cut swathes of kale and made no dent, and gathered two large containers of raspberries.

The corn keeps growing, and the zucchini is wild.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on July 04, 2021, 02:19:47 PM
I spent 3+ hours this morning pruning the zucchini and yellow squash, and pruning and tying up the tomato plants.  (All had been done earlier, but last week's off-and-on monsoon rains, with temps in the upper 90s in between, kept me in the house in the AC, and things grew like Topsy!)  I found 3 zucchini!  Two are nice sized; one is overgrown, so I see muffins/bread in the future this week.

I need to trim up and probably stake my 3 bell pepper plants; each has a nice pepper on it.  I do need to water this evening towards dark, after a good dose of bat guano and epsom salts on the tomatoes and peppers. 

I pulled the peas yesterday; they got started too late after the wet and cold spring, and then the heat got them

I also cut down the white hollyhock, after the Japanese beetles did in the remaining buds left after most had bloomed and the rust had its way.  I trimmed up some yellowed leaves from the sunflowers; they need to be staked.  I need to deadhead some flowers, pull some weeds, and generally neaten up the back yard flower beds.  All of that will have to wait until tomorrow morning when it's cool.  I'm toast for today (after all the garden work this morning, then spending this afternoon grading).

Still to do this week:  trim the blooms off the catnip, maybe pull a couple of nice-sized onions, and thin out the carrots. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 04, 2021, 08:17:14 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on July 04, 2021, 02:19:47 PM
I spent 3+ hours this morning pruning the zucchini and yellow squash, and pruning and tying up the tomato plants.  (All had been done earlier, but last week's off-and-on monsoon rains, with temps in the upper 90s in between, kept me in the house in the AC, and things grew like Topsy!)  I found 3 zucchini!  Two are nice sized; one is overgrown, so I see muffins/bread in the future this week.

I need to trim up and probably stake my 3 bell pepper plants; each has a nice pepper on it.  I do need to water this evening towards dark, after a good dose of bat guano and epsom salts on the tomatoes and peppers. 

I pulled the peas yesterday; they got started too late after the wet and cold spring, and then the heat got them

I also cut down the white hollyhock, after the Japanese beetles did in the remaining buds left after most had bloomed and the rust had its way.  I trimmed up some yellowed leaves from the sunflowers; they need to be staked.  I need to deadhead some flowers, pull some weeds, and generally neaten up the back yard flower beds.  All of that will have to wait until tomorrow morning when it's cool.  I'm toast for today (after all the garden work this morning, then spending this afternoon grading).

Still to do this week:  trim the blooms off the catnip, maybe pull a couple of nice-sized onions, and thin out the carrots.

Sounds like you've been a busy bee. What's your hourly rate? :) We need help over in our campus garden.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on July 05, 2021, 06:54:00 AM
Ha!  I have to tell you, there have many, many days when I think I'd have been better off doing this kind of work instead of going into teaching!  Of course, my SIJD problems make that impossible, but I do like the immediacy of being able to see the results of my work, which isn't often the case with my teaching.

I'm still toying with the idea of starting up a very small greenhouse/truck garden when I retire, if I can swing the funds to do it in cash.  It would be a lot of fun, and selling some plants and produce could generate some nice "pin money" income, too.

As to the garden:  I fed everything toward dark yesterday, and it all looks great this morning.  It's cool enough that fungus shouldn't be an issue. 

Anybody got ripe tomatoes yet?  None here, but it's been a weird, up-and-down spring and early summer.   I have a lot of green ones on, though.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on July 05, 2021, 11:34:14 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on July 05, 2021, 06:54:00 AM
Anybody got ripe tomatoes yet?  None here, but it's been a weird, up-and-down spring and early summer.   I have a lot of green ones on, though.

Yep, harvested a hand full  of sungolds so far. There would have been more by now but we had a weird three day cold and wet period (after a record heat period). Warming up again now so I expect more shortly. The sungolds are by far the earliest variety and last year were great producers all the way until first frost in October, so I'm hoping for a repeat. The other varieties also have lots of green ones but no sign of ripening for them yet.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 06, 2021, 01:59:37 PM
I picked several red tomatoes (not sure of the type- some kind of hybrid) and lots and lots of cucumbers! We planted Straight 8 and Lemon, but I haven't seen any of the lemon cukes.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on July 06, 2021, 06:57:19 PM
We alternate cool and rainy with blistering hot and sunny. Tomatoes aren't ripening as fast as usual and I'm expecting fewer since pollination is difficult in very hot weather.  Beans seem confused. Kale is fine.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on July 07, 2021, 01:17:51 PM
No ripe tomatoes yet here, either (thanks, wonky weather all spring/so far this summer).  Two more nice zucchini, though!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on July 07, 2021, 01:48:46 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on July 06, 2021, 06:57:19 PM
We alternate cool and rainy with blistering hot and sunny. Tomatoes aren't ripening as fast as usual and I'm expecting fewer since pollination is difficult in very hot weather.  Beans seem confused. Kale is fine.

What do confused beans do?

Grow upside down, or tangle around the car?

Inquiring minds want to know...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 07, 2021, 03:39:51 PM
Discovered a lot of ants hanging out on one of my indoor fig trees (mini). Turns out it had scale, so I busted out the alcohol and q-tip and went to town.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on July 08, 2021, 05:55:45 AM
Quote from: mamselle on July 07, 2021, 01:48:46 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on July 06, 2021, 06:57:19 PM
We alternate cool and rainy with blistering hot and sunny. Tomatoes aren't ripening as fast as usual and I'm expecting fewer since pollination is difficult in very hot weather.  Beans seem confused. Kale is fine.

What do confused beans do?

Grow upside down, or tangle around the car?

Inquiring minds want to know...
M.



Haha!  Some produce a couple of beans and then stop, refusing to even continue blooming.  Some bloom prolifically but produce little. I did find a few beans this morning though, and ate them raw. Very tasty.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on July 08, 2021, 07:21:33 AM
Yesterday at church I overheard one of the pastor's grandchildren tell him that "Daddy got a rain today!"  Her father is a farmer, and it had been starting to get dry lately.  The rain came at an opportune time for area farmers.  We didn't get much of it here in town.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on July 08, 2021, 10:28:51 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on July 08, 2021, 05:55:45 AM
Quote from: mamselle on July 07, 2021, 01:48:46 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on July 06, 2021, 06:57:19 PM
We alternate cool and rainy with blistering hot and sunny. Tomatoes aren't ripening as fast as usual and I'm expecting fewer since pollination is difficult in very hot weather.  Beans seem confused. Kale is fine.

What do confused beans do?

Grow upside down, or tangle around the car?

Inquiring minds want to know...
M.

This sounds like my beans, too, Harlow, except I haven't found even a few to pick yet.  The plants make nice foliage, though.

Everything here is confused:  my watermelons and okra and cantaloupes from seed are just starting to grow, with the latter blooming.  At this rate, it'll frost before they even think about producing fruit. After late frosts and a late snow, then weeks of cool rainy weather, then heat near 100 degrees, and last week's clouds/heat/humidity/heavy rain--not to mention that the vegetable and herb gardens are in beds we installed and filled only in April--I should be glad for anything at all that I harvest this crazy first year.

Still, the flowers from seed are all growing and blooming after late planting, so there's that. I'll take it!


Haha!  Some produce a couple of beans and then stop, refusing to even continue blooming.  Some bloom prolifically but produce little. I did find a few beans this morning though, and ate them raw. Very tasty.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on July 15, 2021, 10:37:47 AM
I just picked and ate my first ripe tomato of the year!  It wasn't ready for the 4th of July, but considering these plants spent time under boxes twice this spring (once for temperatures in the 20s, and again when it snowed 3"), I'm happy to even have this one.  There are a lot of nice fruits on the plants, so more will be coming soon. 

So far I've also had yellow squash and zucchini, baby carrots (thinning out the row so the rest can grow bigger!), and lots of nice herbs and catnip.

The green beans are finally making beans out of all those blossoms; some of the onions are getting big enough to pull; and the watermelon and cantaloupe are late, but blooming like mad, so I'm hopeful to get ripe ones before frost.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 15, 2021, 10:47:34 AM
The zucchini has flowered, and the corn has tassels.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: sinenomine on July 15, 2021, 10:51:25 AM
My wildflower garden is attracting lots of bees, butterflies, and yellow finches — a lovely distraction from work!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on July 15, 2021, 11:09:28 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 15, 2021, 10:47:34 AM
The zucchini has flowered, and the corn has tassels.

Was the corn knee-high by...you know...??

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on July 15, 2021, 12:03:03 PM
I finally have tomatoes!  Let the feasting begin!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on July 16, 2021, 08:38:55 AM
Quote from: San Joaquin on July 15, 2021, 12:03:03 PM
I finally have tomatoes!  Let the feasting begin!


Me too!  And some lunchbox peppers and enough beans for dinner! Most things will really ripen when we are away on vacation, but I hope neighbors will eat well.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 16, 2021, 10:13:26 AM
Students planted lemongrass and ginger. I'd like to have rows and rows of it, but for now we just have a few plants.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: spork on August 06, 2021, 02:50:29 PM
My tomato plants are turning yellow because of all the rain. Rabbits have munched the tops of my carrot plants. Insects are eating my Swiss chard and basil. It has not been a good year for vegetables. I do have a huge crop of Thai chili peppers though.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 06, 2021, 05:56:26 PM
I've got a few ears of corn and more silking, many zucchinis, some snow peas, still more kale than I know what to do with, a few chives, and the patipans are starting.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 19, 2021, 07:26:01 AM
Many jars of yummie tomato sauce and dehydrated tomatoes despite blight. 3 lunchbox pepper plants that are prolific and sweet. Basil looks like a small shrub. Tiny grape arbor produced pretty well despite spotted lantern fly presence. Just planted a little lettuce for the fall. Kale is out of control.  It hasn't been an outstanding season, but decent enough. On the bright side, we've had so much rain that I've only had to water 3 times since May despite everything in containers.

How's it going for others?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 19, 2021, 08:32:15 AM
I'll be harvesting the corn today.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 19, 2021, 10:21:06 AM
Do you rent a John Deere tractor, or just walk around for a bit?

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on August 19, 2021, 11:42:09 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on August 19, 2021, 07:26:01 AM
Many jars of yummie tomato sauce and dehydrated tomatoes despite blight. 3 lunchbox pepper plants that are prolific and sweet. Basil looks like a small shrub. Tiny grape arbor produced pretty well despite spotted lantern fly presence. Just planted a little lettuce for the fall. Kale is out of control.  It hasn't been an outstanding season, but decent enough. On the bright side, we've had so much rain that I've only had to water 3 times since May despite everything in containers.

How's it going for others?

Likewise with the tomatoes -- the plants don't look great with the blight but are still producing a ton. Some tomatoes are splitting from all the moisture. Basil has grown into a forrest. I really need to make a can tomato sauce and make and freeze pesto but I was out of town last weekend and am running an orientation program all weekend.

And let's not even talk about the lawn mowing. . .

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 19, 2021, 01:21:05 PM
Quote from: mamselle on August 19, 2021, 10:21:06 AM
Do you rent a John Deere tractor, or just walk around for a bit?

M.

Ten tractors: one for each stalk!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 19, 2021, 02:24:50 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on August 19, 2021, 01:21:05 PM
Quote from: mamselle on August 19, 2021, 10:21:06 AM
Do you rent a John Deere tractor, or just walk around for a bit?

M.

Ten tractors: one for each stalk!

;--}

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 20, 2021, 08:48:56 AM
Quote from: mamselle on August 19, 2021, 02:24:50 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on August 19, 2021, 01:21:05 PM
Quote from: mamselle on August 19, 2021, 10:21:06 AM
Do you rent a John Deere tractor, or just walk around for a bit?

M.

Ten tractors: one for each stalk!

;--}

M.

This just showed up....I'm from Ohio, with lots of corn-fields, and I never heard of it....

   https://www.newsweek.com/tiktok-hack-stripping-corn-cobs-kernels-bundt-pan-1620019

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: San Joaquin on August 20, 2021, 08:15:50 PM
The first raft of tomatoes is slowing down and the second planting is blooming.  Had a few cukes, some delightful pepperoncinis, kale, lots of herbs.  Nasturtiums, lavender and peas putting on an encore performance.  Not my year for squashes.  Planted a few more beans for dry/overwinter use, and some lettuce to see if I can get it to sprout in the week's cool spell. Radishes, beets & well-I'm-not-entirely-sure all doing well.  And it has all been quite effective essential sanity maintenance.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 21, 2021, 09:44:08 AM
Quote from: San Joaquin on August 20, 2021, 08:15:50 PM
The first raft of tomatoes is slowing down and the second planting is blooming.  Had a few cukes, some delightful pepperoncinis, kale, lots of herbs.  Nasturtiums, lavender and peas putting on an encore performance.  Not my year for squashes.  Planted a few more beans for dry/overwinter use, and some lettuce to see if I can get it to sprout in the week's cool spell. Radishes, beets & well-I'm-not-entirely-sure all doing well.  And it has all been quite effective essential sanity maintenance.

My radishes have done nothing in the past 3 years, and neither have the beets. I get greens but nothing else. I may try again if it cools down a bit. What kind of soil/mix do you use? 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on August 28, 2021, 07:48:12 AM
Picked a big yellow pepper and a red one yesterday, and also four cantaloupes. 

The heat has gotten most of the garden. Most of August has been 100 degree plus heat index days, with stretches of no rain for a week alternated with 2-3 inch downpours. My garden (and everyone's in the neighborhood) looks like hell.  It's OK.  Being back to work means I have plenty else to do.  I'll start slowly pulling things up if/when it cools off next week.

The local fall forecast calls for a cold October and wet and cold November, so at least I'll (plan to) have everything cleaned up early, rather than getting behind and trying to beat the first frost/freeze as has sometimes happened in the past.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 22, 2021, 02:08:17 PM
Today I dug the last of the kale out from under the ice, and we ate it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Cheerful on December 22, 2021, 03:07:13 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 22, 2021, 02:08:17 PM
Today I dug the last of the kale out from under the ice, and we ate it.

