Let's see those '10 gardens

[BC-Axeman]

It's time to get started!
I need a lot of dirt moved so I got a tractor.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/nhtz25da-1.jpg
http://74.50.55.59/pics/nhtz25da-2.jpg
It's little but it's a hard worker.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden310.jpg

I'm going to build a bunch of raised boxes with screened bottoms to try to fight the gophers off.

[T.G]

I'm going to build a bunch of raised boxes with screened bottoms to try to fight the gophers off.

Lance, I can just see you running around like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

"Here Mr Gopher, gopher, gopher...."


;s

[shilala]

I got some tomatoes, flowers and tobacco started. Not much to show yet.
Lisa and I still have to plant the rest of the seeds next weekend. I'll probably work on transplants then, too.
I need to carry myself out there and clean the garden up. I still have a couple months before I need to, but maybe if it's done I'll get broccoli and lettuce in before July. :)

[BC-Axeman]

Lance, I can just see you running around like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

"Here Mr Gopher, gopher, gopher...."


;sI think I killed close to 30 of them last year and they still ate all my potatoes.
I have blown one up, too. Last resort. Poison and repellents don't work.

Deer and gophers make it very challenging for me.

[G G]

:r

[weak_link]

The tulips& crokus I planted at my ex-wife's house are about to pop. Part of me wants to go take them all out and put them in pots at my place.

[kenstogie]

I love a nice garden and this is not a garden per se but I have a squishy backyard due to Voles. Any thoughts? I have no problem killing them as I am not a PETA member.

[BC-Axeman]

The tulips& crokus I planted at my ex-wife's house are about to pop. Part of me wants to go take them all out and put them in pots at my place.:r "The EX-games"
:lv

[cricky101]

Bought my first place in December and am thinking about giving a small garden a go - maybe some tomatoes, various peppers, some herbs ....

I read through the '09 gardens thread and saw some great-looking plots of land!

[shilala]

I love a nice garden and this is not a garden per se but I have a squishy backyard due to Voles. Any thoughts? I have no problem killing them as I am not a PETA member.
I had a female black lab that used to eat moles and voles and mice all day long. She could hear them. She was especially brutal on nests. She'd dig them up and throw all the babies in the air and stomple them.
She wasn't really down with the PETA, either. :tu

[MortonMilo]

I think I killed close to 30 of them last year and they still ate all my potatoes.
I have blown one up, too. Last resort. Poison and repellents don't work.

Deer and gophers make it very challenging for me.

I feel like we have to hear the story involved in this one....

[kenstogie]

I had a female black lab that used to eat moles and voles and mice all day long. She could hear them. She was especially brutal on nests. She'd dig them up and throw all the babies in the air and stomple them.
She wasn't really down with the PETA, either. :tu

Can I rent her for a couple of weekends?

[T.G]

I think I killed close to 30 of them last year and they still ate all my potatoes.
I have blown one up, too. Last resort. Poison and repellents don't work.

Deer and gophers make it very challenging for me.

I can't seem to face up to the facts
Gophers like my garden so I
Can't relax
I can't eat 'cause the gophers got the vegies
Don't touch me I'm shootin' them in the hedges

Gopher Killer
Qu'est Que C'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away
Gopher Killer
Qu'est Que C'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away


;s

[shilala]

Can I rent her for a couple of weekends?
I'd totally let the smelly old girl come over, but "had" is the key word here. I planted her and the ex-wife's cat from hell in that yard before we moved. That was a lot of years ago.
Her son is still living, I lost him in the divorce. He's not much of a mouser unless I throw them at him, but he doesn't stink.
If you can get an English Lab with a good nose, they are awesome mousers. Even a good English American cross. American bred labs, not so much.
I can't wait to get another one of those fat smelly buggers. I really miss my dog. His mom, not so much. :)

Q: What kind of woman would take a man's dog in a divorce?
A: The kind I divorce.
:tu

[BC-Axeman]

I feel like we have to hear the story involved in this one....
I wish I could tell it.:D

[kenstogie]

I'd totally let the smelly old girl come over, but "had" is the key word here. I planted her and the ex-wife's cat from hell in that yard before we moved. That was a lot of years ago.
Her son is still living, I lost him in the divorce. He's not much of a mouser unless I throw them at him, but he doesn't stink.
If you can get an English Lab with a good nose, they are awesome mousers. Even a good English American cross. American bred labs, not so much.
I can't wait to get another one of those fat smelly buggers. I really miss my dog. His mom, not so much. :)

Q: What kind of woman would take a man's dog in a divorce?
A: The kind I divorce.
:tu

Been there done that Scott and can't say I'll ever do it again. As someone once said "Why would I want to break back into prison?"

[shilala]

Been there done that Scott and can't say I'll ever do it again. As someone once said "Why would I want to break back into prison?"
I've got enough experience that I think I can pick a little better nowadays, but I will admit it was a few years before I even gave it a thought. I do believe the newest is going to be around for a long, long time.

[BC-Axeman]

I love a nice garden and this is not a garden per se but I have a squishy backyard due to Voles. Any thoughts? I have no problem killing them as I am not a PETA member.
Mouse traps or poison bait.
http://voles.com/How_to_Kill_Voles.htm

Between the cats, dogs, owls, hawks, coyotes, ravens, snakes, bobcats, and other predators, voles don't seem to have a chance around here. The only time I see evidence of them is after the first meadow mowing. Then they are exposed.

[BC-Axeman]

:banger Hooray! Killed the first gopher of the year. Last year it was something like 28 of them. This year I'm going for blocking them but they are still not welcome.

Almost through moving dirt around.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden310a.jpg

[tuxpuff]

I can't compete with you Lance...but I setup a small square foot garden yesterday...

http://cigar-review-site.com/garden/img_1289.jpg

http://cigar-review-site.com/garden/img_1290.jpg

http://cigar-review-site.com/garden/img_1291.jpg

http://cigar-review-site.com/garden/img_1295.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

This is not a competition, Luke, and square foot gardens are great. That is what I'm trying on a bigger scale. I will have 6 @ 4'x7's, 2 @ 4'x12's and 1 4'x6' boxes three 2x6s high. The 4x7 footers may be 4x8s if there is enough room. Our soil is not good for veggies and instead of adding amendments to it constantly I will just fill the boxes with good soil.

[tuxpuff]

Very nice...that's a lot of soil!

[jjirons69]

Lance, love the idea with screened bottoms. That should work.

Ken, as far as voles or moles, try this. CLICKY (http://aroundthehome.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1).

http://www.moleinator.com/files/1844755/uploaded/Easy%20Set%20Mole%20Trap.jpg

This thing has killed every mole I've ever had. My co-worker turned me on to it and she's killed dozens with it.

I'll be setting out the garden in a few weeks. Can't wait.

[T.G]

Lance, love the idea with screened bottoms. That should work.

Ken, as far as voles or moles, try this. CLICKY (http://aroundthehome.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1).

http://www.moleinator.com/files/1844755/uploaded/Easy%20Set%20Mole%20Trap.jpg

This thing has killed every mole I've ever had. My co-worker turned me on to it and she's killed dozens with it.

I'll be setting out the garden in a few weeks. Can't wait.


So they like bump into the trigger plate, it trips the spring and the two scissor blades close, decapitating them or possibly even chopping them into three pieces?


Brutal.

Barbaric.

Medieval.


I ****ing love it! :tu

I'm gonna order one and I don't even have mole problems. If I turn it upside down, maybe I'll catch a cat with it.

[OLS]

Is that wire that sections off squares supposed to teach those plants a lesson on boundaries?

[jjirons69]

So they like bump into the trigger plate, it trips the spring and the two scissor blades close, decapitating them or possibly even chopping them into three pieces?


Yeah! You stomp their main trail for a day or two. You'll come back and they'll have rooted the tunnel back open. That way, you know it's their main highway and they're actively tunneling. You insert the scissors in the tunnel and stomp the top flat. The little round plate sits on the ground directly over the flattened tunnel. I usually take a stick and try to ever-so-slightly lift up on the plate to give it a hair trigger. The next time they come tunneling through, their head hits the plate and BAM!. It doesn't cut the mole in half, but pinches the hell out of him. When you come out to check on it, if it's triggered, you pull the unit and mole out of the ground. He's either dead or close to dead. I caught one within 30 minutes one time. The best thing for mole eradication!!!

Here's a video. Not a killing, but setting it up. VIDEO (http://www.themoletrap.com/testimonials07.php)

[captain53]

Man that is one nice little tractor setup. Congratulations on that piece of equipment.:tu

[Blueface]

Lance, I can just see you running around like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

"Here Mr Gopher, gopher, gopher...."


