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General Discussion => Throw Down the Gauntlet => Topic started by: Erin on February 16, 2012, 12:33:23 PM

Title: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erin on February 16, 2012, 12:33:23 PM
I live on 5 acres, and the past 2 years I've planted/harvested a garden with varying levels of success. Growing our own food allows us to reduce our food expense, carbon footprint & improve our health...pretty mustachian behaviors methinks. However, there are areas I would like to improve on this year. Specifically:

Canning & Freezing (and not wasting)
Purchasing seeds/plants on the cheap
Methods of planting/growing/pest control
Going full organic

Questions:

I've always purchased my seeds/plants @ TSC (Tractor Supply Company for you none-country-folks) & Home Depot. I'm sure there are internet options that would minimize my expenses, but I don't know of the best sites. Any suggestions?

What have you grown from seed/plant and had success with (i.e. I always buy my romaine lettuce as plants rather than seeds, which is more epensive but I would happily switch to seeds if people have had success with them)
Any organic pest control ideas?
Any planting tips of what to plant when and with what?
Any ideas on how much of certain things you have use? After a few years I'm beginning to learn more on what vegetables were not worth growing and which were - for us, lima beans were dumb as manfriend doesn't eat them and he's the chef. I like them raw but apparently there's arsenic in them.


Anyone want to start (or continue) growing your own food with me?  I'd love to hear from some experienced gardners and also have newbies start out (even if you are renting with tiny space, herbs & tomatoes grow great in pots and small places) on the gardening path.

What I grew successfully (in Michigan climate): Red onions, yellow onions, cauliflower, green/red cabbage, radishes, green bell peppers, several varieties of hot peppers, mild hungarian peppers, okra, white eggplant,yellow was beans, lima beans, roma tomatoes, beef eater tomatoes, romaine lettuce, cherry/grape tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins (which are great for Halloween freebies as I'm big on decorating with them), spaghetti squash, acorn squash, zuchinni, yellow squash, oregano, cilantro, basil, spring onions, chives, flat leaf parsley, rosemary & pole green beans.

What I grew with little success: Snow peas (something is going awry here), purple egg plants, carrots (they take forever to germinate and have never worked out for me), yellow & red bell peppers (pests ALWAYS destroy), watermelons & CORN (which after 2 years is our arch nemesis and we canNOT get it  to successfully grow).

I also have ducks and chickens which dessimated my tomato/romaine lettuce/raspberry/strawberry patches/spaghetti squash over the past few years, so we are working on stricter reinforcements/fences/nets for the gardens this year (manfriend snagged a trampoline net someone was throwing away on garbage day and one of those golf course subdivision nets - so we have plenty of free netting to defend from our free range asshat birds).

Please feel free to add responses/questions/gardening support :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: palvar on February 16, 2012, 12:35:35 PM
I live in a row house in Philadelphia, so I don't have a ton of space for gardening.  However, we've been working hard to grow the herbs that we use - they are so expensive in grocery stores!

We've had great luck with rosemary and basil, but cilantro has never worked out for us.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Guitarist on February 16, 2012, 12:51:24 PM
Great winter plant: garlic.

Though, don't get that junk you find in the grocery store. Find an heirloom grower willing to sell you a bulb or try something from a market. There is such an abundance of types and tastes of garlic. So much sweeter and not as harsh as the stuff you find in the store, although you may consider trying it the first season with the store bought stuff so you get the hang of it. Also, they apparently repulse rabbits and some other pests.
Each clove grows a bulb and you can keep one or two plants each harvest for planting. It never ends!

Though, if anyone knows a good way to store it after you harvest it, please share.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: velocistar237 on February 16, 2012, 01:59:59 PM
Though, if anyone knows a good way to store it after you harvest it, please share.

Pickled garlic is a yummy snack.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJ on February 16, 2012, 02:30:01 PM
Funny, carrots are literally the only thing I've ever successfully grown from seed :)

I have a seriously black thumb, but we moved to the edge of town onto 3 acres a year ago, so I'm itching to plant a big garden. Every gardening attempt I've made (and there have been many over the years) has failed:

1) started seeds in a small greenhouse, but too late in the year. It was too hot and they got scorched.

2) Tried planing tomatoes in home-made topsy-turvy planters when I didn't have garden space and was too cheap to buy the real ones. Either those don't work, or I have the wrong kind of plant (used Amish Paste starts I got a good deal on). They only grew to spindly little stalks while their traditionally-planted brothers grew quite tall.

3) Got watermelons to grow about the size of softballs before the hens got out and ruined them.

4) Made a great bed for jalapeno pepper starts, but the cats liked it too :(

I was successful at getting decorative corn, kale, and zucchini to grow from starts, though.

If at first you don't succeed, convince yourself next year will be better! I'll follow this thread and let you know if I grow anything edible this year :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Guitarist on February 16, 2012, 02:36:57 PM
Though, if anyone knows a good way to store it after you harvest it, please share.

Pickled garlic is a yummy snack.

But how do you save the ones you want to plant in the fall?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Skinnyneo on February 16, 2012, 02:57:43 PM
For those with not a whole lot of space I found this.  http://www.windowfarms.org/buildyourown (http://www.windowfarms.org/buildyourown)  Seems like a bit of work to put together but might be worth a shot.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Sparafusile on February 16, 2012, 05:27:16 PM
A quick search for "marigold as pest control" returned this promising looking site:

http://www.pallensmith.com/articles/pest-control-plants
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: woodworker2010 on February 16, 2012, 06:49:35 PM
We have a DC row house and a postage stamp square footage of grass.  We planted some flowers and had good luck last year with green beans and greens.  Relatively good luck with strawberries (ever bearing variety--couple of quarts from April-June).  This year, we're expanding with raised beds in our side yard (we're fortunate to have a corner lot).  Planning to do more beans (easy to freeze--just put them in Ziplocks after you pick them...probably should wash first, I guess).  More lettuce greens, carrots (had a few last year), and squash...It's a lot work, but the cost savings in lettuce alone is worth it.  Plus, its safer and healthier...win, win, win.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on February 16, 2012, 11:05:51 PM
I've found that greens are the easiest things to grow. You can start harvesting almost as soon as they sprout.
Spring includes pea shoots, lettuce, spinach, and other miscellanous greens. Summer includes swiss chard, kale, water spinach/kangkong, and watercress. Fall is yet another chance to grow the spring greens.
I do tomatoes every year. Cherry tomatoes (Super Sweet 100) and some kind of heirloom tomato and usually either early girl or beefsteaks.
Zucchini and squashes do relatively well, as do potatoes - they're all pretty easy.
I also grow shit tons of herbs. Mint (chocolate, spearmint, peppermint), lemon balm, basils (Thai, cinnamon, Italian, lemon) lemon verbena, lavender, oregano, cilantro, and chives.

Most of the stuff you can grow pretty easily from seed (Minus some things that either need early starts, like tomatoes, or that are cultivars that need to be propagated, like mint). I rarely direct sow, since the results are somewhat spotty, but I do a lot of my veggie starts either indoors under a simple T8 shoplight with two 6500K "Daylight" bulbs, or via the Winter Sowing method http://www.wintersown.org/ (http://www.wintersown.org/). The Winter Sowing method is a fantastic way to start seeds easily with little to no attention, with a very high success rate! It also recycles used pop bottles and milk jugs, so can be done very Mustachian-ly (you just need some good potting mix)

I have also been composting the past couple of years. I'm looking into vermicomposting, as well as aquacomposting using goldfish/koi/carp (they'll eat almost anything, being the living garbage disposals they are :D) Being a single person, I don't generate all that much food waste, but I've been able to create a decent amount of compost over the past couple years. I also am able to shred any loose papers and add them to my compost as well, and it's kind of fun to know that I'm eliminating a lot of waste processing on my end.

Gah, it's still winter though, and planting season is still months away :(
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mike Key on February 17, 2012, 04:51:39 AM
I had a lot of success with growing Corn, Tomatos, Pumpkins, Watermelon and Cantaloupe back home in VA.

Having just moved, I'm not sure what to grow since the weather here in FL is so different. We do have a fruit tree and I want to start some container gardening, but I haven't formulated a plan yet.

I just spent a few minutes with Google, and I wish I could find it. Before I went paleo I read an article about a man who lived on a half/arce lot like many of us in a neighborhood and he replaced both the front and back yard with crops.

I was really impressed because he was growing his own wheat and producing his own flour for his family of four. They also produced enough leafy greens for regular salads and raised chickens for eggs. And a host of herbs, spices and vegetables.

I do believe there was a youtube video of him walking thru all he's planted.

Live stock is out of the question for us, but there are a number of leafy greens and vegetables that are expensive (especially if you want organic) that I'd like to grow myself. Such as Kale and Asparagus.

Good luck in your endeavor.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: shawn on February 17, 2012, 05:24:29 AM
We are going to do MUCH gardening this year.

I did not notice anyone mention composting above.  I have the benefit of lots of room so I have a manure compost pile that will eat almost anything.  I recently have started a worm bin in the house.  It is clean and convenient.   I have applied the worm tea from the bin to house plants with great success.  My son and I hydroponically regrew some scallions in a cup of worm tea.  They have reproduced 3 times so far!  Having composted mulch available to aid any growing cycle is beneficial.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kolorado on February 17, 2012, 05:46:13 AM
Check out SQUARE FOOT GARDENING. Did it last year. It's raised beds filled with a special mixture. So low maintenance and easy it was crazy. I put in one hour a week to weed and harvest from my three boxes and got over 75lbs pounds of organic produce over the season.
I invested about $200 in the materials for my beds/mix/seeds/supports. I bought mostly Burpee seeds from Walmart at $1 each. Ace hardware tends to run $.10-.50 pack sales but they're too far away from me. I started only my tomatoes and peppers from seed.
I'll be able to use my beds again this year for just the cost of Spring seeds. Based on last year's numbers I expect to grow $80-120 worth of organic lettuce, spinach and peas in my beds for just $4. Unfortunately we're moving so I won't get to garden into the summer. :(
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erin on February 17, 2012, 07:13:52 AM
We are going to do MUCH gardening this year.

I did not notice anyone mention composting above.  I have the benefit of lots of room so I have a manure compost pile that will eat almost anything.  I recently have started a worm bin in the house.  It is clean and convenient.   I have applied the worm tea from the bin to house plants with great success.  My son and I hydroponically regrew some scallions in a cup of worm tea.  They have reproduced 3 times so far!  Having composted mulch available to aid any growing cycle is beneficial.

Shawn - could you elaborate a little on a "worm bin"? I'd be interested in that for gardening & fishing reasons (it's not mustachian when I have to go buy Walt's crawlers and could be digging up my own worms). Do you buy worms? Dig them up? How do you start this bin you speak of?

We do manure tea from our horses in the summer. And also the rain barrell for watering (even though we have a well so water is not an expense for us).

I'm also really interested in ordering garlic and growing that!  We are garlic/onion junkies - but I don't know anything about growing garlic. I will read up on that one :) I think I'll grab a few gardening books while I'm getting my financial books @ the library this weekend!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MEJG on February 17, 2012, 07:20:05 AM
One of the huge reasons I want to own, and I want to own a few acres (5-10 ideally) is to grow a lot of our own food.  Alas, we're staying with family at the moment and will probably rent for another 1-2 years.  We'll be planting, probably in pots, this spring.

If you're interested in a truly economical, environmental and healthy way check out these books http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/ at the library of course!  I found them truly truly inspiring.

The principles are to plant in groups and settings that are almost self sustainable relying heavily on perennials.  This will minimize your inputs (time, fertilizer, additives, pest control etc) and maximize your outputs (fruit, veg, beauty and peace).  It's kinda like companion planing on crack.  It combines a lot of permicultre and old world ideas. 

It details how to create whole mini ecosystems.  Of course it can't give you a list of exactly what to plant because that will depend on your climate and soil as well as what you like to grow and eat.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erin on February 17, 2012, 07:24:22 AM

If you're interested in a truly economical, environmental and healthy way check out these books http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/ at the library of course!  I found them truly truly inspiring.

Thank you for this suggestion! The farmers almanac my mom bought me last year actually had a lot of suggestions for what to grow next to each other (and what not to). I would like to delve further into this as we actually have a few different spots to grow in and could easily separate/plant together things that were mutually beneficial or a drain on each other. I read somewhere recently (maybe even here, I can't remember), ideas of what foods to store together because some foods cause each other to over-ripen quickly, or to last longer.

Has anyone ever grown kiwis? I always thought of them as tropical, but manfriend insists they would do great here in Michigan.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: gestalt162 on February 17, 2012, 11:01:25 AM
I live in Western NY, and have had great success with Snap Peas. You may want to try them. Watch for wilt.

I've tried square foot gardening as well- it's the system I use now. Next year I think I'll switch to the grow biointensive method, which doesn't require boxes or tons of soil additives (but is more labor intensive at start). We rent a duplex, but have a large back yard, and 80 sq. ft. of that is dedicated to herbs and vegetables.

The parts that I've skimped on the most in the past are starting seeds indoors and having deep enough soil for my plants to grow, so I'm trying to improve on those things this year.

My fiance and I have turned into canning fanatics. It started with pickles and jam (we give them away for Christmas presents and got tons of compliments) in a boiling water canner (ie. large pot). We then got a pressure canner/cooker off Craigslist, so now we can can virtually anything. Our favorites have been making soups, stocks, spaghetti sauce, and chili, and canning leftovers for a rainy day.  More work and investment than freezing, but it saves you the freezer room. Seriously, start canning some pickles and jam this year- you will not regret it. My peach jam with farmer's market peaches is hands down the best jam I've ever had, it literally tastes like summer, and my grape jelly from a blend of local grapes is phenomenal as well.

Once I retire, I plan on spending much of my free time gardening, growing enough for my family to eat, and maybe selling extra at farmer's markets.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: velocistar237 on February 17, 2012, 11:09:49 AM
But how do you save the ones you want to plant in the fall?

Here's a start of an idea, which needs to be adapted from art to real food storage techniques:

http://www.treehugger.com/kitchen-design/saving-food-fridge-it-will-taste-better-may-even-last-longer-and-reduce-your-energy-bills.html

The basic idea is to prevent sprouting by storing your garlic with ethylene-producing fruits. I have no idea if that would get you through the whole winter. There's probably a simpler solution, but I am totally ignorant when it comes to this topic.


Check out SQUARE FOOT GARDENING.

I'd like to plant a garden, but I'm even more scared of gardening than I am of investing. Does the Square Foot Garden technique give step-by-step instructions, including what to plant and when, for a particular climate?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs MM on February 17, 2012, 11:52:32 AM
Ah gardening... a huge love of mine.  We go away every summer for 6+ weeks, so lately we haven't been planting veggies as much, but this year we're getting back into it.  My main goal is to grow stuff that we actually use a lot. 

We already have some herbs that are perennials: mint, chive, sage, oregano

I plan to plant:
- lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, cilantro, basil, and green onion for salads
- squash for squash soup - yum!
- maybe carrots and garlic...
- I'm going to have a little plot for our son, so he can plant whatever he wants there (we have a lot of seed packets from prior years that he can go crazy with).

I'm thinking of making the cucumbers and squash climb up something to make some fun passageways in the yard for the little guy (and to help keep squirrels at bay, maybe?).

We had a lot of luck with these in the past (although I've never tried squash before).  We even had cilantro sprout all over the place one year after a particularly robust growth where we couldn't even keep up and it ended up seeding.

We failed miserably with strawberries and corn (squirrels ate them both) a couple of years ago.

I'm also going to attempt to make a sunflower house for our son somehow or one of those teepee things with beans covering it.  Our climate here is very dry and hot in the summer, so certain plants don't do as well.

I always have grand plans.

I also loved "square foot gardening" and "roots, boots, buckets and shoots" (which is more for kids gardens). 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: onehappypanda on February 17, 2012, 02:36:48 PM
I love this thread!

If anyone has any tips or resources for gardening out of containers or pots, I'd love to hear them. I'm a renter in the city, which normally means no yard. Even when I do have a yard, I'm reluctant to plant things in it in the event that I need to move. But containers are moveable! So I'm thinking of starting with basic herbs to cut back on grocery costs, but I'd love other suggestions.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: gestalt162 on February 17, 2012, 02:55:21 PM
I'd like to plant a garden, but I'm even more scared of gardening than I am of investing. Does the Square Foot Garden technique give step-by-step instructions, including what to plant and when, for a particular climate?

Yes. In the book, Mel Bartholemew breaks it down step-by-step for you in different chapters, with some advanced techniques like trellising at the end. If you have never gardened before, his book is pretty approachable, and the process is pretty scalable- you can start out with a 4'x4' garden your first year and grow on that. He even throws you charts in the back showing when to plant and harvest most popular vegetables.

How to Grow More Vegetables (my 2nd gardening book) is a nightmare read, but has lots of good advice, and a solid, proven-out system. I'm looking forward to implementing it next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kolorado on February 19, 2012, 09:38:04 AM
Square foot gardening also has several message boards where you can talk to people in your area and even copy exactly what they do. The biggest two reasons I chose SFG is that I tried traditional gardening with techniques I learned from working in my parents traditional garden. It was just too time intensive. I simply don't have 10 hours to spare every week to weed, hoe and check water levels. Now I see why my mom always sent me out to weed. :/  The second reason is that we have to pay for city water. The special soil mix for the raised beds really holds moisture as well as claimed. I watered my three little beds just twice a week and I could usually pass that chore onto my 6 and 8 year olds. It was so easy and pleasurable to spend 5-10 minutes in my garden every day.
Lots of land is not required to grow most of your food if you do it the SF way. I could grow nearly all the food we'd need for a year(family of 5) in raised beds of 2000 square feet. That's less square footage than the average suburban front lawn. Adding pathways for easy access ups your area to grow but you can work around that depending on how you place your beds. I could get all my boxes and pathways in a 45'X90' area. That's about 1/10 an acre.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: HeidiO on March 01, 2012, 09:11:25 PM
How to save garlic?  When you harvest leave a a clove in the ground.  It's a bulb - they are made to overwinter in the ground. You can also cut the stalks and use them like you would green onions, except they are garlic flavored.  Gives you access to garlic all summer long.   As a very messy gardener I never had to replant garlic.  Carrots will reseed if you leave a few in the ground all season long.  Radishes too.  1 or 2 radishes wil make thousands of seeds, so I like to gather them and sprout them in the winter to eat as sprouts (peppery taste!)  There are lots of edible perennials.  Rhubarb and asparagus come to mind. 
Permaculture is brilliant.  I took the design course and learned so much.  ALso, your county extension office probably offers master gardener classes.  It is very fun to tell people I am a master gardener.
Heidi
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: ultrarunner on March 01, 2012, 09:44:26 PM

We had a lot of luck with these in the past (although I've never tried squash before). 

We have really really good luck with squash out here (I'm in Louisville, CO)...both summer and winter squash.  Seems to thrive in our sun, hot days, and cool nights. 

I've never had much luck with tomatoes, but I think it's a soil issue (a friend suggested I need to add lime).  I can only get the little cherry tomatoes and roma to grow w/o getting bottom-end rot.  Do you guys do anything special with yours?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: onehappypanda on March 03, 2012, 02:02:24 PM

We had a lot of luck with these in the past (although I've never tried squash before). 

We have really really good luck with squash out here (I'm in Louisville, CO)...both summer and winter squash.  Seems to thrive in our sun, hot days, and cool nights. 

I've never had much luck with tomatoes, but I think it's a soil issue (a friend suggested I need to add lime).  I can only get the little cherry tomatoes and roma to grow w/o getting bottom-end rot.  Do you guys do anything special with yours?

I went to a garden seminar today and the lady said that tomatoes were especially sensitive to soil conditions. She suggested a soil test that would check for various levels of nutrients in the soil, so you know exactly what you're lacking in. Adding what you need should help all your plants, but especially tomatoes. 

She also said that if you have a walnut tree nearby that it can kill off plants in the garden. Their roots let off a toxin that keeps other things from growing very well near them, and tomatoes are sensitive to the toxin.

I'm not a gardening expert so I'm going off what they said in the seminar, so take that with a grain of salt.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on March 05, 2012, 10:34:07 AM
I'm planning to give this a try this year, so I'll be following this thread. Until now I've only done herbs and tomatoes in pots but we're in the process of building a raised bed garden for the front yard. It's the biggest flat area we have in our yard but it's still pretty small so I've been looking for veggies that grow well in small spaces.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gerard on March 05, 2012, 06:27:31 PM

She also said that if you have a walnut tree nearby that it can kill off plants in the garden. Their roots let off a toxin that keeps other things from growing very well near them, and tomatoes are sensitive to the toxin.

Yeah, juglone: http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/fruits/blkwalnt.htm
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on March 10, 2012, 10:14:42 PM
I'm planting seeds for the first time tomorrow.  In the near future, I'll be building a 2nd 4x8 raised bed, which will likely be all tomatoes this year :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: larsenju on March 12, 2012, 12:19:19 AM
For those with not a whole lot of space I found this.  http://www.windowfarms.org/buildyourown (http://www.windowfarms.org/buildyourown)  Seems like a bit of work to put together but might be worth a shot.

Thank you for giving me a project for my days off this week! 

I started today and had many of the materials to start.  I figure including the nutrients and growth material I should be under $60, which seems like a lot, but fresh basil and mint will cut down our grocery bill.  As an added bonus I was able to use a dowel rod, pcv pipe, air line, water jug and soda bottles (this will be their second repurposing) that were just taking up space, and were dangerously close to getting tossed in an effort to get rid of 100 items. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on March 18, 2012, 02:35:13 PM
Sprouting!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: R62 on March 18, 2012, 05:12:31 PM
Hi, All.   Long time lurker, first time poster.

We are urban dwellers who also are SFG inspired.  Over the course of a few years we have removed all of the lawn on our tiny sliver of city property and put in gardening beds and berry patches.  It's a little crazy looking, and akin to living in a community P Patch.

Last year (2011) was the first year I tracked the "value" of our production:   $748 (excluding the bits of herbs and leftover things we forage out of it during the off season).   "Value" was determined by replacement cost - either from the grocery store or the local farmer's market, depending on where I would normally buy that particular item. 

It is, of course, worth more to me than the actual dollar value in terms of both quality of food consumed and overall satisfaction with time and energy invested. 

What we don't eat straight from the garden is either put in storage (ie cold basement), or canned, pickled, frozen or dehydrated in some form.

This year (2012) we are growing:

Asparagus
Basil
Butternut Squash
Carrots
Chili Pepper
Chive
Cilantro
Corn
Dill
Garlic
Leeks
Lettuce
Onion
Parsley
Parsnip
Peas
Pickling Cukes
Potatoes
Raspberry
Rosemary
Sage
Shallot
Spring Onion
Spuds
Strawberries
Thyme
Tomatillo
Tomatoes
Turnip
Zucchini

This is an exciting time of year:  seeds and sets are going in with some regularity, and each day is full of promise.    Kudy has sprouts and so do we:  our lettuce is showing, as are the first asparagus tips.

Would enjoy seeing more pictures from other gardeners as the season progresses.  Will try and post the same, as well.






Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: spacecoyote on March 19, 2012, 02:24:26 PM
For those asking about storing garlic over winter: do you have a relatively cool, dry spot in your home? I've left mine in our basement the last few years and just go down and get them as needed. Maybe I'm just lucky, but there hasn't been much sprouting to contend with...the little that is there I just chop off before using the clove. Also, you need to let the bulbs cure after you dig them up before storing them - leave them somewhere sheltered from sun/elements where they can dry for about 2 days. For this, I set them on a soil screen/sifter (hardware cloth stapled to a 2x4 frame) in my shed. Garlic has been the most consistent, pain-free producer for me, so I can't recommend it enough...just checked up yesterday on my 27 sprouts that I planted in fall to overwinter.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my garden this year and learning from the mistakes of last year. Primarily, not being too over-ambitious with my plans...last year was a disaster for me. But I've got some kale seedlings right now and just planted peppers and broccoli this weekend. I'm proud of myself that I did the leg work on creating a planting schedule for myself this year so I'll have a nice structure to follow. The PDFs here: http://www.botanicalinterests.com/articles/view/54/Sowing-Guides/category:seed-starting have a lot of good info for when to plant things (indoors or outdoors).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Landor n Stella on March 20, 2012, 08:29:01 AM
  Garlic has been the most consistent, pain-free producer for me, so I can't recommend it enough...

++++1 to this. Garlic is so easy and delicious. Curing is very important, like spacecoyote says, before storage. And if you do get sprouts, it's easy to chop it all up and mix with a little water and freeze in old Ice cube trays. Then you have little serving-size amounts of garlic ready to drop into whatever you are making. There's a few other ways to store in the freezer, but I find the ice cube trays the most convenient. This Ice Cube method can also be used for storing fresh herbs (like basil and cilantro) for later. Pop them out of the trays when fully frozen and move them to a freezer ziploc for space-saving.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: BenDarDunDat on March 20, 2012, 11:06:53 AM
I grow tomatoes, green beans, sugar snaps, squash, collards, lettuce, asparagus, blueberries, blackberries, walking onions, cilantro, rosemary, thyme. 

Live in North Carolina and am usually successful with tomatoes, green beans, with the lack of winter -sugar snaps have been great and lettuce too.  Collards and turnips were good and cilantro and parsley went all winter long. 

Squash and peppers haven't been very productive...I need more sun. 

Still waiting for blueberries, blackberries, asparagus, and kiwi to produce. 

I'm probably doing it wrong, but I'm lucky if I break even on gardening. 

Seed packs are 4 for a $1 at Dollar Tree. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on March 20, 2012, 12:07:50 PM
Sprouting!

Exciting, congrats! I swear each new sprout that comes up is the most exciting part of my day.

I finally finished my raised garden bed, roped each section off, put drip irrigation tubing in it, and filled it with planting mix. If all goes well I'll have beans, carrots, squash, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, jalapenos, santa fe peppers, and sweet potatoes. I chose all of these items because gardeners in my area said they were easy to grow, and I researched and bought disease-resistant seeds for this season. I put the beans and carrots outside on Sunday and inside I have the rest sprouting. Here's to hoping these survive! I've been good at herbs from seed so far but that's about it. In pots we have basil, thyme, oregano, mint, and dill, and we have rosemary bushes around our house. But that is the extent of my gardening experience--I'm so afraid this is going to be a massive failure!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Hamilton Beachbum on March 20, 2012, 01:26:21 PM
Hi

My wife and I grow a large garden.  This is our 5th year and we are still determining what works best in our location.

I have public picture albums on Facebook of 2010 and 2011 gardens, I can post the links if anyone is interested. 

HBB
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: spacecoyote on March 22, 2012, 12:39:01 PM
I'm so afraid this is going to be a massive failure!

There are no "failures" in gardening, only lessons. And compost fodder :) At least, that's what I tell myself when something goes wrong - I've definitely had my share of gardening fails, so putting a positive spin on it takes away some of the sting.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on March 22, 2012, 01:18:39 PM
I'm so afraid this is going to be a massive failure!

There are no "failures" in gardening, only lessons. And compost fodder :) At least, that's what I tell myself when something goes wrong - I've definitely had my share of gardening fails, so putting a positive spin on it takes away some of the sting.

Love this, thanks.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on March 22, 2012, 09:55:37 PM
This crazy warm weather caught me off guard regarding garden preparation! I'm scrambling to get my planting beds done for spring veggies before the weather gets too warm (and the lettuce starts bolting/turning bitter).
I'm going to be growing massive amounts of pea shoots as well this year. Easier and faster to grow than pea pods, I just bought dried green peas from the store ($0.99) planted them in a pot, and they are sending up sprouts in less than a week. I should be ready to harvest them in two weeks for salads and stir-fry components.
Trying out growing tomatoes and eggplant from seed this year under an LED light to cut down on the power bill for sprouting seeds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: onehappypanda on March 22, 2012, 10:27:08 PM
Just got my herbs into containers this week- oregano, basil, and rosemary. Hopefully this'll help cut down on grocery bills as fresh herbs are expensive.

I'm planning on doing lettuce containers this coming week. I wanted to do them last week but with highs int he 80's I was afraid it'd be too hot. Hopefully we have some normal spring weather coming or it might be a huge fail. Also planning on peppers and tomatoes in big containers when it's warm enough, and staking them.

Very jealous of all of you who have your own backyards and can do a real garden!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sol on March 23, 2012, 08:57:11 AM
Very jealous of all of you who have your own backyards and can do a real garden!

Do you have a front yard?  Nearby abandoned city lot?

http://moneyland.time.com/2011/07/11/vegetable-garden-controversy-revelation-front-lawns-are-useless/
http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 24, 2012, 06:52:11 AM
Sprouting!

Exciting, congrats! I swear each new sprout that comes up is the most exciting part of my day. ... But that is the extent of my gardening experience--I'm so afraid this is going to be a massive failure!

I know exactly what you mean, everyday when I get back from work I check on my plants, and today I saw that my green beans are sprouting. I feel like a proud father, which admittedly is making me stall on the decision to harvest some of my lettuce. it's my first harvestable crop and i'm feeling too pleased with how well it's doing to cut it just yet, though I did eat a leaf that broke off during transplanting to a larger container. That was exciting. The first thing I've eaten that I grew for myself. Good luck with all that veg, you're going to have a great year growing all that for the first time.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 24, 2012, 06:55:04 AM
Does anyone have any experience growing rosemary in a container? I use the stuff all the time so figured it would be a good thing to grow and hopefully the container will limit how large it can grow.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sol on March 24, 2012, 08:47:14 AM
Does anyone have any experience growing rosemary in a container? I use the stuff all the time so figured it would be a good thing to grow and hopefully the container will limit how large it can grow.

My aunt has like six rosemary bushes that refuse to die, but I've been unable to get any to survive in a pot.  I know it can be done, I'm just not sure how.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 24, 2012, 10:14:38 AM
Does anyone have any experience growing rosemary in a container? I use the stuff all the time so figured it would be a good thing to grow and hopefully the container will limit how large it can grow.

My aunt has like six rosemary bushes that refuse to die, but I've been unable to get any to survive in a pot.  I know it can be done, I'm just not sure how.

I know that if you have a bush the things are nigh on indestructible, this will be my first attempt at growing it. I guess I'll just have to figure it out as I go along for now. How far did yours in the pot come along before dying?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sol on March 24, 2012, 02:37:48 PM
How far did yours in the pot come along before dying?

I've never made rosemary survive more than about six months in a pot.  Basil is easy to keep, and I usually just plant a few new seeds in an indoor pot every month or so do to keep the supply up, since it grows out and dies annually otherwise.  We have an outdoor herb garden in a sunny spot that used to have a bunch of stuff in it, but it went untended last year and the mint sort of choked out everything else.

I'm also considering trying to grow oregano, since we seem to use a lot of it and it kills me to pay so much for dried out herbs when the fresh kind are virtually free.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 24, 2012, 05:59:55 PM
How far did yours in the pot come along before dying?

I've never made rosemary survive more than about six months in a pot.  Basil is easy to keep, and I usually just plant a few new seeds in an indoor pot every month or so do to keep the supply up, since it grows out and dies annually otherwise.  We have an outdoor herb garden in a sunny spot that used to have a bunch of stuff in it, but it went untended last year and the mint sort of choked out everything else.

I'm also considering trying to grow oregano, since we seem to use a lot of it and it kills me to pay so much for dried out herbs when the fresh kind are virtually free.

Everytime I hear mint mentioned it's usually followed by a curse or comment due to it's invasiveness. Part of me thinks a garden full of mint would rock, get some rum and lime and we're in business.

Six months is longer than I expected you to say. Could it be due to the soil nutrients depleting or something? I'm pretty intrigued now. I don't know why it's taken so long for me to realise how much more sensible it would be to grow my own herbs and whatever veg I can. Fresh is so much better, and the act of taking care of the plants is really soothing. Having dirt under my nails has been great for my mood.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on March 24, 2012, 09:34:24 PM
Quote from: Brett link=topic=75.msg5425#msg5425 date

I know exactly what you mean, everyday when I get back from work I check on my plants, and today I saw that my green beans are sprouting. I feel like a proud father, which admittedly is making me stall on the decision to harvest some of my lettuce. it's my first harvestable crop and i'm feeling too pleased with how well it's doing to cut it just yet, though I did eat a leaf that broke off during transplanting to a larger container. That was exciting. The first thing I've eaten that I grew for myself. Good luck with all that veg, you're going to have a great year growing all that for the first time.

Lettuce, nice! I might try that in the fall.

Brett, I agree that rosemary in a pot is near impossible. It just gets too big too fast and it's never happy. I'm guessing it's a drainage issue because the yard ones are happiest when they are bone dry. I've only had luck with it as a bush but clearly that doesn't work in all climates. Mint on the other hand works great in a pot for me. I use the shallow and wide pots that look like big bowls and just cut it down to the dirt before spring. It always seems to come back up again by just adding a little fertilizer, no matter how dead it looks. Right now my mint is the size of lettuce leaf basil, it's ridiculous.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 25, 2012, 06:45:13 AM

Lettuce, nice! I might try that in the fall.

Brett, I agree that rosemary in a pot is near impossible. It just gets too big too fast and it's never happy. I'm guessing it's a drainage issue because the yard ones are happiest when they are bone dry. I've only had luck with it as a bush but clearly that doesn't work in all climates. Mint on the other hand works great in a pot for me. I use the shallow and wide pots that look like big bowls and just cut it down to the dirt before spring. It always seems to come back up again by just adding a little fertilizer, no matter how dead it looks. Right now my mint is the size of lettuce leaf basil, it's ridiculous.

Lettuce grows ridiculously well in pots it seems. Definitely give it a shot. Drainage is the issue for rosemary you say. I wonder if the soil was mixed with gravel at the lower parts of the pot if that would help. I've got a broken plate I've been saving to use for drainage on something, maybe the rosemary will get it... In case it's not obvious I'm extremely stubborn and want to try things just to see if I can make them work magically. I'm completely sold on mint. I've always loved it, I just don't use it for cooking. I'll just grow some and then be force to figure out recipes, I guess. Cheers.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: spacecoyote on March 25, 2012, 08:39:55 AM
Drainage is the issue for rosemary you say. I wonder if the soil was mixed with gravel at the lower parts of the pot if that would help.

I don't do a lot of container planting, but I have heard that gravel helps. Just make sure that the pot also has sufficient drainage holes as well...all the gravel in the world won't help if the water ultimately has nowhere to go. My sister-in-law tried the gravel approach in a bucket with no holes and when we emptied the pots into the compost at the end of the season, I almost gagged on the rotting stench that came out of those pots. No wonder her plants didn't do well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 25, 2012, 11:47:26 AM
Drainage is the issue for rosemary you say. I wonder if the soil was mixed with gravel at the lower parts of the pot if that would help.

I don't do a lot of container planting, but I have heard that gravel helps. Just make sure that the pot also has sufficient drainage holes as well...all the gravel in the world won't help if the water ultimately has nowhere to go. My sister-in-law tried the gravel approach in a bucket with no holes and when we emptied the pots into the compost at the end of the season, I almost gagged on the rotting stench that came out of those pots. No wonder her plants didn't do well.

Haha, yeah I had cut holes in the bottoms of milk cartons to use as pots, when I was transplanting though I discovered they had been insufficient and loads of water was stuck there, all stinky and stuff. Was nice.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on March 31, 2012, 03:32:50 PM
With the weather today, I can't believe it's still more than a month before I *should* be planting my garden outside.

Here are some of my seedlings last week!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 31, 2012, 05:45:00 PM
With the weather today, I can't believe it's still more than a month before I *should* be planting my garden outside.

Here are some of my seedlings last week!

Kick ass. I love how much more we can get done through just using lights and a bit of creative thinking. Also, I have to say, the thumbnail of that picture freaked me out a bit. It looks like you've put your seeds inside a giant scary black face.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Physics on March 31, 2012, 06:04:33 PM
Yup, can't see anything but a big angry face!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on March 31, 2012, 09:36:54 PM
Tried out a 12W LED light for growing my seedlings this year (only planted 3 Supersweet 100 cherries to test it)
Results are spectacular so far, as these seedlings are barely 14 days old, and are not showing any signs of light deficiency (i.e. not getting leggy like they do usually under my 6500K T8 bulbs).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on March 31, 2012, 09:45:27 PM
Tried out a 12W LED light for growing my seedlings this year (only planted 3 Supersweet 100 cherries to test it)
Results are spectacular so far, as these seedlings are barely 14 days old, and are not showing any signs of light deficiency (i.e. not getting leggy like they do usually under my 6500K T8 bulbs).

Cool. Did you use an ordinary LED light or is it a grow light?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on April 01, 2012, 10:11:40 AM
Quote
i.e. not getting leggy like they do usually under my 6500K T8 bulbs

Is "leggy" long stems without enough leaves? I am hoping these bulbs I'm using are sufficient.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on April 01, 2012, 11:53:26 AM
Cool. Did you use an ordinary LED light or is it a grow light?

I bought this one at Lowe's: http://www.lowes.com/pd_321682-75774-LPAR38DM/5K/LED_0__?productId=3408208&Ntt=led&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dled%26page%3D3&facetInfo=

5000K, 810 lumens, and is a PAR38 (meaning it fits into a regular screw-in light bulb socket). Was around $44 I believe, which is certainly more expensive than fluorescents ($20 for the fixture + $8 for two T8 6500K bulbs, or $10 for 2 6500K 125W CFLs + $10 for the fixture) but it is definitely giving me some good results despite it being 12" away from the tops of the seedlings, and reduced electric consumption.

Is "leggy" long stems without enough leaves? I am hoping these bulbs I'm using are sufficient.

Yeah, where the internode distance is really long and the stems are very skinny. If you're using fluorescent bulbs, just make sure they are close to the lights - I usually would keep mine around 1" or 2" away from the tops of my plants. I just got tired of hauling the light bulbs up everytime they grew, so that's why I am playing with the LED's this year :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on April 02, 2012, 03:12:50 AM
Cool. Did you use an ordinary LED light or is it a grow light?

I bought this one at Lowe's: http://www.lowes.com/pd_321682-75774-LPAR38DM/5K/LED_0__?productId=3408208&Ntt=led&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dled%26page%3D3&facetInfo=

5000K, 810 lumens, and is a PAR38 (meaning it fits into a regular screw-in light bulb socket). Was around $44 I believe, which is certainly more expensive than fluorescents ($20 for the fixture + $8 for two T8 6500K bulbs, or $10 for 2 6500K 125W CFLs + $10 for the fixture) but it is definitely giving me some good results despite it being 12" away from the tops of the seedlings, and reduced electric consumption.

Is "leggy" long stems without enough leaves? I am hoping these bulbs I'm using are sufficient.

Yeah, where the internode distance is really long and the stems are very skinny. If you're using fluorescent bulbs, just make sure they are close to the lights - I usually would keep mine around 1" or 2" away from the tops of my plants. I just got tired of hauling the light bulbs up everytime they grew, so that's why I am playing with the LED's this year :)

That's one badass looking lightbulb. Do you find it adds much to your electricity bills? How many hours a day do you have it on? Sorry I know I should just do the maths, but I'm not long up and mental fog has yet to clear.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on April 02, 2012, 08:40:10 PM

That's one badass looking lightbulb. Do you find it adds much to your electricity bills? How many hours a day do you have it on? Sorry I know I should just do the maths, but I'm not long up and mental fog has yet to clear.

Using the equation

Wattage x Hours per day used x Days per year / 1000 = annual kwh

18 watts x 24 hours per day x 365 days per year / 1000 = 157.68 kwh

Given a cost of $0.06 per kwh (I live in the Midwest) = $9.46 / year to run


Most people aren't insane like me, and would probably only utilize it for the growing season, maybe 30-60 days for start seedlings, and then maybe only have it on for 12 hours / day (so they don't feel like they're living in Alaska during the summer)

18 watts x 12 hours per day x 60 days per year / 1000 = 12.96 kwh

Given a cost of $0.06 per kwh = $0.77 / year to run

Someone check my math (and equation) and make sure I'm doing it properly, but I think that's correct...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on April 03, 2012, 12:16:37 PM

That's one badass looking lightbulb. Do you find it adds much to your electricity bills? How many hours a day do you have it on? Sorry I know I should just do the maths, but I'm not long up and mental fog has yet to clear.

Using the equation

Wattage x Hours per day used x Days per year / 1000 = annual kwh

18 watts x 24 hours per day x 365 days per year / 1000 = 157.68 kwh

Given a cost of $0.06 per kwh (I live in the Midwest) = $9.46 / year to run


Most people aren't insane like me, and would probably only utilize it for the growing season, maybe 30-60 days for start seedlings, and then maybe only have it on for 12 hours / day (so they don't feel like they're living in Alaska during the summer)

18 watts x 12 hours per day x 60 days per year / 1000 = 12.96 kwh

Given a cost of $0.06 per kwh = $0.77 / year to run

Someone check my math (and equation) and make sure I'm doing it properly, but I think that's correct...

That's pretty darn cheap. I guess the cost of the electricity, and even the bulb easily pays itself back in terms of how much food you can grow outside of season and quality of food.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on April 06, 2012, 03:42:54 PM
Tomato seedlings at 3 weeks, doing very, very well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on April 08, 2012, 08:38:54 PM
Built my 2nd 4x8 box yesterday, and dug to the bottom of my compost heap today. Hopefully tomorrow evening I will get the first bed all sorted and ready for planting, and get the grass removed from the middle of the new box! Then, I have the interesting task of figuring out the cheapest way to get some good soil for the new box.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on April 09, 2012, 01:21:10 AM
Tomato seedlings at 3 weeks, doing very, very well.

Three weeks?!?! Clearly you are working some sort of devil magic on them.

The past week has been a brilliant one for gardening. My parents have turned over to me around 100 sq foot for developing a small farm, uh I mean vegetable garden. They had to be awkward and choose the shady side of their garden but I believe it will be OK for growing still, even if its not as productive as the sunny side... even if I have to set up a complex system of mirrors.

They've now got 4 4'x4' beds a 2'x4' and a 2'x8' plus a sort of non-descript area for herbs/edible flowers around the base of their new plum tree. Plus I DIYed a sort of hybrid polytunnel/cloche for each of the beds for while it's still quite cold.  The seeds sown on wednesday last week are starting to sprout. Because I live a couple hundred miles away I'm having to put together an information pack for them to continue the process so they know when to sow what, when to transplant etc.

I've got to say I'm impressed with the commitment from my mum, and the gung ho with which they both got involved (and somehow dragged in our visitng relatives to help this weekend). Before and after pics to come soon.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on April 09, 2012, 04:00:51 PM
Holy moly my plants have actually gone crazy without my supervision over the past week. My kitchen counter has become a mini-jungle. I am one happy small-time, urban flat-dwelling farmer.

I've decided I want to see if I can convince other folks on my street to start a community agriculture project with me. It's a bit off topic so I've started a new thread here: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/do-it-yourself-forum!/starting-a-community-agriculture-project/

If anyone has any suggestions or stories to share I'd welcome them.

Cheers
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: R62 on April 15, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Our local county extension is offering free classes and workshops this summer in gardening and urban agriculture.  This type of thing can be useful whether you're a beginner or an old hand.  You can check here (http://npic.orst.edu/pest/countyext.htm) to see what resources might be available to you.

Today we had asparagus omelets for breakfast (the ones in the photo will be eaten later this week):

 (http://i.rwpic.com/images/munchkin/asaparagus-4.jpg)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Brett on April 15, 2012, 05:24:28 PM
Our local county extension is offering free classes and workshops this summer in gardening and urban agriculture.  This type of thing can be useful whether you're a beginner or an old hand.  You can check here (http://npic.orst.edu/pest/countyext.htm) to see what resources might be available to you.

Today we had asparagus omelets for breakfast (the ones in the photo will be eaten later this week):

 (http://i.rwpic.com/images/munchkin/asaparagus-4.jpg)

Tasty as asparagus is, it looks kind of creepy growing from the ground. That is awesome that your county extension is offering that. So jealous.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on April 15, 2012, 08:26:55 PM
Transplanted all of my 25 tomato plants today into bigger containers!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on May 06, 2012, 09:23:21 AM
Planted all of my tomatoes outside yesterday... I was going to buy dowel to use for staking some of the weaker ones, but I had the genius idea of just using cottonwood sticks found around my yard instead - no need to buy anything!

Unfortunately, the plants did get somewhat thrashed in all of the high wind last night, hopefully they recover.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: geo.gs on May 06, 2012, 09:07:53 PM
In Wisconsin:

My grandpa and grandma had 5 children (my dad and four siblings). I asked my Grandpa once about his gardening. He said that back when all the children were in the house they raised and grew 95% of their food on 1 acre of land. Now its just him and my grandma there and even though they've shrunk their garden size and don't have chickens, goats, and rabbits anymore they are still growing about 65% of their food (plus they give a lot of food away too).

My point is, they needed about an acre to fully feed 7 people. So, while 5 acres may be nice, it is definitely overkill.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Guitarist on May 07, 2012, 01:03:55 PM
Our local county extension is offering free classes and workshops this summer in gardening and urban agriculture.  This type of thing can be useful whether you're a beginner or an old hand.  You can check here (http://npic.orst.edu/pest/countyext.htm) to see what resources might be available to you.

Today we had asparagus omelets for breakfast (the ones in the photo will be eaten later this week):

 (http://i.rwpic.com/images/munchkin/asaparagus-4.jpg)

You know how to make the white asparagus Germans love so much, don't you?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Guitarist on May 07, 2012, 01:05:55 PM
For those asking about storing garlic over winter: do you have a relatively cool, dry spot in your home? I've left mine in our basement the last few years and just go down and get them as needed. Maybe I'm just lucky, but there hasn't been much sprouting to contend with...the little that is there I just chop off before using the clove. Also, you need to let the bulbs cure after you dig them up before storing them - leave them somewhere sheltered from sun/elements where they can dry for about 2 days. For this, I set them on a soil screen/sifter (hardware cloth stapled to a 2x4 frame) in my shed. Garlic has been the most consistent, pain-free producer for me, so I can't recommend it enough...just checked up yesterday on my 27 sprouts that I planted in fall to overwinter.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my garden this year and learning from the mistakes of last year. Primarily, not being too over-ambitious with my plans...last year was a disaster for me. But I've got some kale seedlings right now and just planted peppers and broccoli this weekend. I'm proud of myself that I did the leg work on creating a planting schedule for myself this year so I'll have a nice structure to follow. The PDFs here: http://www.botanicalinterests.com/articles/view/54/Sowing-Guides/category:seed-starting have a lot of good info for when to plant things (indoors or outdoors).

Sounds good. Will the cured garlic be good to plant for the fall as well?
That's what I am worrying about most, having the plants survive long enough to replant!
I bought some heirloom garlic (so delicious) and I am hoping to basically make it last for the rest of my life.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: saahee on May 08, 2012, 02:05:22 AM
I have started something similar with growing my own stuff that I could use for my everyday life.  There are a few items that are easy to maintain and ones that you could actually use a lot of times.

Tomatoes are just one of them.  It is very easy to actually let them grow and look after them as they do not require that much of attention from either side.

You just have to make sure that they are given enough water and sunlight and that's it.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on May 08, 2012, 11:21:03 AM
R62--that asparagus looks great! And I agree that it looks creepy coming out of the ground, ha.
kudy--your tomato plants are so cute. I can't believe how many there are. You are going to have a lot of tomatoes :)

Here is my garden: the beans are just starting to bloom, I can see a few tiny squashes, and I'm waging a battle against thrips on the cucumbers and peppers. Besides that, it's doing pretty well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jpo on May 08, 2012, 03:05:39 PM
I have one lonely jalapeno plant since we rent a townhouse.

When I buy a house I'll be planting a little more.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on May 29, 2012, 06:06:16 PM
How are everyone's gardens growing? Mine has been a pretty big success so far. I'm so proud of it!

I've been harvesting green beans for a couple of weeks now. If I don't get out there and pick them every other day there are too many to eat in one day. I harvested my first summer squash yesterday, which was delicious. Still waiting on the tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, carrots, and peppers. I have some baby peppers and cucumbers and I get so excited to check them every day when I get home from work. Now I'm just fighting the urge to pick them before they're ready...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on June 02, 2012, 04:43:14 PM
Lots of tasty greens so far. Got my rhubarb plant in the ground and roped off to keep the dog away. My tomatoes are all in the ground and starting to thrive:
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 03, 2012, 12:12:32 PM
To answer the original question regarding reducing the cost of seeds, I prefer to buy heirloom seeds online. They are more expensive initially, but you can save the seeds from your crops and replant. The seeds you buy at Home Depot are (most likely) hybrids, which means that if you try to plant seeds from the crop you harvest, your next crop will not thrive. Paying $3 for one pack of heirloom seeds and then taking seeds from the best of the crop will make a better seed for you each year, which will translate to savings and better produce.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on June 09, 2012, 09:42:33 AM
Eggplant with leaves as big as my hand! This was taken just a week ago, and they're starting to throw flowers.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/564848_765902777856_547568080_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gerard on June 14, 2012, 04:38:15 PM
I just bought dried green peas from the store ($0.99) planted them in a pot, and they are sending up sprouts in less than a week. I should be ready to harvest them in two weeks

How did this work out? It's an amazing idea. I love pea sprouts.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: dancedancekj on June 14, 2012, 10:45:21 PM
I just bought dried green peas from the store ($0.99) planted them in a pot, and they are sending up sprouts in less than a week. I should be ready to harvest them in two weeks

How did this work out? It's an amazing idea. I love pea sprouts.

Turned out deliciously! All you have to do is wait for them to sprout.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on June 20, 2012, 07:41:52 PM
This thread has been fabulous!  I just found it today.  I have a small garden on the sunny side of my house.  We get plenty of salad from it....I just pulled up the first round of spent lettuce today.  This was my first year growing lettuces in the ground.  I've always done it in pots, but it seems just as happy in the ground!  Radishes, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash and beets are what's gowing in there right now.  Along with a full herb garden.....growing herbs and lettuce alone must save us a ton of money!  I want to try some carrots, okra, and peas next.  How's everyone else's doing?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on June 20, 2012, 09:38:56 PM
3 of my tomato plants have curly top disease, but the other 22 are doing very nicely.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: R62 on June 22, 2012, 07:42:02 AM

We've picked several gallons thus far ....

(http://i.rwpic.com/images/munchkin/strawberry.jpg)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: arebelspy on June 22, 2012, 07:52:08 AM
Wow, those look delicious R62!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on June 22, 2012, 11:01:10 AM

We've picked several gallons thus far ....


How do you keep the birds away? The one year I tried strawberries it turned into an arms race, and they still got most of them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zinnie on June 22, 2012, 01:20:26 PM
R62, I'm jealous of your strawberries! I might try that next year.

My garden has been doing surprisingly well. I harvested beans for about a month and just pulled the plants and replaced them. I have yellow squash, radishes, carrots, cucumber, and three kinds of peppers all producing right now. I'm just waiting for the tomatoes to ripen, and my sweet potato bin to get going.

I'm amazed at how much I can grow in a tiny square foot garden in my front yard. I'd like to get to the point where we grow enough veggies for the two of us almost all of our veggies from the garden. I know it's possible, I just have to get the timing down right. But it's been a great success so far!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: R62 on June 22, 2012, 02:51:06 PM
How do you keep the birds away? The one year I tried strawberries it turned into an arms race, and they still got most of them.

I think it helps having 3 cats ...  :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on June 22, 2012, 03:16:33 PM
Gorgeous berries! 

You know Kudy, I think curly top disease might be what assassinated my cherry tomato plant....I don't know much about that though.  The top of it curled up and the stalk looked covered in rough texture (fungus maybe).

I am growing an early bell pepper that hasn't yielded anything yet.  There are lots of blooms, so hopefully peppers will come soon!  I haven't ever been very successfull with peppers.  Last year every one had a wierd black spot that would rot before the fruit got big enough to pick.

I have been trying to learn more about companion planting to make the garden/soil healthier and increase production.  I found this list and thought others might like it too.  (www.ghorganics.com/page2.html)  I don't know how to post links, so please forgive my lack of tech savvy.  Honestly, before I found ERE and MMM I couldn't even fathom why people wanted to "surf" the net.....Now it's like I have a huge library at my disposal, but I don't know many tricks yet.  :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tiamat on June 22, 2012, 08:29:39 PM

We had a lot of luck with these in the past (although I've never tried squash before). 

We have really really good luck with squash out here (I'm in Louisville, CO)...both summer and winter squash.  Seems to thrive in our sun, hot days, and cool nights. 

I've never had much luck with tomatoes, but I think it's a soil issue (a friend suggested I need to add lime).  I can only get the little cherry tomatoes and roma to grow w/o getting bottom-end rot.  Do you guys do anything special with yours?

The blossom end rot is indeed a soil deficiency. It's calcium deprived. So, calcium or gypsum should help. Even eggshells if you have them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gerard on June 23, 2012, 07:37:42 AM
If you "toast" the eggshells before crushing them, they break down better. Just pop them into the oven after you take out whatever you're baking, and they'll toast in the remaining heat.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jamesqf on June 23, 2012, 02:49:45 PM
How do you keep the birds away? The one year I tried strawberries it turned into an arms race, and they still got most of them.

I think it helps having 3 cats ...  :)

Or a dog that gets off on chasing birds :-)

A couple of things I've done this year seem to be helping with my cherry trees.  One was to get a couple of dozen bright red beads, about cherry size, and hang them in the trees just before the cherries turn color.  The birds start pecking them, learn that they aren't edible, and give up. 

The other is a plastic owl on a tall post.  You need to put it out just when things start ripening, and move it every day or so, otherwise the birds learn that it isn't going to do anything.  Of course there are always nets, but one of my trees is too big for that now.  Still, I'm getting tons of cherries this year, and not much bird loss.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: R62 on June 30, 2012, 02:19:31 PM
Today picked our first big turnip of the season, and had turnip-and-greens soup for lunch.

Also getting plenty of peas, lettuce, a variety of fresh herbs, and still some strawberries (although these are past their peak).  I canned a big batch of strawberry syrup this morning.

The turnip soup recipe here (I used onion in place of leeks) :   http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Turnip-Soup-with-Turnip-Greens-368511
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: ShavinItForLater on July 01, 2012, 07:38:26 AM
When we had some landscaping done a 2 years ago, I reserved a 39' x 8.5' plot for gardening (and this year starting to expand into other corners of the yard).  Last year was very successful, and this year is looking good as well.  I've been following the advice of the book by Steve Solomon which I highly recommend: Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times: http://www.amazon.com/Gardening-When-Counts-Growing-Mother/dp/086571553X (http://www.amazon.com/Gardening-When-Counts-Growing-Mother/dp/086571553X)

Very mustachian attitude in that book, and it offers a good counterpoint to the square foot gardening method--Steve recommends spreading plants out more to allow more room for roots, more and longer yields per plant, and less watering needed (possibly none at all beyond natural rainfall).  He's aware of SFG as well, he even has a table showing the other plant spacing recommendations compared to his.  Might not work if you have a postage stamp size plot, but I can tell you I believe the yield part--I didn't know what to do with all the zucchini, cucumbers, or tomatoes from last year.  By the middle of summer the whole plot was one big green canopy.  My biggest issue was making sure I harvested the zucchini before they were too massive. 

The book has a section about how to grow each individual type of plant, categorized into easy/medium/hard.  I will say he also pretty much steers most people away from composting--says it's really hard to do well, and refers you to another book if you really want to do it.  Other key advice--he has a rather simple formula for what he calls "Complete Organic Fertilizer", which includes seedmeal, gypsum, and a handful of other things to make your plants grow much better and also be much more nutritious than what you get in the store.  There is a youtube video out there that goes through the formula, though the book has options depending on what you have available in your local stores (bat guano anyone?).  For seeds, Steve used to run a seed company and he gives very detailed advice about where to get your seeds, including saying get them from a company with their seed test beds around your climate area, and he gives specific recommendations of reputable seed companies.  For me (Chicago area) that meant I get my seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds.

This year I've planted less plants of the ones that had such a massive bumper crop last year, and added new things.  Right now the list includes:

Sugar Snap Peas
Snap Green Beans
Spinach
Canteloupe
Butternut Squash
Cucumbers
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Heirloom Brandywine Tomatoes
Grape Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Zucchini (two kinds)
Eggplant
Watermelon
Green/red pepper
Chives
Green Onions
Basil
Cilantro
Dill
Giant Sunflowers

I'm still planting too, I had one patch that I never planted other than the buckwheat cover crop (another Steve Solomon idea), and now that the spinach are starting to bolt I'm going to replant that area.  Considering pumpkins or brussel sprouts (the one thing that didn't work last year, but I think I know what I did wrong) and maybe some other things--it's about a 4' by 15' area, maybe more if I pull up the peas, so I can probably get a few things going.   I was thinking of doing full size onions and maybe potatoes or sweet potatoes, but DW seems worried about them being invasive and taking over the yard.  Perhaps I'll start with a few in a container.

The watermelon are actually in containers so I could also plant those to give them more room, but they are a short-vine, small melon variety that says they are good in containers so I thought I may leave them and see how they do (so far doing well--vine is about 2 ft. long and melons are starting to form).  The main issue with containers is where to put them--I have rabbit issues, so pretty much everything except tomatoes, peppers, and onions has to be fenced in.

Regarding pests, the only major problem I had last year was cucumber beetles.  There were a lot of them, but it was late in the season and I had already harvested so many cucumber that I honestly didn't care that much, I had more cukes than I needed.  I did find some organic options to try and contain them but I never pulled the trigger on that.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on July 11, 2012, 10:13:52 AM
I'm going to try your book recommendation Shaving.  It can be my next read, thanks!  (I just started reading Square Foot Gardening this week after a trip to the library.)  I have an update on our garden though......  The bell peppers are several inches long now and should be big enough to harvest soon.  We have plenty of yellow tomatoes... I would love to show you all the picture I took of salad Caprese we made last weekend, but not sure if I will be able to get it uploaded today.  Our top-producing tomato plant has just developed a case of fungus this week.   Otherwise I have been kind of lazy about replanting bare spots where other crops have finished.  This is mainly because until yesterday we have had a run of 100+ degree weather in Charlotte, with heat indexes 105+.  Dill and basil are still going strong!  Happy gardening everyone!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: mustachecat on July 19, 2012, 09:12:26 AM
Anyone planning some mid-summer planting for fall harvest?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jamesqf on July 19, 2012, 12:55:17 PM
Maybe some peas, but it's always iffy planting around here (east slope of the Sierra Nevada) because of wide swings in weather.  It's not unheard of to get our first snowfall in August (after the last in July!), and to have a couple of months of 70+ temps afterwards.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: amyable on July 19, 2012, 02:41:53 PM
Anyone planning some mid-summer planting for fall harvest?

I planted some winter squash (butternut and delicata) in the raised beds.  This is my first year to try fall gardening.  I've been planting a spring/summer garden for three years and grow tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra and tons of herbs.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: englyn on July 19, 2012, 07:00:50 PM
Nope. I'm busily and very happily planting my first winter crop. (other hemisphere, no frost). We made quite an ornamental layout of a vegetable garden, and even in the middle of winter they're going great!
I have planted seedlings of: broccoli, kale, leek.
and seeds of: peas (now 10cm/4in tall), carrots, lettuces (I sowed them way too dense. Thinning the seedlings now 3in tall is going to be a tasty exercise), warrigal greens (haven't germinated :( should have waited for spring), choy sum, perpetual spinach, broad beans, beetroot, snow peas and rocket.
OMNOMNOM can't wait!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on July 25, 2012, 04:38:24 PM
We are still harvesting tomatoes and now getting nice big bell peppers.  I've just planted peas, bush beans, carrots, onions, beets, chard, nasturtiums, and marigolds.  In Charlotte we have a long growing season, so I think this will work.  I've never planted a second round before.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gerard on July 25, 2012, 06:19:20 PM
Brett, I agree that rosemary in a pot is near impossible. It just gets too big too fast and it's never happy.
I've never had fun with potted Rosemary. It wants a hottish dry summer and a cool winter with high air humidity (but dry feet), and unless you keep it outside and have that kind of climate, you're kinda screwed.

I keep wishing my mint would get invasive. I could easily go through a few cupfuls of it in a week (tea, tabbouleh, spanakopita...).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: amyable on July 26, 2012, 07:32:06 AM
I keep wishing my mint would get invasive. I could easily go through a few cupfuls of it in a week (tea, tabbouleh, spanakopita...).

Me too--I think the extreme summer heat keeps mine in check--maybe I should try it in full shade?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on July 26, 2012, 09:03:02 PM
Started harvesting my first tomatoes last week... nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato!

This evening I harvested my first rhubarb that is now baking in a pie in the oven.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: R62 on July 29, 2012, 11:55:13 AM
Today's pick:

(http://i.rwpic.com/images/munchkin/cabbage.jpg)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: englyn on July 29, 2012, 07:23:44 PM
^^ Nice!! Well done!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gerard on July 29, 2012, 09:01:55 PM
I keep wishing my mint would get invasive.
Me too--I think the extreme summer heat keeps mine in check--maybe I should try it in full shade?
Worth a try. We have cool summers here, and I've had to move mine into more sunlight, which it's loving. But also a more moisture-retaining rich soil (lots of compost).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Catbert on August 24, 2012, 12:53:17 PM
For cheap seeds try the 99 cent stores in the spring.  I've found common seeds (zucchini, radish, lettuce, etc) packages 6 for 99 cents or so.  Or this time of year (late summer) on-line stores often have a seed sale for this year's labeled seeds.  (For example, Renee's Garden has 2012 seeds for 40% off.)  I'm not sure with your size of garden whether you currently buy your seeds in much larger quantities that the individual packets that work for me.

I've had the same (bad) experience with carrots that you have.

For canning and freezing think about what you'll really eat and whether you really like the tasteof it  canned or frozen.  I canned last year for the first time and realized later than I don't really eat a lot of jam and pickles.  So much of it became Christmas/hostess gifts.  The rest I had to make a concerted effort to use up.  This year I'll can more tomatoes and less jam.  I also figured out that I like fresh green beans but not frozen or canned.  But hot dilly beans are delish in a Bloody Mary.    I just saying don't go overboard with preserving without considering what you'll really want to eat.

Try getting a dehydrator from Craig's List.  You can get new for $60 or so and much less used.  Another way to preserve tomatoes and maybe some of those herbs.

I second the thought of getting a grow light and heat mat to start your own seeds.

Since I'm in southern california I don't have any more specific gardening advice since out environments are so different.

Think about how much of things you use weekly (or monthly) and then do the math to determine how much you should can/freeze/dry.  For examplek if you use 2 15 oz cans of tomatoes a week then you'll need 104 pt jars to supply a years supply.   Or if you use a jar a month of pickles then you only need 12 jars.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: twinge on August 26, 2012, 09:46:49 AM
*Just wanted to plug the idea of using the front yard for a vegetable garden to those who might be hesitant--it's been great for us.

My 11 year old son is really into gardening but our backyard/side gardens hadn't done too well because of there's a lot of mature trees and little sun.  So we made an attractive bed in the front and surrounded with pavers to give it a sort of organic, shaped style--suppressed the lawn (just put wet cardboard down over the lawn and piled leaves on it in the early spring--and it was ready to plant by May).  My son started seeds in the early spring inside under a low florescent (full spectrum) light and planted in May.  Our harvest from this fairly small space --all grown organically with no fertilizer other than our own compost--has been phenomenal. My son (aspiring engineer) has kept detailed track:

Over 2500 tomatoes
Over 100 cucumbers
A half dozen bell and banana peppers (with many more coming now)
3 pumpkins  (with 5 or so more coming on the vine)--though it's not the wisest use of garden space, my son really loves them
8 eggplants
Dozens of green beans now coming in each day (we planted those later)
ready supply of lettuce, basil, dill etc as we needed it
Lots of sunflowers

We cut down some bamboo that was invading land nearby and he built some nice teepee like structures so some of the vines grow up to use the space better and to give it a little aesthetic structure.   In our upper middle class suburb, many people have walked by and commented how nice it looks, what a great idea etc.  A lot of little kids check up on the pumpkins progress. And our neighbors have all benefited from our surplus of tomatoes and cucumbers.  We haven't felt any negative vibes from anyone so if there's anyone displeased they aren't letting us know.  We planted so that some new things will be growing as others die out just as you would to keep any bed attractive.  We also thought about aesthetics as we shaped the beds, built the structures etc.  Small touches like interspersing a couple of eggplants and sunflowers around add a more flowery feel to the garden. While we chose this space because of the sun, I actually love the idea of having a garden be a point of connection with casual passerbys and neighbors--and I like that it encourages us to become more attentive to the aesthetics because then it's even better to be in. Plus nothing like a good surplus of organic, fresh picked veggies!


Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: mustachecat on August 27, 2012, 01:30:53 PM
I started gardening verrrrry late this year; I'm in a small apartment building, and technically, only the first-floor tenant has backyard access, but he's let us in, and we're allowed to use all his gardening tools and supplies. Yay for neighborliness!

I planted two tomato plants in late June, and fruit is only appearing now. I also planted bush beans last month, and they're just also starting to put out beans. I have some romaine lettuce and arugula that I should start eating. Neither my beets nor my turnips survived: the beets might have been dug up by raccoons, and the turnips didn't have enough depth (I have a small raised bed). We've also killed two rosemary plants. Someone before me planted chocolate mint and lemon balm in two containers; the lemon balm has been especially good for tea.

Echoing mary w's recommendation for dollar-store seeds. Mine doesn't have anything too fancy, but at three for 99 cents, I don't mind not having heirloom whatevers. ;)

I'm going to plant kale, turnip greens, and collards this weekend for a fall harvest, and make up an actual gardening plan for 2013. I'd like to build 1-2 additional raised beds and try the square-foot gardening approach. Also, we need to trim some branches off the giant tree in the yard... they're blocking a good amount of sunlight, and dang it, we need that energy.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on August 28, 2012, 06:06:55 PM
I am also just starting to get beans from the bush plants that I started late!  We still get an occasional grape tomato.  The second round of radishes should be ready and maybe a couple of beets.  I still have tons of basil....I intend to use that for pesto, so we'll have something yummy later this winter.  Each year I finish up not having planted nearly as much as I intended, but it's still a fun and tasty hobby. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Lex on August 30, 2012, 07:13:03 PM
We've recently moved from Europe to the Caribbean, and have been setting up a system for veggies and fruits because the cost of living is so high here.

On the picture is the back part of our garden, with a small banana tree (on the left) that was transplanted from the jungle. It should start supplying bananas in 10 to 12 months. There's a very small mango tree behind it, and in the background are full-grown papaya trees.

We've made a veggie patch on the other side of the house with peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini. My son has been planting flowers and they grow like crazy because of the climate. We also have several almond and orange trees in the garden. The oranges are green and not fit for outright eating, we use them for ice tea and seasoning of meat. The smaller veggie plants have to be placed behind very sturdy wire to keep the iguanas out. Quite a change from the rabbits that loved to nibble on my veggies back home!

(edited a typo and corrected pic size)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on September 17, 2012, 05:07:08 PM
I've been growing herbs: mint, thyme, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, parsley, rocket for some time very successfully. I can't get anywhere with my favourite basil... but will keep trying.

Recently I cleared a plot in my front yard and for the first time I'm growing silverbeet, ruby chard, lettuce and bokchoy.  So far so good about 4 weeks in. I stuck in 2 sprouting organic potatoes from the kitchen cupboard, and one has reached the surface, still waiting for the other. Maybe in a few months I will have potatoes!

I thought this was a really big plot - about 2m x1.5, but it filled up really quickly....so I 'm planning to work up another area in the next few months. Last time I did tomatoes in this house (moved 3 years ago) it was a failure, so thats my next target. Cherry tomatoes are usually pretty easy, so I'll try again.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on September 17, 2012, 07:40:17 PM
This is my best year for green peppers ever.  I am still getting very big  organically grown bell peppers!! I only had one plant, but more peppers than we usually get from 2 or 3 plants.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on September 18, 2012, 02:44:30 AM
Yum!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: clarkai on October 14, 2012, 07:23:25 PM
Now is the time to get started on next year's garden. I've already got garlic, shallots, perennial onions, and perennial leeks planted and sprouting. The rains just started in again here, so I've sown broccoli, peas, kale, collards, chard, arugula, and spinach. The idea isn't necessarily to harvest before spring, but rather to get the plant's roots systems strong and deep so they can get a head start when the weather warms up. Now, I am in zone 7, so I'm not sure if fall sowing works in colder areas.

Any body else working in the garden today?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on October 14, 2012, 08:30:42 PM
Hey this is great! It's my people! I'm a big gardener. Love it. Planted 4# of garlic seed today from last Julys harvest. Pulling up the last of the green tomatoes and seeding the overwintering greens. I have way to much to say about gardening - I talk about gardening in the Pac NW and related urban homesteady things on my blog 3 or 4 times a week. Feel free to pop over and say hi if you want. I'm at www.nwedible.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/nwedible
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on October 15, 2012, 02:20:26 AM
Hey Erica, I checked your blog and love it. Your preserves are amazing. I recently made a little strawberry jam for the first time:  it was a hit, pretty easy in the breadmaker, sure to be repeated.
 
I've been lurking around quite a few Aussie simple living blogs for a few years now. I've been growing herbs for a few years, but have finally realised a dream to grow veges...so far silverbeet, ruby chard, and a heap of different leaf lettuces are going great.  Something that was supposed to be bok choy turned into an unrecognisable leggy thing. My two test potatoes have sprouted, been mounded and are about to flower.. the leaves at least look healthy. I'm very pleased: its all going much better than expected -beginner's luck? or maybe I did absorb some good tips from all those blogs.

Last weekend newspaper and mulched a big strip of lawn: have a few more layers togo , but its the first step to a new bed.  Planted some cherry tomatoes too. And some nastursiums as companion plant and also my daughter likes the leaves on peanut butter sandwiches.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: carolinakaren on October 15, 2012, 02:42:40 AM
John accidentally pulled up one of my nasturtiums today while working in the beds.  It had been an experiment to mix veggies and flowers in with some of the shrubbery....not in my regular garden plot.  The nasturtiums did well, but the carrots and swiss chard did not.  I haven't used any of the flower parts in a sandwich yet, but thanks for the idea.  I have used some flowers in salads.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on October 15, 2012, 10:07:08 AM
Hey Erica, I checked your blog and love it. Your preserves are amazing. I recently made a little strawberry jam for the first time....
Something that was supposed to be bok choy turned into an unrecognisable leggy thing.
Thanks Happy. :) The Aussie homesteading movement is HUGE, you have a lot to pick from locally. Do you follow Milkwood Permaculture?
Bok choy: very sensitive to day light. The trick is to plant it 4-6 weeks or so after the solstice (I'd guess this might be mid to late January in the S. Hemi? Maybe?) after the day are noticeably shortening. If you plant it when daylight is increasing it runs to seed so quickly. If you time it to mature in early fall it will stand longer, but even then prompt harvesting is usually necessary.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on October 15, 2012, 10:49:58 PM
@Erica,
Yes I check out Milkwood  from time to time. The bok choy, seeing as I planted it in early September ( maybe late August): well the days were getting longer: this would explain it... It never looked like bok choy it just shot straight into flowering/seed. Thanks!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: clarkai on October 21, 2012, 01:00:59 PM
I'm super excited, because I read somewhere online that someone put some broccoli leaves in water as a decoration, and they sprouted roots. Well, I tried it, and now mine have sprouted roots too!

I know this seems pretty nerdy to be excited about, but it seems to me if I can sprout roots from leaves that might get me to a mature plant faster, with potentially less bother than staring from seeds. It also means I can save leaves from the gigantic broccoli plant in my garden, grow it's clones and continue to benefit from it's unique genetics. Seriously, I might just name this broccoli plant- it's huge, and it just keeps producing. 

Has anybody grown any brassicas from leaf cuttings?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miss Stachio on December 24, 2012, 08:09:52 AM
To answer the original question regarding reducing the cost of seeds, I prefer to buy heirloom seeds online. They are more expensive initially, but you can save the seeds from your crops and replant. The seeds you buy at Home Depot are (most likely) hybrids, which means that if you try to plant seeds from the crop you harvest, your next crop will not thrive. Paying $3 for one pack of heirloom seeds and then taking seeds from the best of the crop will make a better seed for you each year, which will translate to savings and better produce.

Completely agree with Nancy.  I bought heirloom seeds from Sand Hill Preservation and saved the seeds from the best plants last summer.  I now have 10x more bean, pea, tomato and okra seeds than what I paid for originally.  I could have easily saved much more if there was more room in my seed box.  I'm still trying to figure out the best ways to collect lettuce/herb seeds and corn kernals before the weather and critters get them.  Any tips?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CatM13 on December 26, 2012, 07:42:38 AM
I'm super excited, because I read somewhere online that someone put some broccoli leaves in water as a decoration, and they sprouted roots. Well, I tried it, and now mine have sprouted roots too!

I know this seems pretty nerdy to be excited about, but it seems to me if I can sprout roots from leaves that might get me to a mature plant faster, with potentially less bother than staring from seeds. It also means I can save leaves from the gigantic broccoli plant in my garden, grow it's clones and continue to benefit from it's unique genetics. Seriously, I might just name this broccoli plant- it's huge, and it just keeps producing. 

Has anybody grown any brassicas from leaf cuttings?

Oh wow that is awesome. Guess I know what I'll be do real soon. ;)

Never tried to grow brassicas but I am currently trying to grow celery from the cut of end. So far I have some leaves that have sprouted. Hopefully I'll have more stalks soon.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: clarkai on January 07, 2013, 01:03:41 PM
Behold, the mighty broccoli! May it grow strong, and yield many heads.

(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1227_608656575662_383317238_n.jpg)

The above was sown with many brethren on Oct. 14th of last year, survived the great fall thinning of November, through the cold dark before the solstice, and with the growing warmth and light of the new year will spring up and deliver many heads to my kitchen.


I love fall sowing over wintering crops. Perhaps a bit too much.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: startingover on February 18, 2013, 08:32:23 PM
I love gardening!  You can save seeds from veggies, such as melons, cuc's, squash, and use them the next year.  I've done that.  Tomatoes will grow the next year if they fall on the ground and the seeds are not picked up.  Those are called "volunteer".  I did that one year by accident:)  Other veggies do that too. 
Plant potatoes on March 17.  I plant onions with green beans or peas.  The onions take so long that the others are done when it's time to get the onions. 
Canning is fun and easy.  Hot work, but I really enjoyed it.  I used the "Ball" book for recipes.  I had enough tomatoes canned to last two years once!!  As long as they are sealed up good, they will last.  Be sure to blanch your beans, and peas properly or they will be nasty!  Hard lesson there.
My man and I will have a small garden this year.  We have a flat roof and he is wondering about a roof top garden.
I also plant seeds in March in the house and plant out in April or May.  Read the packets and that will help.  I buy seeds from the dollar stores or other such stores.  They are inexpensive and do grow.
Good luck to all the gardeners out there!  I'm looking forward to hearing more.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on February 23, 2013, 10:38:51 AM
clarkai - update on the brocolli please!  I want to try it.

Re:  Rosemary in pots . . . (Zone 5).  I get about 3 years of productivity from one plant.  It's put into a stone container (equivalent of a 2 gallon scrub bucket in size) That goes outside in late spring/summer and THRIVES yielding plenty to dry and freeze for our use and other family members, then comes in for the winter and is set in a South facing window for fresh clippings. 

Now I wonder if I could get a few more years out of a plant if I changed the soil every year????? 

Anyone tried Lasagna Gardening?  Lots on youTube about it and we're going to start one this year on the shady side of the house for lettuce etc.

Yes, spend a lttle extra and buy heirloom non-GMO seeds that can be saved.  A little money up front saves a lot in the long run healthwise as well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: clarkai on April 14, 2013, 09:37:24 AM
Sorry it took me a while to reply Miamoo- my garden has been on a bit of a back burner, which explains the weeds you see in this update photo:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrRti08QK4k/UWrKT6GYyFI/AAAAAAAADMc/FlIE21o9Wgc/s320/DSCN0578.JPG)

I'm quite happy with the development.


Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Kamikaze Emu on April 14, 2013, 01:46:29 PM
We bought our seeds this year from here: http://www.seeds-organic.com/

She is a Canadian based supplier but I would assume she will ship to the US. 

In terms of knowledge I would strongly recommend this: http://www.amazon.ca/The-New-Organic-Grower-Techniques/dp/093003175X

For our home garden we use the square foot method, and there is some good info out there on how to do this effectively. 

Here is the family as of a week or so ago...

(http://i.imgur.com/6tAcd5C.jpg)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: daverobev on April 14, 2013, 02:32:11 PM
Try Johnny's or High Mowing for organic stuff in the States. No point shipping from Canada when you might get customs fees.. And there are some things that can't be sent cross border anyway.

I'm helping to run a CSA this year so we have aubergines, tomatoes and so on coming up. Bit late with some things as I messed some ordering up, oops. And some peppers don't seem to want to come up... guess I'll need some seed heater trays next year!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Dr.Vibrissae on April 14, 2013, 04:10:00 PM
Brett, I agree that rosemary in a pot is near impossible. It just gets too big too fast and it's never happy.
I've never had fun with potted Rosemary. It wants a hottish dry summer and a cool winter with high air humidity (but dry feet), and unless you keep it outside and have that kind of climate, you're kinda screwed.