Kale snow cone? 🍧
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Stockmann on January 20, 2022, 02:33:54 PM
Maybe this is a pretty dumb question, but bear with me as I have limited, self-taught gardening experience and am no botanist - are the shoots of asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri') edible? What I've been able online is vague and contradictory - yes, the leaves can cause dermatitis and the fruits are mildly toxic, but that doesn't really tell me much about the shoots (esp. when it seems to be true of oficinalis, too).

We have asparagus fern in the garden, planted long before we moved here - my wife recently recognized the shoots as asparagus, and after some sleuthing online I'm sure it's densiflorus sprengeri. Having realized it's not asparagus oficinalis, the variety that is unambiguously edible, I've not been able to find clear-cut information on the safety or lack thereof of the shoots.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on January 20, 2022, 03:03:16 PM
No idea, but it runs in my mind it's decorative, not edible.

When in doubt, of course, err on the side of caution...

Is there a gardening club in your area?

They might either have a 'consultant' of the official variety, or "someone who knows every plant for miles around here," of the un-official variety.

State agriculture websites often have similar information as well.

(Or, on the negative side, you could always look up the Poison Control website in your area....)

Stay safe!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on January 20, 2022, 03:34:47 PM
Quote

State agriculture websites often have similar information as well.


M.

Master gardeners in your state  are another place. Also could ask on gardenwen.com. Some there have considerable expertise. My check of my hefty gardening encyclopedia is mute on its suitability for eating. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 20, 2022, 03:54:26 PM
Everything is dead. Except my kale (variety unknown), which survived the freezing weather despite the fact that the landlords' kale (lacinato and Russian red) didn't.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on January 20, 2022, 04:48:19 PM
Oops.

Do Parasaurolophuses make peace offerings?

;--}

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Stockmann on January 21, 2022, 08:02:53 AM
@mamselle: I won't try them until and unless I get clear info on them, but if they are edible it would be a shame to waste completely fresh, pesticide-free asparagus. Thanks for the suggestion on checking for local poisonous plants, I've checked for advice on local dangerous plants but it's not on the list. On the other hand, it may not be all that common to the area (this is a suburb). Unfortunately I'm not aware of any local gardening clubs and I strongly get the impression (we're newish to the area) that there isn't a local culture of growing food in your garden or even of doing gardening yourself instead of hiring someone.

@Harlowe2: Thanks for the suggestion, I've now posted the question and hopefully will get clarity on it.

Sorry about your plants, Parasaurolophus.

I've planted rosemary, oregano, spearmint, mint and coriander. Not from seed as I've failed to grow anything from seed. So far at least none of them have died.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on January 21, 2022, 09:25:22 AM
Quote from: Stockmann on January 21, 2022, 08:02:53 AM
@mamselle: I won't try them until and unless I get clear info on them, but if they are edible it would be a shame to waste completely fresh, pesticide-free asparagus. Thanks for the suggestion on checking for local poisonous plants, I've checked for advice on local dangerous plants but it's not on the list. On the other hand, it may not be all that common to the area (this is a suburb). Unfortunately I'm not aware of any local gardening clubs and I strongly get the impression (we're newish to the area) that there isn't a local culture of growing food in your garden or even of doing gardening yourself instead of hiring someone.

@Harlowe2: Thanks for the suggestion, I've now posted the question and hopefully will get clarity on it.

Sorry about your plants, Parasaurolophus.

I've planted rosemary, oregano, spearmint, mint and coriander. Not from seed as I've failed to grow anything from seed. So far at least none of them have died.

Be aware there is a lot of territory between "edible" and "poisonous" occupied by things that won't make you deathly ill but won't  agree with you either. Your state extension office would be a good place to check. I would be cautious unless you have a very clear ID.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on January 23, 2022, 07:31:39 AM
Quote from: Stockmann on January 20, 2022, 02:33:54 PM
Maybe this is a pretty dumb question, but bear with me as I have limited, self-taught gardening experience and am no botanist - are the shoots of asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri') edible? What I've been able online is vague and contradictory - yes, the leaves can cause dermatitis and the fruits are mildly toxic, but that doesn't really tell me much about the shoots (esp. when it seems to be true of oficinalis, too).

We have asparagus fern in the garden, planted long before we moved here - my wife recently recognized the shoots as asparagus, and after some sleuthing online I'm sure it's densiflorus sprengeri. Having realized it's not asparagus oficinalis, the variety that is unambiguously edible, I've not been able to find clear-cut information on the safety or lack thereof of the shoots.

Chiming in to add to the "be very cautious" theme.  Just b/c one plant is edible does not mean that it's relatives are.  If you're super-curious, cook one shoot, take a tiny bite, and chew but don't swallow.  If it tastes at all "off", also rinse your mouth well after spitting it all out.  I'm betting that it won't taste good.

That said, edible asparagus is reasonably easy to grow - you just need enough room and a tolerance for having a rather untidy-looking area all summer long.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Stockmann on January 25, 2022, 09:31:09 AM
Yes, I'll be cautious - what feedback I've gotten is that the shoots are edible. All the info I've found is that even the berries will give you an upset stomach (even those of the unambiguously edible asparagus) rather than anything worse, but of course won't try the shoots if the same goes for them. I'm asking if they're any good, because conceivably they could be edible but not very tasty, kind of like lettuce. If I were planting it, I'd plant the normal edible asparagus, but these were already there. Kind of short of space for everything we'd like to plant, especially my wife, who semi-seriously mentioned avocado...

I jinxed it about the other plants, as the cats in the neighborhood have now eaten the coriander.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on January 30, 2022, 05:50:54 PM
During the winter I plant micro tomatoes and lettuce under grow lights in the kitchen. The lettuce, planted at the beginning of the month, is producing nicely and the tomato plants are in their first pots. Nothing like casually reaching over and picking a delicious red cherry tomato when it's still cold out; I hope to have fruit in late March.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 12, 2022, 07:09:19 PM
Well, we're supposed to go down to 22 deg. F tonight and most blueberries have bloomed, or are in bloom. SO and I went outside to cover what we could with sheets and came back inside to elder evil cat humping his stuffed crab on the couch.

SMDH.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 12, 2022, 09:29:29 PM
I suppose I should get planting soon...
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 13, 2022, 07:12:59 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 12, 2022, 09:29:29 PM
I suppose I should get planting soon...

I recently made a spreadsheet with when to start what, working backward from our average frost free date. I need to plant tomatoes and pepper seeds this week (zone 6b). I use an enclosed porch that has windows on two sides as a greenhouse.  I just got a plant light in a stand and a seed starting heat mat, which may actually let me germinate pepper seeds this year. If not, I'll just buy seedlings from the local plant sale like usual, but it will be a fun experiment in the meantime.

I'm also adding some additional raised beds, including two raised planters to screen the patio from the driveway which turned out to take a lot of assembly, but look really nice. Adding an archway between them next. I think the theme of those planters is going to be edible landscape-- so scarlet runner beans on the arch, lavender, chives, purple basil, nasturtiums, etc. in the rest.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on March 13, 2022, 03:08:07 PM
Quote
I'm also adding some additional raised beds, including two raised planters to screen the patio from the driveway which turned out to take a lot of assembly, but look really nice. Adding an archway between them next. I t


Do you have any links?

I m considering adding some raised beds in the back yard, and I may install one in the front. The bride seems to have an interest in a flower box in the front of the house.

(I, on the other hand, think that you should enjoy the Fruits of your labor by eating it, and not the Flowers of your labor, which is really best for looking at). 

In a sign of the current times, I am considering taking a section of the side yard and planting giant sunflower seeds.  (sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine)

2 years ago I had a nice wild plot of primrose in the back yard, but I mowed 2 days ago, and there was no sign of them (Or I would not have mowed there!)

My neighbors didnt treat their yard, so the grubs ate all the grass on that side... We HAD a really nice yard there, but now the grass is gone and the gross weeds that took over are a pain to deal with, and I prefer to ignore it!!  If I plant sunflowers, I will feel better about ignoring it!   Though that section of hte yard is well shaded and I doubt that it would be a good place to really do a 'garden' even of sunflowers.  But Im willing to try it!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 13, 2022, 04:42:57 PM
Quote from: clean on March 13, 2022, 03:08:07 PM
Quote
I'm also adding some additional raised beds, including two raised planters to screen the patio from the driveway which turned out to take a lot of assembly, but look really nice. Adding an archway between them next. I t


Do you have any links?


I get them from Gardener's Supply Company. Not the cheapest, but good products and company. There are many, many options. These are the raised planters I got: https://www.gardeners.com/buy/cedar-raised-planting-box/8610919.html
I also have a number of low ones that are much simpler--just boards that slot into metal corners-- for my veggies. For this use I wanted something higher and more decorative though, so I splurged.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on March 19, 2022, 01:15:42 PM
Spring is 2 days away.  The weather is wonderful!  spring Break is upon us!

Lowes was PACKED.  I had to park at the outskirts.  When I went to the garden center, there were 3 registers open. All had at least 10 customer groups waiting to be checked out and many more were still shopping!

My goal was to get either sod or seed for some grass to replace the grass that was eaten by the grubs last year.  They did not have sod.  I asked, but was told that sod comes on Tuesday, but to come early as it goes fast!  For seed, they have plenty, but not the variety I want.  I dont want use some 'contractor's mix' or bahaia grass.  I prefer st augustine or some similar variety. 

Later today I will work on a plot in the back yard to get rid of the weed that I have not been able to get rid of, so I will bury it under a raised garden (with a weed barrier mesh underneath!  )

I hope to get some starter plants as it is too late for seeds for a big tomato, cherry tomatoes, an eggplant or 2, and some summer squash.  I will also plant some okra seeds for when it gets warmer. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: downer on March 19, 2022, 01:18:07 PM
I cut back my butterfly bush today. I should be putting some seeds into pots to get them ready I guess. Maybe tomorrow.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on March 21, 2022, 08:36:40 AM
The kale has perked up!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 09:14:22 AM
I'm a little behind starting seeds... My plan is to start (indoors!) several varieties of tomato, pepper (hot and sweet) and flowers (marigold, zinnia, etc.) for the Garden today.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: downer on March 21, 2022, 10:55:20 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 09:14:22 AM
I'm a little behind starting seeds... My plan is to start (indoors!) several varieties of tomato, pepper (hot and sweet) and flowers (marigold, zinnia, etc.) for the Garden today.

Good luck. That's inspirational for me!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 04:03:04 PM
Quote from: downer on March 21, 2022, 10:55:20 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 09:14:22 AM
I'm a little behind starting seeds... My plan is to start (indoors!) several varieties of tomato, pepper (hot and sweet) and flowers (marigold, zinnia, etc.) for the Garden today.

Good luck. That's inspirational for me!

Unfortunately, I didn't start any today. Maybe tomorrow. I did work on clearing out my backyard. It is FULL of English ivy. I'm pulling ALL of it out by the roots, albeit, very slowly.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on March 21, 2022, 04:47:03 PM
Hmm....sorry to hear that.

I always liked the dark green, veined English Ivy leaves...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 06:33:37 PM
Quote from: mamselle on March 21, 2022, 04:47:03 PM
Hmm....sorry to hear that.

I always liked the dark green, veined English Ivy leaves...

M.

It's therapeutic for me. Yep, it looked nice, but that stuff really takes over the yard. Plus, it climbs trees and can kill them over time.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on March 23, 2022, 02:23:08 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 06:33:37 PM
Quote from: mamselle on March 21, 2022, 04:47:03 PM
Hmm....sorry to hear that.

I always liked the dark green, veined English Ivy leaves...

M.

It's therapeutic for me. Yep, it looked nice, but that stuff really takes over the yard. Plus, it climbs trees and can kill them over time.

It can also play hell with your house if planted close enough to crawl up--under the siding, into the mortar between bricks, etc.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 23, 2022, 02:42:35 PM
Got two cubic yards of aged compost delivered, for some new raised beds and perking up the existing beds. There is going to be a lot of wheelbarrowing and shoveling this weekend. Grateful that I now have a hot tub for the muscles afterward.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 23, 2022, 05:58:37 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 23, 2022, 02:23:08 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 21, 2022, 06:33:37 PM
Quote from: mamselle on March 21, 2022, 04:47:03 PM
Hmm....sorry to hear that.

I always liked the dark green, veined English Ivy leaves...

M.

It's therapeutic for me. Yep, it looked nice, but that stuff really takes over the yard. Plus, it climbs trees and can kill them over time.

It can also play hell with your house if planted close enough to crawl up--under the siding, into the mortar between bricks, etc.

Yep. Initially, we had a little that was close to the house, but it has been removed.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on March 24, 2022, 06:19:50 PM
I'm putting down fertilizer this week--looking forward to that.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on March 24, 2022, 06:21:40 PM
I bought 3 tomato plants (one cherry, two larger ones) and 2 squash plants.  Essentially, I spent enough on plants to supply me with probably what I could have bought in the grocery store for 3 or 4 months! 

But I suppose that we really dont garden to 'cut costs'! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 24, 2022, 06:46:05 PM
Quote from: clean on March 24, 2022, 06:21:40 PM
I bought 3 tomato plants (one cherry, two larger ones) and 2 squash plants.  Essentially, I spent enough on plants to supply me with probably what I could have bought in the grocery store for 3 or 4 months! 

But I suppose that we really dont garden to 'cut costs'!

How much are you paying for those plants?? I think I usually pay $4-6, which doesn't buy much produce.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: alto_stratus on March 24, 2022, 07:38:50 PM
My indoor garden is growing. I have two ribbon dracaena planters (8 stems each) that are just going bonkers - so big and green. I bought a philodendron rojo congo, which as it turns out is a monster plant, and it is already trying to take over after just a month. It was sold as a hydroponic plant for some reason, which I can already tell is not going to work out long term. It's going to need a sturdy anchor. And new to the bunch, a variegated brake fern. Last year, I had great luck with a Lowe's fern on the porch, but this one might be more sensitive. Hopefully I can get it going.