;s

I love this scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv87T1CQF8E

[BC-Axeman]

This one gophs no more...:gn
http://74.50.55.59/pics/nogoph.jpg

[weak_link]

Man that is one nice little tractor setup. Congratulations on that piece of equipment.:tu

I'm pretty happy for Lance. Poor guy combed craigslist for a year.

[BC-Axeman]

Man that is one nice little tractor setup. Congratulations on that piece of equipment.:tu

I'm pretty happy for Lance. Poor guy combed craigslist for a year.

Maybe 6 or 7 months. Little is the word. But it's strong for it's size. I would like to have had the next size up but so does everyone else. It will be back on CL when I'm through with it.

[BC-Axeman]

Anyone else got growth yet? I have tomato starts ready to go in as soon as I build the boxes. The wood just got delivered yesterday. Pics to follow.

[shilala]

Anyone else got growth yet? I have tomato starts ready to go in as soon as I build the boxes. The wood just got delivered yesterday. Pics to follow.
Lisa and I are transplanting all our stuff right now.
So far we've done:
Osteospermum
Broccoli
Borage
Dill
Impatiens
Nicotiana
Tobacco
Basil
Cilantro
Tons of other stuff to go yet. I had to stop for a cinnamon toast crunch break and she's talking to one of her girlfriends.
I know there's tomatoes and peppers and some more flowers and herbs yet. Some of the herbs are a pita to transplant, they're too small yet. I might skip them till next weekend.

[MrsSledn]

Luke and Lance, those are some nice start ups!

Luke, I really like those boxes. That is a cool idea.

Lance, we have a possium problem as well. We already trapped our first one, a couple weeks back. We saw him working during the day with the dirt flipping up. Wes, myself, and Lil Sledn went outside. Wes grabbed the shovel and started digging up the tunnel. He dug the critter up. It dropped off the shovel though, fell back in the tunnel and kept moving the dirt. That's when we saw how quick those things actually work. Wes put a metal trap in the ground. It was caught. A dog who roams our neighborhood actually pulled the trap out of the ground trying to get to the now deceased critter.

As for our garden... My daffodils and crocus's bloomed already. None of my tulips flowered this years. My lillies are starting to pop through the dirt. My wild lillies are going crazy. Clematis's are growing like gangbusters right now. Rose bushes, lilacs, and hydrangeas's are all growing well. Strawberry's from last year are still holding well too.

[BC-Axeman]

Three boxes built now, six to go.
This was earlier today.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden410.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

Ow, I hurt...
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden410a.jpg
This better produce a LOT of vegetables.

[T.G]

No photos right now, but just noticed that the first of my Thai peppers are peeking through 10 up, only 190 left to go. :wo

All the other peppers are doing fine too.

Tomatoes are doing well, looks like I'll be setting cages for them tomorrow.

Have a few snap peas that are setting fruit now, but the way the temperatures go around here, I doubt I'll see more than a handful of yield from the 10-11 pea plants that I have.

Have about a gazillion dead snails and slugs around the pots now too. I knew Corey's Snail & Slug bait worked, but I never realized it worked that well... I think these snails and slugs are migrating from the entire neighborhood to my place for the free buffet of death... MuwwwwahahahahAHAHAHAHA!

[thebayratt]

I started my garden the 2nd week im March. Its a 12x12' I added an additional patch thats 2x16' but its more shaded now by my muscadine vine that covers the whole back fence 100' worth and about 12' outward. Pics of that soon. The shaded part hasn't produced much this year due to lack of sun.

But here is a few pics I took today.

Picture of the left side, this is the side facing my house, I had to put up a 3foot fence to keep my dogs out of it. Last year I covered the whole garden (top and sides) with bird neting; but it was more of a pain than it was worth. So this year I used chicken wire.
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz130/thebayratt/DSCN25395.jpg

This is my bush beans. I have two rows of black beans and two rows of green beans. In the background are my burpless cucumbers and a weird type called a pepino cucumber. It looks more like a hairy lemon than anything.
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz130/thebayratt/DSCN25405.jpg


This is a pic facing my house and its the right side of the garden facing inward.
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz130/thebayratt/DSCN25465.jpg

CLose up of my green beans
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz130/thebayratt/DSCN25445.jpg

I used Osmocote plant and vegetable fertilizer early march when I was tilling the soil. The soil is a mix of Cow manure, potting soil and some humus. Started everything from seeds on 4-6" tall rows for good drainage. Then, once the plants became established, I used some 8-8-8 on them before a good rainstorm. They get about 10-15 mins of watering from a timered sprinkler everyday in the evening time, so they don't get burnt by the summer sun. I see so many people watering thier yards/gardens during the day and it ends up being burnt from the sun burning the water left on the plants in the day. Thats why I choose to water at late evening.

I also have about 12-15 pepper plants in pots in my front yard. Yellow banana peppers, bell peppers.

[BC-Axeman]

Only one and a half boxes to go. Next I will put up more fence to keep the deer out.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden0510a.jpg

[shilala]

My plants are pretty much out of control. They're getting SO big.
The weather is supposed to be crappy till Saturday, then Summer is here. I'll move my plants out to harden them off between now and then.
My tobacco looks great. I'll try to find time to get some pics and post them. Maybe a video or something. That's usually a lot quicker and covers lots more ground. :)
My tobacco plants look spectacular. I'm totally stoked about getting them in the dirt. :tu

[jjirons69]

Got several pictures to share. Sorry for being long-winded. I love gardening and can chat about it for days. Plus, I'm proud of my little piece of Heaven. For those that remember my 16'x15' from last year, it's still here, except I replaced the 18" rabbit fence with a 36" wire and wooden fence. My beagle, Fritz, is of no use in the garden, so he is barred. He is a great squirrel deterrent, though. I planted 4/10. I've had to replant the orka, as it was cool for the first few weeks and it was old seed. They are still only a couple of inches high. Hot weather will kick them. Also, the past couple of years I gone the no-till route as Shilala does. I used to till a couple of times a year, but now just put lawnmower bagger waste around and work it in with a garden rake. A square foot, six inches deep can supply a double handful of giant earthworms. It's so cool how awesome this plot of earth is.

6 tomatoes (4 Celebrity, 1 Silvery Fir Tree, and 1 Micro Tom)
4 hills squash
6 peppers (3 jalapeno, 1 Cuban, and 2 bell)
6 small rows of bush beans
2 small rows fo Clemson spineless okra
dozens of Marketmore 75 cukes on the trellis
Several varieties of sunflowers around the edge

To me, a garden is not complete without feathered friends. I took a shot of my homemade birdfeeder. The wire around the main feeder keeps the ocassional squirrel, bluejay, and crackle at bay. It's got:

Black oil sunflower
Safflower
Peanuts (shelled and whole)
Oriole feedr with nectar and jelly
Two kins of suet
Two socks of Niger thistle

Here's the visitors since last summer (at least the ones I've seen):

Robin
Mourning dove
Cardinal
Carolina wren
Titmouse
Black-capped chickadee
Carolina chickadee
Red-bellied woodpecker
Grey catbird
Painted bunting
Red finch
House finch
Goldfinch
Baltimore oriole
Brown thrasher
Yellow rumped warbler
Mockingbird
Grackle
Bluejay
Starling
Red headed woodpecker
Eastern bluebird

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110a1.jpg
Three plum and giant peach tree behind the fence. The peach tree loaded us up last year.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110b1.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110c1.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110d1.jpg
6'x2' herb garden. More mint than anything. There's chives, leeks, rosemary, and at least 5 kinds of mint. Tech-ninja turned me on to Mojitos a while back and I enjoy them all the time now thanks to my over-abundant supply.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110e1.jpg

[jjirons69]

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110i1.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/51110k1.jpg

[thebayratt]

The birds don't eat up your tomatoes??

They used to tear into mine as soon as they got ripe and i had to use bird netting to keep them out......... bad thing was, is i don't eat tomatoes~

[T.G]

Still haven't set cages for my tomato plants. A few of them are taking off like rockets, so I better get on that sometime in the next week.

On the flip side in the past week I've done some major trimming of the non-fruit bearing trees, ripped out two useless gaddam crepe myrtles, added a second pomegranate tree (wonderful varietal), a meyer lemon and probably going to put in a blackjack fig in the next few days.

Was going to put some blackberry bushes, but the nursery advised me to wait until fall.

Oh, and even more dead snails. :wo

[HK3-]

Howdy fellow gardeners! I see everyone is getting started again for a new season. Best time of the year :tu I don't have much of a garden this year with a limited amount of space since I moved. Good news is that the dogs killed their first squirrel at the new house so they are ready to rid the varmints of the strawberry patch.

This year I have a small handful of pepper plants, strawberries, three tomato plants, basil and two rosemary bushes.