Hmm, my potted rosemary is the only thing that I was able to save from the huge drought that we suffered through the first year in my house, and the first herb I grew successfully, haha.  It was mostly dead when I dug it up and transplanted it into a large pot so I could gravel in about a third of the back yard (a dust pit at the time).  It is thriving now despite my lackadaisical gardening skills.  Probably because it lives outside and we have a climate similar to that you describe.

This year is our first attempt at gardening in TX, and we started with a single raised bed (baby steps, I think I'm more likely to succeed if I don't overdo it all at once, and then am unable to keep up).  So far the tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, and cucumbers are looking good.  The dogs accidentally crushed one cucumber, but I have replaced it with a volunteer that looks like it's going to be in the squash/melon family (I'm a lackadaisical composter as well, and frequently grow 'volunteers' in one of the piles, we got some good tomatilloes that way one year).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 25, 2013, 10:48:16 AM
Thanks Clarkai.  I tried it her but it sure didn't work!  (At least the first attempt)

Found something else to try tho for overwintering next fall . . .

hsnap Jun 10 2011 at 8:40 PM

Something I just learned. I had a basil plant that I wintered over in my house. I read in Mother Earth Mag that you can root basil cuttings. Well it's true. I cut off a piece, cut off the leaves so I could have about 2 inches of stem, added a little soil to a jar of water and put it in. In about 2 weeks the cuttings had beautiful roots. I planted it yesterday in a pot of soil.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on April 27, 2013, 03:36:10 PM
Just finished turning in my new compost - love that step! Tomorrow I'll move my tomatoes to bigger containers - woohoo!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 28, 2013, 02:48:32 AM
We are coming into autumn/winter, as you guys are warming up. Luckily where I am there is no frost...record cold overnight is 5C, so there's lots I can grow.

I've been working hard in the last few weeks preparing and planting up some very early seedlings I bought. I've expanded a lot this season with a large netted area (about 3x2m) now planted with celery, silverbeet, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, and some garlic. My smaller netted area is under preparation and today we put edging around another bed which is not netted.

Just learnt from Erica's blog I did the root veges all wrong, but they  seem to have survived so far:http://www.nwedible.com/2013/04/how-to-spot-and-avoid-a-crappy-seedling.html (http://www.nwedible.com/2013/04/how-to-spot-and-avoid-a-crappy-seedling.html).

I made a fundamental boo-boo: I waited until all my summer crop was finished to get going on the winter one, so now the only edible I have left is some rocket. And it looks like it will be maybe  a couple of  months before I have anything to eat.

I have potatoes growing nicely that I planted in Feb, so they should be ready in a couple of months too.
 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: reginna on June 02, 2013, 05:00:55 PM
There is a guy on youtube named John Kohler that has a great channel called Growingyougreens. Tons of informative videos and very entertaining as well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on June 02, 2013, 07:02:13 PM
It was fun to read all the notes on last year's gardens.  Where are all the gardeners this year?

Here in Southeastern Ontario the seasons are changing almost daily - we were in the high 20s with thunderstorms this weekend, and tomorrow will be a high of 19 (Celcius). 

This year I started over 90 pepper plants and 20 tomatoes for our local plant sale - 5000 and 6500K T8 bulbs (one of each in each fixture) did a great job.  As others have mentioned, the trick is to have the bulbs only an inch from the tops of the plants.  One tip I haven't seen mentioned - don't worry if your tomatoes are leggy, gently take off the leaves that are far apart, and then bury them almost to the leaves that are left, and they will grow roots all along the buried stem.  The new stems will be stronger since they are growing outside with the breezes. If your soil is still cool lower down, you can lay them horizontally, they won't mind. Most of my tomatoes are indeterminate, which means they will reach 6-7 feet if I let them - I usually take out the growing point in late August, so that they mature the tomatoes they already have instead of making new ones and losing them to frost.

I saw Heritage tomatoes in lots of outlets this year - I am growing Brandywine and Money Maker (so I can save their seeds if I like them) plus Sweet 100, which is a hybrid cherry tomato but I love its flavour, and a plum tomato and some new ones.  Tomato seed keeps for at least 5 years, so I try something new every year or two.  That's one of the benefits of growing your own, you don't have to take what the garden centers have.

My Sugar Snap peas are about 6 inches, time to trellis.  Tomatoes and peppers are still in pots, next weekend will be time enough to put them out.  Beans will go in the week after that.  Plus I have about 35-40 baby asparagus plants (started from seed last year) to put out at the back of the perennial border - asparagus is very ornamental, so I don't use garden space for it. 
My rhubarb died back early in last summer's drought, I thought it was gone - but it is up, can start pulling stems soon.

And I have a bunch of baby peonies to plant out - they only take 5 years from start to bloom, no big deal.  I have a bunch that bloomed for the first time last summer, very pretty, and satisfying to have grown them from seed.

Can you tell I love gardening?  I have been gardening, ornamentals and veggies, for as long as I can remember, my parents gardened.  I am hoping to get my Master Gardener certification this year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: KulshanGirl on June 03, 2013, 09:53:58 AM
Despite the fact that I've been terrible at weeding, the garden is rockin' so far this year. 

The good:  We're eating kale, lots of lettuce, onion thinnings/green onions, and in the last couple of days, the snap peas are at that snacking stage.  :)  Tomatos actually have some blossoms already, and the potatos and brussels sprouts are HUGE and look amazing so far.  We are going to have a TON of strawberries and raspberries. 

The bad:  The slugs took out half of my green beans, the buggers!  Beets are finally coming up, I'm trying a new kind called MacGregor's favorite.  We shall see! 

The ugly:  I can't seem to keep carrot seed damp enough to even grow.  That, or I got some bad seed.  I'll go and get another packet and give it another go.  RIP carrots, twice!  Also, the side bed project is NOT done yet.  That's where the zukes, little squashes and cucumbers were going to go.  Ah well.  I might still get to that, and I can cram some cukes into the other beds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Dr.Vibrissae on June 03, 2013, 10:19:39 AM
This is our first year easing into gardening (despite my mother and grandmother being excellent gardeners, I have a bit of a black thumb/short attention span; same issue I have with cooking)

We put in one raised bed with 2 tomatoes, 2 habeneros, 3 bell peppers, a white eggplant, a cucumber and a volunteer zucchini.  We've already eaten the first cucumbers, and would have had more, but we went out of town for a week and it was nearly smothered by the zucchini, whicis a beast that nearly spans the yard and is attempting to surround my shed.  We have two tomatoes that are so close to being ripe, we would have had some earlier, but the dog ate the first fruits just as they got ripe.  The peppers and eggplant also have some beautiful fruit starting, I'm excited at the little successes so far.

We also have been goring herbs for a few years, rosemary and basil do awesome as always, and this year we added lemon verbena (ginger and lemon verbena tea is awesome), along with sage, and I'm planning to try my hand with cilantro.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: TansyPants on June 03, 2013, 11:11:00 AM
We live in a tiny inner city apartment with no yard, but i was determined to find a way to grow some vege and herbs. I don't know if any of you are familiar with aquaonics, but i highly reccomend giving it a try.

 http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/

The idea behind it is to keep fish (preferably edible ones) and create a mini eco system where the fish waste fertalizes the lants and tthe plants filter the water for the fish.
The end result is a small but highly productive garden roviding both plants and protein.

Being in a tiny apartment we're using a very small system with a 40gallon aquarium. We're still cycling the tank but the basil we put in is doing very well and thhe peppers and tomatoes are just beginning to pop up.
for those with dreams of self sufficiency or very small gardens i think aquaponics is a truely wonderful idea.

My boyfriend financed the aquarium as he's keen to use this system on his spacecraft one day. Yes, he and i have different views on what constitutes FI, but we're agreed that boosting earnings (currently 150k between us and set to rocket when i qualify later this year) and minimizing spending is clearly the way to go. He'll have to get over his fish allergies first though.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: KulshanGirl on June 04, 2013, 02:21:52 PM
This just in!  First strawberry is nearly ripe!  I repeat, first strawberry is ALMOST RIPE OMG!  I just want to sit there and stare at it.  :)

So, I have a week vacation coming up and hereby pledge to build that squash bed.  I will post a photo of it here when it's done. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: kudy on June 04, 2013, 08:58:15 PM
My new additions this year: a raspberry bush, kale, and hopefully a pumpkin plant. Otherwise, I am following last years formula exactly: too many tomatoes, and some other stuff :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: KulshanGirl on June 09, 2013, 12:29:07 PM
Squash bed is built!  Also, I broke my weedeater and fixed it with hot pink duct tape.  :) 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: netskyblue on June 09, 2013, 01:17:05 PM
This is the time of year that I PINE for a house of my own, so I could grow a massive garden.  We're in a 2nd story apartment, with a big tree in front of our balcony, so limited light.  We have lettuce growing (that's nice for semi shade), one tomato, one pepper, and some basil.  I also sowed some seeds I saved from an heirloom tomato last season to see if they would grow, and I've got 7 nice healthy seedlings coming along.  I'll have to give some away, as only one tiny corner of the balcony has enough light to grow tomatoes.  I can maybe grow one more in that corner.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on June 21, 2013, 05:31:57 AM
Brett, I agree that rosemary in a pot is near impossible. It just gets too big too fast and it's never happy.
I've never had fun with potted Rosemary. It wants a hottish dry summer and a cool winter with high air humidity (but dry feet), and unless you keep it outside and have that kind of climate, you're kinda screwed.

Hmm, my potted rosemary is the only thing that I was able to save from the huge drought that we suffered through the first year in my house, and the first herb I grew successfully, haha.  It was mostly dead when I dug it up and transplanted it into a large pot so I could gravel in about a third of the back yard (a dust pit at the time).  It is thriving now despite my lackadaisical gardening skills.  Probably because it lives outside and we have a climate similar to that you describe.

Odd. I've got cool summers and freezing winters, but my Rosemary loves it. Only thing it didn't like was the full south (sunny) and dry balcony of my last apartment. Now it's big and thriving on a (very) windy spot. I demands wet feet, too - drinks water like crazy. Can't keep up. It has a tiny pot, though. Poor thing.

Have anyone tried rejuvenating them? I've taken off some stalks and rooted them to give relatives who wanted some Rosemary for their own (roots really well in a glass in the window), but only this spring, so I don't know how fast they'll grow into a bush big enough for harvest.

Other things I'm growing is tomatoes, a squash, lettuce and some radishes. All seem to do fairly well, but won't mature for some weeks.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: onehappypanda on June 26, 2013, 12:26:47 PM
Possible connection to the rosemary issues: I was told the other day that rosemary doesn't do well in pots because its roots need to go DEEP. Sure enough, the rosemary plants I've killed have all had roots growing out of the bottom of the pot, even though the pot itself was fairly deep compared to my others. Maybe that's why it only seems to do well in the ground?

I posted on this thread ages ago, and since then I've moved into an apartment with a small backyard garden space. Right now we've got kale, spinach, and a few straggly lettuces that are getting eaten by something. But that's okay because they're about to go to make more room for the "mystery squash" that we planted (mystery because it was donated by our neighbor, who forgot what kind it was). We've also got a few tomato plants, peas climbing, a couple basil plants, and some green beans in there somewhere. Not the the most organized garden, but it works.

I'm still doing containers, which so far have mint, oregano (regular and spicy), and eventually peppers that I'm growing from seeds if I don't kill them. Good for salads, pastas, and mojitos ;)

What a difference a change in location makes! Last time I posted, I was in an area with zero garden space and was trying to grow a few things out of pots. We moved a couple miles north, to a neighborhood that is a little more hippie-dippie, though still in the city. All of our neighboring apartments have people who like to garden. One of our neighbors started a collective compost pile that's gotten quite large, so there are endless amounts of compost to be had. We've gotten a ton of free plants from neighbors that had too many, and lots of advice from the more advanced gardeners.

Our only issue is that our soil majorly sucks, it's a ton of clay. Despite our best attempts to make it better by adding things to it, our plants aren't thriving as well as our neighbors who wisely put in raised beds. But oh well, we'll file that one away for next year. We're still enjoying a few hardy greens and have our fingers crossed for the other plants.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Spork on June 26, 2013, 12:43:41 PM
Wifey roots rosemary while it is still on the bush.  In other words, put a pot with potting soil next to the big plant and bury a newish soft limb.  Bury it in the middle where it has the fresh part sticking up on one side and the umbilical back to momma on the other.

Wait.

Clip umbilical.

It grows like a weed around here (Texas.)  There are multiple varieties, so you might try another one as well.  (I know we have a sprawling rosemary that is native to this area and an upright rosemary that isn't).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on June 27, 2013, 05:36:58 AM
Winter here and a week of rain. Haven't seen my vege patch for a week due to the short days plus cloud cover. Desperate to get my fingers in the soil this weekend. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on July 17, 2013, 02:53:36 AM
Summer here, and our 3rd (4th?) week of rain. Temps of around 50 for a week now.

Thankfully neither my chili plant or tomatoes mind too much as long as I remember to pour off water 1-2 times daily. My strawberry plant thinks it's winter, though. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother growing things - they rarely ripen before winter sets in again..

The Rosemarry plant absolutely loves it, though.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on August 18, 2013, 09:34:50 PM
I'm so glad I found this thread, I'm very much into veggie gardening. Unfortunately I live in a condo but my parents have given me some garden space at their house, about 7'x40'.

I've read nearly this whole thread and I'm surprised more people aren't growing broccoli. It's such a good addition to the garden because it yields early in the season and keeps giving broccoli for months!

For those who have trouble with growing carrots I've heard that carrots don't grow we'll in soils that have been fertilized with manure. I've had failed years before but this year I did my carrots in a part of the garden I've never fertilized with manure before and I'm on track to have some nice carrots this year. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on August 18, 2013, 09:40:34 PM

Sounds good. Will the cured garlic be good to plant for the fall as well?
That's what I am worrying about most, having the plants survive long enough to replant!
I bought some heirloom garlic (so delicious) and I am hoping to basically make it last for the rest of my life.

Yes if it's cured and and stored properly it will grow in the fall.
Also, garlic does best when it is subjected to cold temperatures for a few days before it sprouts
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on August 18, 2013, 10:01:49 PM
I'm very jealous of those that have 1+ acres to grow veggies! That's my dream, I'll get there one day.

I'm growing a lot of the staples you find in most veggie gardens, and some new things I'm trying this year are...

1. San marzano tomatoes
2. Asparagus (can't wait for 2014.. :(  )
3. Corn
4. Arugula - highly recommend!
5. Sweet potato
6. Garlic
7. Ginger
8. Quinoa!

The cold/wet spring here in Canada set my garden back about a month behind, like most people's this year I'm sure?

Took forever to get cucumbers going, but now we're swimming in them. The spinach, butter crunch lettuce and arugula loved the cool damp spring, as well as the quinoa. I can't believe how massive my 3 quinoa plants have grown!! I could post pictures if you'd like, but they started out as tiny seeds in march, and now they are huge bushes that are almost 7' tall. Not yet sure how I'm going to harvest it  haha

Garlic did very well this year. So easy, long time to harvest here in Canada, but very little effort. Don't bother paying 10x the price to buy garlic from a nursery, the stuff from my local grocery store turned out no different from the 'heirloom' ones I bought from a garden centre. Just plant the biggest bulbs you have that aren't damaged. I originally decided I wasn't going to do garlic next year because its so cheap in the store, but after trying some garlic I grew a few weeks ago I think I will do it next year but scale it back to ~20 plants and put them closer together.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: wing117 on August 21, 2013, 09:27:57 AM
I'm very jealous of those that have 1+ acres to grow veggies! That's my dream, I'll get there one day.

Check out the Backyard Homestead (http://www.amazon.com/The-Backyard-Homestead-Produce-quarter/dp/1603421386). I use the book as a reference a lot and it explains how you can setup 1/10th acre to 1/4 acre to grow just about everything you need!

My grandmother tells stories of growing for a family of 8 on 2 acres, and that included significant livestock population they raised to sell off for money! And techniques have only gotten better/more precise.

Aquaponics is another great resource for leafy greens as Tansy was saying. Fruit/Vegetables can be difficult because you need to find a way to add phosphorous into the water, as the cycle doesn't produce it naturally. But leafy greens? They go nuts.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on August 21, 2013, 06:20:04 PM
I'm very jealous of those that have 1+ acres to grow veggies! That's my dream, I'll get there one day.

Check out the Backyard Homestead (http://www.amazon.com/The-Backyard-Homestead-Produce-quarter/dp/1603421386). I use the book as a reference a lot and it explains how you can setup 1/10th acre to 1/4 acre to grow just about everything you need!

Aquaponics is another great resource for leafy greens as Tansy was saying. Fruit/Vegetables can be difficult because you need to find a way to add phosphorous into the water, as the cycle doesn't produce it naturally. But leafy greens? They go nuts.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check out that book.

Aquaponics should be something else I look into, I'm planning on starting another round of spinach for a fall harvest, but in my condo (point-of-use). I'd be worried with having mass amounts of water around though, if anything ever happened in my condo with it, it would ruin my faux wood floors that can't take any water and it would take me a decade of intensive growing to pay off the price of repairing the floor haha
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DK on August 21, 2013, 07:30:00 PM
I try to give a few tips and tricks here and there at my blog I recently started if anyone is interested.

http://thebackyardmicrofarm.com

Good to see other gardeners on the board, I've been picking cucumbers non stop lately. It's been pretty dry here, less than an inch this past month, and the prior month wasn't much better. I'm glad I set up some weeper hoses, definitely paid off on time savings watering!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: fidgiegirl on August 25, 2013, 06:14:37 PM
We are getting a good harvest after a slow start with a very cold/rainy spring here in MN. 

We're up to our ears in zucchini, and I'm sick of it, so am going to chop up and freeze what we've brought home and then donate whatever else might grow to the food shelf bucket at the community garden. 

Planning to try my hand at pickling cukes and some of the zukes too, but hate to heat up the house . . . maybe another batch of refrigerator pickles simply to get them used.  We ate the whole big batch I made in July.

Tomatoes are starting to ripen, gorgeous!

Need to eat more kale!  Can it be frozen?  I suppose it could, and then it could go in winter soups.  I have some that needs to be picked but have been holding off since there is already some in the fridge.  (ETA:  or kale pesto!  Yum!  http://kidscooking.about.com/od/dinnerrecipes/r/kale_pesto.htm)

We have about a million pounds of tomatillos developing on plants at my parents' house and they are probably ready to pick now.  We're gonna be swimmin' in salsa verde, que rico!

Winter squash was looking good at their house as well.  It'll be another month or so for that.

Peppers did well this year as well, surprisingly!  Need to freeze some of those.

Keep up the good work, farmers!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on August 25, 2013, 10:13:32 PM
Keep up the good work, farmers!

Everything is a month behind in where I am too.
Cucumbers were slow to start but we're getting 3-4 every day off my 3 plants. The garlic turned out great, harvested mid-July. The tomatoes started ripening early August but are REALLY starting to come... Picked an entire gallon bucket yesterday and still more to come in a few days.
Our green beans are also producing - about 0.5lb per day.

We have 5 butternut squasheses and 3 eggplant from out one plant.

Quinoa plants are over 8 feet tall, but I think best case scenario I'll get 0.5lb at the end of September... so not worth growing quinoa. haha

Broccoli is still pumping out, has been since June.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tami1982 on August 28, 2013, 10:07:52 AM
Planning to try my hand at pickling cukes and some of the zukes too, but hate to heat up the house . . . maybe another batch of refrigerator pickles simply to get them used. 

Need to eat more kale!  Can it be frozen?

My house is small and boiling water baths in summer just make it a bazillion degrees in here!  For this reason I bought a $15 "fifth burner"  http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-34101-Proctor-Silex-Burner/dp/B000690WNU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0 (http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-34101-Proctor-Silex-Burner/dp/B000690WNU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0).  I do the water bath portion of canning under my carport in my driveway.   
I don't have a kitchen exhaust fan, so this became a necessity to me. 

I imagine you can freeze kale, but you can also dehydrate it into chips too.  Dehydrate and vacuum  seal in quart mason jars for long life:)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: hoodedfalcon on August 28, 2013, 10:53:26 AM
I have had a rough growing season! My kale was destroyed by caterpillars (pic below). Green beans had some weird fungus that turned the plants brown. Basil didn't germinate well. Squash borers took out my crookneck. I did have volunteer butternut squash that produced 3 big butternut squash, and some volunteer tomato plants did well! My sweet potato vines are still going strong so I think those will produce well. On a scale of 1-10, this season has been a solid 4.

I just replanted for fall - kale (second try!), bok choy, tatsoi, chard, salad greens. Going to try to grow some garlic over winter and I've rooted some blueberry cuttings and tree collard cuttings. Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: fidgiegirl on August 29, 2013, 04:03:42 PM
Planning to try my hand at pickling cukes and some of the zukes too, but hate to heat up the house . . . maybe another batch of refrigerator pickles simply to get them used. 

Need to eat more kale!  Can it be frozen?

My house is small and boiling water baths in summer just make it a bazillion degrees in here!  For this reason I bought a $15 "fifth burner"  http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-34101-Proctor-Silex-Burner/dp/B000690WNU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0 (http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-34101-Proctor-Silex-Burner/dp/B000690WNU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0).  I do the water bath portion of canning under my carport in my driveway.   
I don't have a kitchen exhaust fan, so this became a necessity to me. 

I imagine you can freeze kale, but you can also dehydrate it into chips too.  Dehydrate and vacuum  seal in quart mason jars for long life:)

OMG, I have that exact thing in the attic and never thought to use it for this purpose!  So glad you piped up, I'll give it a try!  Thanks!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on September 17, 2013, 06:56:05 AM
Being in the southern hemisphere, we are just in spring. My vege garden is finally starting to pick up after a long period of not much happening over winter. Its the first winter I've been really serious about food production and I failed to grow anything much edible. My climate is good - it doesn't go below 6degrees C here. I've put lots of work into the soil over the last year or so. I planted out my winter garden in about April.... but so little action in 6 months :( spinach and kale only just really getting big enough to harvest. Carrots stunted ( soil not deep enough). No beets to speak of. Being on the south side of a hill (the opposite to NH - we want northern aspect here), even though my garden is north facing, I am a bit challenged sunlight wise...I suspect in winter the angle dips much lower and not enough sunlight is a problem. I've cleared up the hill above the vege garden a bit more so this should help. Next year I will plant my winter garden a bit earlier....hopefully if everything is a bit more advanced before full on winter this might help.

Anyone else get the vege gardening blues (when you put in a lot of work and nothing happens)?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunflower_yellow on September 17, 2013, 02:34:50 PM
Need to eat more kale!  Can it be frozen?  I suppose it could, and then it could go in winter soups.  I have some that needs to be picked but have been holding off since there is already some in the fridge.  (ETA:  or kale pesto!  Yum!  http://kidscooking.about.com/od/dinnerrecipes/r/kale_pesto.htm)

WHAT?!?  That link might be life-altering.  I like fresh kale and the things I can make with it (soup! salads! kale chips! more kale chips!), but preservation options are limited (really just freezing).  Turning it into a pesto-like spread has crazy potential to save freezer space and reduce the monotony.  Thanks for sharing!

Our garden was just so-so this year.  Nights are getting cold; I'll be harvesting a lot of green tomatoes over the next few days.  Anyone got a good green tomato recipe?  Salsa maybe?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Kira on September 18, 2013, 12:06:11 PM
Our garden was just so-so this year.  Nights are getting cold; I'll be harvesting a lot of green tomatoes over the next few days.  Anyone got a good green tomato recipe?  Salsa maybe?

Heard from a friend that if you pull up the whole tomato plant by its roots and hang it in your basement, the tomatoes will eventually ripen a few weeks later and you can keep having red tomatoes longer. Haven't tried it myself - anyone else know if this is true?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: decibelle on September 18, 2013, 10:40:51 PM
I have a little patch in my backyard (in Wisconsin).  This year, I grew raspberries, Italian peppers, poblano peppers, 3 types of tomatoes, bitter melon, Asian zucchini (opo), garlic, onions, brussells sprouts, chamomile, and several types of herbs.

We have a two person household so I have to try not to grow too much.  One year, I found out that 6 tomato plants was more than plenty.  Also, cherry tomatoes are annoying to harvest.

Canning & Freezing (and not wasting):  Process your fruit/veg in a way that you'd enjoy them.  Pickles are fun to make but I found out that I hate eating it in the winter.  Tomato sauce is always nice to have around.  Freezing is the best for veggies.
Purchasing seeds/plants on the cheap: I order most seeds from seedsavers.org
Methods of planting/growing/pest control: weeding or lay down plastic tarp and cutting holes for plants
Going full organic:  I haven't had much trouble.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: KatieSSS on October 24, 2013, 02:20:52 PM
I'd like to take my first foray into gardening, which has long been a dream of mine. I'm forced to start small because I live in an apartment with no outdoor space and only indoor windowsills. I'd like to grow herbs in mason jars and see how that works. My apartment gets a good amount of light during the day, but most of it is indirect sunlight. I have a a Heartleaf Philodendron that isn't doing too bad, which means I'm a bit confident that I can grow more stuff.

I've done a bit of research on the best herbs for indoors, but would welcome some input or further resources from you all. I would like to grow basil, mint, dill, parsley, cilantro, and lemon balm. Does that seem reasonable to you seasoned gardeners?

Since it is almost November, is it even worth trying to grown these indoors in the winter? I would assume it doesn't matter since these plants can technically grow indoors anyway, although I know some might turn out better than others.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on October 24, 2013, 06:16:28 PM

I've done a bit of research on the best herbs for indoors, but would welcome some input or further resources from you all. I would like to grow basil, mint, dill, parsley, cilantro, and lemon balm. Does that seem reasonable to you seasoned gardeners?

Since it is almost November, is it even worth trying to grown these indoors in the winter? I would assume it doesn't matter since these plants can technically grow indoors anyway, although I know some might turn out better than others.

The best herbs to grow are the ones you are going to use. :)  so I'd say look at what you've cooked in the last month and and herbs you routinely used are a safe bet.
The three I often use are basil thyme and oregano, which I think is pretty universal. I don't tend to use dill or mint so I don't bother.

I find thyme take a while to get going. Basil, oregano and parsley are easy. I love cilantro and I grow it, but out of all my herbs it is the most problematic.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: KatieSSS on October 25, 2013, 08:14:30 AM

I've done a bit of research on the best herbs for indoors, but would welcome some input or further resources from you all. I would like to grow basil, mint, dill, parsley, cilantro, and lemon balm. Does that seem reasonable to you seasoned gardeners?

Since it is almost November, is it even worth trying to grown these indoors in the winter? I would assume it doesn't matter since these plants can technically grow indoors anyway, although I know some might turn out better than others.

The best herbs to grow are the ones you are going to use. :)  so I'd say look at what you've cooked in the last month and and herbs you routinely used are a safe bet.
The three I often use are basil thyme and oregano, which I think is pretty universal. I don't tend to use dill or mint so I don't bother.

I find thyme take a while to get going. Basil, oregano and parsley are easy. I love cilantro and I grow it, but out of all my herbs it is the most problematic.

Thanks for the advice, AJDZee. I definitely use basil and cilantro, and I actually would use dill more if I had it on hand. I love sprinkling dill over cucumbers for a bit more flavor. I'm hoping the mint and lemon balm can be used for teas, but will see if that actually happens. I know this is largely going to be an experiment, so I won't succeed with everything, but know what pitfalls are there might be useful.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: JessieImproved on November 11, 2013, 06:47:32 PM
I'm hoping the mint and lemon balm can be used for teas, but will see if that actually happens. I know this is largely going to be an experiment, so I won't succeed with everything, but know what pitfalls are there might be useful.

Lemon balm is great for a short (10 minute) bug repellent - just grab a few leaves and rub them on your skin on the way out.  And FYI, I've successfully grown basil in my kitchen windowsill.  Cilantro is tricky because it needs warm weather to germinate and cool weather to grow or it will bolt.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: JessieImproved on November 11, 2013, 06:50:17 PM
Put an entire 4x4 bed of garlic in yesterday (64 cloves planted).  I've got some lettuce and and a few herbs still kicking too.  Probably won't do much else until spring.  Of course, all the perennials are still kickin' (rosemary, thyme, asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, fig bush, sweet cherry, patio peach).  I'm looking forward to an amazing garden in 2014.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 12, 2013, 04:04:11 AM
Mmmm fresh home grown garlic.  This is the first year I've grown garlic. Its coming into summer here  so the garlic is nearly ready to harvest. What I found is a month or two back, I could pull out the garlic with no or little bulb formed and use it like a delicious garlic shallot. So yum I 've kept gradually plucking my crop. I won't  end up with more than a dozen heads left, so next year...well I'm going big too: 64 cloves sounds like a great number.

The vege garden and my gardening ability is slowly growing....some beginners luck and still some failures.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: KatieSSS on November 12, 2013, 12:56:25 PM
I'm hoping the mint and lemon balm can be used for teas, but will see if that actually happens. I know this is largely going to be an experiment, so I won't succeed with everything, but know what pitfalls are there might be useful.

Lemon balm is great for a short (10 minute) bug repellent - just grab a few leaves and rub them on your skin on the way out.  And FYI, I've successfully grown basil in my kitchen windowsill.  Cilantro is tricky because it needs warm weather to germinate and cool weather to grow or it will bolt.

Thanks for tip! Mosquitoes love me.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Moomingirl on November 16, 2013, 09:54:10 PM
I'm hoping the mint and lemon balm can be used for teas, but will see if that actually happens. I know this is largely going to be an experiment, so I won't succeed with everything, but know what pitfalls are there might be useful.

Lemon balm is great for a short (10 minute) bug repellent - just grab a few leaves and rub them on your skin on the way out.  And FYI, I've successfully grown basil in my kitchen windowsill.  Cilantro is tricky because it needs warm weather to germinate and cool weather to grow or it will bolt.

Thanks for tip! Mosquitoes love me.

+1!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on February 12, 2014, 09:47:18 AM
Has anyone trying to grow onions from seed?  Zone 5 here.  Just wondering if it might work?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on February 12, 2014, 08:19:33 PM
Yes, onions are easy to grow from seed.  You can start a bunch of them really thickly in a container and then transplant.  Just be sure to get a long day variety since youre up north.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on February 14, 2014, 10:56:26 AM
Thanks horsepoor.  I'll give it a shot.  Itching to start my seedlings in doors even tho it's only mid February.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: the fixer on February 25, 2014, 07:59:59 PM
Just some badassity to share... we rent an apartment in Seattle with no windows, yet we've managed to grow from seed a cilantro and an oregano plant! Our apartment has a skylight but no direct sun; we placed the plants on top of our kitchen cabinets where they receive maximum daylight, but we still needed to augment with extra lighting. We used a cheap desk lamp and common CFL bulb. It was tough to get the plants to turn out well but after a few months they're finally pretty happy.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on March 19, 2014, 11:14:48 AM
Just a reminder to those interested in growing tomatoes, and wish to start from seed indoors...

Typically, rule of thumb is to start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the average last frost for your region.

Where I live, google says that is the first week in May - So next weekend I'll start my seeds.

Out of all the things I grow, tomatoes are the only ones I start indoors. I've tried squashes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, etc, indoors and I don't see any difference from sowing straight into the ground at the start of the season.

Anyone find the same - or any differences?

Happy planting!

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on March 20, 2014, 08:19:23 AM
ADJZee- tomatoes and green peppers here tho I've got some brussels sprouts I'd like to try indoors this year as well.  No luck with the sprouts last year!

Otherwise no difference, I find the same as you.

Planted sugar snaps the first week of April last year and they did very well in spite of more snow the following week.  So . . . that's on the list for this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!  :-)  A little early but I'll takes my chances.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on March 20, 2014, 03:21:53 PM
Just at the end of the summer season here, and I'm preparing any empty beds for winter crops. This summer I grew lots of things for the first time.  Watermelons, oh my they really do take up space don't they? I ended up with 3 melons: the first was not quite ripe, so I'm waiting another couple of weeks. Corn - yes tested harvested a cob, but its also not quite ripe. It was yum though. Malabar spinach was good but not as rampant as they say , I suspect competing with the melon runners. Tomatoes were good this year. 2 volunteers from the edge of the compost heap were spectacular bearers. Cucumbers went ballistic resulting in me learning how to make refrigerator pickles. Gave lots away. Pumpkins did not go well.

A mystery triffid like thing shot up out of my potatoes. Couldn't figure it out but finally revealed it self as a v large sunflower, which grew from seed. Our first sunflower. They make you happy when you look at them.

REcent newcomers: a lemon tree planted. Ginger in and growing. Tumeric obtained, need to plant out. And comfrey and feverfew added and going well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 22, 2014, 09:47:08 AM
Sigh - it's March 22 and snowing, we are expecting another 5 cm.  We already have so much accumulated, it is going to be a late spring for planting, or floods if we have a fast melt.
My pepper are mostly up.  I don't expect to get them and the tomatoes in the ground until late May or early June at this rate, so tomatoes will be stared mid-April.

@AJDZee  Most of the things you list are not happy being transplanted, and their roots are not happy in small containers.  Better to try to get your soil warm and give them early season protection, instead of trying to grow them inside.  If you have trouble with beans (I do some years) you could start them in damp paper towel but plant them out the instant you see a root - that way you know which ones have actually germinated and you don't have bare spots.  It is a lot of extra work, so only worth it if you are not planting a lot, or are having trouble with germination.  Out of all the things I grow, tomatoes are the only ones I start indoors. I've tried squashes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, etc, indoors and I don't see any difference from sowing straight into the ground at the start of the season.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on March 22, 2014, 11:18:38 AM
Just a reminder to those interested in growing tomatoes, and wish to start from seed indoors...

Typically, rule of thumb is to start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the average last frost for your region.

Where I live, google says that is the first week in May - So next weekend I'll start my seeds.

Out of all the things I grow, tomatoes are the only ones I start indoors. I've tried squashes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, etc, indoors and I don't see any difference from sowing straight into the ground at the start of the season.

Anyone find the same - or any differences?

Happy planting!

I'm doing this method this year:

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/

I can't believe how easy it is!  The biggest risk I can see now is that I need to cover the ones that have germinated in case of frost.  They are supposed to be easier to transplant and more hardy too.  I'll post my progress, but so far, so good!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cpa Cat on March 23, 2014, 02:02:51 PM
I have an extensive garden. It's a learning process. My rule of thumb is that if I struggle to make something successful three years in a row, then I drop it.

I encourage everyone to dedicate space to care-free "investment" produce - like asparagus, fruit trees, berries. I dedicate about 15 minutes of total time per year (not counting picking time) to my asparagus, asian pears, raspberries and blackberries and yet they are reliably the most successful things I grow!

Also, I just want to put in a plug here - if you're in a State that hosts monarch butterflies, please plant a small plot of milkweed to help these struggling beauties on their journey!

And since this question was never answered:
Quote
Heard from a friend that if you pull up the whole tomato plant by its roots and hang it in your basement, the tomatoes will eventually ripen a few weeks later and you can keep having red tomatoes longer. Haven't tried it myself - anyone else know if this is true?

You do NOT have to take the entire plant with roots inside! You can just pick the green tomatoes and take them indoors. Most will ripen. Some people wrap the tomatoes in newspaper. I think this helps avoid fruit flies. But they don't have to be in any special location. Just don't forget about them - they can take a while to ripen (sometimes weeks) - but once ripe, they rot quickly. And there are also a lot of recipes for green tomatoes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on March 25, 2014, 12:19:55 PM
I have an extensive garden. It's a learning process. My rule of thumb is that if I struggle to make something successful three years in a row, then I drop it.

I encourage everyone to dedicate space to care-free "investment" produce - like asparagus, fruit trees, berries. I dedicate about 15 minutes of total time per year (not counting picking time) to my asparagus, asian pears, raspberries and blackberries and yet they are reliably the most successful things I grow!


For me - that failed 3-years in a row is CARROTS...?? I don't understand, I just can't grow good carrots. My guess is I'm getting greedy and not thinning them out enough. But I give up.

+1 for care-free produce!! After putting it off, I finally planted asparagus crowns last spring. Not sure if they'll be ready to start harvesting this year, or if I may have to leave it for another year. I would love to eventually have 1 apple, pear tree. Too bad I'm in canada and will never have a lemon or grapefruit tree.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Hotstreak on March 26, 2014, 09:18:03 PM
This year I'm doing about a 15' x 25' space in way, way, WAY northern california.  The dirt is beautifully colored, soft, but not a lot of worms or organic matter.  It has has success in the past years though so I'm optimistic for it!  I am just so used to a nice rich, thick soil that it's strange.

Tomatoes are coming up indoors.  Bell and Hot peppers are still under dirt indoors, and onions and lettuce are under the dirt outside right now.  I'll be doing 5-6 squash mounds as well as several cucumber, 10 tomato total, 10 pepper, and lots of herbs.

CARROTS -- Thinning is critical.  This is one of the plants where you throw half of them away so the other half can do well.  Of course you can eat those or add them to salad instead of tossing them :).  Hmm I think I'll start some of those pretty soon.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on March 28, 2014, 04:40:43 PM
I can't do carrots either, something always eats them.…
But now we are eating our very first water melon…so cool. And our very first corn is ripe and delicious.
Planted a lemon tree, with in a week the wallaby had pruned it..grrr, my neighbour warned me. Todays job is to put it under nets.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on March 30, 2014, 09:25:57 AM


I'm doing this method this year:

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/

I can't believe how easy it is!  The biggest risk I can see now is that I need to cover the ones that have germinated in case of frost.  They are supposed to be easier to transplant and more hardy too.  I'll post my progress, but so far, so good!!

[/quote]

Dammit, dammit, dammit!  I read about this last year and completely forgot about it!!!!!!!  I did want to try it.  Thanks for posting as a reminder.

Maybe it I should print and staple to my forehead for next year.

Keep us all up to date.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 30, 2014, 11:05:31 AM
I have trouble with carrots too, but the little round kind (called Thumbelina or Parisienne usually) seem to be a little easier to grow, and they're really tasty for fresh eating.

I have lots of stuff going in the greenhouse, and planted peas outside last weekend.  We got a nice rain yesterday, and have more on the way this week, so I'm about to get my butt out the door to transplant some of the greenhouse lettuces outside, transplant bok choi, kale, collards, bunching onions, chard and kale and also seed some root vegetables.

Peppers are finally getting a move-on, and I have a tray seeded with tomatoes next to them under lights, but no tomato sprouts yet.  The heat mat helps, but I'm contemplating some sort of enclosure to trap heat next time around because the temps in the basement really slow germination.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on March 30, 2014, 03:01:49 PM

Quote
I'm doing this method this year:

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/

I can't believe how easy it is!  The biggest risk I can see now is that I need to cover the ones that have germinated in case of frost.  They are supposed to be easier to transplant and more hardy too.  I'll post my progress, but so far, so good!!


Dammit, dammit, dammit!  I read about this last year and completely forgot about it!!!!!!!  I did want to try it.  Thanks for posting as a reminder.

Maybe it I should print and staple to my forehead for next year.

Keep us all up to date.

Don't despair miamoo!!!  It's not too late!  Depending on where you live, now could be the perfect time to start tomatoes and tender annuals this way. Here's a link on what to start and when.

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/01/what-to-winter-sow-and-when/

The beauty of this method is that it's super cheap and easy to try it. If it doesn't work, you may be out only a couple bucks. I got flower seeds for .25 ea and veg seeds for .13 ea/pk. I also found non-gmo heirloom seeds at Costco this year for super cheap. I actually am begging milk jugs from my neighbors because I still have seeds I want to plant. I transplanted my lettuce, kale and peas into my garden boxes last week.  They've been snowed and hailed on and they are doing great! 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on March 31, 2014, 07:46:15 AM
Thanks Mrs. Green'stache.  I'll give it a shot!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Katielady on April 03, 2014, 07:38:33 PM
I want to try a large vegetable garden this year but I am a noob and looking for help. I live in northern VA and there are deer, groundhogs, rodents, rabbits, and foxes in my neighborhood. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cost effective and easy way to fence off vegetable garden? Do you think that the groundhogs will be a problem (i.e. do I need some sort of screen in the ground)  And how do I acquire inexpensive fertilizer? I wish I had planned this out in the fall. Appreciate your help!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: mrsggrowsveg on April 04, 2014, 07:10:12 AM
We live on 30 acres and raise a garden, pigs and chickens.  This year, we are taking some time off from selling at the farmer's market so I look forward to doing more preserving of our vegetables. 

We grow nearly everything from seed.  We grow heirloom varieties and save our seeds.  Our favorite seed companies are Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds:  http://www.rareseeds.com/ and High Mowing Seed Company:  http://www.highmowingseeds.com/.  We also find many seeds and plant starts on eBay.  Locally, there are also many seed exchanges we attend and share seeds at.  We generally start our seeds indoors or in the greenhouse using soil blocking methods.  I wrote about seed starting on my blog here:  http://mrandmrsggrowveggies.com/seed-starting-and-soil-blocking/

As far as organic pest/weed control, we don't do a ton of it.  We use compost tea and biodynamic methods to make our plants very healthy.  This reduces pests significantly.  We also rotate our plants and garden.  Companion planting and planting sacrificial plants is another great pest control method.  For the really bad pests, we use diatomaceous earth.  We plan on getting some guinea hens this year because they eat bugs and leave plants alone.

To keep our soil really healthy, we first put pigs on it.  The pigs till and fertilize the garden.  Next we put our chickens on it with a chicken tractor.  The chickens eat the bugs/parasites left behind by the pigs.  After that, we plant a cover crop.  After the cover crop the garden is planted.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on April 04, 2014, 08:49:16 AM
I want to try a large vegetable garden this year but I am a noob and looking for help. I live in northern VA and there are deer, groundhogs, rodents, rabbits, and foxes in my neighborhood. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cost effective and easy way to fence off vegetable garden? Do you think that the groundhogs will be a problem (i.e. do I need some sort of screen in the ground)  And how do I acquire inexpensive fertilizer? I wish I had planned this out in the fall. Appreciate your help!

Not sure how bold/hungry the local wildlife is in your area, but my area has a lot of squirrels, rabbits, birds and raccoons. I don't really have trouble with them since I started using blood meal. It smells like death so critters don't really want to be around it, and it's also a high nitrogen fertilizer. I sprinkle it around once a month and it seems to do the trick for me. You may need a fence where you are though.

The most inexpensive fertilizer you can go with is compost you've made yourself with food scraps, grass clippings, leaves. Unfortunately it takes awhile to build up a big enough ecosystem to generate enough compost to use.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Dr.Vibrissae on April 05, 2014, 11:57:40 AM
Yesterday we had the first harvest of some of our homegrown spinach.  Today we're putting in the second raised bed and planting our peppers, tomatillos and cucumbers. (I'm a lazy gardener, so I stick with stuff that doesn't seem to need much TLC in our area).

Bell peppers grow like gangbusters for us.  At $1.50 a pop for red bell peppers in the grocery stores around here, a couple of plants pretty well pays for the whole garden.  I don't delude myself into thinking we're saving money, but I think we break even in terms of the amount of fresh produce we can eat.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: clarkai on April 05, 2014, 12:44:24 PM
I'm living in an apartment unfortunately, but there is a community garden very near by that has 50 sq ft raised beds for $25 at year. Small yes, but I'm pretty sure I can get more than $0.50 per square foot easily, considering that I'm mostly going to be growing fresh herbs and greens. That and the soil is very good, it gets a lot of light, free water, tools, and compost.

I have one plot that I've currently got chives, garlic chives, green onions, walking onions, elephant/perennial leeks, lettuce, and an artichoke plant in. Obviously, I like alliums. I have about 1/4 of the bed left, but I still want to add my rosemary, sage, thyme, basil, cilantro, kale, chard, and some more lettuce, so I'm thinking about getting a second bed to grow all of that it. It'd be $25 more, but if I plant 1/3 to kale, 1/3 to chard, and 1/3 to basil and cilantro, I think it'll still be profitable. There are only two of us, be we like our greens and herbs.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on April 05, 2014, 01:27:24 PM
I'm planning on planting some veg this year, but will be doing mostly container gardening. 

I have in the past had a pretty big garden at my old place, and I love that time in the fall when I've got more zucchini and tomato ripe than I could possibly eat, and I start freezing it up to eat through the winter.  Also, I'm a vegetarian who doesn't really like that many vegetables, but fresh zucchini, cucumber, spinach and tomato from the garden helps me eat a bit healthier through the summer.  For dinner on a summer evening, I'll often have just a toasted tomato sandwich, or a toasted cucumber sandwich, or a salad, or zucchini lightly sautéed with garlic and served with pasta - simple food, super fresh. 

The last place was also a rental but I lived there long term, whereas I don't expect to live in this house quite as long - not worth putting in the work I would need to do to create a proper garden here.  Also, late night encounters on the lawn (and quantity of droppings in the yard!) suggest that there is a hungry crowd of rascally rabbits waiting to eat anything I might try to plant.  Luckily, there is a balcony at the front of the house which gets lots of light and has plenty of room for containers.  And most of the stuff I want to plant should do fine in a container.  The zucchini not so much - any experienced gardeners know whether rabbits are likely to eat zucchini if I plant some in the yard?  The internetz has mixed responses to that question ...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cpa Cat on April 05, 2014, 08:09:14 PM
I want to try a large vegetable garden this year but I am a noob and looking for help. I live in northern VA and there are deer, groundhogs, rodents, rabbits, and foxes in my neighborhood. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cost effective and easy way to fence off vegetable garden? Do you think that the groundhogs will be a problem (i.e. do I need some sort of screen in the ground)  And how do I acquire inexpensive fertilizer? I wish I had planned this out in the fall. Appreciate your help!

Don't let wildlife scare you off. Just plant extra. We have all of those things. Deer have never set foot in my yard, and the rest are no problem.

Sometimes hungry rabbits come and mow down newly planted crops (it just so happens that the first planting weeks overlap with a time where there's not as much rabbit food). Pinwheels and rubber snakes in the garden scared them off. Plus I planted clover one year and they just ate that instead.

Squirrels - my biggest problem with squirrels is that they will come and eat my strawberries. They pick only the best strawberries and take ONE BITE out of each one. I tried to chase them off, but planting more strawberries and accepting that I would share seemed to be the best option.

But if you end up having any problems - chicken wire does the trick.  But try the rubber snakes and pinwheels. Move them around once in awhile.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 06, 2014, 07:06:04 PM
I love sweet bell peppers - I had seed left over from just last year, and with ideal germination conditions (damp paper towel, warm) I had less than 50% germination this spring.  I had hoped for better since they are related to tomatoes, and I have good germination with even 5 year old tomato seeds.  Next year I am going to try early heirlooms, so I can save my own seed.  Any recommendations?

On a  fun note, I am also starting some indigo plants - I want to try dying this summer.  So far I have two plants, but I have hopes for a lot more.  It takes a lot of leaves to get a usable amount of dye.  When we get closer to planting I also have some woad seeds to start.  I will have to be careful with them, they can be invasive in this climate - they like the cold.  It's fun to try new things.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Spork on April 07, 2014, 10:55:23 AM
I want to try a large vegetable garden this year but I am a noob and looking for help. I live in northern VA and there are deer, groundhogs, rodents, rabbits, and foxes in my neighborhood. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cost effective and easy way to fence off vegetable garden? Do you think that the groundhogs will be a problem (i.e. do I need some sort of screen in the ground)  And how do I acquire inexpensive fertilizer? I wish I had planned this out in the fall. Appreciate your help!

Don't let wildlife scare you off. Just plant extra. We have all of those things. Deer have never set foot in my yard, and the rest are no problem.

Sometimes hungry rabbits come and mow down newly planted crops (it just so happens that the first planting weeks overlap with a time where there's not as much rabbit food). Pinwheels and rubber snakes in the garden scared them off. Plus I planted clover one year and they just ate that instead.

Squirrels - my biggest problem with squirrels is that they will come and eat my strawberries. They pick only the best strawberries and take ONE BITE out of each one. I tried to chase them off, but planting more strawberries and accepting that I would share seemed to be the best option.

But if you end up having any problems - chicken wire does the trick.  But try the rubber snakes and pinwheels. Move them around once in awhile.

Our problem has historically been squirrels and raccoons.  We manage to keep the raccoons at bay with an electric fence... but the squirrels require more invasive maneuvers.

One year we had  squirrels take every single tomato and every single peach.  I think the wife had > 50 tomato plants, so "every tomato" is a very very large number.  The little bastard would leave half eaten tomatoes on the fence post right by the gate... just to taunt us. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: aetherie on April 07, 2014, 03:06:34 PM
Following along with interest, as I will soon be moving to an apartment with a big balcony and want to try some veggie container gardening.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Pangolin on April 15, 2014, 08:52:36 AM
Here in SE PA the peas that I planted 2 weeks ago just sprouted over the weekend. They're getting bigger by the day! The mache finally sprouted too. We've had very cool weather this spring.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 15, 2014, 05:17:44 PM
It was 23 C yesterday. Today it snowed.  This is not spring, it is mud season.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Heart of Tin on April 15, 2014, 08:08:23 PM
I made two 5'x1'x1.5' planters for my apartment's balcony. Additionally, I have 9 9" pots with herbs (oregano x2, basil x2, rosemary x2, chives, thyme, and cilantro) placed on wooden shoe rack without the middle shelf (this one: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/3-tier-stackable-wood-shoe-rack/1017600443 (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/3-tier-stackable-wood-shoe-rack/1017600443)). One of my big planters has pansies in it at the moment, but will be full of cut flowers this summer. I have a dahlia, zinnias, gomphrena, and cosmos. The other planter will have produce. I have some arugula and spinach seeds already germinated in the planter. Meanwhile bell pepper seeds are germinating indoors until mid-May (May 1 is the last frost date here. I'm giving the soil an extra two weeks to warm up before I transplant the peppers). I also plan on planting some carrots to take advantage of the deep planter. I'm so excited for Spring and Summer!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 16, 2014, 07:36:03 AM
We had our first salad out of the garden yesterday, and I've been nipping off a few spinach leaves and small radishes, too.  This is my first full year of growing with a greenhouse, and I am loving it.  Before fall, I'd like to seal it up a little better and add some water barrels to moderate temperatures, and see how long I can keep salad greens going in the fall, and how early in the spring they'll start back up.  The tomato, eggplant and pepper seedlings all moved out there last week as well, so I was able to reduce electricity consumption from their grow lights in the basement, and they get more warmth during the day, too.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 18, 2014, 07:29:11 AM
It was 23 C yesterday. Today it snowed.  This is not spring, it is mud season.

I laughed at this. It was 23C here today also. But its autumn in a subtropical rainforest. Never snows, or even frosts!

Today I planted out some silver beet, and up potted some more.  I cleared out the dying lettuce mix in a planter box and re sowed.  2  bright stripy caterpillars emerged emerged simultaneously from my basil ( now looking chewed!), so they met their maker.  I planted out some rocket.  I made some newspaper pots and sowed seed for  6 lettuce and 6 cauliflowers.  Picked some corn for dinner and a couple of spent corn plants for the guinea pigs.

After lots of failures I've finally got a few chives growing. May enough to snip soon.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on May 16, 2014, 10:01:48 AM
Bump.

How are the gardens?  My peppers are a good size and my tomatoes are coming along, but all are in pots (they come in at night) because we are looking at under 10C for the night for the next week+.  My peas are happy in the cool weather.  Asparagus is finally up a bit, and the rhubarb as well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Heart of Tin on May 16, 2014, 01:03:29 PM
My bell peppers came inside, too, along with a few other heat-loving seedlings. Overnight lows for the two days are 39 F/4 C and 45 F/7 C. My arugula and spinach, on the other hand, are loving the chilly weather. I have some carrots that sprouted last week, herbs going strong (especially the chives), and some green strawberries that get a little bigger every day.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on May 16, 2014, 02:42:26 PM
It seems like the weather looks consistently warm enough to transplant here, so I moved a lot of my winter-sown plants into my raised beds.  I planted heirloom black cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and beets.  The flowers that were sown in the same method need to be transplanted too.  Probably tomorrow.  Peas, kale, and lettuce were already transplanted and seem to be growing well.  It seems to have been a successful experiment, but we will see about how well they do out of the milk jugs.  They are small, but they are supposed to be more hearty than indoor-started seeds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on May 16, 2014, 06:00:44 PM
Silverbeet growing well. should be able to harvest some soon. Garlic planted and shoots are up. Bed prepared for the potato onions, waiting for it to settle. Planted out cauliflower and lettuce starts.  something ate 2 lots of lettuce. Grr. Lettuce is now under flyscreen mesh, but still eaten: something getting in somewhere….enough chives for a garnish - victory! I know they are supposed to be easy to grow but I've had a really hard time with them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 17, 2014, 12:20:42 AM
Starting to plant out the warm weather crops.  Gallon jugs with the bottoms cut off the the caps removed make great hot caps.  The squash and watermelon plants are nestled in with these, and I splurged on a package of Wall O Waters this year, so those are over a few select plants.  Peppers, tomatoes and eggplants will go out as soon as I get home from my work trip next Friday.  They could probably go out now, but they'll be safer in their pots while I'm gone.

Eating lots of greens and waiting impatiently for the snap peas to get a move-on.  Also have some baby beets and carrots forming roots, so hope to be eating those in a couple weeks.

We're going to have some serious amounts of food this year, barring any sort of crop failures.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on May 17, 2014, 02:44:18 AM
Quote
Gallon jugs with the bottoms cut off the the caps removed make great hot caps.

Great idea, I'm going to try this.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on May 17, 2014, 03:46:37 AM
Somehow I always have a garden full of lettuce at this time of year. Many years ago I planted some oakleaf lettuces, and some went to seed. They have returned every year. Unfortunately, they begin to show in Autumn, and by the end of spring they are done. At the moment, I am harvesting them from the paths. This year I have found warm recipes for lettuce. I appear to have enough to have one a day from now until the end of spring. The Vietnamese Braised Lettuce and Pea recipe is getting used several times a week.

The last of the zucchini was harvested yesterday. We have had several frosts, so the tomatoes need to be pulled up and the last ones harvested. I need to start pulling up the Jerusalem Artichokes as well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: The knitter on May 21, 2014, 07:43:19 AM
This is my first year with a place to plant. I fully expect to fail, but I'm excited and a little scared to start growing some food.

Started off with some radishes, scallions, zucchini and green beans.

Radishes are sprouting. The rest, I have not seen anything yet.

This is a great thread with some good tips.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 21, 2014, 10:56:10 AM
The onions that I transplanted aren't doing so well. The tips are turning yellow. I added some fish emulsion and water. I think the gardener that had the plot last year planted onions in the same spot, so it might be pests.

My peas and lettuce just sprouted. Eggplants, basil, brocc, and tomatoes are doing well. I'm going to prune the lower branches on the tomato plants today.

For people with tomatoes: Do you pinch off the first early flowers to promote plant growth?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on May 21, 2014, 01:47:29 PM

For people with tomatoes: Do you pinch off the first early flowers to promote plant growth?
I prune my tomatoes, but I haven't pinched off blossoms.  Here is a good guide:

http://www.finegardening.com/pruning-tomatoes
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mississippi Mudstache on May 21, 2014, 02:08:51 PM
The onions that I transplanted aren't doing so well. The tips are turning yellow. I added some fish emulsion and water. I think the gardener that had the plot last year planted onions in the same spot, so it might be pests.

I've never had good luck with onions. My transplants aren't doing well, either. It's the only thing in my garden that isn't doing well. Radishes are finished, kale and broccoli are going strong, and I just got the first two pickings of green beans over the last week. Zucchini and squash have babies that will be ready by the end of the week, and my peppers are finally starting to bloom. If I could only grow one thing, it would be peppers. They are by far the most cost-effective crop that we grow!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 21, 2014, 09:48:12 PM
The onions that I transplanted aren't doing so well. The tips are turning yellow. I added some fish emulsion and water. I think the gardener that had the plot last year planted onions in the same spot, so it might be pests.

My peas and lettuce just sprouted. Eggplants, basil, brocc, and tomatoes are doing well. I'm going to prune the lower branches on the tomato plants today.

For people with tomatoes: Do you pinch off the first early flowers to promote plant growth?

I only pinch off the very premature ones - like if the plant is trying to flower before it's in the ground.  I read somewhere that it takes about 6 weeks to go from flower to ripe tomato, no matter what you do, so I don't pinch any flowers after mid-May (coincidentally about when I plant out), and hope for some early July tomatoes.

DAmn, I can't wait for some good homegrown tomatoes.  I'm drooling just thinking about a BLT on sourdough, with some thick pepper bacon and a fried egg.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 22, 2014, 07:32:42 AM
Thanks very much for the helpful website and insights! You all rock!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jugglingcontinents on May 23, 2014, 05:08:50 AM
First time gardener here (Zone 8). I got exciting this spring about having space to garden for the first time in my adult life (south-facing balcony). So I went a little overboard and planted potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, fava beans, herbs, lettuce, blueberries and other goodness - all in containers. Despite the fact that hardly any pollinators venture up to the 10th floor... :p

Now I'm traveling for 9 days straight... and I'm really concerned about them drying out. I have a friend who's willing to water them once during this period... but does anyone have any tips on easy and cheap ways to keep soil in containers moist? I was thinking of taking soda bottles and poking a hole at one end to let water drip slowly into the soil. Has anyone tried this?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 23, 2014, 05:21:32 PM
First time gardener here (Zone 8). I got exciting this spring about having space to garden for the first time in my adult life (south-facing balcony). So I went a little overboard and planted potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, fava beans, herbs, lettuce, blueberries and other goodness - all in containers. Despite the fact that hardly any pollinators venture up to the 10th floor... :p

Now I'm traveling for 9 days straight... and I'm really concerned about them drying out. I have a friend who's willing to water them once during this period... but does anyone have any tips on easy and cheap ways to keep soil in containers moist? I was thinking of taking soda bottles and poking a hole at one end to let water drip slowly into the soil. Has anyone tried this?
If you can, put the pots in a tray with a couple inches of water, and the water will wick up.  Your friend could just come by about half way through your trip and add more water to the trays if needed.  I just did this for a 5-day trip, and my plants that are still in smaller pots prior to transplanting were in great shape.

Also, most of what you listed won't need pollinators, so you should be good there.  When the tomatoes are flowering, you can give them a gentle shake if there's not breeze, to help them pollinate.  If there's only one blueberry, you might have pollination issues there, since they are cross-pollinated.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rezdent on May 23, 2014, 06:42:36 PM
The onions that I transplanted aren't doing so well. The tips are turning yellow. I added some fish emulsion and water. I think the gardener that had the plot last year planted onions in the same spot, so it might be pests.

My peas and lettuce just sprouted. Eggplants, basil, brocc, and tomatoes are doing well. I'm going to prune the lower branches on the tomato plants today.

For people with tomatoes: Do you pinch off the first early flowers to promote plant growth?
I'm in zone 8b.  Our onions are also starting to brown at the tips because we are at end of season for them here.  Peas are finished.  Lettuce is bolting.
I've never pinched tomatoes back.  It's going to be hot here soon and the tomatoes will quit setting.  We really have to rush our tomatoes along because of the impending hot weather.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on May 24, 2014, 07:34:23 PM
First year of gardening here. Peas are about 4 inches, tomatoes about ready to transplant, peppers will need some more time yet.

Waiting for just-planted cucumbers and green beans to germinate. Cut and tilled a new bed and will plant some more stuff this coming week if the weather holds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 24, 2014, 09:55:42 PM
Barring crop failure, we are going to have a shit ton of produce this year.  I just transplanted 20 tomato plants.  Tomorrow I'll put out the peppers (not sure how many, probably 15?) and eggplants (six or so).  I've got three kinds of okra started because I want extra to freeze this year.  Hoping the slips I cut from an organic sweet potato will sprout.  I planted two plots of potatoes, and have a few volunteers where they were planted last year.  We've also got snap peas, green beans, yard long beans, garlic, onions, chard, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, leeks, shallots, carrots, beets, collards, lettuce, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, yellow and green zucchini, cucumbers, several kinds of melons and winter squash.  There is still a little space left where some seeds didn't come up, so I'll be doing a second sowing of root veggies there - probably parsnips, turnips and rutabagas.  Maybe some more golden beets and storage carrots.  Hoping to get a couple cherries off the tree I planted last year, but not counting on it. 

If I spend more than $5 a week on produce this summer, please punch me squarely in the face.  This garden has been four years in the making, and it is starting to pay off nicely.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jugglingcontinents on May 25, 2014, 01:21:12 AM
Horsepoor, thanks for the "watering tray" tip - I'm going to hunt around to see if there's anything I can use as a tray in the house, since I'm leaving in 2 hours :P

Just noticed my first broad beanettes (they're still too small to be called 'beans') - so yes, thank god for self-pollination, at least for us balcony gardeners!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: AJDZee on May 29, 2014, 02:14:28 PM
First year of gardening here. Peas are about 4 inches, tomatoes about ready to transplant, peppers will need some more time yet.

Waiting for just-planted cucumbers and green beans to germinate. Cut and tilled a new bed and will plant some more stuff this coming week if the weather holds.

Wait until you see how fast those green beans grow!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on May 29, 2014, 05:55:50 PM
We're still recovering from having to dig down to bedrock to put in the house, and the rest of the property, all 25 acres, is mature hardwood forest. So not much place to grow. Where there's sun, there's virtually no topsoil. Except right over the septic tank, naturally.


So I'm planting native clover on the berms around the house to start setting in nitrogen, and we'll turn it under when it dies this winter. Meanwhile I'm growing herbs mostly inside (too hot for a lot of them on the porch with our south facing exposure) and growing tomatoes and marigolds on the porch in buckets and coffee cans, respectively. It's not much considering what I was used to, but it's a step back after four years of not really being able to grow anything at all. the trailer is on a steep northern slope, very little light except the driveway. I grew some pathetic tomato vines and got about three tomatoes one year.


But next year, my atrium will be finished. Actually, this winter it may be finished, and if so, that's a 250 sqft greenhouse as part of the house. Then I'll grow some food. If not this winter, then next. We'll need to set it up to open in summer, and probably add greenhouse fans.


This year, though, herbs and tomatoes, plus marigolds to keep the tomatoes happy and the mosquitoes away. It's a step, and it's good.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on May 29, 2014, 06:06:28 PM
Wait until you see how fast those green beans grow!

I have vague memories from growing up. Excited to be growing again :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rezdent on May 30, 2014, 06:29:27 PM
Zone 8b.
Got badly needed rain earlier this week.   Pickling cucumbers are an early win - now getting 5-10 smallish ones each day.  I pick daily to keep them coming in. We brine/cure half-sours with these and can go through a couple quarts per week.  I've wanted to can them but there's never any left at the end of the week.
Time to pull and dry garlic and onions.  Lettuce and assorted Greens have fizzled out.  Peas  are DRT.  We won't see real greens again until maybe November.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on May 31, 2014, 05:44:21 AM
How often do folks water? I still need to set up my drip irrigation stuff. I've been watering every day, sometimes every other, usually with a watering can since my hose seems a bit overkill even with a wand for the size of my seedlings. Weather has been dry and somewhat hot for the time of year here (70-80F).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 31, 2014, 10:05:23 AM
It depends.  Newly planted seeds need water pretty much every day.  The tomatoes I planted pretty deeply, so they are fine going about 5 days between watering.  When they get a little bigger I'll rig up a soaker hose in that bed and water them weekly.  Other stuff gets watered about 2x per week, and that is with raised beds that are well drained.

Established plants will be more drought tolerant if you water deeply and less frequently - that will encourage deep roots, instead of lots of roots at the surface where the soil can dry out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: aetherie on May 31, 2014, 07:24:58 PM
Upon moving into my new apartment, I was sad to find that the balcony only gets full sun from about 4 pm to sunset. Are there any vegetables worth trying (in containers) with that amount of sunlight, or is it a lost cause? (Zone 7a if that matters.)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 01, 2014, 07:04:14 AM
Upon moving into my new apartment, I was sad to find that the balcony only gets full sun from about 4 pm to sunset. Are there any vegetables worth trying (in containers) with that amount of sunlight, or is it a lost cause? (Zone 7a if that matters.)

Not an experienced gardener, still learning, but salad greens and herbs would probably be best. "Hot" plants like tomatoes and cucumbers and such probably aren't worth it, but you do have a longer growing season. Maybe?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 02, 2014, 03:49:53 PM
Do salad greens work as a hot weather crop in partial shade?

Related: anything worth growing in areas that get 4-5 hours of sun, filtered sun for a couple more? Herbs, veggies, whatever, or should I leave the grass unmolested?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on June 02, 2014, 09:55:37 PM
I find that kale and chard will usually do OK during hot weather.  I actually had both of those survive quite nicely all summer in my green house (I remove the windows so there's lots of air flow, but it still gets HOT).  Collards should also do well all summer as well.  There are also some lettuces that are slower to bolt, so they would be worth a try.  Generally lettuce and spinach will just bolt and go to seed in hot weather, shade or not.  I have never grown it, but have read that Malabar spinach works well for greens during the summer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 03, 2014, 11:41:34 AM
TIL broccoli leaves are edible and delicious! I'm incredibly excited about this.

I think I might be an underwater-er. I want to promote deep root growth, but I just feel like I'm flooding the garden. Time will tell, I guess.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 03, 2014, 12:39:49 PM
TIL broccoli leaves are edible and delicious! I'm incredibly excited about this.

I think I might be an underwater-er. I want to promote deep root growth, but I just feel like I'm flooding the garden. Time will tell, I guess.

Haven't planted it yet, but I have a variety of broccoli that's crossed with kale.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on June 04, 2014, 09:02:54 AM
Le sigh!  Any tips for snails/slugs?. Losing promising young crops overnight at a great old rate at the moment. Tried the beer in saucer thing but it didn't work. Crushed eggshell border works a bit, have to give that another go.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 04, 2014, 08:59:31 PM
Le sigh!  Any tips for snails/slugs?. Losing promising young crops overnight at a great old rate at the moment. Tried the beer in saucer thing but it didn't work. Crushed eggshell border works a bit, have to give that another go.

Erica at NWEdible mentions Sluggo a lot on her blog. That seems to be the go-to organic solution, unless you're also raising ducks or other beneficial predators. Slugs aren't a problem here, so I can't comment beyond what I've read.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on June 05, 2014, 06:46:56 AM
Yes I just posted here and popped over to Erica, and saw her post on getting ducks to eat snails! I'll investigate Aussie format Sluggo, I didn't know iti was organic: thought it was chemical.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: San on June 05, 2014, 11:16:51 AM
Do salad greens work as a hot weather crop in partial shade?

Related: anything worth growing in areas that get 4-5 hours of sun, filtered sun for a couple more? Herbs, veggies, whatever, or should I leave the grass unmolested?

Salad greens will work, just harvest them young, because they will bolt FAST. If you see them start to bolt, harvest and eat.

You could also try Macha, aka Corn Salad, which is a more heat tolerant leaf vegetable and really delicious.

4-5 hours of sun is plenty of sun for any of the leafies (lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, chard, turnip greens and beet greens), a lot of herbs (parsley, cilantro, thyme, chives, garlic chives, tarragon, mint, lemon balm). It *might* be enough sun for beet root, celery, kohlrabi. If you have enough space, certain small fruits will grow in partial shade. My favorite is gooseberry, but currants, elderberry, highbush cranberry (vibernum), huckleberry and even some varieties of brambleberries (marionberries, blackberries and wineberries come to mind) will handle that much sun and still fruit.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: San on June 05, 2014, 11:31:02 AM
This year, our gardening is awkward. We're renovating a house and I have half of my vegetables growing there and half growing at our current residence. We moved all of our fruit trees and bushes there last fall- all of them made it except for the persimmon tree, which was a better rate than I expected. So between that and knowing I'm going to be out of commission for the month of August due to surgery, we didn't plant as much this year. We're growing:

Tomatoes (green zebra, amish paste, black krim, sungold, brandywine)
Peppers (sweet orange, thai chili, habanero)
Broccoli
Kale and Swiss Chard
Salad greens - Lettuces, spinach, arugula, mustard greens
Turnips and beets
Peas
Butternut Squash
Zucchini
Cucumbers (hybrid bush type, Asian long and Marketmore)
Radishes
Sunflowers and Calendula
Watermelon
Fennel
Red shallots and white bunching onions
Herbs (everything, really, annuals and perennial)

Permanent food producing plants include:
Strawberries
Blueberries
Gooseberries
Mulberries
Plums (Shiro, Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa)
Cherries (Bing, Montemorency, Bush)
Apricots (Manchurian Bush)
Almonds (4 more years or so till we get anything on these)
Figs
Raspberries and Blackberries
Quince
Rhubarb
Jerusalem Artichokes

Because of long maturation time, or harvest timing, we didn't plant certain things that we usually do plant this year. Potatoes, Onions, Parsnips, Pole Beans, etc, which was a hard decision, but I think the right one.

Next year I want to put in wintergreen for tea, another cherry tree, apricot trees, pear trees and more blueberries. We're looking at chickens as early as next year, but no later than the following year, which I am super stoked about.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 06, 2014, 03:01:35 PM
Just set up my irrigation today. If my beds are ~4 feet wide, are two passes with a soaker hose close enough to adequately water the soil?

Are soakers good for newly sown beds, or should I plan to water can those in addition?

My garden keeps expanding...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on June 06, 2014, 10:22:37 PM
My beds are all 4 feet wide, and I have 3 passes with the soaker hose in beds with 2 rows of tomatoes or 3 rows of cole crops.  SInce you are direct sowing, I would definiitely do some additional watering, at least until the seedlings are up and have their true leaves.  Just try running the soaker hose and see how well the soil surface gets wetted - you might find that it's not quite getting to the seedlings in between the two runs of hose.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: San on June 08, 2014, 07:44:19 AM
We're eating lots of salad greens, radishes, turnips, green onions, fennel, rhubarb and any herbs we need for cooking. Peas will be soon. Beets didn't germinate well this year for the first two sowings, going to try adding boron to the soil, which is a limiting nutrient for beets when I sow again next week.

SOMETHING keeps on pulling my broccoli plants out of the garden beds by the roots and chewing them up. I think it's a stray cat. I'm going to scatter hot pepper flakes through the beds and see if it stops.

Goblinchief, the soaker hoses might be enough, especially when the plants are established, but might not be for seeding. I'm with Horsepoor with observing your current soaker and how well it waters. I do a lot of watering by hand, which is crazy time consuming and just crazy in general. Takes me an hour to water. Once we're in the new house, next year I'm definitely setting up a system.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 08, 2014, 08:04:45 AM
Goblinchief, the soaker hoses might be enough, especially when the plants are established, but might not be for seeding. I'm with Horsepoor with observing your current soaker and how well it waters. I do a lot of watering by hand, which is crazy time consuming and just crazy in general. Takes me an hour to water. Once we're in the new house, next year I'm definitely setting up a system.

After observing it, a double pass isn't enough except at the very start of the system when the hose has a bit higher pressure, but the triple pass gives adequate moisture over time. Since I've got a mixture of seed waiting to germinate and established plants, I'm hand-watering the seedling areas for now. Once I can justify another hose length or two I'll rearrange the system again.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: robtown on June 22, 2014, 08:03:22 AM
After being negligent for a couple years I've been active in our vegetable garden this year.   Our established asparagus fed us and several coworkers for six weeks.  The rhubarb tastes great in rhubarb strawberry pie.  I've made lots of spearmint tea.
Freecycle has provided chives and orregano for the herb area.   
I started several tomato brands, peppers, squash, sunflowers, and zinnias inside.   They all were slow to start, but after some MiricleGrow and three more weeks and they took off.   We picked 10 lbs of yellow squash and zucchini Saturday.    Only about 5% of the old lettuce, carrots, beans, and spinach germinated.   Despite that, we have a number of romaine heads forming, have had a few spinach / lettuce salads,  and the row of carrots has filled out.  As usual, a half dozen volunteer cherry tomato plants are growing accross the garden.   
I have some cantelope and cucumber vines going but they are being overwhelmed by the squash, which is waist high, and the tomato plants.   Hopefully, they will grow long enough to reach some sunshine.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 23, 2014, 12:37:11 PM
Our broccoli plants are huge, which makes me so happy since they were our first plants that we started from seeds. We've eaten some of the broccoli leaves, and they are so delicious. Now that I know the leaves are edible and delicious, broccoli seems like an amazing producer.

The red fire lettuce is looking great. I can't decide if I want to harvest the whole head or go the cut leaf method. Anyone have a preference?

My indoor kale starts are growing so slowly, while the direct sow kale is doing well. I had to put row covers to protect them from the flea beetles. I'm thinking the indoor kale might be overheated from the flourescent lights and lack of AC in my apartment at the moment.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Dr.Vibrissae on June 26, 2014, 07:20:19 AM
The squash bores have decimated our squash.  However, the peppers are going gangbusters, and they're the real money crop in our garden anyways. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 26, 2014, 07:56:09 AM
The squash bores have decimated our squash.  However, the peppers are going gangbusters, and they're the real money crop in our garden anyways.

Too late for this year, but if you look up when the moths are active in your area, put a floating row cover over the plants. Usually it's just a couple week window you need to cover them. My Mom said the year they did this was the only year they never got bores.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 27, 2014, 08:45:03 AM
Mind=blown

Apparently you can treat shelling peas (planted them before realizing the difference) as snow peas if you pick the pods early enough. Quite tasty.

Even mature shelling pea pods are edible, but very fibrous. Apparently you can make a good soup by cooking them and then straining/sieving the fiber out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Pegasus on June 27, 2014, 03:37:48 PM
Quote from: Brett link=topic=75.msg5425#msg5425 date

I know exactly what you mean, everyday when I get back from work I check on my plants, and today I saw that my green beans are sprouting. I feel like a proud father, which admittedly is making me stall on the decision to harvest some of my lettuce. it's my first harvestable crop and i'm feeling too pleased with how well it's doing to cut it just yet, though I did eat a leaf that broke off during transplanting to a larger container. That was exciting. The first thing I've eaten that I grew for myself. Good luck with all that veg, you're going to have a great year growing all that for the first time.

Lettuce, nice! I might try that in the fall.

Brett, I agree that rosemary in a pot is near impossible. It just gets too big too fast and it's never happy. I'm guessing it's a drainage issue because the yard ones are happiest when they are bone dry. I've only had luck with it as a bush but clearly that doesn't work in all climates. Mint on the other hand works great in a pot for me. I use the shallow and wide pots that look like big bowls and just cut it down to the dirt before spring. It always seems to come back up again by just adding a little fertilizer, no matter how dead it looks. Right now my mint is the size of lettuce leaf basil, it's ridiculous.

It is drainage.  Rosemary can't take wet feet, but also need to be careful it doesn't get too dry for too long.  It doesn't survive winter outdoors up North.  I've over wintered it indoors in a pot, but they are touchy.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on June 27, 2014, 04:10:59 PM
Nothing in the "garden" (of pots) except tomatoes and basil here, but they're happy, and the woods are full of blueberries, hickory nuts, pin cherries, fox grapes, and sassafras, with blackberry and elderberry lining the verges. It's not the garden I've had, nor what I will have again when we're all done riding a backhoe around, but it's getting better again after several years of nothing but grocery stores and what I could forage.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on June 29, 2014, 07:35:47 AM
Squash will send out secondary roots from the stems.  Can you get the borers (I think the recommendation is a bit of wire into the stem where the borer is) and then bury stems in the soil and water well?

I haven't had to deal with this so my advice is second-hand.

I envy you the peppers. Even when mine do well, our growing season is short.  Some years I have actually brought some in the house for the winter (they just sit and survive) and planted them out again the second spring.  Those are usually productive years, but it is a lot of extra work finding a winter place for them with enough light and warmth.

The squash bores have decimated our squash.  However, the peppers are going gangbusters, and they're the real money crop in our garden anyways.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MayDay on June 29, 2014, 10:05:21 AM
My thoughts in squash borers:

I read that injecting with BT will protect them.  One year I painstakingly and laboriously injected all my squash.  Didn't make a bit of difference. 

I had good luck last year putting row covers on my zucchini and cucmber.  I bought seeds that didn't need to cross pollinate (the other option is to pollinate by hand).  I had to remove the row covers about when they were ready to pick, so the borers still got them eventually, but it extended that time by quite a bit.  But it was a lot if work, so this year I skipped the row covered and we will see what happens. 

Burying the stems does work, but it can be tough, because the stems do not always grow in cooperative directions, so you are wrestling uh is big prickly plant while trying not to break the stems.  Still this is probably the easiest thing to do, and it makes a difference if you do it early and often. 