Can't wait for herb season!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on March 25, 2022, 10:01:30 AM
QuoteHow much are you paying for those plants?? I think I usually pay $4-6, which doesn't buy much produce.

about $5 each.
But that means that I paid $10 for squash, which was $1.19 a pound last week.
3 tomato plants total $15... tomato costs about 99 cents a pound last week
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 25, 2022, 10:25:23 AM
Quote from: clean on March 25, 2022, 10:01:30 AM
QuoteHow much are you paying for those plants?? I think I usually pay $4-6, which doesn't buy much produce.

about $5 each.
But that means that I paid $10 for squash, which was $1.19 a pound last week.
3 tomato plants total $15... tomato costs about 99 cents a pound last week

I guess your produce costs are a lot lower than mine, but even so I'm pretty sure I harvest way more than 5 lbs of tomatoes per plant over the course of the growing season. Nonetheless you are right that it isn't primarily for the cost savings. Home grown tomatoes are priceless!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on March 25, 2022, 11:17:12 AM
If the squirrels don't get 'em!!!!....

I had to give up, thought I had a great little space on my deck at a previous place, and even had guard fence around the sides....and the top.

But they clawed up there and reached through the chicken wire, took one bite of each of the little green cherry tomatoes, and tossed 'em.

Within a week all the budded fruit had been attacked and destroyed.

Color me glum...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on March 25, 2022, 11:54:01 AM
QuoteI guess your produce costs are a lot lower than mine, but even so I'm pretty sure I harvest way more than 5 lbs of tomatoes per plant over the course of the growing season. Nonetheless you are right that it isn't primarily for the cost savings. Home grown tomatoes are priceless!

Weather is a huge factor.  My local conditions are such that in only a few months the heat will be such that big tomatoes wont set.  The cherry tomatoes are the only ones that will likely make it to maturity.

My real 'gardening coworker' noted that he has already harvested his last set of turnips, collards and mustard greens.  Tomatoes wont really be harvested much by July.

In contrast, my phd school office mate has not even started to garden.  The snow is gone, but the temperatures are not really good enough to plant seeds.  But he will have tomatoes all the way to September, maybe October (where he will pull whatever is left and fry the green ones) 
on the other hand, he can never grow Okra as it never really gets hot enough for that to produce.  (while we will go out every 2 to 3 days for another harvest... because you dont really want to eat a 6 inch okra pod!)


I do agree, though, that there are few things as nice as a vine ripe tomato!  ... IF you can protect them from the bugs, birds, wind, rain (before they split).... They are nice, but perhaps what makes them so nice is that only the few survive to make it to the plate (or palate!) 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 25, 2022, 02:25:38 PM
Quote from: clean on March 25, 2022, 11:54:01 AM
QuoteI guess your produce costs are a lot lower than mine, but even so I'm pretty sure I harvest way more than 5 lbs of tomatoes per plant over the course of the growing season. Nonetheless you are right that it isn't primarily for the cost savings. Home grown tomatoes are priceless!

Weather is a huge factor.  My local conditions are such that in only a few months the heat will be such that big tomatoes wont set.  The cherry tomatoes are the only ones that will likely make it to maturity.

My real 'gardening coworker' noted that he has already harvested his last set of turnips, collards and mustard greens.  Tomatoes wont really be harvested much by July.

In contrast, my phd school office mate has not even started to garden.  The snow is gone, but the temperatures are not really good enough to plant seeds.  But he will have tomatoes all the way to September, maybe October (where he will pull whatever is left and fry the green ones) 
on the other hand, he can never grow Okra as it never really gets hot enough for that to produce.  (while we will go out every 2 to 3 days for another harvest... because you dont really want to eat a 6 inch okra pod!)


I do agree, though, that there are few things as nice as a vine ripe tomato!  ... IF you can protect them from the bugs, birds, wind, rain (before they split).... They are nice, but perhaps what makes them so nice is that only the few survive to make it to the plate (or palate!)

Yes, location makes. big difference. Frost free date here isn't until late May, so things must be started indoors. BUT, then they produce all the way until frost in October or even early November depending on the year. Last summer I had tomatoes continuously from late June until early November, even though it was unusually wet and the plants had some early blight.

The Sungold cherries are always champions, but I also like to grow some bigger ones. One of my beefsteak tomatoes last year grew to 2 lbs!

One of my favorite summer meals, which we had a lot when I was a kid, is fresh garden tomatoes and cumbers with mayo (which I normally don't like, but for this I do), corn on the cob, and maybe some stir fried or fast-pickled green beens, maybe some good bread and cheese. Fruit something for dessert. Can't wait till summer!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on March 25, 2022, 03:06:50 PM
Since I can't garden where I am, I just follow along from home, both here and online.

Just recently found this site: they're in AZ, and have a really interesting combination of planning, working hard, and taking things easy...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziwsyz5m5QM

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 26, 2022, 05:39:52 AM
My heart is heavy with loss (from months ago), so I plan to do some more vine pulling in the back yard and eventually put in some raised veggie beds. My muscles may be sore after it, but it helps me process.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on March 26, 2022, 03:55:32 PM
Consolation for your loss.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on March 26, 2022, 04:45:08 PM
5 days into spring... The high temperature today was 89!  I went out for a while to water the sod I put in in the very small section I am trying to deal with.  I took a weedeater and scraped off another section of weeds in the back yard. The clay is so try, you can not use a hoe and the weedeater takes them down as if they were on concrete!  . I  have the weed barrier cloth  already (in the car), and I have the composite raised material (boards and garden soil), but I will wait until tomorrow to put the barrier down, build the box, and put the soil down.  Then I will measure how much space I have left and decide how much top soil to get and whether I want more sod to attempt to replace the nasty weed that is in the back, or if I will try something else.

As I already purchased 5 plants I need to get them in the bed tomorrow. 

jobs that I think will take 20 minutes generally take six times as long... so 20 minutes = 2 hours!  And the reality is that I am not able to work 2 hours in 89 degree weather.... (and I have been staying up til 2 and sleeping in til 10, when it is already at the limit of heat.  (So by some accounts, the ideal way to avoid work!) 

But I see the end of the garden part of the project in sight! 

The sod busting problem (and hauling 40/50 pound bags of dirt/soil) has just begun. 

And I thought that my bride would be more helpful at the watering part...  Unfortunately, the spray nozzle leaks a bit, so once she gets sufficiently wet, she figures that the plants must also be wet enough!   (the dangers of marrying a City Girl).    (I appreciate all the help that she does provide, and certainly the entertainment value from it!) 

Soon I will need to sit on the ground in the front yard with a bunch of Walmart bags and pull some short vine like weed.  It has little purple flowers, that I must not have seen, because today I saw the fully formed seed heads!  IF I put off pulling them too much longer, then NEXT year I will be buried in them (again!!). 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 26, 2022, 05:25:31 PM
I accidentally uprooted a tiny raspberry shoot. I transplanted it to the front garden, where it will soon be joined by all of the others while they await transplantation to our patch of land.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on March 27, 2022, 06:31:21 AM
It was 27 degrees here this morning. Making garden is a good ways off yet.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 27, 2022, 07:55:34 AM
I ended up weeding a portion of one of the front gardens yesterday. It has a gentle slope to it and I'm considering planting some blueberry bushes, or raspberry bushes along it. Hmm. Decisions to make!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on March 27, 2022, 08:42:13 AM
The indoor micros all have tomatoes that should be blushing soon; need to get started seeding the outdoor ones. And the lettuce and peppers. We plant out sometime after Mother's Day here, so I need to get moving.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on March 27, 2022, 07:42:02 PM
I didn't get as far as I wanted to, over the weekend. I spent a lot of time cleaning up brush, leaves, twigs, etc. that had accumulated over the winter. From my window, it didn't seem like much, but after getting close and actually sticking my hands into the garden, I realized that I had a lot more work than I was expecting.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 05, 2022, 02:25:46 PM
Took 30 minutes this morning to clear most of the raspberries from my beds in the back garden, and transplanted them to the front garden. We'll see if they make it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 05, 2022, 03:10:31 PM
I put together a store bought raised bed. It is some composite material.  Initially I made it 4X8 and it was 5 1/2 inches high. I decided that was not tall enough to give the plants a good rooting space.  I redid it and shoveled the soil mix to the other half.  Today I bought a bunch of more bags of soil and some more plants. 
I am waiting for more raised bed material so that I can get another 4x8 one finished.  I am sure that I will need more soil, but I can only do so much in any one day. 

Today I will get the potting soil out of the truck and to the back of the house and fill the other half of the first bed and get the plants I bought planted.  That is this afternoon's goal! 

Plenty of work to be done! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 06, 2022, 01:26:09 PM
^^Jealous!^^

I'd love to be out playing in the dirt!  It's still chilly and off-and-on rainy here in central IL.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 11, 2022, 12:35:35 PM
The raspberries seem to have survived so far. Cleared the last of them out of the back gardeb and transplanted them to the front.

Now I can finally plant whatever I decide to plant!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 14, 2022, 01:06:02 PM
Planted my seeds today--the earliest yet. More kale (always! These were weird pearl-like seeds though--'kale storm' apparently, which I've never seen before), tons of corn, and some cabbage, cauliflower, terragon, and lavender.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 14, 2022, 01:31:33 PM
Im planting today too!

I bought starter plants from Lowes for squash (4 sets), eggplant (2), tomato (4, different kinds). 
My second 4x8 elevated garden is ready for seeds today!  Im going to plant 2 kinds of okra, sweet corn, carrots, and bunching onion seeds.  A corworker will provide heirloom seeds for cantaloupe on the express condition that I plant them on Saturday at the latest, at the latest!

Given how much my squash and tomatoes have spread out in the days since I first planted them, I have clearly overestimated how much i can plant.... and The Price of Seeds!!! 

Anyway, I am looking forward to the fun in store!! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on April 14, 2022, 01:47:42 PM
Does anyone grow spinach?

I'm not such a fan of kale, but love spinach, and I've never been sure if spinach needed such tight conditions that I could even consider it.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on April 14, 2022, 09:03:52 PM
Still too iffy here to plant but I did get lettuce and tomatoes started indoors and have 3 micros that will go out when it warms up
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 18, 2022, 04:25:10 PM
The first tomato plant I got from Lowes and put in the raised bed, is now in bloom! T here are not a lot of blooms, but I can see a few from the window of the house!

I planted Okra seeds last week and they are sprouting!

In the inside seed starter kit, I added water, which caused to peat moss to expand, planted some seeds and I can see today that some have already sprouted!!  No leaves yet, but green stalks are poking up! 
IN the starter pods are more okra, sweet corn and clumping onion I think.

My coworker gave me some seeds for cantaloupe that I planted yesterday.  I also filled some of the cups that I got the starter plants in with potting mix and I will plant some more seeds in there to get them started  too. 

Hopefully my beds will soon be full (but not Too Full), but this is my first venture with a raised bed, so I may have overestimated how much will fit.

I have a game camera out too. It has indicated that my night time, back yard pooper is an opossum.  Before much longer, I will have to get the live trap from the garage and remove the critter. 
I know that the city used to pick up opossum that were trapped, so that is my hope... let the city pick it up and 'take care of it' from there. 

Im not going to share my garden output with a possum!!  (from the 'healthy view' on the camera and the 'quality of the poop' i find I suspect that it is cleaning up the neighbor's pet's food dishes.  I HOPE that no one is actively feeding it! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 18, 2022, 05:22:48 PM
Quote from: clean on April 18, 2022, 04:25:10 PM

I have a game camera out too. It has indicated that my night time, back yard pooper is an opossum.  Before much longer, I will have to get the live trap from the garage and remove the critter. 
I know that the city used to pick up opossum that were trapped, so that is my hope... let the city pick it up and 'take care of it' from there. 

Im not going to share my garden output with a possum!!  (from the 'healthy view' on the camera and the 'quality of the poop' i find I suspect that it is cleaning up the neighbor's pet's food dishes.  I HOPE that no one is actively feeding it!

Opossums eat pests, including ticks-- I'd suggest letting your nighttime visitor be! You can put up some mesh around your raised bed to protect it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 18, 2022, 05:42:12 PM
I set the camera up because it was using my backyard as a potty, and I wasnt sure what was leaving me messages and I had evil thoughts that one of my neighbors might have been using the 'over the fence' method of cleaning up after their dogs! 


AS for ticks, we are in a manicured lawn neighborhood.  IF we have ticks, it would be because the opossum transported them!

From the interweb:
"While possums wander around the forest or the outskirts of your own yard, they pick up ticks in their fur along the way, and then they eat them. All of them, well 95% at least. One possum will likely eat up to 5,000 ticks a season."

So I will risk a few extra ticks in the yard to not have possum poop in the yard, and have one eat my crops!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on April 21, 2022, 06:48:33 AM
Outdoor lettuce starts survived the cold rain and gales over the weekend and early this week, but no sign of the lettuce and radishes I planted just prior to the bad weather. Fortunately I have 2 trays of lettuce starts indoors that I can move out before long.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 22, 2022, 10:52:55 AM
I finally got out and finished pulling the chickweed and creeping charley from the flower beds around the house yesterday afternoon.  Also cleaned up the herb bed and the mint in the brick planter box (the peppermint wintered just fine, but the chocolate mint next to it died out!). 

ALHS mixed some more of our leftover soil from last year with compost and peat and topped off the three garden boxes. I bought some kale, spinach, and lettuce seed to sow before it rains on Sunday.  It's nice that it's faired up enough to do some things outside!

With foot surgery coming up and being in a cast/boot for a few months, I'm trying to keep it simple this year:  I have quite a few perennials around the house and in separate beds, so after thinning and splitting some of those to fill in, I probably won't do much more than a few boxes of petunias and cockscombs, plus maybe mixed coleus in my fake whiskey barrels on the shady front porch. For the garden, after the leafy things (that I hope get time to make before the heat turns on!), I'm planning on a zucchini, yellow squash, 3-4 tomato plants, a few red & orange pepper plants, and maybe a hill of small cantaloupe and another of icebox watermelon.  Also some basil and a few other herbs to fill in, and garlic for the fall.