Looking forward to seeing everyones progress and Scotts videos! :tu

[Chainsaw13]

I'll have to post pics of my raised beds. I have two 4x8 and one 4x4. Did most of my planting last weekend. I only did two tomato plants, as the five I planted last year produced just way too much. i was literally calling people to come pick what they wanted.

What I've planted so far this year:
Red Brandywine
Black Krim
Eggplant
Bell Pepper
Broccoli
Bush Cucumbers
Leaf lettuce
And my garlic I seeded last October is growing like gangbusters. Can't wait to try it. And I have a couple open spots I'm still trying to figure out what to plant. Might do tomatillos again. They made excellent salsa verde and subsequent green chicken chili.

[BC-Axeman]

Finally starting to get some growth. Very late spring for this area.
This was all scrub and meadow weeds when I moved in. I built all the landscape and my wife mostly maintains it.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden0510b.jpg

[Mr B]

Love the view you have there Lance. Spectacular :tu

[thebayratt]

I pulled out a 18" around deep bowl full of green beens already and going to pull more after dinner when it cools down.
My cucumbers are running everywhere and almost taking over the garden! I plan to extend out the garden next year and make a trellis for them to grow up an away from the other plants.
The Okra is getting big, but I doubt I will have enough to make many meals with them. About 1/3 didn't come up for some reason.
I have gotten three handfuls of sweet banana peppers and two green bell peppers so far.

Next year I am going to focus on two types of cucumbers, green beens, banana and bell peppers... Going to spread out the garden more and build a trellis so we can walk in it better and not be so crowded.

[Mr B]

Man, I'll tell you what....the weather up here in Nor Cal has sucked for the veggies so far. Dont get me wrong, I love the rain. Keep it coming, fill our lakes. But we have not had a day over 70* here in two weeks. Its been cloudy or foggy for a month. My plants are screamin for sun. I like all the rain but my veggies want to grow.

[HK3-]

My first bell
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture108-1.jpg

Blueberries are getting plump
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture105-1.jpg

Mmmmmm I enjoy eating fresh basil on bruschetta.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture104-1.jpg

[HK3-]

Gotten quite a few strawberries out of the patch. Lost quite a few as well to bugs. Fired some 7 dust on them this morning so hopefully that will run the things off.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture103.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture102-1.jpg

This rose bush is taking over our front garden. We have two rocking chairs on the front porch but you can't hardly see the road anymore from up there.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture098-1.jpg

[Mr B]

Very nice pics Halbert. I love the Easter Lilly. Mine came back HUGE this year. My Sweet peas, China Peas and Strawberries are the only thing producing so far. Everything else is still small.

[HK3-]

Very nice pics Halbert. I love the Easter Lilly. Mine came back HUGE this year. My Sweet peas, China Peas and Strawberries are the only thing producing so far. Everything else is still small.

You will be good once the sun shines and the rain quits. :D

[Mr B]

Ya, I hear ya. Its been raining here all day again. I'll take it, but its gonna be a late growing season.

[shilala]

I'm gonna drag the plants from the front porch to the back yard today. It's time for them to get a little more sun. Wish them luck!!! :)

[HK3-]

I'm gonna drag the plants from the front porch to the back yard today. It's time for them to get a little more sun. Wish them luck!!! :)

Where's the pictures tobacco boy? :xxx

[shilala]

Where's the pictures tobacco boy? :xxx
If I ever get caught up, Haliboing. They look real pretty in the pots right now. I'll take some crappy pics, at least, before I plant them this weekend. :tu

[shilala]

It's planting weekend. Lisa and I will probably get most of the plants in tonight if the rain holds off. I have to drag my ass out there and get some stuff ready.
I ran to Lowe's to get a few tomato plants and green peppers so I don't have to use the scrawny ones I made (didn't transplant them, wasn't up to it). All Lowe's had was great big expensive stuff.
Once the kid is outta here to ball practice, I'll go get some good plants at my buddy's place. :tu
Then it's game on, ladies. :tu
I'll get ya them backy pics too, Halitosis.

[jjirons69]

After all those seeds I sent you, Scott, you're off at Lowe's trying to buy plants. I know you haven't been in the gardening frame lately though. Next year, hopefully...

What a difference 3 weeks makes to my garden. Also, spent the past few days in my dad's garden. I bet we dug and stored a ton of red and white potatoes. He could feed half the state. Never seen so many potatoes in one spot, ever.

My tomatoes have fruit. My cukes are climging and flowering. The green beans are flowering. The squash are psycho plants, full of fruit and flowers. The orka is small, but coming along. Peppers are growing well and I also have a 2" long jalapeno to boot. Those sunflowers and (volunteer) cosmos are also growing well.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/60110a.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/60110b.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/60110d.jpg

[HK3-]

^ Gardens lookin great Jamie! :tu

The rain down here has really been paying off. The tomato plants have gone ape sh*t and one is out growing his cage. Picked 6 blueberries this morning. Will take more photos soon.

[HK3-]

Have some updated photos-

My tomato plants are pumping out little green guys and the one on the left is growing like a weed!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture142.jpg

I was picking some blueberries and eating them right off the bush when I was cutting grass.... Later I noticed the dog taking a leak on them. :eek:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture156.jpg

Some flowers...
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture154.jpg

My camera is about to take a dump so I think I may be camera shopping soon.
The screen is starting to show lines across it and some are showing up in pictures. :confused:

[shilala]

Lisa and I got the whole garden in last week. All our seeds are up, everything is doing great. I got pics for ya Hal, they're at home and I'm in Ohio. I'll get some up as soon as I possibly can.

[HK3-]

Lisa and I got the whole garden in last week. All our seeds are up, everything is doing great. I got pics for ya Hal, they're at home and I'm in Ohio. I'll get some up as soon as I possibly can.

Looking forward to seeing them Scott! :tu

[wolfandwhisky]

I generally just lurk on this thread, but wanted to post to say I'm enjoying the pictures and discussion.

In AZ, the concept of a garden is a bit different than in other places... something I wouldn't mind looking into if I created the time to do it.

[BC-Axeman]

Frikken deer necessitate more fence to close off the yard. This is almost done.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden0610a.jpg

And here's how much was done this morning, more is done now.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden0610b.jpg

[HK3-]

Lance- Putting up all that fence does not look like fun. You guys must have a serious deer population.

[BC-Axeman]

A single deer can do serious damage to a garden in one night. A few deer in repeated attacks can make it impossible to grow most things. Add the gophers and you see why I am going to the barriers. They only have to be built once. I am adding to the fence that my neighbors built to keep the deer out of their yard. Before, I had a fence only around the garden and the grapes. Once this is finished the whole yard will be closed in.

[HK3-]

A single deer can do serious damage to a garden in one night. A few deer in repeated attacks can make it impossible to grow most things. Add the gophers and you see why I am going to the barriers. They only have to be built once. I am adding to the fence that my neighbors built to keep the deer out of their yard. Before, I had a fence only around the garden and the grapes. Once this is finished the whole yard will be closed in.

:tu

[thebayratt]

Frikken deer necessitate more fence to close off the yard. This is almost done.
was done this morning, more is done now.

If you having deer problems..... I have solutions..... then you will have meat to eat with your veggies.

[BC-Axeman]

If you having deer problems..... I have solutions..... then you will have meat to eat with your veggies.
:tu I love deer.

[BC-Axeman]

Got planted:

Artichokes
Beets
Curly Endive
Celery
Red & Yellow Onions
Leeks
Sugar Snap Peas
Pole Greenbeans
Pumpkin
Cantaloupe
Honeydew Mellon
Watermellon
Regular & Lemon Cucumbers
Zucchini, Crooked Neck, & Sunburst Squash
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Corn
Lettuce
Radish
Carrot seeds from last year that haven't sprouted yet. Maybe they will.

Other places in the yard are grapes, oregano, sage, rosemary, chives, dill, strawberries, mint and fruit trees that feed the birds. We almost never get the fruit, what there is of it.
Next year I think I'll start a couple of beehives so I can get some fruit from the trees.

[shilala]

I got the very last of my plants planted today. Lisa's son Cole planted vincas in my hanging baskets out front.
I need to thin out the corn and get Hal some video, and all will be right in the world. :)

[thebayratt]

All of my 30 or so black bean plants produced off real quick. I pulled them all out of the ground and me and the future wifey shucked beans. We got a heaping bowl full.
Have raided the green beens three times. Ate a bunch, froze sum, and gave sum away. Still got more comming.
The Okra isn't doing as well as planned. Alot of plants didn't come up. But got enough to fry up a meal or two with.
The cucumbers are overtaking my garden. They are stretched out to about 10' plus. I have gotten about a half dozen so far. Got a pile of blooms and now they have room to roam now that the black beans are out of thier way. Next year I have a better plan on them to run them away from the garden.
I have gotten 3 or 4 bell peppers. And two handfuls of banana peppers that im going to put into a bacon cheeseburger fatty like "Mr B" did.