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 29, 2014, 04:51:08 PM
Do any of you weigh out what you gather? It's kinda silly how excited I get about a whopping 39g of peas, but they're MY peas :P
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: hoodedfalcon on June 29, 2014, 04:54:53 PM
Do any of you weigh out what you gather? It's kinda silly how excited I get about a whopping 39g of peas, but they're MY peas :P

I weighed last year for the first time. It was interesting (over 30 pounds of sweet potatoes!), but this year I am not going to bother. I went all out and calculated the value of the food based on local prices as well. Maybe down the road I will give it a shot again.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MayDay on June 29, 2014, 05:51:22 PM
I tell myself I will weigh, but in reality I harvest once or twice a day, and it would be way too much work.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on June 30, 2014, 08:08:40 AM
I only weigh individual vegetables if they look exceptionally large.  Hoping to break the 2# mark with a tomato someday!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: robtown on July 04, 2014, 08:44:32 AM
I'm now known as Farmer Bob at work.  One asked how many acres I own (about 1/4).  My coworkers flee before me as I pursue them with zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers.   They also enjoyed the asparagus, basil, and romaine lettuce.
In August it will be Asian pears. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Hotstreak on July 04, 2014, 11:54:58 AM
My cherry tomato was root-bound in a 5 gal bucket on June 1st, so I cut the bottom off and set it in a full 10 gal pot.  I thought that would be way too big for it and I would be fine all season.  Little did I know!  As of a few days ago the plant is root-bound in the full 15 gal, and is taking between 1 and 2 gallons of water per day.  It's about 5 feet tall, and I've managed to keep the footprint round by tying it up but it's still about 6 feet wide and 4 feet deep.  I just did a spot count and stopped at 100 cherry tomatoes.  I would estimate there are somewhere around 130-150 on the plant right now, and at least that many new flowers open, plus new growth still coming.  This is after killing half the growth by over spraying neem in mid June!  I can't imagine what I would be dealing with if it was in a bigger pot and I didn't stunt it so hard!

My other tomato is a "black krim" I bought as a start at the nursery.  It's doing well, but the vines are  growing too close together.  Tomatoes are pressed up against between some of the vines.  I am trying to separate them gently but so far no luck!  Oh well plenty of good fruit setting on the outside anyway.

Also am growing two peppers, one larger Serrano type and one tiny Thai pepper, both are setting on well.  Rosemary is getting quite large, my chamomile had given me a lot of tea and continues to produce.  The Thyme plant I got never set well in it's pot and is dying.  I think I'll let it sit out the summer.. it looks better than an empty pot at this point.  In the fall when I rip the annuals to overwinter Kale I will rip that one as well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on July 12, 2014, 06:20:48 AM
Awesome! You grow/make chamomile tea? What an excellent idea!

My cherry tomatoes are ripening. The plant is quite large at the moment. Broccoli florets came up beautifully and taste delicious. We have four large bags of lettuce in the fridge that we're giving to family. Carrots should be big enough next week. Peas are super tasty, but the plants are turning yellow.  I'm not sure if it's because that section gets over watered by my garden plot neighbor and doesn't drain well, or if it's diseased and should be yanked.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 12, 2014, 08:50:22 AM
Peas usually die this time of year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on July 12, 2014, 09:29:18 AM
Leave some pods on the plant to dry and save seed for next year.  They're cool season crops, so like Goblin says, they're all done.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 12, 2014, 01:46:35 PM
Leave some pods on the plant to dry and save seed for next year.  They're cool season crops, so like Goblin says, they're all done.

Or pull them now and use a dehydrator on low (95F) to dry the seed out. That way you can get use out of the planting space faster.

I haven't tried this myself yet but several books have specified using food dehydrators, even the cheapy $10 thrift shop ones, for seed drying/saving.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Hotstreak on July 12, 2014, 10:15:41 PM
Awesome! You grow/make chamomile tea? What an excellent idea!



Thank you!  I do grow them.  It's easy!  Simple soil, good sun, and steady water.  As far as "make" it, I put it in a clay plate on a window sill.  When it's dry I crumble by hand in to a glass and let steep.  Thank you for your interest!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Hotstreak on July 12, 2014, 10:20:48 PM
My cherry tomatoes are ripening. The plant is quite large at the moment. Broccoli florets came up beautifully and taste delicious. We have four large bags of lettuce in the fridge that we're giving to family. Carrots should be big enough next week. Peas are super tasty, but the plants are turning yellow.  I'm not sure if it's because that section gets over watered by my garden plot neighbor and doesn't drain well, or if it's diseased and should be yanked.

As others have said peas die naturally this time of year.  Your tomatoes will do well, fertilize when the bottom leave turn yellow (plant is cannibalizing itself).  Peas are done.  Rip them up to make room for your tomatoes and squash. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on July 13, 2014, 07:51:09 AM
Right on! I'll take care of that today. Thanks very much!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: puglogic on July 19, 2014, 01:07:08 PM
I started a medicine garden this year, in addition to my regular veggies, fruit trees and berries.   We don't do a lot of store-bought medicine, but we take things like chamomile and valerian (to help me sleep), echinacea (I make a cold preventative extract out of it), scullcap, st. john's wort (mood), feverfew (headaches) etc.   They're expensive to buy, so I planted a bed full of medicinals this year just to see what happens.  Doing well so far!  Take THAT, big pharma.

If you are in Colorado or any other cold/higher altitude place and want to grow tomatoes, I'd suggest keeping this site bookmarked for next year:  http://www.pennandcordsgarden.com/mountain-seeds-for-sale.html    I bought starts from Penn and they are incredibly vigorous.  We also buy organic seed potatoes and planting garlic from Colorado sources, and most of our vegetables from http://seedstrust.com .  They are all acclimated to our ridiculous growing conditions, and so do better.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: avonlea on July 19, 2014, 01:31:39 PM
Peas usually die this time of year.

I agree with you.  Our garden timeline has been a little off this year since we had a long winter and also have had a pretty mild summer.  We decided to plant later than usual this spring and just started harvesting our peas a couple of weeks ago. Next week we are supposed to have normal July weather, so those plants probably won't last much longer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: puglogic on July 19, 2014, 01:36:36 PM
I started a medicine garden this year, in addition to my regular veggies, fruit trees and berries.   We don't do a lot of store-bought medicine, but we take things like chamomile and valerian (to help me sleep), echinacea (I make a cold preventative extract out of it), scullcap, st. john's wort (mood), feverfew (headaches) etc.   They're expensive to buy, so I planted a bed full of medicinals this year just to see what happens.  Doing well so far!  Take THAT, big pharma.

If you are in Colorado or any other cold/higher altitude place and want to grow tomatoes, I'd suggest keeping this site bookmarked for next year:  http://www.pennandcordsgarden.com/mountain-seeds-for-sale.html    I bought starts from Penn and they are incredibly vigorous.  We also buy organic seed potatoes and planting garlic from Colorado sources, and most of our vegetables from http://seedstrust.com .  They are all acclimated to our ridiculous growing conditions, and so do better.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on July 21, 2014, 12:52:26 PM
Yesterday's harvest.  Good year for potatoes - not shown are the 5 or so # of Yukon golds I plucked off the other day because they were too close to the surface and threatening to turn green.

(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/IMG_20140720_184232482_zpsif9h30aa.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/IMG_20140720_184232482_zpsif9h30aa.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CommonCents on July 21, 2014, 01:45:46 PM
Just discovered the tree in our backyard is a pear tree!  We were contemplating cutting the ugly thing down, but (IMO) it's been saved by the appearance of about 4-5 fruit.  My husband is less convinced by this.

Unfortunately, I planted cilantro super late, and it's now producing, but starting to bolt.  Made gauc last night with it, and plan to use more tonight in a tomato shrimp avocado salad.  Used first basil with caprese this weekend, mmm.  Have a bruschetta chicken recipe up later this week.  Both were planted with seeds and it's surprisingly exciting to watch a plant grow from nothing.  Before I just bought a basil plant at the store (until I killed it) and bought cilantro bunches.

Just need the tomatoes to turn ripe, before my husband is impatient enough to pick early.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 21, 2014, 02:07:52 PM
I don't think I'll have any tomatoes until August or September, but we're entering the holy crap zucchini season. We've had a good deal of sautéed ones, but finally have enough glut to make bread. I may try some zucchini pickles as well.

My goblins are excited because our Triple Treat pumpkin vines have one pumpkin already sizing up and two more female flowers which just bloomed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 21, 2014, 02:15:16 PM
Heh. They just found another one!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on July 22, 2014, 03:26:12 AM
Winter garden here, although our winter is mild - record low temp is 6C. No frost. I do lose a lot of sunlight in winter due to the topography. Everything slows down. Last year, my first year of winter planting, pretty well nothing happened i.e.  I planted stuff and waited, and waited and waited and when the weather warmed up they started growing.
Doing a bit better this year. Garlic looks like its growing, potato onions looking good, the first of the succession planted silver beet is just about able to be harvested. First year trying cauliflower: no heads yet but plants are getting big, and some broccoli seedlings are nearly ready to plant out.  4 reasonable sized cos lettuce. Slugs/birds got the rest.

Have a polystyrene tray of  seedlings grown from seed : up til now not much consistent luck with growing from seed except for rocket. Exciting: a couple of minicaulis look big enough to plant out. The rest - coriander, lettuce, beets, beans still too small but at least germinated.

Deliberately planted kale seeds - did nothing. Dropped a pile of seed and  couldn't pick it all up: have a bunch of kale seedlings in the wrong spot.  Nature sometimes is stubbornly independent.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 22, 2014, 10:46:32 AM
I got pretty pathetic germination on my last bunch of salad greens, but buttercrunch, cucumber, and seasonal fruit (currently tart cherries) makes a good salad on hot days when I'm not super hungry for lunch.

Homemade balsamic vinaigrette (basically 50/50 vinegar and oil) is the bees knees.

Any tips for salad greens? I know you usually broadcast sow it, but should I leave the seeds on surface and water in, or rake it lightly before watering?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on July 22, 2014, 06:00:21 PM
My tomatoes just aren't growing this year.  They look healthy enough, they just aren't getting any bigger.  They are in two separate raised beds.  One had my lettuce, kale, a few carrots, and the cherry tomato plants that were my winter-sowing experiment.  Usually cherry tomatoes get out of control in my garden, but these are about six inches tall, and that's where they're staying.  The other box had my peas, and I planted my Costco tomato plants in between them.  The peas are gone now, but the tomatoes are growing so slowly.   And the only fruit they are growing were already on the plant when I bought them.  Any ideas?  I just did some fertilizer spikes yesterday. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: swallowtail on September 12, 2014, 02:01:06 PM
I started a medicine garden this year, in addition to my regular veggies, fruit trees and berries.   We don't do a lot of store-bought medicine, but we take things like chamomile and valerian (to help me sleep), echinacea (I make a cold preventative extract out of it), scullcap, st. john's wort (mood), feverfew (headaches) etc.   They're expensive to buy, so I planted a bed full of medicinals this year just to see what happens.  Doing well so far!  Take THAT, big pharma.

This is really cool.  I had my first garden this year and grew calendula, chickweed, comfrey, mullein, skullcap, valerian, echinacea, and yarrow.  Some plants did better than others.  It is getting cold in the midwest - are you going to overwinter your plants, or have you been staying on top of making medicine so you are stocked for the winter?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on September 12, 2014, 04:02:20 PM
Busy preparing beds for spring planting, and planting seeds. Finished the weeding yesterday. The tomato seedlings are up (just) in a tray indoors (there are quite a few more than I need, with more than 50), but none of the capsicums, eggplant, zucchini or pumpkin have come up yet (they always take longer). Planted carrot, asparagus, celery (first time ever) and lots of peas outside yesterday. Gradually transplanting the onion seedlings. Garlic is doing well. Rhubarb is just beginning to poke its head out of the ground. Most of the fruit trees are in blossom (the cherries and plums are about to burst, and the apricot is just about to finish), but no apples. Raspberries are beginning to put out leaves, and the hazlenut leaves are just out. The sour orange and grapefruit are ripe, and I am doing something with the lemons at the moment. Still eating carrots, beetroot, bok choy and silverbeet from the garden.

Waiting for Aldi to have cheap wooden raised garden beds so I can put some more in (about 5). The ones we put in last year worked extremely well - we made them twice as high, so they are 60cm (2 foot). They compacted by half over the year, so I have added a lot of stuff to 4 of them (the other 3 still have stuff growing in them, so I can't top them up yet).

Debating about the Brussels Sprouts. This is my first year with them, and none had little sprouts, just leaves. There are two sets - the ones with the leaves, and ones that appear to be just starting to have sprouts (tiny knobs that could start to be sprouts). Should I just pull the lot out? Or should I pull out the ones with leaves instead of sprouts, and leave the others in (isn't it a bit late for them to set)?

Has anyone grown perpetual spinach (it looks like silverbeet, but hasn't got the bitter white stalk, and tastes much nicer in my opinion)? Does it go to seed in spring like silverbeet, or does it last longer?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 12, 2014, 04:15:56 PM
Has anyone grown perpetual spinach (it looks like silverbeet, but hasn't got the bitter white stalk, and tastes much nicer in my opinion)? Does it go to seed in spring like silverbeet, or does it last longer?

I hadn't heard of that one. For a gardener, I'm not a huge fan of most greens, to be honest, but spinach is one I like - but I need something that doesn't bolt in the summer. I'd been looking at New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) for next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on September 13, 2014, 11:00:12 PM
4alpacas, if you're not already a GardenWeb member, I'd recommend checking it out.  There's a forum for pretty much everything imaginable; the vegetable garden one is pretty active and has loads of info in the archive.  My favorite veggie gardening book is the Vegetable Gardener's Bible - can't think of the author's name off the top of my head, but it's a good beginning book.  In zone 9, you could be growing things like broccoli, cabbage, fava beans and spinach over the winter, and probably starting summer crops in like, January.  Lots of opportunity to feed yourself year round, but there's also potential for burnout, so keep it low maintenance to start out.

I just have to say HOLY CRAP when it comes to spaghetti squash.  I am going to be giving the stuff away to anyone who will take it.  Even with my dog lifting some immature fruits off the plant, I am going to have like, 25-30 squash by the time this thing is done, and some of them are way bigger than the ones from the grocery store.  This is just a single plant, or maybe two seedlings from the same pot, and it has gone rampant.

My new garden area on the south side of the house is proving to be fantastic for okra, eggplant and sweet potatoes.  The area is a total heat sink, and they have been cranking.  Mission of having enough okra to freeze for winter gumbo accomplished and then some. It's proved to be a bit too hot for one of my two hop varieties though, so I'll need to dig those up and rehome them to a less brutal environment after harvest is over.  Also getting unbelievable yields for the little 4' row of pole green beans, as in, gallon bags of them.  I think they're Emerite variety, and though they took a bit to get going, they are insanely productive now.

Tomatoes are all over the counter, and I've got orange and red bell peppers coming in finally, too.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on September 14, 2014, 07:16:21 AM
Horsepoor-- I'd take one of those spaghetti squashes were I about 2000 miles closer!  I've never grown them.  Going to shred some zucchini for the freezer and for some fritters later today, freeze some more bags of corn off the cob, and make more basil cubes to freeze.  Suddenly, it's 45 degrees in the mornings, a reminder of what's to come. 

Another few weeks and the garlic goes in.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on September 14, 2014, 08:00:50 AM
Well, if you have the space, you can grow them!  They seem to be impervious to squash bugs, as the acorn squash I have planted right next to it has been mostly killed, and I see no signs of damage on the spaghetti.  This is my first time growing it, and I've been just shocked at how much it's produced; well over 100# by the time the season's done.  I need to ask my gardening coworkers if anyone's grown other winter squash and wants to do an exchange.

OTOH, watermelon have been a bust this year.  Got one ~4# melon from a variety that's supposed to grow 10# melons, and nothing from the other plant.  Might try them on the south side of the house next year if I can get enough compost added to the soil over there.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on September 14, 2014, 08:12:28 AM
I grow the "Sugar Baby" watermelon here as our growing season does not ripen the big ones in an average year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 14, 2014, 08:27:28 AM
From what I understand, melons in the north more or less require the use of black plastic mulch, or a permaculture heat sink. I'd think if the spot you're growing eggplants has extra space, the melons would do good there.

My own garden's looking pretty sad right now. Green beans mostly eaten by rabbits, cucumbers dying back, pumpkins already tilled in (mildew) but with 7-8 curing on the front steps. Broccoli that refuses to form heads. Tomatoes that were ripening (finally) until this last cold spell....

I *might* get ground cherries by frost. I started them really late. There's husks on the plants but the fruits are still babies as far as I can tell.

Sunflowers have fed the eager wildlife for the past week.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on September 14, 2014, 03:21:49 PM
Spring is here in the southern hemisphere, and the garden is slowly picking up. Its not that cold here but I still haven't cracked getting much produce happening in winter. Currently potatoes coming up in a big no dig lasagne bed, silver beet is finally getting going, and the asparagus is producing. Caulis and broccoli have leaves but no heads: my first time growing so not sure what to expect.  Garlic is going well.  Young lemon tree is green but still no leaves - has been like that since the wallaby "pruned it" - hopefully it will come good now its spring. Planted out some tomato starts on the weekend.  Anxiously watching where I planted ginger and turmeric last season, hoping it will shoot soon and do well. Nasturtiums and fever few are now seeding all over.

Slow but steady.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on September 14, 2014, 10:16:12 PM
From what I understand, melons in the north more or less require the use of black plastic mulch, or a permaculture heat sink. I'd think if the spot you're growing eggplants has extra space, the melons would do good there.

Nah, actually, Hermiston melons are pretty famous, and they're just a tough north of us. I had success with sugar bush baby melon and a hybrid cantaloupe last year, but I just need to leave them more space and remember that they don't compete with squash vines, which are ridiculous.  I probably will put them in the south side garden next year though, and feed more heavily.  Plenty of heat in the banana belt of Idaho.  :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on September 15, 2014, 09:59:51 AM
horsepoor, Thanks for the recommendation!  I joined GardenWeb, and I'll look into the book recommendation. 

Does anyone have advice for an inexpensive way to start composting?  I have a dog, so I was interested the containers (but not the $250 price tag). 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 15, 2014, 10:06:07 AM
horsepoor, Thanks for the recommendation!  I joined GardenWeb, and I'll look into the book recommendation. 

Does anyone have advice for an inexpensive way to start composting?  I have a dog, so I was interested the containers (but not the $250 price tag).

If it has to be in a container, modify a trash can (ideally galvanized steel) by drilling 1/4" aeration holes in it, similar to how you'd make a worm bin. I tried this with plastic, but rodents can chew through way too easily.

If you just want to keep the dog out, make a simple open frame with a hinged lid, then staple chicken wire or other metal mesh on all the sides. You'll get slightly better results that way, and can make it as big as you want.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on September 15, 2014, 10:18:19 AM
horsepoor, Thanks for the recommendation!  I joined GardenWeb, and I'll look into the book recommendation. 

Does anyone have advice for an inexpensive way to start composting?  I have a dog, so I was interested the containers (but not the $250 price tag).

If it has to be in a container, modify a trash can (ideally galvanized steel) by drilling 1/4" aeration holes in it, similar to how you'd make a worm bin. I tried this with plastic, but rodents can chew through way too easily.

If you just want to keep the dog out, make a simple open frame with a hinged lid, then staple chicken wire or other metal mesh on all the sides. You'll get slightly better results that way, and can make it as big as you want.
Thanks!  I'll have to discuss it with my DH.  He's not totally sold on my composting plans, and I think an open air reminder (or a dog that has rolled in compost) might be too much at this stage. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: swallowtail on September 22, 2014, 08:09:59 AM
Changing the topic slightly - what is everyone's gardening budget?  I have to do container gardening, so soil is always a cost, plus seeds, pesticides (I had a bad case of thrip & millipedes recently), containers, and I would eventually like to get grow lights for overwintering, and encouraging seedlings in the spring.  I am also a consumer sukka and want all the high quality hippie gardening products.  Do you just factor this into - well, I won't have to spend money on food / medicinal products / another hobby? 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CommonCents on September 22, 2014, 10:33:20 AM
Any cheap tips for stopping a groundhog from eating mums?  The mums were pretty cheap so we don't want to buy a spray that cost more than the mums themselves, but if there's a cheap household product (vinegar?) I could put on to disuade our local groundhog, that would be awesome.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: cambridgecyclist on September 22, 2014, 10:59:14 AM
Changing the topic slightly - what is everyone's gardening budget?  I have to do container gardening, so soil is always a cost, plus seeds, pesticides (I had a bad case of thrip & millipedes recently), containers, and I would eventually like to get grow lights for overwintering, and encouraging seedlings in the spring.  I am also a consumer sukka and want all the high quality hippie gardening products.  Do you just factor this into - well, I won't have to spend money on food / medicinal products / another hobby?

It can be challenging to making a rational financial case for spending any significant amount of money on gardening products. In 2013, I just added all gardening-related costs to my monthly grocery budget. Last year I ended up slightly underwater with the costs of gardening supplies added in -- part of this was the cost of a micro-irrigation system ($77), which saves a lot of time but isn't strictly necessary -- but this should last several seasons and resulted in healthier plants so in the long run it may work out positively. However, as far as hobbies go it is really inexpensive especially if you make your own compost, get free containers, start plants from seed and go easy on the artificial lighting. As far as soil and soil amendments go, they are much less expensive in bulk.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on September 22, 2014, 11:13:47 AM
Changing the topic slightly - what is everyone's gardening budget?  I have to do container gardening, so soil is always a cost, plus seeds, pesticides (I had a bad case of thrip & millipedes recently), containers, and I would eventually like to get grow lights for overwintering, and encouraging seedlings in the spring.  I am also a consumer sukka and want all the high quality hippie gardening products.  Do you just factor this into - well, I won't have to spend money on food / medicinal products / another hobby?

Google "Winter Sowing in milk jugs".  All you need is seeds, soil, and milk jugs.  I started this last year and 95% of my flowers and vegetable grew this way.  I made some mistakes, but over all, it was a huge success.  I'm saving milk jugs like crazy for next years garden!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: swallowtail on September 22, 2014, 11:50:54 AM
Mrs. Green'stache - I am positively dazzled by the milk jug strategy - thank you so much! :)

cambridgecyclist - thank you for the tip on bulk buying!  I am going to ask a gardening neighbor if they would be interested in going in on bulk soil with me.  We have limited gardening space, but both like to make the most of it.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 22, 2014, 04:00:54 PM
Changing the topic slightly - what is everyone's gardening budget?  I have to do container gardening, so soil is always a cost, plus seeds, pesticides (I had a bad case of thrip & millipedes recently), containers, and I would eventually like to get grow lights for overwintering, and encouraging seedlings in the spring.  I am also a consumer sukka and want all the high quality hippie gardening products.  Do you just factor this into - well, I won't have to spend money on food / medicinal products / another hobby?

Google "Winter Sowing in milk jugs".  All you need is seeds, soil, and milk jugs.  I started this last year and 95% of my flowers and vegetable grew this way.  I made some mistakes, but over all, it was a huge success.  I'm saving milk jugs like crazy for next years garden!!

My gardening budget comes out of my hobby budget per my wife, even though it defrays our food costs.

For the milk jugs, be sure to drill drainage holes. I tried milk jugs (no drainage) and it was really easy for the soil to get oversaturated.

There's also no reason you can't save soil over the winter. If you're concerned about disease for the seedling flats, you can sterilize garden soil by microwaving it in a plastic bag. (Not sure about how long, but I've read that people do this.)

Once you have the containers and the soil, seeds each year aren't too expensive.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 22, 2014, 04:03:12 PM
Decided that making tomato sauce with a food mill sounds right about my speed, but can't justify spending the $ on one for a few months yet, so all the tomatoes are going into the freezer. We haven't been eating them fresh very much, and they don't keep long anyways since most of my plants have a bad case of anthracnose. So I'm cutting the spots off and tossing them in freezer bags for as much space as I have (not much left).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on September 22, 2014, 04:16:54 PM
How did I not know about this thread? Gah! *gardening neophyte runs off to read entire thread*
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 22, 2014, 05:07:02 PM
How did I not know about this thread? Gah! *gardening neophyte runs off to read entire thread*

There's also this thread http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/index.php?topic=13685.0 but it seems to have died out in favor of this current one.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on September 22, 2014, 10:25:38 PM
cambridgecyclist - thank you for the tip on bulk buying!  I am going to ask a gardening neighbor if they would be interested in going in on bulk soil with me.  We have limited gardening space, but both like to make the most of it.
Soil seems to be a waste of money - use the lasagna method to build up your garden - it gets rid of paper waste and weeds, while not depriving some other place of its topsoil. It's also cheaper and contains more nutrients for your plants.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: swallowtail on September 23, 2014, 09:01:47 AM
cambridgecyclist - thank you for the tip on bulk buying!  I am going to ask a gardening neighbor if they would be interested in going in on bulk soil with me.  We have limited gardening space, but both like to make the most of it.
Soil seems to be a waste of money - use the lasagna method to build up your garden - it gets rid of paper waste and weeds, while not depriving some other place of its topsoil. It's also cheaper and contains more nutrients for your plants.

I think Lasagna gardening would be tricky using containers.  I don't have access to good yard space, unfortunately.

Another topic change - before my Mustachian proclivities took root, I purchased an electric composter by a company called NatureMill.  I have had very bad luck with it.  Does anyone have personal or peripheral successful experience with this machine?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CanuckExpat on September 23, 2014, 04:27:28 PM
Another topic change - before my Mustachian proclivities took root, I purchased an electric composter by a company called NatureMill.  I have had very bad luck with it.  Does anyone have personal or peripheral successful experience with this machine?

What have your problems been with it? I recently just bought one on Craiglist. I haven't decided if I was going to keep it or try re-selling it. I'd like to know if it is going to be trouble...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: swallowtail on September 23, 2014, 04:41:44 PM
My problem was that I could never get the moisture level right.  Either it was way too damp and got moldy and smelly, or it was really dried out and burnt-seeming, or some combination thereof.  I don't have a ton of experience with compost, but it was never rich and loamy and nice, which is what I imagine it should be like.  It always had a bad funk, uneven texture, and most importantly, when I put it on plants it would often dry the hell out of the soil (I think this was because I added too much baking soda in an attempt to alleviate stank) or otherwise make my soil unhappy.  Things also never seems to properly "break down" - I'd get pretty big pieces of eggshell or other foods even after weeks.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on September 24, 2014, 01:42:25 AM
cambridgecyclist - thank you for the tip on bulk buying!  I am going to ask a gardening neighbor if they would be interested in going in on bulk soil with me.  We have limited gardening space, but both like to make the most of it.
Soil seems to be a waste of money - use the lasagna method to build up your garden - it gets rid of paper waste and weeds, while not depriving some other place of its topsoil. It's also cheaper and contains more nutrients for your plants.

I think Lasagna gardening would be tricky using containers.  I don't have access to good yard space, unfortunately.
In that case, look for container planting mixes - these are cheap to mix and don't use soil, so they have better drainage in a container than soil does. You could also use your bad garden space to have a lasagna bed area, that you use as a container mix as soon as it has mulched down.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: cambridgecyclist on September 24, 2014, 11:42:54 AM
cambridgecyclist - thank you for the tip on bulk buying!  I am going to ask a gardening neighbor if they would be interested in going in on bulk soil with me.  We have limited gardening space, but both like to make the most of it.
Soil seems to be a waste of money - use the lasagna method to build up your garden - it gets rid of paper waste and weeds, while not depriving some other place of its topsoil. It's also cheaper and contains more nutrients for your plants.

I think Lasagna gardening would be tricky using containers.  I don't have access to good yard space, unfortunately.
In that case, look for container planting mixes - these are cheap to mix and don't use soil, so they have better drainage in a container than soil does. You could also use your bad garden space to have a lasagna bed area, that you use as a container mix as soon as it has mulched down.

   FWIW here is a recipe that I've been using for potting mix in self-watering containers with excellent results:

    1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 compost + 2c dolomite for every cubic foot of potting mix

  Each container (5 gallon bucket) gets filled with potting mix almost to the top, then a ring of slow-release vegetable fertilizer around the outside edge.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on September 26, 2014, 07:10:59 AM
The harvest here is finally winding down.  Latest item is 2 gallons of beach plums, a wild natural plant in the northeast you can plant as well.  In another month, I'll plant the garlic out for next year-- hardneck only, about 60 cloves as I love to give it away.

Goblinchief-- you can try a food processor for tomato sauce.  I cut out the cores, roughly chop with the skins on and whir them a bit before dumping in a pan sizzling with garlic and olive oil.  add a bit of basil or oregano after cooking for 15 minutes. Done.  Can be canned in a water bath, adding some acid as advised.  I can in my stockpot.  Food mills are fine, but they take the skins out and it takes more time than the processor method.  I eat the raw skins so why not cooked?  I did not have many tomatoes this year so not much sauce put up.  Boo.

I cut the bottoms out of half gallon milk containers for seeding, too.  If you sprinkle a pinch of onion seed in 2 rows in Feb, you will have little seedlings by April to plant out.  These will be rounder than the ones you grow with onion sets ( tend to have a flattened shape).  You can plant tomato seeds in these with,say, 2 inches of soil and add soil as the plant grows, burying some of the stem as you would do planting out; you get a deeply rooted plant.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on September 26, 2014, 01:41:42 PM
I cut out the cores, roughly chop with the skins on and whir them a bit before dumping in a pan sizzling with garlic and olive oil.  add a bit of basil or oregano after cooking for 15 minutes. Done.  Can be canned in a water bath, adding some acid as advised.
It is really not advised to add garlic when water bath canning as they have something in them that causes problems.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on September 26, 2014, 02:56:04 PM
Unlike many here, I am a gardening newbie. Last year, I put in a little mushroom manure in an existing raised bed and planted some starter things from Home Depot.  This year, I got brave and planted some seeds in August. We now have a row of Romaine Lettuce and a row of Cabbage. I can hardly believe my eyes! What an amazing thing that you can grow food from 2 little packages of seeds! haha!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on September 26, 2014, 03:57:53 PM
What an amazing thing that you can grow food from 2 little packages of seeds! haha!

It's even more amazing when you can just grab the seeds from one of those things and stuff them back in the ground and get even more food.  This doesn't work for everything, but I'm growing only my own strain of bell peppers from the best-performing plants in the garden each year.  Lettuce is a good one for seed saving, and so are beans.

Also: organic potatoes, sweet potatoes, ginger, horseradish and garlic from the grocery store can be planted.  After a few years, things will pop up around your garden on their own.  This year I had a volunteer winter squash that I let go since it wasn't in the way, and now have a couple big beautiful winter squash to store (it looks like it bred true to a variety I grew last year; this isn't always the case with squash).  Also had dill and potatoes volunteer in convenient locations.  So much better than weeds!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on September 26, 2014, 04:52:51 PM
Lettuce is a good one for seed saving.
Why bother seed saving lettuce??? Each year my entire garden is covered in little lettuces sprouting in autumn. In winter, I make stir fry lettuce and garlic at least once a week, using three small lettuces that have sprung up on my paths. At this time of the year (spring), I decide which lettuces to weed, so I can plant other crops. I exist on lettuce salads and stir fry lettuce for a couple more months, then the remainder go to seed in mid-summer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gerard on September 26, 2014, 05:05:03 PM
Why bother seed saving lettuce???
[/quote]

One advantage of seed saving lettuce is that you can stagger plantings to give yourself something during bolting season. The best of both worlds would be to do what you do (let things self-seed), but seed-save a little as well. And I guess you could trade some saved seeds for something else? Magic beans? A cow?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on September 26, 2014, 05:19:48 PM
Why bother seed saving lettuce???
One advantage of seed saving lettuce is that you can stagger plantings to give yourself something during bolting season. The best of both worlds would be to do what you do (let things self-seed), but seed-save a little as well. And I guess you could trade some saved seeds for something else? Magic beans? A cow?
Unfortunately, when I save the seeds, and plant them in spring, they bolt at the same time. And other lettuce varieties don't seem to do well either. We have quite warm (you might say ridiculously hot) weather at that time, along with almost no rain. Silverbeet or perpetual spinach started now becomes prolific at the time the lettuce goes to seed, so it becomes my leafy green vegetable of choice for the remainder of the year (my silverbeet is just beginning to go to seed now having been prolific for 9 months). So I don't really need the lettuce (particularly as perpetual spinach tastes nicer than silverbeet) - I just wish I could find a variety that worked when the tomatoes are also cropping.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 09, 2014, 10:11:20 AM
I just finished Carole Deppe's book on seed saving and am revved for next year.  Plus I now have tomato seeds fermenting that I saved from some yummy cherry tomatoes from Costco, it will be interesting to see how they turn out.  I bought a mixed container, and the other varieties have too tough skins to be worth bothering about in a home garden.  Not surprising, they have to survive shipping, but not a trait I need.  Here most cherry tomatoes never make it into the house - one advantage of organic vegetable gardening is things can go straight from plant to me.  Same for sugar snap peas - the babies are delicious raw, 3 seconds after being picked.
I'm growing only my own strain of bell peppers from the best-performing plants in the garden each year. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zoltani on October 09, 2014, 12:47:07 PM
Has anyone experimented with using Smart Pots or other "root air pruning" containers vs. a raised bed garden?

The best place I have for raised beds that would get sun all day is in the little strip or grass between the sidewalk and the street in front of my house. What are the implications of placing the garden there? My biggest concern would be food theft, but not sure if that actually happens. I've seen people putting gardens in that location, but they are usually in "better" neighborhoods than the one in which i live.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on October 10, 2014, 06:41:50 PM
Hey hey hey! Guess what ? I've got broccoli! First time. Harvested 2 little heads this morning.  I've had terrible trouble with kale, and my first time caulis got eaten by something, so I thought I had the curse of the brassica. Seems to struggle with scale, aphids, and cabbage moths. So i really thought the broccoli wouldn't make it either.

Somewhere I read if I cut the main head off, I will get side shoots to harvest as well…is that correct?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 10, 2014, 06:47:08 PM
Hey hey hey! Guess what ? I've got broccoli! First time. Harvested 2 little heads this morning.  I've had terrible trouble with kale, and my first time caulis got eaten by something, so I thought I had the curse of the brassica. Seems to struggle with scale, aphids, and cabbage moths. So i really thought the broccoli wouldn't make it either.

Somewhere I read if I cut the main head off, I will get side shoots to harvest as well…is that correct?

Yes. But when you harvest the main head, cut the stalk diagonally so that it sheds rain. If you cut horizontally the plant can start getting diseased.

My fall broccoli hasn't formed heads very well. Depending on how cold it stays, I might start harvesting leaves to try in kale recipes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 10, 2014, 06:51:38 PM
Hey hey hey! Guess what ? I've got broccoli! First time. Harvested 2 little heads this morning.  I've had terrible trouble with kale, and my first time caulis got eaten by something, so I thought I had the curse of the brassica. Seems to struggle with scale, aphids, and cabbage moths. So i really thought the broccoli wouldn't make it either.

Well done! My kale is finally starting to grow faster than being by pests. Only started to happen after I put down snail bait and crushed eggshells between the plants. Haven't harvested any yet tho.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on October 13, 2014, 10:46:10 AM
Hey hey hey! Guess what ? I've got broccoli! First time. Harvested 2 little heads this morning.  I've had terrible trouble with kale, and my first time caulis got eaten by something, so I thought I had the curse of the brassica. Seems to struggle with scale, aphids, and cabbage moths. So i really thought the broccoli wouldn't make it either.

Well done! My kale is finally starting to grow faster than being by pests. Only started to happen after I put down snail bait and crushed eggshells between the plants. Haven't harvested any yet tho.

Awesome advice!  I acquired a few seed packets from a coworker, so I'm going to try to sprout a few.  I'm not quite sure how old the seeds are, so I don't know if they're still viable.

I've also been reading the "Frugal Gardner."  So much good advice. 

Congrats to everyone on their fall vegetable wins!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on October 13, 2014, 12:53:39 PM
Yay, glad I came across this thread!  I'm a gardening newbie, and I live on a second floor condo, but I've recently been trying my hand at gardening.  So far, I have:

Jalapeno
Serrano
Lactino Kale
Kalette
Chard
Basil
Mint
Lemon Balm
Chives
Wheatgrass
Dwarf Lime Tree
Dwarf Lemon Tree

The only true success so far has been the wheatgrass, which I sprouted from seed and used for juicing.  But I'm still hopeful!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 16, 2014, 02:02:20 PM
I'm closing down the garden for the winter - the last few broccoli heads are coming in today.  We have had some frosts.

Planning ahead - I have the plant stand set up in the basement, for starting seeds this winter.  Peppers are slow, I have to start them in March for an end-of-May planting.  I have also saved some tomato seeds, from store-bought tomatoes that I liked.  I hope they grow true next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 16, 2014, 02:45:30 PM
Tomatoes generally grow true, but with store varieties you have no way to know if it is a hybrid or not. Read Carol Deppe's book "Breed your own vegetable varieties" if you want to know what goes into "dehybridizing" a hybrid.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 16, 2014, 03:23:52 PM
I'm heading over to our gulf island place this weekend. I am going to have to some serious thinking about how I'm going to get a garden going come Spring. My sister actually had a pretty nice garden going about 3 years ago - but apart from the deer proof fence, looking at it now, you would never guess that a very nice producing veggie garden existed there. Blackberries and all sorts of invasive things have started to encroach... maybe I'll post some pictures of what is facing me - a gardening newb no less. Oh boy.

I love the challenge though. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 16, 2014, 03:35:09 PM
I'm heading over to our gulf island place this weekend. I am going to have to some serious thinking about how I'm going to get a garden going come Spring. My sister actually had a pretty nice garden going about 3 years ago - but apart from the deer proof fence, looking at it now, you would never guess that a very nice producing veggie garden existed there. Blackberries and all sorts of invasive things have started to encroach... maybe I'll post some pictures of what is facing me - a gardening newb no less. Oh boy.

I love the challenge though. :)

Once you clear and prep an area, I'd broadcast a cover crop to keep the invasives from returning. Pretty sure buckwheat would grow well, and that's supposed to be excellent at choking weeds out while easy to hoe back when you're planting your desired crops.

If you've got large amounts of woody plants, a brush cutter is a very fun (but dangerous) toy. It's basically a weed whacker, except with a circular saw blade instead of plastic string.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on October 16, 2014, 06:07:44 PM
I like oats for ground cover, too, besides buckwheat.  It will die when frost hits; this is actually a plus for me as covers that live through the winter tend to be hard to turn in ( I only use a fork, no machines), such as winter wheat.  My garlic is not in yet; will get it in end of the month.  I got about 40 heads this year.  I'm trying to wait to harvest brussell sprouts until a light frost hits, but it's hard as we love them so much!  Bags of roasted pumpkin in the freezer after food processing; great to bake with but also easy to sneak a cup or so into a chile ( if your kids don;t like to eat plain squash--mine didn't).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 17, 2014, 07:23:07 AM
I did read her book.  Her comment on how someone grew Sweet 100 from saved seeds (listed as an F1 hybrid) and they grew true was what inspired me to save seeds from tomatoes I liked, even though I don't know the variety.

It was a great book (from the library, of course) and I got a lot of ideas from it - and I have been gardening for 50 years and am a biologist.  There is always something new to learn and think about in gardening.  I may even spring for the Kindle version so I have it handy for reference.

Tomatoes generally grow true, but with store varieties you have no way to know if it is a hybrid or not. Read Carol Deppe's book "Breed your own vegetable varieties" if you want to know what goes into "dehybridizing" a hybrid.
"I have also saved some tomato seeds, from store-bought tomatoes that I liked.  I hope they grow true next year."
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 17, 2014, 07:26:32 AM
Cool. Hope it works out! I'm very early in my gardening experience, so I didn't do any seed saving this year. Still trying to figure out what I want to grow and what we like the best. The breeding book was a bit over my head, but I did really enjoy her second book (The Resilient Gardener).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on October 17, 2014, 04:34:49 PM
Well, spring has sprung and the weeds are going ballistic. Each year I get a little better at this vege growing gig. Currently harvesting silver beet, early garlic (I planted tons and I really enjoy plucking it early and using it like a garlic shallot), asparagus (just one crown but its spears are fatter and more prolific this year), kale (with scale again:( ), rocket, chives, lettuce, parsley and other leaves.

I have a huge bed of potatoes done lasagne method, and this year have got cucumbers in, and tomatoes setting flower. So hopefully I'll get a long season from these. The malabar spinach I sowed for the last time last year, died off but is sending up volunteers now, as the packet promised.  Next job is to sow some pumpkin seeds, maybe will do better this year - so far total fail when it comes to these allegedly easy crops.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 18, 2014, 06:38:17 AM
I got a lot of general good from both her (Carol Deppe) books. The gardening specifics are different - her climate is so different from mine (yours is probably a lot more like mine than hers), so not usable.  But the seed-breeding guidelines should work anywhere.

I find most beginning gardeners (not saying you specifically, take what you like and leave the rest) are intimidated by things that more experienced gardeners take for granted, and do things that intimidate experienced gardeners.

For example - start your own tomatoes (assuming you like tomatoes).  They are easy to start early, the only danger is starting them too early.  And even then if they get too leggy you can just bury them, the stems will grow new roots.  I do this a bit on purpose.  Seeds last for years, so you can go nuts in the seed catalogues, and then start just as many plants as you want or will use - i.e. paste tomatoes if you want to make sauce, otherwise not, cherry tomatoes (never make it to the house around here), "Lunch Box" for packed lunches, etc.  After what Carol wrote, next year when I plant my favourites, I am looking at flower shape.  If they look like self-pollinators I am seed-saving, even if the catalogue says F1.

And only, ever, what you like to eat!  I laugh when I see advice to plant radishes and eat them as other crops fill in - I do not eat radishes, ever, so they are definitely not getting planted. 

Cool. Hope it works out! I'm very early in my gardening experience, so I didn't do any seed saving this year. Still trying to figure out what I want to grow and what we like the best. The breeding book was a bit over my head, but I did really enjoy her second book (The Resilient Gardener).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 20, 2014, 09:04:38 AM
Here is a picture of what I am facing. A blank, and messy and overgrown, canvas... three years ago a very nice garden existed within this fenced area.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 20, 2014, 10:24:29 AM
What direction is the wooded side? Hopefully it is either north or east so you get the most usable sun and less shade.

I'd probably tackle the area in the foreground and work my way backwards first. That way the first beds you make are getting the most sun. Have fun! I love preparing new beds!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 20, 2014, 11:36:16 AM
Chief, the wooded side is almost due north, so the garden gets great southern sun exposure. Unfortunately, there is an old, existing fence hidden in the brambles along the treeline that has almost completely collapsed. It's fallen over enough that the deer have found a path into the fenced area. So, I need to employ the bladed brush cutter you mentioned earlier (we have one, and yes it's fun to wield) and cut back that vegatation so that I can reestablish the back fence. No use starting a garden until its deer proof.

Thanks for your input, Chief. I may continue to pick your brain (and any other gardeners here) as time goes on.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on October 22, 2014, 04:39:21 AM
Quote
No use starting a garden until its deer proof.

Amen to that. One year my brother planted 500 bulbs and next spring the deer ate every one.

Always clear and cover, clear and cover bit by bit. ("cover" might be sew a quick growing cover crop or cover with newspaper and mulch on top, whatever works for your situation). Don't ask me how I know this: I am a slow learner.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on October 22, 2014, 03:21:36 PM
Does anyone have any tips for growing basil?   The basil plant I bought a few weeks ago is looking somewhat... stunted. And the basil seeds I planted haven't sprouted yet. :/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: hoodedfalcon on October 22, 2014, 04:47:36 PM
Does anyone have any tips for growing basil?   The basil plant I bought a few weeks ago is looking somewhat... stunted. And the basil seeds I planted haven't sprouted yet. :/

I grow a ton of basil because I love pesto. The more sun, the better. It seems to thrive in the hottest part of my yard, and I am in South Carolina. It's been dying off here lately since it's gotten cooler though. I don't water it very often either. Are you growing in the ground or pots?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on October 22, 2014, 05:11:10 PM
I grow a ton of basil because I love pesto. The more sun, the better. It seems to thrive in the hottest part of my yard, and I am in South Carolina. It's been dying off here lately since it's gotten cooler though. I don't water it very often either. Are you growing in the ground or pots?

I live in a condo, so I'm growing everything in pots. :(  I've been giving it plenty of sun, and it's still in the high 70s-low 80s.  Not sure what I'm doing wrong...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 22, 2014, 05:17:27 PM
How deep did you plant the seeds? Basil seeds are TINY, so they need to be essentially on the surface.

I had bad luck with germination until I planted them very carefully in a 72 cell tray covered loosely with plastic wrap until sprouting.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on October 22, 2014, 05:26:29 PM
How deep did you plant the seeds? Basil seeds are TINY, so they need to be essentially on the surface.

I had bad luck with germination until I planted them very carefully in a 72 cell tray covered loosely with plastic wrap until sprouting.

I sprinkled them on top of the soil, and then covered with a handful of soil loosely scattered across the top of the pot.  Maybe I should try again in starter pots with plastic wrap?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on October 22, 2014, 05:37:26 PM
Noob here -- what are the little white "fruit flies" on my lovely romaine lettuce and cabbage? And something is eating away the cabbage leaves :-( Harvesting a little romaine now. Its been fun to try growing something from seed for the first time with my 11 year old son!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 23, 2014, 03:38:41 AM
I have so many strawberries growing on the neglected strawberry plant out the front. But goddamn fucking slugs keep eating holes in them as they ripen. Grrrr. I've managed to harvest TWO so far. Any thoughts for slug control?

I'm also starting to harvest a few kale leaves (I just chop finely and chuck it into whatever I'm cooking). They're all super-holey but eh, still edible.

I planted a bunch of herbs a couple of weeks ago. The sage is going well. The dill is leaf-less! Just stems. No idea what happened. The tarragon is kind of going ok, ditto the basil. Coriander is surviving.

I've also got snow peas gradually settling in and sending up tendrils up my repurposed trellising. Zucchinis had 2 casualties out of 6 - one was snailed and the other was user error (ie I accidentally snapped the stem as I planted it). I planted a cherry tomato last week, and there are 3 to go in this weekend. I'm hoping we get a gazillion tomatoes and zucchinis this summer! Great fun cooking with them.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 23, 2014, 06:21:31 AM
In the States there's a product called Sluggo. Most gardeners who have slug issues (my climate doesn't really attract them) swear by it.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 25, 2014, 04:49:47 PM
Beer - they love it and they drown.  But not too close to the berries,you will attract more.
Copper wire mesh around the plants.
Eggshells dried and crushed, make a moat around the plants.

That works here, but except for really wet summers I don't see a lot of slugs.  Plus you may have super slugs.

Any thoughts for slug control?
/quote]
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on October 25, 2014, 06:49:52 PM
How deep did you plant the seeds? Basil seeds are TINY, so they need to be essentially on the surface.

I had bad luck with germination until I planted them very carefully in a 72 cell tray covered loosely with plastic wrap until sprouting.

+1.  This was the first spring of starting plants from seed, including basil.  Shallow planting, covering with plastic, warmth (sun or temperature) and keeping them really moist appeared to be key.

FYI - pepper seeds take FOREVER to germinate.  Something about the seeds having a hard, oily shell around them so plan on 2-3 weeks before germination occurs. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on October 25, 2014, 06:57:22 PM
It's my own fault for starting in the fall, rather than in the spring/summer like normal people. My basil seeds are finally germinating, though (good timing, as my basil plant from Trader Joe's is starting to die).

If anyone has any tips on container gardening, they'd be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 10dollarsatatime on October 25, 2014, 10:11:23 PM
It's my own fault for starting in the fall, rather than in the spring/summer like normal people. My basil seeds are finally germinating, though (good timing, as my basil plant from Trader Joe's is starting to die).

If anyone has any tips on container gardening, they'd be much appreciated.

I had a container garden for three years before I bought a house.  I made self-watering planters with five gallon buckets, pvc pipes, and plastic bowls from the dollar store after the first year.  My containers were on the south side of my apartment building on a cement walk against a brick house.  The first year they had to be watered daily, sometimes twice.  With the self waterers, I only had to water every three or four days during the summer, which is great since I had to hook a pocket hose up to my kitchen faucet to do it.

I planted fairly established seedlings, and then covered with about three inches of mulch and then plastic (with holes for the plants to grow through.)  I did OK for the little bit of attention I ever paid to them.  Strawberries are the only thing that didn't seem to like the watering system.  I did tomatoes, cherry peppers, green beans, cucumbers, herbs, and zucchini usually.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Lowerbills on October 31, 2014, 09:14:53 AM
Just found this thread - and going to jump right in.  Been at it for about 5 or 6 years.  There is definitely a learning curve, and I love it... Love playing in the dirt and growing stuff that we eat, and seeing my kiddo get all jazzed up about picking food from the garden.

1.  Start a compost pile.  I feel like this is really the foundation of every garden.  Read about aeration, ratio of greens : browns, wetness etc...  I also like the idea of having worm bins - relatively inexpensive to start.  Also, if you're cutting up a watermelon for example, take the extra 20 seconds to chop the rind into smaller pieces, this will help breakdown faster.  Coffee grounds - can sometimes get tons of these for free from a local coffee shop.  Pulp from juice bars is perfect for compost.  Some in my area will give it away on a first come first serve basis - this stuff is awesome for a compost pile.   Turn your compost, topdress your garden and mix in with your soil regularly. 

2.  Proven Native Winners - start with stuff that does well in your area.  Sounds simple, everyone would probably love to have an avocado tree, but few climates are ideal for them.  I used to hack it and try to plant stuff randomly, but now follow the local (regional planting calendar).

3.  Seeds - approaching a garden from a MMM perspective, transplants aren't cost effective, plus it's more fun to grow your own stuff from seeds.  Especially rewarding to go seed : seed the following year.  Stuff like lettuces, beets, and carrots are $2 a packet vs. $2 for ONE 4" transplant.  One package of lettuce seeds will plant a 15' row very densely, or more if spaced correctly and you have high germination rates.

4.  Scale - related to #3.  I want to EAT from my garden, not just have one random pepper, one carrot, one lettuce and then figure out what to do.  Experiment a little more each growing season with something new, but have some standards you have dialed down.  Stuff you can grow from seed and grow a LOT of it, so you can for example: eat salads for 6 months of your lettuce, can or make tomato sauce, stock up and store root vegetables, blanch cut, seal and freeze veggies etc... Fruit and Nut trees are great for scale as well.  If you think you might stay in your home awhile I think they are great investments... Local native fruit and nut trees will crank out hundreds of goodies for you once established.  Pecans, pine nuts, figs, peaches, apples, persimmons... whatever grows well in your area.  I highly recommend planting multiple trees.  The veggie garden will need a lot of maintenance, but once established, fruit trees will just keep on cranking with very little additional work.

5.  Fertilizer - Organic fertilizer or conventional (I use organic), but either way, you will see a dramatic difference with some regular fertilization.  Especially with stuff that buds or when your veggies are putting out the goods... 

Each zone is different but I've had the most luck with the following...

Garlic, Onions, Beets, Carrots
Cucumbers (Suyo Long)
Peppers - tons of varieties - personally love shishito peppers. 
Lettuce, lettuce, lettuce!!! Variety seed packages that are great. 
Okra

***Tomatoes - the crown jewel of the summer veggie garden and source of a lot of frustration!  I'm in Texas where I fight the heat, so I plant early (in stages) and risk the late frost.. you know the heat is coming..  Lots of tomato tips and threads out there, but one piece of advice from me to someone jumping in:  The cherry tomatoes are a good starting place!  Grown on a trellis (hog pen secured to T-posts or something)  They don't sit on the vine as long as your larger slicing tomatoes, so are LESS susceptible to disease and cracking.  They're indeterminate so you'll get em steady for a while (until it gets to hot in my area).  One healthy cherry tomato plant can crank out hundreds of little tasty maters!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 31, 2014, 09:29:34 AM
Pacific Northwest monsoon season is well underway and I can't wait for Spring. Not only for the gradual cessation of the rains, but the starting of my gardening journey.

I've been getting gardening related books from the library and trying to absorb as much as I can. But I get the feeling that the actual DOING will teach me more in the long run.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on October 31, 2014, 09:37:51 AM
Jon__Snow-- I think you are right-- you have to get out and DO it, especially as so many things depend on your own area/microclimate/soil.  Just have fun with it!  Soon you will be looking a couple of bushels of kale you need to get in soon, like me!  I hope you find satisfaction doing this; it's a very cheap and frugal thing to love.  I still have things I do not grow very well-- carrots, for instance.  Don't be discouraged!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rezdent on November 07, 2014, 12:45:18 PM
(Zone 8b)
I've had some family and work stuff going on in the past month that kept me busy but did manage to finally get my winter garden going
Greens: lettuce, mustard, spinach, collards..
Kohlrabi,  beets, daikon, peas, rapini, carrots, cilantro

But my pet project is the garlic bed.  There are different types of garlic and some don't do well here at all - Rocambole is a definite no go.  Artichokes will do great here but...meh.  That's the kind in grocery stores - so plainjane and ordinary.  So I'm experimenting with PurpleStripes, Porcelains,  and Creole types.  Theoretically if I can keep the same strain growing for 5 years or so it will acclimate and perform well.  I got pretty close a few years ago but lost all (except a family heirloom) from a combined drought and unseasonably warm spells.  It's taken me a couple of years to get past that failure but I'm back now.  I put in 20 pounds of seed garlic.

Half of this is the family heirloom that has acclimated to our climate for 50 years and always pulls through - huge cloves and dependable but not my favorite in taste tests.  The other half is assorted types of "gourmet" types as I am experimenting with finding a variety that will do well here.

  I really like "Romania Red" and hoping it does well but it's a gamble.  Also planted some "Ajo Rojo" which should perform well.
Fingers crossed :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on November 07, 2014, 12:48:19 PM
Two days of 90 degree weather, and all my little seedlings died.  :(

Starting over now...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on November 07, 2014, 10:47:15 PM
I am about to clean the garden out for winter.  The peppers and tomatoes are pretty much dead, though they're usually finished in mid-October.  We'll be eating lots of winter squash and potatoes from here on out.  Already looking forward to next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 20, 2014, 04:43:22 PM
Out early in the garden today, tidying up and bagging tomatoes. I use brown lunch bags and a twist tie to keep off those nasty worms. Ate my first tomato of the season yesterday, a small red egg shaped one: don't know what it is, its a volunteer I nurtured.  Harvested more garlic. The turmeric I planted last year has shot (yay!) but the ginger has not :(
Its gonna be hot: predicted to be 97. Silverbeet won't like it.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on November 20, 2014, 04:47:09 PM
Out early in the garden today, tidying up and bagging tomatoes. I use brown lunch bags and a twist tie to keep off those nasty worms. Ate my first tomato of the season yesterday, a small red egg shaped one: don't know what it is, its a volunteer I nurtured.  Harvested more garlic. The turmeric I planted last year has shot (yay!) but the ginger has not :(
Its gonna be hot: predicted to be 97. Silverbeet won't like it.
My tomatoes have yet to even start to flower.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 20, 2014, 04:53:07 PM
We don't even get frost here, so we're ahead. I planted the tomatoes in Ausgust - the earliest I ever managed to get some in I think. Usually not so organised.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on December 01, 2014, 03:49:46 AM
Yesterday I harvested the rest of the garlic. Looks enough to use for the year with some left to plant for next year. Today I picked the first 2 cucumbers of the season.  The potatoes are starting to die off. I poked around a dead plant and was rewarded with a small heap of purple sapphires. I love these purple fleshed potatoes, but they don't seem particularly high yielding. I planted a fair sized bed using Peter Cundall's lasagne method…I noticed the newspaper base is still intact which is handy - the potatoes are all above the newspaper. As promised the straw/manure etc has broken down into a deep rich compost - ready for the next crop.

Three more first time successes - I finally have got 2 Italian romano bean plants to start - allegedly v easy but have had 3 goes fail.  I have a pumpkin going - from some seed i got out of a shop bought butternut pumpkin - looking good so far but never yet have I grown a pumpkin. And finally, I think I have a beetroot. Of some proportion. I'm good at growing beetroot leaves but generally end but with a little lump of red woody stuff.

The little egg shaped tomato volunteer is going ballistic  setting flower and fruit all over the place - clearly a determinate variety. I have another volunteer just starting to set flower and 4 more volunteers coming up…..woohoo.

 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on December 01, 2014, 11:04:24 AM
I have a pumpkin going - from some seed i got out of a shop bought butternut pumpkin - looking good so far but never yet have I grown a pumpkin.

Good luck with it. Squash/pumpkins are naturally outbreeding/crosspollinators, so hopefully you'll get lucky and have the seed bear true.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on December 02, 2014, 09:37:54 AM
So yesterday I raked the leaves in my front yard, crushed them a bit, and put them on my raised veggie beds. I got the idea from Kevin Lee Jacobs, my gardening guru who taught me how to winter sow. Does anyone else use leaf mold in their beds? I'm worried about them blowing away before we get some rain. Maybe I should go wet them down a bit?

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2014/10/why-i-save-my-autumn-leaves/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on December 02, 2014, 11:22:15 AM
I was going to do this myself but we froze really fast this year. I'll have to till them in early next year.

It's best to shred them up with a lawn mower first. Whole leaves will take a long time to break down.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Simple Abundant Living on December 02, 2014, 02:22:00 PM
I was going to do this myself but we froze really fast this year. I'll have to till them in early next year.

It's best to shred them up with a lawn mower first. Whole leaves will take a long time to break down.

These are mostly willow leaves and they were dry so I just munched them in my hands. It looks like rain is predicted for tomorrow, so hopefully they will get wet and I won't have to worry about the wind blowing my hard work away!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on December 07, 2014, 03:47:37 AM
Been in the vege garden in frustrating snatches between thunderstorms, which have been a daily occurrence recently. Planted out remaining silver beet, a beetroot start and sowed corn, rocket and zucchini trombocino. The clumping onions have seeded so I've collected that, and the garlic scapes have bulbils so I'll collect those. Harvested more potatoes, and what was meant to be a quick tidy up of the tomatoes, yielded more than an ice-cream container full, including a 14 oz monster which had burst its bag:).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on December 07, 2014, 09:02:50 PM
I just thought I'd drop by with a PSA about how amazing collards are.  I started some from seed this spring, they chugged through the whole summer with me taking the big leaves off to eat or to feed to the chickens.  They were unbothered by the hoards of aphids, and didn't give a crap when it was blistering hot.  In November we had a record shattering cold snap where it snowed 9", then froze solid and got down to low single digits a few nights.  Everything that was left in the garden collapsed, but not the collards!  They are sitting out there right now looking green and ready to eat.  Definitely growing more of these next year specifically so we can eat them all winter.  It doesn't hurt that they're really nutritious and hold up well in a soup, where other greens would fall apart, and provide a perfect foil for BACON!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on December 08, 2014, 06:03:48 AM
I so wish my wife didn't hate cooking greens, but alas she does. I like them, but not enough to make separate dinners just to eat them!

I'll still grow some for smoothie duty but not as much as I would otherwise.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on December 08, 2014, 06:15:34 AM
I was going to do this myself but we froze really fast this year. I'll have to till them in early next year.

It's best to shred them up with a lawn mower first. Whole leaves will take a long time to break down.
They really start to decompose when you add a bit of manure - layer them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on December 08, 2014, 06:26:57 AM
I'm getting Bok Choy daily (I must plant some more seeds), and the perpetual spinach is ready to start harvesting. I'm picking cherries furiously and the tomatoes have flowers! The asparagus appears to have stopped for the time being. Last year I had a bad attack of sap eating beetles on my citrus, and they have come back again this year. The orange had about 50 that I killed yesterday. I wish how I knew to get rid of them. Last year we gave the grapefruit a trim (got rid of all the growth over two metres) and sprayed with pyetherum every second day for a few weeks. The trim removed a lot of eggs. They were about an inch long, and there were hundreds of them. The lettuce is all going to seed, so I am about to turn it into mulch.

Yes, Happy, haven't the thunderstorms been good! We had about three days of rain in spring, so getting a reasonable amount this last week has been wonderful (too late for the garlic though).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on December 08, 2014, 07:32:56 AM
I so wish my wife didn't hate cooking greens, but alas she does. I like them, but not enough to make separate dinners just to eat them!

I'll still grow some for smoothie duty but not as much as I would otherwise.

Hmm, if it's the texture of sauteed greens, maybe she could do green soup?:  http://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/basic-green-soup

You can make this with anything. I did a batch last night with spinach, kale, broccoli and some of the garlic scape pesto I made this spring, but I've used collards in it too.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on December 08, 2014, 10:42:06 AM
I really can't wait for Spring... and the start of my "grow my own food" life. Even the back breaking labour of it all I look forward too. At least I have been able to wait out some of the Canadian winter in Mexico...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on December 08, 2014, 11:24:37 AM
Even the back breaking labour of it all I look forward too.

That's my favorite part of gardening. Much more fun than harvesting or processing. Eating the fruits of the labor is a close second.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: NoraLenderbee on December 08, 2014, 01:21:21 PM
My favorite part is planting the seedlings and watching them get bigger and stronger. Also picking the first whatevers of the season.

It's winter here--well, we're in California so it isn't super cold, but it definitely isn't warm. I picked a small basket of tomatoes yesterday. This is the latest I have ever gotten tomatoes. They don't taste great raw, but they'll make good sauce.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on December 09, 2014, 12:59:04 AM
As a relative Noob gardener, I most enjoy the creative side: take some seeds, provide the right environment and hey presto:food!
Look what I did! (well nature did it really). Also I really like it in summer when the vege plot is fully planted out and looks like one of those productive vege plot photos. I have yet learnt how to do that year round, but since we get no frost I figure I should get better at that. There's also heaps of things I have yet to try to grow: the first success is very exciting.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on December 09, 2014, 06:37:45 AM
Happy, you are advanced for a noob!  I like to think of all you lovely Australians growing things while it's 12F here.

We grew collards for the first time this year and were surprised at how good they are.  I braised sliced leaves, after removing the tough mid ribs, with garlic or onion, a couple cubes of frozen chicken broth and smoked sea salt, instead of bacon if we didn't have it.  Amazing! 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on December 09, 2014, 07:00:31 AM
Smoked sea salt is a thing? That sounds delicious!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on December 09, 2014, 07:30:59 AM
Yes, dear GC, can you imagine?!  It is wonderful on almost anything, but a bit spendy.  Less so than bacon and I need to watch my salt intake so that moderates me.  I did a pan of roast veg with both smoked paprika-- essential to life-- and smoked salt.  Stand back.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sunnyca on December 10, 2014, 12:39:03 PM
Smoked sea salt is a thing? That sounds delicious!

I have smoked sea salt from Trader Joe's- I think it was $1.99 for the bottle.  Tasty stuff.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: zoltani on December 11, 2014, 02:14:45 PM
Got the regulations from my city on raised beds in the planting strip. It is the only place I have that gets full sun all day. The beds can be max height of 2-feet and must be 2-feet from the curb and/or sidewalk. I am not sure this will leave me with a very wide bed, but hopefully I can do something with the space, need to measure this weekend.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anus Hurricane on December 14, 2014, 02:29:16 PM
Lawns are for suckahs.  Dump that shiz.

Especially if you live out in the arid west, I'm telling you with a lawn you get to irrigate it and fertilize it and weed it just so you can mow it.  Where do I sign up!?!

I cut out all grass from my 0.25 acres and it is mostly wood chips now.  That reduced my irrigation costs by $300/yr.  Fuck that noise, homes.  I have seven raised beds out back that produce about $500 in food/yr.  Total value of the lawn conversion was easy $800/yr.  Note also that I suck at gardening; a dickless pig could double that value with minimal planning.

We have no deer.  Peas and onions be high volume crops, boss.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: looking for FI on January 02, 2015, 09:20:06 PM
Just ordered all of my seeds for next years three season garden. I can't wait. :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 03, 2015, 04:58:14 AM
Picked 5kg of blackberries today (11 pounds) and a huge bag of apricots (bottled into 8 bottles). The tomatoes have baby tomatoes on them. This hot weather is a problem - the rhubarb leaves were curled up and the silverbeet looks limp - but what do you expect when we have a heat wave, and there is smoke from fires around.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on January 03, 2015, 04:14:41 PM
Your fruit yields are inspiring Deborah, I must get moving and get some fruit trees in. We're awash with tomatoes at the moment. Cucumbers  are producing 1 or 2 a day, but not at glut level like last year. I've been harvesting the potatoes. Not a huge yield, but some. I plant coloured varieties that I can't buy (or if I can their about $5-8 a kilo!). Maybe its really too warm here. Overall I liked the lasagne method - the newspaper base which is still more or less intact, has meant they are easy to harvest, and I will have a bed of rich crumbly soil for the next crop. Onions are browning off finally, so will harvest soon.  I bought a punnet of capsicum starts - will have another go - last time they died without no yield at all.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 03, 2015, 05:23:04 PM
I was on Cape Cod for Christmas - wow things are inexpensive in the US!  One Job Lots had Burpee seeds on for 1/2 price - and they were 2015 seeds.  I bought  a lot of seeds - tomatoes, peppers, squash, peas (Sugar Snap, Sugar Daddy, Super Sugar Snap), beans.  Now I just need to restrain myself - the first thing I need to start is the peppers, and I won't do them for at least another 6 weeks.  They go out in the garden beginning of June, last of the main season plantings, but need to be a good size if I am to get much out of them.  I will do a fall broccoli a bit later, for  freezing.

But it does make me think of spring, instead of this weird winter weather - we are having snow and rain this weekend, it is -14C right now and it will be +6C by tomorrow afternoon.  And then back to -12C by Monday.  I wish it would be winter and stay below 0, warm weather in winter is horrible because it means ice.  And the melting means low soil water levels in the spring.  Which gets us back to gardening  ;-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 03, 2015, 05:46:27 PM
I'm going to have problems with tomatoes this year. I aim for 52 litre bottles of tomato puree each year - we usually use about that amount during the year. But much of the tomato crop ripens in April/May when I won't be able to process it. I still have some from last year because I got carried away and bottled more. Thinking about it, I actually have more tomato plants this year than last, so I should get more. However, some of them are half the size of the others - I think I need to give them more water (the small ones are not in my raised beds, so aren't automatically irrigated).

No cucumbers yet. Asparagus, perpetual spinach (a form of silverbeet that I prefer, as the ribs are green and nice to eat), zucchinis (they have just started, and already I think I planted too many), peas (just about over), rhubarb and peaches, apricots and blackberries at the moment. I find that capsicums give a lot of fruit, but right at the end when frost is around - and the plants and fruit are not frost tolerant! They are marginal where we are.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on January 05, 2015, 07:22:57 PM
I haven't been out in the garden much (slightly phobic about an allergic reaction - funny how emotions >>> logic if the potential consequences are severe enough). But, luckily DH has stepped up and doing the bare minimum to keep stuff alive and harvesting veggies.

Herbs - mixed success. It must have been an unusual spring/early summer. We had ridiculous amounts of strawberries from one plant in November (half a kilo a day for several weeks?!?) but that coincided with parsley, coriander, dill and basil all bolting to flower and seed. Oregano and tarrogon are going ok. Marjoram died. Thyme and rosemary, despite being drought hardy, have actually needed watering. Chives started to flower too but can still harvest.

Zucchinis - drowning in them. Unfortunately it's been too hot to have the oven on so my usual zucchini recipes aren't practical. I tried eating it raw (thinly sliced with a dressing) but it made me retch after a while. Combination of flavour and texture.

Cherry tomatoes - meh. We bought seedlings from a school fete and they're very small bushes - only 30cm x 30cm x 30cm (a foot by a foot by a foot for non-metric people). We will harvest the first one today. :/ I wanted a harvest of at least 1kg a week for months (I love tomatoes!) but I think we'll be lucky to get 2kg for the entire season. We do, however, have a self-sown tomato growing out the vent of the compost bin! It's already taller than the ones we planted months ago, but hasn't yet flowered. No idea what sort of tomato plant it will be.

Kale - winter vegetable, my arse. It's growing really well now we're in full summer. It's finally growing faster than the caterpillars can eat it (looked leafless and nearly dead 2 months ago).

Nectarines - about 10 on the dwarf nectarine tree. We've lost one to a possum so far. They're still too firm to harvest, though. New nectarine tree out the front (planted bare-rooted in July) didn't flower but growing super well. It grew at least half a metre plus branches since planting.

Grapevine - finally starting to grow after 2 seasons (planted for shade on west side of the house) but still no fruit. Haven't seen any fruit on the slightly feral ones on the footpath either.

Apple - I planted a columnar apple tree (cos our garden is tiny) on a whim a few months ago. We have one apple growing :D

Guava (or feijoa? not sure) - slowly growing, no fruit. So it's failing on two counts - screening plant (we live in a medium density townhouse complex) and fruit.

And I've lost a few other plants, like a protea and my blueberry. I'm a noob gardener so it could entirely have been my fault in planting or looking after it. One wattle is going well, the other is starting to look a bit yellow and sickly.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 05, 2015, 07:41:00 PM
Astatine, water your tomatoes and they will grow - the ones I have that haven't been watered regularly are less than half a metre, while the others are well over a metre. Mine will start to have tomatoes in late January (the watered ones have just started to set fruit), and continue until May. I rarely get much puree before mid-February, then I get swamped in tomatoes, so there's loads of time for them to start being productive. As guavas have green fruit, it takes a lot to see the fruit. I inspected mine the other day, and after looking for 5 minutes started to see some (they won't be ripe for months so they are very little now). My peaches are all ripe, so your nectarines should be soon. I have trouble with blueberries too - I planted one years ago, and it didn't take, another this year also appears to be on its last legs.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on January 05, 2015, 08:38:39 PM
Thanks, deborah. The tomatoes are watered deeply at least weekly. They just seem to be a very different cultivar to previous plants we've had (which spread across the garden regardless of how often we remembered to water them). But, will maybe up the watering to twice a week to see if that helps. The actual tomatoes all seem to be of a decent size - not small.

Thanks for the tip about the guavas. Will have to inspect it more closely!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 06, 2015, 06:20:29 AM
I almost always just sautee or stir fry zuccini. Another non oven use is to "peel" them in long strips with a carrot peeler, lightly sautee the ribbons and use like fettuccini.

When I had my mega glut and couldn't possibly eat them all fresh, I shredded a bunch and froze them in the correct portions for my zucchini bread recipe and for mixing 50-50 with ground bison as a meat extender.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on January 06, 2015, 07:16:20 AM
I almost always just sautee or stir fry zuccini. Another non oven use is to "peel" them in long strips with a carrot peeler, lightly sautee the ribbons and use like fettuccini.

When I had my mega glut and couldn't possibly eat them all fresh, I shredded a bunch and froze them in the correct portions for my zucchini bread recipe and for mixing 50-50 with ground bison as a meat extender.

They're also awesome grilled.  We cut ours in 1/4" long slices, put olive oil on them and grill.  Most of the time we eat them right off the grill before they even see a plate. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CatchingFire on January 06, 2015, 07:34:09 AM
Love this thread.  So glad it got bumped up.  I will plan on reading through entirely later today.  We square foot garden and are just now starting to think about the seeds we will start later this month.  We have an inexpensive timed lighting system set up in the basement and start all of our tomatoes and peppers from seed.  Most everything else gets seeded outdoors later.  We haven't bought plants for years.  We've adjusted what we grow over time as some just doesn't seem to grow well in our system/location and some just never got eaten... zucchini overload!  We can't seem to grow enough tomatoes and peppers though, so they each get an entire raised bed.  The rest is usually greens, some peas, some herbs.  We splurge and buy Johnny's 512 seed mix each year and make soil blocks for our seeds.  The mix seems a bit pricey to buy, but we've overwhelmingly had the best success with it and it's still much cheaper than buying organic plants. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 06, 2015, 09:41:59 AM
I'm tempted to abduct some of you and take you to my island and share your gardening expertise with me. I am a young retiree, with lots of spare time now... I am physically fit and am willing to work my a** off. Yet as Spring draws inexorably closer, I feel overwhelmed and unprepared for what I need to do. Haven't had much luck regarding books from the library - "Gardening for Dummies" wasn't available. Over the holidays I spent an hour strolling around the site of my future (hopefully) garden, trying to visualize it as a verdant, produce generating wonderland... yet all I could see was the encroaching blackberries, tough tangle of various wild grasses, and a collapsed deer fence. *sigh*
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 06, 2015, 09:53:29 AM
4Alpacas juice them and freeze it for summertime lemonade. Also, the Strawberry Lemon Preserves from the book 'Canning with a New Generation' is divine on toast, pancakes, crepes, .... Fresh strawberries are out if season but cooking from frozen would work just fine and frozen berries around my way are almost always less than $2/lb.

jon_snow I'd be up for a garden tourism trip up your way possibly in 2016.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on January 06, 2015, 10:11:02 AM
With a huge dump of fresh snow on the ground overnight and today I'm clinging on to this thread for my life. Excited about the spring and growing some new herbs and veggies. Hopefully this year will be more successful than last. I have big dreams and limited knowledge. The only thing I manage to grow successfully in the greenhouse are chilies and a few habaneros.

This year I want to grow a lot more herbs in the raised beds and garden, and figure out why my cucumbers and squashes never produce. Hopefully this year my raspberry plant will produce too!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 06, 2015, 10:21:33 AM
With a huge dump of fresh snow on the ground overnight and today I'm clinging on to this thread for my life. Excited about the spring and growing some new herbs and veggies. Hopefully this year will be more successful than last. I have big dreams and limited knowledge. The only thing I manage to grow successfully in the greenhouse are chilies and a few habaneros.

This year I want to grow a lot more herbs in the raised beds and garden, and figure out why my cucumbers and squashes never produce. Hopefully this year my raspberry plant will produce too!

There are greenhouse specific varieties of a lot of crops.

With the cukes and squash, do you get blooms but no fruit? If so, it might be a lack of pollinators. Learn to identify the sexes of the flowers and you can easily pollinate yourself. Keep in mind squashes will naturally give you only male flowers for the first couple weeks, so don't freak out.

If they're fruiting but the vines are succumbing to disease, try a bio fungicide like Serenade. I will do this next year, as my winter squash sh vines succumbed to mildew a touch too early to get them super sweet, though thankfully they're still quite useful :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on January 06, 2015, 10:28:49 AM
With a huge dump of fresh snow on the ground overnight and today I'm clinging on to this thread for my life. Excited about the spring and growing some new herbs and veggies. Hopefully this year will be more successful than last. I have big dreams and limited knowledge. The only thing I manage to grow successfully in the greenhouse are chilies and a few habaneros.

This year I want to grow a lot more herbs in the raised beds and garden, and figure out why my cucumbers and squashes never produce. Hopefully this year my raspberry plant will produce too!

There are greenhouse specific varieties of a lot of crops.

With the cukes and squash, do you get blooms but no fruit? If so, it might be a lack of pollinators. Learn to identify the sexes of the flowers and you can easily pollinate yourself. Keep in mind squashes will naturally give you only male flowers for the first couple weeks, so don't freak out.

If they're fruiting but the vines are succumbing to disease, try a bio fungicide like Serenade. I will do this next year, as my winter squash sh vines succumbed to mildew a touch too early to get them super sweet, though thankfully they're still quite useful :)

I get lots of blossoms on both. The squash plants got huge, but no fruit except one last year at the very end of the season. I tried cross pollenating with my finger, not knowing about the different sexes. The cucumbers start to grow fruit but the fruits shrivel up very quickly after, when they are still small. I got one good cucumber the first year in the greenhouse, the rest didn't grow past 1 inch long. The leaves also got very brittle and had white stuff on them. Fungus? The second year I transplanted them outside when it was warm enough and the leaves didn't get brittle, but I still only ended up with 3-4 edible cucumbers.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 06, 2015, 11:01:07 AM
4Alpacas juice them and freeze it for summertime lemonade. Also, the Strawberry Lemon Preserves from the book 'Canning with a New Generation' is divine on toast, pancakes, crepes, .... Fresh strawberries are out if season but cooking from frozen would work just fine and frozen berries around my way are almost always less than $2/lb.

jon_snow I'd be up for a garden tourism trip up your way possibly in 2016.

Uh, Chief... that would be bloody great. Hopefully will have made SOME progress by then. ;)

Seriously, reading through this thread you guys are almost speaking a foreign language. I find myself feeling somewhat out of balance with my lack of knowledge on this subject. I have always been a lover of nature. I kayak with orcas (but not too close!)... sleep on beaches under the stars with driftwood as my pillow. Spend hours in towering Douglas Fir forests simply because it makes me feel good to be there. But there is one thing to be an ADMIRER of nature - the garden wizards here are able to MANIPULATE nature and it's ability to provide sustenance for us. It's really magical when you stand back and think about it. The amount of work and dedication you put into your plot of land is reciprocated in such a wonderful and healthy way.

Threads like this one is why the MMM forum is my favourite internet "hangout". Generous, wonderful people here. I am PUMPED to get started!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 06, 2015, 12:17:44 PM
I'm pumped too! It's below zero F here today but you betcha in March I'm going to be constantly prodding the ground to see if I can get my peas in :)

This year's pea patch will have to be on all currently unbroken ground. I've never tried breaking sod that early in the year. Hopefully it's not too terrible. I'm also getting inoculant so the peas do double duty as a nitrogen fixing cover crop.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 06, 2015, 12:59:37 PM
No snow or much cold at all here Chief. But rain...oh the rain. Sometimes I wonder if I should concentrate on Ark building skills instead of the gardening. ;)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 06, 2015, 03:59:24 PM
Allsummerlong, that post is much appreciated. I'm walking over to the store to pick up dinner ingredients... when I have time later I will delve into some of those links and give you some more details of my gardening challenge ahead of me. Someone with knowledge of Pacific Northwest gardening is not a resource I will squander!

