Gardeners in the Asylum

[hotreds]

Can't really tell but is that Soybeans? How many acres is that?

soy- about 5 in the picture, but about 15 or so are planted.

[TheCigarNut]

Just found out about this thread! Good to know I'm not the only one on here into plants. No where near the experience you all have tho. I just put some whale spinach, miners lettuce and Paris island lettuce seeds in the starter pots. I have my soil mix with amendments sitting in a home made compost bin right now, hopefully that will be done soon.

You all do the full organic thing, chemicals or a mix? This is my first venture into a full organic setup, hopefully the food tastes better because of it!

[BC-Axeman]

Miners lettuce is wild here. I grow organically but I add organic chemical fertilizer and I'm not above using snail bait. I use Azitrol as an insecticide, which is plant derivative but it's a refined chemical. The line to organic can be a little fuzzy. I use compost from horse, chicken, yard waste, worms, and kitchen waste. The plants grow easier, faster and bigger with high potency chemical fertilizer. They taste better because you pick them at the right time and eat them fresh.

[jjirons69]

My peppers are still crushing it! I've given away a ton of them this year. My collards are starting to take root and grow...yum. Also, this weekend we dug peanuts at my dads. We spent most of yesterday washing and boiling in two huge pots. I ended up with 37 FULL quart bags of boiled Valencia peanuts in the freezer. This should get us through the winter. (My fingernails are ruined, BTW)

[BC-Axeman]

I just started harvesting these (http://www.chilipeppermadness.com/caribbean-red-habanero-chili-pepper.html).
When peppers get to a certain point it gets hard to compare them. These are very hard to eat raw. Supposed to be hotter than habaneros. It's very hard to eat habaneros raw too. They taste sweet before the pain hits.

[SvilleKid]

I have never had luck growing onions in the spring and summer. I try it almost every year. I stopped by the county co-op this afternoon looking for spinach seeds. No spinach seeds (they don't carry it in seeds, only plants?????). They did have starter onion bulbs for $1.50 for a pound bag. What the heck, may as well try onions in the fall. Maybe I'll have better luck in the Fall! If not, I've lost a whole buck-fifty!

[jjirons69]

Arrggg!

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Popeye-Spinach.jpg

[Shawn hines]

soy- about 5 in the picture, but about 15 or so are planted.

Looks like a pretty good crop, How many bushels per acre did you pull?

[hotreds]

The beans are harvested....

http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp734%3B2%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D37%3C%3B%3B8%3B27832%3Bnu0mrj

http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp734%3A9%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D37%3C%3B%3B%3A64%3B532%3Bnu0mrj

[TheCigarNut]

nice! Looking very good! Hope it was an excellent crop for you!

[SvilleKid]

I decided to dig one of my dozen sweet potato plants today to see how they were progressing. I think I'm going to have a few more taters than I was planning on! 16 yams from that one plant. The size 10 moccasin is for size comparison!

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Cigars/FB83C1FC-C8B7-4329-94AD-CA48B312994C-11746-00000BD314F4C115.jpg

Think it's time to harvest the rest this week.

[BC-Axeman]

I wish we could grow yams here.
I'm starting to get used to those Caribbean Red chilis. Next year it can be ghost peppers.

[jjirons69]

Good looking sweets there, Cliff

Lance, you're a dang madman! Those things would tear my guts up then burn up my backside. I bow to you!

[BC-Axeman]

Lance, you're a dang madman! Those things would tear my guts up then burn up my backside. I bow to you!

I know a lot of people who can eat really strong peppers. The burn in your mouth turns to numbness pretty quick after a while. The burn in your gut goes away after a couple of minutes and it actually improves your digestion and speeds up your metabolism. My lower back pain has gone away. The end burn is very temporary. Capsaicin depletes neurons of the ability to transmit pain and gives you an adrenaline rush so it is a little addictive.

[SvilleKid]

I'm expanding my garden intentions. Many of the sweet tater vinse were putting out roots and the start of tubulars where they were touching ground. I took those vives, and recovered the "roots" with dirt, and am watering them. I'll be interested to see what grows over the fall. I also took a double handful of the smaller remains of my red potatoes (that were starting to sprout), and planted them. If we have another mild winter, I might be eating fresh taters in January!!!

[mmblz]

does grass count? this is what i spend the most energy on ;)

[Mr B]

does grass count? this is what i spend the most energy on ;)


Awesome looking property.

[357]

The beans are harvested....

http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp734%3B2%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D37%3C%3B%3B8%3B27832%3Bnu0mrj

http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp734%3A9%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D37%3C%3B%3B%3A64%3B532%3Bnu0mrj

Hugh, where's the deerstands??? I thought on the post-harvest pic we'd be able to see them in the background.

You have to have some kind of loss managment, aka hunting to kill off the deer who eat your crops.

[BC-Axeman]

Hugh, where's the deerstands??? I thought on the post-harvest pic we'd be able to see them in the background.

You have to have some kind of loss managment, aka hunting to kill off the deer who eat your crops.
:D For some reason, seeing a plowed field makes me think of hunting too.

[jjirons69]

does grass count? this is what i spend the most energy on ;)

Grass does count - it's harder to manage than most garden plants. Looks good.

[Chainsaw13]

Never got the chance to plant any fall type veggies in my raised beds. But did manage to get my garlic in the ground today. 5 varieties (German Hardy, Music, Stull, Roja and an unknown variety I've been planting for a few years) for a total of 38 heads for next year. The 5 named varieties are all hardneck types that produce 5-8 large cloves per head. Can't wait to see how they do.

[SvilleKid]

Kinda a "gardening" thing. My fall haul from two afternoons of "harvesting". I wish I could say these were from my two trees. But alas, the crows shredded my crop while it was still green. My trees were heavily loaded, but after the crows, I was left with a grand total of 8 pecans on the ground. These are mostly from a friend's house a couple of miles away. The table cloth the pecans are on is a 6 ft square. The dvr remote is to give an idea of the thickness of the pile. Going to let these dry for a couple of weeks before I start cracking and picking them.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Cigars/A0A14795-4A25-4657-A8FA-C25EB4DBA12A-3100-0000031F9A114737.jpg

My "harvester" is basically this"


http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/pecanpicker.jpg

[MarkinAZ]

That's a beautiful pile of pecans you have there Cliff. I can already visualize a few pies coming forth:dr

Aunt and Uncle in Oklahoma had a pecan tree in the back yard about 8' from the picture window. Gathered many a pecan off the ground from that tree. Use to be fun watching the Cardinals and Jays trying to position themselves to snatch a pecan from the Squirrels:D

A 12ga works wonders on Crows you know;)

[SvilleKid]

That's a beautiful pile of pecans you have there Cliff. I can already visualize a few pies coming forth:dr

Aunt and Uncle in Oklahoma had a pecan tree in the back yard about 8' from the picture window. Gathered many a pecan off the ground from that tree. Use to be fun watching the Cardinals and Jays trying to position themselves to snatch a pecan from the Squirrels:D

A 12ga works wonders on Crows you know;)


I know, and a 20 gauge does too. Plus I have several .22 rifles and thousands of rounds of .22. The only problem.... The trees are in the front yard, and almost any angle, I'd be shooting with the street and one or the other of my neighbor's house as a backstop! It's a real tricky placement for gun work. I'm already past any pecans this year. If I can drop one or two crows, even in the yard, I can place the dead crows in the trees, and that will deter the rest. But they are crafty little devils! I have a master bedroom window that faces the pecan trees, and slept with it open in the early fall/late summer. The crows would wake me up around 5:30 - 6 am, but would be gone by the time I got up, got dressed and got a look off the porch. I was up already one morning when they started cawing. When I peeked out the kitchen window, the damn crows had a lookout quietly sitting on the ground under the window, where it could see me coming around the bed in that window. That's how they were staying ahead of me. dammit! I was up early another morning, grabbed a seat in a small pine grove near the road that gave me a shot away from any houses or the road..... The stupid crows never got close to the pecan trees after having been there all week. Frustrating.

[Jasonw560]

I know, and a 20 gauge does too. Plus I have several .22 rifles and thousands of rounds of .22. The only problem.... The trees are in the front yard, and almost any angle, I'd be shooting with the street and one or the other of my neighbor's house as a backstop! It's a real tricky placement for gun work. I'm already past any pecans this year. If I can drop one or two crows, even in the yard, I can place the dead crows in the trees, and that will deter the rest. But they are crafty little devils! I have a master bedroom window that faces the pecan trees, and slept with it open in the early fall/late summer. The crows would wake me up around 5:30 - 6 am, but would be gone by the time I got up, got dressed and got a look off the porch. I was up already one morning when they started cawing. When I peeked out the kitchen window, the damn crows had a lookout quietly sitting on the ground under the window, where it could see me coming around the bed in that window. That's how they were staying ahead of me. dammit! I was up early another morning, grabbed a seat in a small pine grove near the road that gave me a shot away from any houses or the road..... The stupid crows never got close to the pecan trees after having been there all week. Frustrating.

Try an air cannon...I'm sure your neighbors wouldn't mind...:D

[Jasonw560]

I found some lettuce seeds today. Going to break out the tiller once we get back from Disney and prep the beds to get something started again.

[thebayratt]

got some Collard seedlings coming up, hopefullyI can get them in the ground soon.

On another note, my tobacco grew, but not enough. I had a bad storm come through early in the season and whiped out half of them. The ones that did make it had damaged (bent) stalks. I do have a few that are making flowers, so, I'll have more seeds for next year. going to let them do their thing and try again next year. Then I'll be a little more prepaired and have a bit more time to tend to them.

[SvilleKid]

Spinach, onions and turnip greens. All doing well. I got about 25% germination on the snow peas I planted (to the left of the turnips, not really visible). Not sure if they are going to make anything.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Cigars/962505BE-BB4B-476C-8DF3-E563CBCF229B-10732-00000ABF16A3EB13.jpg

[jjirons69]

Nothing like greens in the winter. Good job, Cliff!

[shilala]

I still have to pull my tomato stakes out and cut down some more corn stalks to have the garden ready for the snow. It's time to cover up the deck furniture, too. The yard and garden is a wrap for this year.
We still have wildflowers beside the house, it's pretty amazing. Real nice to see this time of year, too. :)

[jjirons69]

No hard frost yet here on the coast. We picked a dozen big bell peppers this past weekend. The pepper bushes are still loaded. My collards are growing quite nicely, too.