This is already a hott summer here in the deep south of MS and the garden is trying to cope with the heat. I am watering it in the late evening to make sure they don't dry out.

[HK3-]

I got the very last of my plants planted today. Lisa's son Cole planted vincas in my hanging baskets out front.
I need to thin out the corn and get Hal some video, and all wi:)be right in the world. :)

You know I'm just bustin your nuts Scott. No rush. :)

[shilala]

You know I'm just bustin your nuts Scott. No rush. :)
I know, it's fun though. :)
The whole garden is floating right now. Lake Shilala is back, it stormed all night and I live in flood land.
I wanted to get in there and get the corn thinned out today. If I do, it'll be a miracle.

[BC-Axeman]

Frost! Frost! It's mid June and it's in the upper 30s and there's frost on my rooftops!
The latest frost I can remember was the last day of May about five years ago.

[Mr B]

I have gotten 3 or 4 bell peppers. And two handfuls of banana peppers that im going to put into a bacon cheeseburger fatty like "Mr B" did.


:tu

[shilala]

I rushed this garden video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGN_tKCK8po) into production because Halitosis was busting my balls.
You can watch it in HD and it ain't too awful.
Don't make fun of me because my garden is so far behind, we can't usually plant till the tenth of June. I got stuff in the last week of May, which is more than two weeks before we can usually plant.
The moon was right this year, so I could plant early. If the full moon is going to be after the tenth of June, it won't frost here. Before the tenth, it will on a clear night, and it never fails to wreck everyone's gardens. So I just checked the full moon at the end of May, and checked that against the extended weather report, and voila. Super early garden. :tu

[HK3-]

I rushed this garden video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGN_tKCK8po) into production because Halitosis was busting my balls.
You can watch it in HD and it ain't too awful.
Don't make fun of me because my garden is so far behind, we can't usually plant till the tenth of June. I got stuff in the last week of May, which is more than two weeks before we can usually plant.
The moon was right this year, so I could plant early. If the full moon is going to be after the tenth of June, it won't frost here. Before the tenth, it will on a clear night, and it never fails to wreck everyone's gardens. So I just checked the full moon at the end of May, and checked that against the extended weather report, and voila. Super early garden. :tu

EXCELLENT video Scott! :tu Made me laugh out loud when you got to the basil :r:r

I finally got a new camera. I may have to attempt one of these videos.

[shilala]

EXCELLENT video Scott! :tu Made me laugh out loud when you got to the basil :r:r

I finally got a new camera. I may have to attempt one of these videos.
I knew you'd like the basil comment. I didn't even know I said it till I watched it, and it made me laugh, too. :D
The video thing is easy, brother. You just need a youtube account and then click on the "upload" link up top.
From there it's self-explanatory. My big HD files take a long time to upload, but if you set your camera to take a less insane size of file, it'd be a lot quicker. The HD video is really awesome, so I just leave it and then I b!tch everytime I upload something.
When the video is done uploading it'll give you the link and everything.

[BC-Axeman]

Nice garden, Scott. We're supposed to be able to plant in mid April. This year both the weather and I were late. Now I think the new soil I got has too much sawdust (it is one of the ingredients) in it, stripping the nitrogen. Yellowish, weak growth. I just gave everything a shot of fish emulsion and a foliar spray of dilute Miracle Grow. If indeed the nitrogen is low they will get more green and lush in the next week.
The garden soil is a mixture of sand, manure compost, sawdust and native soil. The compost is from the mushroom farm, so it is mostly spent.

[HK3-]

I knew you'd like the basil comment. I didn't even know I said it till I watched it, and it made me laugh, too. :D
The video thing is easy, brother. You just need a youtube account and then click on the "upload" link up top.
From there it's self-explanatory. My big HD files take a long time to upload, but if you set your camera to take a less insane size of file, it'd be a lot quicker. The HD video is really awesome, so I just leave it and then I b!tch everytime I upload something.
When the video is done uploading it'll give you the link and everything.

I guess I did one of these HD videos over the weekend and didn't know it was HD. Derrrrrrr... Going out to make a video Scott. :tu

[Mr B]

This is the first time I have grown any sort of peas. I planted (2) 6 pks of 2 varieties of sweet peas. They shot up to about 24 - 36". They bloomed and put out 30-40 nice sized pods, not each but total. We ate those and they were great but they dont seem to be putting out any more. Are these a "determinant" variety of plant that shut down after a few bloom cycles?

[HK3-]

Here we go. :) This is a short video of my plants in the back yard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ux_wdHwRGg

Nothing compared to my 80+ pepper plants last year.

[BC-Axeman]

This is the first time I have grown any sort of peas. I planted (2) 6 pks of 2 varieties of sweet peas. They shot up to about 24 - 36". They bloomed and put out 30-40 nice sized pods, not each but total. We ate those and they were great but they dont seem to be putting out any more. Are these a "determinant" variety of plant that shut down after a few bloom cycles?
Some kinds are like that. Sometimes you get a second round but not as good as the first. We grow snap peas which are always being picked before they are ripe. The plant tries to replace them. As soon as they are allowed to ripen the plant dies. We pick the pole type green beans constantly for the same reason.

[BC-Axeman]

Nice yard, Haliburton.

[shilala]

Nice garden, Scott. We're supposed to be able to plant in mid April. This year both the weather and I were late. Now I think the new soil I got has too much sawdust (it is one of the ingredients) in it, stripping the nitrogen. Yellowish, weak growth. I just gave everything a shot of fish emulsion and a foliar spray of dilute Miracle Grow. If indeed the nitrogen is low they will get more green and lush in the next week.
The garden soil is a mixture of sand, manure compost, sawdust and native soil. The compost is from the mushroom farm, so it is mostly spent.
Sawdust jacks the ph all out of whack, Lance. Turns the soil acid. That's why we put it on blueberries, they love acid. Test it and adjust it and you'll be golden. I never heard about sawdust tying up nitrogen. I can't think of a mechanical reason for that to happen.
A bunch of dolomite lime and you'll be good to go. :tu
You're lucky, it's a cheap fix. You can't use too much, either.
If you think your nitrogen is tied up, top dress the lime with compost or composted cow manue. It's cheap, too.
The rain will leech all the nutrients to the plants and you'll be double golden. :tu
I wish I'd have caught you before you used sawdust. It's the worst organic material you can use in a garden. You're seeing that now. Sorry, brother.

[Mr B]

Sawdust jacks the ph all out of whack, Lance. Turns the soil acid. That's why we put it on blueberries, they love acid. Test it and adjust it and you'll be golden. I never heard about sawdust tying up nitrogen. I can't think of a mechanical reason for that to happen.
A bunch of dolomite lime and you'll be good to go. :tu
You're lucky, it's a cheap fix. You can't use too much, either.
If you think your nitrogen is tied up, top dress the lime with compost or composted cow manue. It's cheap, too.
The rain will leech all the nutrients to the plants and you'll be double golden. :tu
I wish I'd have caught you before you used sawdust. It's the worst organic material you can use in a garden. You're seeing that now. Sorry, brother.


Very good info. Thanks

[rack04]

Next year I plan on installing a couple 12'x3' raised planter beds. Should I add a course of gravel to the bottom of the raised planter to increase drainage or just fill it to the brim with good compost?

I will likely be growing tomatoes, squash, asparagus, cucumbers, peppers, mint, sage, oregano, cilantro, basil, dill, rosemary, and parsley.

[Gonesledn]

shilala, it looks like to me in your video that you strawberries are trying to root new plants. the "tentacles" will root into the ground and grow more plants. at least thats what mine do every year.

looking great everyone.

[shilala]

Here we go. :) This is a short video of my plants in the back yard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ux_wdHwRGg

Nothing compared to my 80+ pepper plants last year.
Awesome video, Hal!!! :tu
You're right, videos are fun. You have lots of room in that yard, I think it's time to expand. :D

[shilala]

Next year I plan on installing a couple 12'x3' raised planter beds. Should I add a course of gravel to the bottom of the raised planter to increase drainage or just fill it to the brim with good compost?