That still sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it?  We'll see.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 22, 2022, 11:05:53 AM
Just got back from a week away. The cat/house sitter successfully kept all my plant starts alive. The peas that were just sprouting when I left are already 3-4" tall and really need to be planted out. I also need to pot up some of the tomatoes from their starter trays to 4" pots. And I need to start the next round of seedlings: basil, cucumbers, zucchini, and more flowers.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Juvenal on April 23, 2022, 11:29:20 AM
Today, noted at my library (there for matters of no bookish import) that there was a shelf of shoe-box size containers with small brown envelopes inside, each box labeled with the name of a veg or a flower, each small envelope with some seeds rattling inside, each with cultivation direction.  It explicitly said, "Take some."  Well!

I no longer garden (much; at all?) but I do have some terra-cotta pots that stayed empty last summer, formerly set out by the front steps.  So, I said to self, "You have a bin of very well-aged compost, so why not fill a couple-three pots, seed 'em, and set 'em out for possible salad greens?"

The front exposure is only moderately sunny, but I thought that lettuce might be suitable.  So, I took two packets of "Mesclun mix" and will see what comes of them, guessing that foliage is easier to mature and harvest and to manage than fruit when the light is only "moderate."  Also a packet of basil, but I think it needs more sun than it'll get.

But who can argue with free?  Save the time for set-up and the hovering over the seedlings...  And then I realized I eat nearly no salad at all.  Carbs, yes, but potatoes are hard to raise in a stoop-side pot.


Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on April 23, 2022, 01:41:46 PM
Happy growing!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 23, 2022, 04:39:49 PM
I put some tomatoes and peppers in the ground- in my FRONT YARD! Gasp! What will the neighbors say? :D
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 23, 2022, 04:57:30 PM
The danger is not what the neighbors think, but tomato pirates!  Someone may see the 'vegetables of your labor' and help themselves! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on April 23, 2022, 06:06:08 PM
Quote from: Juvenal link=topic=166.msg103459#msg103459
  Carbs, yes, but potatoes are hard to raise in a stoop-side pot.
/font][/size]

Gardeners World (BBC, on Prime) uses relatively small containers for potatoes. They get a surprising yield; might be worth taking a look.  Then the lettuce could be decorative if you decide to remain a non-salad eater
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 23, 2022, 06:42:34 PM
Quote from: clean on April 23, 2022, 04:57:30 PM
The danger is not what the neighbors think, but tomato pirates!  Someone may see the 'vegetables of your labor' and help themselves!

Good point. They haven't gotten my blueberries yet (they're also in front). I plan to camouflage them behind some flowering plants.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 24, 2022, 10:02:19 AM
Sowed the kale, spinach, and "tennis ball" lettuce (a new variety for me--hope it makes!) this morning, before rain and storms make their way in.  All are late because of the wet, cold spring, so I hope they make before the heat gets them.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 28, 2022, 09:05:50 AM
lots of wind.  My corn might not have been planted correctly.  I used some starter thing and transplanted them, but I may not have planted the base deep enough and many fell over in the wind.  It does not look like those survived, though I tried to put more potting soil around them.   I have some more seeds and may just replant some seeds.

It looks like my carrots have started up, but they are not growing very fast.  but neither is the okra.  they are up, but I expected okra would bolt up quickly! 

On the positive front 1 tomato plant (bought from lowes) is very healthy and the cage may not be big enough!  If the bees visit, i should have some 'maters as there are plenty of blooms.  I have one other that it in great shape and one that is not progressing quickly.

The eggplant transplants dont seem to be going as well as I thought, but the squash looks like it is about ready to set blossoms. 

I planted some beans (blue lake) just a few days ago and those are up.

No sight from the shallots yet. 

Im having fun with my two 4x8 beds! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on April 28, 2022, 09:08:41 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 23, 2022, 04:39:49 PM
I put some tomatoes and peppers in the ground- in my FRONT YARD! Gasp! What will the neighbors say? :D

I can't seem to rehabilitate some dead patches in my front yard, and I'm tempted to plant some tomato plants.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 28, 2022, 09:19:12 AM
Quote from: lightning on April 28, 2022, 09:08:41 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 23, 2022, 04:39:49 PM
I put some tomatoes and peppers in the ground- in my FRONT YARD! Gasp! What will the neighbors say? :D

I can't seem to rehabilitate some dead patches in my front yard, and I'm tempted to plant some tomato plants.

Go for it!
My motto is "less grass, more food", which I think slightly alarmed my older lawn ranger neighbor, but he's come around given the steady supply of veggies I give him and his wife in the summer!

Pea starts went outside last weekend and are doing well-- I need to add string to their trellis though I think, as some are not finding a nearby place to grab on and are instead wrapping around each other.

We are still about a month out from being able to plant out tender annuals here. My plant starting table in my enclosed porch is at full capacity. Tomato, zinnia and nasturtium seedlings are now in 4" pots and growing well. I succeeded in getting some peppers to sprout with a heat mat but they are still small-- we'll see how those do. Started 4 varieties of basil, cucumbers and zuchs last weekend, nothing up yet.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: downer on April 29, 2022, 03:59:47 PM
I planted parsley last year outisde, and it survived the winter, which was a surprise.

There is some kind of invasive weed that sprung up very quickly, in the last week or so. Spent 20 mins pulling it up, but that may be a lifelong battle now, or at least as long as I have this place. It has long roots that tend to remain in the ground when pulling on it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 29, 2022, 06:34:48 PM
My beans sprouted.  Yesterday some were still poking out of the ground.  Today they have 4 leaves and are 2 inches high!

However, I think that some bird is sampling Bean Sprouts!  There is a corn shoot plucked out and a bean sprout 'ripped from the bed!'

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on April 30, 2022, 11:12:37 AM
Do you have starlings, Clean?  Those are the bully birds who pluck things out of the garden here.

Let's see; since last report:
--planted 4 tomatoes and 4 sweet pepper plants
--planted squash seeds: 2 hills of zucchini and 2 hills of yellow summer
--planted 3 hills of bush cucumber seeds (anyone had these before? Do they produce? I've never done the bush variety)
--filled one planter with white petunias and purple salvia
--filled two barrel planters on the front porch with red diplidenia and white impatients
--sowed dill seed and parsley seed in herb bed

The kale is coming up already! The tomatoes and peppers have perked up and actually grown since I set them out, with a couple of warm days and off and on showers.

Still to do:  I have white geraniums and red begonias to put into hanging baskets for the front porch; a couple of clearanced perennials from Lowes to set into the front beds; and when my raised bed gets here Monday, we'll fill it and put in a couple of clearanced braided hibiscus and divide my cannas and put some in there.  ALHS is making the rounds this morning to pick up a couple of big echinacea ($4 for each huge plant); I'm also waiting to hear back from FB Marketplace about some elephant ear bulbs, a couple of black eyed Susans; and some various pots. 

My next obsession seems to be houseplants.  I used to have a jungle of houseplants when I was in college, all the way through the time the girls were born; then I kind of got out of them, for various reasons.  All of a sudden I've decided I need to replenish the jungle. So that's the project for the summer---more houseplants!

I've always been the one to scrounge the clearance/half-dead/50-cent racks at WalMart and the hardware stores for the puniest plants.  If they've got any sign of green to them, I've always been able to bring them back, so it's sort of a scavenger hunt for me!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 30, 2022, 12:36:34 PM
Something mysterious has popped up, along with what I think is corn, empress kale, and lavender.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on April 30, 2022, 01:26:54 PM
Giant moss and ferns, in honor of your most saurian self?

;--}

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 30, 2022, 01:43:36 PM
Quote from: mamselle on April 30, 2022, 01:26:54 PM
Giant moss and ferns, in honor of your most saurian self?

;--}

M.

There's certainly no shortage of them around, so it's entirely possible they've decided to colonize the back garden!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on April 30, 2022, 01:47:36 PM
Im not sure what is raiding my garden, but today, the top leaves of my cantaloupe were plucked.  They stalk is all that remains!

Ive just planted 4 more seeds inside to get them started, where I can keep an eye on them!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on April 30, 2022, 02:57:03 PM
Today I planted arugula, spinach and some other greens in the garden. The kale and lettuce I planted earlier have come up, and the peas are starting to climb their trellis. There are lots of tiny seedlings in the flower beds where I liberally spread a bulk wildflower mix, so I'm hoping at least a significant portion of those are flowers and not weeds.
In the inside nursery, cucumbers, basil and cosmos have started sprouting, and the tomatoes and other earlier starts are coming along nicely.

I also mowed the grass for the first time this season.

Quote from: clean on April 30, 2022, 01:47:36 PM
Im not sure what is raiding my garden, but today, the top leaves of my cantaloupe were plucked.  They stalk is all that remains!

Ive just planted 4 more seeds inside to get them started, where I can keep an eye on them!

Sounds like you need some netting, or wire over your beds!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on May 02, 2022, 09:30:18 PM
This is a really dumb question, but I'm getting desperate.

I can't seem to rehab the bare spots in my lawn, which are mostly near the street. Puget suggested growing food like tomatoes. But, what if I go buy some (a bunch of) fully grown tulips and just plant them into the bare spots? I think rows of tulips between the sidewalk and the street would look kind of cool.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: bacardiandlime on May 03, 2022, 04:12:56 AM
Are the bare spots bare because local dogs pee on them and kill the grass?
Tulips are lovely, but they only look good for ca.3 months of the year. Could you put small evergreen shrubs?

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 03, 2022, 07:13:15 AM
Quote from: lightning on May 02, 2022, 09:30:18 PM
This is a really dumb question, but I'm getting desperate.

I can't seem to rehab the bare spots in my lawn, which are mostly near the street. Puget suggested growing food like tomatoes. But, what if I go buy some (a bunch of) fully grown tulips and just plant them into the bare spots? I think rows of tulips between the sidewalk and the street would look kind of cool.

This is the strip between the sidewalk and street? If so the grass is probably being killed by dog pee and/or winter salt (if you are someplace that is used). You may need to dig out the soil and replace with fresh soil, or whatever you plant there may likewise fail.

Also, most places the homeowner doesn't actually own that strip, the city does. It's sort of an interesting arrangement because, at least by social agreement, homeowners are expected to maintain it. But there may be rules about what you can plant there, so check first.

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 03, 2022, 08:36:39 AM
Moss might work, too.

It likes acidic soil, even that which the dogs have so bountifully irrigated.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 03, 2022, 08:58:42 AM
QuoteThis is a really dumb question, but I'm getting desperate.

I can't seem to rehab the bare spots in my lawn, which are mostly near the street. Puget suggested growing food like tomatoes. But, what if I go buy some (a bunch of) fully grown tulips and just plant them into the bare spots? I think rows of tulips between the sidewalk and the street would look kind of cool.


I have had issues at the 2 houses that I have owned where there were large areas where there were problems.

In the first case, I had a large area in the back where there was no topsoil so really nothing was growing. I bought several bags of top soil and miracle grow potting mix and mixed them in a wheel barrow.  I then put down a few inches of it down and then used a mix of grass seeds and grass runners I collected when I edged, or when neighbors edged. (Runners sometimes already have roots and are eager to grow!).  Water regularly and soon, you will have a full area of good grass.

At this house, my grass was eaten by bugs, and the clay was just too hard, so I bought top soil and sod.  Spread a few inches of top soil down, wet, and then put the sod down, and water every day for about 2 weeks. 


The bottom line is that if nothing is growing in an area, then the soil is not conducive.  Replace the soil. You dont have to go deep as the grass wont need a lot of depth

I hope that this helps! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 03, 2022, 09:18:25 AM
one tiny green tomato (maybe a single cherry tomato?  time will tell!

Squash have a lot of blooms and a single eggplant is in bloom! 

I will need to leave the raised garden beds for about 8 days soon, so I am trying to get the soil wet enough to sustain the garden as I m sure that there wont be sufficient rain while gone.  Hopefully the increased moisture in the ramp up period will not upset the plants! 

I may need to aim a game camera at the garden to see if/what may be stomping some of the plants (or plucking the seedlings, just to leave their plucked corpses to sit there! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 03, 2022, 09:23:33 AM
Can you pay a reliable teenager to come in and soak the beds a couple of times while you're away?

I used to do that when a kid...it was kinda fun.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 03, 2022, 09:25:14 AM
Quote from: clean on May 03, 2022, 09:18:25 AM
one tiny green tomato (maybe a single cherry tomato?  time will tell!

Squash have a lot of blooms and a single eggplant is in bloom! 

I will need to leave the raised garden beds for about 8 days soon, so I am trying to get the soil wet enough to sustain the garden as I m sure that there wont be sufficient rain while gone.  Hopefully the increased moisture in the ramp up period will not upset the plants! 

I may need to aim a game camera at the garden to see if/what may be stomping some of the plants (or plucking the seedlings, just to leave their plucked corpses to sit there!

Set up a soaker hose on a timer. Your plants are unlikely to survive 8 days without watering even if you soak them beforehand (which may indeed cause problems-- plants generally do not like soggy soil).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 03, 2022, 09:26:14 AM
+1^

That (the 8 days thing) was behind my idea as well.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on May 04, 2022, 10:11:48 PM
Quote from: Puget on May 03, 2022, 07:13:15 AM
Quote from: lightning on May 02, 2022, 09:30:18 PM
This is a really dumb question, but I'm getting desperate.

I can't seem to rehab the bare spots in my lawn, which are mostly near the street. Puget suggested growing food like tomatoes. But, what if I go buy some (a bunch of) fully grown tulips and just plant them into the bare spots? I think rows of tulips between the sidewalk and the street would look kind of cool.

This is the strip between the sidewalk and street? If so the grass is probably being killed by dog pee and/or winter salt (if you are someplace that is used). You may need to dig out the soil and replace with fresh soil, or whatever you plant there may likewise fail.

Also, most places the homeowner doesn't actually own that strip, the city does. It's sort of an interesting arrangement because, at least by social agreement, homeowners are expected to maintain it. But there may be rules about what you can plant there, so check first.




Quote from: bacardiandlime on May 03, 2022, 04:12:56 AM
Are the bare spots bare because local dogs pee on them and kill the grass?
Tulips are lovely, but they only look good for ca.3 months of the year. Could you put small evergreen shrubs?



I honestly have no idea if dogs and/or salt are killing off the grass in between the sidewalk and the street.

I used to have a nice full bed of grass covering that entire area, but in the last couple of years, it has simply deteriorated.