[jjirons69]

Well, we had ground frost the past two mornings, lows around 34. Peppers got smacked. Good while they lasted. The collards, on the other hand, loved the dusting of ice.

[jjirons69]

All growing well in leaf mulch

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/9915E098-642B-4C61-BA78-1FF2F7C11FB2-5481-0000044D7F310407.jpg

[Mr B]

Very Nice.

[SvilleKid]

First hard freeze coming this week. Harvested all the spinach yesterday. Put up 10 quart bags in freezer. Onions not ready, so I mulched them with about 2 feet of wheat straw. Will see if they survive the freeze. If not, then a whopping $2 in costs is down the drain! Surprisingly, they are growing much better in the fall than they ever grew in the spring/summer!

[iaMkcK]

I got some Rosemary growing as hedges. That's.. Pretty much it. Not much grows in the desert, unless you time it just right and spend all day tending whatever it may be. Haha

[shilala]

It's time to order seeds again. I'm gonna try to NOT put it off till March and then get half my stuff and complain about the service.
I swore last year I'd never order from Park Seed again. Now I have their catalog ready and waiting. I've been ordering seed from these guys for 25 years, what the heck ya gonna do, right?
I really, really, like Willhite Seed. Crazy good prices on huge amounts of seed. Stuff always comes in a couple days and my whole order is there. I'm sure I won't order from them.
This is only one of the many things wrong with my head.

[jjirons69]

Man, been eating white egg turnips, curly mustard, and collards the past several weeks.

[shilala]

Got my seeds from Park awhile ago. Some of them. They shorted me six packs of corn seed but billed me for them separately a couple weeks ago. I highly doubt they'll ever show up, they do this to me every single year. Granted, sometimes the seed shows up about a month and a half after planting time, but that's as good as "didn't show up".
I'm not in a big hurry, so I'll wait a bit before I start calling them. Wish me luck!!!

[jjirons69]

Gathered the last of the collards in post #283. Got a large pot full on the stove. Awesome!

Yesterday I planted Iceberb, Red Sails, Buttercrunch, and Romaine lettuces. Also planted two types of radishes and 3 types of garden peas (Chinese snow pea, a dwarf pea, and an early sweet). I planted two types of summer squash, bush cucumbers, Seniorita jalapeno, Giant Bell, cilantro, dill, and basil in cups for the window sill. They should hit the ground in a few weeks.

[Fordman4ever]

I have 2 avocado pits growing in the window sill and 1 celery growing on the kitchen counter.

[SvilleKid]

Grabbed five pounds of waxy red potatoes today. Probably won't cut up and plant them for at least two weeks. Hope to turn ground in next day or so, and work some horse manure into the area that I will add for an asparagus bed. I also plan to get some starter plants going for lettuce and broccoli. Hopefully some photos to follow. I'm not sure about planting dates this year. I had seeds in the ground three weeks before Good Friday last season, and two weeks before GF year before that. But we are running 15-20 degrees colder this year than last, and this might be the year I have to wait for GF, or even later. Mid-term weather predictions don't look good for early planting.

[Mr B]

Seeds sprouting inside
Red Chard, Beets, Romaine, Butter Leaf, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Radish.

[Mr B]

How many of you used lawn clippings for mulch under your veggies? How's that workin for ya? I am thinking of trying that this year.

[Mr B]

Anybody have any garden pics yet?
I just got a yard of Mushroom Compost yesterday to add to my exinsint raised beds.
Plants from seeds are doing well under the lights.

[jjirons69]

Garden's doing good now that last snap of cold weather went away. This was from two weeks ago. Everything has jumped now. Garden plants: Iceberb, Red Sails, Buttercrunch, and Romaine lettuces, two types of radishes and three types of garden peas (Chinese snow pea, a dwarf pea, and an early sweet). I planted two types of summer squash, bush cucumbers, Seniorita jalapeno, Giant Bell, cilantro, dill, and basil.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/P1050844_zps7ea9ad3f.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/P1050845_zps1bd83c94.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/P1050848_zpsb0b3f193.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/P1050849_zps8db5ade2.jpg

[jjirons69]

How many of you used lawn clippings for mulch under your veggies? How's that workin for ya? I am thinking of trying that this year.

My garden is full of mulched leaves and grass clippings. I've been doing it for years. No weed problems what-so-ever! I can peel back the layer of clippings/leaves and the earthworms are everywhere and the soil is so moist and dark. I also don't till any more. I just work up the ground where I want to plant. That also keeps down the weeds. It's a win-win!

[OLS]

My landlady used to complain about her backyard being a desert. It was nothing but tan clay when I moved in.
She bought a truckload of chipped wood mulch, but her idiot yard man scraped it all away over several weekends
and it all went out to the street. But that still didn't teach her. Instead of bagging leaves every fall, I would rake
them into a pile and run the mower over them until they were shredded. That worked better cause the dumba55
couldn't get a good grip on em with the rake. But eventually he would undo everything I did. Then she got tired
of him breaking or stealing all her tools and told him to stop coming around. NOW you can see the results. I never
know why people don't mulch down their leaves every year. It makes outstanding dirt and the worms love it.
You can't throw leaves on a compost and expect them to rot. They have to be shredded first. I always get angry
when I see some idiot with 35 bags of leaves on the curb awaiting pickup.
But now that my own processes are allowed to go on without interference, she has a good 7 inches of rich topsoil.
Everytime she comments on it, I tell her that she'd probably have 15 inches of topsoil if she would have cut the
a-hole loose sooner. She still can't grow grass, too much tree canopy cover. But at least the yard doesn't make
dust anymore. ANd those trees REALLY work well in the 98 degree summer here. Step into that fenced backyard
from the street at 4:30 in the afternoon and the temp drops 15 degrees.

[Mr B]

Great pics Jamie. Thanks for the grass clipping comment. So you dont have to worry about any grass seed actually growing out of your clippings?

Brad, last year I started composting everything! I am going completely organic this year and moving forward. I just built a worm composter over the weekend also.

[Mr B]

This is the first year I did everything by seed. I got sick and tired of the crap I was getting from Home Depot and Lowes. Plus I want to do everything Organically moving forward.
Here are a few videos of the things I did this year, starting with seed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmThYl-0uw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnF8QzEZh4s


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHZJC7lU1Qk

[jjirons69]

No problems with weed or grass seed in the clippings. Initially I was worried about it, too, but there's been nothing to worry about. Go for it!

[shilala]

We have a few flats of tomatoes and peppers started in the greenhouse I put up in the basement. They're doing great, should be big and strong when it comes time to put them out to harden.

Grass clippings are great if they're used in a balance. Jamie has a big garden, small amount of clippings, and he uses leaves and other organic matter to mulch.
Folks with raised beds tend to put a whole garbage bag of clippings around one plant. It's great for the first year because the grass doesn't break down so much. The following year there's so much free nitrogen that plants grow huge and fruit very little.
Go easy on the grass clippings, B. A little is great, too much is not great. :tu

[Mr B]

Thanks Jamie
Thanks Scott

[363]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ygHQCuFWx8/UWxCOMLM1oI/AAAAAAAAC9k/atH9NXQnmVs/s640/IMG_20130414_174145.jpg
It's not very pretty but the wife and I put our 1st garden together this year. We planted zucchini, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, cucumbers, and tomatoes. We are also growing strawberries in a container on the porch. I think some moving around may be done before all is finalized but it is a good start I think.

[Mr B]

Very nice Brendon. Good luck!

[Mark C]

My tomato plants are starting to get too big, I'm afraid they'll be root bound before the nights are warm here, but don't have room to pot up. They're in 3" pots now, 6-8" tall and growing fast.

Anyone use "wall o' water" or similar season extenders? Our temps are likely to be in the 60s during the day and 40s at night for the next few weeks. Historical average evening temp of 55 isn't until mid-May. Thoughts?

[shade]

My tomato plants are starting to get too big, I'm afraid they'll be root bound before the nights are warm here, but don't have room to pot up. They're in 3" pots now, 6-8" tall and growing fast.

Anyone use "wall o' water" or similar season extenders? Our temps are likely to be in the 60s during the day and 40s at night for the next few weeks. Historical average evening temp of 55 isn't until mid-May. Thoughts?

Quite a few Mennonite families around here use the 'wall-o-water' with great results. Usually have the first tomatoes in our area. I see a lot of gallon milk containers with the bottoms cut out also. Much cheaper route if you have lots of plants.

I planted some habarneros, and two tomatoes plants the other day, but in an area that is well protected, and has it's own micro-climate. Still, with temps predicted in the mid to upper 30s tomorrow night I'll have to cover them.

[jjirons69]

Mark, I just use an inverted 5 gallon bucket when I need a night's protection.

I wouldn't worry too much about the size of the tomatoes. Tall, lanky ones will be fine. Dig a trench and plant as much of the stem as you can leaving a few set of leaves above ground. The stem will grow roots along itself when buried - a good thing.

[SvilleKid]

Here's the start for 2013. I still have to place my soaker hoses and mulch. And I'm waiting for some sweet taters to put out some "slips" to plant those. Otherwise, it's all in the ground. Zucchini, pink-eyed purple-hull peas, three types of watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, yellow squash, onions, peppers, three types of tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, red potatoes, green beans and corn. Maybe that will keep me busy.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Cigars/72E677CB-41DB-4223-8399-3CA6DA8F0416-1482-0000014FA7138684_zps376a8fa6.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/Cigars/72E677CB-41DB-4223-8399-3CA6DA8F0416-1482-0000014FA7138684_zps376a8fa6.jpg.html)

[Mr B]

Love your plot man. Everything by seed?

[SvilleKid]

Love your plot man. Everything by seed?


No, the far end has starter plants of Tomato, Peppers, cabbage, broccoli. Potatoes are from leftover runt potatoes of last years crop (how I usually do it). The sweet taters slips are being sprouted from runts left over from last year's crop also. The onions are actually still growing from where I planted them last fall/early winter. The melons, squash and corn are from seeds purchased at a local co-op. One pound bag of seed will usually last me 3 seasons on corn, as will 1 ounce envelope of melon seeds. The peas, butterpeas and green bean seed are taken from dried pods of last years crops, and seem to work as well as buying new ones. All seeds are stored in a chest type freezer all year except for a day or two when they are taken out to warm up and plant,

[Mr B]

Nice

[Mr B]

Here are some pics of what is outside already. I still have alot of stuff under the lights, in the house. I started everything by seed this year.