I will likely be growing tomatoes, squash, asparagus, cucumbers, peppers, mint, sage, oregano, cilantro, basil, dill, rosemary, and parsley.
It depends on the soil underneath. If the bed will drain well without the gravel, no need. If it won't, gravel is a good idea. Earth fabric between the gravel and the soil will keep the gravel doing it's job. :tu

[shilala]

shilala, it looks like to me in your video that you strawberries are trying to root new plants. the "tentacles" will root into the ground and grow more plants. at least thats what mine do every year.

looking great everyone.
Whatever kind of strawberry this is, it's setting out a zillion runners. That's good. If it runs far enough, I'll train the runners to more holes.
It's a volunteer, I didn't plant it, so I have no idea what variety it is. It's too late for it to be a June bearing or Adirondack, so I'm hoping it's a day-neutral. I'm in no hurry, I'll know soon enough. :)

[T.G]

This is the first time I have grown any sort of peas. I planted (2) 6 pks of 2 varieties of sweet peas. They shot up to about 24 - 36". They bloomed and put out 30-40 nice sized pods, not each but total. We ate those and they were great but they dont seem to be putting out any more. Are these a "determinant" variety of plant that shut down after a few bloom cycles?

I planted peas this year too. Got a few weeks worth of blooms and fruit out of them before they stopped flowering. I then researched the type I had planted and found out that once the temperatures get over 80F, they won't flower.

Oops.

[Mr B]

I planted peas this year too. Got a few weeks worth of blooms and fruit out of them before they stopped flowering. I then researched the type I had planted and found out that once the temperatures get over 80F, they won't flower.

Oops.

Ya, that sounds like my story too.

[jjirons69]

Nice work guys. My granddad always had a saying about garden peas - they made two messes, you ate the first and cleaned up the second. Not a lot of bang for the buck with them. Snap peas or filed peas will fill your freezer.

[BC-Axeman]

Sawdust jacks the ph all out of whack, Lance. Turns the soil acid. That's why we put it on blueberries, they love acid. Test it and adjust it and you'll be golden. I never heard about sawdust tying up nitrogen. I can't think of a mechanical reason for that to happen.
A bunch of dolomite lime and you'll be good to go. :tu
You're lucky, it's a cheap fix. You can't use too much, either.
If you think your nitrogen is tied up, top dress the lime with compost or composted cow manue. It's cheap, too.
The rain will leech all the nutrients to the plants and you'll be double golden. :tu
I wish I'd have caught you before you used sawdust. It's the worst organic material you can use in a garden. You're seeing that now. Sorry, brother.
Sawdust and wood chips require more nitrogen to decompose than they contain. ;)
I will check the ph but the tomatoes, potatoes and a couple of squash got planted with fish emulsion and worm castings and they look good so far.
We have chickens but the manure is mostly pine shavings and is good only for a top dressing mulch. The shavings resist composting.
Our neigh-bors have horses so I should hit them up for some sh!t.

[shilala]

Sawdust and wood chips require more nitrogen to decompose than they contain. ;)
I will check the ph but the tomatoes, potatoes and a couple of squash got planted with fish emulsion and worm castings and they look good so far.
We have chickens but the manure is mostly pine shavings and is good only for a top dressing mulch. The shavings resist composting.
Our neigh-bors have horses so I should hit them up for some sh!t.
Then you have a double whammy. If the sawdust is fixing the nitrogen and the ph is off, the plants can't eat. It doesn't matter how much food you put in there. I honestly don't think the sawdust is tying up the nitrogen, you put tons of food in there. It takes very little sawdust to goof the ph, though.
I had hundreds of chickens for years, I bedded with straw specifically because I didn't want to compost sawdust for years to make it usable.
The plants that look good in the worm castings, once they root out past the worm castings and reach the sawdust, they may go yellow on you, too.
Like I said, lime the hell out of everything. You cannot put enough lime in the beds to hurt anything. I'd use powdered stuff to correct the ph, then get a truckload of the lime chips they use for underneath sidewalks, and you'll never need lime again. You can work those chips in and you'll never know they're there.
I'd tell you to add nitrogen, but once again, I don't think you need it, and you're real likely to burn the plants.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. :tu

[thebayratt]

A friend of mine owns a huge Talapia fish farm and has a filter on the tanks that filter out the fish poo. He gave me a 5gallon bucket of fish poo/watery goo from when he cleaned the filter. I put it in the valleys of my garden and then watered it in. I did this about 3 times a week apart and my beans where about twice as high as they were this year without the pooey water.
I wish i could figure out the PH, nitrogen, amonium etc... things yall talking about. Maybe I could have a supergarden if I did. Maybe next year I should read up on all the plants I plant to see what they need the most of and give it to them.

[BC-Axeman]

Hey Scott, I think you misunderstand. I bought 11 yards of commercial garden soil. It is sterile and well composted. It was made from those ingredients but resembles none of them. It looks just like the potting soil you get in bags. The stuff in the worm castings is just a handful mixed in when they were planted. I can see a difference there, though. So far I didn't feed anything when I planted except those few plants. I have to dig out my ph meter and do a test. Around here lime is usually oyster shells.

[BC-Axeman]

OK, I got out my fish tank electronic ph meter and checked it on a 8 ph cal pack and it was 8.04. My unsoftened tap water came back 7.78. I have a reverse osmosis/deionizer for fish tank water. It measures 6.74, slightly acid. This is right for very pure water. I used the RO/DI water to soak a big handful of the unused garden soil for about 15 min. It measured 7.75. Slightly base. I just checked it again and it's 7.67.
Somewhere I have a soil test kit for NPK. I should get a new one though, that one is, like, 15 years old or more. Waddaya think, Scott?

[Mark C]

Anyone here have any experience growing nut trees? I'm buying a new house in southern PA, hopefully the last house I'll buy ever (or at least for a very very long time). I've started thinking about landscaping, but I'm really not interested in growing things I can't eat. My grandparents had an apple tree, it made a huge mess, there were bees and rotting fruit everywhere, so I'm not interested in a fruit tree.

That got me thinking about nut trees. Walnuts are out because I don't want their toxic roots killing my tomatoes, chestnuts are out because I don't want to deal with the spiky balls of fun. Looks like hazlenuts grow well in this area, possibly certain cultivars of pecan and almond also.

So, anybody have experience with nuts?

[HK3-]

Anyone here have any experience growing nut trees? I'm buying a new house in southern PA, hopefully the last house I'll buy ever (or at least for a very very long time). I've started thinking about landscaping, but I'm really not interested in growing things I can't eat. My grandparents had an apple tree, it made a huge mess, there were bees and rotting fruit everywhere, so I'm not interested in a fruit tree.

That got me thinking about nut trees. Walnuts are out because I don't want their toxic roots killing my tomatoes, chestnuts are out because I don't want to deal with the spiky balls of fun. Looks like hazlenuts grow well in this area, possibly certain cultivars of pecan and almond also.

So, anybody have experience with nuts?

This whole forum is full of nuts! :r

Had a hazel nut tree one time. Fairly easy to take care of and they are nice looking trees as well. My aunt has a pecan tree and they are wonderful to eat. That's all I've got for you.

[Skywalker]

My first time growing anything besides flowers and trees:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1497/garden2010.jpg
Banana Peppers
Jalapeño Peppers
Cilantro
Cherry Tomatoes
Strawberries

[BC-Axeman]

My first time growing anything besides flowers and trees:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1497/garden2010.jpg
Banana Peppers
Jalapeño Peppers
Cilantro
Cherry Tomatoes
Strawberries
I only get the top of that photo.
Welcome to the slope.
Beware, it's slippery.:tu

[Rabidsquirrel]

Question for the gurus. What's eating holes in my broccoli leaves?

[T.G]

Question for the gurus. What's eating holes in my broccoli leaves?

Bugs.

That will be $20 please.

*DING* next question.

[T.G]

Anyone here have any experience growing nut trees? I'm buying a new house in southern PA, hopefully the last house I'll buy ever (or at least for a very very long time). I've started thinking about landscaping, but I'm really not interested in growing things I can't eat. My grandparents had an apple tree, it made a huge mess, there were bees and rotting fruit everywhere, so I'm not interested in a fruit tree.

That got me thinking about nut trees. Walnuts are out because I don't want their toxic roots killing my tomatoes, chestnuts are out because I don't want to deal with the spiky balls of fun. Looks like hazlenuts grow well in this area, possibly certain cultivars of pecan and almond also.

So, anybody have experience with nuts?



Whatever tree you get, check into if it's self-fertile or needs cross pollination. If it's a cross-pollinator, make sure you plant two - one "male", one "female" or you could potentially end up with a tree full of nothing, or like what happened to a friend of mine with his avocado tree (which isn't exactly a male/female relation, but needs cross pollination to fruit IIRC) where it bore fruit for decades, until the neighbors cut down their tree, now instead of many hundreds of avocados, he's lucky if he gets 20 avocados per year off a tree with a 30' crown.