I'm abandoning the tulips idea. (I got the tulips idea because I have tulips surrounding my mailbox, which is also on the part of the strip of grass between the street and sidewalk, but on the other side of my driveway.)

Thanks for the tips! I think I may try clean's idea of laying down some topsoil.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 04, 2022, 11:32:01 PM
You may also want to treat your yard for grubs.  In SC I used Milky Spore to treat the grubs of the Japanese Beetle. 

We have (I think) june bugs here, and I have to treat every few years.  My neighbor didnt treat, and they ate all their grass and all of mine on that side of the drive way. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Aster on May 05, 2022, 04:30:55 AM
I won a bid on eBay for some difficult-to-acquire star anise seeds.

But none of the seeds sprouted. Boo.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on May 05, 2022, 06:01:55 AM
They didn't make the ontological connection with your forum name, apparently....

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 05, 2022, 06:39:04 AM

I traded extra tomato seedlings with a neighbor for some hostas to put in a shady corner, via a Nextdoor gardening group (yes, the site is filled with people who think rabid coyotes will eat their dog/toddler, but it is good for stuff like that). I also bought some more herbs however, and started a few more pots of seedlings, which have taken over the real-estate freed up by giving away the extra tomatoes, so my grow table is still completely packed!

All the seedlings I planted are growing well. About 10 days until the tomatoes can go in the ground, so time to start hardening them off.

Quote from: clean on May 04, 2022, 11:32:01 PM
You may also want to treat your yard for grubs.  In SC I used Milky Spore to treat the grubs of the Japanese Beetle. 

We have (I think) june bugs here, and I have to treat every few years.  My neighbor didnt treat, and they ate all their grass and all of mine on that side of the drive way.

I've used milky spore as well and it seems to really help with the Japanese Beetle infestation. Worth doing even though the stuff is pretty expensive--The grubs will eat your grass roots and the beetles will eat your garden.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 09, 2022, 02:59:57 PM
How does it look? 
Yesterday it looked great!  It must have looked very appetizing to the opossum that ate the middle part of my squash plant!  It ate all of the current blossoms and the squash that were just starting!

I have a game camera showing the guilty party, but not the actual munching! 

I am hosting a job candidate today, so I wont be able to deal with it tonight.  But TOMORROW !!!  I will get the live trap out and make sure that I know how to use it!

Once I practice on the opossum, I will reset for the cat that thinks my garden is a really nice cat box! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on May 09, 2022, 06:56:25 PM
All my flower beds have been cleaned up!!!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 10, 2022, 07:54:53 AM
At 9 or so this morning, I was watering the garden, and assessing the opossum damage.  My biggest tomato plant continues to put on lots and lots of blooms, but I dont see any evidence of anything setting. I also have not seen one bee once. 

As I was watering everything, what do I see, bold as brass?  but that damn opossum walking the top of my fence!!  I squirted it with water and it changed course and went to a neighbor's yard.  From what I can tell, this neighbor has not done anything in his back yard. there are weeds growing as high as the fence and a nasty tree is springing up all over.  That is the yard the wet opossum retreated to. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 10, 2022, 10:23:23 AM
Quote from: clean on May 10, 2022, 07:54:53 AM
My biggest tomato plant continues to put on lots and lots of blooms, but I dont see any evidence of anything setting. I also have not seen one bee once. 


You can use a small paintbrush to be a bee. Planting flowers near your tomatoes also helps attract pollinators.
Tomatoes will also only set fruit between about 60-90 degrees, so if has been too hot or too cool that may be why.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 10, 2022, 10:55:55 AM
Quote from: clean on May 10, 2022, 07:54:53 AM
At 9 or so this morning, I was watering the garden, and assessing the opossum damage.  My biggest tomato plant continues to put on lots and lots of blooms, but I dont see any evidence of anything setting. I also have not seen one bee once. 

As I was watering everything, what do I see, bold as brass?  but that damn opossum walking the top of my fence!!  I squirted it with water and it changed course and went to a neighbor's yard.  From what I can tell, this neighbor has not done anything in his back yard. there are weeds growing as high as the fence and a nasty tree is springing up all over.  That is the yard the wet opossum retreated to.

Opossums eat/kill a lot of deer ticks, which can be found in tall grass and woody areas. It probably eats/kills most when grooming, but I bet the yard is a good hiding place for it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 10, 2022, 12:06:51 PM
Quote
QuoteYou can use a small paintbrush to be a bee. Planting flowers near your tomatoes also helps attract pollinators.
Tomatoes will also only set fruit between about 60-90 degrees, so if has been too hot or too cool that may be why.

I dont know if my wife would like it if i were helping with tomato sex!  she doesnt really even like tomatoes!
I had heard about using a feather to pollinate.  However, as you point out it has been warm the last few days for sure!

I wanted to add a bee hive in the back yard, but my bride insists that there can only be one queen on the property

Quote
Opossums eat/kill a lot of deer ticks, which can be found in tall grass and woody areas. It probably eats/kills most when grooming, but I bet the yard is a good hiding place for it.

to save my garden, i will risk the ticks! 
I doubt that we have many in this developed neighborhood! Probably the only source of ticks in the first place is the opossum!  There arent many other wild critters (other than birds) that are in the back yard. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 10, 2022, 12:23:32 PM
I could sit on the patio and watch the kale grow (or it seems like it....)

The tomatoes are blooming, and the zucchini, yellow squash, and cukes are all coming up, as are the lettuce and spinach.  It's finally warmed up/hot this week (low 90s), so a nice change from the cool wet weather of recent weeks.

The peonies are just loaded with buds this year.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 14, 2022, 08:09:13 AM
Ate the kale after clearing it out of the raised bed to make room for peppers.  Weather has been too unreliable at night to plant the tomatoes.  Looking like Memorial Day may be plant out, one of my latest starts ever.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 14, 2022, 08:38:05 AM
It went from cool to very hot (may hit 90 today!) all at once. After Monday it returns to more seasonable 70s, but I didn't think my starts would survive the enclosed porch greenhouse-turned-sauna until then, so even though hot is not ideal for transplanting I planted most things out yesterday with a few more to go today. I'm transplanting only in the AM and evening, when it is a bit cooler, and giving lots of water. So far everything seems happy (especially the cucumbers, which I swear have grown visibly in 24 hours), with the exception of some greens-- we'll see if they make it.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: sinenomine on May 14, 2022, 08:42:27 AM
My perennial flower garden is starting to fill out, and I'm chasing down weeds every couple days. Since I'll be housesitting all summer and half of autumn, I got artificial hanging plants rather than annuals, much to the frustration of hummingbirds that keep checking them. The couple I'm housesitting for have put in red lettuce and elephant kale for me, and I look forward to harvesting their blueberry bushes.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 14, 2022, 01:37:34 PM
I have several herbs, tomatoes and bell peppers planted outside that are doing well, but I'm stuck on the couch with the heating pad (tried ice) because I did something to my back. :(

I want to go outside and PLAY, but SO said I need to rest my back.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 14, 2022, 02:16:53 PM
Having hurt my back, and taken several forms of pharmaceuticals, I can tell you that 2 allieve are as good as 1/2 a 5mg hydrocodone  and wont make you hung over/stupid. 

also heating pads work better for me than ice, and a hot shower with a massage head shower on the spot helps too. 

However, just because the pain is gone doesnt mean that the injury is healed and you can do what a teen could do! 

(the 'it's Hell getting old' reminder). 

Best, IF your hubby is telling you to relax, you should listen!!  (Especially IF he is willing to do a bunch of housework, or anything that qualifies as pampering!)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 14, 2022, 02:34:09 PM
Quote from: clean on May 14, 2022, 02:16:53 PM
Having hurt my back, and taken several forms of pharmaceuticals, I can tell you that 2 allieve are as good as 1/2 a 5mg hydrocodone  and wont make you hung over/stupid. 

also heating pads work better for me than ice, and a hot shower with a massage head shower on the spot helps too. 

However, just because the pain is gone doesnt mean that the injury is healed and you can do what a teen could do! 

(the 'it's Hell getting old' reminder). 

Best, IF your hubby is telling you to relax, you should listen!!  (Especially IF he is willing to do a bunch of housework, or anything that qualifies as pampering!)

:)

Yep. I'm 'taking it easy' for now.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 14, 2022, 08:22:21 PM
Lots of corn is ouy now, along with... cabbage? Cauliflower? And some new kale. The old kale is enormous and flowering and will need to have many leaves eaten soon.

More raspberries have popped up in the planters.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 15, 2022, 06:02:22 AM
I don't know if I mentioned this and I don't feel like looking, but does anyone save seed?

Just curious.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 15, 2022, 06:14:46 AM
Given the price of seeds, I can sure see the incentive!! 

A coworker gave me some cantaloupe seeds from a 1920 heirloom  strain.  My grandfather used to save mustard seeds.  (green leafy plant).  He didnt have a large plot and collected nearly 3/4 of a quart size mason jar.  Given that some see packages are over $2 for a table spoon, a few veggies worth of seeds can save a fortune!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 15, 2022, 06:42:14 AM
Quote from: clean on May 15, 2022, 06:14:46 AM
Given the price of seeds, I can sure see the incentive!! 

A coworker gave me some cantaloupe seeds from a 1920 heirloom  strain.  My grandfather used to save mustard seeds.  (green leafy plant).  He didnt have a large plot and collected nearly 3/4 of a quart size mason jar.  Given that some see packages are over $2 for a table spoon, a few veggies worth of seeds can save a fortune!

Yes, it's fairly simple to collect mustard, broccoli, collard and kale seeds. We have a bunch of plants that have bolted and now we're just waiting for the pods to be large enough to harvest and dry. There are also some turnips and radish seeds in the garden. I can't say that I have saved lettuce or carrot seeds, since they are so tiny, but I have saved seeds from most other plants. :)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 15, 2022, 07:02:50 AM
Quote from: clean on May 15, 2022, 06:14:46 AM
Given that some see packages are over $2 for a table spoon, a few veggies worth of seeds can save a fortune!

I was astonished to discover that here, they're now selling at $7+. I'll be doing what I can to save seeds from this year's planting.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 22, 2022, 10:38:36 AM
I have officially declared war on the squirrels who are eating my UNRIPE blueberries. Grr.... I guess I need to net/fence them in now. What a pain in the ass.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 27, 2022, 07:05:09 PM
A solo cherry tomato is already turning blush, and should be red in another day I think!

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 29, 2022, 08:16:05 PM
will finally start hardening off the seedlings that have been indoors tomorrow. I've got a variety of dwarf plants that usually do well and grow quickly; this is the latest I've ever planted, so fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 30, 2022, 06:45:57 AM
Lots of veggies started blooming this week-- tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, peas. Lots of green strawberries. Raspberries are putting out lots of new canes but not blooming yet.  Everything looks healthy and is growing well, so I'm pleased.

In the non-edible beds, the irises are blooming in profusion and the first roses have opened. Zinnias and something from the wildflower mix I'm not sure of (black eyed Susan perhaps?) have buds.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 30, 2022, 10:31:26 AM
While watering my plants yesterday, I noted that I have some okra!  I saw a few blooms, but later noted that some must have bloomed while I was away!  I m going to see if I get enough to eat today! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on June 01, 2022, 07:18:37 AM
I picked my first full (medium really) tomato. I think I remember it is a Roma tomato. It might have used one more day, but it was starting to look like it was developing a split and I think that I saw some birds eyeing it! 

On the bad news front, I have been battling mushrooms in one of my beds and today I found them in the other one too!
Other than use a trowel to dig them out, I dont really know what to do. I spend several minutes a day circling the bed while sitting on my chair, parsing the leaves to open the soil to see if there are any of them.  It seems that they can sprout and spread over night! 

I got a shot yesterday so I didnt go out to check yesterday and this morning there were big clumps of tiny mushrooms!

I first noticed them on a bean plant. The seed 'got stuck'.  The base protruded from the ground but the leaves didnt make it and it died before the bean could break through the soil.  Then it was covered with mushrooms.  Since them, I have been going through with my trowel trying to dig them out where ever I find them. 

I dont know if they were on the defective bean seed or if they were part of the soil mixture.  The mix has a large percentage of mulch in it and I realized after I spread it out that it wasnt exactly the correct type for raised beds, but should ahve been mixed directly wiith the soil, but after i had it in the box, I wasnt going to worry about it! 

Any ideas about what to do other than dig them out?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on June 01, 2022, 07:27:14 AM
Mushrooms grow from an underground mycelium, a long, spreading trail of proto-mushroom stuff that is hard to eradicate because once started, it goes everywhere, like thready fingers, in all directions.

That said, I don't know what you do about them.

It might make sense to take a few of them, plus a baggie of the soil you found them in, with you to your local plant store and ask their expert what kind they are and what about your soil might be encouraging them (I think they're very species- and soil-type specific).

They might be able to help you with whatever you have, if it's a well-known regional issue. Maybe a simple soil additive of something they don't like that still doesn't hurt your plants is my thought, but again, that's expert territory.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on July 15, 2022, 02:37:06 PM
some of my malformed corn cobs have developed "Mexican Truffles" or Corn Smut

"Huitlacoche is a Latin American delicacy that grows on corn plants. Pronounced whee-tla-KOH-cheh, it can also be found under the aliases corn truffle, corn smut and Mexican truffle"

But I have no desire to play with it, so I will just pull those plants, hopefully before they spore.

Any other Smut Growers reporting?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on July 15, 2022, 03:05:52 PM
Quote from: clean on July 15, 2022, 02:37:06 PM
some of my malformed corn cobs have developed "Mexican Truffles" or Corn Smut

"Huitlacoche is a Latin American delicacy that grows on corn plants. Pronounced whee-tla-KOH-cheh, it can also be found under the aliases corn truffle, corn smut and Mexican truffle"

But I have no desire to play with it, so I will just pull those plants, hopefully before they spore.

Any other Smut Growers reporting?

Where's you're sense of adventure? Eat your smut!