Here is my early season raised-bed.

Onions, Beets, Red Chard, Spinach, Boc Choy, Broccoli, Butter Lettuce.



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da02b3127ccef2bbc783cc9300000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130423164854496.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da02b3127ccef2ba35876d9200000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130423164854687.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da02b3127ccef2ba732bec2d00000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130423164901257.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[Mr B]

This is more of the stuff I have moved out doors to Harden-Off.



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da02b3127ccef2ba54f8ac7500000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130423164900969.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da02b3127ccef2bab6b22d7e00000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130423164845975.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da02b3127ccef2ba801b2dcc00000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130423164846513.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[shilala]

My tomato plants are starting to get too big, I'm afraid they'll be root bound before the nights are warm here, but don't have room to pot up. They're in 3" pots now, 6-8" tall and growing fast.

Anyone use "wall o' water" or similar season extenders? Our temps are likely to be in the 60s during the day and 40s at night for the next few weeks. Historical average evening temp of 55 isn't until mid-May. Thoughts?
I used to have a pile of them. They work great.
If the plants grow out the top and get nipped by frost, you just lop them off. It's got to be a very hard frost for them to get nipped, even outside the wall0water.
I started cukes in them, too. We had a very short season in PA and they were a big help to get some early stuff.

[Mark C]

I used to have a pile of them. They work great.
If the plants grow out the top and get nipped by frost, you just lop them off. It's got to be a very hard frost for them to get nipped, even outside the wall0water.
I started cukes in them, too. We had a very short season in PA and they were a big help to get some early stuff.

I'm on the southern border of PA, so that helps. Glad to hear they work, they'll be delivered on Friday :)

[jjirons69]

Great start, B!

[Mr B]

I am having problems with Leaf Miners (first time ever) in my Chard, Spinach and Beet leaves.
What Non-Toixic methods do you guys use for these?

[Mr B]

Here's whats under the Plastic Lean-to, hardening off.



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da05b3127ccef2a5b64c876f00000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130424152657142.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/





I am building another raised bed. This one is 14' x 4' x 18" high.
This is 1 of 2 halves. They will be joined together and a 1/2" threaded rod will go in the mid-cross section to keep it from bowing apart. Its upside down right now. The long legs will go in the ground. I will update the status as I go.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da05b3127ccef2a5a6b106aa00000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130424152656981.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3da05b3127ccef2a45bf8e77900000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130424152702259.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[jjirons69]

This damned gardening is hard work!!

[Mr B]

Here's a couple of garden update videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJF82s_pncU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvJmX5w7Fj0

[jjirons69]

Top notch, Brent!

[shilala]

I am having problems with Leaf Miners (first time ever) in my Chard, Spinach and Beet leaves.
What Non-Toixic methods do you guys use for these?
1/3rd strength Sevin applied as often as it takes to kill them.
I suppose you'll immediately think "that's isn't non-toxic?" Thing is, the active ingredient, carbaryl, evaporates off very rapidly leaving only inert ingredients like chalk and standard nothings. If people happen to eat some, the body quickly breaks it down and removes it. It's poisonous to invertebrates, not so much to vertebrates.
What ultimately made me trust it is that it's milk-safe. You may not be aware of the stringent tests and standards milk farmers are held to, but let's just say that they're insane. Cows can eat this stuff on their feed all day and it'll never transfer laterally to the milk. Heck, a woman can't even eat broccoli without giving the baby gas, right?
Sometimes we out-think ourselves with "safe alternatives". I'd far rather eat Sevin than Safer Soap, or any of the other "non-toxic" concoctions I've come across over the years.

Badass videos, too, my man!!! Lookin good!!! :tu

[shilala]

Weeze and I transplanted everything on Saturday. The plants have gotten a couple days hardening in the wind, I just dragged them out into the sun for their first hour.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/null_zps227c6758.jpg

[Mr B]

Lookin good Scott. last week I transplanted about 18 peppers, 6 watermelons, 12 pumpkins, 12 Zucchini, and about 10 of my largest tomatoes.
I still have another 24 peppers, 20 tomatoes, 7 cantaloupe and 12 Red Basil to transplant.
I am giving alot of stuff away this year.

[Mr B]

Garden update video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_XMwdgXlIY

[shilala]

Thanks for the video, Brent!!! :tu

I picked up some onion sets last night, I need to go out and get them planted. I also need to plant carrots, snow peas and blue lake beans.
The rest of the garden will go in a couple weeks from now.

[Mr B]

I finished up installing the Raised bed last night. I will line the bottom with cardboard and attach a weed barrier matting. We dont get gophers or moles here. I guess that's a nice trade for having horrible, solid Adobe Clay soil. Hope to fill it w/ soil and compost this Sat (crossing fingers).
That 4 foot section in the old raised bed where I have been hardening off my plants (where the Red Solo Cups are), still needs to have the Collards put in and be seeded for Radish and Carrots. So much to do and time is slipping away here.
Hope to do my final batch or transplants in the next few days.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3db28b3127ccef346b3d8141200000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130509190648145.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3db28b3127ccef34746edf5b900000030O01AaM2TVm1ZsQ e3nwo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00103053523420130509190647064.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[shilala]

The whole garden is in (or should I say all the gardens are in?), I even planted the corn.
I have NEVER planted this early. It's a full 24 days early of the norm for this region, and it gains a day or so every year.
It used to be that I had to wait for June 10th to plant if there was a full moon near prior. I can remember many, many a frost after June 1st. It was an old joke, folks planting on the holiday so they could get in a practice run. You could count on that late freeze if the moon was right, and everyone who was getting an early jump had to scramble to buy new plants.
Heck, now I'm hardening plants outside on the 1st of May. That's INSANE-O.
I like it, and I'll be dead before there's any such thing as global warming, so party on!!! :tu

I hope all you guys will get some pics and reports on here soon.

[shilala]

Jamie, we planted a whole bunch of the heirloom lettuce and spinach you sent us a few years back. They're coming along nicely so far. We'll see how it goes!!! :tu

[Chainsaw13]

Replanted my garden today. Jumped the gun last week and put all my plants in, only to have it drop to 32F on Tuesday. Lost half my plants. So today while at the farmers market, picked up replacements. I've got three types of heirloom tomatoes in now, along with corn, squash, eggplant, broccoli, red bell peppers and bush cucumbers.

[Mr B]

Sorry to hear that Bob. Hopefully round 2 will go better.

[jjirons69]

Jamie, we planted a whole bunch of the heirloom lettuce and spinach you sent us a few years back. They're coming along nicely so far. We'll see how it goes!!! :tu

Let's hope the seed is still viable. Fingers crossed!

I cleaned out the lettuce and garden pea debris yesterday. Going to get more peppers to put in their place. The lettuce garden was spectacular this year. Never eaten so much lettuce in my life.

My squash are full of 1"-3" fruit and growing daily. Cukes are coming along well, too. Starting to get back around normal temps with the very cool spring finally leaving us alone.

[shilala]

She's viable, at least to some length, Jamie. I've got all sorts of stuff growing where I planted the seed, and there's little tiny green and purple lettuces in there, I just checked. :tu

[Mr B]

I finished up the garden this weekend.
I put in:
15 tomatoes (3 Woodle Orange, 2 Golden Sunray, 3 Red Calabash, 4 Brandywine, 3 Sweetie.
42 Peppers: Green Bell, Poblano, Jalapeno, Cayanne, Jalapeno M, Habanero
3 Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkins
3 Zucchini, Dark Star
3 Watermelon, Red Crimson
3 Cantaloupe
3 Pickling Cucumbers
Red Basil, Sweet Basil, Lemon-Lime Basil, Italian Parsley

My Back Hurts! I will try to get a video done soon.

[Coach Deg]

Ants!!!! How do I get rid of red ants??

[Mr B]

I love the Combat brand ant houses. These are they type where they bring the poison back to the queen and colony and Kill em All Jack.
They work great.

[SvilleKid]

Planted "skips" and washed out areas (from the massive rains Friday and Saturday). I think I planted more peas and melons than were left standing. Garden NOT on a slope or prone to flooding. But eight inches of rain in 24 hours...... Nothing stands up to that. I have to make a walk thru my woods in next day or so, to see if any trees down from the saturated ground. With that much rain, the weeds are going crazy, and ground still to wet to hoe or roto-till up weeds. Going to be a busy week to get back ahead of garden.

[Coach Deg]

I love the Combat brand ant houses. These are they type where they bring the poison back to the queen and colony and Kill em All Jack.
They work great.

Obviously safe in the garden?

[SvilleKid]

Ants!!!! How do I get rid of red ants??

A couple years ago, I purchased ant bait from my local Ace Hardware that was garden-friendly. The bait containers are long gone so I don't know brand, but I bet they still carry it.

I purchased them specifically because they were garden friendly. And they did an excellent job. They were "bait type", where the workers carried the killer back to the queen.

[Coach Deg]

Thank u

[Mr B]

Obviously safe in the garden?

I'm sorry, I never saw your reply question. I dont really know if it is safe for the garden or not. I kinda doubt it is organic but also, the tiny piece of bait in the trap is probably smaller that a 1/4 of a grain of rice. I have never had ants actually in my garden. Just in and around the house.

[Mr B]

Here is a garden video I did on Memorial Day. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPkQ7fSB5Yk

[Blak Smyth]

A lot of work you put in there Mr.B, well done.

[SvilleKid]

First veggies from the garden tonight. Had some steamed cabbage, broccoli, squash and zucchini. Plus some fresh cornbread. Some pics of how the garden is coming:

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/5F3A1705-AFC6-4BB2-BC2F-AFFE48271977-23153-000016F5BD12C262_zps51c5d944.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/5F3A1705-AFC6-4BB2-BC2F-AFFE48271977-23153-000016F5BD12C262_zps51c5d944.jpg.html)

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/73087C15-4415-4E50-9BE2-BC7E2D1C707F-23153-000016F5DD5257F6_zps3382d6b8.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/73087C15-4415-4E50-9BE2-BC7E2D1C707F-23153-000016F5DD5257F6_zps3382d6b8.jpg.html)

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/AC640A02-EEB3-4415-AFDA-24D230ECB58E-23153-000016F5EDC625D6_zps20bcca3a.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/AC640A02-EEB3-4415-AFDA-24D230ECB58E-23153-000016F5EDC625D6_zps20bcca3a.jpg.html)

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/8BB0D94A-8D0B-4C1F-BE7D-3CA94EF89008-23153-000016F5F89F8664_zps2140be8e.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/8BB0D94A-8D0B-4C1F-BE7D-3CA94EF89008-23153-000016F5F89F8664_zps2140be8e.jpg.html)

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/57899088-9629-4FDC-889E-C02650FFE545-23153-000016F59856E1C0_zps8944e6f9.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/57899088-9629-4FDC-889E-C02650FFE545-23153-000016F59856E1C0_zps8944e6f9.jpg.html)

[jjirons69]

Weeding sucks, don't it, Cliff??

