Gardeners in the Asylum

[Steve]

Almost there...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-05-14_Garden/2014-05-14_Garden%20001.jpg

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-05-14_Garden/2014-05-14_Garden%20002.jpg

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-05-14_Garden/2014-05-14_Garden%20003.jpg

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-05-14_Garden/2014-05-14_Garden%20004.jpg

[Steve]

Picked last night...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2014-05-15_First%20Fruit/2014-05-15_First%20Fruit%20001.jpg

[AUguy]

Steve. Those are some good looking plants. Is that a better bush? Couldn't really zoom in enough to tell. If you don't mind me asking where are you located? I may know the guy you bought the plants from.

[Steve]

Yes, it is a better bush. I'm in Florida. And by the way, thos two 'maters tasted awesome!

[AUguy]

I have a buddy who works out of our Lake City farm in Florida. Not sure what areas he delivers to though. I grew a better bush a few years ago and was really surprised at how many tomatoes it produced. It is not a great seller in most areas but I think that is mostly due to the name.

[Steve]

Last night Holly made homemade pizza using basil, tomatoes and oregano from our garden and sausage from a little piggie that wasn't fast enough. Man, beats the heck outta store bought stuff!

[OLS]

Steve, do you grow those marigolds/mums as pest control?

[OLS]

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=925&pictureid=8496
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.
Sources close to the investigation asked not to be named as they were not allowed to talk to the media.
LEAKER :D

[baust55]

I love to garden ..............


AUSTIN

[Steve]

Steve, do you grow those marigolds/mums as pest control?

Yes...that is the theory :D

[Chainsaw13]

I guess I should've done a better job marking my plants. I have one bed with a collard green and cauliflower. I continue to look for growth of the cauliflower head, but haven't seen one yet. So right now, I can't tell which is which.

[OLS]

Yes...that is the theory :D

And its a solid theory based on all I know about pest control, which these days is quite a lot.
Except for the "drive me into the arms of another" theory. Interested to see which theory wins out.
If nothing else, you will have some pretty flowers which you'll be able to see through the leaves of
your vegetable plants. I am going with a little of both. Can't wait to see how this works out. If the
mums get REALLY WILD, you should prune them, boil some tea with the leaves and flowers and then
spray that on the veggies. I KNOW that should work.

[Steve]

I have noticed that a few of the leaves, mainly on the pepper plants of all things, have been munched on and we lost one tomato early on to a worm but we separated it quickly from the others. Other than that I haven't seen a lot of pests so I'm going to go with "they're working".

:D

[Chainsaw13]

I had some caterpillars on my celery plants. Quick snip with the scissors took care of that. Next day, gone.

Growing a new type of corn this year. Never seen multiple stalks from the same plant before. Hopefully they all produce.

[AUguy]

Hope everyone's garden is doing well with all of the rain we've had in many parts of the country. My season is winding down so I will get to plant my garden in a few weeks when I get home.

In the meantime, here is a little plant **** for you basil lovers out there.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=615&pictureid=8521

Speaking of basil. Be on the lookout for downy mildew. Word is that it is making its way around the northeast.

[AUguy]

I had some caterpillars on my celery plants. Quick snip with the scissors took care of that. Next day, gone.

Growing a new type of corn this year. Never seen multiple stalks from the same plant before. Hopefully they all produce.

Whats the name of the corn you're growing? I would love to see some pics of the multiple stalks if you don't mind.

[Chainsaw13]

Whats the name of the corn you're growing? I would love to see some pics of the multiple stalks if you don't mind.

It's Golden Bantam Sweet. If you look at the pic, you can see the main center stalk, then the smaller stalks coming off the sides at an angle. Some of the side stalks are rather large.

I've only grown corn once before and don't remember it doing that before.

[AUguy]

I've never seen that either. I assume from the name that it is a yellow corn. Let me know how it taste when it's ready.

[Chainsaw13]

I've never seen that either. I assume from the name that it is a yellow corn. Let me know how it taste when it's ready.

Will do. The largest plants are nearing 3' tall. I'm guessing august I should see something.

[8zeros]

Multiple stalks on corn is common, I see them a lot. Leave them on, they make the plant stronger.

[Chainsaw13]

Thanks Roger. Do you happen to know if they'll produce ears?

[8zeros]

Thanks Roger. Do you happen to know if they'll produce ears?
My wife is the gardener, I just do the work, so I asked her.
She says the side shoots get ears but they are small and sometimes deformed but they are still good. That's what I remembered.
I think I'll go out and feed some bugs and take a look at what she's growing.