[BC-Axeman]

Question for the gurus. What's eating holes in my broccoli leaves?
Perhaps grasshoppers, grasshopper.
Try insecticidal soap. It's not poison, it just tastes bad to the bugs. Sometimes it works.

[Rabidsquirrel]

Bugs.

That will be $20 please.

*DING* next question.

Bah, didn't think of that. :r

Perhaps grasshoppers, grasshopper.
Try insecticidal soap. It's not poison, it just tastes bad to the bugs. Sometimes it works.

Thanks, I'll try that.

[BC-Axeman]

I went from having frost on June 17 to the first day in the 90s yesterday and back to forecasted springlike weather for the coming week but my garden is starting to take hold. I got some dolomite pellets and sprinkled them lightly to add lime to the soil. That should buffer any acid that gets produced in the soil. Only the lemon cucumbers have yellow leaves now and I think it's just the plants as the regular cuke right next to them looks normal. No bug problems yet! I think it may be because of the excavation zone around the garden and the new soil. The bird population is larger this year too.

[shilala]

Lisa and I got in the garden last night. We weeded around plants and replaced some tomatoes that weren't doing well.
I bought some tomatoes at the nursery and they just kind of sat there. They wouldn't push roots. They obviously held them back so long that they refused to grow.
A friend brought by a few great big bucketed romas and we used them, plus we transplanted some volunteers in other holes.
We also mooched some lettuce starts from the neighbor, replanted some cucumber seeds, and planted a new zuchini to take up when the other plant stops producing.
I pulled all the runners off the great big strawberry plant and got the cart out of the garden and the garbage can out of the compost bin.
We're super dead serious now. :)
I picked a couple little banana peppers that were holding their respective plants back, too.
Everything looks great, and some of the corn is "Knee high by the fourth of July". Just on Lisa, and she's pretty short, but I'll take it. My corn is never this far along this early. :tu

[BC-Axeman]

Foggy morning.
In front are my artichokes planted in square concrete tubes set on the hardware cloth. I don't know what these concrete things are, the came with the house. Probably some kind of landscaping supply.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden0610c.jpg

[shilala]

It all looks beautiful, Lance. :tu
Plant some grass, will ya? :D

[BC-Axeman]

Weed block and gravel is more like it. ;)

[HK3-]

Really cool setup you got going on there Lance. :tu

I dusted my plants the other day because I saw some droppings on the tomato plant leaves from a critter. Upon further investigation I found some small limbs and leaves missing. Forkin bastages can eat quick cant they!?!? :gn

[Skywalker]

Foggy morning.
In front are my artichokes planted in square concrete tubes set on the hardware cloth. I don't know what these concrete things are, the came with the house. Probably some kind of landscaping supply.
http://74.50.55.59/pics/garden0610c.jpg

Look at that fog!!!

I wish I was at your place right now!!!

Oh yeah... Nice garden!!!:tu

[Rabidsquirrel]

Those squarish things look like a chimney liner.

[Gonesledn]

Those squarish things look like a chimney liner.

i agree... chimney flue sections

[Mr B]

Really cool setup you got going on there Lance. :tu

I dusted my plants the other day because I saw some droppings on the tomato plant leaves from a critter. Upon further investigation I found some small limbs and leaves missing. Forkin bastages can eat quick cant they!?!? :gn

Tomato Hornworms. Filthy Bastages.

http://www.taloncraft.com/photos/_P4H8665_TOMATO_HORNWORM.jpg

[Salvelinus]

Just caught up to this thread. I tried a garden last year and failed miserably. This year I took the previous owners sand box and made a raised bed out of it. I put some matting under it because I hate weeding. The rest of my lawn is basically sand so it drains well.

I think I overplanted, but I couldn't bear to not plant any of the plants I paid for. I have been hitting the lettuce hard for the past two weeks. I just pulled all my radishes and don't plan on doing another batch. I have 3 pepper varieties, some bush beans, and cucumbers in the bed along with the lettuce. There is some basil, rosemary, and chive in a small box out of the picture as well as a couple of tomato plants. My hops are growing like weeds right now as well. Can't wait for homebrew with homegrown :banger

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae250/NEKvt/garden.jpg

[shilala]

The garden looks gorgeous, Brendan. Nice work!!!

Here's a pic of a tobacco leave. My hand is in there to give an idea of size. It's amazing how fast they grow. They're not even to my knees, but the leaves on the bottom are huge. They're beautiful this year. :)

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/1344eaff.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

Those squarish things look like a chimney liner.

i agree... chimney flue sections
That makes sense as there used to be a chimney in the house that got destroyed in the '89 Loma Prieta earthquake.

[HK3-]

Tomato Hornworms. Filthy Bastages.

Sure enough, that's the lil POS for sure!

Took a newer photo of my tomato plants yesterday. I enjoy looking at the change week to week. That vine is slowly taking over my shed!!!!!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture385.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Picture388-1.jpg

[rack04]

When you all saying "dusted" veggies what product are you referring to? Up until now I haven't had a problem with insects but I would like to know what products are safe to use on edibles. I think I have a possum problem but that's another story.

[shilala]

When you all saying "dusted" veggies what product are you referring to? Up until now I haven't had a problem with insects but I would like to know what products are safe to use on edibles. I think I have a possum problem but that's another story.
Sevin.
I don't use powder, I use spray because I feel it works a lot better and it doesn't leave residue on the plants, and it doesn't block sunlight.
It doesn't look pretty, either.
Tons of people use the powder, I think mostly cause it's easy to sprinkle on. You don't have to load a sprayer and everything. My garden is big enough that if I want to get any effect, I have to load a sprayer.
It's just preference, really. Like cigars. :)
Oh yeah, they do have a little spray bottle with pre-mixed Sevin now. I bought one awhile back and I use it to spot kill stuff. I refill it myself. I mostly wanted it cause it was a bright red bottle and it makes it easy to find. :D

[shilala]

Took a newer photo of my tomato plants yesterday. I enjoy looking at the change week to week. That vine is slowly taking over my shed!!!!!

Haliburtage, your tomatoes are gonna be red in no time.
My plan is to raid your garden while you're on vacation.
;s

[rack04]

I removed a couple of sad looking rose bushes and I can't stand looking at empty beds. Are there any veggies and/or spices that can I can plant this time of the season? This summer we will see many 100 degree days and the spot I will plant gets majority shade.

[HK3-]

Haliburtage, your tomatoes are gonna be red in no time.
My plan is to raid your garden while you're on vacation.
;s

:r My dad and dogs will be guarding my veggies!

[HK3-]

When you all saying "dusted" veggies what product are you referring to? Up until now I haven't had a problem with insects but I would like to know what products are safe to use on edibles. I think I have a possum problem but that's another story.

Sevin.
I don't use powder, I use spray because I feel it works a lot better and it doesn't leave residue on the plants, and it doesn't block sunlight.
It doesn't look pretty, either.
Tons of people use the powder, I think mostly cause it's easy to sprinkle on. You don't have to load a sprayer and everything. My garden is big enough that if I want to get any effect, I have to load a sprayer.
It's just preference, really. Like cigars. :)
Oh yeah, they do have a little spray bottle with pre-mixed Sevin now. I bought one awhile back and I use it to spot kill stuff. I refill it myself. I mostly wanted it cause it was a bright red bottle and it makes it easy to find. :D

I do the dust because I'm too lazy to mix and spray. Scotts right though, the powder is a mess so if you go that route don't dust heavily in one spot! :tu

[shilala]

:r My dad and dogs will be guarding my veggies!
Means nothing, I'm a ninja. http://englipedia.informe.com/forum/images/smilies/smiley_ninja.gif

[HK3-]

Means nothing, I'm a ninja. http://englipedia.informe.com/forum/images/smilies/smiley_ninja.gif

Yes you are. ;)

[Mr B]

Means nothing, I'm a ninja. http://englipedia.informe.com/forum/images/smilies/smiley_ninja.gif

:r

[bigswol2]

Great looking gardens guys!

[BC-Axeman]

I have this houseplant, it's a Dracena fragrans.
http://fracstar.com/pics/dracena_fragrans1.jpg
It's called a "corn plant" in the house plant trade. This one is about 20 years old. It gets too tall and breaks sometimes. Then we stick the broken branch into another pot or back in this same pot and it will grow.
A couple of days ago my wife asked me if I had noticed the flowers on this plant. I had not. I looked up and saw these.
http://fracstar.com/pics/dracena_fragrans2.jpg
None had opened yet, though. Now that they are opening it is obvious why they are called "fragrans". Intense lily smell, beautiful but overpowering in the evening. We might have to cut it off if it gets much stronger. It looks like it will be opening for a while.

[HK3-]

Bump for the gardens.