Looks good!

[Mr B]

Lookin real good Cliff.

[Mr B]

New garden video, raised beds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3joEyUOPGVs

[SvilleKid]

Weeding sucks, don't it, Cliff??

Looks good!

Yep, sure does!!! Partially completed. Lots more to go.

[Chainsaw13]

Wow, what a difference location makes. My corn is maybe 1/3 the height of yours. I'll be out putting up fencing later this week. Damn rabbits keep eating my plants. Had some lettuce starting to come in. Not so much anymore.

[jjirons69]

My garden is the worst it's been in as long as I can remember. A cool spring and one heck of a rainy late spring-early summer has taken it's toll. It's still been raining here about every day and has been for weeks now. My squash and zucs have rotted and are gone. My cukes are mis-shapen and are suffering from under pollination. Probably because they're continually spray for mosquitoes and they're killing every other insect in the process. Tomatoes have fruited a little, but the wet ground nearly drowned two of them a couple of weeks ago. Just sad. No one else's garden around here is doing much better. On the upside, my grass is growing like I've never seen it. Problem is, I don't eat it and I'm not starting now.

[shilala]

Our garden is in almost as "ugh" stage as Jamie's.
It just sat through all of June, never moving an inch. Too much cold and rain. The last week it bolted pretty nice with all the heat and then it got beat to death with hail yesterday. That'll set it back while it heals.
Plants aren't dying, but with our short season we'll be lucky to see much of anything if the weather isn't optimal for the next 8 weeks.
Good thing we're not relying on the garden to stave off starvation or I'd be a nervous wreck.

[Chainsaw13]

Mine's flourished as of late. My corn shot up quite a bit and I'm noticing the ears are starting to grow. I've got tomatoes on all my plants (4), eggplant and squash (already ate a couple small ones, plus some blossoms). I noticed cuc's yesterday too on my couple of plants and my broccoli is getting gigantic, but no crowns yet. Now if my garlic can be saved, i'll be really happy.

[Mr B]

Wow, so sorry to hear that guys. I can feel ya, because I would be mortified if my garden took a dump.
We had been suffering from lack of rain around here and was watering almost every day. I took the family to the lake for 5 days and came back to everything exploding! Most things had doubled in size. We also got 1.5 inches of rain while I was gone which really helped. Not to mention that I sprayed everything down with Compost Tea before leaving on my trip.
We have been harvesting Cuc's, Zuk's & Broccoli and all of our Greens (chard, collard etc.) tomotoes and peppers are starting to set pretty well. The watermelon and cantaloupes are going crazy.
I will try to record another garden video this weekend and post it here. Good luck guys.

[Fordman4ever]

Here's my porch garden. I hurt my back in January and couldn't build the raised garden I wanted this year but I'll probably get to build it this summer.
Right now I have basil, rosemary, cilantro, tomatoes, an avocado, and an easter lily that I thought was dead but has made a come back.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1014311_10152949134395581_1265402915_n.jpg

[Mr B]

Hope your back gets better soon. I am in the same boat with a back injury and 2 herniated discs in my neck. It sucks!
Good job making due with what you can.

[Mark C]

Shame y'all are having a tough year. Mine's been going great so far (SE PA). The first tomatoes should be ready in the next few days, with plenty more nice looking fruit not far behind. Picked my first pole beans yesterday despite the best efforts of a swarm of hungry japanese beetles, and my early garlic is drying in the basement. Peppers seems a little slow, just starting to flower now, but they fought off an early insect problem too and seem happy at the moment. Zucchini is growing well, though I've lost a few to what looks like blossom end rot? Does zucchini need calcium like tomatoes or is this something else? They grow about 6" long, and then turn yellow and go soft from the blossom end.

[Chainsaw13]

I"m having the same issue with my yellow squash. Had a few that started to rot on the blossom end. Not sure what it might be, my first time growing yellow squash.

[jjirons69]

Shame y'all are having a tough year. Mine's been going great so far (SE PA). The first tomatoes should be ready in the next few days, with plenty more nice looking fruit not far behind. Picked my first pole beans yesterday despite the best efforts of a swarm of hungry japanese beetles, and my early garlic is drying in the basement. Peppers seems a little slow, just starting to flower now, but they fought off an early insect problem too and seem happy at the moment. Zucchini is growing well, though I've lost a few to what looks like blossom end rot? Does zucchini need calcium like tomatoes or is this something else? They grow about 6" long, and then turn yellow and go soft from the blossom end.

I"m having the same issue with my yellow squash. Had a few that started to rot on the blossom end. Not sure what it might be, my first time growing yellow squash.

Here ya go, Green Thumbers:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-blossom-end-rot-causes-and-treatment.htm

[jjirons69]

Still raining here on the East Coast. Been raining for nearly 3 weeks. Like pouring piss out of a boot most days. The only things that remain are peppers and tomatoes. Getting a few of each. Like Scott said, I'm glad my garden doesn't sustain us throughout the year. At my production rate, I would've had to plant 50 acres and I'm pretty sure I'd be sick of tomatoes at about the 10th month.

[shilala]

Our garden is still a soggy embarrassment.
These cold nights are great for sleeping, and the rainy days are great for depression, but the combo really sucks for growing a garden.
Rain, rain, and rain in the forecast for the next 10 days, so it'll be more of the same.
I can report a nice pile of sugar peas, the chinese kind that you eat pod and all. Those plants have laid over and haven't dried out long enough to stand back up, so they're starting to rot.
The beans look great!!! :tu

[Mr B]

You guys might also try hand pollinating the squash. They might not be getting pollinated well enough.
Take the "male" flower (the one with the long stem) and tear off the petals to expose the Stamen. Then open the female flower (the one on the end of the small zicchini, squash, pumpkin etc. and rub the Male Stamen all over the female Pistil. This will insure good polination and help with fruit reaching maturity.

[OLS]

MR.B....I wanted to tell yu something about the birds that scatter feed all over, (from your
mention in your garden video) their behavior doubles your seed costs, makes a mess and encourages
the seeds to take root where you don't want them. IF YOU CAN both find it, and FIT IT, you take that
white grid diffuser that people use in flourescent light fixtures, and cut a piece to fit the floor of your feeder.
The birds that scatter seed like that are generally the 'trash birds' like house sparrows that both make a mess
and also intimidate other birds that you actually want. They are a non-native bird that will kill other birds for
nest space, and will eat anything that man drops or gives. Plus they don't sing so much as CONSTANTLY
chatter in the areas where they roost and rest, and it gets old fast. They like to 'rake' their bills across the food,
to get to what they want. The grid allows birds that peck at it to eat just fine, but it confounds the other bird's
ability to rake the seed and scatter it everywhere. I they want to eat out of a gridded feeder, they have to do it
the same as everybody else.

I will also pass on the fact that almost ANY kind of bird seed attracts them, but they
only want the tiny pearl millet seeds. They will throw out everything they don't like to get to that millet. The irony
is that while almost every bird you WANT TO ATTRACT will gladly take black oil sunflower seeds, about the only bird
that won't is a House Sparrow. So if you skip the blends and go straight black oil seeds, they will eventually just
stop coming around, and ALL the other birds will flock to your feeder. The upshot is the House Sparrows that just
have to come are relegated to the ground feeders they are meant to be, looking for bits of seed kernels the other
birds accidentally drop. This creates a LOT less fighting and intimidation at the feeder, and the only other birds
that will be on the ground are other 'good' sparrows and doves. And they are intimidated by the doves, so its payback time.

Usually at the Depot or the Low'es, you can find a busted piece that they can't sell, but leave there on the
shelf anyway, and you can usually get them to sell it to you cheap at the service desk. It would normally
be trashed, and you only need a little of it.

[Mr B]

New Garden update video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvtshROK16g

[jjirons69]

MR.B....I wanted to tell yu something about the birds that scatter feed all over, (from your
mention in your garden video) their behavior doubles your seed costs, makes a mess and encourages
the seeds to take root where you don't want them. IF YOU CAN both find it, and FIT IT, you take that
white grid diffuser that people use in flourescent light fixtures, and cut a piece to fit the floor of your feeder.
The birds that scatter seed like that are generally the 'trash birds' like house sparrows that both make a mess
and also intimidate other birds that you actually want. They are a non-native bird that will kill other birds for
nest space, and will eat anything that man drops or gives. Plus they don't sing so much as CONSTANTLY
chatter in the areas where they roost and rest, and it gets old fast. They like to 'rake' their bills across the food,
to get to what they want. The grid allows birds that peck at it to eat just fine, but it confounds the other bird's
ability to rake the seed and scatter it everywhere. I they want to eat out of a gridded feeder, they have to do it
the same as everybody else. I will also pass on the fact that almost ANY kind of bird seed attracts them, but they
only want the tiny pearl millet seeds. They will throw out everything they don't like to get to that millet. The irony
is that while almost every bird you WANT TO ATTRACT will gladly take black oil sunflower seeds, about the only bird
that won't is a House Sparrow. So if you skip the blends and go straight black oil seeds, they will eventually just
stop coming around, and ALL the other birds will flock to your feeder. The upshot is the House Sparrows that just
have to come are relegated to the ground feeders they are meant to be, looking for bits of seed kernels the other
birds accidentally drop. This creates a LOT less fighting and intimidation at the feeder, and the only other birds
that will be on the ground are other 'good' sparrows and doves. And they are intimidated by the doves, so its payback time.

Friggin' grackles...

[OLS]

Yep, I forgot about grackles. I see an occasional grackle in my yard, but they REALLY
want the dog food. So at my feeder, I don't have to deal with em as much. But freaking
house sparrows, they are just the worst. The starlings also want the dog food. i shoot em
as fast as they come by. I have a few starlings around that only hunt insects in the grass
and on the sidewalk. I don't shoot those. Only the ones that pass on the skill of feeding
in the dog's bowl get shot.