[mahtofire14]

Hey guys, I'm no gardener but the fiance wanted some hostas in one of the back gardens so I went onto youtube to figure out how to split them (We have many others in the yard). I successfully split one whole hosta and am wondering if the new hostas I split will continue to fill out and grow larger as in more stems and leaves? Probably a noob question but I'm still just proud I actually figured out how to split them. :r

[AUguy]

Yes they should bush out once they root in well after transplanting. Be sure to keep them well watered for 2 or 3 weeks after dividing them so the plant doesn't go into shock.

[shilala]

I just finished getting the herb and lettuce garden in.
I have a good bit of work to do in the big garden, but I'm getting there. :tu

[Chainsaw13]

Been harvesting kale and lettuce for some time now. Got a really nice onion that was sautéed up with the kale, red pepper and homemade Italian sausage. Noticed while out in the garden, some of my corn is nearing picking. I just hope the recent rains help the ears fill out. Even the sucker stalks look like they're going to produce.

[Chainsaw13]

Picked more kale and onions, and the first of many cukes, mater and corn. Also pulled all my garlic. Banner year going back to my one bed. All 35 heads produced and I've got a few big ones that'll be seed stock for next year.

Now I have an open 4x4 bed. What late season crops should I plant?

[shilala]

Our side garden remains awesome, but the big garden is a total dick.
I've figured out how to fix the water problem, but it's gonna take a lot of work.
It'll look super cool in the end, and it'll keep me busy this winter.

[Chainsaw13]

Here's one of my mutant sweet corn. The shoot on the left had a small baby corn in it.

[8zeros]

Here's one of my mutant sweet corn. The shoot on the left had a small baby corn in it.
Weird. Never seen that before. Multi-shoots from the base, yep, but not multi-ears.
You have a nuclear power plant nearby?

[Chainsaw13]

Weird. Never seen that before. Multi-shoots from the base, yep, but not multi-ears.
You have a nuclear power plant nearby?

Nope, although I can't say for sure what's in my soil. Almost all of my corn plants have sucker stalks, some of which look like they're going to produce (albeit small ears).

[357]

Bob, what about Fermi 2? It's 1106 MW is almost enough to power the flux capacitor.

[shilala]

All those super-sweet varietals do that, Bob. I walk the rows and knock the suckers off. It only takes a few minutes and they don't come back. Some have two, some just one, but they all get it. No idea why.
The old silver queens and bicolors never did it. Well, not never, but far less. It was an oddity rather than it happening at every ear.

[Steve]

Tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, cucumbers and eggplant coming off and tasting great!

[8zeros]

I just did a little reading about the suckers and it seems the verdict is to ignore them as they don't hurt the plant and you have to remove them when they are really small or you damage the plant cutting them off. It's a sign of a happy plant. Plenty of nutrients.
Everything from our garden has been sweet this year. Peas, Cukes, tomatoes, squash, beans. Can't wait for the corn.

[Steve]

Killed a couple of these ugly bastages this week in Holly's flower garden

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRUewPOTmus/SvkoavvhjrI/AAAAAAAADNo/vOGqoOR2Avc/s400/Hammerhead+Worm+(3).JPG

May have to get some Chernobyl worms if I keep finding them...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/Misc9/Chernobyl%20Garden%20Worm.jpeg

;)

[hotreds]

corn has silk!

http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp83232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv%3B965%3Dot% 3E2383%3D%3C69%3D823%3DXROQDF%3E2%3B23%3B%3B79%3A6 23%3Aot1lsi

[Dave128]

Killed a couple of these ugly bastages this week in Holly's flower garden

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRUewPOTmus/SvkoavvhjrI/AAAAAAAADNo/vOGqoOR2Avc/s400/Hammerhead+Worm+(3).JPG

What the hell is that thing?

[Steve]

It's a "bad" worm that eats "good" worms such as earthworms. Damn things are alien or something. If you leave even a little piece of it alive, it can regenerate...creepy! We have found the best way to kill 'em is with vinegar. The just sort of melt and dry up.

Linky (http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Land-Planarian-flatworm_vq389.htm)

[Dave128]

Yucky!

[jjirons69]

Looks kinda like a fluke in the head. Weird.

How about a striped, hammerhead slug?

[jjirons69]

Some may have noticed I haven't posted in the garden thread about my garden. Well, I'm out of the gardening business. I took the entire thing up and reclaimed my land. The reason was simple - sunlight. I planted 2 red maples and a chestnut tree about 12 years ago. The maples are HUGE and the chestnut is gaining. Those in combination with several neighbor trees and I now only get about 1-2 hours of direct sun where I used to get 8-9 hours. Over the years as the sunlight got less and less my plants began to struggle. Last year was a loss, so I decided to cultivate grass instead. I still get enough veggies from my dad and I sort of miss the garden, but my time is filled elsewhere. Such is life.