Picking tomatoes like crazy down here. So far I've managed to fill two large mixing bowls with them.

My vine that was climbing my shed fell down after a storm earlier in the week. I had to hack some of the vines off and prop it back up so it will keep growing. Everyday it latches onto my pepper plants and I have to remove them. Note to self- Don't plant vines close to the veggies! :td

[mmblz]

the only thing we have resembling a garden so far is a big field of buckwheat.
this was all weeds / wild grass / stones / branches / roots.
growing buckwheat to improve the soil, then hopefully planting lawn this fall.
tilling it under tomorrow for the second crop of buckwheat...

[BC-Axeman]

My new soil is so porous that it dries out quickly. A great hassle. The pumpkins, squash and melons are taking off. The regular green cukes are looking good but the lemon ones aren't. It has only just the last few days gotten hot enough to start setting tomatoes so we'll see how that goes. I lined all the paths with weedblock and covered them in gravel and finished the french drain (for the rainy season) this last weekend. My back still hurts. Pics when I can get to them.
I was going to put up a garden webcam with something like half hour updates. I have the camera and the site but not the time.

[BC-Axeman]

I think this whole thing will be much better next year.
http://fracstar.com/pics/garden0710a.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

I finally got a soil test kit. It tests N-P-K on a scale of 0-4, Depleted to Surplus.
My results are:
Nitrogen 2, adequate but most plants want more
Phosphorus 3.5, plenty
Potassium (K) 0-1, barely readable, big problem
Soil ph is 7.4
How do I fix this?

[mmblz]

the only thing we have resembling a garden so far is a big field of buckwheat.
this was all weeds / wild grass / stones / branches / roots.
growing buckwheat to improve the soil, then hopefully planting lawn this fall.
tilling it under tomorrow for the second crop of buckwheat...

tilling

[HK3-]

Still eating lots of maters down here. Having to throw some out because we can't eat them fast enough. Picked my first three habaneros yesterday. :dr <--- mouth on fire

[BC-Axeman]

I just received a note from a local tomato grower that there is a problem with the Tomato Russet Mite in this area this year. A nasty critter that is probably why my potatoes up and wilted suddenly. I am going to take a close look with a lens and find out.

[mmblz]

tilling

our damn (brand new) tractor keeps having problems.
didn't get enough front weights to use the tiller
fuses blew a few times while trying to till, then stopped long enough to finish front yard.
tiller was apparently installed wrong so it broke the pto shaft
then traction assist or whatever it is called got stuck on, so mowing was tearing up the lawn on turns
now fuses blow so often we can't get anything done.
tractor back at dealer :(

[BC-Axeman]

How much power on the tractor? It looks small for a tiller. But then I have an 8hp walk behind that tills a 2ft swath OK.

[mmblz]

27 hp
John Deere dealer recommended and sold us the tiller...

[BC-Axeman]

Plenty-o-power.
There should be a shear pin that shears before the shaft snaps. Or a slip clutch link.

I hope it comes back from the shop in good to go shape.

[mmblz]

Plenty-o-power.
There should be a shear pin that shears before the shaft snaps. Or a slip clutch link.

I hope it comes back from the shop in good to go shape.

yup, theory is the slip clutch was not set up right.

still no clue what's with the fuses.

hoping our problems are over after this round - we bought a deere in hopes it would "just work"
:D

[BC-Axeman]

I used a microscope on my potato and tomato leaves and verified I have Tomato Russet Mites. So small yet so harmful. There is an organic seed extract from the Neem tree that is supposed to control these. $7 a treatment. Repeat every week. It also works on powder mildew which is hitting my squash and melons bad right now. This is the most challenging year I have had yet. My corn is dwarfed by the total lack of potassium. Everything is slowed down by the unusual cold summer. I can't wait until next year.

[wayner123]

Anyone got any updated pictures??

Here is my container garden for the Fall 2010 season:

Week 2 in the containers (Week 1 was spent in cups for germination):

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6430.jpg

Week 3:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6467-1.jpg

I still have 2 more buckets with California Wonder Bells in them, but they haven't hardened off yet.

[BC-Axeman]

Between the non-summer out here and the poor soil it wasn't worth taking a picture of my garden. Add to that the mite infestation and it was even sadder. I am going to work on getting the Ph down and the nitrogen and potassium up during the winter so next year I'll be ready.
We got some tomatoes, squash and peppers, some snap peas but few beans, no corn, small melons and pumpkins, few cucumbers, some beets and radishes, and it looks like there will be some onions and leeks. So not a total loss.

[HK3-]

Got tired of eating tomatos so they are just falling off in the garden now. Still getting some peppers here and there.

[shilala]

I made one batch of spaghetti sauce. I'm picking peppers to make red sauce peppers.
Those are the peppers in kethchup and vinegar and stuff that you slather over crackers and cream cheese during football games. They're extremely addictive and incredibly good.
I got too hot and my back was killing me, so I came in to take some dope and put on a pair of shorts. Now I'm gonna crawl around on my belly and finish up. Then I'll spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning peppers and watching bad movies on Netflix. :tu

[wayner123]

I made one batch of spaghetti sauce. I'm picking peppers to make red sauce peppers.
Those are the peppers in kethchup and vinegar and stuff that you slather over crackers and cream cheese during football games. They're extremely addictive and incredibly good.
I got too hot and my back was killing me, so I came in to take some dope and put on a pair of shorts. Now I'm gonna crawl around on my belly and finish up. Then I'll spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning peppers and watching bad movies on Netflix. :tu

Got any pics of the garden?? Or a video update?

[HK3-]

Got any pics of the garden?? Or a video update?

:tpd: Video!!!!!!! :)

[wayner123]

Week 4 of my bucket Garden:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6603.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6608.jpg

[shilala]

Got any pics of the garden?? Or a video update?
I have no idea where my video taking camera is. I've been traveling all over creation for weeks. I leave here Sunday for Ohio, then Washington Pa, then Pittsburgh, then Nashville. That's over a span of seven days.
All I really have track of anymore is my suitcase.
I think it all calms down after this. All my doctor appointments will be done and all my torture tests will be done. That'll be right in time for frost to ruin my garden. :tu

If I can find my little camera, I'll try to get a video up. No promises though. :)

[shilala]

I finally got a soil test kit. It tests N-P-K on a scale of 0-4, Depleted to Surplus.
My results are:
Nitrogen 2, adequate but most plants want more
Phosphorus 3.5, plenty
Potassium (K) 0-1, barely readable, big problem
Soil ph is 7.4
How do I fix this?
Dolomite Limestone or lime chips for the PH, Potash for the potassium, and tons of organic material for the nitrogen.
People here use wood ashes for the potassium, I don't.

The only way to get soil to balance so you never have to fight it is to add tons of organic material. Compost, straw, cow manure, anything.
It takes an incredible amount, but it's the only way to build and maintain good soil.
You live in the woods. Your dirt is just like it's supposed to be. It'll take some work to make your garden soil good, and it'll take a couple years.
If you gather all the stuff you can, build a giant compost heap, and get that started, you can use potash and nitrogen fertilizer and crap like that till you bring your soil around.
Don't use powdered limestone. Use limestone chips and work them rocks right in the soil. Powdered limestone lasts for a minute. Chips last forever.

[shilala]

Oh yeah, you can use greensand for potassium, too. It's rock. It's like using limestone chips. It's a one time solution that lasts forever in your garden. :tu

[BC-Axeman]

I have lots of compost, worm castings, mulch, etc. My garden used to always get this stuff added every year. I filled the raised boxes with the mixed stuff from a landscape supply. I am hesitant to add ashes because how much it will raise the already borderline high ph. Greensand sounds like a good way. We have kelp meal around here as an organic fertilizer that is high in K but it is also high in $.

[shilala]

I have lots of compost, worm castings, mulch, etc. My garden used to always get this stuff added every year. I filled the raised boxes with the mixed stuff from a landscape supply. I am hesitant to add ashes because how much it will raise the already borderline high ph. Greensand sounds like a good way. We have kelp meal around here as an organic fertilizer that is high in K but it is also high in $.
It's kinda hard to make suggestions without knowing what your area is like. I lived in a farm community. Limestone is everywhere. So was organic material like leaves, crop leftovers, straw, compost from our half dozen chicken coops, rabbit poop and bedding, stuff like that.
I kept a huge compost pile and trucked home everything I could get ahold of.
I agree completely on the ashes. I don't use them, never did. Lots of people here do use ashes and tons of powdered lime. It's a tempoarary solution to a permanent problem.
If you had lots and lots of limestone chips in the soil you could use all you want. Thing is, it's still a temporary solution, just like commercial fertilizers.
That stuff is money down the drain, literally.