In full summer veggie swing here. Last night had the a classic (for my family) summer meal, aka "stuff on a plate":  cucumbers and tomatoes with mayo for dip (normally don't like mayo but do for this), green beans seared very hot with garlic in sesame oil, corn on the cob (the only non-garden veggie-- that was from the CSA), with some good bread (also from the CSA) and cheese on the side. May well have the same tonight.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 15, 2022, 03:56:10 PM
We've had corn smut in the past. Boy, that sounds kind of dirty. :D I love telling students about it, they tend to look at me quizzically and probably think, 'What the hell is this person talking about?'
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 16, 2022, 06:24:06 AM
The kale has seeded, the raspberries are out in force, the corn is getting tall, the cabbages (and cauliflower?) are huge, and the onions died. Some potatoes appear to have been edged out by new raspberry plants.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on July 16, 2022, 06:38:46 AM
In Ohio, the jingle used to be,

    Knee-high by the Fourth of July,
    Or the frost'll get it in August.

We had a backyard garden and between myself and my youngest brother, grew different varieties of corn. He kept it going for several years, and liked growing multi-colored ears (then called, "Indian corn," I'd have to look up a better name for it now) because they did well in the sometimes oppressive late-summer heat.

He also did kale, kolarabi, and tomatoes, I  think. Probably got a salad or two out of it, in any case.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on July 17, 2022, 10:20:46 AM
As I survey my kingdom today I notice 11 okra blooms ! I will harvest some tonight!

My eggplant has flowered before, but not produced.  It is now full of blooms, but I do not seem to have any bees in my neighborhood, at least none that find my garden worthy of visiting.  Tonight, now that My Bride has told me where there are q-tips to be found, I will attempt to Be the BEE.  It may not work, but the flowers are not being (re)productive as it is! 

Plenty of cantaloupe flowers, too, but they may open and close, so I will see what I can see tonight.  I saw something on the FaceTube about male and female flowers, so I will see if I can look up their kilts/skirts and see if they are lads or lasses. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on July 17, 2022, 10:26:15 AM
Quote from: clean on July 17, 2022, 10:20:46 AM
As I survey my kingdom today I notice 11 okra blooms ! I will harvest some tonight!

My eggplant has flowered before, but not produced.  It is now full of blooms, but I do not seem to have any bees in my neighborhood, at least none that find my garden worthy of visiting.  Tonight, now that My Bride has told me where there are q-tips to be found, I will attempt to Be the BEE.  It may not work, but the flowers are not being (re)productive as it is! 

Plenty of cantaloupe flowers, too, but they may open and close, so I will see what I can see tonight.  I saw something on the FaceTube about male and female flowers, so I will see if I can look up their kilts/skirts and see if they are lads or lasses.

Don't look up their skirts - look behind the flower, at the stem.  If it all looks like stem, it's a male flower.  If there's a mini-fruit between the stem and the petals, it's a female flower.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on July 17, 2022, 03:17:45 PM
I planted the garden (a reduced version) a month late this year, so the tomatoes are green but looking good except for some yellow leaves, which always make me nervous. The lettuce has been a steady producer; I covered it with shade cloth and it has not bolted. Peppers coming along, parsley  and basil doing well. Beans just now blooming. My 16-year-old sage is, as usual, a shrub.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 17, 2022, 07:20:09 PM
A 16 year old sage plant?- That's impressive!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 18, 2022, 08:48:51 AM
Collecting kale seeds this morning.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on July 27, 2022, 09:12:12 AM
Maybe 16 feet of okra (8 feet of one variety and 8 feet of another)  is too much to plant!  I wasnt able to pick on Monday, and I picked a pot full on Tuesday.  I had just put Sunday's harvest on to cook and now I have another pot full!  At present, im the only one to eat them!  My inlaws are away, My Bride is house sitting (while she continues to test positive for Covid!)  I tried to give some away on Sunday, but no one was at the office!  (One in particular, who I think would have liked it, and is usually there every day! wasnt there, at least when I was). 

Even now, as i look out the window there are nearly 20 blooms open! 
Im glad that I like it, but as I m the one cooking it and eating it, Im not able to finish one pot before I have to cook another!  I now have 2 (maybe 3) bowls of leftover okra in the fridge which I will have to throw away (and I hate to do that!) 

Anyway, that is my success story!  I have blossoms on eggplant and cantaloupe, but no bees.  I have only seen 2 bees since April.  I will hand polinate the eggplant if I get enough blossoms open at the same time.  I missed my window to do it last week. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 27, 2022, 09:27:51 AM
I collected all the kale seeds. They filled two enormous boxes.

Now the new kale I planted has a better shot at growing. The corn is huge and already silking, the cabbages are enormous. The chives are monstrous.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on July 27, 2022, 09:45:49 AM
Quote from: clean on July 27, 2022, 09:12:12 AM
Maybe 16 feet of okra (8 feet of one variety and 8 feet of another)  is too much to plant!  I wasnt able to pick on Monday, and I picked a pot full on Tuesday.  I had just put Sunday's harvest on to cook and now I have another pot full!  At present, im the only one to eat them!  My inlaws are away, My Bride is house sitting (while she continues to test positive for Covid!)  I tried to give some away on Sunday, but no one was at the office!  (One in particular, who I think would have liked it, and is usually there every day! wasnt there, at least when I was). 

Even now, as i look out the window there are nearly 20 blooms open! 
Im glad that I like it, but as I m the one cooking it and eating it, Im not able to finish one pot before I have to cook another!  I now have 2 (maybe 3) bowls of leftover okra in the fridge which I will have to throw away (and I hate to do that!) 

Anyway, that is my success story!  I have blossoms on eggplant and cantaloupe, but no bees.  I have only seen 2 bees since April.  I will hand polinate the eggplant if I get enough blossoms open at the same time.  I missed my window to do it last week.

Can you freeze it, either before or after cooking? If you get some small-to-medium lidded plastic tubs that are single-portion size, you might be able to enjoy it even after the season ends, and the glut wouldn't go to waste...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on July 27, 2022, 11:39:10 AM
I will have to see if okra can be frozen

Most of what I remember seeing in the freezer section is cut and breaded waiting to be fried.  (Im not really supposed to eat it fried, as I ate too many fried foods, cakes and candy, so I used up my life quota). 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on July 27, 2022, 12:06:40 PM
You might be able to dry-roast it instead of frying, or do a very light olive oil/other veg. oil coating and then bake it.

But yeah, if pre-cooked okra can be frozen in other ways, it should be able to be frozen at some point overall.

I know the feeling of using up one's life quota of favorite foods.

I just briefly recall the taste and remember to be grateful that I was able to enjoy it for as long as I did, and/or focus on the good tastes of the things I enjoy now (some of which I wouldn't have tried if it hadn't become necessary.)

We are superfluously gifted.

M. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: poiuy on July 27, 2022, 11:33:37 PM
Can you share / distribute to neighbors, friends, or others in your community?
If I were your IRL neighbour I would love to receive some.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on July 28, 2022, 08:59:07 AM
Slice okra very thinly & fry until crisp in a tiny amount of olive oil.  While still quite hot, salt lightly, add a scant spoonful of lemon juice, toss to coat, & eat.

It is also good pickled - use your favorite recipe(s).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 28, 2022, 10:08:34 AM
Dehydrate okra and use it in soups/stews. Some people I know have cooked okra in an air fryer and claimed that it tasted good.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on July 28, 2022, 03:59:44 PM
The tomato I ve been spoiling for a week or more has been picked.  However, not by me!  It seems that the birds thought that it was ready and IF I wasnt going to eat it THEY WOULD! 

I was so close to picking it yesterday, but i figured it needed just one more day!  IT seems I was right!  The birds agreed.  One more day was all it needed!!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on July 28, 2022, 05:51:02 PM
Quote from: clean on July 28, 2022, 03:59:44 PM
The tomato I ve been spoiling for a week or more has been picked.  However, not by me!  It seems that the birds thought that it was ready and IF I wasnt going to eat it THEY WOULD! 

I was so close to picking it yesterday, but i figured it needed just one more day!  IT seems I was right!  The birds agreed.  One more day was all it needed!!

I've decided that some of them ripen really well on the counter out of reach of little beaks or teeth.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on August 01, 2022, 07:58:25 AM
After the atrocious heat and humidity, then last week's torrential rain, the garden is showing the strain:

--I pulled up the zucchini and squash last week (after harvesting and freezing enough for 14 batches of zucchini bread!). They were starting to show mildew, which let the beetles come in, but I got a good harvest.

--A couple of tomato plants will be next:  the vines are dying off, and there are only a couple of green ones left on each plant. The red tomato still looks pretty good and is still producing, and the yellow cherry tomato continues to produce like crazy. For all the crazy weather, the tomatoes have wonderful flavor this year.

--The orange bell pepper plant turned out to be a long, banana-shaped pepper; I harvested a couple yesterday and gave them to Kid #1 with the warning that I don't know if they're hot or sweet.  I also planted a red pepper that's shaped like a Scotch bonnet, but sweet instead of hot.  We'll see!  That one is just loaded with green peppers at the moment.

--The supposedly-bush cucumbers have spread into the neighboring bed.  Some of the leaves are yellowing and/or frying in the heat, but they continue to produce pretty well.

--The lone volunteer cantaloupe vine has gone completely bonkers and is trailing all over between its raised bed and into the flower bed next to it.  I picked four nice cantaloupes over the weekend, and a couple more will be ready this week.

All in all, for a very cool and wet spring that led to late planting, and then extreme heat for most of June and July--not to mention that I haven't been able to do much upkeep at all, post -op--things have done really well. I might try a couple of packs of late-season kale and lettuce, if I get the ambition.

OH--almost forgot:  the herb bed is producing a metric shit-ton of parsley, sage, catnip, chives, rosemary, and dill!  :-)  I need to get a cheap dehydrator to replace the old one I used to have.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 02, 2022, 07:17:21 AM
Doing battle with spotted lantern flies. They have hit my very small grape vine. I killed one but there are many more. If I can get them to jump 3 times I can squish, but the grape vine is surrounded by grass, and its hard to squish on grass. I'm worried that if I get them off the vine they will move to the tomatoes.  For those in parts of the country not affected, these pernicious bugs can devastate crops and are impervious to any chemical treatment. Only squishing works.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 02, 2022, 07:41:54 AM
Nutcracker?

Garlic press?

Good luck...

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on August 22, 2022, 10:20:14 PM
Okra, Okra, Okra!!

I have to pick at least every 3rd day, but I try every other. I have been giving it away to some coworkers, and every now and then eating some myslef! My Bride is in BiG Cancer Hospital City helping her parents, so I get it all to myself, (which is more than I can eat) but coworkers have enjoyed the surplus.  One in particular had a crop failure, so his own output is zero! 

My eggplant are a mystery.  The one that flowers, is growing gangbusters, but the flowers never set!  No bees are visiting, but last week I made each flower that could reach another "kiss" hoping that rubbing the flowers together would do SOMETHING.  So far nothing!

The other eggplant (an Asian variety  I think) is coming along.T hose are longer and skinny.  I may pick one soon! 

In an industrial accident... We had rain.  I have a wheel barrow that I have been too lazy to put back in the garage.  It was to the top full with rain water!  I dipped most of the water out and poured it on my plants.  When it was nearly empty I was backing it up to dump on anohter area, and I backed into (and fell on top of) the dolly (that I was also too lazy to put back in the garage!).
I have lots and lots of bruises.  The most painful is that I essentially fell over onto my back on top of this dolly and one wheel caught me in the kidney. 

If I had hit my head, I would have gone to the ER as I am on a blood thinner. 
I didnt hit my head.  I was however, out of breath, and came inside for my inhaler that I have nearly never used for a few puffs.  I checked my 02 and BP over the next hour and I didnt bleed out!  However when I tried to stand up, I was reminded that someone had beaten my back with a big pipe!

It has been a rough few days, made worse by grading and the start of Fall.  But I should be able to sleep tonight without narcotics. 

So the garden is looking fine.  It may yet be my 'final resting place'. 


But the Okra is like 8 feet tall!!  (at least one variety is!  I planted two kinds).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 23, 2022, 09:20:12 AM
Quote from: clean on August 22, 2022, 10:20:14 PM
Okra, Okra, Okra!!

I have to pick at least every 3rd day, but I try every other. I have been giving it away to some coworkers, and every now and then eating some myslef! My Bride is in BiG Cancer Hospital City helping her parents, so I get it all to myself, (which is more than I can eat) but coworkers have enjoyed the surplus.  One in particular had a crop failure, so his own output is zero! 

My eggplant are a mystery.  The one that flowers, is growing gangbusters, but the flowers never set!  No bees are visiting, but last week I made each flower that could reach another "kiss" hoping that rubbing the flowers together would do SOMETHING.  So far nothing!

The other eggplant (an Asian variety  I think) is coming along.T hose are longer and skinny.  I may pick one soon! 

In an industrial accident... We had rain.  I have a wheel barrow that I have been too lazy to put back in the garage.  It was to the top full with rain water!  I dipped most of the water out and poured it on my plants.  When it was nearly empty I was backing it up to dump on anohter area, and I backed into (and fell on top of) the dolly (that I was also too lazy to put back in the garage!).
I have lots and lots of bruises.  The most painful is that I essentially fell over onto my back on top of this dolly and one wheel caught me in the kidney. 

If I had hit my head, I would have gone to the ER as I am on a blood thinner. 
I didnt hit my head.  I was however, out of breath, and came inside for my inhaler that I have nearly never used for a few puffs.  I checked my 02 and BP over the next hour and I didnt bleed out!  However when I tried to stand up, I was reminded that someone had beaten my back with a big pipe!

It has been a rough few days, made worse by grading and the start of Fall.  But I should be able to sleep tonight without narcotics. 

So the garden is looking fine.  It may yet be my 'final resting place'. 


But the Okra is like 8 feet tall!!  (at least one variety is!  I planted two kinds).


Oh, no! Clean, glad your head was safe and that the okra are prospering.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 23, 2022, 10:33:35 AM
Is okra good for head, and other, wounds?

Hope so....

No, seriously,  get well soon!

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on August 23, 2022, 01:55:08 PM
I can have a slimy quality, so I suppose that it could make a base for a salve.

Today I discovered that my Cantaloupe has been stolen!  By what I have no idea!  It was about soft ball size and in the sweetening stage, and now it is gone!  NO hide or rind can be found! 
I wonder if there are any African Swallows  in my area? ( Monte Python reference).