I have been thinking about slipping down to our place in Baja for 3 weeks in April... sounds like this might not be a plan conducive to getting my garden off the ground...hmm. We will talk later!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on January 06, 2015, 04:32:07 PM
Would you consider posting this conversation on a "West Coast Gardeners" thread? Would love to benefit from the wisdom of allsummerlong as another newbie gardener. I was FASCINATED by the lettuce I grew from seed for the first time this year!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on January 06, 2015, 05:27:46 PM
I almost always just sautee or stir fry zuccini. Another non oven use is to "peel" them in long strips with a carrot peeler, lightly sautee the ribbons and use like fettuccini.

When I had my mega glut and couldn't possibly eat them all fresh, I shredded a bunch and froze them in the correct portions for my zucchini bread recipe and for mixing 50-50 with ground bison as a meat extender.

Thanks! I put zucchini in a lot of my dishes (stews, curries, soups and the like), and after finding some oops, left that zucchini too long, monster zucchinis last year, have made some decent stuffed marrows in the oven. We also often roast strips of zucchini, along with capsicum, cherry tomatoes and strips of haloumi for a super lazy but tasty meal. But, it's far too hot to eat hot dishes at the moment (I refuse to run the a/c unless it's a week of 40C temps), let alone stand at the stove or have the oven on.

I'll try your zucchini "fettucine" idea though, and put a quick tomato/vegie sauce on top. Would love to freeze more but our fridge/freezer is very small, and we have limited freezer space for bulky foods. (don't want to get a standalone freezer, as there's nowhere to put one, except maybe the carport and that can hit super high temps in summer). And lol@bison. Cultural differences for sure. Bison sounds super exotic to me. Beef and lamb are my basic meats if I cook meat and occasionally pork or chicken, or fish.

Seriously, reading through this thread you guys are almost speaking a foreign language. I find myself feeling somewhat out of balance with my lack of knowledge on this subject.

I still very much feel like a beginner gardener. I read the Yates Australian Garden Guide (http://www.yates.com.au/products/books-tools-and-propagation/books/yates-garden-guide/) - one of the few books I've bothered to keep. It helped with some basic concepts and I reread bits from time to time as I gradually get the feel for how my garden operates. I wouldn't read that particular book, tho, cos it is quite specifically for Australian conditions. But if you can find a similar-ish one for your part of the world, probably worth a read.

I also realised that the worst thing that could happen with gardening and planting new things is a plant dying. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is No Big Deal. Annoying maybe, and maybe cost you some money, but No Big Deal. That got me over a lot of the anxiety about I have no idea what I'm doing, I'm doing it wrong etc etc.

What also helped me a lot was having a neighbour who is super excited about gardening, particularly growing food (she's super into permaculture) and she's pretty much the reason why I started to gradually grow food plants in my garden (I started with herbs, then strawberries, then fruit trees and annual veggies like zucchinis and tomatoes). She's also why I am utterly obsessed about mulching. It was awesome standing in our street having very enthusiastic and loud discussions about our gardens and we toured each other's gardens from time to time. Sadly, she moved away and we're not great at keeping in touch.

Good luck! You'll make mistakes, but that's how we all learn. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on January 06, 2015, 07:45:30 PM
For the PacNW folk, make sure you check out Erica's blog @ NWedible.  One of my faves even  though I'm a long way away.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 06, 2015, 08:41:59 PM
For the PacNW folk, make sure you check out Erica's blog @ NWedible.  One of my faves even  though I'm a long way away.

+1

Even though I'm in quite a different climate, I loved her writing so much that I read it front to back. I'm excited for her book to come out!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on January 06, 2015, 09:17:37 PM
We do, however, have a self-sown tomato growing out the vent of the compost bin! It's already taller than the ones we planted months ago, but hasn't yet flowered. No idea what sort of tomato plant it will be.

Took out the compost just now and realised that for the first time since I got my compost bin (about 4 years ago), it's actually generating heat! Which is awesome, but not sure what that will do to the tomato plant growing out the side of it. Not sure how hot the compost heap is but it is noticeably warmer than ambient which is about 29C in the shade today.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 06, 2015, 09:21:07 PM
Tomatoes like growing in compost.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 06, 2015, 10:05:27 PM
Wow. NWedible is an incredible blog. I've got reading for weeks. Erica is just south of me, so I should be able (in theory) to grow what she does.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 06, 2015, 11:28:05 PM
Allsummerlong, speaking of microclimates...my land is in the Gulf Islands, located in the Salish Sea between Vancouver and Victoria. It's part of the rare Garry Oak ecosystem which features a Mediterranean-like climate caused by being located in a rain shadow caused by the mountains of Vancouver Island and the Olympic mountains. Less rain, and more sun than Vancouver. I suspect the weather and growing conditions more resemble Victoria...if Butchart Gardens is anything to go by, this is a good thing. :)

The native soil in these islands is notoriously poor...so your raised beds suggestion may be the way to go. Other landowners nearby have amazing gardens, so they have probably been composting and developing great soil for many years. A visit to some of my gardening neighbours is probably in order.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 07, 2015, 07:21:53 AM
The native soil in these islands is notoriously poor...so your raised beds suggestion may be the way to go. Other landowners nearby have amazing gardens, so they have probably been composting and developing great soil for many years. A visit to some of my gardening neighbours is probably in order.

Importing dirt can get expensive fast. From what I've read, you also have to be careful about heavy metal contamination. This may/may not be an issue in Canada with your stricter laws.

"Poor" soil can mean a lot of things. Poor in organic matter? Plant some green manure this spring, mow and till under in the summer, and you'll be able to do fall crops there. Poor in nitrogen? Do peas in spring with inoculant. Beans in summer. Plant inoculated clover in the fall and let overwinter. Then mow/till in springtime.

If you think it's poor in other things like P, K, or other trace minerals, get a soil test done and amend as necessary. But nitrogen/organic content is easy to add naturally versus importing dirt.

And because you have tons of free wood on your property, I'd haul as many deadfalls out of the forest as you can find. The more rotted the better.  Build hugels (google hugelkultur, and Erica at NWEdible has some great posts about this somewhere in her backlog). I'm slowly building a branch pile in one section of my yard. Once I have enough, and they've rotted a bit I'll build my own hugel. With conifers you might end up lowering the pH too much, but it's easier to add lime as necessary then it is to take basic soil and make it more acidic, because acid tends to leach away faster than alkaline material.

Since you mentioned you're a drier climate than standard pacNW, I'd steer you away from conventional raised beds. In-ground will retain moisture better, which means less irrigation in the dry season. Hugels seem to have the best of both worlds - good drainage AND good retention. Overall, the more organic material you have in the soil, the better draining and better retaining the soil will be.

Hope that helps - but I'm of the school where I try to have as close to zero input as necessary. My budget this year is pretty big, but it's almost all seeds and plants, not soil or amendments.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 07, 2015, 10:58:10 AM
As I understand it, rye doesn't fix much nitrogen. It's more of a holding crop/erosion preventer. If you want lots of nitrogen fixing, you need legumes like field peas or clover - and inoculate the seed! The symbiotic bacteria and fungi attached to the roots are what actually fix most of the nitrogen, then when you mow and/or till to kill the roots, the nodules decay into the soil and make the nitrogen available to the next plants.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 07, 2015, 11:34:57 AM
Hugelkultur...I may have to get into this just based on the badassity of the word alone. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 07, 2015, 01:45:46 PM
It is much better IMO to do the lasagna method rather than using imported dirt - that way you don't get weed seeds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 08, 2015, 05:54:46 AM
It is -26C here - so nice to think of gardens.  I have most of my seeds for this spring.  It is way too early to start anything.  I am afraid to order anything else yet, the seeds would not be happy freezing in my rural mailbox.   ;-(

I have been decluttering and have lots of paper - old Bell bills and such - instead of shredding I was thinking of rolling into logs and burning for terra preta in the garden beds.  Anyone done this?

@JonSnow - this is why coastal BC calls -    -26C means blue skies and sparkling snow, but I have to dress for a polar expedition jut to get the garbage to the end of the driveway or to check the mail.  Right now the mailbox flag is frozen in place, we had freezing rain last week.  Canada really needs to get together with the Turks and Caicos about that join-up.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 08, 2015, 07:11:46 AM
It's -19C here and gardening has been all that I'm thinking about since coming back from holiday. That and chickens.

Question: when's a good time to transplant broccoli outdoors relative to an area's last frost? As early as the soil is workable, like peas? Or a bit later? Last year I only did broccoli as a fall crop but I want to start some indoors this spring too.

I'm going to place my seed and bare root plant order soon. Just waiting to hear if my sister wants to pool an order with me.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 08, 2015, 08:08:40 AM
RetiredAt63, I have never lived in any part of Canada but the west coast, so I don't really know the actual cold that the majority of Canadians experience. My wife and I went for a jog last night - no gloves, light sweatshirt and our heads bare. A bit foggy, perhaps 8 degrees celsius. This is more or less our winter reality. BTW, how are your plans to move out west coming along?

Back to gardening...I have spent a bit of time looking into the specifics of hugelkultur...this could really work. There is no shortage of wood debris on our land. A single winter storm produces enough dead fall to build several of these mounds. In past years we have gathered these fallen branches and burned them in a bonfire. Not sure yet if we will go the hugelkultur route, but I certainly won't be burning this debris for the time being.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on January 08, 2015, 05:03:34 PM
My window box basil is starting to do poorly, so I think tomorrow is harvest time. I'll make pesto and start over - nice problem to have in January in the northern hemisphere.

Editing to add I also need to pick my last three tomatoes. Love those south-facing windows.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 08, 2015, 08:57:11 PM
Yeah, that is why we think of the West Coast as "Lotus land" - compared to here it looks like paradise.  Moving plans - good and bad.  I really want to come out next summer and tour around.  However, the good/bad news is that I can't sell my house in 2015 - that is the bad news - because - TADA - my divorce is done - that is the good news - it only took 5 1/2 years, and we need to sell the matrimonial home.  It will be my principle residence sale for 2015.  However that gives me time to get this house ready for sale in 2016 if I go for the move.

Gardening - if you have charred wood left from those bonfires you could try terra preta - like hugelkultur but with charred wood instead of intact.  The charcoal holds nutrient ions and makes the soil more nutrient efficient. Read "The Intelligent Gardener – Growing Nutrient Dense Food" by Steve Solomon.

RetiredAt63, I have never lived in any part of Canada but the west coast, so I don't really know the actual cold that the majority of Canadians experience. My wife and I went for a jog last night - no gloves, light sweatshirt and our heads bare. A bit foggy, perhaps 8 degrees celsius. This is more or less our winter reality. BTW, how are your plans to move out west coming along?

Back to gardening...I have spent a bit of time looking into the specifics of hugelkultur...this could really work. There is no shortage of wood debris on our land. A single winter storm produces enough dead fall to build several of these mounds. In past years we have gathered these fallen branches and burned them in a bonfire. Not sure yet if we will go the hugelkultur route, but I certainly won't be burning this debris for the time being.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 08, 2015, 09:12:40 PM
RetiredAt63, best of luck getting out this way eventually. If you are ever on the southwest coast on a "scouting trip", especially the summer, let me know. I know the region pretty well and could point you in some wonderful directions (I am kinda biased towards the islands off the coast). And sorry about the marriage. :(

Right now, in my learning/experimentation phase I might try doing a single Hugelkultur mound and some raised beds and see what works better...what I'm not sure of is whether these Hugelkultur mounds need time for the wood material to rot and break down a bit before they can be planted - or can you build a mound with newer wood an cover it with soil and plant away?

And thanks for the charred wood suggestion. We are always having big fires, so charred wood supply is pretty much endless....

This thread continues to be the gift that keeps on giving - especially for garden newbs. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 08, 2015, 09:15:30 PM
I put a lot of prunings in the bottom of my lasagna bed and they were completely broken up within a year. But different climates do different things. Just put a lot of manure in the wood pile before you cover it with whatever you are covering it with and you should be right.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on January 09, 2015, 07:49:12 AM
RetiredAt63, best of luck getting out this way eventually. If you are ever on the southwest coast on a "scouting trip", especially the summer, let me know. I know the region pretty well and could point you in some wonderful directions (I am kinda biased towards the islands off the coast). And sorry about the marriage. :(

Right now, in my learning/experimentation phase I might try doing a single Hugelkultur mound and some raised beds and see what works better...what I'm not sure of is whether these Hugelkultur mounds need time for the wood material to rot and break down a bit before they can be planted - or can you build a mound with newer wood an cover it with soil and plant away?

And thanks for the charred wood suggestion. We are always having big fires, so charred wood supply is pretty much endless....

This thread continues to be the gift that keeps on giving - especially for garden newbs. :)

You can plant in them right away as long as you put some soil on top - but they will get better with age.  At first, the rotting wood ties up soil nutrients, so they won't be good for crops that need lots of nitrogen.  I've also read that hugelkultur beds are not good for brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, etc.) due to all the fungal hyphae that they promote in the soil.  Should be a fun experiment though; in your area I'm sure you could go all summer without watering once the bed is functional - if you have land, you might even be able to bring in wood that is already starting to rot to get a head start.  The idea is to use the wood like a giant sponge.

I've got all my seeds, and am trying to figure out a rough plan for this year.  I've got to get my watering more automated because I have lots of travel on the schedule between April and July.  My motto this year is KISS, while trying to maximize food production value.  Will probably start my cool season crop seedlings the second week of February, then it's off to the races.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CommonCents on January 09, 2015, 09:24:57 AM
Anyone have a good online source for buying seeds?  I'm skeptical about buying from home depot/lowes, and not excited about my local garden shop's seed prices.

Also...as a newbie...when should I plant my seeds indoors?  I live near Boston.  I'm assuming ~Feb?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 09, 2015, 09:55:40 AM
@CommonCents - Seeds - lots of online catalogues, and you see a lot more choice than in a store.  For the East Coast Johny's Selected Seeds is good.  Big names like Burpee and Stokes also have lots.  You can also get annuals, perennials and trees/bushes online, with again more choice.

Here in Canada I have ordered from Stokes, Dominion, OSC, Richter's, and Vesey's.

@jon_snow - I will take you up on the scouting trip!  Re the gardens, why not be experimental?  Select a site that is consistent, set up one bed each of fresh wood, charred wood, and both fresh and charred wood, plus a control with just soil.  Use the same soil for all of them, and plant the same things in each, same varieties and location and spacing, same care, and see how it goes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on January 09, 2015, 09:56:35 AM
Frankly, I get common seeds from dollar stores, or did; now I have my own saved seeds for most things I grow. Uncommon seeds or varieties I will order from a catalog, but the bulk of my seeds originated at Dollar General.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 09, 2015, 10:33:52 AM

@jon_snow - I will take you up on the scouting trip!  Re the gardens, why not be experimental?  Select a site that is consistent, set up one bed each of fresh wood, charred wood, and both fresh and charred wood, plus a control with just soil.  Use the same soil for all of them, and plant the same things in each, same varieties and location and spacing, same care, and see how it goes.

Oohhh...great idea. My wife is actually an scientist IRL, so she could really help setting things up with experimentation in mind. And now that I think of it, there are tons of fallen trees in the darker reaches of our forest that have been rotting in solitude for 20 or 30 years, so they would be a wonderful addition to a hugelkultur mound or two.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 09, 2015, 10:56:41 AM
Anyone have a good online source for buying seeds?  I'm skeptical about buying from home depot/lowes, and not excited about my local garden shop's seed prices.

Also...as a newbie...when should I plant my seeds indoors?  I live near Boston.  I'm assuming ~Feb?

FedCo is almost always cheaper than Johnny's for the same variety. If you're looking at plants in addition to seeds, CW Jung is the most reasonable mail order source I've found because shipping is included in the item price, unlike a lot of the seed vendors which tack on shipping for trees, plugs, crowns, etc.

As far as when to start indoors, check with the local ag extension for a reliable last frost date. Most varieties have guidance on when to start the seedling based on that date.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 09, 2015, 05:05:02 PM
Re when to start things indoors - figure out when you should be putting the transplant in the garden and work backwards. Some things are faster than others (tomatoes versus peppers), some things go in earlier.  So you need to work out a schedule depending on your growing plans.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on January 12, 2015, 05:40:19 PM
Anyone have a good online source for buying seeds?  I'm skeptical about buying from home depot/lowes, and not excited about my local garden shop's seed prices.

Also...as a newbie...when should I plant my seeds indoors?  I live near Boston.  I'm assuming ~Feb?

My two favorites are Pinetree - www.superseeds.com and Baker Creek www.rareseeds.com.  Both still independently operated if that matters to you.

It's usually safe to plant warm season crops out here by mid-May, so I stagger my seed starting based on time to get decent seedlings going.  Eggplant is very slow, especially if you don't have a heat mat or warm place to start them.  Peppers are next, then tomatoes.  For cukes and zucs, I wait until about 2-3 weeks before transplant to start them indoors because they are quick and don't like being transplanted after they start putting out true leaves.  So for a 5/15 plant out, I'll do roughly:

Eggplant (and habanero type peppers) - March 1
Peppers - March 10
Tomatoes - March 20
Cukes and squash - April 25

Other crops can be put outside earlier, such as cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, chard, kale, etc.  Here they can be started indoors in February and planted out mid-March or later.

The real limiting factor I've found is supplying adequate light to the seedlings.  They need more than you think, as in, I put 2 rows of shop lights 4x40 watt bulbs as close to the seedlings as possible without touching them, and gradually raise the light as they grow.  Without adequate light, you'll get leggy, spindly seedlings that won't hold up well, and won't grow adequate leaves to get a really good head start when they're transplanted.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on January 13, 2015, 01:20:17 AM
Totally noob question: why do people buy seeds from a catalog instead of from the local Home Depot or locally owned gardening store? Is it for better prices? Or is it for variety?

Bonus Question: Do local stores sell seeds that grow well in my zone or is that random too? would a catalog sell seeds by zone?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 13, 2015, 01:26:29 AM
I buy seeds from a catalog because I want other varieties or uncommon seeds. I get other seeds from local stores. Plus, online seeds cost less.

Stores sell the seeds that the distributors distribute, not necessarily those for your zone.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on January 13, 2015, 07:11:31 AM
Totally noob question: why do people buy seeds from a catalog instead of from the local Home Depot or locally owned gardening store? Is it for better prices? Or is it for variety?

Bonus Question: Do local stores sell seeds that grow well in my zone or is that random too? would a catalog sell seeds by zone?

Variety, and I like to support the independent companies that are maintaining heirlooms and developing new strains that are suited more for the home gardener than the commercial producer.  If you check out Baker Creek's site and look at some of the amazing melon, winter squash and eggplant varieties, you'll see what I mean. Growing interesting and beautiful produce I can't buy at the store or farmer's market is half the fun! I always end up grabbing a few packs off the Burpee rack or whatever, but just as a convenience.  Many of the bigger seed companies are owned by Dow or Monsanto, etc. and while I don't boycott these companies, I understand that commercial agriculture is their main interest, and they don't have the interests of the home gardener in mind, much less one who might want to save seeds and/or grow organically.  If you shop heirloom varieties enough, you can also hone the varieties to grow strains that originated in your area or one with a similar climate - generally not the case with a mass-produced or hybrid variety.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 13, 2015, 07:31:53 AM
Big box store seeds are often not stored properly and you'll get poor germination.

But primarily I buy online for the greater selection, and typically much better cultivation information than the back of the seed packet provides.

I had mixed results with my Pinetree order last year, FWIW.

1967mama, what area are you in? If I guess correctly, you're somewhere in of near the PNW, in which case Territorial might be a good vendor for you.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 13, 2015, 08:09:46 AM
Also, some varieties do better in some soils - I have seen a few tomato varieties that can cope with heavy clay, but you won't find them in the big box stores.  A good catalogue will give lots of growing information as well - is it an heirloom, or open pollinated, or an F1? Plant size. Days to maturity from planting or transplanting. 

And it's not just vegetables - herb choices (I love Richter's). Flower choices.  There are masses of flowers out there that won't be at the local nursery/big box store nursery.  I was growing cosmos and lavatera long before they became popular.

And if you get into fruits (bushes and trees), online nurseries have so much more choice and information, and that really matters - I have seen so many apple trees at local big box stores that are not hardy for our climate - even if the tree survives, the flower buds won't, so there go the spring flower show and the summer/fall harvest.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Siobhan on January 13, 2015, 11:38:19 AM
Anyone have a good online source for buying seeds?  I'm skeptical about buying from home depot/lowes, and not excited about my local garden shop's seed prices.

Also...as a newbie...when should I plant my seeds indoors?  I live near Boston.  I'm assuming ~Feb?

Baker Creek Heirloom seeds...hands down the best place out there.  Trying to resist the urge to pre order figs and purple sweet potato plants at the moment.  I've had great germination rates with their seeds over the years.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 13, 2015, 11:42:25 AM
Totally noob question: why do people buy seeds from a catalog instead of from the local Home Depot or locally owned gardening store? Is it for better prices? Or is it for variety?

Bonus Question: Do local stores sell seeds that grow well in my zone or is that random too? would a catalog sell seeds by zone?

My favourites in this area are
http://www.saltspringseeds.com/
And
http://www.westcoastseeds.com/

They specialize in varieties for this region.

I have definitely seen West Coast Seeds at stores like Garden Works, but you can also order online.

Writing these down...thanks.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jlu27 on January 13, 2015, 10:38:05 PM
I have a small garden and a weird way I deal with snails/slugs is: during the night esp after a rain I take a torch, and I manually pick them up (plastic spoons, chopsticks etc) and kill them by dropping them into a container of hot water.

In Wellington, New Zealand things that I have had good experience with:
- tomatoes, pumpkin (these have grown by themselves through old leftover pumpkin seeds I've put into the compost bin), rosemary, spring onions, lettuce, onion, lemon, thyme, mint (although watch out this becomes a weed), chilli, radish (from seed)

So so or bad experiences (although maybe the area that I've grown them in)
- spinach (didn't grow big), sugar snap peas (also didn't grow much), shanghai bok choy (bolts too quickly), fejoa (i'm sure its my soil), figs (something gets to them before me), strawberries (my lack of skill I suspect and I have too many runners), lemon grass (died in winter due to the cold).

Things I still waiting to see on:
- zucchini, passion fruit, plum, capsicum
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on January 14, 2015, 01:40:34 AM
Thanks so much for the tips on seeds and where to buy/why to buy online! Most helpful!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on January 14, 2015, 05:47:42 AM
Its windy and its blown my corn down. It was looking so good :(. Will have to see if I can resurrect it in the morning.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DK on January 14, 2015, 08:50:40 AM

I have a small garden and a weird way I deal with snails/slugs is: during the night esp after a rain I take a torch, and I manually pick them up (plastic spoons, chopsticks etc) and kill them by dropping them into a container of hot water.

One method I use is to place an overturned beer bottle (with a little beer left in the bottom) in the garden. The slugs are attracted to the beer, crawl into the bottle, and drown. I imagine that they drown happy?

I also learned as a child to paint vegetable oil on the fresh tufts of young ears of corn. This prevents pests from getting inside when the corn is young.

"overturned" bottle...meaning on its side? upside down it would just spill out, right?

does the veggie oil on the corn interfere with the tassles pollinating the corn cobs at all?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on January 20, 2015, 10:09:49 PM
Hope I haven't posted this already...

This is my second year making seed mats.  It's a good project for the middle of winter, and pays off for succession planting with a minimum of effort during the busier growing season.  They're really good for root vegetables and greens that you'd normally direct-sow in the garden at close spacing.

I've seen this done with strips of toilet paper, but I prefer to plant in squares, so use the cheapest paper towels I can find, and then pull them apart to make single-ply papers for the smaller-seeded species like carrots and lettuce.  Put dots of Elmer's school glue at the desired planting spacing, and 1-2 seeds per glue dot.  Write the variety right on the paper, dry and put in an accordion file until ready to use.

(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/P1030966_zps4f8d91c8.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/P1030966_zps4f8d91c8.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on January 20, 2015, 10:48:47 PM
Horsepoor, Thank you SO much for posting this! I've never seen this done before and I think it would be an excellent homeschooling project for the kids and me! Fun! This will be my 2nd garden growing something from seed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 21, 2015, 05:36:02 AM
Huh, basically DIY seed tape, only in square foot planting. Neat.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on January 21, 2015, 08:21:36 AM
Horsepoor, Thank you SO much for posting this! I've never seen this done before and I think it would be an excellent homeschooling project for the kids and me! Fun! This will be my 2nd garden growing something from seed.

Cool, have fun!

One thing I forgot to mention is the paper will tear if you try to write on the single ply.  A marker will bleed right through both ply though, so write the variety before pulling the sheets apart (assuming you want 2x sheets of that variety).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on January 21, 2015, 09:45:39 AM
Brussels Sprouts . . . anyone here that lives in Northern Illinois that has successfully grown Brussels Sprouts?  I've tried every which way I know but no luck.

We love them and they are so expensive. 

I've talked to them, petted them, pulled off the lower leaves as recommended, left them out till the end of November.  Just nasty little stalks.  No sprouts.

What am I doing wrong?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Lyngi on January 21, 2015, 06:41:25 PM
Last year's garden was a total bust!!  Chickens kept eating my tomatoes!  They're gone now, so we're planning tomatoes, strawberries (alpine type)  raspberries -I ordered a new variety- Rosanna to replace the Heritage.    and salad greens.  I use a US website called mysquarefootgarden.net   which tells me the date to start my tomatoes in my region is on  Easter Sunday. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 22, 2015, 10:59:26 AM
This thread continues to be a great resource for a fledgling gardener such as myself. Thanks to all.

Hopefully I can get some answers regarding a few issues I am having with a few of my fruit trees. In short, I need to move a couple of trees (an apple and a plum tree) from one end of my property to the other. I have talked in the past about this gigantic redwood tree growing on our land - I keep meaning to track it's yearly growth - but suffice it to say it is PROLIFIC. And the shade it is generating is really starting to negatively affect the two aforementioned fruit trees. My question is, how will these trees react to being dug up and moved? Sure death sentence?

Here is a picture of what my nieces and nephews refer to as the "Ewok tree" (we are a Star Wars family) with the two sunlight starved fruit trees to it's right - though the fruit trees are bathed in sunlight in the picture, this is about the only time of day (approx. 10 am) that they get direct sun.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 22, 2015, 11:18:22 AM
Not an arborist, but I think you'd need a commercial tree spade to even think of attempting that, and probably only when the plants are dormant. Otherwise it would be impossible to get enough of the roots to keep the trees alive.

And at price it would take to even rent one, I'm guessing you'll be best off just getting new trees and starting over.

But for your sake I welcome being corrected :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 22, 2015, 12:37:02 PM
Your fruit trees look like they are deciduous - the kinds that are often sold bare rooted here. The official way to move such trees is to dig a ditch around the tree in summer about a foot deep and keep it watered. This breaks the spreading roots and develops new rootlets. Then in winter (it doesn't snow here so you would need to adjust slightly) you dig up the rootball at the ditch line. Then you move the tree to where it needs to be.

I usually forgo the ditch, and just dig it up in winter. Fruit trees are quite tolerant of being moved, even after several years, and I have successfully moved at least half a dozen over the years. Yours don't look too big, so it should be easy. Just do it all in one day, and have a wheelbarrow handy to transport the tree ball.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on January 22, 2015, 05:09:44 PM
@Jon_Snow,

We are in a forested area as well. We have "limbed up" our cedars and douglas firs. We used a tool that was kind of like a mini-chain saw on the end of a long pole.  It took 2 men about 3 hours to do 4 trees. Let A LOT more light into our acreage. YMMV
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 10dollarsatatime on January 22, 2015, 05:34:59 PM
Time to start planning this year's garden!  Ok... I'll be honest... I had the list of what I wanted to grow this year written down before the last of my tomatoes were canned.

February is supposed to be super mild in Utah, so I'm planning on getting peas into the ground around the 15th.  I also need to decide on varieties of peppers and tomatoes so I can get them started earlier this year.  My excuse last year was that I was putting in a completely new garden, so I didn't finish planting until the first of July.  I still did pretty good, but lost out on peppers.  And most of my tomatoes ripened in the kitchen because I had to pick them green so the frost didn't get them.

My biggest experiment this year will be 3 sisters planting... I need to choose a super tall corn.  I'll be planting Anasazi beans*, and probably sweetmeat and spaghetti squashes.  I know I won't be able to save the seeds from the squash, unless I do the rubberband thing, but I'm pretty ok with that.

*These particular Anasazi beans are mottled purple and black and measure between 3/4 to 1" long dried.  They are huge raw.  A few years ago, my dad bought 15 of these beans at $1/bean from a local nursery.  He was told that the owner's son had gone on a dig in some ruins in Southern Utah.  They found a big clay pot full of beans.  As an experiment, they brought some back and planted them.  And some of them grew!  After a couple of thousand years!  Which is super cool.  The owner's kid gave some to his dad, who planted a bunch and then started selling them to his customers.  I've tried googling these things, and have yet to find beans like them on the internet.  My dad says they'll never get too popular commercially because they are too big to fit through the screens in the... something something tractor words... I admit, I zone out when my dad trails off into tractor things.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 22, 2015, 07:37:28 PM
Yeah! My first tomatoes for the season were picked (and eaten) today - in a month I guess I will be complaining about the glut (like the zucchini glut I currently have).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on January 22, 2015, 09:11:02 PM
Chief, deborah, and 1967mama thanks for the advice. What I will probably do is reap the fruit from the trees for one more year in their current location (surprisingly, they produce fairly well) and then next winter I will attempt to move them - shouldn't be too hard, as it hardly gets below freezing here. Hopefully the root ball structure isn't too big...

I will plant the trees at the opposite end of the clearing, where some other fruit trees (planted at the same time as the runts) are flourishing in their sunny locations. In the picture below you can see some of the healthier trees to the left, and my future garden area to the right. Nothing but sunny southern exposure at that end of the property. COME ON SPRING!!!!

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Knapptyme on January 22, 2015, 09:58:08 PM
Every year we add to our garden. I'm not very good at it yet, but I try to get three growing seasons in Florida. While annual fruits and veggies are nice, my preference is to find bushes or trees that produce with less effort than sowing seeds and weeding beds. Thus, we have the following trees--two apple, two pear, two orange, two peach, one grapefruit, one lemon, one lime, one fig, one banana, one cherry plum (really tart little fruits with huge pits--didn't plant it, but I eat some of them), and several avocado (they're still really young and were grown from seeds that sprouted in our compost pile). In addition, we have bushes--ten blueberry (more to come), four blackberry, rosemary, oregano (ours looks like a bush).

I'm always interested in growing more and different stuff, and I'm still learning the climate/growing seasons. The usual suspects have been radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers (not very successful recently, some pest/fungus killed them), squash of many varieties, onions, brussel sprouts, broccoli, strawberries, various greens, and other herbs. We're also part of a CSA, but we will cut back on that if I can get my act together and grow food more consistently. Some are grown from seeds, some are plants for the local nursery.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 22, 2015, 10:28:25 PM
Four blackberry bushes!!! In Australia they are a weed, and they sucker so easily that one bush is more than enough!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on January 23, 2015, 03:19:47 AM
Yeah! My first tomatoes for the season were picked (and eaten) today - in a month I guess I will be complaining about the glut (like the zucchini glut I currently have).

Awesome! We've had about half a kilo of cherry tomatoes per week for a week or two now. Sadly, the variety I planted in late Oct is neither super productive (very small bushes, despite water and fertiliser) nor particularly tasty to eat raw. So we're roasting and cooking the ones we get, and any we give away come with that caveat. I got my 4 plants from a local fete. Won't do that again next year. But we have a self sown one coming out the side of the compost and another small one near the feijoa tree (well, it's not waist height yet - more shrub than tree atm).

DH sheepishly found 3 oversized zucchinis tonight (to add to the glut in the fridge). He's on zucchini picking duty cos the leaves tend to give me a bit of a contact rash. I consoled him by saying maybe it was the OTT rain we had yesterday evening that made those ones grow even faster than usual. I'm dealing with our glut by eating some and giving a lot away to friends and colleagues - if you don't grow food, a homegrown zucchini or two appears to be much appreciated. I don't want to pull any plants out cos one plant has already carked it (don't know why).

Snow peas are coming to the end. Two plants have finished and died off, two are giving us a couple every day or two.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 23, 2015, 03:56:35 AM
Speaking of plants carking it, my perpetual spinach appears to be doing so - one plant started to have floppy leaves, and now the one next to it also has floppy leaves

I think I have three, but it's difficult to tell, as my raised vegetable garden beds are a bit overgrown. The tomatoes have escaped, as has the pumpkin (I trimmed it back severely in preparation for pulling it out, but didn't). The zucchinis are overrunning the beans, which are fighting back. The onions are losing. I'm not sure what's happening with the eggplants and capsicums - I thought they were being smothered by tomatoes, but they appear to be winning through. And it's all too much for the climbing beans, which have decided to abandon the tomatoes, and overrun the grapefruit.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on January 23, 2015, 04:34:42 AM
My tomatoes are slowing…a bit of a relief because I'm sick of cooking them up - have about 13 containers of pre cooked mix for pasta in the freezer. The volunteers have out shone the 7 I planted: 5 Grosse Lisse, 1 Tommy toe and a unnamed heritage tom I grew from seed. These have done well but I've lots of volunteers - I had a ripper last year, so I've taken to utilising any that pop up - the biggest problem is that they had not been in the netted area. I got a wapsipinicon peach tomato thats done brilliantly, a little pear shaped red tomato, a couple of generic ordinary ones, and surprise, surprise a huge egg tomato which I reckon from the descriptions is an Amish paste. Not sure how this came about since I've never grown them or had any fresh.

The potatoes, garlic and clumping onions are all harvested. The silver beet is dying off - happens every year - I think it is just too hot and humid for it.  Corn not yet set. Capsicum growing but not flowering.

I ended up with 2 butternut pumpkins - they're going ballistic so far I've 4 pumpkins growing. I have to do the flower sex thing for them.

The one Zucchini trombocino is like a triffid. Interestingly it made female flowers before any males. Anyway, its taking over but I've no actual trombos yet.

Cucumbers have failed - only got a few, so I've planted some more seeds which have just germinated - hopefully there's still time for a second go.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on January 23, 2015, 04:56:25 AM
happy, if you've got freezer space, did you know you can just chop up raw tomato and freeze? DH and I are both quite lazy at times and we've experimented with freezing raw tomato. Best used in stews or soups or spag bol. Worked well!

I've also found I can freeze raw fresh herbs for similar uses.

And homemade pesto made with homegrown basil freezes well too, although not as good as using it fresh. A friend put me onto that one.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on January 23, 2015, 09:43:33 AM
happy, if you've got freezer space, did you know you can just chop up raw tomato and freeze? DH and I are both quite lazy at times and we've experimented with freezing raw tomato. Best used in stews or soups or spag bol. Worked well!

It's also a very lazy/convenient way to slip the skins off if you don't want to blanch or use a food mill.
Quote
And homemade pesto made with homegrown basil freezes well too, although not as good as using it fresh. A friend put me onto that one.

Definitely! I'm down to one jar left from the summer. Still mystifies me why basil is so expensive at market. Except for being a bit nitpicky about germination (at least for me), it's extremely hands-off unless you have a bad fungal disease year like we had in my area. Only got one big cutting before all the plants became disfigured.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on January 23, 2015, 04:43:45 PM
happy, if you've got freezer space, did you know you can just chop up raw tomato and freeze? DH and I are both quite lazy at times and we've experimented with freezing raw tomato. Best used in stews or soups or spag bol. Worked well!

It's also a very lazy/convenient way to slip the skins off if you don't want to blanch or use a food mill.
Quote
And homemade pesto made with homegrown basil freezes well too, although not as good as using it fresh. A friend put me onto that one.

Definitely! I'm down to one jar left from the summer. Still mystifies me why basil is so expensive at market. Except for being a bit nitpicky about germination (at least for me), it's extremely hands-off unless you have a bad fungal disease year like we had in my area. Only got one big cutting before all the plants became disfigured.

I'm just using my fridge freezer so I have to  watch space. Nevertheless, I'm not so short of space I'm motivated to get a chest freezer. I'll remember that about tomatoes, it might come in useful sometime I have too many ripe tomatoes and no time.

Interesting about the basil GC. Last year I grew some easily and it was prolific. This year I tried twice - no germination at all. Third time lucky , later in the season and its going well. This year I grew it in mushroom compost and it didn't germinate. I changed to  ordinary potting mix and its going fine. Maybe it doesn't like the mushroom compost: I think this is on the alkaline side. I don't grow huge amounts because I just can't grow it in the garden: gets eaten. I grow it in a netted polystyrene container with copper tape around it near the house. My maximum security bed for things that won't grow anywhere else!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 23, 2015, 06:49:16 PM
Happy, what eats your stuff - wallabies, kangaroos, possums or rabbits?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Kmp2 on January 23, 2015, 09:02:37 PM
EEEK - the dreaded mid-winter thaw... We have been above freezing for almost a week, and it's not expected to go below freezing for another week. We have warm dry winds that just eat the snow (Chinook winds that literally means snow eater). I am running out of snow to pile on top of my perennials.. We don't normally get weather this consistently warm until April if not may, and will probably have another  2-3 months of severe cold weather. I've mulched the beds with leaves, but I am starting to think my trees might start to bud, and if the sap starts to run it's almost surely a death sentence in this city... the surrounding area has almost no natural trees - it's pretty bald prairie.

My apologies if this has been addressed before - it's more of a vent (and I haven't stayed up to date on this thread).

But any suggestions are welcome... my perennials are mostly herbs - sage, mint, chives, oregano, thyme etc... here's hoping my crab apple doesnt bloom...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on January 24, 2015, 01:01:21 AM
Happy, what eats your stuff - wallabies, kangaroos, possums or rabbits?
Wallabies, possums, birds ( they even shred up lettuce), and a variety of creepy crawlies snails, slugs and who knows what else.  Basil just vanishes completely overnight, as do carrots. Does well in the maximum security area. Heh one year I planted marigolds to keep away pests - didn't last before something ate that!  I suspect this is just what you get in a warm, damp climate.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 24, 2015, 01:59:12 AM
Wallabies are very good at eating plants - my parents put in an electric fence and suddenly everything grew - but they had kangaroos as well. They put in hundreds and hundreds of trees and the wallabies ate the lot!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on January 25, 2015, 12:48:51 PM
If they are the same age as the others that are larger, don't be surprised if the roots are bigger than you expect.  You might want to trench after all, or you may end up cutting off most of the roots when you dig them up.

Chief, deborah, and 1967mama thanks for the advice. What I will probably do is reap the fruit from the trees for one more year in their current location (surprisingly, they produce fairly well) and then next winter I will attempt to move them - shouldn't be too hard, as it hardly gets below freezing here. Hopefully the root ball structure isn't too big...

I will plant the trees at the opposite end of the clearing, where some other fruit trees (planted at the same time as the runts) are flourishing in their sunny locations. In the picture below you can see some of the healthier trees to the left, and my future garden area to the right. Nothing but sunny southern exposure at that end of the property. COME ON SPRING!!!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on January 25, 2015, 01:31:16 PM
Actually, most of the trees I have transplanted have been similar to these, in that I planted them somewhere they did not thrive. Yes, there will be some roots that you cut, but that doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. Water them well during the next season.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anus Hurricane on February 01, 2015, 04:07:03 PM
Could a brother lease his yard to a farmer?  A honky can lease a room in his house, why not lease his yard as well?  There are plenty of urban farmers where I live, meseemeth they would want an opportunity to expand acreage.  I have 0.25 acres with no mortgage and no HOA.  All y'all biscuitheads had best be leasing yards to production specialists.  If the granjero at least covers the irrigation expenses and gives ye a sack or two o' vegetables, that's a win on the triple bottom line, honkies: economic, social, environmental.

Also, y'all granjero biscuitheads had best be reading:
The Humanure Handbook (free, suckah)
Create an Oasis with Greywater
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MrsPotts on February 01, 2015, 07:30:53 PM

We had a lot of luck with these in the past (although I've never tried squash before). 

We have really really good luck with squash out here (I'm in Louisville, CO)...both summer and winter squash.  Seems to thrive in our sun, hot days, and cool nights. 

I've never had much luck with tomatoes, but I think it's a soil issue (a friend suggested I need to add lime).  I can only get the little cherry tomatoes and roma to grow w/o getting bottom-end rot.  Do you guys do anything special with yours?

Bottom end rot is caused by inconsistent moisture.  Try deep, drip watering.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on February 02, 2015, 11:06:53 AM
So, having found myself somewhat excited about getting started in my garden this upcoming LONG weekend (seriously, we Canadians have it pretty good with stat holidays) I fired up the 7 day weather forecast...sure enough, supposed to be raining steadily for the next week. Grrrrrr. Hopefully, the deer fence repair project isn't as extensive as I fear - perhaps once I hack away the tangle of blackberries, honeysuckle, and salal, the process of propping up the fallen fence is quick one. I really hope a trip to the island lumberyard isn't necessary.

Sometimes, if we have enough fuel to burn, we can get a bonfire going so big and hot it almost renders the rain a moot point. But now I am starting to view wood debris as "Hugelkultur fuel". Won't be so quick to go into "arsonist mode" now I'm thinking. ;)

I shed a tear for the amount Hugelkultur wood that has gone up in smoke in the last 10 years. Fires ARE fun through...especially when roasted smokies and marshmallows are the reward at the end of the day. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on February 02, 2015, 03:02:43 PM
Looks like heaven. I do like a fire. Hugelkultur sounds seriously cool though: why not 50% fire, 50% hugelkultur?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on February 03, 2015, 04:33:10 AM
Or just put the fire out a bit early (if possible) and incorporate your charred wood into the next bed?  Terra Preta without too much work.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on February 03, 2015, 08:58:36 AM
Yeah, don't see our need for burning going away anytime soon. Each Pacific storm serves up more woody debris than our "hugelkulturing" could handle.

Just had a thought...I do worry that the process in which the wood waste decomposes inside the mounds, thus probably producing heat as it composts, might attract rats? Don't like the thought of cozy, warm rat nests inside my garden beds. Thanks to a nearby farm ramping up it's activity in the past few years, rat population has increased, thus my concern...

Actually, I'm not sure if anyone in this thread has tried Hugelkulture...anyone?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CanuckExpat on February 03, 2015, 09:13:05 AM
Sorry, not experience with hugekulturing, but it was finding mouse/rat droppings near my compost pile that quickly put a damper on that experiment, or at least adding new food sources. Does anyone have any suggestions? I had been covering the food with leaves, but perhaps not enough.
My next thought might be to get a lot of chicken wire, but this experiment while fun is already running me a lot more in cost than just buying several bags of compost would have.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on February 03, 2015, 01:37:51 PM
Mice can get through chicken wire.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: forestj on February 07, 2015, 06:09:36 PM
Quote
Brussels Sprouts . . . anyone here that lives in Northern Illinois that has successfully grown Brussels Sprouts?  I've tried every which way I know but no luck.

I grew Brussels Sprouts in Beloit, Wisconsin, which is probably near you. Here's the only picture I could find of them, during the mid summer when they were growing up:

(http://i.imgur.com/kuKhVgj.jpg)

When did you plant them? Where did you plant them (relevant information: What is the soil like? What is the sunlight like?)

How often did you water them? Did you use fertilizer?

Here is what I did.

As soon as the ground unfroze, I started digging and de-sodding the most well-lit section of the lawn. I already had about 50 gallons of good compost from the student compost at the college I was attending at the time. I also went out and bought some pine bark mulch from the local big-box store. Because I was in a hurry and schoolwork prevented me from doing my own starts, I bought pre-started plants from a greenhouse.

After the de-sodding was complete, The compost was applied, followed by the mulch, and I planted immediately because I was pretty sure there weren't going to be anymore frosts. When you are planting you have to be sure to plant the seed or start at the right depth in the soil. Digression: I think the most common mistakes in planting are to plant things too close together and to plant them too deep. Follow instructions given on your seed packet or from the greenhouse even if they seem strange and counter-intuitive.

I purchased 3-3-3 Miracle Gro and a small container of micronutrients powder (basically these are ground up salts and metals  that plants need to grow, which may or may not be present in the soil). I wish I could find the link for the stuff I used; but I think it was from an ebay store that re-sold bulk stuff that would normally be sold to farmers.

Every morning I would wiggle my finger into the ground at a few points around the garden and water anywhere that seemed to be drying out. Twice a week I would apply the NPK and micronutrients from a watering can, using about half as much of the NPK as was recommended by Miracle Gro (This was advice from my mother, based on what she thought was probably in my soil. She is a master gardener, so she really knows her stuff, lol. Most of my success was due to her advice, I think.)

Brussels sprouts take a long time to grow. Ours didn't start growing actual sprouts until the late fall. Luckily these plants can really take a beating when it comes to cold weather. By the time I picked them, the plants were about 5 ft tall. I remember picking the sprouts off the stalks while there was snow on the ground and my hands were freezing. Even though they were small and not as tightly wrapped as the ones from the store, they were very fresh and tasted good.

Even better, we decided to try saving the leaves and eating them. They are kind of tough to eat, but they taste just like any other brassica, like kale, broccoli, etc. They work well in a pan fry because the heat makes them easier to eat, but they can be cooked without turning into mush like spinach would.

Ah, it brings back good memories of that garden -- I can't wait to grow again.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on February 08, 2015, 07:59:23 AM
Well thank you forestj for the details.  Yep, you're about 40 miles north.  This year I'm starting them inside and will get some sort of fertilizer, will pay more attention to the water.  And be more patient! 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Marian on February 08, 2015, 11:36:12 AM
I'm living in an apartment currently, and getting ready to move, so no established outdoor garden to speak of.  However, I'm trying to strengthen my green thumb (which is a very weak, pale shade of green) by doing some indoor gardening.  I wasn't having success with growing my seedlings on the window sill, so I got one of those fancy grow lights to help them.  I could have gotten a much cheaper one that would have done a perfectly fine job, but this one was super discounted and looks like it will serve my seed-starting, indoor-plant purposes for years to come.  The radishes and beans I have growing seem to really like it so far!  (The radishes I picked because they mature quickly... the beans might get left behind when I move)

I plan on starting some tomatoes as soon as I move to my new place- I love love LOVE tomatoes, but they can be pricey in the store (especially organic)!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on February 08, 2015, 02:17:26 PM
I just finished breakfast - tomato and cheese on toast. The tomato from my garden was the exact dimensions of the toast (not an enormous tomato,  but much bigger than I can get from a store), so one slice of it perfectly fitted. It was a tomato that tasted fantastic grilled (I have learnt over the years that some tomatoes taste even better grilled than raw, and this was one of them). Just superb.

The tomato was the first big tomato this year, and I picked it a couple of days ago when it still had a bit of green on the outside, so that the bugs didn't destroy it (a problem I have often had with big tomatoes). So today it was perfectly ripe. I contemplated again just how much the world's national dishes were changed by the discovery of the Americas - most simply wouldn't exist in a pre-Columbian world where potatoes, tomatoes and chilli were unknown to them. Just a delicious breakfast from my garden.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on February 08, 2015, 06:15:46 PM
Worked on getting the deer-proof fence fixed today. Not as tough a job as I feared. I basically went into serial killer mode with a machete and hacked and whacked the blackberries, salal, wild rose, and honeysuckle vines into submission. The garden site is incredibly wet...not surprising as we are in the dead of winter here on the "wetcoast". I dug a few test holes and the water table is about 3 inches from the surface. I plan of renting a beefy rototiller and turn over the soil in the entire garden area once things dry out somewhat.

I took this picture today to serve as a "before" picture. I'm hoping the "after" picture, taken in mid-July looks RADICALLY different.

And deborah, I hope to recreate your amazing tomato sandwich experience this Summer.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on February 26, 2015, 04:12:54 PM
I'm about to complete my Richter's seed order - they have all sorts of interesting plants.

Has anyone grown Triamble Squash?  They describe it as an old Australian variety (it looks weird) with deep orange, succulent sweet flesh. It is supposed to be a good keeper.  Feedback?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: birdie55 on February 26, 2015, 09:56:34 PM
I grew triamble squash this past summer and got 3 nice sized squashes that stored for months.    I gave two away and cooked one in a bake with other vegetables.  I actually do not remember how it tasted, which tells me it was not as sweet as butternut...which is my favorite.  It was hard to cut, had a hard shell, but cooked fine.  It was a one time thing for me, I'll stick to butternut because I like the sweet flavor. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on February 27, 2015, 05:28:34 AM
Thanks for the feedback.  I used to be an acorn squash person (nice size, just perfect for one meal for the family).  Now that I have found butternuts (so much tastier) they will be the main squash this year.  Squash take up enough space that I don't want to grow anything that isn't amazing, so unless someone else pops up saying it is amazing, it is off my list  ;-)

I grew triamble squash this past summer and got 3 nice sized squashes that stored for months.    I gave two away and cooked one in a bake with other vegetables.  I actually do not remember how it tasted, which tells me it was not as sweet as butternut...which is my favorite.  It was hard to cut, had a hard shell, but cooked fine.  It was a one time thing for me, I'll stick to butternut because I like the sweet flavor.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tris Prior on March 01, 2015, 02:39:53 PM
The organization that runs my community garden had a seed swap today. I came home with lots of FREE seeds! Several varieties of tomatoes, Japanese eggplant, spinach, red romaine, banana peppers, cilantro, Thai basil, chives.

Last year I did a mix of plants I started from seed, and purchased plants. This year, I'm hoping to NOT buy any plants except bell peppers and jalapeńos because for some reason I fail at starting peppers from seed. (Couldn't resist the banana peppers, though. We'll see how that goes.)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 02, 2015, 02:18:34 AM
I grew triamble squash this past summer and got 3 nice sized squashes that stored for months.    I gave two away and cooked one in a bake with other vegetables.  I actually do not remember how it tasted, which tells me it was not as sweet as butternut...which is my favorite.  It was hard to cut, had a hard shell, but cooked fine.  It was a one time thing for me, I'll stick to butternut because I like the sweet flavor.
Thanks for the feedback.  I used to be an acorn squash person (nice size, just perfect for one meal for the family).  Now that I have found butternuts (so much tastier) they will be the main squash this year.  Squash take up enough space that I don't want to grow anything that isn't amazing, so unless someone else pops up saying it is amazing, it is off my list  ;-)
The Triamble (three lobes) has very thick skin, so can keep for months and months, whereas the butternut only keeps for a much shorter time. These are both called pumpkin in Australia. Most Australian varieties were selected for how long they could keep and pumpkin and potatoes were served with practically every evening meal before refrigeration. You should get more than that off a plant, but they were also developed for big vegetable gardens.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on March 02, 2015, 03:23:26 AM
I had a potato from the shop that went green, so I put it on my windowsill for a while, then planted it behind some of my herbs. That was a while ago (a few months? I forget).

I just googled when I should harvest - after the leaves die back. That could be a while away judging by the healthy looking leaves trying to take over my sage plant. Can I confirm with someone who's grown potatoes before that you harvest when the leaves die back? (I tried last year to grow potatoes but wasn't super successful)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 02, 2015, 03:51:56 AM
I am not terribly successful with potatoes, but I worked out last year that it is because I don't "hill up". What you need is mulch of some kind (euchimulch would do), and you keep on adding mulch as the plant grows (creating a hill), so there is not much of the plant sticking out of the ground. You are supposed to be able to pinch potatoes while it is growing (badgering) by putting your hand into the mulch pile and pulling out potatoes. It grows roots with potatoes from along the stem, so the more of the stem that is covered the more potatoes you can get. Don't ask me how you avoid breaking the stem.

Because I don't hill up, I don't get very many potatoes. If you badger, you tend to get little ones (because they haven't grown very big), and you get the same amount at the end.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on March 02, 2015, 03:56:18 AM
Yes harvest when the leaves die back or start dying back. They don't have to be totally dead. Mounding is commonly said to be the way to go, but I have had some stems die off from rot and some break, so  hilling is not entirely straightforward.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on March 02, 2015, 04:59:58 AM
Thanks, Deborah and happy! I'll leave it alone a while longer, except to trim the bits that are swamping the still-smallish sage bush.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on March 02, 2015, 06:11:13 AM
You can also harvest new potatoes much earlier, so you can still get some benefit if you decide you need to defend your sage.:)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 02, 2015, 06:25:35 AM
deborah - but how does it taste?  Butternut keeps well enough here (cold winters = cool basement), and it is easy to cook a whole squash and then just freeze it in serving sizes.

I grew triamble squash this past summer and got 3 nice sized squashes that stored for months.    I gave two away and cooked one in a bake with other vegetables.  I actually do not remember how it tasted, which tells me it was not as sweet as butternut...which is my favorite.  It was hard to cut, had a hard shell, but cooked fine.  It was a one time thing for me, I'll stick to butternut because I like the sweet flavor.
Thanks for the feedback.  I used to be an acorn squash person (nice size, just perfect for one meal for the family).  Now that I have found butternuts (so much tastier) they will be the main squash this year.  Squash take up enough space that I don't want to grow anything that isn't amazing, so unless someone else pops up saying it is amazing, it is off my list  ;-)
The Triamble (three lobes) has very thick skin, so can keep for months and months, whereas the butternut only keeps for a much shorter time. These are both called pumpkin in Australia. Most Australian varieties were selected for how long they could keep and pumpkin and potatoes were served with practically every evening meal before refrigeration. You should get more than that off a plant, but they were also developed for big vegetable gardens.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 02, 2015, 07:08:04 AM
How does it taste? In Australia, pumpkin has been used for lots of things, and I think that in the US it isn't. One of our politicians (Flo) is fondly remembered for her pumpkin scones (I think you also call something else a scone, so this is really lost in translation). Dinner usually included boiled pumpkin or roast pumpkin when I was little. Pumpkin soup is also popular (my father makes it most weeks). Pumpkin pie went through a phase in my childhood, but I haven't seen it for years - although there is a (fairly uncommon - but more popular) savory pumpkin pie that we also had in my childhood. Butternuts were around in my childhood, but they were too bland for most of the things we did with pumpkins. The Queensland Blue and the Triamble were developed for this kind of cooking, and they have more taste - they are particularly good in Pumpkin soup.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 02, 2015, 12:46:11 PM
I had a potato from the shop that went green, so I put it on my windowsill for a while, then planted it behind some of my herbs. That was a while ago (a few months? I forget).

I just googled when I should harvest - after the leaves die back. That could be a while away judging by the healthy looking leaves trying to take over my sage plant. Can I confirm with someone who's grown potatoes before that you harvest when the leaves die back? (I tried last year to grow potatoes but wasn't super successful)

If the ground is loose enough that you can sort of dig around under the plant with your hands, you can just pull off any good-sized potatoes you want and let the plant keep going.  I grew Yukon Golds last year and found some spuds that were pushing the limits of being too big at least a month or two before the plants would have died back.  If you let them grow for a long time, you might end up with some real monsters.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 03, 2015, 10:21:27 AM
This was really helpful, thanks.  I love squash/pumpkin soup and roast/baked/steamed squash as a vegetable, and if butternuts are considered bland compared to Triambles, I have to taste a Triamble. Butternuts are definitely more flavourful than acorn squash.

Scones - like these?
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/11_simple_scones_recipes.php
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/our_finest_buttermilk_scones.php

How does it taste? In Australia, pumpkin has been used for lots of things, and I think that in the US it isn't. One of our politicians (Flo) is fondly remembered for her pumpkin scones (I think you also call something else a scone, so this is really lost in translation). Dinner usually included boiled pumpkin or roast pumpkin when I was little. Pumpkin soup is also popular (my father makes it most weeks). Pumpkin pie went through a phase in my childhood, but I haven't seen it for years - although there is a (fairly uncommon - but more popular) savory pumpkin pie that we also had in my childhood. Butternuts were around in my childhood, but they were too bland for most of the things we did with pumpkins. The Queensland Blue and the Triamble were developed for this kind of cooking, and they have more taste - they are particularly good in Pumpkin soup.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 03, 2015, 12:46:56 PM
Yes, those scones look right, but I have never heard of anything more exotic than plain or pumpkin. A Devonshire tea (very popular for afternoon tea) is scones and jam and cream with tea or coffee. Lady Flo's recipe is here http://www.abc.net.au/local/recipes/2013/06/11/3778932.htm
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on March 03, 2015, 04:31:45 PM
I had a potato from the shop that went green, so I put it on my windowsill for a while, then planted it behind some of my herbs. That was a while ago (a few months? I forget).

I just googled when I should harvest - after the leaves die back. That could be a while away judging by the healthy looking leaves trying to take over my sage plant. Can I confirm with someone who's grown potatoes before that you harvest when the leaves die back? (I tried last year to grow potatoes but wasn't super successful)

If the ground is loose enough that you can sort of dig around under the plant with your hands, you can just pull off any good-sized potatoes you want and let the plant keep going.  I grew Yukon Golds last year and found some spuds that were pushing the limits of being too big at least a month or two before the plants would have died back.  If you let them grow for a long time, you might end up with some real monsters.

If you harvest potatoes before the leaves die back, sometimes the skins haven't toughened and will slide off the spud during harvesting.  I've been told by the local potato harvester to wait a minimum of 10 days after the leaves have died before harvesting. 

If you are careful, harvesting potatoes from a live plant can be done without wrecking the skin. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on March 04, 2015, 01:37:16 PM
Okay, just did some major damage at my local West Coast Seeds store. As far as I can gather, all this stuff grows well in my part of the world. Of course, its all going to have to overcome my sad lack of actual gardening skills. :)

PEAS:
Oregon Sugar Pod
Super Sugar or Sugar Daddy

Shelling peas:
Green Arrow
Little Marvel

BEETS:
Beet Blend
Detroit
Red Ace
Rhonda

CARROTS:
Danvers
Nantes Coreless
Rainbow Blend
Ya Ya Organic

SQUASH:
Black Beauty (green zucchinis)
Burgess Buttercup
Early Butternut
Gold Rush (yellow zucchinis)
Table King Organc (acorn squash)

LETTUCE:
Romaine
Mixed lettuce pack

KALE:
Red Ursa
Lacinato

BEANS:
Bush Beans
Pole Beans

CUCUMBER:
Green Dragon
Homemade Pickles (thats the actual name)
Sweet Slice

ONION:
Walla Walla
Ruby Ring

PUMPKINS:
Small Sugar
Jack of All Trades

SPINACH:
Tyee
Samish
Olympia

SWISS CHARD:
Rhubarb Chard
Rainbow Chard/Celebration

Of course I will buy some tomato plants to transplant at a later date. And have some potatoes on order: Yukon Gold, Kennebec, and Russian Blue (my wife really wanted these!)

I'm excited and nervous at the same time! Supposed to be 15 degrees Celsius and sunny this weekend! Shirt is comin' off!

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 04, 2015, 05:53:23 PM
Jon_Snow - congratulations.  There is some good eating there.  And the gardener's secret?  Tomato plants are ridiculously easy to start yourself, and the seeds keep for at least 5 years, so you can buy lots of varieties for not a lot of money, and have wonderful tomatoes.  The other gardener's secret?  Only buy what you like to eat, so I hope those are all favourites with you and Mrs. Snow.  It is so easy to get carried away bu the pretty pictures.

We hit ZERO today!!!  You could tell, the snow was packy instead of crystalline.  Spring is coming.

Along the same lines, I just blew just over $100 on seeds from Richters and Vesey.  That is vegetables, flowers, and herbs.  It seems like a lot but to buy started plants of the things I bought would be a lot more.  I already had some seeds, and the sweet peppers got started today.  16 seeds each of two varieties are in damp paper towel in plastic bags in the oven with the light on.   Normally I would just start them in seed starting mix, but I read Carol Deppe's book on selecting your own vegetable varieties, and want to see which ones germinate fastest and grow the strongest and most productive plants.  We have a fairly short growing season, so early and vigorous is good.  If some are better than others then I will do controlled pollination and save seeds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sol on March 04, 2015, 07:31:49 PM
Erica's blog NW Edible (http://www.nwedible.com/to-do-march-2015/) is a fantastic resource for gardeners in this corner of the country.

We're starting a garden for the very first time this year at the new house.  Tomatoes, basil, asparagus, and broccoli.  I figure four new crops is enough for a first attempt.  Oh and strawberries from a neighbor and some blueberry bushes that are also growing inside already, so maybe four new crops wasn't enough after all.

Most of my "gardening" work so far this year has been related to our lawn, which needed some chemical help after a nasty crabgrass infection at the end of last season led to a moss takeover over the rainy season we call winter.  I have three kids and live in a neighborhood where luxurious lawns are a signal of virile manhood.  Did you know there are whole internet forums devoted to lawn care?  Those people are just as passionate about grass as we are about finances.

But we already have the basil and broccoli started indoors, and the tomato seeds are going in this weekend.  The asparagus I'm not sure what to do with, but I'm not sure it matters much as it will take at least two years to get a harvest from seed anyway.

Next step: building and filling raised beds on a particularly well-exposed patch of otherwise useless land below my back deck.  Anybody have cheap plans?  I'm crossing my fingers that at least some of this works out, because I'd much rather spend six hours per week for the next 20 years in my yard than in my cubicle.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: forkneedlepen on March 04, 2015, 07:41:03 PM
I have had a garden for a couple of years with mixed success. This year, we are devoting our existing raised bed and a new, soon-to-be constructed, raised bed to our existing strawberry plants and to tomatoes. I just ordered my tomato seeds yesterday (San Marzano and Amish Paste) and am looking forward to how this experiment turns out this summer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 04, 2015, 08:01:58 PM
Asparagus is usually grown from crowns rather than seeds. They look rather like an octopus. You dig a hole, put a ton of fertilizer in, and have a mound in the hole. Centre the octopus on top of the mound, with the legs going down the mound, and cover. You get lots of rain, so you should be right. They get planted in winter here.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 04, 2015, 09:08:40 PM
I had a potato from the shop that went green, so I put it on my windowsill for a while, then planted it behind some of my herbs. That was a while ago (a few months? I forget).

I just googled when I should harvest - after the leaves die back. That could be a while away judging by the healthy looking leaves trying to take over my sage plant. Can I confirm with someone who's grown potatoes before that you harvest when the leaves die back? (I tried last year to grow potatoes but wasn't super successful)

If the ground is loose enough that you can sort of dig around under the plant with your hands, you can just pull off any good-sized potatoes you want and let the plant keep going.  I grew Yukon Golds last year and found some spuds that were pushing the limits of being too big at least a month or two before the plants would have died back.  If you let them grow for a long time, you might end up with some real monsters.

If you harvest potatoes before the leaves die back, sometimes the skins haven't toughened and will slide off the spud during harvesting.  I've been told by the local potato harvester to wait a minimum of 10 days after the leaves have died before harvesting. 

If you are careful, harvesting potatoes from a live plant can be done without wrecking the skin.

If you want them for storage, that's probably the safest bet, but if you want some potatoes to use, and don't want gigantors, it's worth knicking a few as you're ready to use them.  They can also be cured in a dark, dry place after pulling them off the plant if the skins aren't damaged.  We're still eating the Yukon golds I pulled up in August or so, before the plants died back.  They are sprouting already though, and I wonder if maybe they wouldn't sprout as soon if they'd stayed on the plant longer (maybe pulling them from the plant started the clock on their dormancy period?).  Besides, there isn't much better than throwing some whole new potatoes on the grill with just some olive oil and sea salt.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 05, 2015, 05:25:54 AM
I've grown asparagus from seed, it is easy, just slower than crowns.  The advantage is you have more choice of variety.
The biggest thing to think about for asparagus is advance preparation of the growing bed.  They will be there for a long time (you hope), so the bed needs to be truly weed free.  It is hard pulling grass from an established asparagus bed.  Plus you need the soil to be enriched a bit.  There are places (I have heard, not seen it here) where it grows wild in the ditches, so the soil does not have to be super rich.  Mulch once they get going so the soil does not dry out too much in dry times of the year.  Be sure not to plant too close together.

Or, you can plant them closer together in a "growing on" bed and then move them to their final home in a year or two.  That saves space and gives you a chance to see which are the strongest plants.  Also, if you have more plants than you want, you can see which are male and which are female and only plant the males.  They tend to give better yields because they are not putting energy into making seeds.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DK on March 05, 2015, 08:49:17 AM
Next step: building and filling raised beds on a particularly well-exposed patch of otherwise useless land below my back deck.  Anybody have cheap plans?  I'm crossing my fingers that at least some of this works out, because I'd much rather spend six hours per week for the next 20 years in my yard than in my cubicle.

I used cinderblocks to surround mine, seemed to be the cheapest and easiest although perhaps not the prettiest raised bed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on March 05, 2015, 10:08:02 AM
Jon_Snow - congratulations.  There is some good eating there.  And the gardener's secret?  Tomato plants are ridiculously easy to start yourself, and the seeds keep for at least 5 years, so you can buy lots of varieties for not a lot of money, and have wonderful tomatoes.  The other gardener's secret?  Only buy what you like to eat, so I hope those are all favourites with you and Mrs. Snow.  It is so easy to get carried away bu the pretty pictures.

Some good advice there R@63...this garden's yield (whatever that turns out to be) is going to be eaten by more than just my wife and I. My parents, and my sister's family all have had requests in terms of their favourites veggies being included. My sister is nuts about kale - in particular she is obsessed with making kale chips....my father is a potato junkie...my mom loves her beets. All these things are not my particular favourites, but I'm planting them in the name of "family harmony". ;)

I'm catching a ferry tonight, heading to my island garden patch, to put in a week of work - this is the first time since retiring that I'm leaving my wife to do some of my "FIRE'y" things. I've got a garden to prep for planting, firewood to chop, storm debris to burn...and maybe sneak in a bit of kayaking and hiking in. This is why I sought FIRE with every fibre of my being. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 05, 2015, 11:23:14 AM
Umm, you probably know this already, but if this is the first time this year that you are doing the hard labour, be careful and pace yourself.  I find digging (and shoveling snow) is the thing to watch - make sure you use both sides of the body equally.  So if you dig using your right foot on the spade and twist to the right, after a few minutes do the mirror image, left foot and twist to the left.  It is too easy to get strain injuries for a new (since last fall) activity.

We are still winter, -15 C this morning, but the sun is stronger and the days are longer and the stores are full of seed starting equipment, so spring is soon.

Have fun!!

I'm catching a ferry tonight, heading to my island garden patch, to put in a week of work - this is the first time since retiring that I'm leaving my wife to do some of my "FIRE'y" things. I've got a garden to prep for planting, firewood to chop, storm debris to burn...and maybe sneak in a bit of kayaking and hiking in. This is why I sought FIRE with every fibre of my being. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on March 05, 2015, 01:25:05 PM
Umm, you probably know this already, but if this is the first time this year that you are doing the hard labour, be careful and pace yourself.  I find digging (and shoveling snow) is the thing to watch - make sure you use both sides of the body equally.  So if you dig using your right foot on the spade and twist to the right, after a few minutes do the mirror image, left foot and twist to the left.  It is too easy to get strain injuries for a new (since last fall) activity.

Aww...for such concern for my well-being consider your invitation to "my island" official for whenever you make it out to the west coast. You really are one of my favourite people on the board. You know what's weird, for quite a while I thought you were male. ;)

Now, as for your advice to take it easy...well, I'm probably okay to tackle the garden labour with vigor - I spent 25 years in highway/civil construction, and it seems that most of those years had me at the bottom of a hole digging and trenching, shovel/pickaxe in hand, trying to install some sort of sanitary, drainage pipe or water line. And I've been a bit of a fixture in the "Strength and Fitness 2015" thread - in the almost 6 months since I FIRE'd I've transformed my body into a lean (lost 55 pounds), mean gardening instrument (minus the actual gardening skills). ;)

Hope you can make out west soon.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: mc6 on March 05, 2015, 02:01:03 PM
I wasn't able to find seeds in my usual stores so I ordered some tomato seeds today on Ebay.  I've been collecting empty milk jugs to start my seeds indoors, and I also ordered some marigold seeds for natural repellent properties.  So looking forward to tomatoes and pretty marigolds on my balcony this summer.  My cat was begging me to order her some catnip seeds for her very own plant, but I resisted her piercing gaze! 

I must confess I thought this thread was about something else entirely until today. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on March 05, 2015, 02:40:22 PM
Heheh, 11 pages of pot-head ramblings eh?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 05, 2015, 03:20:25 PM
Mc6, your cat would probably love catgrass.

Jon_Snow, your back is safe - you are readier to garden than I am.  I will definitely be out to visit - there are things happening here this summer that I have to work around, but BC is calling.
You know what's weird, for quite a while I thought you were male. ;)  Weird, yes, but I did try to be gender neutral sounding in my early posts, until I got more comfortable on the board. Nope, late middle-aged woman (or early old, what is the dividing line these days?) here.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on March 05, 2015, 03:29:46 PM
Retire@63, no way are you in any way "old".

PM me if you are ever in the Victoria area and want to visit Camp Jon_Snow ;) no pressure though...a day trip from Victoria to my island is a piece of cake. Good luck getting your affairs in Ontario in order.

The the verdant shores of the west coast is calling.... :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 05, 2015, 06:25:43 PM
There are days I think the west coast is yelling - or maybe like Bali Hai from South Pacific, it is the lure of warm (well, relatively speaking) oceans.  If DD ends up in Toronto or Calgary, there is not a lot holding me here.  Time to get serious about a fitness program, I think.

"Old" - I like the saying, "they can make me grow old but they can't make me grow up".

The the verdant shores of the west coast is calling.... :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on March 08, 2015, 03:23:44 AM
We're been watching a documentary on the lost kingdom of the Olmec in Mexico. There was a brief discussion of crops at the beginning to explain the success of that particular civilisation (fascinating!). The documentary reckons that they grew 3 crops together (and those 3 crops supplied all the nutrients that humans need): Maize, with beans growing up the stalks and squash growing below for weed control. Amazing!

The climate is very different to where I am though. The Olmec were in the wet tropics. I live in a relatively dry inland place and had minimal success the one time I tried to grow corn. 

I had a potato from the shop that went green, so I put it on my windowsill for a while, then planted it behind some of my herbs. That was a while ago (a few months? I forget).

I just googled when I should harvest - after the leaves die back. That could be a while away judging by the healthy looking leaves trying to take over my sage plant. Can I confirm with someone who's grown potatoes before that you harvest when the leaves die back? (I tried last year to grow potatoes but wasn't super successful)

If the ground is loose enough that you can sort of dig around under the plant with your hands, you can just pull off any good-sized potatoes you want and let the plant keep going.  I grew Yukon Golds last year and found some spuds that were pushing the limits of being too big at least a month or two before the plants would have died back.  If you let them grow for a long time, you might end up with some real monsters.

If you harvest potatoes before the leaves die back, sometimes the skins haven't toughened and will slide off the spud during harvesting.  I've been told by the local potato harvester to wait a minimum of 10 days after the leaves have died before harvesting. 

If you are careful, harvesting potatoes from a live plant can be done without wrecking the skin.

If you want them for storage, that's probably the safest bet, but if you want some potatoes to use, and don't want gigantors, it's worth knicking a few as you're ready to use them.  They can also be cured in a dark, dry place after pulling them off the plant if the skins aren't damaged.  We're still eating the Yukon golds I pulled up in August or so, before the plants died back.  They are sprouting already though, and I wonder if maybe they wouldn't sprout as soon if they'd stayed on the plant longer (maybe pulling them from the plant started the clock on their dormancy period?).  Besides, there isn't much better than throwing some whole new potatoes on the grill with just some olive oil and sea salt.

Belatedly responding. I have heavy thick clay soil which I'm gradually improving over time with digging over, mulching heavily and occasionally a bit of gypsum. The soil is not really easy to dig around in without some sort of implement, so I think I'll hold off til the leaves start dying away and then dig up and eat within a week or two. No idea how much we'll get but even a couple of potatoes for free will be nice.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 08, 2015, 05:47:34 AM
It seems that tropical America did a lot more agriculture than the Europeans thought - it was so different they didn't recognize it as agriculture.  Mostly permaculture, tree crops.  And soil enriched with charcoal (terra preta).  And of course then the locals mostly died of European diseases, so no-one was around to point out how they grew their crops. Source: 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus,  Charles C. Mann

I have heavy clay and use raised beds to improve soil texture and drainage.  I am going to try this in some of them this spring.

We're been watching a documentary on the lost kingdom of the Olmec in Mexico. There was a brief discussion of crops at the beginning to explain the success of that particular civilisation (fascinating!). The documentary reckons that they grew 3 crops together (and those 3 crops supplied all the nutrients that humans need): Maize, with beans growing up the stalks and squash growing below for weed control. Amazing!

The climate is very different to where I am though. The Olmec were in the wet tropics. I live in a relatively dry inland place and had minimal success the one time I tried to grow corn. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on March 08, 2015, 06:07:30 AM
@Astatine:
Quote
I live in a relatively dry inland place and had minimal success the one time I tried to grow corn. 
My ex- inlaws live in the same city as you, they grow corn very well  in a raised bed, but to do so they water it every day.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 08, 2015, 06:29:33 AM
I used to grow corn and beans - usually the beans won!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: pancakes on March 08, 2015, 08:01:28 AM
Does anyone have experience with fruit trees indoors. I'm particularly looking at figs and lemons. Both seem to grow very well in the climate here but I don't have a garden.

I wouldn't expect them to be high yield indoors but a handful of fruit each year would be great in combination with the added greenery in our home.

Is it worth a try?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 08, 2015, 11:22:15 AM
Does anyone have experience with fruit trees indoors. I'm particularly looking at figs and lemons. Both seem to grow very well in the climate here but I don't have a garden.

I wouldn't expect them to be high yield indoors but a handful of fruit each year would be great in combination with the added greenery in our home.

Is it worth a try?

Doubt it. You can overwinter trees indoors, but growing them outright would require a solarium/greenhouse to get enough sun. A sunny southern window wouldn't even cut it.

And you'd have to hand pollinate.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 08, 2015, 03:29:27 PM
An outdoor balcony would be OK. In general, there is more sunlight in Australia than there is in the US (because it's further from the equator), so it might do OK indoors, but there are two other problems - size of the plant (whether it can fit in a house) and size of the root ball (whether it can fit in a pot).

Citruses are often grown in pots, whereas I can't recall figs growing in pots, and figs send roots everywhere. The "Lemonade" lemon was specially developed for pots, and should be available from your garden store. It is also a dwarf variety - developed not to grow too big.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: bmcewan on March 10, 2015, 02:27:39 PM
For seed companies, I like Seed Savers Exchange at seedsavers.org and for potatoes, Ronninger's Farm at potatogarden.com. There are some great new varieties at Tucker's farm in upstate NY at tuckertaters.com, but you have to order them the old fashioned way (an order form and snail mail!)

If you've never grown tomatoes or potatoes before, you don't know what you're missing. The quality difference between store-bought (bred for transport) and home-grown (bred for taste) is tremendous. German butterball is a favorite. I am going to try the new Adirondack Blue potato this year, which is blue all the way through.

We usually do a quarter-acre garden (getting bigger all the time) and have 8 apple trees and 6 blueberry bushes. We also have a killer spring-fed bass pond. In the summer, we sometimes go four or five weeks between store visits, get everything we need off the property.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 11, 2015, 01:38:08 PM
The description says this fig grows well in containers:  http://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/fig-trees/celeste-fig
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on March 12, 2015, 05:04:33 AM
@Astatine:
Quote
I live in a relatively dry inland place and had minimal success the one time I tried to grow corn. 
My ex- inlaws live in the same city as you, they grow corn very well  in a raised bed, but to do so they water it every day.

Hmmm. Probably can't bring myself to do that. Weekly watering yes. Daily, no. Particularly since we've been on permanent water restrictions (fairly minor, but still) since the last big drought and bushfires. But maybe if we get another La Nina and hence lots of rain, might worth trying again with corn then.

I used to grow corn and beans - usually the beans won!

lol! Well, you have the same climate as me, so I suspect I'd have a similar result.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on March 12, 2015, 11:10:38 AM
Planted my seeds on Sunday. Watching every day to see if they are coming up yet. :p Looking forward to getting back in the greenhouse too. I was in there tidying up this week and it's so warm!

I was pleasantly surprised that I had enough little seed planting pod things (the ones where you add water and they pop up) and most of the seeds I needed from previous years. I only needed to spend $14 on new ones. I just picked them up at the greenhouse down the street. I should probably figure out a cheaper or better quality way to do that.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 19, 2015, 04:06:35 PM
Do any of you bother with soil temperature when planting peas? Last year I got mine in quite late. This year I want to push the envelope a bit early if possible. The ground is no longer saturated with snowmelt, but it's only about 39F in most spots, whereas various articles suggest 45+.

I did plant a round in one bed when we had a super warm spell and the dirt felt quite warm, but now it's back down to highs between 35-55F for the foreseeable future.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 19, 2015, 04:46:39 PM
Here peas are supposed to be planted in either autumn or spring, so the young plants can stand a lot of frost. I think you need them to germinate so they don't go to mush.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 19, 2015, 10:15:25 PM
Sometimes I put them in a wet paper towel in a sandwich bag until they germinate, and then plant them, but it doesn't seem to accelerate their emergence from the soil.  Throw them in the ground and they will grow when they're good and ready.  I've had even the pre-germinated ones refuse to emerge for a few weeks, and then suddenly they come up when conditions are right.  It's not super wet here, but IME, they don't rot in the ground if the seed is viable.