On the organic material and compost...
Imagine that your garden soil is 100% composted organic material. That would be the ideal. Perfection.
Then add the dirt you have to it. Every shovel makes it worse.
That's not a rub, it's just that forest soil (along with lots of other types of soil) is depleted. It's just the way it is.
I said that to illustrate that no matter how much compost or organic material you've added, it ain't enough. It took me a lot of years to kinda get my head around that.
Your test results are what shows that. It's fixable, and you can fix it for good. Just keep working at it. :tu

[shilala]

:tpd: Video!!!!!!! :)
I took some video yesterday. It's lousy, but it'll do. :)
I'm sending it up to YouTube right now, it says it'll be done in 77 minutes. It's only 10% done.
I have to start cleaning the garden up now. It's time. I need to get everything in the compost bin, but it's slap full. I'm not exactly sure what I'm gonna do, but I'll figure something out.
I'll link up that video if it ever finishes up. :tu

[shilala]

Behold. The last video of 2010. :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VgrK0O6JHc)
If you look around 3:19, you can see a couple volunteer tobacco plants.

[wayner123]

Behold. The last video of 2010. :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VgrK0O6JHc)
If you look around 3:19, you can see a couple volunteer tobacco plants.

Thanks for that. I would love to do that big of a lot, but the nematodes around here are crazy!

If all goes well for my little containers, I am going to scale up production in Feb.

[jjirons69]

Fall update:

I'm down to a few straggler tomatoes. The okra is still doing so-so. The jalapenos and bells are going nuts. I have 20 or so pint and quart jars of pickled jalapenos so far and many to come. My biggest jalapeno is close to 4 feet tall. Our first frost is around the first of November, so I'm going to try something new this year. I'll dig her up and continue growing her in the house during the winter. I'll self-pollinate the flowers (with my hands ;)). I'll get a picture soon.

[HK3-]

Behold. The last video of 2010. :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VgrK0O6JHc)
If you look around 3:19, you can see a couple volunteer tobacco plants.

Great video as always man! Your garden is loaded!!!!! I'm still getting a few of the habaneros on mine but not many.

[BC-Axeman]

Well I got me a big steamin' pile of sh!t in my yard now.
About 1 1/2 yards of fresh, watered down horse manure. I'm waiting for it to compost some before I start to add it, after we pull everything up.

[jjirons69]

I bet it's rained 6 inches here in the past two days. It's supposed to rain the rest of the night into tomorrow. Before this weekend, it hadn't rained in FOREVER. Feast or famine...

I'm glad I don't have a big pile of sh!t in my yard. ;)

[BC-Axeman]

Big STEAMING pile!
I stick a piece of rebar in it and stir it every day and it steams from inside. Adding chicken and kitchen compost to it this weekend. Next year I will top dress the boxes with more about a month before planting. I don't want a repeat of this year even if the weather is bad again.

[shilala]

Big STEAMING pile!
I stick a piece of rebar in it and stir it every day and it steams from inside. Adding chicken and kitchen compost to it this weekend. Next year I will top dress the boxes with more about a month before planting. I don't want a repeat of this year even if the weather is bad again.

Don't put no meat in there, broham.
That's the only thing you don't want. Newspaper is good for compost, too. That'll get that potassium up, as well. They say India Ink has good stuff in it for the garden, I don't remember what. I don't even know if they still use it for newsprint, either. It's still good stuff though. :tu
You can turn that pile into your garden asap.
Warning though:
Horsepoop has TONS of weed seed in it. Try to keep it at least three inches deep if you can, and don't till. The worms will come up and till it.
If you cover the beds with black plastic from this seasons end till planting time, the worms will get lots of extra time to work that stuff.
You should also know that plants grow in the top six inches of soil, so you can add that to your strategy.
I can't remember how deep your beds are from the pics, but it'd be a good idea to poke a hole in the center of the black plastic if you decide to use it.
I'd go with landscape material like DeWitt Sunbelt and be done for good. Same stuff that's on my garden. It holds weeds out and keeps heat in. It's a bit expensive, but lasts forever.
When I plant my plants, every other year I use a 1:5 mixture of hydrated SAP and composted cow poop and throw a handful in each hole. That keeps water and food to the plants all years long.
I actually cheat and don't hydrate the SAP. I know an ounce makes a gallon of hydrated SAP, so I just calculate it against the amount of cow poop I'm using.

[BC-Axeman]

100% fresh stall sweepings. It steams during the day. It is so hot it's cooking the weed seeds. Too hot to hold your hand in. If it were drier it would smolder.
Maybe this weekend I will turn the chicken beddings before it cools down.
I use cheap weedblock from the garden supply. The same as under the pea gravel.

[ucla695]

The only thing I have in my garden is a Serrano chili plant. The squirrels eat everything so it has a body guard. :r

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp333/ucla695/BBQ/IMG_3008-1.jpg

Here's a closer view of the chili, but the cam is focused on gnomey cheese.

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp333/ucla695/BBQ/IMG_3009-1.jpg

[shilala]

I have a picture of Lisa's garden basket. I told her that we generally use our shirt or a five gallon bucket to carry vegetables, but she thought this thing would be cute. It is. :)

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/basket.jpg

[wayner123]

Here is week 6:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6654.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6658.jpg

[shilala]

Are those all peppers, Wayne? They're lookin good!!! :tu

Here is week 6:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6654.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/wayner1234/2010%20Fall%20Garden/IMG_6658.jpg

[wayner123]

Thanks Scott, it's my first "garden" since I was a kid.

In the second picture, the 2 plants to the left are California Wonder Bell Peppers. I had a problem with some sort of moth caterpillar, but after a night inspection and prompt bug squishing party, they have started to come back around. The other plants in the second picture are White Acre Peas. It's a Southern thang.

The First picture (L to R) is summer squash (2), and green beans (2).

[rack04]

I have a picture of Lisa's garden basket. I told her that we generally use our shirt or a five gallon bucket to carry vegetables, but she thought this thing would be cute. It is. :)

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/basket.jpg

I think she's right. :D

[shilala]

I think she's right. :D
She's always right, Justin. It's her rule. It's working out GREAT!!! :D

[acarr]

Behold. The last video of 2010. :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VgrK0O6JHc)
If you look around 3:19, you can see a couple volunteer tobacco plants.

That is nice! What do you use on the ground? The black plastic? Is it a certain type or will anything work?

[ucla695]

I have a picture of Lisa's garden basket. I told her that we generally use our shirt or a five gallon bucket to carry vegetables, but she thought this thing would be cute. It is. :)

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/basket.jpg

Wow....great looking haul!! :tu

[BC-Axeman]

From G00gle's spyplane a couple of years ago.

http://fracstar.com/pics/southyard.png
The hill slopes down towards the bottom (south). The garden was the green lines on the right.

[Chainsaw13]

Finally broke down the rest of my garden this morning. I hadn't touched these plants in probably a couple of months, but as you can see by the yield, they liked the cooler weather. Now what to do with all of the peppers?

[BC-Axeman]

I still have onions and celery that are not finished yet, but otherwise I should be getting ready to prepare next years garden soon. If the organic amendments don't work I am going to waste no time and go to regular chemical fertilizer, which are mostly just naturally occurring salts. I am not going to put up with another unproductive garden.

[shilala]

I pulled up my landscape fabric and that garden is a memory. I'll be fighting really awful soil with you next year, Lance. I'll fix it with composted cowpoop and SAP thrown right in the holes with the plants. Lots of Miracle Grow along the way, too. :)

[shilala]

I just cleaned a Jack be Little pumpkin out a couple days ago so I could save the seeds. It got pushed around and carried around for months till it ended up on top of the fridge where it got lost.
Lisa pointed it out to me last week and I set it down where I'd see Orval I'd remember to clean it. The seeds are just about dry enough to put away now.

My Park Seed catalog showed up a few days ago. All my seeds are lost right now, so I'll probably just order all my seeds for this year unless I get finished moving and unpacking and find my seed boxes. :)
I don't usually get stoked about garden season this early, but I'm already getting itchy. :D

[Chainsaw13]

Tell me more about this Park Seed catalog. Do they sell heriloom varieties? I'm going to expand my garden next year and want to plant a larger variety of plants. I'm thinking corn, squash, carrots, maybe some potatoes. Not sure what yet, but I'm already thinking of next year.

I did get my garlic in the ground back in early November. Should have around 20 heads this time around. Not sure of the variety, it was something my sister gave me.

[wayner123]

Park seeds has a nice selection. They have all varieties of heirloom and hybrids. But if you want strictly heirlooms, check out Baker's Creek seeds. For my hybrids I'd go with johnnyseeds.

[BC-Axeman]

New '11 thread started:
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1203315#post1203315