[OLS]

Damn house sparrows though, I hung a tube feeder on my first day of bird feeding, a whole tube
of Black sunflower seeds. I got home and found the feeder empty, all of the seed on the ground,
and a house sparrow steadily shovelling the seed out to get to what I guess he hoped was millet.
Shot that one, too.

[Mr B]

MR.B....I wanted to tell yu something about the birds that scatter feed all over, (from your
mention in your garden video) their behavior doubles your seed costs, makes a mess and encourages
the seeds to take root where you don't want them. IF YOU CAN both find it, and FIT IT, you take that
white grid diffuser that people use in flourescent light fixtures, and cut a piece to fit the floor of your feeder.
The birds that scatter seed like that are generally the 'trash birds' like house sparrows that both make a mess
and also intimidate other birds that you actually want. They are a non-native bird that will kill other birds for
nest space, and will eat anything that man drops or gives. Plus they don't sing so much as CONSTANTLY
chatter in the areas where they roost and rest, and it gets old fast. They like to 'rake' their bills across the food,
to get to what they want. The grid allows birds that peck at it to eat just fine, but it confounds the other bird's
ability to rake the seed and scatter it everywhere. I they want to eat out of a gridded feeder, they have to do it
the same as everybody else.

I will also pass on the fact that almost ANY kind of bird seed attracts them, but they
only want the tiny pearl millet seeds. They will throw out everything they don't like to get to that millet. The irony
is that while almost every bird you WANT TO ATTRACT will gladly take black oil sunflower seeds, about the only bird
that won't is a House Sparrow. So if you skip the blends and go straight black oil seeds, they will eventually just
stop coming around, and ALL the other birds will flock to your feeder. The upshot is the House Sparrows that just
have to come are relegated to the ground feeders they are meant to be, looking for bits of seed kernels the other
birds accidentally drop. This creates a LOT less fighting and intimidation at the feeder, and the only other birds
that will be on the ground are other 'good' sparrows and doves. And they are intimidated by the doves, so its payback time.

Usually at the Depot or the Low'es, you can find a busted piece that they can't sell, but leave there on the
shelf anyway, and you can usually get them to sell it to you cheap at the service desk. It would normally
be trashed, and you only need a little of it.

Very good info, thanks. So the grid gets placed right over the seed in the seed feeding area?

[OLS]

So the grid gets placed right over the seed in the seed feeding area?

You empty the feeder, cut a piece of grid to fit the bottom, then fill up the feeder.
Granted, this doesn't work for all feeders, just the kind where you ahve a flat bottom,
like hoppers, flat tables, etc. For tubes it is useless. That's the job of the pellet gun, lol.

[Mr B]

My messiest one is this style, w/out the suet feeders on the ends. So I guess the grid would have to be placed so that the seed can flow under it to still continously fill, correct?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IjOKpMpAL._SX450_.jpg

[Mark C]

Thanks for the tips on zucchini. I don't have black spots so it doesn't look like blossom end rot for me, but the pollination problem pics look about right. I'll have to try hand pollinating.

Here's some pictures of the garden from the last few days:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1044430_10101773245014633_1598681820_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/7185_10101767960569703_1328304010_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/969874_10101767959940963_2036337_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1011889_10101753448776453_287121884_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1011131_10101748675053033_674517370_n.jpg

[Mr B]

Very cool pics!

[OLS]

No, the grid is pretty much the base of it, the feed fills the individual cells and spills over fine.
But from the look of it, your clearance under the glass might be an issue, so you might be better served
by slicing your hands all up with a section of 1/2" hardware cloth and using that as a base, maybe bending
the tips down at a length of about 1/8" so that you get the same effect without the brutal 3/8" clearance
issue inherent with the white grid.

But then I can ALMOST guarantee that if you switch to ONLY the black sunflower seeds, you will stop
having these issues, since I THINK the birds that are ruining your feeder will not prefer these. You still
will attract all the songbirds and cardinals and jays, woodpeckers, etc. You will just lose the grackles,
blackbirds and house sparrows. They need to be eating insects right now, anyway. The mixes contain
mostly millet, cracked corn and red milo, with a few sunflower seeds. Most birds will eat the millet and
sunflower seeds, but will ignore the corn and milo. If you force the issue, the good birds will still come,
but the seeds that attract problem birds will not be available to them anymore and they will eventually
just stop coming. Keep in mind, the BAGS will say 'premium mix" and "songbird mix", but that is just a
clever way to get you to buy them, with the cheap, heavy filler making up the bulk of the bag.
The same birds they claim you will attract with that crap will all eat black sunflower seeds, and what's more,
they LOVE IT.

[OLS]

I think you could also take the advanced step of milling that 3/8 inch thick white grid,
say by rubbing it back and forth on a sheet of rough sandpaper, or some sidewalk or
something, lol, until you got it down to about 1/4" to 1/8". After looking at that feeder
again, I think you could almost get away with it as is. As long as the grid was in contact
with the bottom board and seed could still be picked out under the glass edge. But
knocking it down in thickness by half would also work, if a bit difficult.

[Mr B]

Gotch.
Ya, I dont buy seed unless it is in a clear bag and I can see whats in it. I already mix my seed w/ 50% Black Oil Sunflowers right now. The Doves do a decent job of picking up the stuff from the the ground unless my dog is out there chasing them off.

[OLS]

The Doves do a decent job of picking up the stuff from the the ground unless my dog is out there chasing them off.
And ironically it is the doves that will eat ALL THAT FILLER...they LOVE cracked corn,
will tolerate the Milo, and they will not turn up their noses at millet either. I was only hoping you wouldn't
bring up doves, lol. If you don't care about the scatter, you COULD just do nothing, haha.

[DPD6030]

Got a question for you garden "experts". I planted 4 green pepper plants and not a single one of them has grown since planting about a month ago. Everything else is growing great (tomatos, jalapenos, beans, cucumbers, zuchini and squash). Any ideas why the green peppers are not growing?

[Mr B]

And ironically it is the doves that will eat ALL THAT FILLER...they LOVE cracked corn,
will tolerate the Milo, and they will not turn up their noses at millet either. I was only hoping you wouldn't
bring up doves, lol. If you don't care about the scatter, you COULD just do nothing, haha.

Ya, its not really in a bothersome area. It up on a hill kinda by itself

[OLS]

Any ideas why the green peppers are not growing?
As the county agent here says, get a soil test, lol. However under those circumstances,
I think it is safe to say that if started from seeds, the seeds could have been old and barely viable,
or not viable for another reason, and if you bought them as seedlings in a nursery or garden
center, it could still be the same, even plants that manage to spring from weak seeds can
grow, but in a very stunted fashion, with little vigor. Outside of that, it could well be the odd
season we have had this year, EVERYTHING seems to be getting a slow start. Except weeds.
Add to that you are in the mitten as you say. I am sure there are others who could be more helpful.

[Mr B]

Any ideas why the green peppers are not growing?

If you have any good compost, make some compost tea. I hope to be making a video on that this weekend.
Make a dilution of 30% Tea and 70% non-chlorinated water and spray it onto and all over the plants. Then drench the roots w/ a 50% dilution of the same.

Get some Azomite rock powder and work it into the soil real good around the plants. This has over 60 trace elements that your soil has probably lost over the years.

P.M. me your addy and I will mail you some Azomite if you cannot find it near you.

http://www.azomite.com/

[OLS]

You know what is funny. I am not sure, after reading that reply again, whether or not his peppers even emerged.
I imagined he meant stunted. They may not have even popped up yet.

[Mr B]

You may be right Brad. In that case, if the seeds did not sprout yet, you may be a little too late in the season to have hopes of growing and producing any peppers this season.
If you want to try again, just make sure that your seeds are only about 1/4" deep and no more.
if starting in a cup or pot, start with moist soil and only water from the bottom so as not to wash the seeds away.

[jjirons69]

Got a question for you garden "experts". I planted 4 green pepper plants and not a single one of them has grown since planting about a month ago. Everything else is growing great (tomatos, jalapenos, beans, cucumbers, zuchini and squash). Any ideas why the green peppers are not growing?

Peppers love hot weather. Give them time. They'll hook up soon.

[Chainsaw13]

Was out surveying the garden this evening. Two days ago I was looking at the cucumber plants, all I saw were blooms and very tiny cuc's starting. Today I pull back the cover and there's a full grown cuc right there. Picked, washed, cut, salted, consumed. Gotta love stuff straight from the garden.

[Fordman4ever]

Sounds delish.

[Mr B]

Alright guys, I'm getting frustrated with my Cucumbers. Every year they taste Spicy and bitter. I pick em late and large, they taste bad. I pick em small and early, they taste bad.
I have grown English Cucs, Burpless Cucs, regular Cucs and the last 2 years Boston Pickling Cucs.
This year I have them in a barrell (grew in the ground before this) with brand new soil.
Unlike years past, I have grown everything organically this year. No chemical fertalizers or pesticides (did not use pesticides before either).
I cant figure it out. I get maybe 1 good one for every 5 nasty ones.
Its not just the skin either. I peeled a 1/2 dozen of them last night and only 1-2 were any good.
The plants are healthy and producing lost of fruit. I just dont get it.

[jjirons69]

Sorry, B, can't help you there. I know the larger they get, the more bitter they get. Other than that, I'm at a loss. Hopefully someone can help you.

BTW, I took a picture of my garden yesterday. :D

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/mars-landscape-2-431x300.jpg

[Chainsaw13]

Yea, sorry B, don't know what can be causing it. I just went and picked some from my garden, plus yellow squash, a eggplant and a Indigo Rose tomato.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/9315056643_fae3a23dfd.jpg

[shilala]

B, they bitter when they're over ripe. Size means nothing. Little ones can be over ripe and so can big ones. Try to pick them when they're nice and young and have that whitish color or sheen. Once they get real green they'll start to bitter and turn to yellow.
When I cut them up I always taste each cuke, especially if they look like they're old on the vine ones. If it's bitter I chuck it in the compost bin. It really sucks if you cut a bunch of cukes and every other bite is bitter, ya know? Blech.