So far in the ground here I have:  sugar snap peas, chard, cabbage, broccoli, leeks, green onions, lettuce, beets, carrots, kale, spinach, potatoes, collards and radishes.  Will probably do a little more planting this weekend.  The rhubarb and garlic are growing, I've transplanted strawberries and added to the patch to fill my large hugelkulter bed, and am anxiously waiting for signs of life from the asparagus.  Not sure if the two apple trees I put in last year made it.  One one of two made it the year before that, and the survivor looks to be doing well, as are the nectarine and cherry tree, josta berry, goji, rasp and blackberries.  To my surprise the hops have already put on >1' of growth and will be demanding a trellis in the very near future.

Hoping to get a few yards of composted manure to amend the new garden area that I'm planning to use for corn and winter squash, and top up any raised beds that don't already have things planted in them.  Lots to do over the next few weeks, since we'll be out of the country during prime gardening season in the first half of May.

The plan this year is to focus more on herbs and spices.  The Thai basil pesto I froze from last summer's crop has made for some hit meals this winter, and I also did regular pesto, a chimichurri, and carrot green/garlic scape pesto, along with experimentations in fermented homemade hot sauce and homemade chile powders, so planning to devote more space to herbs of all kinds, and grow many, many peppers while sidelining the tomatoes a bit, as wonderful as they are, with all their alluring varieties. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on March 20, 2015, 06:50:07 AM
Goblin, I planted mine last year on 4/1 and they did just fine. 

Lettuce is sprouting here already - how's by you?  We're not that far from each other - pretty much the same weather.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 20, 2015, 08:20:20 AM
Goblin, I planted mine last year on 4/1 and they did just fine. 

Lettuce is sprouting here already - how's by you?  We're not that far from each other - pretty much the same weather.

I didn't get a chance to sow lettuce until 3-14, so no sprouting yet, but should be soon. The only things sprouting in my beds are weeds. (Mainly grass, and some cover crops that didn't winter kill.)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on March 20, 2015, 08:57:13 AM
"I didn't get a chance to sow lettuce until 3-14, so no sprouting yet, but should be soon. The only things sprouting in my beds are weeds. (Mainly grass, and some cover crops that didn't winter kill.)"

Goblin, the lettuce (at least I hope it's lettuce, looks like lettuce . . .) is from what I let go to seed last year in the "lettuce only" raised bed.  Certainly not in perfect rows!

Weeds and grass here too dammit.  Should have gotten some straw last fall to spread between the raised beds.  We'll be hunting for straw this weekend.

To all . . . the Kevin Lee Jacobs milk carton greenhouses (winter sowing) are working GREAT!  Highly recommend giving this a shot . . .

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 20, 2015, 08:43:52 PM
Snow again tomorrow.  Sigh.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on March 22, 2015, 01:02:20 AM
Hey! I'd like to join you all, if that's okay. I live in an apartment and only have a small patio, so I'm going to grow things in pots. I've tried to do this for the past couple of years, but never had much success, admittedly because I didn't put much effort into it. My approach was basically, "put stuff in pots, water, hope for the best." Generally I got enough veggies to feed the guinea pig with, but that's it. So this year I've actually done research and will be putting a lot more time into it.

I'm planning on:
- cherry tomatoes
- eggplant
- cucumbers
- bell peppers
- carrots
- lettuce
- sunflowers
- poppies
- sweetpeas (flowers, not peas)

I think that's it. Anything that can be direct-sown, I'm starting from seed. Anything that needs to be started indoors, I'm getting plants, because I don't have room inside for seedlings. Also, the cat would probably eat them. I got all my seeds, & ordered plants, from Territorial. Plants are shipping sometime in the first half of April and seeds came last week. I need to get more pots, and soil, and research fertilizers.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 22, 2015, 08:16:20 AM
Hi Tofu - of course you can join!  5 gallon buckets with drainage holes drilled in the bottom make good, cheap pots.  They're the ideal size for your eggplants and peppers.  If your cherry tomato is one of the dwarf varieties, a bucket should work for that, and probably the cucumber, too.  I think that people often have less success growing in containers because they use too-small pots. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on March 22, 2015, 02:45:39 PM
I'm starting small this year.  I planted two types of tomatoes, green pepper, and squash.  I'm still trying to manage my ridiculously old, overproducing Meyer lemon tree.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 22, 2015, 03:26:10 PM
Hi Tofu - of course you can join!  5 gallon buckets with drainage holes drilled in the bottom make good, cheap pots.  They're the ideal size for your eggplants and peppers.  If your cherry tomato is one of the dwarf varieties, a bucket should work for that, and probably the cucumber, too.  I think that people often have less success growing in containers because they use too-small pots.

That's actually a genius idea! The main thing that's kept me from adding some containers to gain extra space is the cost of the damn containers.

For cucumbers, there's a variety I'm trying this year that's a bush habit one called Spacemaster 80. Many veggies have container-specific varieties, or a good garden catalog (Johnny's, Fedco, Jung, Territorial, Pinetree to name a few) will have a "container-friendly" icon.

I'm still trying to manage my ridiculously old, overproducing Meyer lemon tree.

Send some my way! ;) Ask neighbors. Donate to food pantries? Sell some?

For more ideas, see:

http://www.nwedible.com/ways-to-use-lemon-peel/

Food in Jars had a bunch of citrus-themed posts recently as well. She even joked she should rename the site "Citrus in Jars".
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 22, 2015, 04:42:00 PM
There's a pretty detailed talk about year round fruit design on Permaculture Voices ep 3 and a lot of it is specifically applicable to SoCal, which I believe is where you're from. I know they talked a fair amount about citrus, which I glossed over, as citrus is not going to happen up here without major micro-climate hacking ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: asauer on March 23, 2015, 06:41:14 AM
Was very happy this weekend to see spinach, lettuce, carrots and even a couple of onions peeking out of the ground!  I hope this means we'll have a good spring harvest.  Next week, we'll begin to harden off our tomatoes, peppers and broccoli that sprouted inside.  I LOVE gardening season.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 23, 2015, 09:08:24 AM
Hi Tofu - of course you can join!  5 gallon buckets with drainage holes drilled in the bottom make good, cheap pots.  They're the ideal size for your eggplants and peppers.  If your cherry tomato is one of the dwarf varieties, a bucket should work for that, and probably the cucumber, too.  I think that people often have less success growing in containers because they use too-small pots.

That's actually a genius idea! The main thing that's kept me from adding some containers to gain extra space is the cost of the damn containers.

Yep, they work well if you don't mind the look, and if you're industrious, can probably get them free from restaurants/fast food joints.

Another thing that's cheap and works pretty well is Rubbermade totes with the top cut out of the lid (keeps the whole thing more rigid than if you just take the lid off).  That makes a big enough pot for growing tomatoes for like $6.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 23, 2015, 01:03:27 PM
There's a California Rare Fruit Growers association that would probably be a great resource. Bay Area is very different from my climate, which is both far colder and far hotter. That's where some of the PacNW folks like Erica's blog at NWEdible might be a good suggestion, but that's really a guess on my part.

She really likes Raintree nursery for plants.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on March 23, 2015, 01:15:35 PM
I'm in the cold north and there is still snow for another month or two! But my little indoor seeds have started sprouting! I have one butternut squash that is 2 inches tall and the others haven't even showed their faces yet. :D
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CanuckExpat on March 23, 2015, 03:32:22 PM
I'm in Northern California, so pretty close :)  Thanks for the reference!  I'm always trying to learn more about the area. 

Depending on where you in Northern California, and how much extra fruit you have, you might want to look into this organization: http://www.villageharvest.org/

They take donated fruit and distribute it to food pantries, etc. They also go to residences of people who can't pick the fruit themselves (elderly, etc) and pick fruit to donate. You can volunteer with them as well, if you like picking fruit.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on March 23, 2015, 03:33:55 PM
You guys inspired me, and I planted spinach, more cilantro (inside), and marigolds (pest control, will move in and out until temps stabilize).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on March 23, 2015, 05:03:48 PM
Tomatoes and peppers are started indoors.  Tomatoes germinated beautifully.  I planted two seeds per container square to ensure germination.  Has anyone ever kept both seedlings going, resulting in two plants in one space? 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on March 23, 2015, 07:47:45 PM
Whenever I have done this I have usually regretted it. They will compete for nutrients and be less vigorous in the longer term. Just get rid of one…try to pick the stronger one to keep.  If you want to try separating them you could do that before they get too big, but beware: sometimes you can damage both and end up with none!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: ria1024 on March 23, 2015, 08:01:00 PM
Tomatoes and peppers are started indoors.  Tomatoes germinated beautifully.  I planted two seeds per container square to ensure germination.  Has anyone ever kept both seedlings going, resulting in two plants in one space?

While they're still very small with a single root, you can pull them out and move them to their own pots.  But growing two in a space meant for one will just crowd both of them, encouraging diseases and limiting their eventual growth and productivity.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: birdie55 on March 23, 2015, 08:08:15 PM
I put two seeds in each cell and if both germinate I separate them and transplant both into four inch pots.  If that give me too many plants for my home garden I easily find homes for them.  We have a food bank garden in my town and they take spare vegetable plants. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 23, 2015, 08:20:49 PM
Has anyone ever kept both seedlings going, resulting in two plants in one space? 
Yes, I put two seedlings in the ground together all the time. I have cylinders of wire that I use for supporting tomatoes. I get a roll of strong wire mesh, cut about a yard or more off and join the two ends (as it is rolled up,it is just a matter of unrolling it a little). Place the cylinder upwards on the ground and peg it, and plant a pair of tomato plants in the middle. As the plants grow, I push their branches inside the cylinder, and they grow over the top and downwards.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on March 24, 2015, 06:12:55 AM
Oh man! I feel like I'm starting so late this year (giant snow piles gave the impression that winter was staying for good). Ah well! I just took stock of my seeds from last year. I'm going to start indoors:
 brandywine and cherry tomatoes
Broccoli
Onions
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on March 24, 2015, 10:38:03 PM
Hi Tofu - of course you can join!  5 gallon buckets with drainage holes drilled in the bottom make good, cheap pots.  They're the ideal size for your eggplants and peppers.  If your cherry tomato is one of the dwarf varieties, a bucket should work for that, and probably the cucumber, too.  I think that people often have less success growing in containers because they use too-small pots.

That's a fantastic idea! I agree that I've probably used too-small pots in the past. My plan this year is to err on the side of big. I have one 5-gal bucket already. I'm going to look at Goodwill for pots (a coworker said she's seen them there, obv very cheap), but if I can't find any big enough, I'll just get buckets.

Oooh, I also have a pretty big Rubbermaid tote sitting out on my patio that's not being used. It's a big rectangle, so maybe not ideal for tomatoes, but I could probably use it for carrots or something.

Now I'm wondering what else I have sitting around that I could plant stuff in...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on March 25, 2015, 07:28:43 PM
Thanks for the feedback regarding two plants in one space.  This is going to be "experiment year".  For each tomato type, I have two spaces containing one plant, then two space containing two plants.  We'll see how they do in regards to yield, disease, etc.  Also helps that this year's big garden purchase involves new crazy-strong tomato cages.  :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on March 29, 2015, 05:21:45 PM
I've had a composter for a couple years now, but I neglect it. I didn't add water until late last fall and I never mix it. I didn't think it ever actually made soil for me. Last year hornets made it their home and so I thought I'd deal with it this spring before they came back.

And I discovered soil! I know this is not groundbreaking news, but pretty exciting for me. I got two buckets of soil and mixed up the rest of the contents as I put it back. Added water too. Didn't find any hornets or a nest.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on March 29, 2015, 07:46:12 PM
My neighbour just blessed me with a huge clump of green onions, including the white stringy roots.  Does anyone know if I could plant this and have it turn into more green onions? How would I do this? Should I cut off the edible green part and just plant the white stems and roots? Also, should I plant them individually and space them out, or plant the clump all together? *

I plan on getting to know this neighbour much better! She has just become a SAHM after many years of full time work and is a MASTER gardener -- she sends over lovely excess produce all summer long and I send back homemade bread!

*Clearly, I'm a newbie!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on March 29, 2015, 07:59:47 PM
You can plant them, and they will grow bigger. They will not double or anything. Depending whether they are straight up and down, or slightly bulbous, they will become real onions, or just become bigger straight up and down onions.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on March 30, 2015, 08:40:22 PM
After tonight, I'm off work till Saturday. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous for the next few days (in the 70's and sunny!), so I think it's planting time! For the direct-sow seeds, that is. My live plants will ship out this week or next. :)

Silly question: Do I need to add gravel or pebbles or anything in the bottoms of my pots/buckets, below the soil, for drainage? I have had issues in the past with water not draining well, and I think this might help.

Also: Where do you buy gardening supplies? There is a Home Depot about half a mile from my house, so I was just going to go there - could get the 5gal buckets at the same time. But we also have a few locally-owned garden shops, and their knowledge might be good.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 31, 2015, 07:47:16 AM
Tofu, it depends on what you need.  You might check the Dollar store for seeds, and I've found some pretty good gardening tools at BigLots! if you have one of those near you.  Garden centers are usually pretty pricey and I find their supplies are more geared towards the cutesy/crafty stuff rather than utilitarian, so I mostly just use them for buying actual plants.

Green onions - yes, you can cut the tops off and eat them, and the replant the white part and root, and they will re-sprout.  I'd separate them out a bit so they have room to grow.  If they're in a clump, you might find some runty ones, but if you leave the tops on those and give them their own space, they should catch up.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on March 31, 2015, 08:26:40 AM
My ENTIRE garden area is covered in snow.  Still!  The asparagus bed has a 3 foot drift.

So, the basement growing area is just ramping up.  I have a germination heating pad I purchased at Amazon last year which has vastly improved rate of seedling emergence.

For the newbies:  green onions are super easy to grow from onion sets, available at ag/feed stores in bulk.  Plant a little set about 2 inches deep, space 3-4 inches apart.  A pound of yellow onion sets will cost under $2 and produce a ridiculous explosion of green onions, especially fun for kids.  Within 2 months you can start making green onion, cheese and cilantro quesadillas.  I don't grow my onions from these as they assume a flattened shape I don't like; seedlings will produce nice round onions.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MishMash on March 31, 2015, 08:54:14 AM
Yard sales for the gardening tools, never paid over a buck for anything I need and routinely get nice terracotta or ceramic pots for 5 bucks or less. 

Does anyone have any luck growing root vegetables...4 years in a row and I've tried beets, carrots, onions, rutabega etc and NOTHING grows, I've done it in ground, raised bed, in a planter and I never get anything but greens.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 31, 2015, 09:27:51 AM
Put my broccoli, kale, and chard starts outside to begin hardening off. Sowed basil and 4 kinds of tomatoes indoors (sungold, mariana, opalka, and cosmonaut volkov), along with ground cherries (still have NEVER tasted one, hopefully this year is the charm!) and some kohlrabi seed I found.

Two of the trays are in the basement with heat mats. Only have 2 mats, though, so I'm keeping the last tray upstairs until germination occurs.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on March 31, 2015, 11:15:59 AM
Yard sales for the gardening tools, never paid over a buck for anything I need and routinely get nice terracotta or ceramic pots for 5 bucks or less. 

Does anyone have any luck growing root vegetables...4 years in a row and I've tried beets, carrots, onions, rutabega etc and NOTHING grows, I've done it in ground, raised bed, in a planter and I never get anything but greens.  Any ideas?

Could be too much nitrogen if you're getting tops and not roots.  For the beets, also check your varieties and maybe try some different ones. Some beets and turnips are grown more for the tops than the roots.  Do you have some poorer, but loose and stone-free soil?  Maybe try putting them in plot that was used for a hungry crop like corn or squash, and not fertilized afterwards.  Onions do well from transplants.  You can start a bunch of them in a small pot and then separate them out and transplant them, and they should grow.  Carrots are tricky because they require shallow planting, but consistent moisture for ~2 weeks to get them to germinate.  It can help to put a lightweight board over the seeds to keep them moist, but then the trick is that the soil sticks to the board when you pull it up, which you must to do check for germination, so they don't just sprout and die under the board. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MishMash on March 31, 2015, 11:54:57 AM
Yard sales for the gardening tools, never paid over a buck for anything I need and routinely get nice terracotta or ceramic pots for 5 bucks or less. 

Does anyone have any luck growing root vegetables...4 years in a row and I've tried beets, carrots, onions, rutabega etc and NOTHING grows, I've done it in ground, raised bed, in a planter and I never get anything but greens.  Any ideas?

Could be too much nitrogen if you're getting tops and not roots.  For the beets, also check your varieties and maybe try some different ones. Some beets and turnips are grown more for the tops than the roots.  Do you have some poorer, but loose and stone-free soil?  Maybe try putting them in plot that was used for a hungry crop like corn or squash, and not fertilized afterwards.  Onions do well from transplants.  You can start a bunch of them in a small pot and then separate them out and transplant them, and they should grow.  Carrots are tricky because they require shallow planting, but consistent moisture for ~2 weeks to get them to germinate.  It can help to put a lightweight board over the seeds to keep them moist, but then the trick is that the soil sticks to the board when you pull it up, which you must to do check for germination, so they don't just sprout and die under the board.

Hmm, that is a good idea...I routinely mix in manure with the compost in the raised beds to help the heavy feeders since I don't have enough room to crop rotate (live in a townhome) and last year I accidentally spilled some radish seeds into a pot that had housed a now dead houseplant for years, and they went gangbuster, it was the only time I've had really good success with them.  I'll pull some of the soil out from where I grew the tomatoes before amending this year and give that a try, I've tried multiple varieties of all the seeds and still nothing, so I don't think that's it.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 31, 2015, 12:20:29 PM
Onions are also daylength sensitive. Be sure you are getting something for your specific latitude.

Beets need (IIRC) some boron.

But that's just book knowledge from me. Haven't grown either myself.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Axecleaver on March 31, 2015, 02:21:48 PM
If you have two seedlings in a cell, it's easy to pull one out and replant it in a 4" pot or an empty cell. If you don't, at some point the seedlings will compete with each other and both will suffer.

When you go to actually plant tomato seedlings, they need lots of room, don't crowd them or plant them together. Strip off the leaves on the stem (leave the top leaves) and lay the entire stem in the ground. The whole stem will sprout roots and grow strong. You can also put a teaspoon of epsom salt in the hole to help with root growth.

Peppers do much better if you plant them in pairs. They will support each other this way and shade each other's fruit.

Your problem with root vegetables is probably too much nitrogen. If there's too much nitrogen, they'll just send up more and more leaves. With potatoes you have to hill them up every week or so for the first few weeks, to encourage root growth.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on April 01, 2015, 12:40:32 AM
Thanks for the tips on replanting this bounty of green onions! They grew well 2 doors away so I'm hopeful they'll grow well at my place too. I have NO idea of my soil quality other than for 2 years now I've put 3 or 4 bags of Home Depot mushroom manure into my garden and stirred it around :-)

I need to pick the brains of my master gardener neighbour! Next, she will send over the biggest, fattest radishes I've ever seen .. at least she did last year! I'm starting some "Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day" tomorrow to send over a fresh loaf since they drool over my breads as much as I drool over their garden bounty!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on April 01, 2015, 04:23:23 AM
Does anyone have any luck growing root vegetables...4 years in a row and I've tried beets, carrots, onions, rutabega etc and NOTHING grows, I've done it in ground, raised bed, in a planter and I never get anything but greens.  Any ideas?
Sun and moisture and the soil needs to not be too rich - lime it as well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 01, 2015, 09:57:03 AM
"I've started looking into another fruit tree for our front yard.  We have a blank spot, and I think a tree would work well.  I want to get a "snack" fruit tree.  My DH wants to get a "fruit salad" tree, like this https://www.fruitsaladtrees.com/. "

Ooooooooo, I have my name on a waiting list with another company (all organic) for one of the stone fruit and one of the apples.  Supposedly guaranteed to thrive in my 5b area.

Anyone else tried these?

 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MishMash on April 01, 2015, 10:13:15 AM
"I've started looking into another fruit tree for our front yard.  We have a blank spot, and I think a tree would work well.  I want to get a "snack" fruit tree.  My DH wants to get a "fruit salad" tree, like this https://www.fruitsaladtrees.com/. "

Ooooooooo, I have my name on a waiting list with another company (all organic) for one of the stone fruit and one of the apples.  Supposedly guaranteed to thrive in my 5b area.

Anyone else tried these?

You can buy them right now at Lowes for 55 bucks (I'm in 7b so maybe a little later shipping up by you), I just bought a 6 graft cherry to go with my other cherries.  It's shipped from a nursery next to my mothers house that I've been to many times and she's had good luck with her trees that she's gotten from them.  They have them in espelior too for the same price.  The nursery by my charges 125 and up for the (literally) exact same trees.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MishMash on April 01, 2015, 10:17:00 AM
One thing to note about them is to make sure the grafted varieties all have similar bloom dates if you don't have any other pollinator trees, more grafts are usually better too in case one doesn't make it you still have a cross pollinator. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 01, 2015, 10:37:23 AM


You can buy them right now at Lowes for 55 bucks (I'm in 7b so maybe a little later shipping up by you), I just bought a 6 graft cherry to go with my other cherries.  It's shipped from a nursery next to my mothers house that I've been to many times and she's had good luck with her trees that she's gotten from them.  They have them in espelior too for the same price.  The nursery by my charges 125 and up for the (literally) exact same trees.
[/quote]

Thanks Mish, I don't buy fruit trees or bushes from Lowe's or Menard's any more because . . . firstly - all have failed, secondly - I've been told that even tho certain things are marked as being hearty in your zone, they're incorrectly marked for sales purposes.  But if you and your mom have had luck gods bless!  How are your original cherries doing?

Blueberries anyone?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 01, 2015, 10:42:21 AM
Gotta love dogs . . .

http://www.groworganic.com/organic-gardening/videos/how-to-plant-a-tennis-ball-tree

And kids . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrOmwrwE8TQ&feature=youtu.be&list=UU9r61qohBg1qgGty4_WzojA

Happy April!!!!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MishMash on April 01, 2015, 11:06:31 AM


You can buy them right now at Lowes for 55 bucks (I'm in 7b so maybe a little later shipping up by you), I just bought a 6 graft cherry to go with my other cherries.  It's shipped from a nursery next to my mothers house that I've been to many times and she's had good luck with her trees that she's gotten from them.  They have them in espelior too for the same price.  The nursery by my charges 125 and up for the (literally) exact same trees.

Thanks Mish, I don't buy fruit trees or bushes from Lowe's or Menard's any more because . . . firstly - all have failed, secondly - I've been told that even tho certain things are marked as being hearty in your zone, they're incorrectly marked for sales purposes.  But if you and your mom have had luck gods bless!  How are your original cherries doing?

Blueberries anyone?
[/quote]

The other cherries are doing great, I picked them up a couple of years ago so I'm hoping for some cherries this year, but they've now made it through two winters and have gotten some good growth on them, ones an espaliar.  I've definitely noticed the mis marking at Lowes, but I usually head there knowing what varieties are hardy for the area (we move a lot so I have to research everything before I put anything in since I've lived in like pretty much EVERY zone out there lol)

Check out Backyard Berry Plants for your blueberry bushes...warning, the site is dangerous to your wallet.  I bought 6 a number of years ago and they did epic last year.  I lost one this winter but it was my own fault due to a drainage issue that caused water to pool there.  Also gotten some gorgeous raspberries that did pretty well in their second year and I'm expecting to do gangbuster this year due to the insane number of canes they shot up last year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on April 01, 2015, 11:08:40 AM

Blueberries anyone?


Blueberries blooming here, but I can't take any credit; they're wild natives. :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 01, 2015, 01:18:11 PM


You can buy them right now at Lowes for 55 bucks (I'm in 7b so maybe a little later shipping up by you), I just bought a 6 graft cherry to go with my other cherries.  It's shipped from a nursery next to my mothers house that I've been to many times and she's had good luck with her trees that she's gotten from them.  They have them in espelior too for the same price.  The nursery by my charges 125 and up for the (literally) exact same trees.

Thanks Mish, I don't buy fruit trees or bushes from Lowe's or Menard's any more because . . . firstly - all have failed, secondly - I've been told that even tho certain things are marked as being hearty in your zone, they're incorrectly marked for sales purposes.  But if you and your mom have had luck gods bless!  How are your original cherries doing?

Blueberries anyone?

The other cherries are doing great, I picked them up a couple of years ago so I'm hoping for some cherries this year, but they've now made it through two winters and have gotten some good growth on them, ones an espaliar.  I've definitely noticed the mis marking at Lowes, but I usually head there knowing what varieties are hardy for the area (we move a lot so I have to research everything before I put anything in since I've lived in like pretty much EVERY zone out there lol)

Check out Backyard Berry Plants for your blueberry bushes...warning, the site is dangerous to your wallet.  I bought 6 a number of years ago and they did epic last year.  I lost one this winter but it was my own fault due to a drainage issue that caused water to pool there.  Also gotten some gorgeous raspberries that did pretty well in their second year and I'm expecting to do gangbuster this year due to the insane number of canes they shot up last year.
[/quote]

I'll check it out (Backyard Berry Plants).   (Dangerous you say . . . uh oh)

Not so much mislabeled (Lowe's and Menard's) by accident but pretty much on purpose to sell and I'm kinda sorta stupid so didn't research as much as I should have.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on April 01, 2015, 02:00:44 PM
I tend not to have much joy with multigrafted trees. I have bought several double grafted trees in the past. There have been two problems.

One side tends to grow faster than the other and takes over. I recently read that you should prune back the slower growing side so that the plant puts more energy into this side. This is counter-intuitive and I have probably always done it the other way round.

Secondly, after a few years the secondary graft falls off! The graft is always a weak point, and on the trees I have had, I have come out and found it blown off by the wind.

After having these problems, I have taken to growing apples in cordons, which means you have a large variety of apples, but each is a separate tree. I also make sure I have very dwarf stock, so that the trees don't grow very big. Many large retailers don't bother to have very dwarf stock for their fruit trees, so the trees grow too big. Also, the trees get pruned regularly. There is no point in having a fruit tree so tall you cannot pick fruit from it from the ground. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 01, 2015, 05:23:35 PM
This is for beginning gardeners, since I am seeing comments about not being sure about soil.  Do a basic soil test.  Get soil (break it up so no lumps or stones), water, and a straight sided glass jar with a lid.  Fill the jar about half full with soil, then fill with water,  Shake, shake and shake some more.  Put someplace stable and let it settle out.  Sand will settle out in less than a minute, silt takes a few minutes, and clay takes a few days.  Organic material usually floats.  Look at your % of each size and Google "soil triangle" and see what kind of soil you have.  Plus you want 5-10% organic material as well as the inorganic particles. I do this when I am buying a truck load of topsoil, I want to see what I am getting before I spend all that money.

Or go by feel - take a handful of moist (not wet) soil and try to roll it out into a ribbon.  Collapses - sandy soil - moderate length fat ribbon - loam, long thin ribbon you could make a coiled clay pot with - clay.

Soil type and plants - sandy soils drain well, warm up fast in spring, and don't hold nutrients well.  Loam - ideal.  Clay - holds nutrients well, holds water well but dries to brick, slow to warm in spring and can drain badly.

Hope this is of help.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 01, 2015, 06:16:51 PM
Would love to see some pics of some of the gardens talked about here. You show me yours, I'll show you mine. ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on April 01, 2015, 06:23:40 PM
Would love to see some pics of some of the gardens talked about here. You show me yours, I'll show you mine. ;)

I'll post a pic once I get mine all planted! Of course, it'll just be a bunch of dirt... ;)

I found a great idea while googling "inexpensive containers for gardening" the other night - reusable shopping bags! The plastic waterproof ones. You just cut holes in the bottom, line with screening, and there you go. Cheap & easy planters. Luckily for me, I have a bunch of them lying around, including huge ones from IKEA and Sam's Club. Between those and the pots I already have, I shouldn't need to buy any more stuff to plant in.

Pots get washed & bag holes are getting cut tonight. Tomorrow, I'm going to head over to Home Depot for screening and soil, then get my seeds planted.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 01, 2015, 06:52:10 PM
Pictures of dirt are fine with me!

I'm lookin' for any ideas I can steal. :) I've got 8 beds of various dimensions more or less ready for planting, most of them in-ground raised beds. I'd like to make 2 more beds of the wood frame variety, perhaps a foot and half tall. I've got a phone call into a local island guy who says he has "organic" topsoil. I'm going to check out the source before I get him to deliver. I am going to try to construct these beds in the next couple of days, get em' filled with soil and then I am DONE, ready to plant. Then it's finger-crossing time. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 01, 2015, 10:16:30 PM
Would love to see some pics of some of the gardens talked about here. You show me yours, I'll show you mine. ;)

Oh twist my arm!  Here is my main garden.  I am developing a "heat garden" on the south side of the house that has hops and a fig (if it didn't croak this winter), and will have squash, melons, corn, sweet potatoes and eggplant.  Also, the second photo is my hugelkultur raised beds.  Not sure yet how they'll work as they were just built last summer and haven't had enough time for the wood in them to get nice and spongy yet.

(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/P1040090_zps2e9f63de.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/P1040090_zps2e9f63de.jpg.html)
(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/P1040089_zps48554abb.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/P1040089_zps48554abb.jpg.html)
(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/DSC02062_zpsf39b4c11.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/DSC02062_zpsf39b4c11.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 01, 2015, 10:37:12 PM
Wow, that looks amazing horsepoor! I am years from having my garden area looking so organized...and is that aluminum siding on the side of your raised bed structures? If so, what are the advantages, apart from the obvious longevity vs wood...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on April 02, 2015, 12:48:31 AM
This is for beginning gardeners, since I am seeing comments about not being sure about soil.  Do a basic soil test. 
Hope this is of help.

@RetiredAt63, Thank you SO much for this! So very helpful and will do my soil test within the next day or so! Its so funny when you know absolutely nothing about gardening ... I planted some seeds last fall and got delicious lettuce. The beets never came up. And this spring, it appears we are suddenly growing broccoli! hahaha!

I am planning to weed it this week, get some mushroom manure down (after the soil test) and purchased 3 seed types (its a small raised bed from the previous homeowner). I bought cucumbers, peas and lettuce this year. I also have the green onions from the neighbour to still get in there. Like @JonSnow, I'm also going to keep my fingers crossed!

And @horsepoor, your gardens are drool-worthy! WOW! Just WOW!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 02, 2015, 07:19:11 AM
Wow, that looks amazing horsepoor! I am years from having my garden area looking so organized...and is that aluminum siding on the side of your raised bed structures? If so, what are the advantages, apart from the obvious longevity vs wood...

Thanks, it has been gratifying seeing it come together - took about 4 years to get to this stage.  I did use galvanized siding on the taller raised beds.  It's pretty hot and dry in Boise in the summers, and I've noticed with my raised wood sided beds that water will run out from under the sides, so I wanted to sink the sides of these beds down into the ground to prevent any loss of water into the garden paths.   Also, for the taller raised beds, I would have had to use multiple boards to achieve the same height, and it would have been $$$ to build.  I really like them - they're so easy to tend, and the perfect height for sitting on the sides. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on April 02, 2015, 10:25:08 AM
horsepoor, that's gorgeous!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: asauer on April 03, 2015, 09:14:21 AM
We're putting the tomatoes and peppers out in the garden today.  We sprouted them inside.  Wish me luck that they make it!  I'm hoping for tons of tomatoes.  I seriously underestimated how many canned tomatoes we needed for the winter and ran out in January.  Yikes.  Going for the gusto this year.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on April 03, 2015, 11:11:43 AM
Beautiful and organized, horsepoor! Well done and thanks for sharing.

How tall are you hoops, what are they made of, and did you DIY or buy? Last year, my broccoli flourished under my tool netting, but I used stakes and they were finicky.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: bomburdoo on April 03, 2015, 12:07:48 PM
horsepoor - love the hugel-inspired raised beds!  I'm west of the Cascades and those galvanized sides are great idea - I may have to steal it!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 03, 2015, 12:57:08 PM
Beautiful and organized, horsepoor! Well done and thanks for sharing.

How tall are you hoops, what are they made of, and did you DIY or buy? Last year, my broccoli flourished under my tool netting, but I used stakes and they were finicky.

1/2" electrical conduit.  I use the 10' lengths and make them myself using a conduit bender.  I'd guess they end up about 3' tall when bent to fit a 4' bed and shoved into the ground enough to hold them in place.  I use electrical conduit for trellis supports too.  It's cheap and doesn't rot or get UV damage. 
Here is a better photo of the hoops;the white clips come from FarmTek, though I've since read a tip on using pieces of old hose, though I'm skeptical that they're rigid enough to hold up a:
(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/P1030594_zps175776c6.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/P1030594_zps175776c6.jpg.html)
Here is how I use the conduit with 2x4's for trellis (with jute twine here; I usually use wire mesh attached with zip ties over getting fancy tying twin into a netting).
(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/trellis004.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/trellis004.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 03, 2015, 02:20:46 PM
Can't compete with horespoor but here is my (currently completely unexciting) garden. Already lost some seedlings to animal damage, whee!

There are beds planned to continue wrapping around the house, just haven't dug those yet, so just one picture for now.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on April 03, 2015, 02:50:32 PM
Awesome! Thanks, horsepoor!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 03, 2015, 02:50:39 PM
Sorry horsepoor, but I fully intend to rip off some of your ideas. ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 03, 2015, 03:11:47 PM
Magnificent Horsepoor! And Wow Chief, looks like very bit of your yard will be food production.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 03, 2015, 03:44:10 PM
Chief, you are definitely maxing out what space you have. Where do your kids play? ;)

My wife has now joined me on the island and we just got our potato beds done. Have a dump truck delivering topsoil in about an hour - far more soil than we need, but it will keep till next year when the garden project expands in scope - and number of beds. This is really fun, and nothing has even sprouted yet.

I was really enjoying myself before, but things are so much better when my wing-man(wife) is working by my side.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 04, 2015, 07:02:59 AM
Wow, great to see all the pictures.
We were up to mid teens the last few days, back to -3C and snow this morning.

But, I am gardening - Lots of bell pepper plants started, garlic started (a bit last fall into a raised bed, the rest this spring into starter trays that are now outside under an inch of snow).  For decor, I bought a bunch of starter plugs (flower and foliage plants) at a local nursery and potted them up - and in a few weeks they will move up again to larger containers.  And this weekend I will start more flowers (mostly Cosmos and Sweet Alyssum, because I use them in quantity and that gets expensive at the nursery), herbs, and tomatoes.  My early tomatoes (Earlianna) are almost ready to move to a bigger pot, they grow so much faster than the peppers.

It is too soon for some things - broccoli will get started about two weeks from now.  I still have some of last year's in the freezer, so I am planning for loose head varieties for spring planting.  The big head varieties for freezing will get started later.

Who else loves snap peas?  I have Sugar Snap, Super Sugar Snap and Sugar Daddy, ready to go once the soil thaws.  They are the first thing I plant outside every year. 

@1967mama - glad the soil info was of help, I was afraid it might be too basic.  It is easy to forget how much basic information is sitting in the back of our heads about an activity we have been doing for a long time, that others might not have picked up yet.

@Horsepoor - I love your trellises - I also use netting for climbing peas and beans, and the odd cucumber. I tend to use spruce 2x2s, but the electrical conduit looks really effective.  It doesn't bend under a heavy load?  And how do you get those decorative support boards to stay put?  Did you drill holes for the conduit?  When my Sugar Snap peas get to 6-7 feet they are pretty heavy. 
I have just used 2x8s for my raised beds, but that is more because I need to get topsoil on top of my clay.  If I dug beds they would turn into bathtubs.
I use rebar for tying up tomatoes, I tend to grow mostly indeterminate varieties. I get the epoxy coated when available, since it is less likely to rust, and paint the bare stuff myself with metal paint, so it looks a bit better and doesn't rust.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 04, 2015, 07:12:32 AM
Lost even more seedlings to animals last night. Whooo!

Sigh. I really didn't want to have to put up fencing. Damage is only at night. No deer here (too far into city), so I'm guessing rabbits, as the squirrels are diurnal and have never shown an interest in greens.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 04, 2015, 09:12:56 AM
Goblin, here it is the birds that go for the greens, hence the bird netting I put over my hoops.  The quail, especially, will wipe out any type of lettuce, cabbage or greens seedlins before they get a chance to start.


@Horsepoor - I love your trellises - I also use netting for climbing peas and beans, and the odd cucumber. I tend to use spruce 2x2s, but the electrical conduit looks really effective.  It doesn't bend under a heavy load?  And how do you get those decorative support boards to stay put?  Did you drill holes for the conduit?  When my Sugar Snap peas get to 6-7 feet they are pretty heavy. 
I have just used 2x8s for my raised beds, but that is more because I need to get topsoil on top of my clay.  If I dug beds they would turn into bathtubs.
I use rebar for tying up tomatoes, I tend to grow mostly indeterminate varieties. I get the epoxy coated when available, since it is less likely to rust, and paint the bare stuff myself with metal paint, so it looks a bit better and doesn't rust.

If by decorative boards you mean the top of the trellis, yes, they are drilled with a 7/8" (I think that's the size) hole about 2" deep that the conduit fits into snugly.  This design also means they are easy to collapse for storage.  When I did the jute twine, I put small hook eyes in the boards to tie it off to, but that isn't necessary when using a panel of concrete reinforcing wire.  I have never had any issues with strength of these trellises, but if I was going to trellis something really heavy like squash or melons, I would probably go up one size in electrical conduit, just to be safe.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 04, 2015, 01:04:15 PM
Yes, the top of the trellis - that is very decorative compared to my spruce pieces just lashed together.  ;-)

I have never trellised things like squash, I have always thought they would be too heavy.  I find the peas, especially, are a strain since there is so much foliage and the wind pushes on it.

If by decorative boards you mean the top of the trellis, yes, they are drilled with a 7/8" (I think that's the size) hole about 2" deep that the conduit fits into snugly.  This design also means they are easy to collapse for storage.  When I did the jute twine, I put small hook eyes in the boards to tie it off to, but that isn't necessary when using a panel of concrete reinforcing wire.  I have never had any issues with strength of these trellises, but if I was going to trellis something really heavy like squash or melons, I would probably go up one size in electrical conduit, just to be safe.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 04, 2015, 03:47:07 PM
Lost even more seedlings to animals last night. Whooo!

Sigh. I really didn't want to have to put up fencing. Damage is only at night. No deer here (too far into city), so I'm guessing rabbits, as the squirrels are diurnal and have never shown an interest in greens.

I'm hearing ya. Critters at night, arghhh. Probably a different selection to you, but I've moved to netted enclosures too. It was too heart breaking to come out and find plants I'd just nurtured into a decent size over weeks decimated in one night. I also have a super secure area close to the house to try to keep out slugs/snails - recycled polystyrene containers, cover with nets and with copper tape around the sides. I use these for cut and come again lettuce, chives, basil, spring onions, young seedlings and other stuff on occasion.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: deborah on April 04, 2015, 04:57:11 PM
Snails and slugs can really decimate seedlings. I'd suspect them before rabbits.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 04, 2015, 05:39:48 PM
Snails and slugs can really decimate seedlings. I'd suspect them before rabbits.

Not in my climate. They're basically non-existent.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on April 04, 2015, 10:54:24 PM
Cucumbers are planted, and sweet peas. I got the bags ready and will be doing the rest of the seeds tomorrow. The plants are on their way and will be here this week.

@Thegoblinchief - I've always heard that marigolds will repel rabbits. We used to plant them around the edges of our garden when I was a kid, and it worked pretty well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 06, 2015, 03:24:54 PM
Anyone have experience making a garden out of lawn space that has been (and will continue to be) under a conventional weed/feed lawn chemical regime? Trying to evaluate a potential off-site garden plot.

It's free, and the plot is segregated enough that drift isn't an issue.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on April 07, 2015, 05:33:25 AM
Chief-- You might try heavy newspaper mulch, covered with straw now, and let it sit.  Then maybe in June, cut a few holes in the mulch, dump in some compost and try planting winter squash, allowing the vines to swarm over the whole plot.   Next year you may have some decent soil.  One of the commonly used herbicides does persist so you'd have to judge by how the squash did.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Neustache on April 07, 2015, 05:56:18 AM
Hi all!   New here, and new to gardening. 

We bought a house a year and a half ago and the previous owners had planted tons of flowers and trees.  I'm still trying to learn what we have.  We have started some herbs indoors and hops for my husband.  We'll wait until late April to plant those outside.   We are starting simple, plus, we don't have full sun so we are fairly limited in what we can do.

I got some pansies a few weeks ago, and by George, they are still alive!  However, some of them are no longer flowering.  I was very careful to deadhead them, so I don't think they went to seed.  They still feel nice and firm - they aren't wilting or anything.  Any ideas? 

We have partial shade right now in our back garden but it will go to near full shade once the trees have leaves.  Once that happens I'll have to find new locations for my pansies (they are in pots).

I need help in identifying some of what we have. I know this thread is mostly food growers, but hopefully there's some flower/tree people here as well!

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 07, 2015, 06:14:52 AM
Welcome!

I can't speak for the others, but I definitely do it "all" - flowers (annuals, perennials, bulbs), bushes, trees and edibles.
Inexpensive ornamentals are a good way to get your green thumb started - if they die you have not lost your harvest, or a big investment.  Plus once you start looking in seed catalogues you will see flowers you can't get at the local store, and then you are learning how to start seeds, and then you can grow anything  ;-)
Re identification, a good gardening book from the library should have lots of pictures, and then you can look at what is in your garden for ID.  If it is back, it is a perennial - the annuals would be gone after the first year, unless they are something that self-seeds easily.
If you do want to grow something edible, salad greens tolerate some shade, especially in the heat of summer.

Pansies - pictures? They like it cool, so partial shade is fine.  Mine go on the North side of the house.

Hi all!   New here, and new to gardening. 

We bought a house a year and a half ago and the previous owners had planted tons of flowers and trees.  I'm still trying to learn what we have.  We have started some herbs indoors and hops for my husband.  We'll wait until late April to plant those outside.   We are starting simple, plus, we don't have full sun so we are fairly limited in what we can do.

I got some pansies a few weeks ago, and by George, they are still alive!  However, some of them are no longer flowering.  I was very careful to deadhead them, so I don't think they went to seed.  They still feel nice and firm - they aren't wilting or anything.  Any ideas? 

We have partial shade right now in our back garden but it will go to near full shade once the trees have leaves.  Once that happens I'll have to find new locations for my pansies (they are in pots).

I need help in identifying some of what we have. I know this thread is mostly food growers, but hopefully there's some flower/tree people here as well!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 07, 2015, 06:24:01 AM
I have flowers, mostly perennials. Pansies are something I haven't tried so can't help there.

Keep in mind that "full sun" for some crops means as little as 6 hours of good sunshine in a day.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 07, 2015, 02:52:23 PM
I started 42 tomato seeds today - not all will come up (one variety I bought the seed back in 2007, and this is the last of it), and I will not keep all of the ones that do come up, but it is a good chunk of my advance planting. I have 12 different named varieties, plus seeds I saved from 5 different tomatoes I liked that I bought at Costco last fall.  It is earlier than I started them last year, but I think they will be able to go out earlier - we are looking at mostly above freezing temperatures for the next two weeks, which means the garden soil will warm up sooner.

Outside, I saw the first daffodil and peony shoots today.  No small bulbs in the lawn visible yet, they still have snow on them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DK on April 07, 2015, 07:57:50 PM
I'm trying the rain gutter method for starting.....just got some peas, lettuce mix, and spinach in there. Hopefully will see some sprouting in a week or two. Sounds like some of you are in more southern states...here in MI I probably have just under a month til I can get outside for planting.

Anyone try growing peanuts before? That was my off-the-wall purchase to try this year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 07, 2015, 08:11:41 PM
My off-the-wall effort this year is sweet potatoes. They are not exactly a major crop in the "Great White North"  ;-)

Anyone try growing peanuts before? That was my off-the-wall purchase to try this year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 08, 2015, 07:21:01 AM
I'm trying the rain gutter method for starting.....just got some peas, lettuce mix, and spinach in there. Hopefully will see some sprouting in a week or two. Sounds like some of you are in more southern states...here in MI I probably have just under a month til I can get outside for planting.

Anyone try growing peanuts before? That was my off-the-wall purchase to try this year.

Once, when I lived in California.  They are a bizarre plant.  You've probably read about it, but they flower, then the flower goes underground and forms a peanut.  I just grew a few and harvested them too early, so the nuts weren't fully formed, and they didn't produce much.  Worth growing at least once just as a curiosity, IMO.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on April 09, 2015, 10:02:37 PM
After 2 days of heavy rain, I've got my first seedlings poking up. Pic: https://instagram.com/p/1Q6YjiMchs/?taken-by=t0fuchampi0n
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 10, 2015, 07:31:44 AM
Anyone have advice about mold (light grey, fuzzy) growing in seedling trays? Something I need to worry about?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on April 10, 2015, 07:40:31 AM
Anyone have advice about mold (light grey, fuzzy) growing in seedling trays? Something I need to worry about?

I have the same issue.  It is a fungus that forms due to too much water and not enough air flow across the tray.  Water once a week (or even less) instead of daily.  The fungus will go away and your plant roots will grow down toward the remaining water.  You can also place a fan set on low across the tray for a few hours daily.  Or if the weather is nice, put the plants by an open window. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on April 10, 2015, 08:44:40 PM
Anyone have advice about mold (light grey, fuzzy) growing in seedling trays? Something I need to worry about?

Not really a problem. If you see mushrooms, don't eat them. :) The solution is to bottom water and let the top of the soil dry out. Just set your pots or whatever on a tray of some kind, and water that. So it should be little pots sitting in maybe 1/2 inch of water at first, and then they'll suck it up through capillary action. If the water sits for more than maybe 12 hours you added too much. Don't water unless the pot is dry 1/2" down (for little pots) or 1-2" down (for big pots).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on April 10, 2015, 08:48:30 PM
Anyone have experience making a garden out of lawn space that has been (and will continue to be) under a conventional weed/feed lawn chemical regime? Trying to evaluate a potential off-site garden plot.

It's free, and the plot is segregated enough that drift isn't an issue.

Cardboard smother, deep lasagna bed buildup, wait 6 months, plant. Email me with photos if you want specific advice. I wouldn't worry about a standard 3 month-type weed/feed if you can get them to just fucking STOP IT once you take responsibility for the space. 6 months is a lot of time for the soil to heal. Nature's kind a badass like that. But if they are using something that promises to "kill for 12+ months" you might have a problem. Get more info on that.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: FIRE2022 on April 14, 2015, 03:36:00 PM
It's great to see everyone's garden. This is my first year trying to grow some vegetables, after having read Square Foot Gardening. I built a raised 8X4 bed and a trellis from electrical conduit. Bought my seeds from the dollar store and costco. Planted my seeds outdoors in mid March and already have the following plants growing:

1. Okra
2. Egg plants
3. Tomato
4. Bitter gourd
5. Asian zucchini
6. Spinach
7. Lettuce
8. Cucumbers
9. Swiss chard
10. Lima beans
11. French beans
12. Basil
13. Cilantro
14. Marigolds
15. Gladiolus

I also have a pepper plant growing in a pot indoors. Haven't had any issue with pests yet, and I hope it stays that way. I am worried about my nylon trellis netting bought from Home Depot ($5) not being strong enough to hold the produce from my 2 Asian zucchini plants, 2 bitter gourd plants, 4 cucumber plants and one tomato plant. Can anyone give me some advice on this?

Atatchedis a picture of this garden taken this past weekend.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: arebelspy on April 15, 2015, 12:21:03 PM
Gardening: Way more badass than I was led to believe.

(http://www.qwantz.com/comics/comic2-2823.png)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 15, 2015, 12:47:11 PM
Anyone have advice about mold (light grey, fuzzy) growing in seedling trays? Something I need to worry about?
[/quote

Gosh I would really wonder too.  Never experienced that!  You're too smart to have them in too damp a place or not realize that that might be it. 

Looking forward to replies!

Peas planted 4/1 are coming up, lettuces planted 4/8 are coming up.  Squashes, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers and basil started inside are doing great.  The little milk carton (Kevin Jacobs) green houses worked pretty well.  Tons of brocolli and lettuce coming.  Would have liked more brussels sprouts.

Now, when to plant?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 15, 2015, 12:58:07 PM
miamoo - Your climate is probably the same as mine. The reasonably safe (>90% free in past years) frost-free date starts about May 1, with the very safe (>95%) period after about May 15.

Cucumbers and squash can be reseeded in the ground very well if necessary. Both have taproots, so be extra careful when transplanting. (I have limited indoor space so they are outdoor only crops for me. Basil is short enough season that you can resow indoors (I get crappy germination outdoors) and then transplant later. I got a big batch of pesto from basil I didn't transplant until August last year.

I'd be most concerned about the tomatoes, but covering them up or using hot caps would fix that if it came to it. I personally plant to scope out the extended forecast on May 1st and make the call then, because about then I will need to up pot my seedlings if they're staying indoors much longer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on April 15, 2015, 01:14:04 PM
Gardening: Way more badass than I was led to believe.

(http://www.qwantz.com/comics/comic2-2823.png)

Stealing the hell outta this.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 15, 2015, 02:26:09 PM
Haha...so good. Lol.

My own newbie Salish Sea island garden update. Swiss chard, spinach, peas, beets, emerging from the soil. I may not fail at this after all, though I'd really like an appearance by the taters. Fence has withstood any deer incursions. And I can't stop creating new beds. This will become an addiction, sure as s**t.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on April 15, 2015, 03:51:05 PM
This will become an addiction, sure as s**t.
::sigh:: Story of my life. Seriously.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 15, 2015, 04:10:08 PM
Well, there are a bushel full of worse addictions to have. ;)

BTW, Erica...I pop into your site from time to time. I find it really helpful to know that we are in the same region, and whatever you grow I should TECHNICALLY be able to grow as well. Though I admit, even if things go very well for me, it will probably take me 10 years to get to level you are now.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on April 15, 2015, 04:32:51 PM
I pop into your site from time to time. I find it really helpful to know that we are in the same region, and whatever you grow I should TECHNICALLY be able to grow as well. Though I admit, even if things go very well for me, it will probably take me 10 years to get to level you are now.
Hey thanks! I started growing seriously about 10 years, and I still bomb many experiments. With enough babying, I haven't run into too many things that we CAN'T grow up here, (okra, peanuts, most melons, good sweet potatoes), but if you throw time (and cost) effectiveness into it, your best bang for the buck on anything in the pac nw is berries, herbs, potatoes, leafy greens and brassicas. In your area, you may find venison to be an effective harvest crop, too. ;)

Sometimes it's weird gardening in a place with an easy 365 day growing season but no heat units. If you run into any questions with your garden I might be able to help with directly, just shoot me a line here or at nwedible at gmail dot com. If you email me at gmail, put like "MMM friend" or something in the subject so it catches my eye in between the crap loads of spam that come in. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 16, 2015, 07:55:10 AM
miamoo - Your climate is probably the same as mine. You are correct Sir!The reasonably safe (>90% free in past years) frost-free date starts about May 1, with the very safe (>95%) period after about May 15.

Cucumbers and squash can be reseeded in the ground very well if necessary. Both have taproots, so be extra careful when transplanting. Check out Kevin Lee Jacobs regarding this

I'd be most concerned about the tomatoes, but covering them up or using hot caps would fix that if it came to it. I personally plant to scope out the extended forecast on May 1st and make the call then, because about then I will need to up pot my seedlings if they're staying indoors much longer.

Separated and potted most if the tomato seedlings yesterday cuz who knows what's going to happen here!  Am keeping them indoors for now.

Do you grow potatoes?  (Didn't see it on your blog) We tried them for the first time last year on a small scale.  They were successful and the flavor was incredible.  So different from store bought.   Large scale planting this year.  Wish us luck.  Out of room in the garden so we're going to try planting them in the bulletproof plastic bags that the dog food comes in. 

Love your blog by the way :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 16, 2015, 08:55:52 AM
Trying potatoes for first time this year. Basic in ground row/hill method. Ordered Yukon Gold as that's supposed to 've easy and I love them - decent baked, excellent mashed or in latkes. Can't remember how many seed potatoes I ordered.

Still waiting on all my bare root and other plants to ship. Gotta think it will be soon.

Glad you like my blog :) I'm due for a new photo tour of the garden, just haven't had time. Maybe next week. Next few days will be BUSY.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 16, 2015, 09:22:23 AM
Oh Goblin I wish you great luck!  You'll love them!  :-)  (the potatoes)

You must have more room than we do.  We do have a fairly large back yard but also 3 dogs that need the room to run and play.

Where did you order from?  I got the Yukon Gold, Red Desiree, Russet Burbank seed potatoes from "Peaceful Valley" GrowOrganic.com.  All organic and cheap.  Did I say cheap?  Much cheaper than Lowe's or Menard's and ORGANIC!!!!

I'm entertaining the thought of ordering some of the grafted multi-fruit trees to plant next fall.

Have you or anyone else tried these grafted multi fruit trees?  Had success?

We have an apple tree that came with the house 9 years ago.  Sometimes it produces, sometimes it doesn't.  Have a baby peach tree that was planted as a twig 4 years ago - now about 8' tall.  Want to see what happens this year.  Yes Goblin, we CAN grow nice peaches here in our zone. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 16, 2015, 09:49:32 AM
Oh Goblin I wish you great luck!  You'll love them!  :-)  (the potatoes)

You must have more room than we do.  We do have a fairly large back yard but also 3 dogs that need the room to run and play.

Where did you order from?  I got the Yukon Gold, Red Desiree, Russet Burbank seed potatoes from "Peaceful Valley" GrowOrganic.com.  All organic and cheap.  Did I say cheap?  Much cheaper than Lowe's or Menard's and ORGANIC!!!!

I'm entertaining the thought of ordering some of the grafted multi-fruit trees to plant next fall.

Have you or anyone else tried these grafted multi fruit trees?  Had success?

We have an apple tree that came with the house 9 years ago.  Sometimes it produces, sometimes it doesn't.  Have a baby peach tree that was planted as a twig 4 years ago - now about 8' tall.  Want to see what happens this year.  Yes Goblin, we CAN grow nice peaches here in our zone.

I ordered from C.W. Jung. On fruit trees, I'm just getting started, and only have space for a few. I've got 2 paw paws, 1 sour cherry (Garfield), and 1 peach (can't remember if Reliance or Contender) coming.

On multi-graft, up thread someone mentioned they tend to have the grafts break, but others have had good success. Probably depends more on the quality of the graft/source than anything.

Ultimately I would prefer to do trees bred/raised with the STUN (Sheet Total Utter Neglect) method. Both Mark Shepard and Sepp Holzer swear by this method, but it requires way more space than most urban/suburbanites have. So that's a future homstead project :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: totoro on April 16, 2015, 11:12:32 AM
We are in full swing here.  This year we re-landscaped the back yard, built garden beds, covered them with cardboard and straw and the flower beds the same but with cedar chips.  And - yep - hardly any weeds.

Planted dwarf fruit trees (nectarine, peach, apricot and cherry), a fig tree, two kinds of strawberries, three kinds of raspberries, four kinds of blueberries (including pink lemonade), haskaps and now on to the vegetable garden.  I'm late with peas but hoping for the best. 

What I'm interested in is seeing how my straw bale garden works out.  I've got four bales I'm watering/fertilizing and they should be ready in about ten days to plant.  I'll post an after picture if it works out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 17, 2015, 07:15:58 PM
totoro - looks awesome! I just did a whirlwhind planting of stuff tonight when the box - surprise - showed up. Asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb. Still waiting on my 2 trees and my canes/bushes.

I've heard hugely mixed things on straw bale gardens, but I hope they work out for you.

Oh wise gardeners: give me your preferred potato planting advice. I'm doing basic in-ground, yukon gold, non-irrigated (or very seldomly, as it's an odd strip hard to cover). Not sure what the best spacing is, both row to row and in-row spacing. Thx!

Thoughts on pre-sprouting, and cutting ahead of time and letting the wounds heal?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on April 17, 2015, 08:00:58 PM
We need more pictures! I will take some & post them in the morning (it's 10pm where I am).

Everything is up except the carrots. We have lettuce, cucumber, and sweet pea seedlings looking all green and gorgeous. My live plants - tomato, pepper, eggplant, and lavender - came last week and are doing well in their pots/bags. I still need to plant my poppies & sunflowers, but it's early and I'm not in a rush.

I love looking out and seeing my patio covered in plants. My daughter will be starting solid foods in another month or so, and I'm looking forward to being able to feed her things that I grew myself. Gardening is such a satisfying hobby!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on April 18, 2015, 01:04:00 AM
I bought 3 bags of mushroom manure to put in my tiny little garden bed. I grew things last year from seed for the first time and am looking forward to trying again. I especially enjoyed the fresh garden lettuce so I think I will grow more of that this year. I have 3 decorative planters in my yard that my parent bought us 2 years ago and filled with marigolds and geraniums. Last year they sat empty but I'm thinking that maybe I should plant some herbs and tomatoes in them. It is really good sense to plant things we like to eat! I love reading this gardening forum. You all are a wealth of information for this newbie gardener!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on April 18, 2015, 06:51:26 AM
Chief-- Potatoes:  I do "chit" or presprout them, but probably not necessary.  Just let about 1 inch of sprout grow. I do not cut mine into pieces.  Most important to have certified virus free seed potatoes. Leave them out on a table in the light.  I plant them at the bottom of a trench, maybe 6-8 inches deep and space them about a foot apart.  The rows are about 18-24 inches apart.  Cover them with a couple inches of soil and as the leaves appear keep covering them to produce more.  I love to grow the fingerling varieties which are commercially not usually available or v. expensive.  Yukons are great to grow, too!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: mc6 on April 18, 2015, 09:19:37 AM
This morning I transferred 5 tomato plants (1 Moneymaker, 4 Cherry) into buckets on my balcony.  The marigolds have been out there awhile already.  I had a bee visit. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DK on April 18, 2015, 09:23:07 AM
Peas took off crazy...I was hoping not to need to plant out for a couple weeks.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on April 18, 2015, 03:14:21 PM
Planted out a "salad garden" in an old wheelbarrow that has just started to rust through. It's in the atrium, right outside my kitchen door, but of course I can move it if I like. Dwarf kale, Swiss chard, spinach mustard for the hot summer,  regular spinach because I probably still have time for one harvest. In the corners are radishes (two kinds), sweet basil, and cilantro. I planted closely, French intensive style. I'll fertilize with mature tea as needed to compensate since it is a container and not a double dug bed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on April 19, 2015, 09:02:51 AM
I love hearing about all the growth happening in warmer climes!  V. encouraging!!

Up here, I've just planted the sugar snap peas, some onion sets for green onions, radishes and little white turnips.  My kales usually self-seed, as does cilantro and dill, but after such a harsh winter , who knows?

I'm trying okra for the first time, mostly for a southern friend who makes awesome gumbo.  I read it likes warmth so may be an issue, but some years I can grow great melons and sweet potatoes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 19, 2015, 03:15:59 PM
My garden is in its autumn hiatus and I'm behind schedule, mainly due to the nets falling in on 2 beds and no time  and too much rain to redo them at the moment. Garlic and clumping onions needs to go into one of those beds, soon! The pumpkins are dying off, I harvested 6 more this weekend. There are 4 more left. In my functional netted bed I have sown parsley, coriander (cilantro), lettuce, and rocket, all germinated and coming up: hopefully the snails and slugs don't get the lot. Yesterday sowed romano beans, cauliflower and russian kale. Not much hope for the last 3  from experience, but I had seed so you never know. And I planted out 3 small silver beet, hopefully not too small. More of that coming on in my "safe zone" close to the house.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on April 19, 2015, 04:37:12 PM
Left side, back to front: tomatoes, carrots, lavender, eggplant. Right side: cucumbers x2, sweet pea, peppers, more carrots. Not pictured: lettuce.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jengod on April 19, 2015, 07:49:51 PM
Today was a fun, frugal, zero-driving garden day:

1. Earlier this week, stopped at a curbside trash pile and picked up a shabby bench (probably used in the back of someone's pickup?). Today I got out the screwdriver and some pliers and deconstructed it for the wood frame with dividers. The rest will go to the city dump, but I did save a hinge and some screws

2. Dug into the compost pile and came up with a wheelbarrow load of worm compost. Look, ma, no driving to the big-box store for plastic-wrapped planting mix! Really enjoyed digging through the pile seeing the variety of living creatures who make their home there. I think I even found a legless lizard!

3. Planted the four boxes with coriander/cilantro and fennel (from the bulk spices section of the grocery store), a variety of turnip grown for the greens and flat-leaf parsley (25c at 99c store), and a few patty-pan squash seeds for fun (Territorial Seed Co.)

Who knows if anything will grow, but it was a fun cheap project just the same.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: JRA64 on April 19, 2015, 07:54:54 PM
I am so thrilled to have found a gardening page on this site! Goodness knows my gardening skills can use some help! Last year the slugs ate more than I did.

Lost even more seedlings to animals last night. Whooo!

Sigh. I really didn't want to have to put up fencing. Damage is only at night. No deer here (too far into city), so I'm guessing rabbits, as the squirrels are diurnal and have never shown an interest in greens.

For rabbits, the method that has worked best for me is an indoor / outdoor cat. I think they smell the cat, or only need to see her once, because they don't seem to move in during vacation when she's not been in the yard. My current cat has no interest in hunting - the one time there was a rabbit in the back yard, she stalked it until she was about 10' away, then sat up and loudly meowed at it. Even then it didn't come back.

If you don't want a cat, consider a catnip plant or two at the garden perimeter and see if your neighbors' cats might do the job for you. I put the catnip in netting just to give it a fighting chance, and frequently find the cat parked right next to it. That's a problem for seedlings. This year I put sticks in the ground, pointed up, when I planted the seeds, and it's the first year I've had any make it there.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on April 20, 2015, 06:50:59 AM
My community garden plot neighbor dug up one of his strawberry patches, and I was the lucky recipient of 50 beautiful strawberry plants. I was planning on setting up a patch this year anyway, but now it's free!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 20, 2015, 06:53:53 AM
My community garden plot neighbor dug up one of his strawberry patches, and I was the lucky recipient of 50 beautiful strawberry plants. I was planning on setting up a patch this year anyway, but now it's free!

Nice! I just planted 50 of them on Friday - they take up WAY more room than I had planned. Oh well :)

Might as well ask - with purchased plants, I'm guess 1 year old, will get I get berries this year? One variety is June-bearing and the other is everbearing.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 20, 2015, 09:25:28 AM
I took too many pictures to post here, but I wrote a blog post with a photo tour of my current garden for any interested: https://thegoblinchief.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/april-2015-garden-tour/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on April 20, 2015, 10:37:44 AM
I took too many pictures to post here, but I wrote a blog post with a photo tour of my current garden for any interested: https://thegoblinchief.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/april-2015-garden-tour/
Your garden looks great!  I'm looking to set-up a compost pile in our yard, but I haven't decided on the design yet. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 20, 2015, 11:16:44 AM
The best composting seems to require these:

1. Exposure to soil so earthworms can access compost. Alternately, you can buy worms from a bait shop.

2. "Seeding" it with thin layers of garden soil to get the bacteria present in soil. Compost inoculants can be purchased but the majority of writers say they aren't quite the same.

3. Don't worry overmuch about green/brown ratio. DONT stir it, because hot piles burn through more of the nutrients you want.

4. Time. Fill a pile completely, then let it age for 12-18 months. If using manure, especially humanure, this is a requirement to avoid pathogens.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Gone Fishing on April 21, 2015, 02:48:20 PM
Eating homegrown kale, asperagus, bamboo shoots, butternut squash and vinison this week.   
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on April 21, 2015, 06:30:07 PM
My salad garden is sprouting in the wheelbarrow I planted it in. Kale, radishes, and spinach mustard showing their heads so far.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Juslookin on April 22, 2015, 08:15:28 PM
My community garden plot neighbor dug up one of his strawberry patches, and I was the lucky recipient of 50 beautiful strawberry plants. I was planning on setting up a patch this year anyway, but now it's free!

Nice! I just planted 50 of them on Friday - they take up WAY more room than I had planned. Oh well :)

Might as well ask - with purchased plants, I'm guess 1 year old, will get I get berries this year? One variety is June-bearing and the other is everbearing.

Strawberries are my thing.  You need to pull off the flowers for the June bearing ones, don't let them make any berries this year. But for the ever bearing I usually pinch the flowers off for a month until they get established and let them go to town.  I have found that to work for me, I grow Tribute ever bearing, they'll give me berries until frost.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CanuckExpat on April 22, 2015, 09:32:09 PM
Strawberries are my thing.  You need to pull off the flowers for the June bearing ones, don't let them make any berries this year. But for the ever bearing I usually pinch the flowers off for a month until they get established and let them go to town.  I have found that to work for me, I grow Tribute ever bearing, they'll give me berries until frost.

We were kind of lazy and just let it go in the first year, we still seemed to get good harvest so far.
I mean we've only eaten two, but the birds, squirrels and even the dog seem to be enjoying them...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on April 22, 2015, 09:48:43 PM
I'm a container gardener, on the balcony at the front of my house.  I rent, so not planning to put a ton of time and energy into creating garden beds and enriching the soil here, and besides, I see quite a lot of rabbit activity in my backyard, so would probably need to do some fencing ...

Anyway, I don't need a huge crop of anything, and really enjoyed last year (first full summer in this house) having some pots of greens, a couple tomato plants, etc, close at hand.  Found I used the food from the garden much more, having it just out on the balcony.  Loved not having to put on shoes to go pick a few lettuce leaves for dinner!

This year, I wanted to get things started a bit earlier, get a full "spring" crop of radish (and radish greens) plus some spinach, try to get peas grown under more optimal conditions (they were pretty pathetic last year), etc.  So I decided to start early and succession plant to figure out the best time for my little balcony microclimate.  Did up one pot just over a week ago, and happy to report that there is germination happening with the radishes at least.  Was planning to try to get the next pot started - and today we had snow and hail.  Hmm.  Maybe should hold off a couple more days, eh?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on April 23, 2015, 01:04:41 PM
Looking forward to posting and learning from everyone on this thread.  I love gardening but boy, it sure can serve up failure.  I did so much experimenting last year - planting in different parts of the yard in different manners (fenced vs open beds, or container planting, west, east or south sides) with mixed results.  Some things were outstanding - basil, beans and chilli peppers (believe or not, I'm in rainy, cool Washington). Others I couldn't grow well no matter what.  Even though my tomatoes were in the "Success Kits" I got from Gardener's Supply and grew really tall under a protected deck, the tomatoes were just tasteless.  So disappointed. 

Now we will be moving to an entirely new environment, the hot/cold Salt Lake City environment.  We have our house there, just waiting to sell our existing one.  It has a nice fenced back yard with some raised beds already in place.  I'm looking forward to growing hot weather crops since we won't be arriving until some time in May, and being hopefully mostly critter-free, at least compared to our present location where we get squirrels (hate those rats), deer, slugs, birds, bunnies and oh yeah, not to mention lack of sunlight as we're on a mountain and under some big pine trees.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 10dollarsatatime on April 23, 2015, 11:13:23 PM
Looking forward to posting and learning from everyone on this thread.  I love gardening but boy, it sure can serve up failure.  I did so much experimenting last year - planting in different parts of the yard in different manners (fenced vs open beds, or container planting, west, east or south sides) with mixed results.  Some things were outstanding - basil, beans and chilli peppers (believe or not, I'm in rainy, cool Washington). Others I couldn't grow well no matter what.  Even though my tomatoes were in the "Success Kits" I got from Gardener's Supply and grew really tall under a protected deck, the tomatoes were just tasteless.  So disappointed. 

Now we will be moving to an entirely new environment, the hot/cold Salt Lake City environment.  We have our house there, just waiting to sell our existing one.  It has a nice fenced back yard with some raised beds already in place.  I'm looking forward to growing hot weather crops since we won't be arriving until some time in May, and being hopefully mostly critter-free, at least compared to our present location where we get squirrels (hate those rats), deer, slugs, birds, bunnies and oh yeah, not to mention lack of sunlight as we're on a mountain and under some big pine trees.

You'll still have slugs and birds...  Corey's snail bait helps immensely.  As for the birds?  Depending on where you are, it can be impossible to start something from seed in the garden.  The quail just think you're hiding treats for them. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 24, 2015, 06:13:35 AM
Birds and seedlings: that's where I'd use flat-topped wickets (forget the appropriate gauge of bulk wire is best, but easy to bend your own) or low tunnels out of 1/2" EMT conduit (harder to bend, but tools widely available, or you could jigsaw your own form easily). Clip either row cover or some sort of metal mesh, supports no wider than 4'

Or, since she has raised beds, if there's enough head space between the bed box, you won't even need the supports, just cover the box until they get strong enough to not be uprooted or disturbed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 24, 2015, 07:04:19 AM
Am I the only crazy person already with a wishlist for next year?

-Extra grow light - just not enough space for the amount of warm-season starts I want to do, especially since I am trying to be a good neighbor/family and start enough to share with others.

-Soil-blocking equipment. I know people are love/hate on them, but I would like to at least try it out and see if I like them better than the plastic pots.

-In addition, build a cold frame and/or some equipment to build low tunnels. Eventually I'd like to have a high tunnel too but that would be pie-in-sky for 2016.

-Buy a soil test and start a fertilization and remineralization protocol. I'd like to get some practice doing this on a small site before needing to do it on a larger scale.

-Need to make a map with siting for more perennial plantings.

That's just what I've got so far :P
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 24, 2015, 07:18:14 AM
Not the only crazy person Chief.

I am also thinking about a cold frame - and a greenhouse for next year. Also thinking about about cutting down some trees and extending my garden area into what is currently dense forest. Garden area is already starting to feel cramped. My vision continues to grow and I haven't even harvested a single vegatable yet. :)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 24, 2015, 07:26:56 AM
Not the only crazy person Chief.

I am also thinking about a cold frame - and a greenhouse for next year. Also thinking about about cutting down some trees and extending my garden area into what is currently dense forest. Garden area is already starting to feel cramped. My vision continues to grow and I haven't even harvested a single vegatable yet. :)

Why not extend the garden the opposite way - looked like you had plenty of lawn space in front of it.

For greenhouse design and methods, definitely read Eliot Coleman's Winter Harvest Handbook. His other books are also well worth reading.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 24, 2015, 07:49:41 AM
Not the only crazy person Chief.

I am also thinking about a cold frame - and a greenhouse for next year. Also thinking about about cutting down some trees and extending my garden area into what is currently dense forest. Garden area is already starting to feel cramped. My vision continues to grow and I haven't even harvested a single vegatable yet. :)

Why not extend the garden the opposite way - looked like you had plenty of lawn space in front of it.

That would be EASIER, except that by going that way we would be getting too close to some forest to the south that is NOT on our property, and there would be too much shade. By going NORTH, into our forest area, we would actually be gaining more sun lit hours. Anyway, talk of expansion of my operation at this point is tremendously premature. Need to get a handle my CURRENT garden space first.

And thanks for the book recommendation...I'm writing that one down.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 26, 2015, 03:16:27 PM
What's a good daytime temperature to start hardening off tomatoes, or at least get them free light instead of the grow light? Today it's bright sunshine and high 50s, for example. Some of what I read online suggests that's still too cold, but my experience with tomatoes last year suggests they really don't need to be babied as much as people think as long as they're frost free.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 26, 2015, 03:53:04 PM
I'd say 50F would be okay: we never go much below 45F here, and I've had tomato plants self germinate in winter.  They just don't set flower  until the weather warms up. If they're in a good spot I leave them, this year one of these was my big producer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on April 26, 2015, 07:05:19 PM
This weekend, I planted cowhorn peppers in five-gallon buckets; those are in the atrium for maximum sun and temps, though I'll have to keep an eye on them come midsummer or they may get too hot, even for peppers. One reasons we need to roof/fan - then we can shade and ventilate as needed.


Today, he made me a raised bed using deadfall logs for the front side, along the base of the porch, and repurposed some trailer skirting for the back (against the edge of the porch). I planted heirloom Cherokee Purple tomatoes and some cherry tomatoes along with marigolds, and mulched with leaves from the forest verge (ie four feet away or so).


That's southern exposure and should get good light all day. Only a small part is done, but we have 72 feet for beds there, at least until we extend the middle of the porch, which is part of the long-term plan. I have more topsoil coming tomorrow with a lumber delivery, so another's short section next weekend will hold more peppers.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on April 26, 2015, 09:23:52 PM
What's a good daytime temperature to start hardening off tomatoes, or at least get them free light instead of the grow light? Today it's bright sunshine and high 50s, for example. Some of what I read online suggests that's still too cold, but my experience with tomatoes last year suggests they really don't need to be babied as much as people think as long as they're frost free.

They won't die, but might not grow as fast as under really bright indoor lighting.  If you can just put them out for a few hours when it's warmest, it will be good for them because the natural breeze encourages them to grow strong stems.  I usually wait until it's getting into the 60's to put mine out, but then I'm working, so they have to be out from like 7 am to 5 pm.

Tonight we ate a stirfry with the flower stems from last year's collards.  They looked kind of like broccolini when they were starting to bolt, so I whacked them off and gave them a try.  Totally good veg, stems, leaves, (unopened) flower heads and all.  Collards are really awesome, they just keep giving and giving.  We had greens sauteed with bacon from this same plant last week; I'm going to over winter collards every year from now on.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 27, 2015, 06:40:19 AM
Tonight we ate a stirfry with the flower stems from last year's collards.  They looked kind of like broccolini when they were starting to bolt, so I whacked them off and gave them a try.  Totally good veg, stems, leaves, (unopened) flower heads and all.  Collards are really awesome, they just keep giving and giving.  We had greens sauteed with bacon from this same plant last week; I'm going to over winter collards every year from now on.

I so wish I could convert my family to liking cooked greens.

---

On a different note, one of my projects this week is to go through all of the excess spices I've built up via my wife's job at SpiceCo. A lot of this stuff is getting old, I'm not using, or whatnot. I assume it can all be composted, yes? (I don't have any super hot stuff in excess, so I won't be composting anything spicy.)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 27, 2015, 08:11:28 AM
I don't much like cooked greens either, so a lot of the season extender info is totally unusable for me  :-(  However, I do like broccoli, and it will go forever in the fall.  This year my main planting will be later, with the head kind for freezing and the non-heading kind for immediate eating.

Garden news - I didn't get garlic planted out last fall, so I potted some up this spring and put it out on the deck, where it got snowed on, rained on, and generally pretended it had been planted last fall.  It is all up and out in the garden bed now.  Time to get the peas planted and early broccoli started.  The peppers are doing fine, and most of the tomatoes germinated.  A lot of flowers are also started but not yet up.  I am going to run out of grow-light space soon.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on April 29, 2015, 07:16:32 AM
Looking forward to posting and learning from everyone on this thread.  I love gardening but boy, it sure can serve up failure.  I did so much experimenting last year - planting in different parts of the yard in different manners (fenced vs open beds, or container planting, west, east or south sides) with mixed results.  Some things were outstanding - basil, beans and chilli peppers (believe or not, I'm in rainy, cool Washington). Others I couldn't grow well no matter what.  Even though my tomatoes were in the "Success Kits" I got from Gardener's Supply and grew really tall under a protected deck, the tomatoes were just tasteless.  So disappointed. 
I have no trouble believing that. I'm in a colder climate myself. It's so cold that I have no hope of maturing tomatoes outside a greenhouse. But any type of chili pepper or just plain pepper I've tried so far thrive. Last year my peppers gave crop until late October (and we have temperatures towards 40 at that time of year). In fact, the only problem they gave me last season was a tendency to get sunburnt when it got too hot and sunny for a few weeks.

Per now I have chili pepper and pepper plants on my windowsill that are trying to flower. I keep cutting them back, but come mid to late May it will be time to let them outside and then they can flower to their heart's content. My hope this year is to start picking in June and keep picking until late September (or October). These plants are so incredibly prolific that I haven't bought a single chili for years. And I'm still good for another year, should this year be a failure for some reason. Going for peruvian Lemon Chilies this year - hope they are as tasty as people tell me.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on April 29, 2015, 09:21:02 AM
I'll be interested to see what kinds of chilies I can grow in Utah and look forward to experimenting with more varieties.  I was happy to discover that chilies can survive more cold than many hot weather crops like tomatoes. I also found out that chilies are perennials so can be over-wintered for the next year.

Peruvian lemon chilies sound awesome.  We'll have to do some chili talk once I get gardening again. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 29, 2015, 12:20:49 PM
So are tomatoes, the indeterminate ones grow to be huge sprawly vines.  I don't have a place to keep a tomato inside over the winter, but if I did I would take cuttings (indeterminate only) and keep them going.  Tomatoes are so tough - I have had them cut at the base by a cutworm (before I knew how to prevent it) and just stuck the cut top in the ground, watered well, and it re-rooted.

Too much gardening talk - off to plant peas.  And with the pruning I did yesterday, i will be able to try "pea brush" for the first time ever, for my short variety (Sugar Daddy).