The game cameras are coming back out!  Something may be on the Dead Or Alive wanted poster pretty soon! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 23, 2022, 02:15:12 PM
Quote from: clean on August 23, 2022, 01:55:08 PM
I can have a slimy quality, so I suppose that it could make a base for a salve.

Today I discovered that my Cantaloupe has been stolen! By what I have no idea!  It was about soft ball size and in the sweetening stage, and now it is gone!  NO hide or rind can be found! 
I wonder if there are any African Swallows  in my area? ( Monte Python reference).

The game cameras are coming back out!  Something may be on the Dead Or Alive wanted poster pretty soon!

Racoon?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on August 23, 2022, 03:20:24 PM
Goodness Clean, you've had more than your fair share of bad luck this summer-- hope you heal up quickly.

Still harvesting lots of tomatoes and cucumbers. The cucumbers are sneaky- I thought I got them all, but spied two more big ones today. I've been sharing with both with neighbors and colleagues, as well as making pickles and dried tomatoes.

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on August 24, 2022, 06:17:22 PM
Made 4 jars of tomato soup.  Yum.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 25, 2022, 07:11:28 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on August 24, 2022, 06:17:22 PM
Made 4 jars of tomato soup.  Yum.

Nice. I still have tomatoes frozen from last year's harvest. Guess I need to do something with them soon.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on August 28, 2022, 03:30:45 PM
Another Cantaloupe 'bit the dust' (well something bit it) but this time it didnt carry it off, but snacked just a few feet from where it was ripening!   

The trap comes out tonight! 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 28, 2022, 04:17:56 PM
Quote from: clean on August 28, 2022, 03:30:45 PM
Another Cantaloupe 'bit the dust' (well something bit it) but this time it didnt carry it off, but snacked just a few feet from where it was ripening!   

The trap comes out tonight!

Let us know what you catch! Opossum? Armadillo? Racoon? Your neighbor?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: mamselle on August 28, 2022, 04:21:33 PM
Squirrels eat a lot of the pears on the neighbor's pear tree.

Or parts of them.

M.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on February 10, 2023, 09:49:33 AM
Anyone starting to itch for garden work yet?
Have you eaten your prior year's canned/frozen surplus?

Any thoughts on what you would like to do this year?

Im thinking of adding a raised bed.  I am considering one just for pollinators .  I seldom saw honey bees.  I did see other bees that Okra attracted. 

I hope to get this year's garden started a bit earlier so that I may be able to get some tomatoes before the heat makes that impractical.

Your garden dreams?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Juvenal on February 10, 2023, 11:18:07 AM
Slinking to the mailbox in my robe today (NYC Metro area) in the near-sixty weather, little after a week since record lows, I saw the first snowdrop of the year, barely up, but up it was.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: lightning on February 10, 2023, 12:12:05 PM
I'm more of a lawn person than a garden person, although I do have a garden. I obsess more about my lawn being perfect, but I allow my garden to be kind of "wild."

For those of you that live in regions that have real winters, how early in the year do you fertilize/over seed your lawns?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on February 10, 2023, 12:23:21 PM
Quote from: clean on February 10, 2023, 09:49:33 AM
Anyone starting to itch for garden work yet?

It's the season for pouring over catalogs and dreaming. Here, I won't start the first seeds (in the mudroom, with a light and heat mat) for another month yet (I have a spreadsheet of all the starting times). But soon I should do an inventory of seeds and figure out what I need to order more of, and what new I might want to try. At a few dollars a packet, new seed varieties are my version of buying a lottery ticket.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Thursday's_Child on February 11, 2023, 07:17:45 AM
It's either about time to plant peas and other cool-season crops - or maybe it's far too late.  Spring has been so shortened by climate change that it's a gamble every year now.

I've been working on getting pruning and compost under control, but am itching to start in on the garden proper after the current rains quit.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 29, 2023, 02:41:03 PM
Anyone planting anything?

We have fava beans, several varieties of pea, carrot, various herbs and early potatoes growing.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 29, 2023, 03:34:38 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 29, 2023, 02:41:03 PM
Anyone planting anything?

We have fava beans, several varieties of pea, carrot, various herbs and early potatoes growing.

I have a spreadsheet of when to plant each thing. I planted tomato and pepper seeds inside last weekend-- they are on a seed sprouting heat mat and hopefully will germinate in another week or so. Planning plant cool-weather seeds outside this weekend-- peas and some greens. The rest of the start-inside seeds will go into pots around April 15th. Everything frost-sensitive can go outside around May 15th, forecast dependent.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 29, 2023, 04:51:52 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 29, 2023, 02:41:03 PM
Anyone planting anything?

We have fava beans, several varieties of pea, carrot, various herbs and early potatoes growing.

Cleared out one of my beds and discovered bonus potatoes. Gonna plant my kale (from last year's seeds) tomorrow.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Kron3007 on April 13, 2023, 02:33:19 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 29, 2023, 04:51:52 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 29, 2023, 02:41:03 PM
Anyone planting anything?

We have fava beans, several varieties of pea, carrot, various herbs and early potatoes growing.

Cleared out one of my beds and discovered bonus potatoes. Gonna plant my kale (from last year's seeds) tomorrow.

Nice,. We found bonus carrots!

I have all my seeds started up in my shop.  Planted some raspberries last weekend (my parents were clearing out an area).  Otherwise, mostly just waiting.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: hmaria1609 on April 13, 2023, 01:13:54 PM
On librarything.com, gardening is the theme of the month. Members can add their favorite gardening book titles to the list.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: the_geneticist on April 13, 2023, 02:31:11 PM
We are harvesting sugar-snap peas, beets, and collards already. 
The carrots and leeks are being a bit slow to get going, but finally getting bigger.
Went to the garden shop and got tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and eggplant seedlings too.
Trying some beans from seeds from an online heirloom seed supplier too.  They all germinated!  We'll see if they make seeds before the heat and/or aphids take them down. 
And I have some volunteer cucurbits - I *think* it's the pumpkin from the compost since the leaves are huge.  Or it could be melons.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 27, 2023, 03:59:12 PM
I excised all of the back garden raspberries and relocated them to the front garden. We'll see what takes.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 20, 2023, 07:52:15 AM
Another year of very late gardening here, due to injury/mobility issues (just like last year) and a cool, wet April and early May.  Oh well, even with the late start, everything worked out OK last year. Hoping the same will happen this year--and I have to remind myself, summer is LONG in this region.

Yesterday:  transplanted/thinned the romaine; set out two pepper plants and two tomatoes; replaced my dead sage and rosemary, and sowed dill, thyme, and basil in the herb bed; and filled in the newest raised flower bed (built last summer but unused) to screen the patio table from the nosy neighbors.  I'd transplanted volunteer sunflowers, some mallows, and cannas thinned from their original stand; yesterday I added upright jewel cockscombs, white vinca, and some bright blue lobelia.  It will be pretty as things grow and come into bloom.

I started repotting houseplants but didn't get far; that's this afternoon's work, along with setting up a new shelf for them on the north side of the house (bright indirect light). 

ALHS tore into our compost pile yesterday afternoon and started shoveling out 12+ years' accumulation. That stuff is pure gold!  He's topped off one of the garden beds and will do the other later today; I'll be using some to fill my hanging baskets and barrel planters, too. After the compost is in place, I'll plant my canteloupe, watermelon, cucumber, yellow squash, and zucchini seeds.  (I was about 2 weeks later in planting them last year and still ended up with more crops than I could use!)

I finally got smart this year and bought a huge box of packing peanuts to fill the bottoms of the big planters.  I'm also mixing water beads into my houseplants' and hanging baskets' soil to help retain water--we'll see if/how well they work!

All that will be left is to pull some weeds and spread the bagged mulch waiting in the driveway.  So, even as late as I've started, I'm actually in pretty good shape in terms of getting everything done!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on May 20, 2023, 09:59:11 AM
I transplanted all my tender veggies last weekend which was our official frost free date, and then had to cover them all Wednesday when there was a frost warning. Oh well, they all made it through fine, and almost certainly that was the last night in the 30s.

I pack a lot into my little yard-- 6 tomatoes, 4 zucchinis (I will likely regret that), 8 cucumbers, 2 eggplants, 4 peppers, peas, beans, lots of different greens, lots of basil (I freeze pesto for the winter), assorted other herbs. Plus in he edible perennial department, I have strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, an apple tree, plus young plumb, bush cherry and blueberry plants that haven't produced yet.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on May 20, 2023, 07:06:20 PM
I am disappointed to report that I have not started my garden this year. It is already too hot for tomatoes. 
Last year I planted some carrot seeds. The package said it would be like 90 days.  Well, they were probably too shaded by the Okra (which was a huge success).  I had one carrot survive the year, and it still alive, and now in bloom. I m thinking that I will try to get some seeds from it!

I had an eggplant that was probably over fertilized last year. It got big, and had a lot of blooms, but for whatever reason (mabye the lack of bees) I never got anything.  Well, we had a big freeze that killed it.  Except it didnt die all the way, so it has resprouted and it has started to bloom.

One of the reasons I didnt get the garden goind was that I went on a cruise (well, 2 actually), so I just havent had the time to deal with the raised beds. 

Last year, I bought my in laws a fig plant.  Eventually, it came back to me.  I knew that it would dry out so much as to kill it while I was away, so I just plucked it out of its pot and stuck it in one of the raised beds.  We have had enough rain that it is getting bigger and looking happy to be out of the pot!  I will need to move it soon, but Im going on Another Cruise! in 10 days.  I plan to plant it where the magnolia tree had been. The magnolia was with the house when I bought it.  Unfortunately, instead of growing, it seemed to shrink every year.  My 'soil' here is primarily clay, so when it is wet, it is slick and slippery and holds water, and when it is dry it is cement hard.  I dont think that the tree liked either sloppy wet roots, or cement clay at the roots.

My plan is to dig out the dead plant, expand the hole, fill it with potting soil of some sort and move the fig into it.  That should get it started.

Once I return from the cruise (2 weeks in Alaska) I am home only about a week, and then I visit my parents for a week.  So I wont be home until July.  That is pretty late to start a garden, BUT, I enjoy it, and I can probably get some more Okra going.  I wont try to plant as many differnt things as I did last year, but the Okra was a success and I liked eating it, and giving away a lot too!

What are you planning to plant this year?  What was most successful for you last year?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: DoohickeyTech on May 20, 2023, 11:22:36 PM
In February I used dimensional lumber to make a grow lights setup with four LED grow lights that turn on and off via wifi smart plug , surrounded by mylar reflective blankets. Later I added a second level with two additional lights. For germination I do the plastic baggie with moist paper towel on which I put the seeds, then I put the seeds on heating mats, optional but it does speed up germination. Then sprouted seedlings go into pots under lights.

Sitting on almost two acres but only growing plants on less than half (but getting more as time passes), last year (the first in the new house) we had a long drought in June so I installed drip irrigation on most plots; almost all seedlings are in the ground by now.

I spent the late fall and early spring tilling/retilling the plots before installing/reinstalling the drip lines. Tiller is a rear-tine tiller that is significantly better than the front-tine tiller I tried first but the welding on the handle recently broke after such feats. Birds like to eat grubs from the soil recently tilled.

Deers are cute, especially one that is quite tame and stays with us to the point of having to chase her away at times. However, I had tree saplings maimed, hosta and lettuce eaten. So I went for 10 ft rebars on which I put 7 ft high plastic netting so this year this worry should go away.

I tested the soil last year and the only problem was nitrogen depletion. Solved with urea for short-term and municipal compost in the long term. pH is 6.8 so that explains the blueberry failure of last year. The lawnmower trailer cart makes moving the compost easier to the plots. There is a confusing array of fertilizers out there, many of them overpriced, unnecessary or potentially harmful to plants. Remember that most of the time it is notrogen that needs added. Balanced fertilizers should have a N-P-K ratio of 3-1-2 and N is the one that leaves the soil the fastest. Don't use others unless you haved determined that your soil has a specific nutrient deficiency. Avoid exotic fertilizers (worm castings, kelp) as too expensive, you can get organic matter cheaper elsewhere. As for fertilizers, look at the label and calculate the amount of actual macronutrient that's in it. If you know where to look, you can find nitrogen under $3.50 per pound. Also keep in mind that some of it is not completely decomposed, so it is unavailable to plants yet (it may require a few more years for that;) if you need it to act fast you need "synthetic" fertilizers. For the long run, to replace what you eat from the garden and to build good soil, organic (including manure and compost) is better.

Spouse also has three raised beds and a cold frame. Arugula and sorrel took over the cold frame in the winter, and I replanted some seedlings. Dill reseeded something fierce, which is good because what I grew this spring I planted in the garden too early and few of them survived. Speaking about herbs, summer savory and basil did well, and so did lemon balm, but which didn't germinate too well. I lost the cumin and chervil after planting, I guess it was too early for them. Caraway is growing nicely now, but germination rate was atrocious. Lost some Russian tarragon, but I am starting another batch and also planted the Mexican kind (which is a relative of marigolds.) Speaking of relatives, I have so much dandelion that I will give its relatives salsify and scorzonera a shot.

Brassicas are doing great and so are lettuces, plus an onslaught of radishes. Almost all peppers, tomatoes and eggplants are in the ground, most cucumbers too (some tomatoes have reseeded but for several reason we stick with seeds.) The popcorn plot is planted and getting ready for the pole beans and cucurbits soon. The sweet corn plot is freshly tilled and will get seeds successively once a week till it fills, so fresh corn will be available over a longer period of time. For the warm season when lettuces and spinach will not do well, I have warm weather "spinach" seedlings: New Zealand spinach, Malabar and Egyptian plus some chenopodium species edible weeds that should do well. Also, okra is growing under the lights, and besides cilantro, I will also have culantro and pipicha. Sunchokes/fartichokes are growing like crazy in their corner but I am also growing epazote to control the potential flatulence aspect. Aside from carrots, rooted parsley and parsnip are doing well. While celery grows well, celeriac doesn't germinate well, luckily I have some that survived the winter, roots are huge. Also, the horseradish is in bloom now. 