I blanched all our beans last night. Got 6 or 7 gallon bags from the little patch by the sidewalk. They are SUPER tasty. Very grassy and strong and sweet.
I'm the only one who doesn't like them, but everyone else loves them. That's not fully true. I like them small, I just hate them when they get big and leathery. I think I got them in plenty of time that I'll enjoy these ones. :)

I saw the Ravens in the garden today. I will be raining pellet gun death upon them for the rest of the summer, God bless their little hearts. The new pellet gun I got is an absolute beast and insanely accurate. I hope it hits hard enough to wipe them out quick. I don't want a bunch of racket, I live among yuppies and they don't quite understand.

[Mr B]

Thanks guys.

Jamie, LOL sorry to hear about your desert....I mean garden.

Thanks Scott. I got a New Nitro Piston Pellet for the boys. Very nice. I wish I could take out the dang crows areound here, but I am residential and all I need is a dead crow w/ a hole in its head landing in my neighbors spa or something. :sh

[jjirons69]

They don't land when you drop them where they stand. ;)

I've got an old Chinese .22 pellet gun I've had 20 years, rust and all. It'll drop a squirrel at 30 ft. A raven wouldn't stand a chance. It's quiet and the neighbors never know.

[Chainsaw13]

I had such high hopes for my sweet corn. First time growing it. I waited until the silks had turned brown and picked a couple of the fuller ears. One was perfect, the other just a little under developed. Flavor was spot on too, nice and sweet. Picked a couple more earlier this week, only half developed and less sweet. Now that the silks are really brown, I picked a lot more today. Again, only half developed.

Was the underdevelopment from lack of fertilizer? They had plenty of water as we've been getting drenched this year.

[jjirons69]

Sounds like fertilization issue, Bob. My granddad always said to plant at least two rows beside each other and never one row in a straight line. The more rows beside each other, the better, as it's wind fertilized and needs to have a cross-wind source. The pollen release happens very quickly and having your corn bunched together gives a better chance of successful ears.

[Chainsaw13]

I'm thinking that was it Jamie, lack of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen. I did some searching after my post and it kinda confirmed it. I had the plants bunched together, so i don't think it was lack of pollination. The bottom of each ear was well formed, just not the upper halves. I'll just know better for next year.

[Chainsaw13]

Took this photo earlier in the week. Underneath all the tomatoes are more cuc's. I picked 8 more today. More tomatoes tomorrow.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/9477219536_8246ddc999.jpg

[shilala]

My poor garden remains the most pathetic example I've ever raised.
We've finally had a couple warmer days and the peppers are rushing to put on some leaves. The tomatoes are turning, but the vines are tiny.
It was just a cold, wet year. Anything we get will be a bonus.

[bigswol2]

Mine sucked wind this year. Too much rain. My cukes did well though.

[Chainsaw13]

I just went out and picked a boatload of tomatoes, mostly my small teardrop. I'm guessing later this week my bigger varieties will start to ripen. I have one variety, a Polish Linguisa, that if I leave on the vine too long, it'll start to rot from the bottom.

[Mr B]

Nice Haul Bob!!

[Mr B]

Video Update on Pepper Garden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLDWGV0rdjE

[Mr B]

Video Update on Tomato Garden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsjQkIXEgsk

[jjirons69]

My poor garden remains the most pathetic example I've ever raised.


DIT freakin' TO! I can't even grown crabgrass in the damn thing.

[SvilleKid]

I gave up on mine. Weeds are out of control. So much rain early that ground wouldn't support me trying to pull weeds. And after my mom got sick, I just ran out of time and will power. I know there's some watermelon hiding in the weeds somewhere. Maybe some will mature without rotting from all the darn rain we keep having. I did get more beans, peas, tomatoes and corn than I'll eat in the next year, so overall was a success. And I didn't turn the sprinklers on a single time, and only the soaker hoses a couple or three times.

[jjirons69]

So true, Cliff - I didn't water the garden the first time this year. Living in the South all my life, that's unheard of.

[Mr B]

Wow, we've only had about 2" of rain in the past 2+ months.

[Chainsaw13]

Wow, we've only had about 2" of rain in the past 2+ months.

We got hit pretty good the other night. Enough to completely refill my empty rain barrel.

[jjirons69]

We had 2.3" yesterday/Wed. Rained today, too. Should've planted rice and indigo in the spring.

[Chainsaw13]

This is at least my fourth tomatoe haul of the season. And there's more to come. A lot more. That lone mater, second one if had do that. Kinda cool.

[Chainsaw13]

This is the funky tomato.

[SvilleKid]

We had 2.3" yesterday/Wed. Rained today, too. Should've planted rice and indigo in the spring.

Damn if I don't feel your pain, Jamie! Rice...... That' a possible plan, for sure.:D

[Mr B]

Nice haul Bob.

[jjirons69]

Pulled the few weeds I had in the garden yesterday. Still have 2 jalapenos and 3 bells growing. They're doing fair, but nothing to cheer about.

[Mr B]

Pepper Harvest over the weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEyMGI40pXI

[jjirons69]

Cleaned the garden out and lightly tilled the rows I was going to use. I planted 9 savoy cabbages, 6 Georgia Giant collards, 9 Brussels spouts, 9 red sails lettuce, and 9 butter crunch lettuce sets. I also planted 1.5 rows of curly mustard and 1.5 rows of broadleaf mustard. Ready for fall and winter!

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/jjirons69/Picture007_zps4823f983.jpg

[Mr B]

Very nice Jamie. I planted 4 wire barrels with Snap Peas, Snow Peas, Blue Lake Bush Beans and Roma Beans. This is my first shot at beans and peas. We usually have a pretty sunny and mild fall up here so I hope it works out.

[shilala]

I have nice carrots by the house here. The lettuce bolted, I guess we're done with that.
We just go pick tomatoes off the ground when we need them, they're awful.
I got one cantaloupe. Zero corn. Not enough peppers to bother.

Anyone who got anything at all here was from raised beds or hills. Even that wasn't a whole lot, and their gardens were done early.
Next year... :D

[Mr B]

Was that because of all the rain Scott?

[shilala]

Yeah, the rain and cold. June was awful. The rest of the summer wasn't much better.

[357]

Anyone into apple or other fruit trees? I have three on my property. Each is different. This spring I trimmed up two of them. This year they all went nuts production wise, but I have apple scab, sooty blotch, and flyspeck on all three. Two moreso than the one. All three are fungal issues. I know more trimming will help with airflow/sunlight which is a good preventative but I don't think that will be enough. I also know I can go buy commercial antifungal sprays that will get the job done. However, I have well water, well head is about 60 ft from two apple trees, and I'm not crazy about the idea of using chemicals that are hazardous to people or animals. If anyone here keeps apple trees, what do you use? Also, do you have well water, and is that a concern? I've read that a vinegar solution is effective against apple scab when used at the right time. It makes sense given it's acidity and fungi's aversion to low pH. Anyone tried it with blotch/flyspeck?

[shilala]

Mikey, all that other stuff stems from stress. You're on the right track.
I used to have around 20-30 trees. Never counted them because I was always adding and removing, and it never even crossed my mind, really. They were just work. :)

You talked about pruning. That's a biggie. Read hard and understand how to prune properly. Prune back hard if the trees haven't been used for years. That's around 1/3 of the top the first year and at least a third of what's left the next year.
That way the root system will do wonders with the tree. Very little stress.
Then use dormant oil. Use it in March when you prune, then at petal fall on each tree individually. That keeps all the critters out of the fruit cause the eggs are laid on the petal. The oil snuffs the eggs as the fruit grows. Super safe stuff.

Aside from that, I only ever used Sevin at 1/3 strength to hold back any kind of infestations. It was more for making me happy than doing anything. It kept the Japanese beetles from ruining my cherry trees. Also super safe.

Be okay with skin goofiness. It means nothing. Many old breeds were "netted" and that looks like scab or something wrong. It's not. So long as the fruit is coming to full maturity, and you don't experience a sudden drop of the fruit, the looks of the fruit means nothing. You just want it clean inside.
If you want it clean on the outside, you need different trees and lots of nasty chemicals.

[357]

Thanks Scott. The scab on the tree with the best fruit (the one most pruned this spring), is pretty bad. Almost half the apples are split open on larger scabs. The scab is all over the leaves too. If the scab was only cosmetic I wouldn't mess with sprays, I'd just prune more in spring and thin out in June. I will be pruning more and I'm going to try the vinegar solution spray in the spring to see if it works. I've read it works on scab. If it works on one fungal issue (scab) it's likely to work on the other two, I just haven't read any direct reports of success on blotch/speck.

I'm tempted to try some grafting to produce more trees and have multiple varieties on each tree. It should help with pollination too. What I've watched on U-toob and read online makes it seem fairly easy.

[hotreds]

Beans being harvested!

http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543%3B4%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D394%3A79657732%3Bnu0mrj

http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp7347%3A%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D394%3A7%3A587732%3Bnu0mrj

http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543%3B6%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3E WSNRCG%3D394%3A79657832%3Bnu0mrj

[kansashat]

Bought 90 spring crocus bulbs/corms recently. They appealed to me because they come up very early & you can mow them down on your first mow of the season & they go dormant til the next spring.

It slowly dawned on my pea brain that I had to dig 90 holes. LOL

I guess I need to buy a bulb auger, so can plant them quickly & effficiently within the next month or so.

Next spring should bring a nice, if short termed show. :)

[Chainsaw13]

Crap, forgot to look for garlic yesterday. Getting close to time to plant for next springs harvest.

[shilala]

The Park Seed catalog landed on my desk today. It sure doesn't feel like time to start planting seeds indoors.
I don't think I need to start anything yet unless Weeze wants flowers. It'd be good to start tobacco soon if I'm going to set it out this year.

I'm excited to have a nice season, last year was a total catastrophe.
I'll settle for a marginal season, even. :)

[8zeros]

I just read this whole thread. Y'all have some nice gardens. I'll probly put in some peppers & 'maters & melons & corn & ...
Startin to sound like work. Have to wait a few months. Meanwhile I guess I could clear out the dead plants from last year.

[Chainsaw13]

Need some non-GMO seeds? Good deal right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BZLP0NK/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[manolotano]

I need to start planing for food, but instead have a proplem planting to much landscape. Shrubs, plants, flowers, etc are all over. Proplem is I can't eat them! Living in the south there's nothing better then smoking a beautiful looking at a beautiful landscape. Anyone else have this proplem?

[jjirons69]

Yeah, Scott, last year was crap. New life right around the corner.