I also found out that chilies are perennials so can be over-wintered for the next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on April 30, 2015, 02:42:44 AM
The main thing with chilies is that the plants take for ever to grow to maturity. I start mine in early February in order to get them ready for fruiting in May. Next year I will start in January (got myself a plantlight) and get them even more robust.

I did try overwintering them, but it's too much trouble because I have no suitable light yet relatively cold space.

On other notes I have a 2 year old passion fruit plant in my livingroom. Have tried to get it to flower, bur so far no luck. It could be the indoor-life situation, but if anyone know a thing or two about these plants I'm all ears.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on April 30, 2015, 04:32:22 AM
Not an expert, but from what I know with passionfruit you need it against a warm sunlit wall (north facing in southern hemisphere and south facing in northern hemisphere). When I was a kid they grew wild on a rock down our backyard. I had one at a previous house, but it never fruited in the 4 years I was there..so I assume the position was not right: I wasn't into gardening at that point so didn't pay it much attention.  So I suspect indoors might be a problem.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 30, 2015, 06:05:54 AM
Garden is humming. Looks like 100% of the strawberries survived transplanting. All of them have at least a 4-leaf cluster of new growth. Bunnies haven't been touching pea shoots, which is great, because the ones outside of the fence have much better germination than the ones inside.

Things seem a bit pokey, but we've got a warm spell and rain coming, so I think things will start taking off from there.

Only major issue is that I hardened my basil off a bit too fast at first and they got sunburnt. Tomatoes seem happy, especially the SunGold and Cosmonaut Volkov starts. My paste varieties are much leggier despite the same growing conditions. Hopefully they do well - homegrown sauce is what I am most interested in!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 30, 2015, 09:01:39 AM
Is there anything quite as satisfying as surveying your day's work in the garden at the end of the day?Muscles pleasantly fatigued, the effects of the increasingly warm sun in evidence as my skin colour slowly moves towards bronze...bird song choruses, green growth exploding all around...

Working on my land is a joy. And to see and feel it responding to my efforts - indescribably fulfilling.

Long live FIRE. :)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 30, 2015, 09:49:05 AM
Is there anything quite as satisfying as surveying your day's work in the garden at the end of the day?Muscles pleasantly fatigued, the effects of the increasingly warm sun in evidence as my skin colour slowly moves towards bronze...bird song choruses, green growth exploding all around...

Working on my land is a joy. And to see and feel it responding to my efforts - indescribably fulfilling.

Long live FIRE. :)

Oh yeah. +1,000,000
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 30, 2015, 10:04:46 AM
Yes - showing it off to me when I get to BC  ;-)

(Heads Up - I am doing travel arrangements in the old moving to BC thread on General Discussion, and you are missing it all while you putter in the garden).

Is there anything quite as satisfying as surveying your day's work in the garden at the end of the day?
Long live FIRE. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on April 30, 2015, 10:11:57 AM
Not a lot of actual gardening lately, I have been taking out a bunch of small volunteer trees that should have been taken out 3 years ago - I love that they are growing but they are in places that are not good for trees.  My biceps and triceps should be starting to get stronger from all the action with the pruning saw and bow saw.  We are averaging 13-20C during the day, which is perfect for energetic work.  In the heat of the day I collect gravel from the lawn and put it back on the driveway.  Tedious, but better than running over it with the lawn mower and throwing it around at high speed.

We haven't had much rain lately, so surfaces are getting dry.  The subsoil is still frozen, and I can hear water dripping into the sump as the ground thaws and drains, but the raised beds need watering before planting.  I'm heading out to clip prunings into pea brush and water the bed where the peas are going.  Snap peas (Sugar Snap on a trellis and Sugar Daddy on the pea brush) are going into the garden today.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on April 30, 2015, 11:36:46 AM

Things seem a bit pokey, wbut e've got a warm spell and rain coming, so I think things will start taking off from there.

YES!

Only major issue is that I hardened my basil off a bit too fast at first and they got sunburnt.

Same here.  I murdered my own basil by accident.  Dammit, dammit, dammit.

Also, this is the second year in a row that my oregano, sage, tarragon and thyme have croaked on me.  Nothing in the 'parsley patch' either.  We've lived here for 9 years and prior to last season, the abovementioned always came back.  Flourished even!  I don't get it!  Last winter was harsh so I blamed it on that and didn't think much of it, just replaced.  This winter was nothing tho.  ??????  Aaagh.

Chives are going insane (already clipped and snipped about 2 cups for the freezer) and happily the rosemary I gave up for dead is coming back to life.  (Whew)

Asparagus in the garden has been producing well for about the last 2 weeks.  So this weekend will be for asparagus "hunting" on the country roads.  When we first moved here and I planted the asparagus neighbors said I was crazy as it grows wild everywhere - they showed me where and what to look for and so we now usually get 5 or 6 #'s per outing.  Freezes well if it makes it to the freezer at all.  :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on April 30, 2015, 04:00:46 PM
Building my first Hugelkultur bed right now! Woohoo!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on April 30, 2015, 06:50:41 PM
Building my first Hugelkultur bed right now! Woohoo!

Nice! My "future hugel" pile of wood slowly grows. Might build one this fall.

Pretty sure tomorrow night will be the night I'll leave the tomatoes out all night for the first time. Otherwise I'm in a holding patterns. Occasional weeding of what's in-ground, waiting for the last batch of transplants to be ready.

Might sow some white clover in a few bare spots near one of my trees to get that established.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on May 01, 2015, 01:06:30 PM
I planted heirloom Cherokee Purple tomatoes and some cherry tomatoes along with marigolds, and mulched with leaves from the forest verge (ie four feet away or so).

I tried growing Cherokee Purple last year and they bombed.  The tomatoes would get to size but never turned color/started rotting from the inside.  Is there anything special you do to bring this variety to fruition?  Extra fertilizer, watering, etc.?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on May 01, 2015, 01:13:08 PM

I tried growing Cherokee Purple last year and they bombed.  The tomatoes would get to size but never turned color/started rotting from the inside.  Is there anything special you do to bring this variety to fruition?  Extra fertilizer, watering, etc.?
[/quote]

Looking forward to Rural's answer.  Didn't have your problem, just not much yield.  They were nummy.   Didn't do anythingspecial. Trying Black Krim this year too.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on May 01, 2015, 01:23:58 PM

I tried growing Cherokee Purple last year and they bombed.  The tomatoes would get to size but never turned color/started rotting from the inside.  Is there anything special you do to bring this variety to fruition?  Extra fertilizer, watering, etc.?

Looking forward to Rural's answer.  Didn't have your problem, just not much yield.  They were nummy.   Didn't do anythingspecial. Trying Black Krim this year too.
[/quote]

Funny, Black Krim is my Cherokee Purple replacement this year.  :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on May 01, 2015, 01:42:32 PM
Well let's hope they do well Garden!  :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on May 01, 2015, 08:15:24 PM
I have an empty pot! After a week of wondering why one container of carrots was sprouting and the other wasn't, I concluded I must have just forgotten to plant the second one. So I've been watering a pot of dirt. LOL.

All the actual plants are looking good! We've had so much rain lately that I've only had to water them a few times. I still need to plant my poppies and sunflowers, and separate the cucumber plants before they get any bigger, but I need a couple more containers and another bag of 2 of soil first. I work all weekend, so that will be my Monday project if the weather cooperates.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on May 01, 2015, 09:11:56 PM

I tried growing Cherokee Purple last year and they bombed.  The tomatoes would get to size but never turned color/started rotting from the inside.  Is there anything special you do to bring this variety to fruition?  Extra fertilizer, watering, etc.?

Looking forward to Rural's answer.  Didn't have your problem, just not much yield.  They were nummy.   Didn't do anythingspecial. Trying Black Krim this year too.

Funny, Black Krim is my Cherokee Purple replacement this year.  :-)



Well, if I have any success, I promise to let you both know! :-) It's my first go with them. The plants look happy, at least.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie on May 01, 2015, 10:21:15 PM
Last summer I had difficulty growing plants in the short summer, so this year I am starting a small aquaponics garden on top of my 10 gallon fish tank (that I got for free!!). I am so excited for the ridiculous amount of pesto I will get to consume.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 05, 2015, 02:56:35 PM
Happy to report that on Sunday, I harvested my first bit of produce from this year's garden!!!!!!

Ok, it wasn't really that exciting ... on Saturday, I picked up a few (AHEM!) plants to supplement the things that I'm growing from seed.  My plan was originally just to get tomato plants, but I got a bit carried away.  It was cheap to buy a whole mixed flat, and I'll be able to share the plants with my mom and a gardening friend.  One of the extra things I bought was some bok choi/baby bok choi plants.  They have a short growing cycle (40 days) and are already started, so I thought they'd be nice to mix up my greens a bit in the early part of the summer, while I wait for the spinach and swiss chard to grow. 

On Sunday afternoon, I went out to water the newly planted plants (and the stupid excess plants that I need to figure out a place for!) and noticed that several leaves on the bok choi plants were a bit damaged from the handling.  Rather than letting them wilt away, I decided to do a quick trim of the damaged ones (just a half dozen to a dozen leaves) and add them to my pasta dinner that night.  It wasn't a lot, but it all counts!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on May 05, 2015, 05:08:21 PM
Found one of those topsy turvy tomato planters at the thrift store for $3 today, and we have porch roof as of this week, so who was I to argue with fate? We'll see how it works.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on May 06, 2015, 06:53:09 AM
Found one of those topsy turvy tomato planters at the thrift store for $3 today, and we have porch roof as of this week, so who was I to argue with fate? We'll see how it works.

What are those?

--

See tons of weeds sprouting with all the rain we've had, but everything seems happy. Will have to see if the weather warms up enough to get my squash planted. Right now the soil is likely way too cool and wet.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on May 06, 2015, 09:37:39 AM
Found one of those topsy turvy tomato planters at the thrift store for $3 today, and we have porch roof as of this week, so who was I to argue with fate? We'll see how it works.

What are those?



http://www.amazon.com/Topsy-Upside-Down-Tomato-Planter-3-Pack/dp/B00C0E0YUU (http://www.amazon.com/Topsy-Upside-Down-Tomato-Planter-3-Pack/dp/B00C0E0YUU)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on May 06, 2015, 09:42:27 AM
Found one of those topsy turvy tomato planters at the thrift store for $3 today, and we have porch roof as of this week, so who was I to argue with fate? We'll see how it works.

What are those?
I think Rural has one of these:
(http://www.infobarrel.com/media/image/45982_max.jpg)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 14, 2015, 12:41:24 PM
You can make planters like that by drilling a hole in the bottom of a five gallon bucket, too.

We're almost home from two weeks in Peru.  This weekend the rest of the garden goes in.  Hoping I can find sweet potato slips.

As far as tomatoes, I'm a big fan of black krim.  They do tend to crack radially, but they're tasty and fairly productive.  I've had some terrible results with other blacks and purples.  Black from Tula is another good one, though not as common.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Miamoo on May 14, 2015, 02:16:22 PM
So glad with this weird weather that I didn't plant the tomato seedlings last weekend.  Maybe this weekend?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on May 14, 2015, 04:35:36 PM
For those of us who are newbies/never grown anything people, I have kept alive a pot of basil over the winter!

I am now putting it out in the sunshine everyday and its growing like gangbusters! I keep harvesting it once a week when we have spaghetti for dinner. I bought the pot at an end-of-the-season sale at Home Depot's garden centre.

This is a nice way to start, while we newbies drool over everyone else's garden pictures :-)) Its nice to have a little success rather than an epic fail.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 10dollarsatatime on May 15, 2015, 01:32:10 AM
Last year I tilled under lawn to make my garden plot.  This year, I've decided to get all the rocks out of it.  This is terrible Utah soil... I think I'm going to have enough gravel by the time I'm done sifting to re-gravel my driveway.  But the thought of not having to sort the potatoes from the rocks is keeping me going.  I'm hoping to have it done and plants in the ground by next weekend. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on May 15, 2015, 09:20:27 AM
For those of us who are newbies/never grown anything people, I have kept alive a pot of basil over the winter!

I am now putting it out in the sunshine everyday and its growing like gangbusters! I keep harvesting it once a week when we have spaghetti for dinner. I bought the pot at an end-of-the-season sale at Home Depot's garden centre.

This is a nice way to start, while we newbies drool over everyone else's garden pictures :-)) Its nice to have a little success rather than an epic fail.
Nice job!  I'm also going slow.  I've tried planting a few things, and I failed.  However, I'm improving.  My tomato plants are doing well, and I hope to have a few zucchini in a few weeks. 

I have a rosemary plant, but I haven't done any other herbs.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on May 15, 2015, 11:06:19 PM
I have a bit of a problem. We have had a lot of rain recently, and a few of my pots got over-watered from it. As in, there is still a pool of water sitting on top of the dirt around my lavender, and the dirt in the pot is fairly liquid mud. I don't think the pots are draining - the ones that are waterlogged are all the same kind of pot. The lavender is droopy and half-dead looking now, and the other (peppers and eggplant) are not that bad, but don't look great.

What do I do? Transplant to another pot? Take 'em out, drill additional drainage holes in the current pots, let it drain for a bit, then put them back? I only have one of each kind of plant, so it would really suck to lose them. I'm afraid to take the lavender out because it's still pretty small and seems delicate...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 16, 2015, 01:35:56 AM
I have a bit of a problem. We have had a lot of rain recently, and a few of my pots got over-watered from it. As in, there is still a pool of water sitting on top of the dirt around my lavender, and the dirt in the pot is fairly liquid mud. I don't think the pots are draining - the ones that are waterlogged are all the same kind of pot. The lavender is droopy and half-dead looking now, and the other (peppers and eggplant) are not that bad, but don't look great.

What do I do? Transplant to another pot? Take 'em out, drill additional drainage holes in the current pots, let it drain for a bit, then put them back? I only have one of each kind of plant, so it would really suck to lose them. I'm afraid to take the lavender out because it's still pretty small and seems delicate...

You're probably right that the pots don't have drainage, and that none of the plants are going to benefit from continuing to sit in a pool of water.  But you don't necessarily need to take the plants out in order to drain the pots (I know, because I had the same problem last year - pots that appeared to have drainage but didn't)  Depends on the type of pot, I guess, but if you would drill them without the plants in, then you can probably drill them with the plants still in.  Mine were plastic, and all I did was use a hammer and nail to put several small holes through the sides, down near the bottom.  You could do the same with a drilled hole.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on May 16, 2015, 02:08:09 AM
WOW I'm dumb! It never occurred to me to put holes in the sides instead of the bottom. Duh.

Will do that later today, then.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 16, 2015, 08:31:50 AM
(I read it online somewhere too ...)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 16, 2015, 11:10:09 PM
Have a few more plants, and not quite enough pots left for them.  My new basement apartment tenants put out a Styrofoam cooler for recycling.  After clarifying that they were really intending to get rid of it, I nabbed it, and will plant something in it :-)

Tonight I made an amazing dinner (if I do say so myself!) of potato and onion (from the store), bok choi (a leaf or two from each plant) and radish greens (from thinning out my radishes) all sautéed in a pan with lots of olive oil, a liberal sprinkling of basil/garlic sea salt, and a bit of grated parmesan cheese.  Oh my.  So yummy.  I don't normally cook with much oil or salt, but this was perfect, and I was HUNGRY!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: NearlyThere on May 17, 2015, 04:30:44 AM
Just found this thread. Amazing work guys

I got a plot at our local allotment last December. 7 years waiting. Horrible soil conditions, but we've worked it a fair bit and while it'll be a few years before we get things up to full speed, our fruit and veg is starting to take shape.

Fruits
Strawberries, Raspberries, Red Currants & Blackcurrants

Veg
Cabbage, Radish, Carrots, Onions & Garlic

We're trying to do this in the most mustachian way possible, so our free from the internet shed is still piled up ready to be repaired. All our timber bar the shed base has been reclaimed from skips and we'll probably put 100 man hours getting the site to this level. Thats 100 hours I've not spent sitting at a laptop, so I'm very happy with this investment in myself alone.

I'm getting a quare tan as well in the good weather we've been having.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Lyngi on May 17, 2015, 05:18:34 PM
planted potatoes in bags, french fingerling (pinkish), a purple fingerling: Papa Cacho, and La Ratte, a fingerling that looks like -a white rat.  My eyes are bigger than my space, and so I have potatoes left over.   DH's herb starts are transplanted(parsley, dill, basil, and something else).  My strawberries haven't died.  My raspberries haven't died.   This all may change as we are going on vacation-in July, for a week!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on May 17, 2015, 11:54:24 PM
From my success above (keeping a pot of basil alive and harvestable over winter) I bought some more starter plants this weekend at a local sale:

2 cherry tomato
1 rosemary
1 pepper
1 parsley

I'm recovering from a neck/shoulder injury so I think this might not be the year to expand my garden beyond my little 3 foot by 6 foot raised bed that came with the house. I added a few bags of mushroom manure and will pop these plants in there tomorrow. I have a few seeds that I bought earlier in the year, so I may dig those in as well. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 18, 2015, 11:10:13 AM
TIL what Hugelkultur is. Awesome!
Overwintered garlic is doing great. Strawberry transplants all have flowers and raspberries are growing strong. We planted out our tomatoes, which seem to be doing well. I'm a bit concerned about the brassicas this year as we already have some flea beetle action. Onions are still alive and peas are up. Nothing doing with carrots and lettuce yet. Next weekend I'll plant the cucumbers. Fun!

MIL asked for us to plant beans for her but everything is already planted. Hoping to sneak them in after garlic is done. Otherwise awkwardness will ensue.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on May 19, 2015, 12:07:59 PM
Question: I planted lettuce seeds and cucumber seeds in my tiny garden yesterday (amended with mushroom manure). Am I correct in assuming that I should keep the soil damp until the little sprouts start to appear in 5-7 days? Thanks so much!

And @Jon_Snow, your lettuce and peas look fantastic!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on May 19, 2015, 01:19:52 PM
Wow Jon Snow, you are having great luck with lettuce!  (Mental note to thin lettuce better this year)

Put the starter tray of tomatoes and peppers outside to get some sunshine.  Forgot them outside overnight.  It got down to 40F and my "teenage" plants were not happy about this.  So they sulked and drooped in the tray.  Fortunately, a little water and inside house heat brightened them up.   
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 20, 2015, 03:05:08 PM
Reporting in to say that it was very cold yesterday afternoon, and even colder into the evening/overnight.  Woke up to a couple of very unhappy looking eggplant plants.  Nicer out today, so am hoping that the drink of water I gave them this morning, and a little sunshine through the day, will have perked them up again. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 21, 2015, 07:08:44 PM
Nicely done, allsummerlong! I also waited three years for my plot, and it was so worth the wait!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on May 21, 2015, 07:58:41 PM
Cherokee purple and cherry tomatoes have started setting fruit, Mortgage Lifter will be a little longer (went out a week later). We'll have ripe peppers in another week, week and a half.


Needless to say, my spinach has bolted. Spinach mustard is coming in nicely, though, and I'll harvest the first radishes tomorrow.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CommonCents on May 22, 2015, 08:24:50 AM
Gardeners, any tips for dealing with critters?  My husband planted some phlox on Sunday and yesterday discovered they were eaten.  (Online research suggested perhaps a bunny, but we did have a groundhog around last year - that we thought had been killed by a car).  He's pretty unhappy about it so I'm fearful it'll set back his gardening enthusiasm for the edibles.

Also - tried to seed a very large bare patch and it doesn't seem to have worked.  Been 12-13 days, so I think it just may need more time.  I can't imagine the birds eating all of it though.  Again, any tips?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: totoro on May 22, 2015, 08:30:50 AM
I'm not sure about the critters but the seeds might not have had enough water to germinate?  Also seeds usually need to be pressed into the soil or they may blow away. 

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CommonCents on May 22, 2015, 09:10:24 AM
I'm not sure about the critters but the seeds might not have had enough water to germinate?  Also seeds usually need to be pressed into the soil or they may blow away.

It's been a drought, so DH's been out there watering the patches. 

He did mix them with a top soil he put down with the seeds, although maybe he should have put more down.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: totoro on May 22, 2015, 09:17:33 AM
Maybe a problem with the seed - or maybe birds?  https://www.humeseeds.com/nogrow.htm   

Frustrating - slugs got our basil and spinach.  Still some things are doing pretty well which is encouraging.  I just hope the deer don't find the garden before we get the fence up!



Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on May 23, 2015, 03:39:05 PM
Could someone please tell the weather gods that 1oC is not a good night-time temperature for May 22?  My tomatoes want to go out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on May 23, 2015, 04:38:20 PM
That is why you are moving west, right? ;)

My tomatoes are lovin' life right now. Peppers? Not quite as happy. They are an experiment, didn't have big expectations there...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on May 24, 2015, 04:27:38 PM
Well, our high was 28C today.  We may be safe, the lows look like 10 or higher from here on out.  People near me had a low of -4 the other day.  My early tomatoes are outgrowing their milk cartons.  I should take pictures.

Moving west -> -23C days in winter, day after day, are no longer fun.  The longer growing season is an added inducement.

That is why you are moving west, right? ;)

My tomatoes are lovin' life right now. Peppers? Not quite as happy. They are an experiment, didn't have big expectations there...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 24, 2015, 06:55:44 PM
I might have lost one of the two cucumber plants I have in one big pot, due to frost the other night.  I don't know how one plant could be affected, while the other less than a foot away is fine, but they were both fine before the cold night, and now one of them is not.  Maybe it will still bounce back.  I have some other cukes I planted from seed in other pots, but these are the two (English cukes) that I bought as starts because my cucumbers didn't do all that well last year.  Thought it'd be worth trying a different type. 

Oh well.  Lots of other stuff is still growing fine.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 24, 2015, 07:33:14 PM
SUCH an awesome day in the garden. Pulled bolting arugula, transplanted corn starts. Got in sweet meat starts and summer squash starts. Got 5 huckleberries planted, did a ton of weeding, and mowed down a veritable field of sunchokes for chicken feed ("tree hay"). Transplanted a few currant bushes, mulched a bunch, harvested potatoes and green onions and masses of lettuce. All of dinner except the protein is homegrown and life is good. I feel SO GREAT anytime I'm able to spend a full day out there.

Does anyone grow poppies for poppy seed? What varieties are good for food poppies?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on May 24, 2015, 07:53:47 PM
I have teeny tiny lettuce and cucumber sprouts! Hurray! It's working!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on May 24, 2015, 10:49:30 PM
Well, I drilled the holes in the pots that weren't draining, and it was crazy how much water came out. The pots were like little fountains for a few minutes, and my patio got soaked. The peppers and eggplant are looking better, but I think it was too late for the lavender. :(

Everything else is doing pretty well! I have little tiny tomatoes (and I do mean tiny - they're a super-miniature variety that gets to about 1/4"), a ton of lettuce that we've already started eating, and the cucumbers, peppers, and eggplant are all flowering. I need to remember to take a pic.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 25, 2015, 12:25:23 AM
I have teeny tiny lettuce and cucumber sprouts! Hurray! It's working!

Hurray indeed!  My most recent triumph, as observed by peering closely at the soil in each pot?  As I was pulling last year's stuff out of the planters this spring, I realized a lot of dried up flowerheads were still on a rogue marigold that grew about 3 feet tall.  They survived a Toronto winter without falling off the old dried up plant.  So, I planted some of the seeds.  Looks to be a pretty low viability ratio, but there are a few little sprouts coming up!  And, after a longer than expected wait, I think I have parsley growing too.  And oregano.  Yay!

SUCH an awesome day in the garden. Pulled bolting arugula, transplanted corn starts. Got in sweet meat starts and summer squash starts. Got 5 huckleberries planted, did a ton of weeding, and mowed down a veritable field of sunchokes for chicken feed ("tree hay"). Transplanted a few currant bushes, mulched a bunch, harvested potatoes and green onions and masses of lettuce. All of dinner except the protein is homegrown and life is good. I feel SO GREAT anytime I'm able to spend a full day out there.

Ok.  I'm tired just reading about what you got accomplished.  That's definitely more than 1 day of work in the garden for me!

Well, I drilled the holes in the pots that weren't draining, and it was crazy how much water came out. The pots were like little fountains for a few minutes, and my patio got soaked. The peppers and eggplant are looking better, but I think it was too late for the lavender. :(

Everything else is doing pretty well! I have little tiny tomatoes (and I do mean tiny - they're a super-miniature variety that gets to about 1/4"), a ton of lettuce that we've already started eating, and the cucumbers, peppers, and eggplant are all flowering. I need to remember to take a pic.

Great to hear that some of the waterlogged plants pulled through.  And I'll ask you, as well as any other pepper growers reading along, whether you pinch back your peppers/pull off the early flowers or fruits?  A gardening book I got out of the library suggested it, to encourage more fruiting.  But they aren't clear on whether it's the flowers I'm supposed to take off, or wait until they form fruit, or should I even do this at all.  I've never been very successful with peppers (a few smallish ones per plant at best) but am willing to give it a try.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on May 25, 2015, 10:04:46 AM
Planted my little garden yesterday. :) Peas, beans, green onions, lettuce, spinach, carrots.

The plants in the greenhouse are doing awesome too. Butternut squash, watermelon, thai basil, habanero peppers, parsley, two types of tomatoes, zucchini, rosemary. The cucumber seeds must have been to old and the chili peppers didn't come up at all either. I might go pick some up at the nursery. This is the second time I've tried growing lavender, but I must be doing something wrong.

My peppermint plant survived the winter and is just popping up now, and the chives are already growing like mad! I don't think the oregano made it. And the raspberry plant I planted last year is growing like mad too. The rhubarb (which I thought I might have killed even though I know that's nearly impossible) has EXPLODED!

I checked the compost a month ago and was thrilled to find useable compost at the bottom. Spread it out over the garden after I planted everything. Excited to see what happens.

I also signed up for a free permaculture course on Thursday evening. I've been fixing up my yard the last few years a bit at a time, but I'm not sure what to do with the rest of it. I want to create something that is low maintenance and high productivity. I don't mind the 'maintenance' of planting and harvesting and light weeding. To me, that's relaxing and enjoyable. What I don't want to do is constant mowing of the lawn and fighting the losing battle with dandelions. Saying 'the losing battle with dandelions' is a HUGE understatement. They have completely taken over my lawn to the point that it's hard to see any lawn left. Hopefully I can get some good ideas.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on May 25, 2015, 10:20:35 AM
I've never seen this suggested, but then I live in a fairly short growing season - if I did that I would never get any peppers.  It may be advice from a different climate?  What geographic area is the book looking at?

In general, for any plants, taking the first few flowers off may allow them to get more growth so that the rest of the fruit has a better plant growing it.  Same idea as not picking your asparagus the first few years, to get a big healthy root.  But we all have to look at our own growing conditions to see if advice suits our circumstances.

Also in general, I find books about different regions only useful in term of general ideas, often the actual growing suggestions would be disastrous here.  British gardening books, I am looking at you.

And I'll ask you, as well as any other pepper growers reading along, whether you pinch back your peppers/pull off the early flowers or fruits?  A gardening book I got out of the library suggested it, to encourage more fruiting.  But they aren't clear on whether it's the flowers I'm supposed to take off, or wait until they form fruit, or should I even do this at all.  I've never been very successful with peppers (a few smallish ones per plant at best) but am willing to give it a try.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on May 25, 2015, 10:35:15 AM
Going to "earth up" my potatoes today. Another garden first for me - this really has been an exciting journey so far. And since my expectations were fairly muted going in I am pretty ecstatic that I am already eating food I HAVE GROWN. Hard to explain how satisfying this is to me. And it's just my first year. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on May 25, 2015, 11:11:01 AM
What I don't want to do is constant mowing of the lawn and fighting the losing battle with dandelions. Saying 'the losing battle with dandelions' is a HUGE understatement. They have completely taken over my lawn to the point that it's hard to see any lawn left. Hopefully I can get some good ideas.


For ideas, I recommend eating dandelion greens in early spring and battering and frying the blossoms later in the year. Also, if you don't mind digging, you can eat the crowns at the end of winter and grind the roots for dandelion "coffee" pretty much year round. The "coffee" is an acquired taste, though - I never have acquired it! The rest is just plain good, though. Wish I had more dandelions. :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on May 25, 2015, 11:16:02 AM
What I don't want to do is constant mowing of the lawn and fighting the losing battle with dandelions. Saying 'the losing battle with dandelions' is a HUGE understatement. They have completely taken over my lawn to the point that it's hard to see any lawn left. Hopefully I can get some good ideas.


For ideas, I recommend eating dandelion greens in early spring and battering and frying the blossoms later in the year. Also, if you don't mind digging, you can eat the crowns at the end of winter and grind the roots for dandelion "coffee" pretty much year round. The "coffee" is an acquired taste, though - I never have acquired it! The rest is just plain good, though. Wish I had more dandelions. :-)

I'll try that out. If I like them I'd have enough for breakfast all summer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on May 25, 2015, 03:02:56 PM
I've never heard of pinching off peppers, but I'm really new at this, so that probably doesn't mean anything.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on May 25, 2015, 03:09:09 PM
I am pretty ecstatic that I am already eating food I HAVE GROWN. Hard to explain how satisfying this is to me. And it's just my first year. :)

@jon_snow, I know exactly how you feel! Last year was my first year of planting seeds, and I couldn't believe we actually ate lettuce I grew! Nothing else worked out. This week, I saw the sprouts come up for lettuce and cucumbers and I took a ton of pictures. I still can't believe it! (p.s. I'm a fellow PNW gardener)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 25, 2015, 03:55:42 PM
I have teeny tiny lettuce and cucumber sprouts! Hurray! It's working!

Hurray indeed!  My most recent triumph, as observed by peering closely at the soil in each pot?  As I was pulling last year's stuff out of the planters this spring, I realized a lot of dried up flowerheads were still on a rogue marigold that grew about 3 feet tall.  They survived a Toronto winter without falling off the old dried up plant.  So, I planted some of the seeds.  Looks to be a pretty low viability ratio, but there are a few little sprouts coming up!  And, after a longer than expected wait, I think I have parsley growing too.  And oregano.  Yay!

You might be surprised.  Last week I transplanted some volunteer marigold seedlings from pots I had marigolds in last fall.  It's been warmer this week, and there are now zillions of brand new seedlings in the pots; they seem to require warm conditions to germinate.  But yeah, they produce tons of seeds, so if only 10% of them germinate, who cares.

I've been on a gardening bender this weekend.  The main event yesterday was digging into my giant "slow burn" compost pile and sieving out the decomposed stuff, then putting the rest of it back into a taller, more compact pile.  I got 8 wheelbarrow loads out, and the *remaining* pile is about 4'x4'x8'.  I'm going to dump an old bottle of fish emulsion on it and hope to have more black gold by fall.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 25, 2015, 04:46:30 PM
Going to "earth up" my potatoes today. Another garden first for me - this really has been an exciting journey so far. And since my expectations were fairly muted going in I am pretty ecstatic that I am already eating food I HAVE GROWN. Hard to explain how satisfying this is to me. And it's just my first year. :)
The most satisfying meals go seed to plate all under your own hand. It's really the best. Congrats!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on May 25, 2015, 05:11:13 PM
Going to "earth up" my potatoes today. Another garden first for me - this really has been an exciting journey so far. And since my expectations were fairly muted going in I am pretty ecstatic that I am already eating food I HAVE GROWN. Hard to explain how satisfying this is to me. And it's just my first year. :)
The most satisfying meals go seed to plate all under your own hand. It's really the best. Congrats!!

Thanks Erica...that means a lot coming from you. I go to your blog sometimes and realize there is SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN. But I'm game and I will get there eventually. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: smalllife on May 25, 2015, 05:45:15 PM
My garlic and onions are plugging along, but I have the first blooms in my wildflower garden piking their heads out this weekend! I did over half my front yard with one of those seed mixes last fall.  Planting paw paws this fall and greens next spring (trying not to bite off more than I can chew, so thank you guys for letting me live through you!)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 25, 2015, 08:10:49 PM
Going to "earth up" my potatoes today. Another garden first for me - this really has been an exciting journey so far. And since my expectations were fairly muted going in I am pretty ecstatic that I am already eating food I HAVE GROWN. Hard to explain how satisfying this is to me. And it's just my first year. :)
The most satisfying meals go seed to plate all under your own hand. It's really the best. Congrats!!

Thanks Erica...that means a lot coming from you. I go to your blog sometimes and realize there is SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN. But I'm game and I will get there eventually. :)
Uh...you know I think you are a total badass and stalked the fishing thread with complete awe, right? :) For me, gardening is meditation with good food as it's outcome. There is always more to discover, both in the soil and in ourselves. Woah. I didn't mean to get all deep and shit like that. I just really like growing food.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tris Prior on May 25, 2015, 08:33:28 PM
My community garden's coming along nicely! Tomatoes and peppers are in... of course, even though it's in the 80s now we're apparently going back to that "cooler near the lake" nonsense next weekend. (in which it's 70-80 all throughout Chicagoland except for us poor bastards along Lake Michigan who will be enduring the 50s. :( ) But, the tomatoes I put in first did survive the cool weather... so as long as we don't get frost (! Late May, ffs, let's hope that's over with!) I'm hoping they'll be OK.

Harvesting obscene amounts of lettuce and chard already and we're eating huge salads daily. Pulled some volunteer green onions as they had decided to grow in the squares I needed for tomatoes, so those are chilling out in a jar of water on my windowsill until I figure out what I'm doing with them. Fried rice, maybe? My strawberry plants both survived the winter and are making strawberries, and the oregano, mint, and thyme are all growing like mad.

Most exciting - I bought a patio eggplant and although it's barely been outside (with limited outdoor space, I've been focused on hardening off the plants that needed to go in the garden bed before they busted out of their pots), it is already making three eggplants! I have not grown eggplant before so did not know what to expect. This is very exciting.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Knapptyme on May 25, 2015, 09:57:16 PM
While there are multiple growing seasons to enjoy here, this one has been the best. My three year-old son comes out to the garden with me everyday to pick fresh cherry tomatoes, the ever so slightly blue blueberries, anything remotely red strawberries and green beans, and then proceeds to eat them fresh. He loves it, and then we bring the bigger tomatoes and peppers inside to mommy.

Plus, if he starts liking it enough, I might have an extra useful hand (he "helps water" currently) in the garden for the future like in the good ol' farming days.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 26, 2015, 04:43:30 AM
Spent two beautiful days in the garden this weekend. Thinned the brassicas: rutabagas, collards, kale, di ciccio broccoli.  Transplanted the waltham broccoli and made room for the later season Brussels sprouts that are growing in the apartment. We did almost everything from seed this year, which has been really rewarding. Bought one tomato plant for my husband as a just in case plant. I weeded a ton and decided to mulch with heat treated straw/hay to retain water and help suppress the weeds. It's been so dry and hot. I do love weeding. Like Erica mentioned, I find it meditative. It's a time when I really can shut off my brain and just be outside. Pretty wonderful.

We have a bunch of strawberries forming. Is anyone netting their strawberry plants to keep birds away? I haven't made up my mind yet.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on May 26, 2015, 07:00:14 AM
Strawberries:  yes, I use a net, but I'm not sure how effective it is.  Nothing deters catbirds in my experience.  I have used the dangling CD's on bamboo, bird scare tape, big yellow balloon thing with eye on it.  Chipmunks are a problem here, too.

I love hearing how everyone is enjoying growing food!  Our asparagus is still going, but I will need to stop harvesting next week and let the giant ferns come.  Today is "warm plant" day-- all the tomatoes, eggplants, peppers are going out in the world, which may still be too cool for them.  I get tired of babysitting them after May.  We've had lovely radishes and little white turnips you treat a radishes, lettuces coming in,  masses of "microgreen cilantro" from the selfseeded areas of the gardens.  Nice green onions from those onion starts at the feedstore, planted every 10days through the season.  Green garlic galore.  Rhubarb.

Happy gardening week to all!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 26, 2015, 02:06:41 PM
Well, I had a gardening dilemma.  Yesterday was my day off and I was determined to get the last few starts planted.  Zucchini.  4 of them (two green, two yellow)

When I had brought the plants home, I ended up realizing that the pots I had were really not big enough for zucchini.  And anyway, that I didn't have enough pots for what I bought, or space on the balcony for them.  I don't own, I rent, and the backyard is quite weedy.  No suitable garden beds.  And we have a pretty active rabbit population in the area.  And I have definitely spent all I can for this year on the garden.  I surveyed my house for any "unconventional" planters, but no luck. 

So, I planted them in big cardboard boxes (an idea I read online somewhere).  The idea is that the cardboard forms a weed barrier, but also decomposes slowly into the ground.  I used some old dry leaves from last year to take up some extra space in the boxes, otherwise would have been putting a ton of soil in.  Theoretically, they will also eventually decompose too.  I'm hoping that having them a little bit raised off the ground will slow down the rabbits a bit (plus, it's pretty close to the house and my door, and I will encourage my dogs to pee a fair amount in that particular part of the yard.)

If it doesn't work ... shrug 

I wasn't realistically going to get them planted any other way, and they'd been sitting around jammed in that little pot for long enough.  But if it works at all, then so much the better.  And I'll have all year to look around for cheap or free materials to turn the area into a little raised bed next summer, assuming that I'll still be here.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on May 26, 2015, 03:32:25 PM
I am late to this thread but not to the gardening.

After having to deal with severe hail (again) last year, I invested in a smallish (10' x 10') greenhouse.  I considered building it myself but after running the numbers it was cheaper to buy it than to purchase the materials to build it.

Inside the greenhouse I set up a self watering system consisting of sections of scrap gutter in frames with 5 gallon food grade buckets.  I was able to fit 27 buckets into the space.  In those buckets are 22 tomatoes and 10 peppers (2 per bucket).

In our raised beds I have two varieties of peas, radish, spinach, turnip (for greens), pak choi, leeks, kohlrabi, endive, green onions (propagated from the root ends of store bought), and Chinese chives. 

Everything is doing great except the leeks, kohlrabi, and endive.  the leeks did not sprout at all, the seeds may be too old.  The kohlrabi and endive are growing but slowly. 

In addition we have extra tomatoes, peppers, winter squash, mint, basil, and cilantro in outside pots.

Most of this went in about 4 weeks ago just in time for an extended period of unseasonably cold and very wet weather.  The peas, radish, and turnips loved it.  The others not so much.  The micro climate inside the greenhouse was good and the tomatoes in particular, thrived.

We have been eating greens and radishes for the last two weeks or so.  It is so good to have fresh greens from the garden!

For lunch today I had pumpkin soup from last year's crop with fresh greens, meat from (free) salmon trimmings, and Korean rice cakes (duk) with cucumber kimchee on the side.  It was so good!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: asauer on May 27, 2015, 01:21:18 PM
So happy that my garden is finally producing.  Spinach just finished- had a whole bunch of it- kids will be glad that's done- haha.  Broccoli is about done though we didn't have nearly as good luck with that- it got hot too quickly so only produced 3 heads.  We are getting herbs now and the black berries and blueberries are ripening.  Hopefully, we'll get some before the birds steal it all!  Upcoming in the next couple of weeks for harvest:
1. onions
2. carrots

Next month:
1. tomatoes
2. blackeyed peas (hopefully)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on May 27, 2015, 03:35:05 PM
Eek, I just got my little plants in the ground ahead of the big storm I could see coming and what do you know, it hailed!!~  Grrrr....  Now that it's passing by, I'm afraid to go out and look...  On the other hand, at least the seedlings had not sprouted yet.  I think I'm going to have to do some hoop protection because we've been having a very rainy time lately.  Very unusual weather for Salt Lake at this time of year.  In general I love rain, so not complaining about that at all.

I was so excited to moved into our new home and get started on the garden season since I'm so late.  Today I went to the nursery to pick out some tomatoes, peppers, tomatillo, and eggplants, happy they would get some rain.  Okay, got more than I bargained for.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 27, 2015, 06:46:29 PM
Posted a tour of my garden on the blog today. Hope it's ok to share here and show what I've been working on out there. :) If you are interested, many pictures here: http://www.nwedible.com/photo-tour-may-2015/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 27, 2015, 06:49:22 PM
So, I planted them in big cardboard boxes (an idea I read online somewhere).

I think this is a great idea. Way to think outside inside the box. Just don't try to move those boxes in 3 weeks! I once planted potatoes in burlap sacks, then decided later they should be somewhere else and the whole bottom fell out of the bag. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 27, 2015, 08:59:05 PM
Posted a tour of my garden on the blog today. Hope it's ok to share here and show what I've been working on out there. :) If you are interested, many pictures here: http://www.nwedible.com/photo-tour-may-2015/

Holy crap, that is an awesome garden!  How much space do you have?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 27, 2015, 09:05:45 PM
Posted a tour of my garden on the blog today. Hope it's ok to share here and show what I've been working on out there. :) If you are interested, many pictures here: http://www.nwedible.com/photo-tour-may-2015/

Holy crap, that is an awesome garden!  How much space do you have?
Thanks! It's my therapy :). We have 1/3 acre including house, shed, driveway etc etc.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 10dollarsatatime on May 27, 2015, 09:47:40 PM
Eek, I just got my little plants in the ground ahead of the big storm I could see coming and what do you know, it hailed!!~  Grrrr....  Now that it's passing by, I'm afraid to go out and look...  On the other hand, at least the seedlings had not sprouted yet.  I think I'm going to have to do some hoop protection because we've been having a very rainy time lately.  Very unusual weather for Salt Lake at this time of year.  In general I love rain, so not complaining about that at all.

I was so excited to moved into our new home and get started on the garden season since I'm so late.  Today I went to the nursery to pick out some tomatoes, peppers, tomatillo, and eggplants, happy they would get some rain.  Okay, got more than I bargained for.

I'm in the same area, but haven't planted yet.  I'm hoping to do so this weekend once I finish screening all the rocks out of the garden.  (which still puts me a month ahead of where I was last year.)  One of my brothers asked why I didn't just bring in a load of topsoil... my answer was that I have a problem paying for dirt...

After this weekend, supposedly we won't get another bit of rain for a month.  Plenty of nice weather to garden in, I suppose.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on May 28, 2015, 12:52:42 AM
Posted a tour of my garden on the blog today. Hope it's ok to share here and show what I've been working on out there. :) If you are interested, many pictures here: http://www.nwedible.com/photo-tour-may-2015/

Loved your garden tour Erica. How ever did you have ALL of it weed free at the same time? ;)

I'm behind this year, and getting garden envy  of all you northern hemisphere folks with spring gardens:  its late autumn here and not much is happening. The peas I sowed ( snap and snow) have at last germinated and are at least 3-4cm and not yet eaten. Finger's crossed.  I just have to make up the onion and garlic bed this  weekend…. garlic is starting to sprout, I'm late. Otherwise there will no garlic next season.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on May 28, 2015, 07:27:37 AM
Eek, I just got my little plants in the ground ahead of the big storm I could see coming and what do you know, it hailed!!~  Grrrr....  Now that it's passing by, I'm afraid to go out and look...  On the other hand, at least the seedlings had not sprouted yet.  I think I'm going to have to do some hoop protection because we've been having a very rainy time lately.  Very unusual weather for Salt Lake at this time of year.  In general I love rain, so not complaining about that at all.

I was so excited to moved into our new home and get started on the garden season since I'm so late.  Today I went to the nursery to pick out some tomatoes, peppers, tomatillo, and eggplants, happy they would get some rain.  Okay, got more than I bargained for.

I'm in the same area, but haven't planted yet.  I'm hoping to do so this weekend once I finish screening all the rocks out of the garden.  (which still puts me a month ahead of where I was last year.)  One of my brothers asked why I didn't just bring in a load of topsoil... my answer was that I have a problem paying for dirt...

After this weekend, supposedly we won't get another bit of rain for a month.  Plenty of nice weather to garden in, I suppose.

Yes!  I saw the weather forecast for hot and dry for several days.  What a turnaround but I guess it was bound to happen here in Utah.  Just not sure my cool weather plantings will be happy.  I checked the plants after the storm yesterday and all was well.  I think they are well protected by the side of the house and the fence.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 28, 2015, 07:34:20 AM
Loved your garden tour Erica. How ever did you have ALL of it weed free at the same time? ;)

I'm behind this year, and getting garden envy  of all you northern hemisphere folks with spring gardens:  its late autumn here and not much is happening. The peas I sowed ( snap and snow) have at last germinated and are at least 3-4cm and not yet eaten. Finger's crossed.  I just have to make up the onion and garlic bed this  weekend…. garlic is starting to sprout, I'm late. Otherwise there will no garlic next season.
I just didn't put up photos of the ugly parts. :) Re hemisphere envy: I feel that way in about January when all my Aussie and Kiwi friends are posting photos of massive harvests and I'm like, "oh look - I have mud." :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on May 28, 2015, 07:36:51 AM
Erica, your garden is amazing and I'm so impressed.  I notice you have ducks.  Do you actually kill your chickens/ducks for food?  Just wondering as that is one thing I couldn't bring myself to do in living off the land.  I'd end up being a vegetarian!!~
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cezil on May 28, 2015, 07:44:02 AM
I can finally participate!  Our community garden opened on Memorial Day weekend so on Monday, we fenced our plot and plated some tomatoes, patty pans, watermelon, cantaloupe, mystery melon, and kale.  We're going back today to plant store-bought brussels sprouts because our seedlings failed (and the cat possibly ate some), and weed it because this week has been full of water and heat.

In June, we're closing and moving into our first house.  We will promptly fire the lawn care service and dig up a new garden (or put in raised beds, we're not sure yet), and get the asparagus going alongside the garage (or wherever we agree to put the patch - we love asparagus).  I'm so excited!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 28, 2015, 07:52:56 AM
Erica, your garden is amazing and I'm so impressed.  I notice you have ducks.  Do you actually kill your chickens/ducks for food?  Just wondering as that is one thing I couldn't bring myself to do in living off the land.  I'd end up being a vegetarian!!~
Thanks! Yes, the chickens and ducks are awesome. Re: birds: I don't raise birds for meat specifically, but I am emotionally able to cull. Beyond that, I don't talk publicly about it. I've gotten death threats from radical vegans for talking about beef slaughter, and I just don't need any more of that in my life. If you want specifics or whatever, feel free to email me offline. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 28, 2015, 08:23:12 AM
Erica, your garden is amazing!! Well done. It confirms my feeling that I'm wasting a lot of space in mine. Do you listen to "row spacing" on seed packets or just space between plants?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on May 28, 2015, 09:08:18 AM
Erica, your garden is amazing!! Well done. It confirms my feeling that I'm wasting a lot of space in mine. Do you listen to "row spacing" on seed packets or just space between plants?

I'm not Erica, but I ignore the row spacing because I plant in beds.  I also find that interplanting things with different shapes and rooting types makes better use of space.  For instance, I'm planting corn and squash together, okra and sweet potatoes together, and have onions and leeks spread all over the place because they're tall and skinny, so they fit easily between things like cabbage.  It can also work well to plant things like lettuce in between peppers or tomatoes when the weather warms up, because the shade will keep them from bolting as quickly.  While I don't agree with all the spacing recommendations, you might check out Square Foot Gardening for spacing ideas.  I think they're totally wrong on things like 1 SF for tomatoes, or 4 sf for squash (mine need like 4x that much), but if gives you an idea of how you can space smaller things like carrots or beets without using row spacing.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on May 28, 2015, 03:40:38 PM
I bought two cherry tomato plants that are each about a foot tall. Should I plant them in my tiny garden in the real dirt, or just let them grow in the pots they came home in from the garden centre?????
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 28, 2015, 03:43:54 PM
Erica, your garden is amazing!! Well done. It confirms my feeling that I'm wasting a lot of space in mine. Do you listen to "row spacing" on seed packets or just space between plants?

I'm not Erica, but I ignore the row spacing because I plant in beds.  I also find that interplanting things with different shapes and rooting types makes better use of space.  For instance, I'm planting corn and squash together, okra and sweet potatoes together, and have onions and leeks spread all over the place because they're tall and skinny, so they fit easily between things like cabbage.  It can also work well to plant things like lettuce in between peppers or tomatoes when the weather warms up, because the shade will keep them from bolting as quickly.  While I don't agree with all the spacing recommendations, you might check out Square Foot Gardening for spacing ideas.  I think they're totally wrong on things like 1 SF for tomatoes, or 4 sf for squash (mine need like 4x that much), but if gives you an idea of how you can space smaller things like carrots or beets without using row spacing.
I agree with all of this, including the SFG spacing recommendations being cray-cray. Intercropping, undercropping and succession planting are all important tricks in maximizing yield in a smaller space.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on May 28, 2015, 03:58:55 PM
Well, looking (and drooling) at Erica's garden gives me something to shoot for. I really need to develop the quality of my soil. These islands (along with the neighbouring San Juans I'm sure)  are notorious for the poor native soil. Sure, some things are thriving, but some things are really not happy where they are growing - of course it may have something to do with my profound newbness - but I choose to blame the native soil. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 28, 2015, 04:16:45 PM
Well, looking (and drooling) at Erica's garden gives me something to shoot for. I really need to develop the quality of my soil. These islands (along with the neighbouring San Juans I'm sure)  are notorious for the poor native soil. Sure, some things are thriving, but some things are really not happy where they are growing - of course it may have something to do with my profound newbness - but I choose to blame the native soil. :)
Jon, have you watched Back to Eden? That guy gardens in Sequim and his garden is amaze-balls. Swears by woodchip mulch - and after trying it for a few years I'm a believer, too. The show is free to watch online, just search. Very strong Christian messaging but as a non-religious person I still found it very valuable.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on May 28, 2015, 04:35:27 PM
I bought two cherry tomato plants that are each about a foot tall. Should I plant them in my tiny garden in the real dirt, or just let them grow in the pots they came home in from the garden centre?????

For tomatoes I like to use at least a 3 gallon pot.  Check around and see if you can scrounge some 5 gallon food grade buckets from a restaurant.  That is what I use.  Free is best!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on May 29, 2015, 04:44:28 AM
Erica, your garden is amazing!! Well done. It confirms my feeling that I'm wasting a lot of space in mine. Do you listen to "row spacing" on seed packets or just space between plants?

I'm not Erica, but I ignore the row spacing because I plant in beds.  I also find that interplanting things with different shapes and rooting types makes better use of space.  For instance, I'm planting corn and squash together, okra and sweet potatoes together, and have onions and leeks spread all over the place because they're tall and skinny, so they fit easily between things like cabbage.  It can also work well to plant things like lettuce in between peppers or tomatoes when the weather warms up, because the shade will keep them from bolting as quickly.  While I don't agree with all the spacing recommendations, you might check out Square Foot Gardening for spacing ideas.  I think they're totally wrong on things like 1 SF for tomatoes, or 4 sf for squash (mine need like 4x that much), but if gives you an idea of how you can space smaller things like carrots or beets without using row spacing.
I agree with all of this, including the SFG spacing recommendations being cray-cray. Intercropping, undercropping and succession planting are all important tricks in maximizing yield in a smaller space.

Thanks so much! I will look into undercropping and better intercropping for sure. Cheers!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on May 29, 2015, 05:11:11 AM

Jon, have you watched Back to Eden? That guy gardens in Sequim and his garden is amaze-balls. Swears by woodchip mulch - and after trying it for a few years I'm a believer, too.

Yes great video, I want to rush out and get heaps of wood chip every time I watch it.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on May 29, 2015, 11:01:24 AM
So, I planted them in big cardboard boxes (an idea I read online somewhere).

I think this is a great idea. Way to think outside inside the box. Just don't try to move those boxes in 3 weeks! I once planted potatoes in burlap sacks, then decided later they should be somewhere else and the whole bottom fell out of the bag. :)

Noted!  So far they seem to be doing just fine, and they are planted in really the only possible spot.  My biggest concern is that it might end up being too hot for them, as they're up against the side of the house in full southern sun.  So I'll have to be diligent about keeping them well watered. 

For the most part, everything else is also doing fine.  The only thing I'm really eating right now is bok choy type stuff, which is doing great.  But there are peppers developing on the plants, tomato plants have a few flowers, herbs are sprouting from seed, swiss chard is coming up and spinach is slowly growing, along with the lettuce.  I've got peas and cucumber vines (and the one cuke plant that got frost damaged appears to be springing back). 

Re: plant spacing, I've got all of this heavily planted in pots, multiple plants of different heights in each pot.  Along with nasturtiums and marigolds (both of which are edible flowers).  I've got just myself to feed, so I don't need huge harvests all at once, so I can thin a pot or two to give myself enough veggies for a meal, or snip off a few leaves from each plant.  I'm thinking that I've planted too much parsley, basil and oregano, so will probably dig out some of those when they get a little bit bigger, to give away.  And hopefully this year I'll do more in the way of freezing stuff for the winter.  Although that means I'm going to eat down the freezer a bit before I need to start doing any major harvesting!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 01, 2015, 02:08:43 AM
http://imgur.com/JB7Ql2O
http://imgur.com/T27oyfp

This is my first time trying to upload images so, sorry in advance if it didn't work but I had these lovely lettuce sprouts and cucumber seedlings growing in my little garden and now I have NOTHING:-(
What a disappointment for this newbie gardener.

I think I will go pick up some starter plants so I can at least enjoy "fresh from the garden" good, even if I didn't start it from seed myself.

Rabbits? Slugs? Over zealous watering by a 10 year old boy? I'm not sure what happened (sigh).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on June 01, 2015, 09:18:57 AM
I am going to be away from my garden for a week and a half. I am stressed about this. It is REALLY starting to take off now (peas are 5 feet up the trellis!), and I won't be witness to it.

I have a few relatives who are going to "check in" from time to time to check for deer incursions etc...they even offered to water if things get dry, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

There is a bit of precipitation in the forecast, so that eases my mind a bit.

On a positive note, we brought home a TON of lettuce in a cooler, and we are going to be eating gourmet salads for the next week - this will really help out with our "frugal June" project (see my Journal). :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on June 01, 2015, 09:56:29 AM
My spinach is starting to come up! :)

I went to the free permaculture course and learned a lot. It was less technical and more mother-earthy than I expected, but I still got some great ideas and resources. I'm trying to redesign my yard to make it low maintenance and high productivity. Lucky for me I find the planting, harvesting, and light weeding to be therapeutic, not work.

Right now I'm trying to plan what perennials, shrubs, and trees to plant. I'd prefer to have as many edible plants as possible. Cherry trees, possible an apple/plum/pear tree, Saskatoon bush, raspberries (already have one), strawberries, blueberries, maybe cranberries, rhubarb(already have one), probably asparagus, and lots of herbs. And of course all the annuals. I have a long list of other things I want to try to grow, but I'm working on remembering to start small with one project at a time. Right now the yard is in a small state of disaster with half finished projects and a severe dandelion outbreak.

I'm in Calgary and open to any advice or opinions about other edible perennials that grow well here, or advice in general.

One down side is that I was planning on selling my house in 2-3 years when I FIRE. If I do all the work that I plan to do it's going to be really hard to leave, especially since I might be just barely finished at that time! But I'll cross that bridge if I come to it. :p
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on June 01, 2015, 01:25:58 PM
http://imgur.com/JB7Ql2O
http://imgur.com/T27oyfp

This is my first time trying to upload images so, sorry in advance if it didn't work but I had these lovely lettuce sprouts and cucumber seedlings growing in my little garden and now I have NOTHING:-(
What a disappointment for this newbie gardener.

I think I will go pick up some starter plants so I can at least enjoy "fresh from the garden" good, even if I didn't start it from seed myself.

Rabbits? Slugs? Over zealous watering by a 10 year old boy? I'm not sure what happened (sigh).

Birds love baby greens.  Maybe bird netting to protect them until they're a little bigger.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: PJ on June 01, 2015, 09:33:39 PM
http://imgur.com/JB7Ql2O
http://imgur.com/T27oyfp

This is my first time trying to upload images so, sorry in advance if it didn't work but I had these lovely lettuce sprouts and cucumber seedlings growing in my little garden and now I have NOTHING:-(
What a disappointment for this newbie gardener.

I think I will go pick up some starter plants so I can at least enjoy "fresh from the garden" good, even if I didn't start it from seed myself.

Rabbits? Slugs? Over zealous watering by a 10 year old boy? I'm not sure what happened (sigh).

Birds love baby greens.  Maybe bird netting to protect them until they're a little bigger.

mama, I'm so sorry to hear that!!!  It's heartbreaking.  If you're like me, you marvelled and wondered over the miracle of those little shoots, and we know that you were so excited about harvesting them in the future.  You should definitely get some little starter plants, and try to replant as well ... it's not too late!  Netting or some kind of fencing in terms of keeping rabbits out, also worth a try.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on June 02, 2015, 06:35:52 PM
It is June. That is summer. Why is it forecast that we go down to 4oC tonight?  My tomato and sweet pepper plants want to be outside. Instead they are turning into clutter.
Rant over.  At least the peas and garlic are happy.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on June 02, 2015, 06:43:22 PM
It is June. That is summer. Why is it forecast that we go down to 4oC tonight?  My tomato and sweet pepper plants want to be outside. Instead they are turning into clutter.
Rant over.  At least the peas and garlic are happy.


That stinks. Maybe you should move south? We started eating our peppers this week.


On the flip side, spinach and lettuce bolted 3-4 weeks ago.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on June 03, 2015, 06:10:35 AM
My friends south of me are in the same boat. South-eastern Ontario has been cold, except when we have been hot (28oC and humid and thunderstorm hot).  But I can't plant until night-time temperatures are consistently warmer and my soil warms back up.  Next year I may make temporary greenhouses (T-bar posts, with cross posts and plastic).
There is a reason I am checking out Vancouver Island  ;-)

It is June. That is summer. Why is it forecast that we go down to 4oC tonight?  My tomato and sweet pepper plants want to be outside. Instead they are turning into clutter.
Rant over.  At least the peas and garlic are happy.


That stinks. Maybe you should move south? We started eating our peppers this week.


On the flip side, spinach and lettuce bolted 3-4 weeks ago.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on June 03, 2015, 08:14:03 AM
Having the same low night temp issue in northern WI.  Planted tomatoes and peppers yesterday because there is finally no more frost warnings in the 7-day forecast. 

Strawberries planted last year are rooting beautifully and have a nice harvest starting.  Need to finish the remaining planting today, as storms are forecasted for tomorrow. 

Rural - I am jealous of the pepper-eating comment.  :-p
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on June 03, 2015, 08:29:27 AM
Noticed my peas are coming up already! :D
Spinach and lettuce are started too.

Ate some basil from the greenhouse last night and harvested lots of chives and rhubarb.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Lyngi on June 03, 2015, 01:43:17 PM

Inside the greenhouse I set up a self watering system consisting of sections of scrap gutter in frames with 5 gallon food grade buckets.  I was able to fit 27 buckets into the space.  In those buckets are 22 tomatoes and 10 peppers (2 per bucket).
 
What are you using for your growing medium in the buckets? Bark fines?  I have tried sub irrigated planters, they did quite well, but that was a few years ago.  I will need to make up a  new mixture for buckets.  I work crazy shifts and sometimes go a week between checking on the yard.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Verdo on June 03, 2015, 02:54:47 PM
I just started this year with a garden.  Rented a 20x50 ft space for $25 for the year.  Also, built a dutch bucket system behind the garage.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on June 03, 2015, 03:44:08 PM

Inside the greenhouse I set up a self watering system consisting of sections of scrap gutter in frames with 5 gallon food grade buckets.  I was able to fit 27 buckets into the space.  In those buckets are 22 tomatoes and 10 peppers (2 per bucket).
 
What are you using for your growing medium in the buckets? Bark fines?  I have tried sub irrigated planters, they did quite well, but that was a few years ago.  I will need to make up a  new mixture for buckets.  I work crazy shifts and sometimes go a week between checking on the yard.

I used about 60% peat moss, 40% compost, 5% perlite, garden lime and slow release fertilizer.  It seems to be working very well so far.

Edit: I forgot to include the perlite originally.  Composition adds up to 105%, oh well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on June 03, 2015, 03:53:29 PM
I just started this year with a garden.  Rented a 20x50 ft space for $25 for the year.  Also, built a dutch bucket system behind the garage.

Nice!  How do you get the water up through the pipes to your grow buckets?  Is it under pressure?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Verdo on June 04, 2015, 07:39:12 AM
I just started this year with a garden.  Rented a 20x50 ft space for $25 for the year.  Also, built a dutch bucket system behind the garage.

Nice!  How do you get the water up through the pipes to your grow buckets?  Is it under pressure?

So the bucket system consists of a cooler(tank), submersible pump, and X amount of buckets filled with perlite(white rocky material).  The pump sucks the water out of the tank, sprays directly at the roots of the plants up in the buckets, and then drains through the pvc plumbing about 2 inches off the bottom of the bucket, and back into the cooler.  It is a circular system so other than the plants using the water, or evaporation, it sustains itself for a bit before you need to add water.  There isn't any dirt involved.  You can buy hydroponic fertilizer which you drop into the tank when you add water.  I'll try and find a link to show where I found it.  You can youtube MHPGARDENER, or DUTCH BUCKET and you should be able to find plenty. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on June 04, 2015, 11:48:52 AM
I just started this year with a garden.  Rented a 20x50 ft space for $25 for the year.  Also, built a dutch bucket system behind the garage.

Nice!  How do you get the water up through the pipes to your grow buckets?  Is it under pressure?

So the bucket system consists of a cooler(tank), submersible pump, and X amount of buckets filled with perlite(white rocky material).  The pump sucks the water out of the tank, sprays directly at the roots of the plants up in the buckets, and then drains through the pvc plumbing about 2 inches off the bottom of the bucket, and back into the cooler.  It is a circular system so other than the plants using the water, or evaporation, it sustains itself for a bit before you need to add water.  There isn't any dirt involved.  You can buy hydroponic fertilizer which you drop into the tank when you add water.  I'll try and find a link to show where I found it.  You can youtube MHPGARDENER, or DUTCH BUCKET and you should be able to find plenty.

Cool.  I have read about that system.  Mine is much more passive.  I just fill the gutters with water and it wicks up into the pots.

Note: Editing my post on soil ingredients because I forgot to include the perlite.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Verdo on June 04, 2015, 01:03:19 PM
I just started this year with a garden.  Rented a 20x50 ft space for $25 for the year.  Also, built a dutch bucket system behind the garage.

Nice!  How do you get the water up through the pipes to your grow buckets?  Is it under pressure?

So the bucket system consists of a cooler(tank), submersible pump, and X amount of buckets filled with perlite(white rocky material).  The pump sucks the water out of the tank, sprays directly at the roots of the plants up in the buckets, and then drains through the pvc plumbing about 2 inches off the bottom of the bucket, and back into the cooler.  It is a circular system so other than the plants using the water, or evaporation, it sustains itself for a bit before you need to add water.  There isn't any dirt involved.  You can buy hydroponic fertilizer which you drop into the tank when you add water.  I'll try and find a link to show where I found it.  You can youtube MHPGARDENER, or DUTCH BUCKET and you should be able to find plenty.

Cool.  I have read about that system.  Mine is much more passive.  I just fill the gutters with water and it wicks up into the pots.

Note: Editing my post on soil ingredients because I forgot to include the perlite.

Awesome.  I built a few of the self wicking buckets last year, and would have otherwise built the system like yours with the gutters but don't have a spot where it is level and would work out very well.  I loved coming home every day and picking off a dozen or so cherry tomatoes and they were really healthy and produced quite a bit so I was happy.  I decided the dutch buckets were organized, somewhat compact and the pump is set on a timer so all that you need to worry about is filling the tank and can leave it be.

MHPGardener - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXy32Dr4Z4A
Brandon Matthew - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygL7snAOERg

Those are what I watched to get me interested in it and also to put it together.  Highly recommend those videos.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: mc6 on June 04, 2015, 05:35:00 PM
I counted 11 blossoms on my various tomato plants!  Woohoo! 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: frugalmamma13 on June 04, 2015, 08:38:05 PM
This is an awesome thread! We have a ton of edibles growing on our tiny 1/8 acre lot.  Tangerines, limes, pineapples, rosemary, lemon grass, all kinds of basil, collard greens, swiss chard, kale, several varieties of spinach.  We just got a hydroponics bed to start growing lettuce in.  Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on June 04, 2015, 09:06:26 PM
A mini heat wave is about to hit the PNW...need to find someone to water the garden.

This long distance gardening thing isn't thrilling me. :(

Wifey is going to have to do without hubby for a bit methinks.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 07, 2015, 05:08:40 AM
Spent a wonderful day at the garden yesterday. The strawberries from my garden are the sweetest I've ever had. We've picked 2lbs so far, and I'm eating them now in my oatmeal. I'm beyond excited. I could see myself letting the stawberries and raspberries take over my entire plot some day. Perhaps with a bit of space for broccoli, tomato, and watermelon. In other exciting news, my garlic sent out their scapes. Woot!

The brassicas are coming up nicely. I've eaten the leaves of the plants I had to thin and the few that were mostly eaten by caterpillars (put my row covers on a bit too late this year). I don't mind sharing with bugs, but caterpillars are greedy! We finally planted our cucumbers. I love gardening.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 07, 2015, 07:13:42 AM
Still haven't harvested anything beyond mesclun and spinach.

Nancy - dead ripe strawberries are ambrosia. I'm going to finally let my new plants set fruit now that they're a bit more established, but can't wait for the u-pick season to start here.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on June 07, 2015, 09:32:24 AM
Does anyone have any strategies on how to keep the birds out of cherry trees.  My Rainier cherries have just started ripening and I'm afraid those damn robins and blackbirds will win the race to get the ripe ones!  So far, I've hung wind chimes on various branches plus strung some mesh along the lower half of the tree but this doesn't seem too successful.  Unfortunately the tree is quite tall and I can't keep the birds out from getting into it from the top.  Can you prune a cherry tree way back in order to more easily cover it in the future?  Any helpful hints are appreciated.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on June 07, 2015, 03:23:32 PM
I am getting snap peas like nobody's business.  We probably have 5 lbs of them in the fridge right now.  Just came in from harvesting a big bag of lettuce that was starting to bolt, some gorgeous Lacinato kale, more snap peas, one Chioggia beet that had decided to bolt, a few green onions and a couple handfuls of new potatoes. 

It's killing me that I have unplanted real estate in the garden right now, but I have two consecutive weeks of work travel ahead, so I don't dare try to start any new seeds.  When I get back I'll try getting some fall crops going; the garlic should be cleared out to make even more room by then, too.  Something knocked down both of my zucchini plants right after I put them out, but the winter squash and cuke seedlings are doing fine. 

This year I'm trying a patch of Bloody Butcher corn.  It will be neat to have homegrown cornbread in the middle if winter if we get a good harvest from it.

The strawberries and raspberries have started to ripen, but the few that have escaped the birds and my dog haven't made it past me.  I seriously need like an acre of strawberries.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: birdie55 on June 07, 2015, 05:37:36 PM
sequim,
You can prune a fruit tree down to a more manageable height of between 6 and 7 feet.  The general instructions would be to prune no more than 1/3 of the excess height each year until you reach the desired height.  Your local Master gardener office should be able to advise you.  Shorter fruit trees are called the Fruit bush method. 

Here is a link that might help.  http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8058.pdf

If you are unsure about where to cut, you should take a picture of the tree before it leafs out and take it to the Master gardener office to speak to someone who could advise you.  I work in a Master gardener demonstration garden and people bring their pictures to get help regularly. Good luck.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on June 07, 2015, 07:04:39 PM
Thanks Birdie55, that's good to know I can prune it.  I'm just wondering when is a good time so will research this.  Thanks for the info and I will check out that link plus see if I can find a master gardener to talk to!

Other than that, since I'm "retired", ie, staying at home for now, whenever I hear the Robin out there I look to see if she's in the tree and go outside to shake it and discourage her to go elsewhere for her dinner.  Another one came over too, some kind of medium sized yellow-black bird the Robin was yelling at.  Maybe a finch.  I seem to have discouraged them for now by going out so frequently.  Hope my neighbors don't think I'm a version of the crazy cat lady....
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: shann123 on June 08, 2015, 10:10:58 AM
Had a second round of thinning/harvest of spinach and kale this weekend and the radishes are almost ready to start harvesting.  Just finally getting tomatoes in the ground, had to wait for the frosts to end.  Even with a row-cover fabric we didn't trust them being outside.

We're going going to try to train our squash vertically on the north side of our garden this year and make nylon slings when they start to produce.  Has anyone tried it?  And is there any pitfall I should be watching out for?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on June 08, 2015, 03:53:57 PM
Does anyone have any strategies on how to keep the birds out of cherry trees.  My Rainier cherries have just started ripening and I'm afraid those damn robins and blackbirds will win the race to get the ripe ones!  So far, I've hung wind chimes on various branches plus strung some mesh along the lower half of the tree but this doesn't seem too successful.  Unfortunately the tree is quite tall and I can't keep the birds out from getting into it from the top.  Can you prune a cherry tree way back in order to more easily cover it in the future?  Any helpful hints are appreciated.

Bird netting is the best option but it is hard with big trees. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tris Prior on June 08, 2015, 08:49:43 PM
These up-and-down temps here in Chicago have been driving me insane. 80 one day, 50 (for a high!) the next. Violent storms off and on. I'm right at the lakefront so we get this "cooler near the lake" BS all the time where we're up to 20 degrees colder than the rest of the area.

Despite this, everything seems more or less happy! I spent $2 on a "patio baby" dwarf eggplant plant and it's already making FOUR eggplants despite the strange weather. Two of my 14 tomatoes are making tomatoes already and all but two have flowers on them. Two of my pepper plants are also making peppers already, which I thought they weren't supposed to do so early. Pretty sure the "mystery pepper" (I accidentally mixed up my seed starting pellets when I started them, and only one came up) is a sweet banana, not a hot pepper. It's sort of yellowish and not green. But I guess we will find out.

Harvested my first strawberry; unfortunately something had taken a bite out of it already. :( But I have more coming.

Havesting BUCKETS of greens. All is doing really well except my spinach, which I started from seed. It did finally come up, but the plants look wimpy and one of them is bolting already. wtf? It is not even hot out!

And I have so much oregano, thyme, mint, and dill that I'm bringing big bunches of it to a food swap next weekend.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 08, 2015, 11:59:06 PM
I have one cherry tomato developing on a store bought plant. Its thrilling, really, to see that little tomato! Its a start. Growing ANYTHING seems darn near impossible!

I've gotten over the disappearance of my lovely cucumber and lettuce seedlings that I grew from scratch (photos upthread) and am hoping to get to a garden store soon to buy some starter lettuce plants. Will they still grow when it gets really hot?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 09, 2015, 06:19:25 AM
Tris - our weather has swung around similarly, though I'm far enough from Lake Michigan here that we get less of the "cooler by the lake" phenomenon. I got a lot of wind-damaged plants a few days back, though. Most of my spinach looks incredibly scorched, and a lot of my tomatoes got broken branches and bruised leaves from getting blown back and forth against their cages. But most things are already recovering.

1967mama - I probably wouldn't bother with lettuce this time of year, especially not a started plant. Transplant shock would probably immediately send it to bolting.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 09, 2015, 12:02:59 PM
Thanks, TGC,

What would be plantable from a starter plant this late in June? I'd love to eat something out of my garden besides one Cherry tomato but I've obviously missed the lettuce window. I grew lettuce here in September last year from seed, I think (may have been starters? Memory failure).

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on June 09, 2015, 12:40:14 PM
Bush beans. I plant them every 2 weeks until July.


What would be plantable from a starter plant this late in June?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on June 09, 2015, 01:22:21 PM
Thanks, TGC,

What would be plantable from a starter plant this late in June? I'd love to eat something out of my garden besides one Cherry tomato but I've obviously missed the lettuce window. I grew lettuce here in September last year from seed, I think (may have been starters? Memory failure).

Swiss chard handles the heat well if you want some greens.  You can put the baby leaves in salad.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 09, 2015, 03:35:04 PM
Thanks, TGC,

What would be plantable from a starter plant this late in June? I'd love to eat something out of my garden besides one Cherry tomato but I've obviously missed the lettuce window. I grew lettuce here in September last year from seed, I think (may have been starters? Memory failure).

Why does it need to be a starter plant? Bush green beans are super easy to direct seed. Plenty of time for those. Zucchini and cucumbers will also still give you boatloads (60 days most varieties) if you sowed them now.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Carolina on My Mind on June 09, 2015, 03:48:42 PM
Small-space gardener here.  My husband and I grow stuff on a 4' x 12', west-facing balcony.  We are growing tomatoes, chili peppers, chives, parsley, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, and mint.  Everything is thriving this year.  We started gardening last summer, and I've been amazed at how much edible stuff we get from such a small space!   
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on June 09, 2015, 04:52:41 PM
I don't like to do starter plants as they don't do as well as grown from seed, but if I do, I buy the smallest ones I can.  Last year I bought one pot with just a ton of basil seedlings in it that I gently pulled apart then re-planted.  They did so well compared to buying individual plants that were bigger.

I would also experiment with growing things in different areas so you know what does well where.  Seeds are inexpensive or buying starters late in the season.  I'm doing that in my new (to me) garden.  Just throwing in a few seeds here and there on different sides of the house or companion planted with other things.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 09, 2015, 10:18:45 PM
Thank you for the great suggestions, everyone!

Here is a tour of my mini-garden! Haha!

Basil, peppers, and a single lovely cherry tomato!

http://imgur.com/danCKUm
http://imgur.com/p5NFxMb
http://imgur.com/aKLPEfJ
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on June 09, 2015, 11:16:54 PM
I'll post pics of my garden tomorrow when I get there...but if it's rather unkempt, I'll post them Thursday after some TLC. ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 09, 2015, 11:19:03 PM
Thank you for the great suggestions, everyone!

Here is a tour of my mini-garden! Haha!

Basil, peppers, and a single lovely cherry tomato!

http://imgur.com/danCKUm
http://imgur.com/p5NFxMb
http://imgur.com/aKLPEfJ
Looking awesome. I'm a bit jealous of your basil. gorgeous!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on June 10, 2015, 05:11:27 AM
This time last year I was moving my peppers outside. Earlier this week I moved out a bean-plant. This morning it was dead. Icy wind shredded all the leaves off. This means I've got to make a plan for how to grow peppers inside for the rest of the month - best case scenario. Worst case scenario is this summer never will come and I have to keep 7 large pots of peppers in my livingroom all season. Because while peppers don't mind low temperatures 4-50 degrees and icy wind is not a thing they handle well. (Yes, it's 40 in June. It might be the coldest June for a century..)

Oh, well. At least my herbs love the cold.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 10, 2015, 05:21:42 AM
This time last year I was moving my peppers outside. Earlier this week I moved out a bean-plant. This morning it was dead. Icy wind shredded all the leaves off. This means I've got to make a plan for how to grow peppers inside for the rest of the month - best case scenario. Worst case scenario is this summer never will come and I have to keep 7 large pots of peppers in my livingroom all season. Because while peppers don't mind low temperatures 4-50 degrees and icy wind is not a thing they handle well. (Yes, it's 40 in June. It might be the coldest June for a century..)

Oh, well. At least my herbs love the cold.

Curious where in the world you are. Because here we're having one of the warmer starts to the year I can remember, and i know the PNW gardeners are way ahead of normal.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on June 10, 2015, 05:47:58 AM
I'm in Scandinavia. And given how far north we are (on line with middle of Alaska) June is not normaly a warm month, but this year is just silly. Aparently El Nińo is the culprit.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on June 10, 2015, 05:53:24 AM
Cold up here on the coast of NNE as well; barely any days above 70 and some nights still in the 40's.  I put out all the "warm plants" June 1 anyway as I am sick  of babying them.  We've had loads of chard, baby kale, little white turnips (love), masses of tarragon/dill/cilantro.  A few blossoms on the sugar snap peas.  I'll plant a hill of zukes and cukes every 2 weeks until late June so even up here it's not too late.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on June 10, 2015, 06:51:14 AM
Opposite problem here: I seeded some arrowhead sorrel from saved seeds in my atrium this morning- even the Swiss chard and spinach mustard are bolting in the heat, so I'll see how "weeds" do. Also seeded some more basil because it's doing okay.


Peppers are thriving in their area of the strum, so there's that. The ones in my raised beds in front of the house are decidedly not, however.  Time to dilute some more pee.


Does anyone know how well purslane handles heat? The Deep South seems to be a zone where it isn't widespread. I'd like to try it, but would prefer to know what time of year, spring/fall or high summer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 10, 2015, 03:17:11 PM
Does anyone know how well purslane handles heat? The Deep South seems to be a zone where it isn't widespread. I'd like to try it, but would prefer to know what time of year, spring/fall or high summer.

Around here it has no problem at all with heat. It comes on most aggressively in the hottest months (80s-low 100s for us). And it's cultivated in both Mexico and the Mediterranean, so I'd think your heat is just fine. It's quite fleshy but it grows as a weed in many of my driest/hottest beds, so I don't think it's very water sensitive.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 10, 2015, 03:35:03 PM
Looks great JS!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 10, 2015, 03:36:15 PM
Other than bolting spinach, a few stunted peppers...pretty much blew past my expectations. Gonna start weeding now, and once things are in the shade I'm gonna give everything a good drink.