I also planted some cereals and cover crops. Rye and wheat grew well except in the front where I saw lots of birds during the winter, they must have eaten the seeds. Alfalfa has failed in the winter, and one plot of hairy vetch didn't have any chance to grow as it was constantly nibbled by deers. Even now the tame-ish deer came for the other plot with vetch, she never touched the crimson clover. The mixed seeds cover crop is tall, with peas, radishes and mustard in flower at the moment.

The squash bug was really bad last year, ended up killing all zucchinis, cucumbers and melons before the season was over. This year I will act once I spot them and I have something (actually several things) ready for them. Thistles and honeysuckle are also annoying and I might be deploying the nuclear option against them this year. Last year we lost virtually all strawberries to weeds, more exactly grass

The strip by the street (well, half of it) will become wildflower patch, after being green from winter rye for the entire cold season. Monarchs are welcome on the milkweed. Chamomile, hyssop, St. John's wort and sweet clover, with an addition of pincushion and Alliums to deter the deers, plus some randoms, should do for now.

Lately I've been experimenting with gibberellic acid to force germination in difficult seeds. But I will do this more next year. Meanwhile, I have learned how to stratify and scarify seeds for the same effect. But I doubt these methods would win the hearts of Chairs, Deans and Provosts.

I enjoy doing this full-time now that I left academia prematurely just when my spouse's career was taking off. I highly doubt if I stayed I would have had the time and money to acquire all these tools (and some more,) let alone affording this mortgage. I do have memories, for example whe she tells me about employees that she frequently disciplines or fires for not doing the work, or staff making spurious complaints to the board, we wonder why are they doing this, and then I remember. I have enough skills left to take care of the maintenance and repair, and I am mainly talking about the tech stuff like AC, plumbing, insulation, wiring maybe. Automating tasks, including irrigation, saves a lot of time and money even. Thinking about going solar, canning and brewing. My soul is much more at ease than the last semester when I taught where students in a particular section largely avoided doing the work, and the chair advised me that they will never need to use algebra so I should go easy on them.   

Next year I will begin growing cold season seedlings outside in winter using milk jugs and such. that way I can start the hardier ones early. Other plans? One neighbor has chicken, another has sheep. Not ready yet to follow in their footsteps.

Peace out.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Harlow2 on May 21, 2023, 05:40:59 AM
While I was away for a bit the new dwarf blackberry plant began to bloom. Usually I raise my own tomatoes, peppers, and cukes from seed, but I'll go shopping this weekend for starts instead.

Congrats to all who are already making progress!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 21, 2023, 07:21:33 AM
Doohickey Tech, you are living my dream!  Good for you!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 21, 2023, 08:17:17 AM
No sign of my corn yet, which is unusual. I may have to plant some new seeds soon. Also no sign of the strawberry or tomato seeds I planted.


I do, however, have a wall of kale from my heirloom seeds from last year, and last year's cabbage and (other) kale is going to seed.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 21, 2023, 08:42:48 AM
At home: I potted up some lemongrass that I was rooting in water yesterday. Ginger is growing pretty well. I have some rando beans in a pot (it'll be a surprise as to what develops). My blueberries are taking their sweet time to grow and some other 'surprise' seeds germinated in one of my compost piles. I thought they were bad, due to the mold, but they proved me wrong!

At work: Students will be building more raised plots for starting their pumpkins, cucumbers and melons. They will also plant a corn field!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: apl68 on May 22, 2023, 07:28:45 AM
Persistent recurring wet conditions have really put a damper, so to speak, on local flower and vegetable gardens.  The local magnolia blossoms have been largely ruined.  I'm afraid that my gardenias may be next.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on May 22, 2023, 08:55:25 AM
Yesterday afternoon was spent with ALHS emptying more compost from the bin in to the final raised bed, then bringing some around for my big barrel planters.  I repotted all my houseplants--lots of spider plants into smaller pots, to get them rootbound so they'll have babies; split up the ever-multiplying snake plants; moved some ailing small aloes into new pots with fresh soil; put two straggly jades into new pots.  I also rehomed a huge aloe (3+ feet across!) into a deeper pot with new soil; potted up two rubber trees I grew from shoots from a gnarled old rescue from Freecycle that I got last year; and repotted and trellised my pothos, salvaged from a shoot last year off the huge plant that nearly died.  I'm pleased.

I saved my two red diplidenias last fall and overwintered them, and they got put back in the barrels with some white begonias; the hanging baskets on the front porch have red begonias and trailing variegated vincas. 

This afternoon I'll get a couple more red geraniums, some white blooming vincas, and maybe more blue lobelia to fill planter boxes for our back patio.  ALHS has agreed to do a 2-stacked concrete block wall to separate the drive from the patio table, and I'll put these boxes--along with the snake plants--on top.  It will look nice!

I finally got smart and bit the bullet this year, buying a huge back of packing peanuts to fill the bottoms of the deep barrels, hanging baskets, and planters, rather than using heavy soil. I also lined my baskets with landscape fabric that was in the shed, rather than buying the coco liners--something different, and it should keep the robins and finches out of my baskets this year. (They rip the liners apart for nesting material starting about this time of year!)

I've gotten a lot done this past week, after a late start. The heavy work is done, though--now I'm down to just a little planting of flowers, weed killing, and spreading bagged mulch.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on July 31, 2023, 05:59:26 PM
How has this thread been dormant all summer?! How is everyone's garden doing?

We had a very wet and grey June and most of July, which set things behind, but my garden is now nearing peak production-- more tomatoes and zucchini than I can eat (have been giving a bunch to my lab and neighbors), basil (making lots of pesto), peppers, eggplant, green beans, cucumbers. My small raspberry patch has been producing a good handful every day as well.   
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on August 01, 2023, 08:24:43 AM
I just did not have the time to get mine done this year. With the current temps and lack of rain, and some travel I did early in the summer, it would not have done well anyway. 
I will (I WILL!!) get it back up and running in the fall. 
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 01, 2023, 08:25:31 AM
Good point. It has been hotter than Hades' armpit over here- really brutal. We're still having some success with purple beans, tomatoes are iffy (slow going), squash is doing great and eggplant is doing well. We also have raspberries that we planted last year, so it's a new patch. They just started producing and they are wonderful!

Edit: Clean beat me to posting after Puget. :)
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Larimar on August 01, 2023, 03:03:41 PM
I've got baby morning glories coming up in the back yard! They're just tiny seedlings, 3" or thereabouts high, so they haven't started climbing the fence yet, but I am looking forward to having my favorite flowers in the yard!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on January 16, 2024, 09:17:53 AM
Posted in the What's your Weather thread that we are in the 20s here and that the first day of classes has gone online for the day.   

My garden was not really used last summer, but I hope to get something started soon.  This 2 day hard freeze will hopefully give me more of an incentive to work on it this spring, as there should not be much of anything left in it!  (it has some grass/weed that I would love to burn, but the smoke would probably not impress my neighbors! 

I had an eggplant plant that has survived 2 years (and produced only 1 eggplant I could eat!).  Yesterday I looked out the window to see all the leaves curled and the dozen blossoms long gone!   I dont think that it is going to survive 2 long periods in the 20s! 

What about your garden?  Giving thought to what you will plant this year?
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on January 16, 2024, 09:23:14 AM
Not MY garden, but my dad's winter vegetables was decimated by pigs or deer.  (We visited over Christmas).   They live in the country in Florida and had planted beans, collard greens and cabbage. He was sick so I went out to do something for him and inspected the garden and noticed all of the tracks.  He mentioned the collards in particular and i siad I didnt see what he was mentioning.  I went out and took pictures of the garden and the tracks.

When I talked to him yesterday, it had been raining too much to do any work in the garden, but he was still disappointed feeding the critters, so not sure if he will do a lot of gardening before spring.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on January 16, 2024, 09:39:09 AM
The seed catalogs have begun arriving -- they know just when to hit us with those alluring summer vegetable pictures and descriptions when we are at our post-holiday winter lowest. I will start my earliest seedlings (tomatoes and peppers) indoors in mid-March.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on January 16, 2024, 04:31:37 PM
What seed catalogs are people getting?

I have Baker Creek on my kitchen table.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on January 16, 2024, 05:12:21 PM
Gurney's was one I was getting (or the one my relatives seemed to get, which I would thumb through when I visited).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on January 16, 2024, 06:29:06 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on January 16, 2024, 04:31:37 PMWhat seed catalogs are people getting?

I have Baker Creek on my kitchen table.

Like Clean, I get Gurney's. I love how old-fashioned it is, with the breathless descriptions of each plant. In addition to seeds, I've had good luck with their live plants (various fruit tree starts, etc.)- they ship them at the appropriate time for planting in your climate zone and guarantee them for a year. They also have very good coupons this time of year.

I also get Territorial Seed Company catalogs, and sometimes order from them as well.

For non-plant garden stuff, I like Gardener's Supply Company.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: clean on February 25, 2024, 10:47:02 AM
Went to Lowes to look at dishwashers and saw a lot of veggies ready for planting!!  IF ONLY my garden were ready to take them in!
Plenty of work to be done.  Maybe spring bring will bring an opportunity.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 04, 2024, 05:26:29 PM
First seeds went into pots inside on a heat mat -- tomatoes (4 kinds), peppers (sweet & hot) and eggplant (an experiment - usually I buy starts.

I've decided to get two more 2x4 raised planter beds and an arch to go between them, and put them across the top of my driveway. Not only to give me a bit more sunny planting area, but to turn that area of the driveway into an extra patio area where I can put the patio table and hammock. (Not having a car opens up creative uses of the driveway, and there is still room for visitors to park lower down).
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 05, 2024, 02:35:36 PM
Quote from: Puget on March 04, 2024, 05:26:29 PMFirst seeds went into pots inside on a heat mat -- tomatoes (4 kinds), peppers (sweet & hot) and eggplant (an experiment - usually I buy starts.

I've decided to get two more 2x4 raised planter beds and an arch to go between them, and put them across the top of my driveway. Not only to give me a bit more sunny planting area, but to turn that area of the driveway into an extra patio area where I can put the patio table and hammock. (Not having a car opens up creative uses of the driveway, and there is still room for visitors to park lower down).

This is exciting! I need to get quite a few things started. Right now, we have some kale, bok choy and collards. Unfortunately, they are covered in aphids!
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 05, 2024, 07:25:02 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 05, 2024, 02:35:36 PM
Quote from: Puget on March 04, 2024, 05:26:29 PMFirst seeds went into pots inside on a heat mat -- tomatoes (4 kinds), peppers (sweet & hot) and eggplant (an experiment - usually I buy starts.

I've decided to get two more 2x4 raised planter beds and an arch to go between them, and put them across the top of my driveway. Not only to give me a bit more sunny planting area, but to turn that area of the driveway into an extra patio area where I can put the patio table and hammock. (Not having a car opens up creative uses of the driveway, and there is still room for visitors to park lower down).

This is exciting! I need to get quite a few things started. Right now, we have some kale, bok choy and collards. Unfortunately, they are covered in aphids!

You may already know this, but if not: Look for a spray called Safer Insect Killing Soap. It's organic and harmless for people, animals and the environment, but will do your aphids (and other soft-bodied insects) in.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 06, 2024, 03:32:43 PM
Quote from: Puget on March 05, 2024, 07:25:02 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 05, 2024, 02:35:36 PM
Quote from: Puget on March 04, 2024, 05:26:29 PMFirst seeds went into pots inside on a heat mat -- tomatoes (4 kinds), peppers (sweet & hot) and eggplant (an experiment - usually I buy starts.

I've decided to get two more 2x4 raised planter beds and an arch to go between them, and put them across the top of my driveway. Not only to give me a bit more sunny planting area, but to turn that area of the driveway into an extra patio area where I can put the patio table and hammock. (Not having a car opens up creative uses of the driveway, and there is still room for visitors to park lower down).

This is exciting! I need to get quite a few things started. Right now, we have some kale, bok choy and collards. Unfortunately, they are covered in aphids!

You may already know this, but if not: Look for a spray called Safer Insect Killing Soap. It's organic and harmless for people, animals and the environment, but will do your aphids (and other soft-bodied insects) in.

I haven't used that brand, but I may try it. I've been so insanely busy that I have neglected my plants. :(
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: AmLitHist on March 07, 2024, 06:43:32 AM
The chickweed and creeping charlie are doing very well.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 09, 2024, 02:51:42 PM
Landlords are repossessing the back garden, so I'll have to rig up some planters and start over.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 10, 2024, 08:53:43 AM
Finally beginning to feel like spring! Bulbs are coming up, and there are buds on the earlier leafing bushes and trees.

Most of my tomato seeds have sprouted (in the enclosed porch on a heat mat) in the last few days, no peppers or eggplants up yet.

I'm proceeding with my plan to wall off the top of the driveway with raised planter beds with an arch between them, and turn it into an extra patio area. Going to assemble the planters today, even though it will be quite awhile before I can plant them yet.

Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 09, 2024, 02:51:42 PMLandlords are repossessing the back garden, so I'll have to rig up some planters and start over.
Sorry to hear that! Hope you get some good planters going.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 17, 2024, 10:13:36 PM
Rescued the lavender, chive, and some kale. Also transplanted a couple new raspberry canes. Hope it all survives.

Now to source some box planters and start over.

I'm gonna try to sprout a tamarind, also.
Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Puget on March 18, 2024, 06:35:57 AM
Eggplants and a few pepper seeds have germinated now, and all tomatoes are up and starting to get their first true leaves. Meant to start peas this weekend but ran out of time, so will need to do that sometime during the week.

I did finish assembling the planter beds and arch, and it looks really nice! Looking forward to warmer weather to set up my outdoor living room.

Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 17, 2024, 10:13:36 PMRescued the lavender, chive, and some kale. Also transplanted a couple new raspberry canes. Hope it all survives.

Now to source some box planters and start over.

I'm gonna try to sprout a tamarind, also.

I've gotten all my planters and raised beds here-- A bit pricy, but high quality and a good company: https://www.gardeners.com

Title: Re: Gardeners: how's it looking?
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2024, 03:52:05 PM
Quote from: Puget on March 18, 2024, 06:35:57 AMI've gotten all my planters and raised beds here-- A bit pricy, but high quality and a good company: https://www.gardeners.com



Thanks! There's a lot there that I covet...