[AUguy]

Spring is right around the corner. Anyone in southern PA should hit me up when it warms up if you want some free veggie plants.

[Chainsaw13]

Went and bought a seedling tray and heat mat. I've not had much luck planting from seeds, but I bought that pack of heirloom seeds and want to give it a try. Starting onion (red/Spanish) and four types of tomato. As it gets closer to spring, I'll be starting more seeds. Looks like I need to find more room in the backyard. Gonna try watermelon and cantaloupe.

[jjirons69]

Good luck, Bob!

I harvested the last of the Brussels sprouts and cabbage this weekend. Got enough for a couple of messes of each. Tomatoes and peppers in the sights for the end of March. Wonder if the neighbors would know if I planted a bunch of sativas? ;) Bet my employer wouldn't like it and would certainly free up my future. Guess I'll stick with traditional crops...

[357]

The wife and I really want to plant a nice garden but we're not sure if we'll be moving or not. Lease on our house ends in May and owner wants to sell. Looks like we'll be going month-to-month for awhile until we find somewhere else to put down roots.

[Steve]

Well, I am by no means much of a gardener (much better at providing meat!), but Holly has been wanting one for a long time so I figured it was about that time. Fortunately my mother-in-laws boyfriend has a green thumb and was willing to help me with the building and creation of this little plot.

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-03-15_Holly's%20New%20Garden/2014-03-15_Holly's%20New%20Garden.jpg

Got tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, hot peppers, sweet peppers, mint, basil, cilantro, a couple of different lettuces and greens and probably more...it's all starting to run together!

After all of that...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-03-15_Holly's%20New%20Garden/2014-03-15_Gardeners%20Reward.jpg

Man, I'm tired!

[Fordman4ever]

I'm still working on getting my raised garden built, but for now I'm doing some inside gardening. I have an avocado tree, green onions, celery, and sweet peppers all growing in my kitchen.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/Earl_McCoy/20140316_063548_zps4w8tt6ki.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/Earl_McCoy/20140316_063559_zpshhb1r6pz.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/Earl_McCoy/20140316_063604_zpspkcfndin.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/Earl_McCoy/20140316_063609_zpszelteizi.jpg

[SvilleKid]

Garden spot plowed. A couple weeks late in planting my early crops, but was occupied by granddaughter's birth two weeks ago. But its a good start. Waxy red potatoes (foreground in raised rows), two types of cabbage (45 day and 75 day maturity), yellow onions and broccoli.

Potatoes, cabbage and Onion
http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Home%20and%20Garden/0E4D8131-B3B5-4E8A-81F4-21839F1A4EC3_zpsl7xggcnx.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/Home%20and%20Garden/0E4D8131-B3B5-4E8A-81F4-21839F1A4EC3_zpsl7xggcnx.jpg.html)

Broccoli and east half of garden
http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Home%20and%20Garden/5CEC6628-AEF6-4763-A632-C4619C53635C_zpsyazg5vjp.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/Home%20and%20Garden/5CEC6628-AEF6-4763-A632-C4619C53635C_zpsyazg5vjp.jpg.html)

West half of garden
http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Home%20and%20Garden/2DE2F670-ACAD-45B1-B570-EA611F1C60D1_zpsl5svo8hi.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/Home%20and%20Garden/2DE2F670-ACAD-45B1-B570-EA611F1C60D1_zpsl5svo8hi.jpg.html)

[Chainsaw13]

Wow, I wish I had a plot that size to plant.

[357]

Garden spot plowed. A couple weeks late in planting my early crops, but was occupied by granddaughter's birth two weeks ago. But its a good start. Waxy red potatoes (foreground in raised rows), two types of cabbage (45 day and 75 day maturity), yellow onions and broccoli.



What did you plow your garden with? What kind of equip?

[Django]

...Fortunately my mother-in-laws boyfriend has a green thumb and was willing to help me with the building and creation of this little plot

...

After all of that...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-03-15_Holly's%20New%20Garden/2014-03-15_Gardeners%20Reward.jpg

Man, I'm tired!
Are you sure this wasn't while your mother-in-laws boyfriend was 'helping' :po

This is my vegetable garden (around 330 squarefeet-ish). It’s not located on my own premises, but rented nearby (due to a somewhat small and toys overtaken garden at home). It’s a bit chaotic at the moment and there is still a lot of work to do. Currently planted/sown:
miscellaneous herbs
4 types of garlic
French/grey shallots
Radish
Broad beans
Marrowfat peas
rhubarb
Blackberries
Blackcurrant
lots of strawberries

Ofcourse there is a lot more to come now that the season is starting.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w495/DjangoV/Moestuin/B580D6CD-7D8B-43DF-8164-24F6FEFB662B_zpsakbjnaal.jpg

[Steve]

Are you sure this wasn't while your mother-in-laws boyfriend was 'helping' :po



No, I'm sure it was after he left. He's about 10 years older than me, and was moving around like he was 20 years younger than me. There was NO way I was going to slack off while he was there. Fortunately he left and I was able to recover for a while :D

[SvilleKid]

What did you plow your garden with? What kind of equip?

I have an older 27 hp Kubota tractor, use a four-foot, 12 blade disc I turn it with. I generally turn it under several times over several days. Before I phantom, I have a small tiller made by Echo that looks exactly like the Mantas tillers. Othewise, I use a hoe, garden rake and a four-tine garden rake. Wish I had a tiller attachment for the tractor. But too costly for once a year use. Most of work after the initial plowing is by hand. I leave rues far enough apart I can use the Echo to keep weeds at bay.

[357]

I have an older 27 hp Kubota tractor, use a four-foot, 12 blade disc I turn it with. I generally turn it under several times over several days. Before I phantom, I have a small tiller made by Echo that looks exactly like the Mantas tillers. Othewise, I use a hoe, garden rake and a four-tine garden rake. Wish I had a tiller attachment for the tractor. But too costly for once a year use. Most of work after the initial plowing is by hand. I leave rues far enough apart I can use the Echo to keep weeds at bay.

I have a Craftsman garden tractor I was thinking of getting a single bottom plow, discs, and possibly a rake for. I don't have a sleeve hitch but it's designed to accept one. I can probably get at least the plow and discs for $200-300 used and another $100-150 for the sleeve hitch. I know they don't compare to a CUT or SCUT level tractor but I'd really like to give it a shot. I've seen videos and talked to others online who've done up to an acre size garden with a setup like mine.

[jjirons69]

Still WAY too wet in our part of the South to even think about gardening. Feast or famine when it comes to rain over the past couple of years.

[Steve]

Yea, we had two nice days of sunshine and warmth after I planted ours, followed by going on three days of rain...argh!

[shilala]

Cliff, if you had a tiller for that tractor you'd use it every day. Your yard would look like the surface of the moon. They are THAT much fun.

[SvilleKid]

Cliff, if you had a tiller for that tractor you'd use it every day. Your yard would look like the surface of the moon. They are THAT much fun.

I've got six acres....... So probably not JUST the yard!!!:):D

[Steve]

Well, I must have done something right. I have lettuce starting to sprout on two rows. I'm surprised they didn't drown with all the rain we had the last two days!

[jjirons69]

Water lettuce :D

[Steve]

Water lettuce :D

:r:r:r

[hammondc]

Doing my first garden in a long while this year.

[357]

Cliff, if you had a tiller for that tractor you'd use it every day. Your yard would look like the surface of the moon. They are THAT much fun.

This little diesel GT is for sale in my small town.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/grd/4384212200.html

VERY tempting but cash is tight.

[SvilleKid]

This little diesel GT is for sale in my small town.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/grd/4384212200.html

VERY tempting but cash is tight.

Mine's actually a little bigger. Basically this one, with a different set of turf tires.

[Chainsaw13]

Looked in in my garden yesterday. I saw about 6 of the 30+ garlic bulbs, sprouting out of the ground. Let's hope this years harvest is better than last.

Tomorrow I'm going to transplant some of my seedlings into bigger pots. My tomato plants already have their second set of leaves, but the stems are spindly.

Was also thinking if the suns out, heading to Lowes for some cedar boards. Need to redo some of my planting beds.

[azar]

Looked in in my garden yesterday. I saw about 6 of the 30+ garlic bulbs, sprouting out of the ground. Let's hope this years harvest is better than last.

Tomorrow I'm going to transplant some of my seedlings into bigger pots. My tomato plants already have their second set of leaves, but the stems are spindly.

Was also thinking if the suns out, heading to Lowes for some cedar boards. Need to redo some of my planting beds.

Wow you have sprouts already! My garden as of right now is frozen! Can not wait I a new Craftsman tiller waiting to go to work. Bought on clearance last year. Its a small front tine 24" can't wait to break him out.

[Django]

Wow you have sprouts already! My garden as of right now is frozen! ...
All my garlic and shallots (see some on the left side) have sprouted here already a while back. They are mostly quite early varieties though
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w495/DjangoV/Moestuin/413A11C3-B6B9-4A9E-96FF-2DE807A1E7C9_zpsh1npzyot.jpg

[Chainsaw13]

I went and checked again today, I counted 12 sprouts popping out of the ground. So a few more in just a couple days. We've had slightly higher temps and a lot more sun, which is thawing out my planting beds.

[Chainsaw13]

Looking good Django.

[azar]

Looks like a good start for the year!

[SvilleKid]

Been finding these in garden since last rain. Have at least two, maybe as many as four that must be walking thru. NOT a promising find considering the seed crops I'll be planting in a week. Haven't had a fence around it before, but may need one this year if the deer discover it.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Home%20and%20Garden/8A090454-A256-4C99-9E84-506B8C50CAAB_zps3ayecxe2.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/Home%20and%20Garden/8A090454-A256-4C99-9E84-506B8C50CAAB_zps3ayecxe2.jpg.html)

[Steve]

Well, the meat getter hasn't managed to kill the green stuff yet.

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-03-27_Garden/2014-03-27_Garden%20001.jpg

Looks like I'lll be spending some time this weekend weeding it though.

[gravel]

My wife started planting some stuff last week in our square foot gardens , but I haven't a clue what she planted. I'm usually more involved.

[hammondc]

Well, my plan to build some raised boxes today went to hell with the weather. Dammit.

[Steve]

Same here. I'm just hoping ours doesn't float away...

[Chainsaw13]

I'm waiting on Menards to ship some corrugated metal sheets before I rebuild my beds.