Looks awesome. Are you swimming in peas yet?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 10, 2015, 03:38:12 PM
a single lovely cherry tomato!

http://imgur.com/aKLPEfJ

WAHHHHHH! My 8 year old accidentally picked it this morning! <sigh>
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 10, 2015, 03:44:18 PM
a single lovely cherry tomato!

http://imgur.com/aKLPEfJ

WAHHHHHH! My 8 year old accidentally picked it this morning! <sigh>
The always do that. ::Hugs of condolence:: The number of time my kids have spun around and said, "look mom, it's so weird that these blueberries are actually GREEN!" while holding a handful of sour, immature fruits, or "helped" me pick all the green tomatoes....in June. OMG.

I just smile and thank them for their help. No, not really. I mostly yell and then drink. ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on June 10, 2015, 06:28:26 PM
Jon, that is a great looking garden!  You have so much room.  Of course, lots of backbreaking work in there too I'm sure.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on June 10, 2015, 07:00:14 PM
Does anyone know how well purslane handles heat? The Deep South seems to be a zone where it isn't widespread. I'd like to try it, but would prefer to know what time of year, spring/fall or high summer.

Around here it has no problem at all with heat. It comes on most aggressively in the hottest months (80s-low 100s for us). And it's cultivated in both Mexico and the Mediterranean, so I'd think your heat is just fine. It's quite fleshy but it grows as a weed in many of my driest/hottest beds, so I don't think it's very water sensitive.


Good to know. Wonder if I have time to get seeds/ plant this year (first frost mid-October, probably).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 10dollarsatatime on June 10, 2015, 09:54:27 PM
I'm almost all planted... Did the tomatoes tonight.  I have wallawalla onions in the ground, and purple potatoes, along with cabbage, brussels sprouts, chard, 3 kinds of cucumbers, and 4 kinds of peppers.  I still need to plant the squash, corn, and anasazi beans (3 sisters style) and the regular pole beans.

My anasazi beans are kind of great.  I haven't found anywhere to buy them commercially.  The story, apparently, is that some kid went on a dig with his BYU class in southern Utah.  They found a big clay pot in a cliff house that was full of beans.  They took beans back up to the school and planted some, just to see.  Low and behold, they grew!  2000 year old beans that they found in a pot, and they still sprouted!  So they grew a batch.  Our particular kid is the child of the owner of a local nursery.  He took a handful to pop, who planted them, and then sold them the next season for $1.00 a piece.  My dad bought a dozen.  They are purple and hot pink when they are fresh, and dry to a purple and black.  They turn brownish after being stored for a while.  And they are huge!  Fresh, they average at least an inch long.  The closest looking bean I've found is the scarlet runner bean out of Mexico, but they aren't quite the same.

I'm getting the drip irrigation set up as I go.  It's a lovely, easy setup that just works off my sprinkler timer.  I don't have to really thing about it, aside from upping the time in the middle of the summer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on June 10, 2015, 10:20:53 PM
Other than bolting spinach, a few stunted peppers...pretty much blew past my expectations. Gonna start weeding now, and once things are in the shade I'm gonna give everything a good drink.

Looks awesome. Are you swimming in peas yet?

Pea-avalanche imminent. :)

Speaking of peas, how high should I be extending my pea trellis? It's already 6ft high and it looks like they still want to climb - do I oblige them or is this good enough?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 11, 2015, 01:31:48 AM
a single lovely cherry tomato!

http://imgur.com/aKLPEfJ

WAHHHHHH! My 8 year old accidentally picked it this morning! <sigh>
The always do that. ::Hugs of condolence:: The number of time my kids have spun around and said, "look mom, it's so weird that these blueberries are actually GREEN!" while holding a handful of sour, immature fruits, or "helped" me pick all the green tomatoes....in June. OMG.

I just smile and thank them for their help. No, not really. I mostly yell and then drink. ;)

Thankfully, at least in this instance, I was able to refrain from flipping out :-) He is still little and cute enough for me to have a kind-ish reaction :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 11, 2015, 04:57:02 AM
Nice, JS! Your broccoli plants look delicious. I just harvested some of the leaves off my broccoli, and I can't wait to eat them tonight. I'm making salmon with my garlic scapes and my brassica greens.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 11, 2015, 05:26:19 AM
JS- I'd think 6 feet would be plenty high for peas, though around here peas rarely get past 4 feet before the heat gets to them, so maybe defer to a PNWer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CommonCents on June 11, 2015, 07:58:16 AM
Tomatoes, peppers, scallions and cilantro all growing with some tomatoes starting to developing (and many pepper flowers).  Basil (planted same time as the scallions and cilantro), not so much.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tofuchampion on June 12, 2015, 12:08:56 AM
a single lovely cherry tomato!

http://imgur.com/aKLPEfJ

WAHHHHHH! My 8 year old accidentally picked it this morning! <sigh>
The always do that. ::Hugs of condolence:: The number of time my kids have spun around and said, "look mom, it's so weird that these blueberries are actually GREEN!" while holding a handful of sour, immature fruits, or "helped" me pick all the green tomatoes....in June. OMG.

I just smile and thank them for their help. No, not really. I mostly yell and then drink. ;)

Ha. My son brought me a tiny eggplant last week and asked if it was full-grown. Um... no.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 12, 2015, 06:59:29 AM
Speaking of peas, how high should I be extending my pea trellis? It's already 6ft high and it looks like they still want to climb - do I oblige them or is this good enough?

What variety are you growing?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on June 12, 2015, 11:27:35 AM
Speaking of peas, how high should I be extending my pea trellis? It's already 6ft high and it looks like they still want to climb - do I oblige them or is this good enough?

What variety are you growing?

Shelling peas, currently 4ft high, well below trellis top. Snap and snow peas both about 6.5ft high, about a foot above trellis top. Everthing blossoming and producing baby peas like crazy. Fun to watch.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 12, 2015, 11:39:02 AM
Do you happen to know the actual variety? Some, like sugar snap, will go 7 feet tall easily. But if they are all in flower they probably won't get much higher than where they currently are.

I don't remember from your photo but if you haven't done so it's wise to run a few lines of garden twine around the outside edge of the vines just to keep them tight to the trellis. Otherwise they often sprall out and a good wind can knock them down.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 12, 2015, 12:10:55 PM
Erica! That's brilliant. I would not have thought to twine on the outside of the peas. Mine are doing some serious backbends. Thanks!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 12, 2015, 12:47:22 PM
Happy news! Two new cherry tomatoes are growing to replace the single one my son accidentally picked. We also have the beginnings of a green pepper forming. I'm quite jealous of those with lush and abundant gardens but I think I'm best learning with these few starter plants :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 12, 2015, 01:48:25 PM
Erica! That's brilliant. I would not have thought to twine on the outside of the peas. Mine are doing some serious backbends. Thanks!
I learned from experience. Had an entire trellis covered in tall climbing snap peas slowly...slowly...slowly lean, like the Tower of Pisa. And then we got this gusty summer wind and tons of the vines just fell down. It was pretty funny. I was sorting through this mountain of vines on the ground, harvesting anything harvestable.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: NearlyThere on June 13, 2015, 10:24:11 AM
Just took the first haul from our allotment. A small radish and some lettuce. I've some pesto at home and this will make a nice side salad for my dinner. I'm actually excited to taste it, plus its infinitely healthier than the takeaway I was planning.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Elderwood17 on June 14, 2015, 06:54:36 PM
Our lettuce is just winding down but it has been awesome this year.  The peas are coming in great and we got a small handful of early raspberries!   A little bit of rhubarb has been harvested but they are still a bit young, so future years should be better. 

This year we planting some grape vines and blue berry bushes, as well as asparagus.   I like the things you don't have to replant every year!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 14, 2015, 08:54:12 PM
Our garden is doing great despite a couple late frosts.  We are in central WI so frosts in May are common.  The asparagus has been more than generous allowing us to share the bounty with others.  The lettuce has never looked better and the baby romaine is tasty as well.  Saw a few pods on the peas but they are a week or two from being ready.  Love munching on them right in the garden. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: smoghat on June 15, 2015, 08:33:43 PM
We hired a gardener this year. Yes, crazy as that sounds, it makes sense. We have 1/4 acre of land in a nice suburb in NJ. She charges $30 an hour, comes once a week for a few hours, insists that my wife and I work with her on the garden, teaches us which plants are nice (hello, solomon's seal) and which must be pulled. She sold us five clumps of ferns from her farm for $5 total instead of $5 each. So she more than pays for herself. I'm sure there are way more people like that out there like her. Wish I could identify them for all the trades. We planted a bunch of blueberry bushes so we can eat up in a year or two.

So far my property is is looking far better than last year. In contrast, a few years ago, we hired a landscaper and paid $6,000 for a bunch of plants, 90% of which are all dead now. Stupid, stupid me. 

As far as edibles go, we have too many deer in our yard and can't hunt them because we are in too dense an area (believe me, I would if I could). But we have a deck so I've put an elevated 7' 6" x 2' bed on it. I planted it intensively and it looks to be going gangbusters. Fingers crossed we get tons and tons of veggies.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 16, 2015, 06:28:09 AM
smoghat - should you ever want to do it, deer fencing isn't cheap, but it can still pay for itself in the produce value of what's inside the fence within a couple years.

Also, keep in mind certain high value and/or easy crops like tomatoes and potatoes have poisonous foliage, so are naturally deer resistant. On tomatoes, not sure if the deer would eat the tomatoes themselves. I garden in a dense urban area so no deer, just rabbits and other equally annoying critters.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on June 16, 2015, 03:37:20 PM
smoghat - should you ever want to do it, deer fencing isn't cheap, but it can still pay for itself in the produce value of what's inside the fence within a couple years.

Also, keep in mind certain high value and/or easy crops like tomatoes and potatoes have poisonous foliage, so are naturally deer resistant. On tomatoes, not sure if the deer would eat the tomatoes themselves. I garden in a dense urban area so no deer, just rabbits and other equally annoying critters.


Deer will eat tomatoes, plants and fruit both, but they prefer other options if they're around.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on June 16, 2015, 05:02:17 PM
Deer love beans, young raspberry canes, and swiss chard!  I put up a ghetto mesh fence with bamboo poles around my little plot last year and successfully deterred them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 20, 2015, 09:42:37 AM
Lots of deer roam our neighborhood. We keep them away with an organic spray called Deer Stopper.  The name brand is Messina.  We buy it at Menards nut is also available at Cabela's, Amazon, etc. Use it on apple trees, garden vegetables like peas and beans, and flowers like lillies, hostas, etc.  Very effective spray. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 20, 2015, 11:53:37 AM
Collard greens are bigger than my face. Rutabaga was ridiculously tasty almost peppery. Pulled three garlic, one was gone because I waited too long. The other two look sooooo good. Happy gardening!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on June 23, 2015, 07:12:24 AM
Jon_Snow, for someone who professes to be a newbie gardener, you have the greenest thumbs I've ever seen….Or there's some special secret ingredient in your island's soil.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 23, 2015, 09:18:16 AM
Had my biggest picking of snap peas in the garden to date (1/2 lb). Tomorrow I'll have to start picking the green beans. Beans in June! Got quite a few that are right about at filet size, just not quite. I'm guessing in 1-2 weeks I am going to be inundated with beans. Both plantings of Provider are very, very happy looking. Staggered about 2 weeks apart so hopefully I'll get an even harvest through the season. The purple velour variety I've tried is crap so far. Sluggish growth and has sustained a lot of animal damage.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on June 23, 2015, 12:13:03 PM
Jon_Snow, for someone who professes to be a newbie gardener, you have the greenest thumbs I've ever seen….Or there's some special secret ingredient in your island's soil.

I think he's faking us out.  That's a store bought zucchini held next to the plant to give the illusion he is a competent farmer! 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 23, 2015, 03:33:43 PM
Its hitting 85-90F (30-32C) here next week -- should I be worried about my baby tomatoes or baby bell peppers? Is there anything I should be doing to protect them? They are in moveable pots so I wondered if I should move them (and the prolific basil) into the shade during the hottest parts of the day??
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on June 23, 2015, 03:47:04 PM
Nope. Rejoice in the fact that heat will get you ripe fruits much faster :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: ketchup on June 23, 2015, 03:50:27 PM
Greetings, all!

We have a peach tree in the back yard of the house we bought about a month ago, and it appears to be having troubles.  Three branches have fallen recently, and (to my untrained eyes) the tree doesn't look super healthy.

We were looking forward to peaches, so any idea what the best course of action would be to get this guy happy again?

(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0010_zpsxdes5muq.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0010_zpsxdes5muq.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0009_zpsdzapuoan.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0009_zpsdzapuoan.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0008_zps28keclnr.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0008_zps28keclnr.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0007_zpstqysvhkd.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0007_zpstqysvhkd.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0005_zpscyfx073f.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0005_zpscyfx073f.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0006_zpszhyldjyk.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0006_zpszhyldjyk.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/mooseteeth/th_IMG_0011_zpspynubhp5.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mooseteeth/media/IMG_0011_zpspynubhp5.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on June 23, 2015, 05:01:27 PM
Oh yeah...forecast is for some serious heat - enough to turbocharge my tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. I'm going to be on my island for two weeks (with a little MMM meetup side trip thrown in) and I cannot wait to reap what I have apparently (to my shock) successfully sowed. These next two weeks are a big reason why I FIRE'd.

And honest to goodness, that zuke pic is LEGIT. :)

More garden pics (and fishing, crabbing, prawning pics in the appropriate threads) to come!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 23, 2015, 11:05:27 PM
Picked the first pea pod of the season today.  Yum!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on June 24, 2015, 04:16:36 AM
My Sugar Snap and Sugar Daddy are in full bloom - soon . . . .

Picked the first pea pod of the season today.  Yum!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on June 25, 2015, 01:38:18 AM
Nope. Rejoice in the fact that heat will get you ripe fruits much faster :)

Thanks for the tip, GC ... they are basking in the sun! I'm watering them more often though, since they seem to be dry by nightfall.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on June 25, 2015, 07:19:41 AM
Meanwhile, the tomato hornworms have hatched...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 25, 2015, 07:57:55 AM
Meanwhile, the tomato hornworms have hatched...
Ick! I have only seen one of those ugly disgusting creatures in all my gardening years. Found it eating away in a beautiful little plum tree. Don't think they like the cold temperatures in Wisconsin!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 25, 2015, 08:04:41 AM
Had my biggest picking of snap peas in the garden to date (1/2 lb). Tomorrow I'll have to start picking the green beans. Beans in June! Got quite a few that are right about at filet size, just not quite. I'm guessing in 1-2 weeks I am going to be inundated with beans. Both plantings of Provider are very, very happy looking. Staggered about 2 weeks apart so hopefully I'll get an even harvest through the season. The purple velour variety I've tried is crap so far. Sluggish growth and has sustained a lot of animal damage.
Beans in June are impressive for Wisconsin. My garden is 1-2 weeks behind yours as it is located quite a few miles north. Soon, though, we will do the usual summer menu of beans for every meal!

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sol on June 27, 2015, 01:47:56 PM
Despite some insect damage, my broccoli is looking pretty good.  I'm contemplating making them part of dinner tomorrow.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on June 27, 2015, 04:47:16 PM
Aweseome! Yum, peas and broccoli for tea.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 27, 2015, 11:48:43 PM
Our garden as seen from the kitchen window.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jengod on June 28, 2015, 12:17:44 AM
Mrs.LC that's heavenly!! Well done!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 28, 2015, 09:55:58 AM
Gorgeous!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on June 28, 2015, 11:15:54 AM
Thank you! An amazing amount of food is harvested and enjoyed from this garden.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on June 30, 2015, 07:34:58 AM
Sol, that broccoli is a thing of beauty. I bet it was delicious!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on July 05, 2015, 12:33:35 AM
It's middle of winter here and we've been having quite a few -6C frosts. So I haven't been doing much gardening. However, I did buy a couple of bare-rooted fruit trees (deciduous trees sold with bare roots which are kept moist, but not sold in a pot). They weren't cheap so hopefully they survive!

I probably won't break even with cost of tree vs likely harvest, not for years anyway, but I do love the idea of growing some food, and where I've planted them the secondary benefit should help a teeny bit with screening/privacy from the neighbours. We live in medium density housing with a small backyard. These 2 apple trees have joined the other one I planted last winter. They're columnar fruit trees. Expected to grow up to 3 metres tall with a width of only 60cm, which is perfect for our small backyard.

I've also been thinking about the rest of the backyard. I clear felled a lot of noxious weeds and I've been replanting with nice plants these past few years. There's a big gap between my screening plants and the clothes line in the (small) lawn and I'm thinking about putting a normal-ish sized fruit tree in that spot, instead of keeping it for haphazard veggie growing. I'll need to research what's hardy for our climate/location/soil and think about it a bit more. My fantasy garden is shaded by a big deciduous tree (for some reason, shady, well-screened gardens feel so relaxing to me), but reality garden is quite small and I have a penchant for growing things like zucchinis and cherry tomatoes. Decisions, decisions...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nougatron on July 09, 2015, 01:33:31 PM
Mrs.LC, love your garden layout! I'm looking to do something similar, what are the dimensions of your set up? Is it a square foot garden plan?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on July 09, 2015, 11:08:32 PM
Mrs.LC, love your garden layout! I'm looking to do something similar, what are the dimensions of your set up? Is it a square foot garden plan?

It's not a square foot plan but a similar concept. We try to grow spring crops among later crops to conserve space. The fences are cattle/hog panels cut to fit the beds. They are very sturdy and last forever.

The square beds are 42". The three inner beds are 12' long and 40" wide. The thin beds between the square ones are 8' long by 18" wide. There are four of them and all are planted with asparagus.

Mr. LC and I absolutely love the garden. It is the perfect size for the two of us and we harvest an amazing amount of food out of that small size. Our asparagus haul was over 60 pounds this spring - enough for us and our whole neighborhood!



Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on July 09, 2015, 11:11:42 PM
Here is a picture of the garden taken from the house roof earlier in the season when the plants were smaller. It shows the dimensions better Nougatron.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on July 10, 2015, 01:40:27 AM
I have 2 cherry tomatoes, on my starter plants, turning from orange to red this week! This is a first for me!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 10, 2015, 07:44:50 AM
So sad to see my treasure trove of peas (snow, snap, shelling) run their course...just a tangle of yellow vines now.

On the positive side...beans (bush, pole), cucumbers, squash (acorn, 8 ball), peppers (thank you PNW heatwave!), and a ton of tomatoes are shaping up nicely.

I have pretty much made the decision to scale things back next year...until I am on the island on a more permanent basis keeping up a garden of this size is proving difficult. It's been stressful not being there to water...and I have not been able to eat or even give away everything this garden has produced.

Since my FIRE date, I have read countless gardening books...but I have learned far more in my first year of food growing BY DOING IT than all these books combined.

But I consider BIG FIRE PROJECT #2 to be a success...even if I was overly ambitious. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 10, 2015, 07:52:36 AM
Yeah, part of the big garden appeal is preserving for the winter but without a kitchen nearby gets hard.

Perhaps some permaculture plantings? That still gets a bit hairy with watering in the dry season until they get established though.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on July 13, 2015, 06:51:03 AM
Time to think about preserving some for the winter.

--Did 10 freezer bags of blanched greens, mostly 3 kinds of kale, coarsely chopped, to add to soups and stews. 
--6 quarts of strawberries, in the freezer.  Thinking about a dehydrator?
--Several bags of herbs-- cilantro and parsley thus far.
--Dilly beans this week.  I don't use much salt in mine, but a fresh garlic clove and fresh dill goes into every jar.
--Raspberries this week.  The preserves recipe in the River Cafe Preserving book is the best!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 13, 2015, 07:21:22 AM
penny lane dried strawberries are incredible. Ditto zucchini chips. Usually the advice is to find a cheapo vertical dehydrator at a thrift store, see if you like it  then maybe consider something nicer/bigger. For my family size, I have a 9 tray Excalibur and I'm seriously considering buying a second one to reduce the bottleneck.

I wrote a whole post about my preserving experiences so far in my journal. If you do get a dehydrator, a mandoline is a big help - you want slices as even as possible, and many things dry best at very specific thicknesses (ex 1/8" for zucchini, 1/4" strawberries) that's damn hard to achieve by hand.

---

We're going on vacation in two days. I'm having family come to keep my zucchini, cucumbers, and green beans picked. They should eat quite well between the CSA box we couldn't finish this week pre-departure and the food they'll pick for us :). I'll also miss the first cherry tomatoes. Just spotted some turning color this morning.

When we get back, I think there'll be enough time left in our season to get some fall broccoli started. Our soil is still relatively poor, so many of the beds I could squeeze a fall crop into are just getting sowed into a pea-vetch-oat mix for fall/winter cover.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on July 13, 2015, 03:41:33 PM
Ate the first cherry tomato off my starter plant. Yumm! Another one is ready today. Still haven't gotten around to planting some mid summer seeds after losing all my seedlings to either a rabbit or overly aggressive power spraying watering by my 10 and 8 year old "helpers." Made a crisp with the 1 1/2 cups of rhubarb we grew and have some little, slightly sweet plums bubbling away t make some sort of syrup for pancakes.

Edit: typo
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 13, 2015, 05:01:34 PM
Blackberries, summer squash, green beans and Asian plums are going crazy right now. I'm looking for a food preservation method for the plums that doesn't involve a bunch of sugar. These aren't good plums for drying, and they are clingstone, so I'm not going to do anything that involves pitting several pounds of them. So far the only ideas I've got are a lower sugar plum sauce - either plain or Asian flavored - to go with duck, pork, spring rolls, etc. - and plum wine. I'm about to make our second 5-6 gallon batch of wine, but won't throw any more plums into wine probably - because 10 gallons is a lot of wine, even for me. ;) Anyone got any additional ideas?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 13, 2015, 06:00:26 PM
Some sort of plum butter? I'd think with sufficient reduction you wouldn't need much sugar at all, just enough for taste, not to get syrupy texture/thickening, then again I'm all about low sugar preserves. I think folks tend to like the 'Crockpot with the lid propped up' method of reduction for butters.

Otherwise let your poultry at 'em ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MoonShadow on July 13, 2015, 06:24:28 PM

I've always purchased my seeds/plants @ TSC (Tractor Supply Company for you none-country-folks) & Home Depot. I'm sure there are internet options that would minimize my expenses, but I don't know of the best sites. Any suggestions?


Check and see if there is an heirloom seed bank nearby.  The number of seeds they are willing to part with is limited, but reproducible.  They are typically free, also.

Quote
What have you grown from seed/plant and had success with (i.e. I always buy my romaine lettuce as plants rather than seeds, which is more epensive but I would happily switch to seeds if people have had success with them)
Any organic pest control ideas?


Guineas.  They are noisy, particularly when strange people visit.  But they eat bugs almost exclusively.  They don't really need a coop in summer, if you don't care to keep any other poultry, but can't survive winter without real help.  They will not scratch your garden up like free range chickens.

Quote
Any planting tips of what to plant when and with what?
Any ideas on how much of certain things you have use? After a few years I'm beginning to learn more on what vegetables were not worth growing and which were - for us, lima beans were dumb as manfriend doesn't eat them and he's the chef. I like them raw but apparently there's arsenic in them.

There is a little bit of arsenic in almost everything.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on July 14, 2015, 05:29:40 AM
Time to think about preserving some for the winter.

--Did 10 freezer bags of blanched greens, mostly 3 kinds of kale, coarsely chopped, to add to soups and stews.

Oooh. That's a good idea. Our kale is inedibly bitter in summer but it's middle of winter now so I should test the bitterness and if it's ok, freeze some blanched leaves (in small batches for soups and stews).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on July 14, 2015, 06:46:05 AM
Finally starting to get hot weather!  Tomato and pepper plants were on the small size during initial planting and the heat is helping them catch up to normal size.  Lettuce, Kale, Bok Choi, Collards are all very tasty - even my husband is eating them this year.  Amazing what happens when you thin plants to recommended spacing.  :-)  This is our third year with the raspberry bushes and they have taken over a 10' X 12' area and producing great volume of tasty fruit. 

Been having so-so luck getting the second planting of leafy veggies to germinate.  The ground is wet from storms the last few days, so I tried a new technique of using a toothpick to push the tiny seeds into their designated spots.  Hopefully this method works! 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 14, 2015, 07:28:38 AM

Been having so-so luck getting the second planting of leafy veggies to germinate.  The ground is wet from storms the last few days, so I tried a new technique of using a toothpick to push the tiny seeds into their designated spots.  Hopefully this method works!

Why not sow in seed plug trays and transplant? Your germination will be faster and a heckuva lot higher percentage. Yes, a little more labor, but well worth it. Nearly all professional growers I know do this. Not only do they not end up with dead spots in the fields, they can start the relay planting 2-4 weeks ahead of last harvest of the first crop, thus maximizing the "in bed time".

Also, while I think some greens will germinate okay even outside in summer, soil temps are probably already too high for lettuce to germinate at all. But as long as there's a cooler spot in garden, start them indoors to get germination and then transplant out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on July 15, 2015, 08:30:38 AM

Been having so-so luck getting the second planting of leafy veggies to germinate.  The ground is wet from storms the last few days, so I tried a new technique of using a toothpick to push the tiny seeds into their designated spots.  Hopefully this method works!

Why not sow in seed plug trays and transplant? Your germination will be faster and a heckuva lot higher percentage. Yes, a little more labor, but well worth it. Nearly all professional growers I know do this. Not only do they not end up with dead spots in the fields, they can start the relay planting 2-4 weeks ahead of last harvest of the first crop, thus maximizing the "in bed time".

Also, while I think some greens will germinate okay even outside in summer, soil temps are probably already too high for lettuce to germinate at all. But as long as there's a cooler spot in garden, start them indoors to get germination and then transplant out.

Good idea - thanks!  This is one of the first years that I'm actively trying a second planting.  In the past, I threw the seeds in the ground and hoped for the best.  Never thought about the soil temp being too high. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 15, 2015, 08:42:31 AM
Some sort of plum butter? I'd think with sufficient reduction you wouldn't need much sugar at all, just enough for taste, not to get syrupy texture/thickening, then again I'm all about low sugar preserves. I think folks tend to like the 'Crockpot with the lid propped up' method of reduction for butters.

Otherwise let your poultry at 'em ;)
I'm going to try plum fruit roll-up thingies! Will let you know how they turn out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 15, 2015, 08:52:25 AM
Ooh, that should be good. I haven't tried any fruit leather yet.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 15, 2015, 09:05:21 AM
Ooh, that should be good. I haven't tried any fruit leather yet.
I think my dehydrators have those screen things, so it shouldn't be too hard. Trying to figure out the best way to pit the plums. I'm thinking about just running them through a food mill whole. These things are total clingstone. Pitting by hand would be a serious pain. Got any other ideas? Cook as for fruit butter, mash and strain out pits? That's the other technique I was thinking.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on July 15, 2015, 04:20:24 PM
Ooh, that should be good. I haven't tried any fruit leather yet.
I think my dehydrators have those screen things, so it shouldn't be too hard. Trying to figure out the best way to pit the plums. I'm thinking about just running them through a food mill whole. These things are total clingstone. Pitting by hand would be a serious pain. Got any other ideas? Cook as for fruit butter, mash and strain out pits? That's the other technique I was thinking.

This is what I did for my sour cherries.  I just simmered the whole berries for a couple of hours with a little water, let them cool and thene removed the pits with my hands.  It was a little slow but not hard.  Definitely faster than trying to pit all those little cherries in advance!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: iknowiyam on July 15, 2015, 04:39:58 PM
Here is a picture of the garden taken from the house roof earlier in the season when the plants were smaller. It shows the dimensions better Nougatron.

This is inspiring.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 16, 2015, 07:23:09 AM
Ooh, that should be good. I haven't tried any fruit leather yet.
I think my dehydrators have those screen things, so it shouldn't be too hard. Trying to figure out the best way to pit the plums. I'm thinking about just running them through a food mill whole. These things are total clingstone. Pitting by hand would be a serious pain. Got any other ideas? Cook as for fruit butter, mash and strain out pits? That's the other technique I was thinking.

I'd probably cook them and mash.

Not sure how well fruit leathers work in vertical dehydrators. (I'm assuming that's what you have?) mine requires either a special leather tray (solid surface instead of the poly screen) or lining the screens with something like parchment paper cut to fit. Air in mine moves sideways across the trays.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on July 16, 2015, 07:32:19 AM
Erica,  I use a cherry pitter on my beach plums, which won't ripen until September.  I do this while watching a movie as it is rather slow work.  Your plums may be too large for this, though. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Cookie78 on July 16, 2015, 08:13:49 AM
Ate the first big zucchini from the garden yesterday! Cherry tomatoes are ripening like crazy. Watermelons are getting bigger every time I look. Peas and beans are both flowering. All of the herbs have exploded, I'm going to have enough basil for life. The one thing I can never make grow is the squash.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 16, 2015, 09:10:41 AM
The one thing I can never make grow is the squash.

Cabbage appears to be my gardening kryptonite. Isn't the PNW supposed to be cabbage nirvana? Doesn't make sense that I can grow peppers but not cabbage.

I find my mind already wandering towards next years gardening season and what I need to improve.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 16, 2015, 09:20:41 AM
Erica,  I use a cherry pitter on my beach plums, which won't ripen until September.  I do this while watching a movie as it is rather slow work.  Your plums may be too large for this, though.
Yeah, these are full size Asian plums. Good idea with the pitter, but they are too large for that. I think I'll cook and mash.

Cabbage appears to be my gardening kryptonite. Isn't the PNW supposed to be cabbage nirvana? Doesn't make sense that I can grow peppers but not cabbage.
I find my mind already wandering towards next years gardening season and what I need to improve.

Timing and variety is everything with cabbage around here. If you get those two things right, it really is easy as pie. Good news! If you start now, and pick a savoy variety, your timing will be perfect for fall and winter cabbage. But wait, you go south in the winter, right? Ah well, never mind. Took me about 5 years to get cabbage to "work" - and now it does, every single season. Once you have it down you're golden.

====

2 more pounds of green beans harvested yesterday, plus some broccoli and assorted summer fruit/berries/etc. Today I tackle the yellow plum.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MoustacheKnittah on July 16, 2015, 09:38:40 AM
Blackberries, summer squash, green beans and Asian plums are going crazy right now. I'm looking for a food preservation method for the plums that doesn't involve a bunch of sugar.

Check out Pomona Pectin. It allows you to make a much lower sugar jam, because it is a two part pectin that doesn't require high heat or high sugar to gel. There are a few plum recipes on their website:
http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/special-plum-jam/
http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/honeyed-plum-cardamom-jelly/
http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/plum-strawberry-rosemary-jam/

I bought the pectin on Amazon, but you can probably find it at a natural foods store (I also found it at my natural foods co-op in Nowheresville, Midwest). It's actually cheaper than using liquid pectin because you use so little pectin for each batch, a box can last for 2-4 batches. I have made the low sugar strawberry jam from Canning for a New Generation, and also the blubarb jam from Pomona website. There is also a Pomona cookbook with more recipes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 16, 2015, 09:48:32 AM
Blackberries, summer squash, green beans and Asian plums are going crazy right now. I'm looking for a food preservation method for the plums that doesn't involve a bunch of sugar.

Check out Pomona Pectin. It allows you to make a much lower sugar jam, because it is a two part pectin that doesn't require high heat or high sugar to gel. There are a few plum recipes on their website:
http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/special-plum-jam/
http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/honeyed-plum-cardamom-jelly/
http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/plum-strawberry-rosemary-jam/

I bought the pectin on Amazon, but you can probably find it at a natural foods store (I also found it at my natural foods co-op in Nowheresville, Midwest). It's actually cheaper than using liquid pectin because you use so little pectin for each batch, a box can last for 2-4 batches. I have made the low sugar strawberry jam from Canning for a New Generation, and also the blubarb jam from Pomona website. There is also a Pomona cookbook with more recipes.

Thank you very much for the links. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 16, 2015, 11:04:18 AM
Erica, care to give me a "can't fail" cabbage variety for our neck of the woods?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 16, 2015, 12:41:21 PM
Erica, care to give me a "can't fail" cabbage variety for our neck of the woods?
My favorite summer variety is Farao. It's the most delicious fresh-eating cabbage I've ever grown. High Mowing (disclosure: seasonal sponsor of my blog) carries seeds. (Link (http://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-non-gmo-seeds-farao-f1-hybrid-cabbage.html)). I'm guessing West Coast Seeds are easy for you to get? They do a superb job selecting Maritime NW appropriate varieties. Of WCS's summer cabbage selection, I like Caraflex a lot. It's a fast, pointy little cabbage. (Link (https://www.westcoastseeds.com/shop/vegetable-seeds/cabbage-seeds/summer-cabbage-seeds/caraflex-organic-cabbage-seeds/)). If you don't want the cost associated with an FI, I'd choose Early Jersey Wakefield. (Link (https://www.westcoastseeds.com/shop/vegetable-seeds/cabbage-seeds/summer-cabbage-seeds/early-jersey-wakefield-cabbage-seeds/)).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 16, 2015, 02:39:19 PM
Caraflex makes delicious coleslaw. We got a head from our CSA and I liked it quite a bit - and I'm NOT a cabbage person (can't eat it cooked without feeling like I'm going to die).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 16, 2015, 10:18:24 PM
My favorite summer variety is Farao. It's the most delicious fresh-eating cabbage I've ever grown. High Mowing (disclosure: seasonal sponsor of my blog) carries seeds. (Link (http://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-non-gmo-seeds-farao-f1-hybrid-cabbage.html)). I'm guessing West Coast Seeds are easy for you to get? They do a superb job selecting Maritime NW appropriate varieties. Of WCS's summer cabbage selection, I like Caraflex a lot. It's a fast, pointy little cabbage. (Link (https://www.westcoastseeds.com/shop/vegetable-seeds/cabbage-seeds/summer-cabbage-seeds/caraflex-organic-cabbage-seeds/)). If you don't want the cost associated with an FI, I'd choose Early Jersey Wakefield. (Link (https://www.westcoastseeds.com/shop/vegetable-seeds/cabbage-seeds/summer-cabbage-seeds/early-jersey-wakefield-cabbage-seeds/)).

Well, that answer was predictably awesome. :)

As for West Coast Seeds, their retail store is a 25 minute drive away from my city residence. I often drop in there on my way to catch the ferry. :) I've read their catalogue front to back, back to front more times than I can count.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 24, 2015, 10:41:15 AM
I'm going to admit some some garden neglect over the past few weeks. That's why I'm going to pull an "all nighter". :)

Is garden camping a "thing"? I think it should be.

Totally a thing. Also, get your headlamp and search for slugs after sunset or before sunrise. They are so much easier to hunt that way. :)

Re: WCS - I really, really like them. I had a bit of a falling out with a local seed house over some less that stellar CS several years ago, so now when I can't get the varieties I want from High Mowing, I try to pick up my quirky Pac NW specific fall/winter stuff from WCS and other small seed houses like Uprising. WCS comes down for the NW Flower and Garden show most years so that makes it easy to impulse buy all the seeds carefully select a few key seed packets. I also like the huge amount of info they make available free to gardeners. Like this fabulous chart (https://wcs-netclimberwebdes.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Charts_Veg_BC.pdf).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: puglogic on July 26, 2015, 10:38:14 PM
Harvested my garlic today, and it makes me so happy.  I keep going down to the garden shed and looking at all 50-odd plants hanging, drying. The aroma of it hits you when you walk anywhere near it....the shed smells like an italian restaurant.   Pics tucked in here (not promoting, just wasn't sure how else to share them): http://thegreenhedonist.com/2015/07/garlic-the-high-holy-days-have-arrived/     Sigh.   

I would totally garden camp, Jon_Snow.  Might keep some of the ground squirrels away from the strawberries....
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on July 27, 2015, 05:25:12 AM
Harvested my garlic today, and it makes me so happy.  I keep going down to the garden shed and looking at all 50-odd plants hanging, drying. The aroma of it hits you when you walk anywhere near it....the shed smells like an italian restaurant.   Pics tucked in here (not promoting, just wasn't sure how else to share them): http://thegreenhedonist.com/2015/07/garlic-the-high-holy-days-have-arrived/     Sigh.   

Nice!. I planted 120 cloves and the wallaby ate all the green tops off every plant :(  Normally I grow it in a netted enclosure but its fallen down and needs reconstructing. Sigh, note to self, never never try to grow produce without a net…I already knew that, just being lazy.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Mrs.LC on July 27, 2015, 06:57:51 AM
Finally the cucumbers are started to produce. Have had lots of blossoms but no cukes. We seldom buy fresh ones as we get our fill of them over a couple weeks in the summer from the garden.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: GardenFun on July 27, 2015, 07:05:58 AM
Had first picking of zucchini, snap peas, and green beans this weekend.  Neighborhood kids attacked me and ate all the cleaned sugar snap peas.  ;-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 27, 2015, 08:22:27 AM
At the start of my foray into the world of veggie gardening I was warned about the prolific nature of zucchini plants - well, partly due to the fact that I was unsure of my ability to grow ANYTHING I chose to plant 6 zucchini plants. I am swimming in zukes... and cukes for that matter, but I can go into Greek salad overload to get rid of those. ;) We were able to keep up for a while, eating zucchini in various ways (deep fried zucchini sticks White Spot style!) while they were in their prime. But then we started to get behind as they started to grow at a pace I could not believe. Now I have at least 5 GIANT zucchini to deal with, and I am scouring the internet to see how I can cook with these somewhat less than ideal monstrous specimens.

Anyone have any suggestions on what is the best way to utilize humoungous zucchini? I know they are less than ideal for cooking at this point, but I cannot bear to throw them in the compost bin. :(

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: puglogic on July 27, 2015, 09:14:13 AM
Jon, I de-seed, then shred my giant ones in the food processor, squeeze the extra liquid out, and freeze them in 2-cup baggies.

These become the zucchini in zucchini bread, zucchini pancakes, etc. in the wintertime.  I was really glad I overplanted last year, as we were eating it through the whole winter. Just finished the last batch in June.

Or you can make cars: http://elynmacinnis.hubpages.com/hub/vegetable-craft
:)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Bracken_Joy on July 27, 2015, 09:30:44 AM
Jumping in since I finally have garden space! A little late in the season though, and I've always done spring/early summer gardening, not later. And that's been nearly a decade ago anyway =(

According to a local seed company's planting calendar, I should be able to do a late season run of tomatoes starting now (end of July). Does anyone know if these need to be from starts or seeds? Seems to me like it would be starts, but I haven't seen any starts in stores...? I've never done tomatoes from seed, though.

Anyone have a good link for fall and winter gardens, overwintering, etc?

I'm in Portland, so PNW, which it seems like quite a few folks on here are. Please help the garden newb!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: puglogic on July 27, 2015, 10:06:49 AM
Hi there!  If I were planting starts, and there aren't any good ones in stores, I'd go here:

http://www.territorialseed.com/category/all_tomato_plants

Territorial is up in your neck of the woods, and they'll ship right to you!   You will probably have better luck with a good harvest if you start with plants, even in PNW  (unless you have a hoop house)

This is my favorite book on growing year-round:  http://www.amazon.com/Four-Season-Harvest-Organic-Vegetables-Edition/dp/1890132276

Good luck!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 27, 2015, 11:38:24 AM
Began the process of smothering the grass paths in part of my garden. The goal (by next year) is to significantly refactor the bed size and layout, switching from mostly 48" bed and 24" path to 30" and 12-18" path favored by many growers. I'll also rearrange/consolidate my strawberries so that I can protect them during berry season to avoid animal damage.

A couple of my sunshine squash are absolutely insane. It's not supposed to be quite this wild, but they easily have 15' vines already. Considering pruning the tips back to contain them. They're showing quite a few large fruit already, with many more baby size. My acorns are just showing their first baby fruit.

Reasonably happy with the garden so far considering expected growing pains with making it so much bigger this year and trying several new crops. Monetary value of the harvest just crossed $150.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on July 27, 2015, 11:42:29 AM
At the start of my foray into the world of veggie gardening I was warned about the prolific nature of zucchini plants - well, partly due to the fact that I was unsure of my ability to grow ANYTHING I chose to plant 6 zucchini plants. I am swimming in zukes... and cukes for that matter, but I can go into Greek salad overload to get rid of those. ;) We were able to keep up for a while, eating zucchini in various ways (deep fried zucchini sticks White Spot style!) while they were in their prime. But then we started to get behind as they started to grow at a pace I could not believe. Now I have at least 5 GIANT zucchini to deal with, and I am scouring the internet to see how I can cook with these somewhat less than ideal monstrous specimens.

Anyone have any suggestions on what is the best way to utilize humoungous zucchini? I know they are less than ideal for cooking at this point, but I cannot bear to throw them in the compost bin. :(

You can use them as noodles.  I have a spiralizer, but you can get the same effect shaving them with a vegetable peeler.  My usual is zucchini bolognese - basically a good red sauce with ground beef, then mix in the zucchini and cook for a couple more minutes before serving.

Another thing you can do with larger ones is cut them in half lengthwise, scoop out some of the insides, and stuff them with whatever you like and bake.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Bracken_Joy on July 27, 2015, 01:04:46 PM
Hi there!  If I were planting starts, and there aren't any good ones in stores, I'd go here:

http://www.territorialseed.com/category/all_tomato_plants

Territorial is up in your neck of the woods, and they'll ship right to you!   You will probably have better luck with a good harvest if you start with plants, even in PNW  (unless you have a hoop house)

This is my favorite book on growing year-round:  http://www.amazon.com/Four-Season-Harvest-Organic-Vegetables-Edition/dp/1890132276

Good luck!

Territorial is actually the first company I thought of! Unfortunately, they're sold out for 2015 on all tomato plants according to their website =(

I will look into that book, thank you.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 27, 2015, 02:43:12 PM
According to a local seed company's planting calendar, I should be able to do a late season run of tomatoes starting now (end of July). Does anyone know if these need to be from starts or seeds? Seems to me like it would be starts, but I haven't seen any starts in stores...? I've never done tomatoes from seed, though.

Skip tomatoes. I don't know what calendar you are using, but you won't get any ripe tomatoes from any tomato plant small enough to ship to you in Portland. If you can find some huge 2 gallon plant with green tomatoes already set at a farmers market, you could do that. But typically in the Pac NW tomatoes are started in March-ish to ripen in September. Disease and cool night temps weaken the plants by October enough that you yank em, typically.

Start broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, carrots, parsnip....basically cool season crops. You can do a late planting of bush beans and cucumber too if you want.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 27, 2015, 02:49:13 PM
At the start of my foray into the world of veggie gardening I was warned about the prolific nature of zucchini plants - well, partly due to the fact that I was unsure of my ability to grow ANYTHING I chose to plant 6 zucchini plants. I am swimming in zukes... and cukes for that matter, but I can go into Greek salad overload to get rid of those. ;) We were able to keep up for a while, eating zucchini in various ways (deep fried zucchini sticks White Spot style!) while they were in their prime. But then we started to get behind as they started to grow at a pace I could not believe. Now I have at least 5 GIANT zucchini to deal with, and I am scouring the internet to see how I can cook with these somewhat less than ideal monstrous specimens.

Anyone have any suggestions on what is the best way to utilize humoungous zucchini? I know they are less than ideal for cooking at this point, but I cannot bear to throw them in the compost bin. :(

You can use them as noodles.  I have a spiralizer, but you can get the same effect shaving them with a vegetable peeler.  My usual is zucchini bolognese - basically a good red sauce with ground beef, then mix in the zucchini and cook for a couple more minutes before serving.

Another thing you can do with larger ones is cut them in half lengthwise, scoop out some of the insides, and stuff them with whatever you like and bake.

Oh, we just talked about this on GoblinChief's journal. Yeah, the big ones are really good shredded for zucchini bread (my recipe (http://www.nwedible.com/good-from-garden-almond-zucchini-bread/)), zucchini fritters, or to extend meat in stuff like meatloaf. Or hollow out and stuff them. I prefer more mature zucchini for bread and butter pickles. The Zuni Cafe has a rad recipe for zuke fridge pickles - just halve the larger zuke lengthwise, scoop out seeds, and thinly slice into half-moon rounds and proceed with basic recipe.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 27, 2015, 04:52:51 PM
Thanks for all the gargantuan zucchini advice everyone! Gonna shred..and make some zuke fritters for dinner tonight....and shred a bunch more to freeze.

And Erica, in exchange for your continued homesteading/gardening wisdom...consider another one of your books sold!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 27, 2015, 08:01:18 PM
Thanks for all the gargantuan zucchini advice everyone! Gonna shred..and make some zuke fritters for dinner tonight....and shred a bunch more to freeze.

And Erica, in exchange for your continued homesteading/gardening wisdom...consider another one of your books sold!
Ah, shucks! Well, thanks Jon Snow! I hope you like it. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: CanuckExpat on July 28, 2015, 02:01:23 AM
Thanks for all the gargantuan zucchini advice everyone! Gonna shred..and make some zuke fritters for dinner tonight....and shred a bunch more to freeze.

And Erica, in exchange for your continued homesteading/gardening wisdom...consider another one of your books sold!

Try cooking some of your zucchini fritters in coconut oil, the smell and taste are incredible.
OK, maybe I like the smell of anything frying in coconut oil..
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 28, 2015, 07:56:13 AM
My goodness, the zucchini fritters were delicious! I made 8 of them which amazingly took care of a very large zucchini.

CanuckExpat, I used olive oil which proved to be tasty enough...next time I will try coconut.

Tonight, a massive Greek salad to use up a bunch of our cucumbers. Along with some sautéed beans (green, yellow, purple).

Our shopping bill this month is looking to be a record low. Gardening rules. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 28, 2015, 08:57:24 AM
Our shopping bill this month is looking to be a record low. Gardening rules. :)

Yeah, if it was just the Alchemist and I, gardening season would get our grocery budget probably under $100. A lot of the stuff I buy is more for the kids, since they aren't going to survive on veggies alone, and we don't have much fruit production.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 28, 2015, 09:16:39 AM
Oh, and a good recipe for zuke fritters? I think that fills a nice gap I had in the week's meal plan :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on July 28, 2015, 01:37:36 PM
I like this one.  Gotta get me some Old Bay seasoning:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/connies-zucchini-crab-cakes/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 28, 2015, 02:27:43 PM
Martha Stewart's recipe is good too.  Go heavy on the lemon zest and parsley.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 28, 2015, 09:10:16 PM
Tonight's harvest. Particularly pretty, so I'm bragging sharing. Right now all the things are ripe!

(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11817247_972463249441950_1783833671278109126_n.jpg?oh=64779e108c9279105844e6f3db36e67b&oe=563F469B)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on July 28, 2015, 10:45:46 PM
How, pray tell, do you grow freakin' peaches in the PNW?. Inquiring minds and all that....
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 29, 2015, 10:26:46 AM
How, pray tell, do you grow freakin' peaches in the PNW?. Inquiring minds and all that....

You just get the right variety and you're careful about peach leaf curl and you pray the summer is above-average for heat units.

I used to grow Frost, a recommend PLC resistant variety. IMHO, hardly worth eating. Just, blech fruit that split more often than not and weren't really good for processing or fresh eating. This is Harken on Lovell rootstock.

Copypasta from my FB Page re my experience with Harken: This is a 3 year old tree (I planted it last year as something just a bit older than a whip) and very productive. Flavor is **excellent** for a peach that will actually ripen by puget sound. Juicy, sweet, well balanced. It's like, 9000 times better tasting than Frost, which is hardly worth the effort to eat, imho. Only drawback is it is susceptible to peach leaf curl. We got a bit this spring (didn't spray at all) but with our early, hot, dry summer we got lucky and they tree grew out the curl and has gone on to make some pretty and decent sized fruit. I give it 2 thumbs up.

Fruit on tree:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11752627_969438953077713_4069587024892938128_n.jpg?oh=82157d6af98cd72389a2f9f95d514257&oe=564FD5C9)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on July 29, 2015, 11:03:41 AM
Effing blossom end rot on tomatoes. Losing a lot of fruit to it, and most of my paste tomatoes are a determinate variety. Trying to compensate post-vacation by watering more frequently, but our trip may have come at a really bad time for this crop. Oh well - next year I'll definitely run soakers to the tomato bed and possibly consider an irrigation timer. Tomatoes and cucurbits really seem to be the most moisture sensitive crops in my area. I added calcium when transplanting, so I'm pretty sure moisture is the issue, not calcium, though w/out a soil test it's entirely possible pH or Mg excess is rendering the Ca unavailable.

Amazing that the slow doldrums of my green beans still give me 1/2 pound just about every day (I do have 100 row feet of them). The healthier plants are getting ready for a third flush of blooms, so that will pick up soon. Quite a few have sickly looking leaves (but still healthy beans). Not sure if it's a disease (by pictures, possibly yellow mosaic or manganese deficiency), age, or pesticide drift.

Had to cut back some squash vines on my second site because they were getting into the nearby ornamental plants. Should have stuck with a bush variety. Live and learn :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on July 30, 2015, 04:58:13 PM
Effing blossom end rot on tomatoes. Losing a lot of fruit to it, and most of my paste tomatoes are a determinate variety. Trying to compensate post-vacation by watering more frequently, but our trip may have come at a really bad time for this crop. Oh well - next year I'll definitely run soakers to the tomato bed and possibly consider an irrigation timer. Tomatoes and cucurbits really seem to be the most moisture sensitive crops in my area. I added calcium when transplanting, so I'm pretty sure moisture is the issue, not calcium, though w/out a soil test it's entirely possible pH or Mg excess is rendering the Ca unavailable.

I am also having blossom end rot issues with my tomatoes.  I knew it could be a watering issue, but was a little surprised because I am using a self-watering system that I "rarely" let go dry.  I did not know about calcium being a possible issue.  I just thought the soil was too light and was drying out in the heat despite the under-pot water source.  My soil is roughly a 60/40 mix of peat moss and compost, intentionally light to facilitate wicking up the water from below.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on July 30, 2015, 06:53:14 PM
I find BER to just be an annual event with the plum type tomatoes, and the plants just take some time to develop their roots and get over it.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: birdie55 on July 30, 2015, 07:57:02 PM
Blossom end rot is usually caused by irregular watering.  The plant is not able to take in the calcium from the soil because of the irregular watering.  We are in California drought this summer and we have lots of peppers and tomatoes with blossom end rot as we try to conserve water.  As the plants matures the problem lessens.  Some of the tomatoes can just have the spot cut off and you can still eat them, others got really mushy and rotten.  Ick.

I love the fact that others are growing so much of your food.  I have a home vegetable garden and work in the Master Gardener's demonstration garden also, so get lots of vegetables, berries, fruit and citrus from there too.  I have been vegetable gardenign for 10 years and have really learned what works well in our soil here.  Love reading about others gardens.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on July 30, 2015, 09:12:22 PM
Tonight's harvest. Particularly pretty, so I'm bragging sharing. Right now all the things are ripe!

(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11817247_972463249441950_1783833671278109126_n.jpg?oh=64779e108c9279105844e6f3db36e67b&oe=563F469B)

I am green with envy - gorgeous!

Tonight we had "zucchini bolognese" with sauce from last year's tomatoes, homegrown onion, garlic, pepper, basil.

Tomorrow our pork chops will be accompanied by homegrown chard, okra, tomatoes and green beans. 

My blacktail watermelon plant has a couple promising-looking melons on it, and the Bloody Butcher corn is a good 8' tall just as advertised in the seed description.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 31, 2015, 12:22:37 PM
Got all the fall and winter crops started over the past few days. That puts me about 4 weeks behind where I should be. July just kinda slipped right past me. I'm hoping our hotter-than-average summer makes up for the late start and I still get some nice growth. Worst comes to worst I'll have a killer early spring garden I guess.

In the meantime, I have a bunch of fully mature pepper plants loaded with peppers that are pretty much falling over because I didn't stake them (seriously, what the hell HAVE I been doing the past month? Oh yeah - this forum.)

Anyway, who's got a great way to tie up peppers that are already big?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on July 31, 2015, 06:41:43 PM
Got all the fall and winter crops started over the past few days. That puts me about 4 weeks behind where I should be. July just kinda slipped right past me. I'm hoping our hotter-than-average summer makes up for the late start and I still get some nice growth. Worst comes to worst I'll have a killer early spring garden I guess.

In the meantime, I have a bunch of fully mature pepper plants loaded with peppers that are pretty much falling over because I didn't stake them (seriously, what the hell HAVE I been doing the past month? Oh yeah - this forum.)

Anyway, who's got a great way to tie up peppers that are already big?


Rebar and pantyhose. (Seriously, you should see how classy my place looks right now).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on August 11, 2015, 09:24:53 AM
Blossom End Rot

My sister suggested that my soil may be too acidic.  I used a lot of peat moss, >60%, in the mix which if very acidic.  I did add lime to balance it out but may not have added enough.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on August 12, 2015, 02:30:50 AM
It's been an absolutely dreadfull growing season. Wet, cold and damp with the occational burst of windy just about sums it up. Lost all my peas to lice (never seen that many of the little beasts in one place) and didn't even attempt any sort of cabage. I'm growing on a balcony and I'm still only barely keeping up with pest control of herbs, onions and peppers (and they are all very hardy plants).

Still, harvested first 2 chilies yesterday. Many, many more to come as well as a handfull of large paprika that just needs to turn from green. Really, considering the summer it's been those are doing extremely well.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 12, 2015, 05:47:31 AM
It's been an absolutely dreadfull growing season. Wet, cold and damp with the occational burst of windy just about sums it up.

Last year was like that for me. Tomatoes didn't ripen until September, and even then barely, and lost a ton of stuff to mildew and other fungal diseases.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on August 12, 2015, 06:32:16 AM
We've had a fairly dry summer so far, down about 3-4 inches of rain under average.  I did not water my tomatoes much and the plants are a bit below par, but still starting to produce.  The b sprouts outgrew their hardware cloth cages and are now just netted; a dozen big plants we will start harvesting in Sept til at least Thanksgiving.

But.  One of my new hens eats pepper plant leaves; this has never happened.  I have about 6 partially denuded plants, peppers still intact, that I will get the hardware cloth cages on today.  Always something...  Going to be over the top peach/plum/pear year though and picking a pint to a quart of raspberries and blueberries every day.  I should do an economic assessment of what we grow like the Chief does.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on August 12, 2015, 01:59:00 PM
I grew cherry tomatoes for the first time (from a starter plant) and they are delicious! So exciting!

http://imgur.com/A0brsIx
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: tweezers on August 13, 2015, 12:24:34 PM

Start broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, carrots, parsnip....basically cool season crops. You can do a late planting of bush beans and cucumber too if you want.

Is it too late to start these, Erica?  I'm in Skagit County and a new and not overly organized wannabe gardener with an annoying work travel schedule that interrupts best-laid plans for maximizing garden productivity.  Thanks!   
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on August 13, 2015, 11:34:02 PM
Today we are the one head of lettuce that survived my little boys sandblasting rough watering. It was delicious in our tacos. It's the first time I've grown lettuce from seed (it was romain). Now that I know it grows well here I think I will make it my main crop in my 2ft by 10ft mini garden next year. Wondering if I could plant some romaine seeds now (PNW) that might make it? This thread is SOOOO inspiring for newbie gardeners!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on August 14, 2015, 07:53:40 AM
Bumper crop of grape and brandywine tomatoes. They are so delicious. I also harvested my first ever cucumber. Hooray!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thinkum on August 14, 2015, 08:10:53 AM
What a great thread! I started my own garden this year and it's just so awesome thus far! Unfortunately it's been ungodly hot over the past few weeks so our plants are doing worse than they would have otherwise. Our peppers (sweet bell and jalapenos) have grown into big plants that flower, but are not producing fruit yet. Our little tomato is okay, but same issue. Basil is doing okay. Curry and lemon thyme are doing okay as well. Oregano dropped all it's leaves, I think I over watered it! Sweet mint and catnip are feeling the heat. Garlic and onion chives are doing okay.

Overall though, it's awesome to grow your own food. You get a real feeling, reading everyone's posts, along with my own experiences, about the real struggle our ancestors must have felt. Only we have the luxury of having a supermarket down the street or so. Brings a new level of appreciation for farmers, that's for sure. I look forward to following along this thread and adding my own posts too.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 14, 2015, 10:00:05 AM
'Maters, precious?

(http://www.nwedible.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tomato-bounty-768x1024.jpg)


Start broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, carrots, parsnip....basically cool season crops. You can do a late planting of bush beans and cucumber too if you want.

Is it too late to start these, Erica?  I'm in Skagit County and a new and not overly organized wannabe gardener with an annoying work travel schedule that interrupts best-laid plans for maximizing garden productivity.  Thanks!   

It's really, really tight at this point - like at least a month behind ideal. Honestly, I'm super behind this year and all these things were seeded about 2 weeks ago for my garden. It's worth a shot if you have cheap seed to do the root veg - if our winter is mild you may find these become your early spring harvest, but I would find a good local source for starts on the brassicas at this point.

Lettuce, greens, anything "baby leaf" harvestable, asian coles and fast maturing roots like radish are all fine to go in now.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on August 14, 2015, 07:00:14 PM
'Maters, precious?


You're growing the same black cherry tomatoes I am. Are yours trying to take over the world, too? Mine are well over eight feet high and setting fruit every five inches or so. Mine seldom make it into the house, though...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MoonShadow on August 14, 2015, 07:10:48 PM
'Maters, precious?


You're growing the same black cherry tomatoes I am. Are yours trying to take over the world, too? Mine are well over eight feet high and setting fruit every five inches or so. Mine seldom make it into the house, though...

My garden is an embarrassing mess.  Most of the plants are identifiable as what I planted, but nothing has fruited.  It's really sad.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on August 14, 2015, 07:31:10 PM
'Maters, precious?


You're growing the same black cherry tomatoes I am. Are yours trying to take over the world, too? Mine are well over eight feet high and setting fruit every five inches or so. Mine seldom make it into the house, though...

My garden is an embarrassing mess.  Most of the plants are identifiable as what I planted, but nothing has fruited.  It's really sad.


Maybe overfertilized if there's no fruiting? On the bright side, that would mean it'll grow bonzo greens for a fall crop.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MoonShadow on August 14, 2015, 07:35:43 PM
'Maters, precious?


You're growing the same black cherry tomatoes I am. Are yours trying to take over the world, too? Mine are well over eight feet high and setting fruit every five inches or so. Mine seldom make it into the house, though...

My garden is an embarrassing mess.  Most of the plants are identifiable as what I planted, but nothing has fruited.  It's really sad.


Maybe overfertilized if there's no fruiting? On the bright side, that would mean it'll grow bonzo greens for a fall crop.

Last year the plot was downright dead.  I tested the soil, and they told me it was deficient on a couple of uncommon nutrients.  I ordered a 'green manure' for the fall, mostly dikon radishes and such, intended to let rot in place over the winter.  Now it looks like French intensive farming, where the owner just gave up the ghost and let it run.  Probably because that is pretty close to what happened, since I used a square foot method and quit on it about a month ago.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 14, 2015, 09:29:52 PM
'Maters, precious?


You're growing the same black cherry tomatoes I am. Are yours trying to take over the world, too? Mine are well over eight feet high and setting fruit every five inches or so. Mine seldom make it into the house, though...

Yeah more or less they are at the top of a 8 foot remesh panel but starting 18 inches up - so maybe 6 feet?

Delicious tomatoes. We are doing very well this year on tomatoes. For us this is about a month early on ripening. Typically green tomatoes are easier 'round these parts but we got some crazy early summer heat that's made all the difference.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on August 15, 2015, 02:55:25 PM
What a great thread! I started my own garden this year and it's just so awesome thus far! Unfortunately it's been ungodly hot over the past few weeks so our plants are doing worse than they would have otherwise. Our peppers (sweet bell and jalapenos) have grown into big plants that flower, but are not producing fruit yet. Our little tomato is okay, but same issue. Basil is doing okay. Curry and lemon thyme are doing okay as well. Oregano dropped all it's leaves, I think I over watered it! Sweet mint and catnip are feeling the heat. Garlic and onion chives are doing okay.

Overall though, it's awesome to grow your own food. You get a real feeling, reading everyone's posts, along with my own experiences, about the real struggle our ancestors must have felt. Only we have the luxury of having a supermarket down the street or so. Brings a new level of appreciation for farmers, that's for sure. I look forward to following along this thread and adding my own posts too.

I agree on this thread.  I read but haven't been contributing as my garden was pretty pathetic.  Slowly recovering due to a late start and poor soil.

Oregano thrives on neglect.  It's like a wild plant and can spread like crazy with plenty of sun and no competition.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 15, 2015, 09:18:19 PM
Tonight's harvest porn. Also picked today, not pictured, 6 ears corn, 4 giant figs and a few Asian pears.

(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11898589_981125215242420_8517346730509526965_n.jpg?oh=27ba28f356d47294135c8cfc1d1a5baa&oe=56496759)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: sequim on August 16, 2015, 07:59:29 AM
Nice veggie porn. :)

How do you keep up with dealing with it all? 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thinkum on August 16, 2015, 08:48:15 AM
Starting to see success, my first ever bell pepper is coming in!

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv93/emsee07/IMG_20150815_185605602_zpsoysnjwpm.jpg)

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 16, 2015, 11:35:53 AM
Nice veggie porn. :)

How do you keep up with dealing with it all?

This year - dehydrator, mostly. I haven't purchased any additional fruit for preserving this year. I typically can about 250-300# of romas I buy in from a local guy, so this isn't too bad.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on August 16, 2015, 08:48:05 PM
I have some veggie porn to share today.  Whatever these plum-types are (bought plants, might be San Marzano?) going crazy right now.  Also picked green beans, beets, carrots, corn, serranos, Thai chiles, a couple habaneros, red and yellow onions, about a bale's worth of basil and some okra today. Also a handful of strawberries that escaped the birds.  Next year, that bed will be netted fo'sho'.  It's so weird not being inundated with zucchini this time of year, but I'm able to swipe enough of what's brought into the office to keep us from buying it.  Also harvested a small watermelon the other day, though I jumped the gun and it was a little underripe.
(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/IMG_20150816_165317814_zpsr6zzahrk.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/IMG_20150816_165317814_zpsr6zzahrk.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 17, 2015, 08:14:29 AM
horsepoor why no zucchini? Did you lose the plants or are they just behind? Nice harvest otherwise!

Definitely want to try peppers again next year. Skipped them this year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: jooles on August 17, 2015, 12:09:43 PM
I love canning.  This is the best online resource for up to date and safe home canning information.  The home page has a link for their free home study course.  It's a great use of time even for seasoned canners.  There is also a link to the recording from a recent webinar about canning. 

If you have any questions about canning I'd be happy to help you.  There is also a great FB group.  It is a closed group just called "Canning".  The admins of the group are very experienced canners and are very helpful.

I grow lots of food, but it costs me a fair amount of money in water.  Lately I've felt like I could do better with my $$ by just buying at the farmers market.  It would save me a TON of time too.  But I enjoy gardening and I've been experimenting with watering much less than I would like to and the plants seem to be doing just fine with it.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 17, 2015, 01:36:18 PM
jooles - On watering, it helps to have a rain gauge in the yard to track rainfall. 1" per week is considered a good rule of thumb to whether things will need water. But plant species, ambient weather, and soil type vary wildly on water needs.

1. Soaker hoses are incredibly water efficient, particularly if buried under soil or mulch. I like the round ones, not the flat ones.

2. Plant (and water) in zones. Group cucurbits together, as they are the most water intensive. Tomatoes don't need as much water, but they like to be kept evenly moist to avoid BER. Here in my climate they need more water than the brassicas. Beans need the least of the annuals in my experience. Potatoes generally need zero additional irrigation.

3. If you have to water overhead, do it late afternoon. This avoids evaporation loss from morning or midday sun but is early enough to dry plants out before nightfall to avoid fungal disease risk.

Water rates vary from area to area but you shouldn't be adding more than a few dollars to a monthly bill, even for gardens in the hundreds of square feet size range.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on August 17, 2015, 02:11:40 PM
horsepoor why no zucchini? Did you lose the plants or are they just behind? Nice harvest otherwise!

Definitely want to try peppers again next year. Skipped them this year.

My seedlings croaked and I didn't get around to planting new ones.  Had horrible luck with cucurbits overall this year.  Only one winter squash has made it to production stage, then the wind toppled my cucumbers, killing one of the two plants the other day. 

Peppers - no matter how many I plant, it never seems like enough, but really I would just like bell peppers that ripen earlier.  I have some big blocky ones, but they are still green as grass.

On watering - it is surprising how little water some crops can get away with.  I barely water my tomatoes once they get their roots down deep, and we live in the desert.  A rain gauge here in summer would probably get filled up with dust and bird poop first.  Yeah, straw mulch under soaker hoses seems like the way to go.  The veggie garden actually takes way less water per square foot than the stupid patch of fescue lawn we still have.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on August 17, 2015, 05:27:09 PM
Horsepoor, I'd gladly trade you some of my insane zucchini and cucumber harvest for some success with peppers and onions. I had dreams of making my own fresh salsa from the garden but my onions didn't do squat, and I planted my peppers much to close to my tomatoes, which completely smothered my pepper plants.

I am so looking forward to next year and eliminating SO MANY of my rookie mistakes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: puglogic on August 18, 2015, 09:08:55 PM
First (tatume) squash and tomatillos this past weekend -- I made french fries in the oven out of the squash  (dredge in flour, dip in egg, roll in a mix of panko and parmesan)   Tomatillos will have to wait until I have enough to make a batch of green sauce.  I love this time of year!!!

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on August 19, 2015, 07:12:09 AM
Horsepoor, I'd gladly trade you some of my insane zucchini and cucumber harvest for some success with peppers and onions. I had dreams of making my own fresh salsa from the garden but my onions didn't do squat, and I planted my peppers much to close to my tomatoes, which completely smothered my pepper plants.

I am so looking forward to next year and eliminating SO MANY of my rookie mistakes.

I feel this way every year, after twelve years I'm still learning from my mistakes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 19, 2015, 04:43:14 PM
Hey, curiosity question: would folks using this thread find it helpful to have a new "preserving the harvest" thread? There's an old thread I could necro from last year, but starting a new thread I could have the ability to continuously update post #1 with information/recipes organized by ingredient.

Figured I'd ask here, where most of the interest lies, before acting.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on August 19, 2015, 06:27:08 PM
Hey, curiosity question: would folks using this thread find it helpful to have a new "preserving the harvest" thread? There's an old thread I could necro from last year, but starting a new thread I could have the ability to continuously update post #1 with information/recipes organized by ingredient.

Figured I'd ask here, where most of the interest lies, before acting.

I would definitely follow that thread :-)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 20, 2015, 05:54:02 AM
Anyone have tips for judging the ripeness of paste tomatoes? Seems like every time I pick based on color they're still rather pink inside rather than deeper red.

Gently squeezing? I know they'll be firmer than slicers, but I'm guessing if I wait until they have more than a little give, they're ripe? Mine seem to turn red while still quite hard, then slowly soften/ripen.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 20, 2015, 04:06:02 PM
I have some veggie porn to share today.
niiiiice.

Hey, curiosity question: would folks using this thread find it helpful to have a new "preserving the harvest" thread? There's an old thread I could necro from last year, but starting a new thread I could have the ability to continuously update post #1 with information/recipes organized by ingredient.

Yes. I would follow, for sure.

Horsepoor, I'd gladly trade you some of my insane zucchini and cucumber harvest for some success with peppers and onions. I had dreams of making my own fresh salsa from the garden but my onions didn't do squat, and I planted my peppers much to close to my tomatoes, which completely smothered my pepper plants.

I am so looking forward to next year and eliminating SO MANY of my rookie mistakes.

I feel this way every year, after twelve years I'm still learning from my mistakes.

+1 to Horsepoor. Gardening is a "build a better mousetrap, they'll build a better mouse" situations. You're never really done learning. That's one really nice thing about it.

Anyone have tips for judging the ripeness of paste tomatoes? Seems like every time I pick based on color they're still rather pink inside rather than deeper red.

Gently squeezing? I know they'll be firmer than slicers, but I'm guessing if I wait until they have more than a little give, they're ripe? Mine seem to turn red while still quite hard, then slowly soften/ripen.

How hard is "quite hard"? Once mine are red everywhere, including up to the stem, they are usually pretty ready. At that point they have some give, but not a ton. For saucing and canning whole you don't want them too soft - but if you are planning on them for fresh eating it might be a good idea to let them go a few extra days.  As they get riper, generally (varieties are different, obvs) the color becomes a deeper red. So maybe look for a change from "fire-engine" to more like a deep red. Say, from #E22828 to #B31E1E.

Harvest of the day:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11904670_983372741684334_8020874761461137730_n.jpg?oh=9d10c3c6ebb2d763a1088c72234c36c3&oe=56399067)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on August 20, 2015, 08:27:29 PM
Oh wow, so much beautiful produce!

It's still winter for us. Our kale, planted last winter, is still going strong. Much taller than I was expecting! (note to future self: do not plant kale so close to the washing line!)

I'm probaby not going to be able to do much gardening this spring/summer :( (had surgery last week, likely to be having medical treatment for the rest of the year) I'm hoping DH can keep everything alive, and maybe he can have a go at planting zucchinis if I point out where to plant them.

Parsley has spectacularly self-seeded where I planted it. Hoping for huge amounts this summer! Chives have come back from the dead. Hoping dill will self-seed too. It bolted to seed within a couple of months last year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on August 21, 2015, 09:29:55 AM
I'm probaby not going to be able to do much gardening this spring/summer :( (had surgery last week, likely to be having medical treatment for the rest of the year) I'm hoping DH can keep everything alive, and maybe he can have a go at planting zucchinis if I point out where to plant them.

Parsley has spectacularly self-seeded where I planted it. Hoping for huge amounts this summer! Chives have come back from the dead. Hoping dill will self-seed too. It bolted to seed within a couple of months last year.

I hope your recovery goes well.

Chives regrow from the root stock.  We have had the same chive bed for years now.  Every spring it comes back strong.  We cut it frequently so it never goes to seed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 21, 2015, 09:56:38 AM
Once mine are red everywhere, including up to the stem, they are usually pretty ready. At that point they have some give, but not a ton. For saucing and canning whole you don't want them too soft -

Hmm, so if the flesh is a pinkish-red inside, that's good enough for sauce/drying?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 21, 2015, 10:21:05 AM
Anyone have advice on transplanting strawberries? I'm guessing, like most perennials, mid-fall (so mid/late Sept here) is a good time to move things around. I'm increasingly not liking the way I planted them this year and want to move them around. If it makes a difference, most of the ones that need to move are an everbearing variety.

Also, is it true they need several inches worth of mulch to survive temps below 15F/-10C? Should it be straw or would chopped up fall leaves work?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 21, 2015, 10:48:40 AM
Once mine are red everywhere, including up to the stem, they are usually pretty ready. At that point they have some give, but not a ton. For saucing and canning whole you don't want them too soft -

Hmm, so if the flesh is a pinkish-red inside, that's good enough for sauce/drying?

Typically, the flesh of mine inside is medium/light red all the way through, with a seed cavity that's filled out. Underripe romas sometimes have "hollow" looking seed cavity. Some paler streaking down the core is normal, but not white or light pink.

The old skool way of categorizing these things (tomatoes, peaches, etc.) was:

"firm-ripe" - the ripeness at which the fruit was fully mature and colored but still firm enough to ship without damage to the fruit. At this point the fruit will look good, but honestly it won't taste the best. Pears and peaches will still be a bit crunchy, tomatoes may have a paleness and "supermarket" flavor.

"canning-ripe" - the riper stage where the fruit is slightly soft and the flavor has developed further but the fruit is still firm enough to process without falling apart. At this point, the fruit would taste very good eaten fresh and - in the case of things like peaches, there would be no sign of "crunch" or "tooth" to the flesh, but the fruit would not require you to stand over the sink for fear of a juice explosion. Ideal stage for canning.;

"soft-ripe" - the stage at which the fruit is fully juicy and sweet. Ideal for fresh eating, but impossible to ship and too ripe for quality processing because fruit at this stage bruises and falls apart if you look at it firmly. Tomatoes at this stage  are very dark red all through the flesh, as juicy as their type will allow, and soft under the skin (most tomato skin is firm enough that you kind of have to feel "past" the skin to assess softness of the flesh.)

Anything past this is over-ripe. Over-ripe fruit will puddle from its own weight within a few hours if you set it on the counter. Decay may have started to set in. While it's tempting to use over-ripe "seconds" for canning, this should be avoided since the tomatoes become less acidic.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DrSweden on August 21, 2015, 01:39:29 PM
Next year is gardening times for me. It has been neglected this year. I will get manure from my parents in law (horsefarm) and mix in. I will have little time in the spring but from the middle of may and the rest of summer there will be time to garden.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: MoonShadow on August 21, 2015, 04:21:03 PM
Next year is gardening times for me. It has been neglected this year. I will get manure from my parents in law (horsefarm) and mix in.

Don't wait till spring to do this.  Do this before December to permit the bacteria a head start.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: DrSweden on August 22, 2015, 12:05:44 PM
Next year is gardening times for me. It has been neglected this year. I will get manure from my parents in law (horsefarm) and mix in.

Don't wait till spring to do this.  Do this before December to permit the bacteria a head start.

I will! Thinking about doing it in october before it gets to cold.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on August 23, 2015, 07:42:54 PM
http://hub.me/adte4
This is a link to an article I wrote a few years ago regarding how to get veggies to reseed themselves. It saves a lot of work and cost of buying and planting seeds. There are some disadvantages to go along with the advantages.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 23, 2015, 07:51:27 PM
Another 18 pounds of Roma tomatoes just hauled in from the garden today! I think this is the only year I've ever NOT bought in additional canning tomatoes. Feels great! Praised be Global Warming, and not our strength, for it!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thinkum on August 23, 2015, 08:08:06 PM
My first green bell pepper has developed some purplish/brown spots on the end. They are softer than the rest of the green pepper. I'm not sure if it's going to turn red or if there is something wrong with it. It is still not at the full mature size to pick off the plant either so I'm just going to wait to see what happens. Since this is my first time growing this plant, we'll see what transpires.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on August 23, 2015, 09:26:53 PM
Anyone have advice on transplanting strawberries? I'm guessing, like most perennials, mid-fall (so mid/late Sept here) is a good time to move things around.

Pretty easy, just dig them up and replant where you like. Strawberries don't need a huge root ball either, you can dig pretty close to the plant. If the soil is very soft/sany, you can just pull them out and replant, as long as some root comes with it. make sure to water it every few days for a few weeks.

Also, is it true they need several inches worth of mulch to survive temps below 15F/-10C? Should it be straw or would chopped up fall leaves work?
+15F is no problem at all. I never mulch strawberries, and last winter it got down below -10F here, and it has gotten as low as -20 and the strawberries survive just fine.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on August 24, 2015, 05:23:01 AM
Have harvested the first dosen chilies. The cold summer seems to have made for extra hot chilies, so I'll have some smoky food the next 12 months. Popped them right into freezer bags whole: apparently you can grate frozen chilies over food. Never thought of that before, but it's a brilliant consept.

I've also started my late summer crop: radiches and peashoots (grown for salad green leaves) are sprouting like crazy.

For some reason the chilly summer desided to go sunny and warm at the exact same time as the berries ripening. As a result gooseberries, blueberries and red currants went from sour to over-ripe in 3 days. Oh, well. I've made my gooseberry and clove jam. The rest I'll live without. Better luck next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 24, 2015, 06:44:31 AM
Another 18 pounds of Roma tomatoes just hauled in from the garden today! I think this is the only year I've ever NOT bought in additional canning tomatoes. Feels great! Praised be Global Warming, and not our strength, for it!

Jealous! My paste types have so far been a disappointment. Thrown a lot of rotten ones in the compost because they're having BER issues even when the slicer and cherry varieties in the same bed are fine. There does seem to be a large number of good fruits on the plants still, but they're taking their time ripening. This week's weather sure won't help (70s/40s).

I've started to finally see low prices of tomatoes at the FM but I'm holding off and seeing what the final yield will be. Maybe I'll regret that decision? Not sure how packed jars of dry tomatoes translates to sauce yield but so far I've got 12 quarts of dry 'maters built up.

Tom - thanks for the answer on the berries. I was going off of the packet provided by the nursery. We rarely get super cold temps without also having snow cover. I may mulch the beds with leaves anyways to prevent leaching, increasing OM, etc but I won't worry especially about the berries then.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 25, 2015, 03:44:18 PM
I'm melting! I'm melting!

So far this am: 4 sheetpans of plum leather, a ton of tomato chili sauce, 5 liters of LF tomatillo salsa, and harvested 15 gallons of apples which are being processed into juice for hard cider (adults), boiled cider (think apple syrup) and fresh canned juice for a kid treat. Still have probably 50 gallons more apples to pick and get through.

All three dehydrators are totally full, my kids are being ordered to go pick more stuff, the house is sweltering....can I have a gin and tonic yet?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on August 25, 2015, 05:39:52 PM
Yes ;)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on August 26, 2015, 04:43:30 AM
Quote
can I have a gin and tonic yet?
Agree, Yes! Especially if the tonic is that wonderful home made recipe you posted.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on August 26, 2015, 07:14:21 PM
Yes ;)
Quote
can I have a gin and tonic yet?
Agree, Yes! Especially if the tonic is that wonderful home made recipe you posted.

Thanks guys.  :)

Day two of the Plum and Apple Experience. I believe I am becoming a human-fruit leather hybrid. Something like 30 total gallons of juicing-grade apples picked and juiced for cider so far. The pulp was food milled to make apple puree, sweetened, spiced, and dried for leather. Of course, this took something like 8 batches of the juice, puree, spread, dry process.

Total yield: 4 gallons cider and a big jar of fruit leather. Maybe 100 servings of leather? I don't know at this point. I'm trying not to dwell on the fact that buying that much fruit leather at Costco would probably cost me $15.

Actually, that last bit makes me want to cry. Why am I doing this again? Is this entire process a stupid conceit? No one really needs fruit leather anyway. This is just because I'm stubborn and food waste really bugs me. Oh right, it's that time of year again: Question Your Sanity time.

Also, my feet hurt.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: lucky-girl on August 31, 2015, 07:47:15 PM
I've been enjoying everyone's garden porn. my garden has been a real mixed bag this year. we had an epic hail storm a few weeks ago, which destroyed our summer squash, zucchini, and cucumber. Our tomato plants though have been extremely resilient- lots of bruised fruit, but new growth too- as long as our season isn't too short we should still come out ok.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on September 13, 2015, 05:26:56 PM
It wasn't a good garden summer (warm but super wet, not a lot of sun), but not hopeless.  The tomatoes are finally producing, the peas were good and the beans are good.  Cucumbers and broccoli not so great.  The garlic (early spring start) was pathetic, so I am leaving them in their bed to overwinter and hope for a better crop next year. The sweet peppers got off to a slow start, but are finally producing.  I like them ripe (red) so nothing picked yet - I expect to end up with a bunch at once and freeze them.  Sweet pepper seed apparently doesn't keep well, unlike tomato seed which easily keeps 5 years for me, so I planted the plants that were from last year's seed separately (so not pollinated by any other peppers), and plan to save seed from them.  The germination with seed from 2014 was pathetic, although these plants are fine, so selecting for seed that keeps longer seems like a worthwhile goal.

This is the first time I have grown sweet potatoes (= yams).  So a question - can I go rooting for young smaller ones like we do for "new" potatoes, or do I wait until the last minute and harvest everything?  And when?  When the tops die from frost?  When it gets to a certain low temperature at night?  I would like to keep some for slips next spring, and I know I have to keep the tubers above 10oC for that.

Same question for Jerusalem artichokes -this is the first year I have grown them, and they are 6-7 feet high.  Can I pull out some roots, or do I wait until frost gets them?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on September 13, 2015, 05:31:26 PM
 This weekend I have smashed at least 25 tomato hornworms. Little fuckers even got on my peppers.  They don't even like hot peppers!

 Also, my tomatoes are so incredibly tall that I have to climb a ladder to get to them, and I fell off. Or, actually, the ladder and I both fell. It was exciting.

(I do seem to have survived, and the hornworms did not. One even came down with me that I hadn't spotted yet! I smashed him.)

 I hate hornworms.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thinkum on September 13, 2015, 05:58:08 PM
Before a few days ago, I had no idea what hornworms were. I seen what looked like a caterpillar, then noticed branches of my tomato plant torn off, just gone! Then I looked it up and learned about those little bastards. I got him off my plant quick like, he went flying without a parachute.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on September 13, 2015, 06:31:23 PM
Before a few days ago, I had no idea what hornworms were. I seen what looked like a caterpillar, then noticed branches of my tomato plant torn off, just gone! Then I looked it up and learned about those little bastards. I got him off my plant quick like, he went flying without a parachute.


Mash 'em next time; they crawl. Warning: green goo.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on September 13, 2015, 07:18:08 PM
Tomato hornworms are often parasitized, if so they have white things on them, like the picture on this website http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/tomato-hornworms-in-home-gardens/ (http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/tomato-hornworms-in-home-gardens/)  If they are parastized it is best to leave them alone, they won't eat much more and the parasites can emerge to nail the next generation.
If you do let some mature to adulthood, they are a big moth, kind of neat.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 14, 2015, 06:00:51 AM
I'm pretty pleased with my garden considering 2/3 of it were areas in new production that were little more than turned over lawn. I've been measuring my yields and have a total of $550 generated.

Question: my Yukon Golds have been dead above ground for a few weeks. Should I try and dig the roots now or wait for weather to get a little colder?

PSA: I started a new preserving the harvest thread if anyone wants to contribute in form of questions or expertise (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/preserving-the-harvest-a-to-z-(wip)/). I need to add a lot more info to the top posts but hopefully y'all can help and we all benefit :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Axecleaver on September 14, 2015, 07:28:15 AM
Goblin, for potatoes once the vines die you're supposed to dig them up as soon as possible. If the soil is too wet, the potatoes can rot in the ground. We tend to get a lot of rain in the fall here. I've left them for up to a week, but no longer than that. If you're in a dry location, you'll probably be OK.

www.potatogarden.com is a good source for seed potatoes, and they have a very informative growing guide there.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on September 14, 2015, 10:13:19 AM
Tomato hornworms are often parasitized, if so they have white things on them, like the picture on this website http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/tomato-hornworms-in-home-gardens/ (http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/tomato-hornworms-in-home-gardens/)  If they are parastized it is best to leave them alone, they won't eat much more and the parasites can emerge to nail the next generation.
If you do let some mature to adulthood, they are a big moth, kind of neat.


Oh, I know, and believe me, I've been waiting for the wasp parasites, but no luck yet! Did see one of the wasps themselves yearerday, so maybe there's hope.


There is also a preying mantis living in those tomato vines, but apparently he's overwhelmed.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on September 14, 2015, 04:48:12 PM
OK, I think my question got buried, so here goes again - sweet potatoes, when to harvest (i.e. by temperature, by dead vines, what)? And can I steal some early?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 14, 2015, 07:15:42 PM
OK, I think my question got buried, so here goes again - sweet potatoes, when to harvest (i.e. by temperature, by dead vines, what)? And can I steal some early?

Someone did answer you. They said you need to wait as long as possible, because they only bulk up at the very end. Typically the leaves will start to yellow with onset of colder weather. After some googling, it looks like you don't want to let the vines actually frost kill - or if they do, you need to cut or mow the vines down to avoid damage to the tubers.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on September 15, 2015, 05:25:19 AM
Thank you, I never saw the answer.  (Edit - I just went through them again and still didn't see it, who posted it?  I saw the answer to your regular potato question, but not sweet potatoes, so am very glad you re-posted the answer.)  Anyway, we are down to 12oC nights, so not sure when the vines will go, but I will refrain from snitching tubers.  This is a variety that is supposed to do well here (fast growing, early maturing) so I have hopes.  They are totally occupying a 4'x12' bed, so I hope all that growing space has not been wasted.

I picked more tomatoes yesterday, and the flavour is so-so.  Too wet and not hot enough, I think.  Definitely not over-fertilized.  Lots more green ones, I may have a lot of green tomatoes when frost hits (not for at least 2 more weeks, according to the weather forecast, our lowest low will be 10oC).  My wax beans were blander than usual as well, not sure if it is the varieties (new ones to me) or the weather.  I liked the way they grew, they were taller than my old favourites and so easier to pick, but not that wonderful to eat.  My old favourite is in full bloom and starting to have tiny beans (I planted it later than the others, to have succession crops, it is not a slower bean), so I will get to do the comparison taste test soon.  Lots of green peppers, I am eagerly awaiting red ones.

OK, I think my question got buried, so here goes again - sweet potatoes, when to harvest (i.e. by temperature, by dead vines, what)? And can I steal some early?

Someone did answer you. They said you need to wait as long as possible, because they only bulk up at the very end. Typically the leaves will start to yellow with onset of colder weather. After some googling, it looks like you don't want to let the vines actually frost kill - or if they do, you need to cut or mow the vines down to avoid damage to the tubers.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 15, 2015, 07:30:59 AM
Thank you, I never saw the answer.  (Edit - I just went through them again and still didn't see it, who posted it?

Apparently the magic forum fairy - hah, I must have imagined it! Maybe I'd been reading about growing sweet potatoes myself and just thought someone had posted in the thread.

Dug my potatoes this AM. Man, what a workout in heavy clay soil! Ugh. I loosed with a spade as close as I dared (don't have a garden fork yet) but still quite the effort. For all I know I missed some. Yield seemed disappointing while digging. While the tubers are quite large for the variety, most plants only made 1-2. Pretty sure I needed to hill them up more - ah, that's what I get for being lazy!

The yield by weight and by row foot is definitely low. I planted 3 pounds of seed tubers and harvested 18 pounds. Not sure whether to just eat them all or try to save them as a seed increase for a bigger patch next year. At only a 6:1 increase I barely made any money, considering seed potatoes were $11 for 3 pounds. By row foot the patch was ~25 feet. A yield of below 1 pound per foot is rather disappointing. It should be closer to 2 pounds. Live and learn!!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on September 15, 2015, 12:11:18 PM
Those darn forum fairies, playing mind games with us!

Thank you, I never saw the answer.  (Edit - I just went through them again and still didn't see it, who posted it?

Apparently the magic forum fairy - hah, I must have imagined it! Maybe I'd been reading about growing sweet potatoes myself and just thought someone had posted in the thread.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on September 15, 2015, 04:16:26 PM
[

Dug my potatoes this AM. Man, what a workout in heavy clay soil! Ugh. I loosed with a spade as close as I dared (don't have a garden fork yet) but still quite the effort. For all I know I missed some. Yield seemed disappointing while digging. While the tubers are quite large for the variety, most plants only made 1-2. Pretty sure I needed to hill them up more - ah, that's what I get for being lazy!

The yield by weight and by row foot is definitely low. I planted 3 pounds of seed tubers and harvested 18 pounds. Not sure whether to just eat them all or try to save them as a seed increase for a bigger patch next year. At only a 6:1 increase I barely made any money, considering seed potatoes were $11 for 3 pounds. By row foot the patch was ~25 feet. A yield of below 1 pound per foot is rather disappointing. It should be closer to 2 pounds. Live and learn!!

I've stopped (temporarily?) growing potatoes since I just can't grow them as cheaply as I can buy them.  Costs in Australia now doubt are a bit different but it just doesn't work out. I did grow mainly coloured varieties, which are hard to find in shops and more expensive…but still didn't come out much ahead. So from my point of view they are fun to grow  and as always one can get a product that is different and better  than shop bought, but not that cost effective.  So they are on my list of things I'll grow sometime for fun.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 15, 2015, 04:33:35 PM
happy - I still made a (very small) profit but I'll have to see how the garden space comes together. They're probably lowest priority when it comes to space allotment.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on September 17, 2015, 05:07:05 AM
Has anyone had any luck rerooting herbs in water and then transplanting to pots? I want to keep my basil going through the winter if possible. I was also wonderfing if you could reroot parsley bought at the store.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on September 17, 2015, 05:38:37 AM
happy - I still made a (very small) profit but I'll have to see how the garden space comes together. They're probably lowest priority when it comes to space allotment.

I would guess that you need to lighten up the soil with straw or shavings or something so the roots spread better.  Also, unless that's organic seed potatoes, you should be able to find a cheaper source.  Our local feed store sells a few varieties in the spring in bins for like 59c/lb.  I find some varieties do only grow about 5x the seed potato weight, but Yukon golds generally do well and make a pretty big harvest.  Also, the imperfect harvesting just means you get automatic potato plants in the spring (at least here it works that way).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on September 18, 2015, 01:26:57 AM
Has anyone had any luck rerooting herbs in water and then transplanting to pots? I want to keep my basil going through the winter if possible. I was also wonderfing if you could reroot parsley bought at the store.
I've done it with rosemary, basil, estragon and sage. Of the lot the basil is the only one to die. But I've never had much luck growing basil, so that could be it.

@Thegoblinchief: 1-2 per plant seems quite low. Potatoes like light earth, so maybe that's it? My gran (over 80 and stil rockin' the garden) grows potatoes every year. She typically gets 10-30 large ones per plant, depending on weather and diseases.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on September 20, 2015, 03:37:31 AM
I did some gardening today! So excited cos I wasn't sure I'd be able to this spring. Had surgery last month, going through chemo for the rest of the year and radiotherapy will start sometime early next year. (not posting for sympathy - just want to give context!) This is likely to be long because I am excited and I babble when I'm excited :)

I bought a $30 raised garden bed (metal) from Aldi a few weeks ago. I'd been eyeing them off at Bunnings (mega hardware store) for a year now, but prices seemed a bit high. Then happened to be shopping at Aldi on a spring gardening specials day and fluked this one. It's definitely a want, not a need, but I am definitely indulging more wants at the moment or bringing forward decisions.

DH put it together and we found a space near the clothes line next to the monster kale. It feels wrong to buy soil for the garden - it's got to come from somewhere and this is a country which is not rich in topsoil. So, we made do.

The raised garden bed is about 330 litres in volume. We almost half-filled it with the following:

1) I had a 30 litre bag of garden soil when I had Grand Plans to plant a lemon tree out the front (getting lemon trees to grow here is tricky. Once they're established, they're mostly fine but getting them established is hard. The gardening centre reckoned my best bet was digging a big hole and filling it with good quality soil but stuff got in the way and I didn't do it).

2) About 10 litres of soil from flattening out the area the bed is sitting on and from flattening out an area where a big gum tree used to be (the tl;dr story is it came down in a storm).

3) Half a bag of sheep manure leftover from last spring (1 bag = 30 litres).

4) A quarter of a bag of potting mix, ditto and ditto.

5) DH cracked open the bottom of the compost bin and got about 50 litres of compost. Yeeha. Looked awesome.

And topped with some pea straw mulch, also bought from Aldi.

---------------------------------------------------------

I planted kale about 15 months ago, so it's gone through 2 winters. It's finally starting to flower, but we're still eating it. Tip: you can cut off the flower buds and chop them in with the kale. I'll pull out two plants that are keeling over and getting in the way of the washing on the line (I had NO idea it grew so high) and I'll leave the other two as an experiment to see what happens.

Herbs that I've planted previously are going well. Unfortunately, the thought of adding herbs to food at the moment makes shudder (thanks, chemo) but we're trying to give some away when we remember. Parsley bolted to seed last summer and has self-sown into a wonderful carpet. Sage survived winter. I have 2 x thyme, 2 x rosemary going strong (although rosemary in the shade is a bit stunted). Oregano continues its plan for world domination out the front against a sunny north facing brick wall. Tarragon has come back from the dead. It remains to see whether the so-called perennial basil has survived the frosts or is in fact an annual in our climate.

The strawberries out the front (which are a sprawling mess underneath the nectarine tree I planted last year) are starting to flower. They seem to thrive on neglect. We are hoping for a bumper crop again this spring. Last year we were getting I dunno, a kilo or so a week.

I have to remember to pull off any nectarines on the new nectarine tree. A colleague told me the weight could break the tree in the first year cos it's still so spindly (I might keep a couple if they're near the trunk). The dwarf nectarine has flowered nicely. Some of the leaves look a bit weird so maybe it's susceptible to infections or something?

2 out of 3 columnar (tall, narrow diameter) apple trees have started flowering. I'm hoping the third is sleeping, not dead. Grapevine (planted for shade, hoping for some fruit one year eventually!) is starting to put out new leaves. Guava (or feijjoa? I forget which now) is growing upwards, no signs of flowers yet. I mostly planted it for privacy, again, fruit would be a nice bonus)

/essay

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: pbkmaine on September 20, 2015, 06:14:56 AM
I bet it felt wonderful to work in the garden after being in hospital, Astatine! Tell me, what is the botanical name of your supposedly perennial basil? How about your strawberries? I am wondering if either would do well in Florida. Like you, my rosemary, oregano and tarragon are going swimmingly, but the basil not so much. We have black swallowtail butterfly larvae eating our parsley and dill, but it's hard to be cross about that.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 20, 2015, 06:24:50 AM
Astatine - gardening is such good therapy, I felt all warm and fuzzy just reading your post.

More emphasis on tall containers and/or getting a hoe to weed standing up may help if you have days where you are weak/nauseous, so as to avoid bending over too much.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on September 20, 2015, 06:26:39 AM
I bet it felt wonderful to work in the garden after being in hospital, Astatine!

Absolutely! I kept forgetting it's only been 5 weeks since surgery, and while I've been cleared of any weight lifting limits I probably shouldn't have carried the 30 litres of soil from the carport to the backyard... (not sure how much it weighed? At least 10kg/20lb probably more) Oh well, don't seem to have done any damage. Digging was fun too :)

Quote
Tell me, what is the botanical name of your supposedly perennial basil? How about your strawberries? I am wondering if either would do well in Florida. Like you, my rosemary, oregano and tarragon are going swimmingly, but the basil not so much. We have black swallowtail butterfly larvae eating our parsley and dill, but it's hard to be cross about that.

Hmmmm. I have no idea off the top of my head. When I'm feeling less tired (it is theoretically past bedtime and I should go to bed), I'll see if I kept the labels with the plants. There is a stash of plant labels on a shelf in the laundry. I am naturally a rather unstructured person and have not kept any detailed records of what I've planted where. I know the generic names of everything I've planted and where, just not the details...

My dill bolted to seed within about 6 weeks of planting it last year (it grew about 2 foot high first). Any secrets for extending its life? Other than have it eaten by caterpillars.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: pbkmaine on September 20, 2015, 06:33:15 AM
Yes, you have to keep cutting dill back so the seed heads do not form.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on September 20, 2015, 06:38:01 AM
Astatine - gardening is such good therapy, I felt all warm and fuzzy just reading your post.

It is! And good exercise! (it's another tl;dr story, but yesterday the physio cautioned me against my other form of exercise - brisk walks - because of hand swelling blah blah blah)

Quote
More emphasis on tall containers and/or getting a hoe to weed standing up may help if you have days where you are weak/nauseous, so as to avoid bending over too much.

I'm completely out of action for the first week after a chemo infusion, so I'm just going to dabble when I'm functional. The nausea is debilitating, so have no plans to garden on those days (on the plus side, chemo will wipe out my immune system and I'm reeeeally hoping that means my hayfever and asthma is also wiped out this spring = can be outside more) I'll plant a few cherry tomato plants in November and a couple of zucchini plants next chemo cycle, and the DH can manage those. He doesn't like gardening much but loves the produce, and was on harvest duty last spring cos my skin reacted to the leaves once the plants grew a bit. Other than that, we'll just aim to maintain what I've previously planted and try to keep the weeds down.

Next task - source some cheap bulk mulch. I'm a HUGE fan of mulch. You put it down, weeds are less AND magically over a year or two, the soil improves. We have heavy crappy clay soil.

A question for other gardeners - how thick do you have your mulch?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on September 20, 2015, 06:39:11 AM
Yes, you have to keep cutting dill back so the seed heads do not form.

Ah. Thank you! I had no idea.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 20, 2015, 12:03:57 PM
For weed suppression, you'd really want some non-glossy newsprint, plain cardboard, or plain craft paper underneath the mulch. With just plain mulch you need at least 5cm for decent suppression.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: smalllife on September 20, 2015, 02:06:26 PM
Let there be fruit trees! Bought cherries,  paw paws, and a persimmon today. Yay!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on September 21, 2015, 06:07:10 AM
Anyone here in the Northeast (or a place with a cold winter) going for a  winter garden? I'm thinking of getting agribon19 and maybe some 6mil plastic and seeing how long my brassicas and root veg will survive. I'm on the fence about creating the PVC hoops. I currently have wooden stakes up that I could drape the fabric over, but they won't last long. Not sure if the experiment is worth the price of the entire hoop set up.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 21, 2015, 06:19:36 AM
Anyone here in the Northeast (or a place with a cold winter) going for a  winter garden? I'm thinking of getting agribon19 and maybe some 6mil plastic and seeing how long my brassicas and root veg will survive. I'm on the fence about creating the PVC hoops. I currently have wooden stakes up that I could drape the fabric over, but they won't last long. Not sure if the experiment is worth the price of the entire hoop set up.

I've read Eliot Coleman's stuff but haven't tried putting any of it into practice yet. If you do go ahead, I want details!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on September 21, 2015, 06:42:27 AM
Thanks for the book suggestion, GC! I should have planned this out a while ago, but it just occurred to me this morning (I feel sheepish). I think I'm going to go for it. At least we can learn from my mistakes!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 21, 2015, 07:20:11 AM
Thanks for the book suggestion, GC! I should have planned this out a while ago, but it just occurred to me this morning (I feel sheepish). I think I'm going to go for it. At least we can learn from my mistakes!

If for some reason you have access to cheap/free straw bales and storm windows, you can stack bales up to create "walls" and then throw a window on top as the light source. But for most urban gardeners the plastic plus PVC or EMT conduit is the cheaper way to go.

I've read that kale will make it though most winters (author who wrote this was in upstate NY) with a really deep straw mulch layer.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on September 21, 2015, 01:34:37 PM
Anyone here in the Northeast (or a place with a cold winter) going for a  winter garden? I'm thinking of getting agribon19 and maybe some 6mil plastic and seeing how long my brassicas and root veg will survive. I'm on the fence about creating the PVC hoops. I currently have wooden stakes up that I could drape the fabric over, but they won't last long. Not sure if the experiment is worth the price of the entire hoop set up.

I've read Eliot Coleman's stuff but haven't tried putting any of it into practice yet. If you do go ahead, I want details!

This is one of my favorite blogs for Fall/Winter gardening: http://www.motherofahubbard.com/
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on September 21, 2015, 05:46:55 PM
Fantastic! Thanks!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on September 23, 2015, 06:34:43 AM
Nancy, we have done the winter thing!  Have visited EColeman who is,yes,amazing!  We used 1/2"electrical conduit for ours and built a low tunnel, used the 2 layers, and had spinach, kale etc in March when we could get to the tunnel.  Same state as EC, lots of snow. 

Has anyone else read Carol Deppe's newest, "The Tao of Vegetable Gardening"?  I have a girl crush on her.  I already did the eat-all-greens thing; planted abt a 4x4' square raised bed with arugula, a chinese cabbage, 2 kinds of mustard, each in a quadrant.  I wish one of you younger people would teach me how to get a photo into this place!  Beautiful!!Planted in mid August, no weeds or flea beetles this time of year, and started to harvest fresh greens for salad.  I'll cook them later in the fall.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: asauer on September 23, 2015, 07:47:47 AM
Fall garden crops now popping up- carrots, beets, onions, kale.  I'm hoping for a better harvest than I had in the summer which was almost non-existent due to a scorching hot month in July (consistently above 98 degrees).  Even with watering, a lot of my crop died.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 23, 2015, 02:03:51 PM
Fall garden crops now popping up- carrots, beets, onions, kale.  I'm hoping for a better harvest than I had in the summer which was almost non-existent due to a scorching hot month in July (consistently above 98 degrees).  Even with watering, a lot of my crop died.

Too much heat is almost never an issue here, but I'd consider getting some shade cloth next year and seeing if that helps. A friend of mine in a hotter climate has also done natural shade by trellising a heat lover like cucumber diagonally over top of a bed, so that the vine shades what's below it.

Has anyone else read Carol Deppe's newest, "The Tao of Vegetable Gardening"?  I have a girl crush on her.

I was going to pre-order it but got freaked out by how much I spent on garden supplies this last spring. I'd forgotten about it until now. Only one library in my system has a copy, but I just requested it. If I like it as much as her other books, I'll probably buy a copy. The plant breeding one is a bit beyond my time involvement right now but I definitely liked The Resilient Gardener.

I might order seeds from her if I can figure out a good space for the varieties I'm excited about (her strain of delicata will work easily for me, and also her popbean, but I don't think I have the space for her oregon sweetmeat, which is what I'm most excited about).

Images - the easiest way is, when creating or modifying a post, click on "attachments and other options" below the post editing window, then choose a file to attach.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on September 23, 2015, 02:21:01 PM
Penny Lane, I'm so glad it worked for you. This is very encouraging! When did you plant your seeds that were up in March? I'm going to plant this weekend, which hopefully is not too late.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: asauer on September 23, 2015, 02:33:38 PM
Thanks goblinchief.  We did put in shade cloth but we put it in too late. Saving it for next year!  In NC you can pretty much bet that the extreme heat will be back!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on September 24, 2015, 01:49:39 PM
Aren't determinate tomatoes supposed to ripen close together? My determinate varieties seem to ripen about as unevenly as the indeterminate ones.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on September 25, 2015, 05:04:00 AM
Nancy,  I think around the time I plant the garlic in October so not too late to plant.  Good luck with this!

GC-- I will send you a copy of "Tao" if you would like; you should def have one!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on September 25, 2015, 09:14:54 PM
So, I'm pretty sure the allegedly perennial basil is not perennial, or at least, not in my climate with many winter frosts. Ah well. It was worth the experiment.

The garden bed we set up last weekend still remains empty of plants. But I think we will plant 2x cherry tomatoes (we finally have trellises - bought at Aldi the same day we bought the veggie bed thingy), plus basil plus maybe some pansies or something. I saw on a gardening show that basil + tomato is a good combination for companion planting. I forget the reason the guy said (was very fuzzy headed when watching the show) but at least I remembered the gist.

I'm going to be a spendypants this arvo and buy lots of bales of pea straw or sugar cane mulch from the big hardware store. It will be $$ but I don't care. Priorities are definitely shifting for me given the health issues of this year and the last few years (I swear my body is trying to kill me - 3 life-threatening conditions in 3 years). I want to do gardening. This way of getting mulch is quick and manageable. DH just needs to carry the bales where I want them and then I can do the mulching myself this weekend before the next chemo cycle.

I'm absolutely passionate about mulching. We have thick heavy clay soils and live inland where summers are very hot and dry and winters are cold (lots of frosts but no snow). Where the mulch is thick, the soil is beautiful. Rich and easy to dig into. Where the mulch is thin or balding, the soil looks crappy and is hardened. The more mulch the better IMO.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: smalllife on September 26, 2015, 07:50:45 AM
My garlic arrived yesterday and is in the ground, surrounded by perennial flowers to make the front yard more "appealing".  Now to dig up the side and put in my comfrey and lovage ...
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on September 29, 2015, 01:30:16 PM
It's been several weeks since I've been at my garden and I'm itchin' to get over there. Especially since I keep hearing persistent rumours that neighbours and family are continuing to reap decent amounts of tomatoes and apples. What's got me really excited is that my purple cabbage has apparently gone through a growth spurt of EPIC proportions. I had been ready to call my cabbage, like my onions were, a failed experiment...but I guess not.

I've issued an executive order (through email and Facebook) NOT TO TOUCH THE CABBAGE. THAT belongs to Jon Snow and his DW.

I'm heading over early next week, with my wife joining me a few days later for the Thanksgiving long weekend. Lots of work to put the garden to bed for the season. And a *hit load of wood splitting to do - our winter supply of firewood is a bit sparse right now. I can't wait. :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 2300 on October 04, 2015, 10:23:08 AM
My 1st year of gardening this year in a small Chicago community garden.  Some successes (tomatoes, peas, herbs, kale, lettuce), some Ok results (beats), and some failures (spinach...not a single plant in spring or fall).  Continuing lots of learning in person and online.

Following this thread to learn more.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on October 05, 2015, 12:22:34 PM
Welcome, 2300! I'm pretty sure I'll continue to learn for as long as I garden. No two seasons are exactly the same.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on October 05, 2015, 10:58:46 PM
Jon_Snow,

How was the purple cabbage? Enquiring minds want to know!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on October 06, 2015, 05:44:06 AM
I'm still harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers along with my fall bounty. I'm feeling a bit under pressure to preserve it all. That's a ridiculous thing to type. I'm incredibly lucky. I'm just nervous that I won't get all my food projects done and there will be waste (ugh!). A bit more than a pint of raspberries every two days is the most wonderful gift the Earth could give me. I"m freezing for my winter oatmeal. Yum!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 07, 2015, 08:49:12 AM
Jon_Snow,

How was the purple cabbage? Enquiring minds want to know!

I'm on the ferry tonight, so I will see how things look in the morning!

I've got lots to do with the garden to "put it to bed" for the season. Need to see what I can do for covering my beds with some sort of mulch...hopefully there are enough leaves on the ground. There is also a chance that there is going to be a bit of a storm on Saturday, remnants of a hurricane that passed by Hawaii...a big blow like that usually deposits a ton of seaweed on the beach. I'm wondering if I can gather a bunch, rinse off the salt water, and put this directly on my garden beds to decompose over the winter. Will need to do some web research on this.

And need to plant some garlic!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 07, 2015, 08:58:03 AM
Seaweed is excellent. Not sure how much it needs to be rinsed but it is very valuable as compost material.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 07, 2015, 03:52:04 PM
The nectarine tree I planted last year is going great guns this spring. It's grown about 30cm taller in the last couple of weeks. It's also got a gazillion proto nectarines. Unfortunately most are on very spindly branches so on the recommendation of a colleague (advice from last year) I'm pulling off all the baby nectarines unless they are on a sturdy branch. At least I know the pollinators were busy this spring!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tris Prior on October 07, 2015, 03:57:06 PM
Hey 2300, do you garden with PGP? That's where my garden bed is.

My spinach didn't do that well either. Started some from seed; immediately died. Got some cheap plants; immediately bolted as soon as it got hot. I tried for a fall crop and 2 plants did sprout from seed... but they've got like 2 true leaves on them apiece and have not increased in size over the past few weeks, so I guess that is another fail.

I've got rainbow chard leaves the size of my head, though....
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 07, 2015, 05:17:59 PM
Anyone (ideally in short-season climes) have bush or short-vine winter squash varieties they want to recommend?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on October 08, 2015, 03:22:26 PM
Anyone (ideally in short-season climes) have bush or short-vine winter squash varieties they want to recommend?
What kind of storage do you need? Bush delicata does great.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 08, 2015, 04:01:29 PM
Anyone (ideally in short-season climes) have bush or short-vine winter squash varieties they want to recommend?
What kind of storage do you need? Bush delicata does great.

Ideally something longer storage. Plus I have my eyes on a viney delicata variety already.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Penny Lane on October 08, 2015, 06:13:45 PM
GC, I don't know if the smaller butternuts are less viney, like "Ponca"?  I haven't tried any of these.  I know I am disappointed in the quality of some winter squash , but it's hard to know if I didn't let it improve in storage for a long enough time.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: birdie55 on October 09, 2015, 09:41:06 AM
I have grown Renee's garden Honey nut squash, which is a small butternut.  Days to harvest is 110 and we trellis the plants.  No need to support the squash either, they have strong vines.  We got about 10 squash per plants this summer, however they are individual sized squash.  We grow a lot of Renee's seeds as she is fairly local to me (CA) and donates a lot of seeds to the Master gardener program that I belong. 

I bought Bush buttercup seeds from Baker creek and will plant them next year.  I have not grown them before, hope they are as sweet as butternut.  I've always grown Waltham in the past, just trying different stuff. 

I grew Banana squash and Kuri squash also this summer, both were great...banana was much larger than the kuri. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on October 09, 2015, 10:42:38 PM
We're having a hot fall this year, but it's going to make for some great late-season BLT's.  I am all about the Brandywines this year:

(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/IMG_20151009_214836292_zpszkjszzik.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/IMG_20151009_214836292_zpszkjszzik.jpg.html)

This weekend I'm going to start doing some clean-up for fall.  I've been busy and things are a mess.  It will feel great to chill and spend a solid day in the back yard getting things back in order.

My sweet potato vines looked great this year, but I think my watering must have been too uneven because the one plant I dug up so far had really deformed, cracked tubers underneath.  Disappointing.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 15, 2015, 09:24:30 AM
It was a very productive Thanksgiving weekend in the garden. I now proclaim it "put to bed" until next Spring. I grabbed the last tomatoes, potatoes, squash, carrots, purple cabbage and some beets. The kale and Swiss chard continue to grow merrily. And some heads of nice looking lettuce seem to have sprung up out of nowhere.

I mulched up a bunch of fallen leaves, though they were a bit hard to come by as the leaves haven't started changing colours and falling in earnest quite yet. But I scrounged up enough to cover many of my beds with them. Also walked the beach and found some beautiful bull kelp specimens (30 feet long) washed ashore and hauled them to the garden. A bit bummed that I didn't get any garlic planted due to some poor planning on my part.

I am thinking about building a greenhouse in the Spring. Will happily research the requirements of such a project while on my Baja sojourn.

My first-year food growing experience exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations by a wide margin. Cannot wait till I do it again in 2016.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: birdie55 on October 15, 2015, 09:35:38 AM
Jon Snow, it's wonder to see a new gardener get bitten with the bug and look forward to their next garden. 

I planted a second crop of spinach this week in my home garden. 

I have garlic and potatoes in my long term bed, and spinach, kale, bok choi and chard in another bed.  I just ordered tomato seeds for next years warm season garden.  I will start them mid February so they will be ready to plant in early to mid April.  The potatoes and garlic will be ready to harvest in May or June, and I'll replant with summer squash and Chinese long beans then. 

At the Horticulture center where I volunteer, we have snap peas, lettuces, seven varieties of beets, different colors of chard, multiple different varieties of kale and an entire bed of carrots.  We have a lot of half barrels where we have cool season herbs, baby ball beets and carrots, garlic, Egyptian walking onions, lemon grass, garlic chives and more snap peas. 

There will be plenty of food from either garden,so I will only need to buy potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions until next spring.  I love it when I can get my vegetables from one of my gardens.  Both are organically grown as well. 

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 15, 2015, 09:49:20 AM
I am thinking about building a greenhouse in the Spring. Will happily research the requirements of such a project while on my Baja sojourn.

There may be other/better books out there, but Eliot Coleman's "Winter Harvest Handbook" has quite a bit to say about greenhouse design and growing info. I'd start there if you haven't read it already.

Probably doesn't translate about the border, but down here Johnny's probably has the best selection of supplies. Generally speaking, though, the only things you'd need to mail-order would be a tubing bender (if applicable to your design) and greenhouse plastic/clips. Nearly all designs are based off of set sizes of common EMT conduit or top-tubes for chain-link fence (varying thicknesses based on how tall you want the damn thing).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 15, 2015, 04:45:28 PM
Jon Snow, it's wonder to see a new gardener get bitten with the bug and look forward to their next garden. 

I cannot remember being "bitten" so pleasurably...well, maybe apart from a few instances. *ahem*
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 15, 2015, 07:28:48 PM
I am thinking about building a greenhouse in the Spring. Will happily research the requirements of such a project while on my Baja sojourn.

There may be other/better books out there, but Eliot Coleman's "Winter Harvest Handbook" has quite a bit to say about greenhouse design and growing info. I'd start there if you haven't read it already.

Probably doesn't translate about the border, but down here Johnny's probably has the best selection of supplies. Generally speaking, though, the only things you'd need to mail-order would be a tubing bender (if applicable to your design) and greenhouse plastic/clips. Nearly all designs are based off of set sizes of common EMT conduit or top-tubes for chain-link fence (varying thicknesses based on how tall you want the damn thing).

Thanks for another great sounding recommendation Chief. I'm in the process of loading up my Kindle for my trip south, and this one sounds like a good candidate. I'm also going back in this thread and my Journal to check on some of your other suggestions.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 16, 2015, 04:46:25 AM
It's hot already so I'm going to gamble that we'll have no more frosts til winter next year. All going well, I will plant some cherry tomatoes and zucchini this weekend. We're going to take it easy with gardening this spring given my limits. DH is not really into gardening but is ok keeping tomatoes and zucchini alive, and harvesting when ready.

Meanwhile, the strawberry on the north side of the house (equivalent to south side in the northern hemisphere) is growing a gazillion baby strawberries. If the earwigs don't get them, we could be in for a bumper harvest! I have no idea what I planted - it was about 4 years ago when I planted it. I do nothing special - just deep watering when they look a bit wilted in the heat.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on October 17, 2015, 04:56:31 AM
I planted a lemon last year which promptly got pruned by the wallaby… has taken a long time to recover, but is starting to look good again….no blossom so far , but lots of new leaves at least.  My garden is overgrown with weed and I'm way behind this year.  Have cleared a bed, in which I will grow a dwarf mulberry tree. The comfry which i thought I'd lost is coming back.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 19, 2015, 11:03:45 AM
Beautiful colours, ASL!!!

I'm headin' to my island garden one more time before I book it south...bound and determined to get the garlic planted this time! And nail down EXACTLY where the greenhouse is going in the Spring.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 19, 2015, 02:10:28 PM
Very excited for my greenhouse too! Got some important decisions to make. If I locate it within my fenced garden area, I can definitely build it quite a bit cheaper by using plastic sheeting on the outside. But I'm not too thrilled by losing some future garden bed real estate by doing so. I'm leaning toward building it OUTSIDE my deer-proof area - and this will COST ME. Why, you may ask? Apparently, I just recently learned, the deer have learned how to use their antlers to poke through the plastic on some greenhouses and very happily proceeded to devour the delicious contents. I mean, REALLY?

So, anything I build outside of my fence will have to be a more costly glass or rigid plastic...I'm just looking into what kind of greenhouse kits of these types might be out there.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: pbkmaine on October 19, 2015, 03:22:12 PM
 So let me get this straight - the greenhouse is more important than the house?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on October 19, 2015, 03:39:53 PM
John, a couple years ago we built a greenhouse on a wood frame with rigid plastic.  Really happy with it and it was easy to build.

Mine is a lean-to style, but could easily be done free-standing.  Not sure what kind of kits you might be looking at, but at least the Harbor Freight type greenhouses are pretty flimsy.  I had one but it couldn't withstand windstorms and finally blew apart.  This one isn't going anywhere, and might deter the deer, too.

(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/P1030514_zps4e347955.jpg) (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/AQHAHunter/media/P1030514_zps4e347955.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 19, 2015, 03:44:26 PM
Greenhouse:

-Most important thing is sun angle, particularly in the low sun months, so pay attention to trees that aren't shading the area now but might shade at a lower sun height.

Deer/fencing:

How high would the deer actively try "poking"? A roll of meter-high basic chicken wire fencing set just far enough outboard the structure to keep them from antlering, but close enough that they wouldn't want to jump it (say half a meter?) is probably considerably cheaper than a rigid plastic or glass house. Around here I can get ~45 meters of 1" hex galvanized chicken wire for under $100. Pound some T-posts in, and ziptie. Bam. Done.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on October 19, 2015, 04:46:42 PM
Greenhouse:

-Most important thing is sun angle, particularly in the low sun months, so pay attention to trees that aren't shading the area now but might shade at a lower sun height.

Deer/fencing:

How high would the deer actively try "poking"? A roll of meter-high basic chicken wire fencing set just far enough outboard the structure to keep them from antlering, but close enough that they wouldn't want to jump it (say half a meter?) is probably considerably cheaper than a rigid plastic or glass house. Around here I can get ~45 meters of 1" hex galvanized chicken wire for under $100. Pound some T-posts in, and ziptie. Bam. Done.

Chief - Do you have any suggestions for keeping out (getting rid of) the mice & voles?  They are invading my garden space.  They like to eat a few bites of a tomato, then a few bites out of the next tomato........
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on October 19, 2015, 05:01:54 PM
Horsepoor, your greenhouse looks pretty skookum. I don't have a pre-existing structure to provide support, but a free standing version of what you have done there would serve me very well.

Chief, I'm not certain how "determined" the deer would be in trying to get past the chicken wire...though I've heard anecdotes over the years that suggest it might not be enough. I think I will at the very least go with a rigid plastic akin to what horsepoor has for hers. And great point about the sun...the trees that ring my property are tall - and a coast redwood is positively GINORMOUS - so moving the greenhouse away from the trees, and towards the center of the clearing is probably necessary. This would pretty much put it in deer-Grand-Central.

The deer stopped being "cute" a long time ago.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 19, 2015, 06:04:59 PM
Threshkin - Outdoor cat, bait boxes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 21, 2015, 10:43:57 PM
Planted cherry toms in our new garden bed. Planted 4 zucchinis and 2 basil. That's it for this spring.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 29, 2015, 04:49:36 AM
Help! Earwigs are demolishing the zucchini plants I planted last week. As in, they are pretty much gone, no stem or leaves left. DH went outside just now (after dark) and found the culprits munching on the 2 zucchini plants left over sitting on the back step.

I have lots and lots of mulch (random leaves, twigs, pea straw, etc) on my garden beds. It's the only reason I can grow anything in the garden because of a) crappy clay soil and b) our summers are brutally hot and dry and very few plants survive without mulch. I mention this because last year I have vague recollections that removing hiding places for earwigs was the only suggestion I found.

I'm hoping the clever gardeners in this thread have solutions I can try. Otherwise, no zucchini for us this year :( and our strawberry bumper harvest will likely go the same way.

(Please note I'm in Australia so active ingredients rather than brand names would be most helpful. Or home-made stuff.)

Thank you :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Eric222 on October 29, 2015, 06:10:04 AM
Canning & Freezing (and not wasting)

This may be a bit of a naive/lazy question, but where do you find bell jars (or the equivalent) to can and store the food once you've gathered/processed it?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on October 29, 2015, 06:33:09 AM
Canning & Freezing (and not wasting)

This may be a bit of a naive/lazy question, but where do you find bell jars (or the equivalent) to can and store the food once you've gathered/processed it?

Ball jars are available in basically every grocery store, and many farm supply type stores. Around here, the grocers typically stock them in the baking section. $1/jar or less is an acceptable price to pay for a new jar with lid and ring.

Astatine - wish I could help. Never had that issue myself, so my only assistance would be Google. Hopefully others will have suggestions :)

Our main pest here is squash borer, which has yet to show up in my garden, but can be mitigated by rotation and a row cover when the moths are laying their eggs (date usually available on an ag extension web sites).
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 4alpacas on October 29, 2015, 09:57:33 AM
Canning & Freezing (and not wasting)

This may be a bit of a naive/lazy question, but where do you find bell jars (or the equivalent) to can and store the food once you've gathered/processed it?

Ball jars are available in basically every grocery store, and many farm supply type stores. Around here, the grocers typically stock them in the baking section. $1/jar or less is an acceptable price to pay for a new jar with lid and ring.

Astatine - wish I could help. Never had that issue myself, so my only assistance would be Google. Hopefully others will have suggestions :)

Our main pest here is squash borer, which has yet to show up in my garden, but can be mitigated by rotation and a row cover when the moths are laying their eggs (date usually available on an ag extension web sites).
I recently purchased some from Michael's (with the 40% off coupon).  I forget what I paid, but it was less than $1/jar.  I've tried to look at thrift shops for used ones, but I haven't had any luck.  Pinterest has made them too popular.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Threshkin on October 29, 2015, 10:31:41 AM
Canning & Freezing (and not wasting)

This may be a bit of a naive/lazy question, but where do you find bell jars (or the equivalent) to can and store the food once you've gathered/processed it?

Ball jars are available in basically every grocery store, and many farm supply type stores. Around here, the grocers typically stock them in the baking section. $1/jar or less is an acceptable price to pay for a new jar with lid and ring.
I recently purchased some from Michael's (with the 40% off coupon).  I forget what I paid, but it was less than $1/jar.  I've tried to look at thrift shops for used ones, but I haven't had any luck.  Pinterest has made them too popular.

Craigslist or your local equivalent is a good source for canning jars.  Around here they are popular for wedding decorations so are new and essentially unused.  Some people want ridiculous prices but that is typical Craigslist.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 29, 2015, 03:00:28 PM
Warning - gross icky advice coming.  There is nothing a gardener will not do to protect his/her baby plants  ;-)

I always found brute force worked well - as in apply sole of shoe to earwig.

So: You need a solid smooth surface and shoes with a smooth sole.

Two houses ago we had masses of earwigs, they had just moved into our area and the predators had not discovered them.  They are attracted to light, so I would turn the porch light on, wait a bit, and then go step on them.  Wait a while, and stomp on the newcomers.  There were literally thousands, they had eaten my purple basil to skeletons.  I did get the numbers down.  You can also leave things out at night that they will like to hide under for the day, and then go and lift the whatever and again stomp.  Be sure the whatever is on a solid surface.  I found the trays for putting starter pots in worked well, they have that corrugated surface for draining water from the pots, and the earwigs liked them as hideouts.  Cardboard would be good too, where they can get in the corrugations, and then shake the cardboard out in the morning on a hard surface.

Some people use light traps.

I found squishing them between thumb and forefinger (wearing gardening gloves) was satisfying emotionally but made little difference to their numbers.  Every little bit helps though.  But for any kind of control you need to lure them and kill them.

You might want to take the mulch off the gardens temporarily, until you have killed a bunch.

Good luck.

Help! Earwigs are demolishing the zucchini plants I planted last week. As in, they are pretty much gone, no stem or leaves left. DH went outside just now (after dark) and found the culprits munching on the 2 zucchini plants left over sitting on the back step.

Thank you :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on October 29, 2015, 04:30:45 PM
Thanks so much RetiredAt63! I'm going through cancer treatment at the moment so don't have much energy for earwig apocalypse. I will see if DH has the stomach for your stomping method. But... you mentioned light traps which finally helped me narrow my googling (had no luck with Google last year when earwigs were eating our strawberries before we could harvest them). And I finally found a page with a bunch of suggestions on trapping them. So thank you very much :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on October 30, 2015, 01:00:22 PM
@Astatine - good luck with the cancer treatment, and good luck to your husband with the earwigs!

I grew sweet potatoes for the first time this year; it felt very odd to be growing what I think of as a warm climate, long season crop.  I held off digging them as long as I could, to give them lots of grow time, and I got a good harvest - most of a half-bushel basket, I would say, from 14 plants in a 4x12' bed.  Digging them was a bit of work, I think I need a deeper soil (they were in a raised bed with good soil on a clay base).  I let them cure in the house for at least 2 weeks before I started eating them, and they are just as tasty as the store-bought ones, and I know what they were sprayed with - nothing  ;-) 
It was hard to do the "2 weeks curing at about 80oF" because outside was highs of 10oC and lows below freezing, and the house was 15-20oC.
I saved some vines and am rooting them, I hope to be able to keep them going all winter and make lots of cuttings in the spring.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on November 01, 2015, 05:04:20 PM
First year cherry tomato grower here ;-) The vine has all but rotted out but there are still about 10 green tomatoes growing on the vine. With our PNW rains now settled in, I'm not sure what to do? Pick them? Leave them to ripen? We do have a bit of sun in the forecast each day for the next 5 days. Thanks for any help!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 01, 2015, 06:32:24 PM
I'm not sure, 1967mama. I once had a bunch of unripe green tomatoes from my garden. I used them in a green tomato recipe but had to throw it in the compost bin because it was unbearably sour (and I'm someone who loves to put lemon juice in lots of meals). But, some people must love green tomatoes given the number of recipes out there.

I'm posting a win and a loss.

Win! Probably about 1kg of strawberries harvested on the weekend from the one sprawling plant on the sunny northside garden (equivalent to northern hemisphere's south facing gardens).

Loss :( all my zucchinis and a couple of cherry tomato plants have been chomped into oblivion by earwigs. I have put out some earwig traps and cockroach baits (one site said they worked on earwigs?) but neither of us have any energy to stomp on earwigs yet. I will replant this week and try to remember to cover them with plastic containers every night to try to protect them from wee ravaging beasties.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on November 01, 2015, 09:10:50 PM
Green tomatoes - you could try picking them and bringing them in to see if they will ripen.  Or you could make a salsa verde.

I spent the better part of the day today processing sweet potatoes.  I kept all the nice baker-sized ones out, but the oddly sized ones with weird cracks and crevices were broken down and I now have six quarts of cubes plus a bunch of fries and hashbrowns in the freezer.  The odd bits are dehydrating right now for dog treats.

Yesterday I picked all the tomatoes I thought still had a chance of ripening, as well as the rest of the peppers.  That pretty much filled up the wheelbarrow, so I drove that right into the basement to get sorted later.  We're expecting the first freeze in a few days so trying to get the garden cleanup mostly done but haven't taken the vines down yet.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: backyardfeast on November 01, 2015, 09:18:34 PM
Jon_Snow, just a thought on your greenhouse (and good tip about the deer; I had not heard about that trick!!).  The rigid plastic looks really easy to work with, but the cheapest option, if you're up for something slightly more challenging (and possibly creative) is just to get free or cheap glass from Craigslist/used.com.  People regularly are taking down glass deck railings, throwing out old windows, and even taking down old greenhouses.  We know numerous people who have managed to cobble together attractive and functional greenhouses at a very low cost this way.  Google recycled greenhouses and you'll see lots of funky examples; lloyd kahn has a particularly nice one.

The older glass is way better, too; you don't want new, high efficiency windows for a greenhouse.  It's an awesome upcycling to re-use older, leaky, highly transparent glass this way.  Just a thought!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 02, 2015, 01:27:59 AM
This weekend gone I  planted a dwarf black mulberry tree, and some butternut pumpkin seed. I got the seed last year from a random shop bought butternut and 2 plants gave me 23 pumpkins.  Hoping for a repeat this year. My first lot of snow and snap peas were decimated by snails, so I resowed and used some snail bait in desperation (I 've never used any before but I've never managed to grow peas or beans either).  The first pea is just coming into flower, so thats progress. The late planted garlic is growing, but looking a bit tattered…not sure what will happen, usually its harvested in November, so I will start to pull up one or two. They can be eaten nicely like spring onions/shallots if the bulbs are not developed. I'm OK with that, but will have to buy garlic to plant next year.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Nancy on November 02, 2015, 04:24:03 AM
Picked raspberries, carrots, and a parsnip yesterday. I have a lot of rutabaga left in the garden, so I'm going to have to think up some recipes quickly. I've decided against a winter garden since I didn't have enough time to plan it properly, and the soil and I could use some rest.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: 1967mama on November 03, 2015, 01:34:59 AM
Thanks for the tips! I will pick the little green cherry tomatoes tomorrow!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tris Prior on November 03, 2015, 05:34:42 PM
If you pick green tomatoes and then bring them inside and put them in a paper bag with the top folded over, at least some of them will ripen. I did this last year when my mother tore out her garden and "gifted" me with an entire suitcase-load of green tomatoes. I did have to pitch some that rotted but well over half of them did eventually turn red!

I'm having similar luck this year; our community garden closes for the season Sunday and it's been freakishly warm out so I've been taking advantage and pulling the almost-dead-but-still-making-tomatoes plants.

I'm going to plant some seed garlic in the bed before it closes, for the first time ever. Any tips?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on November 13, 2015, 07:05:20 PM
 We are expecting our first freeze tonight, so I'm finally putting things to bed. I re-harvested the last of the outdoor basil – thought I had done the end of that month and a half ago, but it bushed back out again. Also picked the last of the tomatoes, Still green, and put them in the freezer for stew later.


 Brought in the Swiss chard in a pot and other potted plants, and brought in the two 5 gallon buckets of hot peppers – those will at least ripen The current green peppers, and likely will grow some more if I hand pollinate – had good luck with tomatoes doing that last winter,  and we have lots of blooms.


 I meant to, but did not, pick a great big bunch of marigolds for a vase in the house. If they survive the not I'll do it tomorrow. Packed up the hose and covered the outdoor Fossett, not that I twill need it for a mild freeze, but it's good practice.


 And, I'm worn-out – first day after a minor outpatient surgery. So all the basil leaves are in the refrigerator, and I'll make pesto tomorrow. Ditto chopping up the peppers that I harvested.


 I have Kale, spinach, and more Swiss chard growing in a wheelbarrow in the atrium, but I think that it'll survive just fine. The plan is for them to grow most of the winter. In the atrium, I think that will probably work out.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 13, 2015, 09:08:07 PM
We lost our first lot of zucchinis. Completely munched down to the ground. So we tried again. So far so good. Cleared the area of mulch around each hole for the plants (about 40cm diameter), wet the soil with a bit of diluted pyrethrum and then planted, without replacing the mulch. Some nibbles on the leaves but they are still recognisable as plants! So we will keep the mulch cleared around the base until the leaves are big enough to deter even the hungriest earwigs. Does mean watering more, but we've luckily had some rain this week. Also put down a bit of snail bait because we found a snail on a zucchini leaf. Little buggers.

And planted a random snow pea that we got for cheap at a local fundraiser. $2 for a plant. Planted it under the trellis where one tomato plant had died (damn earwigs! *shakes fist*) and cleared mulch around it again. Other two cherry tomatoes have grown and will hopefully survive any future predation.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on November 13, 2015, 09:22:51 PM
Brought in everything I want to save over the winter a few days ago. Got very lucky this year, and didn't lose anything to the hard frost like I did last year. I have onions and shallots, parsley, sage, a citrus tree and a pomegranate bush, and some petunias. One of the petunias is on its third year. I also have a small tobacco plant that was in a pot and somehow survived the frost.
The broccoli is still in the garden and should survive all but a very hard frost.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 14, 2015, 03:59:57 AM
I finally grew some snow peas and sugar snap peas, after multiple attempts. I had to compromise my organic principles and put out some snail bait to get the seedlings to survive.  ( gross that stuff works, a zillion dead snails)  For the first time I tasted the delight of snow peas and sugar snap peas straight off the plant. I did keep some to cook and they were so tender and delicious. My new favourite crop.

I'm way behind this year, partly because my netted enclosures fell down and are still not rebuilt and partly because I seemed to temporarily lose enthusiasm for gardening. Still I'm currently harvesting silver beet, immature garlic,  rocket, lettuce,  chives and other herbs.

Question for the experts, I have coriander (cilantro) which is producing seed. Currently getting lots of green pods. How long do I leave them on the plant? Do I harvest them for seed green, or wait til it browns off?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 14, 2015, 05:52:40 AM
Nice to see people starting their gardens, it will give us something to dream about.

We have had several hard frosts, so now the gardening consists of cleanup and putting away.  I am washing all the seed starter equipment, then it will go into storage for next spring.  Seed starting mix needs to be moved from the garage to the basement, otherwise it will be frozen solid when I need it.

My sweet potatoes are yummy.  I have a question for people who have grown them more - some of them are perfect, some have big splits or creases down the length - what causes that?  It isn't size related.  Plus a few look fine from the outside, but the centers are hollow and off colour.  Possible causes?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on November 14, 2015, 07:47:33 AM
I walked by a cactus garden yesterday. My little PNW island garden may as well be on another planet compared to where I am now.

And I agree with R@63...hearing about active garden exploits, courtesy of our Southern Hemisphere members, is nice.

Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on November 14, 2015, 08:31:42 PM
Cilantro is super easy to re-seed. Let the seeds dry (can be harvested partially green, but older is better) Save them in a cool, dry, dark place and just scatter them where you want them in the early spring. Even easier, I don't bother 'saving' the seeds. I just pick the seed heads and put them on the ground where I want them to grow the next year. The seeds fall down and sprout very well. I have only planted cilantro once, about 8 years ago, and have never failed to get new to grow, with no effort at all.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 14, 2015, 08:40:45 PM
Quote
Nice to see people starting their gardens, it will give us something to dream about.

Quote
And I agree with R@63...hearing about active garden exploits, courtesy of our Southern Hemisphere members, is nice.

You're welcome, and likewise. Jon-Snows garden pics had me smiling and getting the green itch all through winter. ( those arms had nothing to do with it)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 14, 2015, 08:45:18 PM
Cilantro is super easy to re-seed. Let the seeds dry (can be harvested partially green, but older is better) Save them in a cool, dry, dark place and just scatter them where you want them in the early spring. Even easier, I don't bother 'saving' the seeds. I just pick the seed heads and put them on the ground where I want them to grow the next year. The seeds fall down and sprout very well. I have only planted cilantro once, about 8 years ago, and have never failed to get new to grow, with no effort at all.

Thankyou,  Tom Bri.  I might try letting the seed heads dry off a bit more and put them straight in the garden as you say. I have just the spot.  I love keeping seeds in the soil.  I did this with parsley last year, and had a whole carpet of parsley :) , running to seed just now.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: FerrumB5 on November 14, 2015, 10:38:38 PM
Cilantro is indeed easy to grow. I have few hundred seeds (spheres) now from my outside garden (replanted in 3-season porch now), hand picked. Hint: in case you didn't know, every cilantro seed sphere is TWO seeds, each can grow fine if divided into two. Profit.
Also growing parsley (which I prefer over cilantro, unlike DW), dill (my favorite), basil. Put some new soil in pot a few months back - got FREE 2 strawberries now growing out of seeds that were probably in that soil. Cannot complain.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 16, 2015, 02:56:03 AM
And planted a random snow pea that we got for cheap at a local fundraiser. $2 for a plant. Planted it under the trellis where one tomato plant had died (damn earwigs! *shakes fist*) and cleared mulch around it again. Other two cherry tomatoes have grown and will hopefully survive any future predation.

Damnit. Slaters ate the snow pea!!! That's a first. At least snow peas aren't an essential part of our diet like zucchini are.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 16, 2015, 07:25:28 AM
What are slaters?

Here the pea stealers are ordinary - rabbits and groundhogs.  And the worst culprit - my dog.

And planted a random snow pea that we got for cheap at a local fundraiser. $2 for a plant. Planted it under the trellis where one tomato plant had died (damn earwigs! *shakes fist*) and cleared mulch around it again. Other two cherry tomatoes have grown and will hopefully survive any future predation.

Damnit. Slaters ate the snow pea!!! That's a first. At least snow peas aren't an essential part of our diet like zucchini are.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on November 16, 2015, 12:23:56 PM
 Currently frustrated because I pulled everything up/brought it in in preparation for our first freeze earlier this week, and it didn't freeze. It now looks like we won't have a freeze until sometime in December (freakishly late for here.)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on November 16, 2015, 12:40:41 PM
My sweet potatoes are yummy.  I have a question for people who have grown them more - some of them are perfect, some have big splits or creases down the length - what causes that?  It isn't size related.  Plus a few look fine from the outside, but the centers are hollow and off colour.  Possible causes?

If you haven't solved this via Google, it's just like with carrots and some other root veggies - too much moisture at the end of the growing season will cause them to crack/split. At least that would be my primary guess.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 16, 2015, 02:55:08 PM
Hope this link for an image of a slater works (I'm on my phone - too sore to get out of bed)

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2467/3696795831_00f5d3d08e_b.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.flickr.com/photos/jean_hort/3696795831&h=1024&w=768&tbnid=b9JMDOjSGuLQ7M:&docid=d8xQuCgQedR3sM&hl=en&ei=MFBKVpC2IIGHmgXV1KCICw&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0CDEQMygQMBBqFQoTCJCO4vD2lckCFYGDpgodVSoIsQ
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 17, 2015, 06:45:21 AM
Hi Astatine
Here they would be called sow bugs (they are really crustaceans).  Mostly they eat dead plant material, so I am surprised they are hitting your peas.  Maybe just using them for a safe place to hide?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: arebelspy on November 17, 2015, 10:15:35 AM
Growing up we called those potato bugs or roly-polys.  :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Jon_Snow on November 17, 2015, 11:31:38 AM
In my hood, they are "wood bugs".
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 17, 2015, 03:12:32 PM
Hi Astatine
Here they would be called sow bugs (they are really crustaceans).  Mostly they eat dead plant material, so I am surprised they are hitting your peas.  Maybe just using them for a safe place to hide?

We only had one snow pea, and it was a long stem, maybe 20cm (er, 8 inches I think? not sure) with a few leaves. Not really anywhere to hide, plus there is a lot of mulch around for slaters to live under (ie there is no shortage of slater hiding places). DH went out the morning after I planted it and it was being swarmed with slaters and had been eaten. I guess it's possible that the dastardly earwigs had eaten it first and then the slaters swarmed, but that's never happened before. As in, earwigs just strip the new plants and slaters are normally nowhere to be seen. So weird. So annoying.

Growing up we called those potato bugs or roly-polys.  :)

In my hood, they are "wood bugs".

LOL so many different names.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 18, 2015, 12:00:31 PM
Hi Astatine
Here they would be called sow bugs (they are really crustaceans).  Mostly they eat dead plant material, so I am surprised they are hitting your peas.  Maybe just using them for a safe place to hide?

We only had one snow pea, and it was a long stem, maybe 20cm (er, 8 inches I think? not sure) with a few leaves. Not really anywhere to hide, plus there is a lot of mulch around for slaters to live under (ie there is no shortage of slater hiding places). DH went out the morning after I planted it and it was being swarmed with slaters and had been eaten. I guess it's possible that the dastardly earwigs had eaten it first and then the slaters swarmed, but that's never happened before. As in, earwigs just strip the new plants and slaters are normally nowhere to be seen. So weird. So annoying.

Growing up we called those potato bugs or roly-polys.  :)

In my hood, they are "wood bugs".

LOL so many different names.

Oh it hurts when that happens.  I would be tempted to blame the earwigs, I have seen them strip things (well, the plant was fine one evening, stripped the next morning).

I have never had anything strip a pea vine like that, so no ideas, as I said the main vine damage here comes from the dog.  Are your days getting too hot to replant?  Peas are easy to grow in cool weather, not so much in hot.  If your soil is on the dry side you can pre-soak until you just see the root starting to grow, then plant before the root breaks the seed coat (prevents root damage).  Peas (especially snow peas and edible-podded) are so yummy and worth growing in the home garden.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 18, 2015, 05:38:42 PM
Thanks Retired63. Today is supposed to be 34C so possibly a bit too hot but the main limiting factor is I have no energy (DH does garden maintenance but has zero interest in learning how to plant things). I suspect we are done for our spring planting now. My new chemo has wiped me out plus I'm sick (ongoing fever). I'll just continue to post our successes and failures :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 19, 2015, 08:42:45 AM
Good luck with the health issues. 

Around here 34C is high summer, the peas would have stopped blooming weeks ago.  Unless yours was heat resistant, it would be just sitting there complaining anyway.   I hope you have lots of heat lovers planted and ready to appreciate life.

Do you get to just lie out in the garden and soak up the warmth and vitamin D yourself sometimes? 
 
Thanks Retired63. Today is supposed to be 34C so possibly a bit too hot but the main limiting factor is I have no energy (DH does garden maintenance but has zero interest in learning how to plant things). I suspect we are done for our spring planting now. My new chemo has wiped me out plus I'm sick (ongoing fever). I'll just continue to post our successes and failures :)
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on November 19, 2015, 09:23:35 AM
This year's garden isn't quite put to bed yet, and I'm already psyched to start next year's garden.  I just put in my order with Pinetree seeds and might buy a few more varieties of peppers from a different vendor.  2016 is going to be the year of the chiles since I've been getting into making my own hot sauces and chile powders. 

So far I've brought in a couple pickup loads of compost from the stable and have a full compost bins of leaves and kitchen scraps plus a huge compost pile behind the chicken coop as well.

Kale, beets and chard are still still going out there, but I've noticed that the beets really quit putting on size about 2 months ago.  The learning curve for fall gardening has been steep for me.  It's so hot and dry here in the summer that it's hard to get fall seeds going and hit that sweet spot where they have enough time to get to edible size before it cools off to the point that growth grinds to a halt.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 19, 2015, 03:49:58 PM
Good luck with the health issues. 

Around here 34C is high summer, the peas would have stopped blooming weeks ago.  Unless yours was heat resistant, it would be just sitting there complaining anyway.   I hope you have lots of heat lovers planted and ready to appreciate life.

Do you get to just lie out in the garden and soak up the warmth and vitamin D yourself sometimes? 

High summer is Jan/Feb for us. The forecast for summer is El Nino, which translates to hot and dry conditions. Jan/Feb will likely have many days in the high 30s, probably a week above 40C. I'm hoping it won't be any worse than that this summer. I hate summer. Today will be 36C in the shade and high winds. We had a near-frost less than a month ago, so our temperature ranges can swing quite wildly in the transition to summer.

We have cherry tomatoes and zucchinis planted as annuals. We have a bunch of perennials (fruit trees, strawberries, herbs) that hopefully will survive the summer with occasional deep watering. We have had successful tomato and zucchini crops over summer in the past but we haven't had a full-on El Nino year since I first started growing them. We shall see... (there is a reason for mega mulch - it's the only way to keep plants alive over summer without completely drying out on hot and windy days)

I'm not a huge fan of sun bathing. I don't like the heat (ugh) and our UV levels are pretty brutal (my country has the highest rate of melanomas in the world). But maybe I should do a bit of sitting outside early in the day before the UV and heat get too revolting.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: happy on November 19, 2015, 11:26:56 PM
39.5C here, at 5pm. Snow and sugar peas still flowering: I hope they don't stop.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Anje on November 20, 2015, 02:22:05 AM
Re the roley-poleys of the numerous names: they will (if they are many enough) eat your crop. In fact, if you get an infestation they can clear out all things growing. It's rare, but not unheard of, so I wouldn't asume they are harmless if they are pressent in large numbers.

Snow hit this morning. Chilies have been ok (as in: alive and very slowly ripening fruit) until now, but this marks the final end for our growing season.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 20, 2015, 10:05:59 AM
We are having a very mild fall - nights are consistently below freezing, days above - yesterday was hot -   +14C.  With rain of course, but at least it wasn't snow.  I have seen years where we had 6" of snow by now, so this is easy living, with more time to do all the last minute gardening chores.  Spring is usually the more volatile season, we can go from winter to almost summer back to winter in a week or two - it can be hard on the early flowering fruit trees when they start to break flower dormancy and then get hit with temperatures well below 0C.  And it means tomatoes don't go out until the last week of May and peppers the first week of June.

Astatine, when it is hot I also do everything outside in the early morning or late late afternoon - enough sun for vitamin D, not enough for a burn, and the temperatures are better.  Noon is for mad dogs and Englishmen, right? and we are neither.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on November 20, 2015, 02:06:39 PM

[/quote]
We have cherry tomatoes and zucchinis planted as annuals. We have a bunch of perennials (fruit trees, strawberries, herbs) that hopefully will survive the summer with occasional deep watering. We have had successful tomato and zucchini crops over summer in the past but we haven't had a full-on El Nino year since I first started growing them. We shall see... (there is a reason for mega mulch - it's the only way to keep plants alive over summer without completely drying out on hot and windy days)
[/quote]

Tomatoes should survive the heat and dry, they like heat and dry and produce better fruit (up to a point).
I'd suggest NOT keeping them upright though. Let them run over the ground and put down extra roots from their stems. I actually bury the stems under a layer of dirt/compost. Seems to really help.
Zucchini? Let them die! :-)
Do you have frost in the winter? If not, the tomatoes should survive and produce again. They are not annuals in warm climates.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on November 20, 2015, 05:55:30 PM
Re the roley-poleys of the numerous names: they will (if they are many enough) eat your crop. In fact, if you get an infestation they can clear out all things growing. It's rare, but not unheard of, so I wouldn't asume they are harmless if they are pressent in large numbers.

Thanks for the warning! I didn't realise the benign-seeming slaters can be ravenous beasties in certain circumstances. And lol @ bolded bit.

Astatine, when it is hot I also do everything outside in the early morning or late late afternoon - enough sun for vitamin D, not enough for a burn, and the temperatures are better.  Noon is for mad dogs and Englishmen, right? and we are neither.

Very sensible. We did go for a short walk yesterday late afternoon. DH has now mowed the lawns so being outside is a bit more appealing (grass makes me itchy).


Quote
We have cherry tomatoes and zucchinis planted as annuals. We have a bunch of perennials (fruit trees, strawberries, herbs) that hopefully will survive the summer with occasional deep watering. We have had successful tomato and zucchini crops over summer in the past but we haven't had a full-on El Nino year since I first started growing them. We shall see... (there is a reason for mega mulch - it's the only way to keep plants alive over summer without completely drying out on hot and windy days)

Tomatoes should survive the heat and dry, they like heat and dry and produce better fruit (up to a point).
I'd suggest NOT keeping them upright though. Let them run over the ground and put down extra roots from their stems. I actually bury the stems under a layer of dirt/compost. Seems to really help.
Zucchini? Let them die! :-)
Do you have frost in the winter? If not, the tomatoes should survive and produce again. They are not annuals in warm climates.

Thanks for your reply. We have very limited space in our garden, so we're growing to try growing them upwards, not sprawling, for once. I'm not sure what the climate is where you live, but our hot dry summers are brutal, particularly El Nino ones. I'm a bit inland so humidity can get extremely low on the bad fire danger days (think single digit relative humidity, temps above 40C or 100F and unrelenting hot winds from the western deserts). Keeping stuff alive in those conditions is challenging, particularly if we slip into drought conditions.

Yep, we have frosts in winter because we're a bit inland. They can get as low as -7C (or 20F) so anything even slightly frost sensitive tends to die by June. Tomatoes are definitely annuals in my climate zone. Because of the frosts, most people plant their tomatoes in early November and growing season finishes anywhere between April and June.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on November 22, 2015, 08:58:50 AM
I can't let tomatoes sprawl here. The fruit rots or gets munched on by insects long before it ripens. The bed I forgot to tower until the plants were too unruly produced a fraction of the good fruit my towered bed did.

horsepoor nice on getting the order in already, wow. I have Pinetree's book already but I'm waiting for my other vendors to arrive so I can pick and choose. I'm going to try and keep it all within one mainstream book if at all possible since I don't need many seeds this year, and then I have another order for a tiny seed company that only takes orders between Jan-April.

I had bad luck planting fall broccoli here so I can empathize with how hard it is to time things. My fall carrots did okay considering the terrible spot I picked for them.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on November 22, 2015, 09:51:36 AM
Yes, now the challenge is to not get tempted and order MORE seeds before spring.  I LOVE all the different squash varieties that Baker Creek carries, and could easily get carried away ordering those, but they take a ton of space and I know we won't eat them all.

I think instead of trying to start fall crops in the height of summer, I might try to save some space and put in slower-maturing seedlings around June and hope that they don't bolt.  Maybe set up a shade clothed area for them.  I've basically given up on my blueberries and most of the asparagus, so that frees up a ton of room to experiment with other things.

Last week I put the garlic in, and filled the rest of the bed with potatoes.  I know they're traditionally planted in spring, but each year I miss a few when I harvest, and those regrow in the spring, so I don't see why a fall planting won't work.  My dad left me with a bunch of little Yukon golds that were sprouting and had green spots so no better place to put them than in the ground. 

Yesterday and got all the kernels off of my cobs of Bloody Butcher corn.  I was disappointed with the yield from the corn patch, so I was surprised that the kernels filled up a 1/2 gallon mason jar plus another quart.  Hoping it will grind to cornmeal adequately in my Blendtec and we can enjoy some cornbread.

Next year I'm going to do a patch of black beans instead of the corn.  Hoping bush beans will interplant with squash better than the corn did (I spaced the Bloody Butcher fairly widely but it still shaded the squash too much).  I have yet to see a really successful 3-sisters planting, but maybe with shorter corn it would work.

It's supposed to hit the upper 40's today, so I'm going to finish cleaning up and mulching once the frost burns off.  It's a good feeling to have everything put to bed and everything stowed and ready for next season before the ground freezes.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Thegoblinchief on November 22, 2015, 10:05:02 AM
3 Sisters - My knowledge is totally book knowledge. Carol Deppe has a decent treatment of it in both of her recent books if you own them or can get them via the library. The TL;DR of it is (from memory):

1. Corn - hills spaced quite wide, I think 48-60" IIRC.

2. Beans - Let the corn get established, then sow the  pole beans (pre-soaked).

3. Squash - Any variety in theory works. Sow at the same time as the corn, about 1 hill for every 3-4 corn hills.

Another way to do it is plant is ditch the third sister (squash), plant corn at closer to conventional spacing (usually 24-30") in row for OP/heirloom types, and plant pole beans after they're about a foot to 18" high. According to her, ANY pole bean variety will work at the EDGE of a corn planting, but there are certain beans shade tolerant enough to work on the inside rows.

Haven't tried any of that myself. Don't have the fertility for corn and don't really want to devote the space either.

On grinding in a blender, the final meal tends to get HOT, which degrades some of the flavor and nutritive value. A 'hack' for that is to put the whole corn in the freezer for a day to chill down before grinding. You can also grind corn pretty fast in a hand mill like the Corona grinder if the Blendtec doesn't pan out. One pass very coarse to crack, then a second pass with the plates tighter to get a finer meal.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on November 22, 2015, 01:18:50 PM
I have had good luck planting the beans and corn at the same time. I usually alternate one bean one corn down the row. But if they get out of whack, one or the other can get too far ahead and shade out the other. Sometimes you have to gently remove the climbing beans from the corn and drape it lower on the stalk.
This year I had lots of volunteer tomatoes growing under the corn. They seemed healthy, but didn't  produce many fruit until the corn was done and had died back some, letting more light in.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: wintertell on December 05, 2015, 10:30:18 AM
We are garden newbies! This year we did well with herbs, tomatoes, pepper and lettuce. I expected to better with squash and zucchini, but it didn't happen. Will need to do more research next time!

I just covered by raised garden bed for the season. We just did soil + cardboard + Mulch/Bark layer with leftovers from the summer, so I hope this is enough to protect the garden and not strip out all of the nutrients over the winter as the cardboard gets broken down.

Do I need to go back and add more plant matter (i.e. leaves) and some compost to help rejuvenate the soil?
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: horsepoor on December 05, 2015, 10:35:52 AM
Goblin Chief, thanks for the pointers.  I don't plan to grow corn next year, but I'll try interplanting black bush beans with winter squash and see how it goes.

We are garden newbies! This year we did well with herbs, tomatoes, pepper and lettuce. I expected to better with squash and zucchini, but it didn't happen. Will need to do more research next time!

I just covered by raised garden bed for the season. We just did soil + cardboard + Mulch/Bark layer with leftovers from the summer, so I hope this is enough to protect the garden and not strip out all of the nutrients over the winter as the cardboard gets broken down.

Do I need to go back and add more plant matter (i.e. leaves) and some compost to help rejuvenate the soil?


Dry leaves are a "brown" (carbon source) similar to the cardboard.  If you want to up your fertility, you'll want to add a nitrogen source.  If you can get goat or rabbit poo, you can add it directly to the garden without composting.  With that said, more compost is always better!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Tom Bri on December 05, 2015, 11:18:29 AM

[/quote]

Dry leaves are a "brown" (carbon source) similar to the cardboard.  If you want to up your fertility, you'll want to add a nitrogen source.  If you can get goat or rabbit poo, you can add it directly to the garden without composting.  With that said, more compost is always better!
[/quote]

Dry leaves are great, like he says, for adding carbon to the soil, and it is carbon that catches and holds the nitrogen you need for plants to grow. So, add the leaves. I usually dig a deep trench in the fall and pile the leaves in, then cap with a thin layer of dirt and garbage. Then next time I collect leaves do another layer until the leaf fall season is done. Then all winter long the garbage and fireplace ash goes on top. In the spring I cap the whole thing with a layer of dirt and plant into that. The leaves will rot over the summer and create a deep carbon layer. This has been working very well for me the last ten years. I don't bother to actually compost any more, just bury it all deep.
This fall I started adding all the recyclable paper in the trench. We'll see how that goes, but I expect it to act similar to the leaves except maybe be slower to break down. Since it is all a couple of feet down, it shouldn't matter. With lots of pure carbon added, you do need to make sure there is a good nitrogen source, manure or garbage, or the plants will have a hard time getting enough.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Astatine on December 05, 2015, 02:58:33 PM
We seem to have successfully got 4 zucchini plants growing!!! Huzzah.  So I suspect we will have a huge zucchini glut this summer (assuming we can keep all of them alive) but one of my favourite things is giving away our surplus produce to friends. Any surplus will not go to waste.

Our two cherry tomato plants are growing beautifully and have already started to  flower. We have a few tiny tomatoes already starting to grow. Very exciting. We are going away for a week in January (a very hot and dry month here) so hopefully they will survive over that period.

My nectarine tree out the front has shot up hugely over spring. I reckon it grew a metre (3 feet) in the space of a couple of months. I pulled off most of the baby nectarines because most of the branches are still very spindly and thin. But, the ones I left (on the thicker branches) are growing nicely and look beautiful. I'm amazed the parrots haven't found them yet. We have an ornamental plum tree out the back (grows tiny plums) which are already getting stripped by currawongs and parrots.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on February 14, 2016, 04:03:07 PM
It's 2016 now and this thread has 23 pages.  Shall we start a new thread for the new year?

It's -22 outside now (that's Celsius) so I am staying happy with catalogues.  So many choices.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rosy on February 14, 2016, 04:25:13 PM
A new thread would be great, it took forever to open.

Chilly in Florida, but up to 70 F by noon, then cooling off again. Must water soonest, only managed to water half the garden on Saturday and will be gone most of the day tomorrow - but at least I got the veggies.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Rural on February 14, 2016, 05:27:07 PM
 I believe cilantro, kale, and lettuce (outside in the atrium) and basil (inside in the kitchen) are all going to overwinter successfully. The hot peppers pepper (also in the kitchen) are just about done, but it's just about time to start new seeds, anyway.  I did not get any tomatoes or peppers started this weekend, so it's on the agenda for next.
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on February 14, 2016, 05:46:45 PM
@Rosy, Rural - let's start a new one instead of reviving this one. 
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: Bracken_Joy on February 14, 2016, 05:47:45 PM
Just be sure to add a link here to the new one!
Title: Re: Planting/Growing Your Own...The Garden Thread
Post by: RetiredAt63 on February 14, 2016, 05:57:09 PM
I hope this link works, good idea.
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/plantinggrowing-your-own-in-2016/ (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/plantinggrowing-your-own-in-2016/)

MOD NOTE: PLEASE SEE THE ABOVE LINK FOR PLANTING YOUR GARDEN 2016!