[hammondc]

Got the beds set up and filled. Where do you guys get your plants/seeds? Any difference between big box stores and a local place?

[Chainsaw13]

Got the beds set up and filled. Where do you guys get your plants/seeds? Any difference between big box stores and a local place?

Probably not. Most local places carry Burpee seeds or the like. Friend of mine recommended rareseeds.com if you're looking for older, heirloom varieties.

[Steve]

Got the beds set up and filled. Where do you guys get your plants/seeds? Any difference between big box stores and a local place?

Depends on if you are looking at Hybrid/GMO seeds or heirloom/non-GMO. Most of the local places around us, including the BBSs have hybrids and GMO'd seeds. We found a couple of small shops that have heirloom/non-GMO and have ordered from SeedsNow.com (http://www.seedsnow.com/). Due to Holly's medical situation, we decided to go with as much non-GMO as possible and are sticking to organic.

YMMV :2.

[shilala]

I gathered up all our seeds and soil and have had a date with Miss Weeze all week to plant, but we just can't seem to get it done.
I can skate for another week, but we really need to get them in by this weekend. I still need to go pick up some herb seeds, too.

[shilala]

Probably not. Most local places carry Burpee seeds or the like. Friend of mine recommended rareseeds.com if you're looking for older, heirloom varieties.
Jamie (jjirons) saves seed from a gazillion heirloom varieties. I do, too. I have a five gallon bucket of saved seed in the basement. If you guys are looking for anything in particular, just let me know and I'll drop some seeds in an envelope for ya.
If any of you guys want to grow some tobacco, just drop me a pm with your address and I'll send you some seeds asap. :tu

[Steve]

Jamie (jjirons) saves seed from a gazillion heirloom varieties. I do, too. I have a five gallon bucket of saved seed in the basement. If you guys are looking for anything in particular, just let me know and I'll drop some seeds in an envelope for ya.
If any of you guys want to grow some tobacco, just drop me a pm with your address and I'll send you some seeds asap. :tu

Scary thought...:tf


:D

Maybe I'm just gun shy... ;)

[Steve]

First fruit of the season!

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-04-04_First%20Fruit/2014-04-04_First%20Fruit.jpg

[shilala]

Geeze. It'll be July before we get a tomato. I don't count green ones, though. Rookie!!! :lr

[Steve]

Geeze. It'll be July before we get a tomato. I don't count green ones, though. Rookie!!! :lr

:D

It'll be red before long...

[357]

Trying to root some apple tree cuttings so I can clone my favorite trees. Anyone ever use rooting powder?

[8zeros]

Trying to root some apple tree cuttings so I can clone my favorite trees. Anyone ever use rooting powder?
Cuttings are usually grafted. I've rooted some before but they died later from something.
Have to add that I didn't have too good of luck grafting either.

[357]

Cuttings are usually grafted. I've rooted some before but they died later from something.
Have to add that I didn't have too good of luck grafting either.

I figure I have nothing to lose. I trimmed some larger branches that were shading the middle or too vertical, and used water sprouts/suckers off the downed limbs. I'm probably going to be moving this summer and I want to take all three varieties with me. I have a Jonathan, Macintosh, and a Golden Delicious in my yard now.

I do want to try my hand at grafting too. I was going to wait a bit longer to give it a try. The snow here just finally melted so I'm just getting things moving.

[Django]

If any of you guys want to grow some tobacco, just drop me a pm with your address and I'll send you some seeds asap. :tu
And which tobacco variety would that be? :confused:

[shilala]

Cuttings are actually grafted on rootstock that's bred for specific areas.
What generally happens is that the roots from the grafted cultivar aren't strong enough, can't withstand the moisture, soil makeup, climate, etc.
It's much akin to trying to introduce a Largemouth Bass to the Atlantic Ocean.

What you CAN get away with, Mikey, is to graft your branch onto pretty much any kind of apple tree you already have growing. You can graft any number of species onto the same tree. The most I ever had was five types of apples on one tree.

Here's another thing...
Your apple trees you see grafted on root stock aren't normally grafted onto apple rootstock. In my area back home we used sickle pear rootstock because it was a wild rootstock that thrived in that area. Those trees grew anywhere, but were worthless for root production.

So there's a lot of things you can do that'll work, Mikey. You just picked the one thing that's doomed. :D
Ya know, if you can grow that thing out in a container with perfect soil and water, and the roots don't freeze and die this winter, you could take all kinds of grafts off it and put on other established trees.

I have a book here somewhere, if I can find it I'll give you a holler. :tu

[shilala]

And which tobacco variety would that be? :confused:
I have Perique, Havanah 2000, San Andreas MX, and my own open-pollinated variety that comes from those 3 strains.

[shilala]

Last, but not least...
Steve!!! Tomato update!!! :D

[Steve]

Last, but not least...
Steve!!! Tomato update!!! :D

Got three starters on the vine last I checked. I'll check tonight when I get home, it was pretty dark last night by the time I got home to check.

I also am starting to see the beginnings of peppers on two of my plants. Replanted some oregano and dill seeds to replace what I think were old, dead seeds, but I think the squires got to them before anything could happen. The thyme that we planted at the same time is sprouting though.

I know this is old hat to you veterans out there, but I'm stoked that this is actually working!

:D

[357]

I have Perique, Havanah 2000, San Andreas MX, and my own open-pollinated variety that comes from those 3 strains.

Thanks for the info on the apple trees. I've read up on it a bit. I know what I'm trying is a long shot but some claim it's possible. I just didn't want to have to spend the money on buying apple rootstock to graft my scions to. I know there are benefits of doing that besides the obvious increased chances of getting what I want.

Maybe once I move I'll give growing tobacco a try and I'll take you up on your offer.

[Steve]

Last, but not least...
Steve!!! Tomato update!!! :D

Got three starters on the vine last I checked. I'll check tonight when I get home, it was pretty dark last night by the time I got home to check.

I also am starting to see the beginnings of peppers on two of my plants. Replanted some oregano and dill seeds to replace what I think were old, dead seeds, but I think the squires got to them before anything could happen. The thyme that we planted at the same time is sprouting though.

I know this is old hat to you veterans out there, but I'm stoked that this is actually working!

:D

My wife's ears must have been burning...She just sent me a picture of one of the plants

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-04-10_Maters/2014-04-10_Maters%20001.jpg

Still pretty green, but I bet it won't be long until we start seeing some red deliciousness!

[Chainsaw13]

Spent the afternoon rebuilding one of my planting beds. Used cedar this time, instead of regular wood. Hopefully it'll last longer. Going to buy some 5/4x6 planks to cap the tops off. Only 3, maybe 4 more to do.

[shilala]

Hey guys, this is a really old book about growing tobacco (http://ermtony.pbworks.com/f/tobaccofromgrowertosmoker.pdf).
It's a direct link to a free pdf from the University of California.
It's pretty cool. There's few pictures, but it's still worth downloading just to see them
Hope you guys dig it!!!

[Steve]

Some truth right here...

"Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant."

[8lug]

Garlic is on its way

http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q686/Mark_Silvestro/9692C502-7319-44C5-963D-C095040B2D18_zpsvhohk7w9.jpg (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Mark_Silvestro/media/9692C502-7319-44C5-963D-C095040B2D18_zpsvhohk7w9.jpg.html)

[Chainsaw13]

Nice Mark. My garlic looks about the same size, although half as many planted.

Tomorrow i'm getting 1.5yds of dirt to fill my newly rebuilt planters. A compost/top soil mix. I'll mix in a bit of organic fertilizer I have, then wait for the weather to get warm enough before I put in my plants. They're callilng for high 30's this weekend as the low temps. I've put too much effort into growing these from seeds to risk losing them to frost.

[8lug]

Thanks Bob,
They're calling for frost here tonight too, I've got 26 plum tomato plants in the house under lights waiting for the darn weather to finally break up here.

The second bed behind the garlic has spinach and lettuce in it. They're just starting to sprout.

Does anybody have any Kentucky wonder pole bean seeds they like to share. I can't find them anywhere locally.

[Chainsaw13]

26 tomato plants? Hot damn, you must like tomatoes. :D The most I've planted before was 7. That was about 5 too many. I was giving them away to anyone that would take them.

I'm thinking I'll plant my onions at least this weekend. Maybe my collards, broccoli and cauliflower too. They should be ok with the colder temps.

[357]

26 tomato plants? Hot damn, you must like tomatoes. :D The most I've planted before was 7. That was about 5 too many. I was giving them away to anyone that would take them.

I'm thinking I'll plant my onions at least this weekend. Maybe my collards, broccoli and cauliflower too. They should be ok with the colder temps.

I'll take any excess produce. My wife got into canning last year. She did 68 pints of tomoatos alone. :D

[Chainsaw13]

Planted most of my seedlings yesterday. I cant keep putting it off with these damn cold temps. Taking a chance that we don't get a freeze yet, which might happen Sunday. See the low is supposed to be 39. Guess I can cover them with something.

[Dave128]

We don't plant in my neck of the woods until at least Memorial Day.

[shilala]

All our stuff is growing away down in our plant growing tent.
It all needs thinned out, but I haven't felt it yet. I'll probably get Weeze down there, she'll do it.

[AUguy]

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=925&pictureid=8496

Got a few tomatoes coming along nicely. With some help from the weather these should be gone by middle of next week.

A side note. If anyone recognizes the company these are grown for please don't post the name. They don't really like when employees post stuff on the internet.

[Chainsaw13]

I need a green house like that!

[AUguy]

I've got 8 here but I could really use at least 4 more.

[Django]

My broad beans are coming along nicely and are flowering quite a bit earlier than normal.
It doesn't seem to bother the bumblebee though:
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w495/DjangoV/Moestuin/B9693DDC-8C64-4094-964E-5CF562540620_zpshpq7dell.jpg

[Chainsaw13]

Whoo hoo! My chiltipen pepper seeds have shipped. Hopefully it's not to late to grow.

[SvilleKid]

First success (and failure) of my garden.

Success for the formed heads. Failure for the "bolted" plants. First time planting these over the last 5 years that I've had ANY plants bolt on me, and I have lost half my plants this year. And I even planted these early, a good 3-4 weeks before when I normally plant.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Cigars/D5437D64-0643-4E7B-9545-E510942BE184_zpsailsysgd.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/Cigars/D5437D64-0643-4E7B-9545-E510942BE184_zpsailsysgd.jpg.html)