Keep 'em growing, boys!

[8zeros]

I pegged it as a planarian but never knew we had such critters around,
Found this link about them. (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/land_planarians.htm)

[Chainsaw13]

I really need to do a better job picking my not-so-sweet corn. That, and giving it more fertilizer. Other than that, it's been producing great!

[hammondc]

it's about that time....
I have
Cherry Tomatoes
Black Krim Tomatoes
Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
Roma Tomatoes
Crook Neck Squach
Silver Queen Corn
Red/Green Bell Peppers
Purple Jalapeños
Jalapeños
Carolina Reapers
Mint, Basil, Rosemary, Garlic, Dill
Watermelon
Canteloupe
Cukes
Pickling Cukes

[Tio Gato]

it's about that time....
I have
Cherry Tomatoes
Black Krim Tomatoes
Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
Roma Tomatoes
Crook Neck Squach
Silver Queen Corn
Red/Green Bell Peppers
Purple Jalapeños
Jalapeños
Carolina Reapers
Mint, Basil, Rosemary, Garlic, Dill
Watermelon
Canteloupe
Cukes
Pickling Cukes

I couldn't be more jealous.:dr Today I saw the first 6 inches of my (4 foot) tall tomato cages sticking out of the snow. Dang.

[Chainsaw13]

Never heard of Mortgage Lifter tomatoes.

[azar]

So after the help I got from our under paid over worked city workers whom mistakenly thought my garden was a weed bed and sprayed it accordingly??? (applied weed spray upwind of my garden on a windy day) I am doing a raised garden as well as graveling outside of my fence with a sign that says no spray please! I have looked on the internet and have a few ideas going to start with 2 beds 16'x8'x12" should cover about 1/2 of the area that I have for a garden spot. I am going to start this project this next set of days off I will post pictures when I get going

[Chainsaw13]

Mack, I wouldn't make them over 4' wide. Anything wider and you can't reach into the middle without stepping into the bed.

[azar]

Mack, I wouldn't make them over 4' wide. Anything wider and you can't reach into the middle without stepping into the bed.

I think you have a good point the widest I seen on the research I have been doing was 5' but no one ever give a reason. Thanks I may re think this and do three 4 foot wide!

[Chainsaw13]

I think you have a good point the widest I seen on the research I have been doing was 5' but no one ever give a reason. Thanks I may re think this and do three 4 foot wide!

Probably a good idea. Less chance of stepping on plants. If you're like me, you'll pack those beds full of plants. And you won't compact the soil either.

[Fordman4ever]

I'm building a few little planter boxes to put on my back porch for my daughter and I to do some gardening together. I can't wait to get started.

[HK3-]

Garden time! Got my raised garden box built and hope to get it filled with dirt within the next couple of weeks. My little helping hand will be turning four this year and I have a feeling she will really enjoy the outdoors with dad.

[Fordman4ever]

I built a little box and my daughter chose to plant small sweet bell peppers and wild flowers.

https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10426271_10102042873861531_838714138295445533_n.jp g?oh=6167c6e572ef28d5acd0d5e2fbb2f903&oe=55B412C8

https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11061777_10102042874225801_4431076571583121571_n.j pg?oh=790bd606e302c6bd286507663379bfb7&oe=5582188B

https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11076210_10102042874430391_6241996571477216702_n.j pg?oh=533b28df358608b7463f5ca6c17038ea&oe=557FF5A2

She is so excited. I can't wait until it starts sprouting and she really gets into it.

[shilala]

Sorry to hear you gave up the good fight, Jamie. :D
After almost 30 years, I've decided not to start my own plants this year, other than things I can start in the ground.
I hate to be limited to "what's available", but around here, that's a lot. Not so much so back home in the sticks.

I have two gardens here, a little one on the side and a big one out back.
The soil is horrid. I heavily amended the side garden and can grow a bonanza out there.
I have to amend every hole out back just to grow something.
The back garden has been a huge failure 2 our of 3 years because it's all clay and holds too much water. I'll give it this year and then it'll be grass, as well.
I'll build a couple raised beds and call it a day.

[hammondc]

FINALLY got my seeds planted Monday. I am about 2 weeks late this year. Oh well....they are in.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/hammondc/seeds_zps4uh0tf3m.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/hammondc/media/seeds_zps4uh0tf3m.jpg.html)

[Chainsaw13]

You're ahead of me Chip. I bought the soil mix, but been too lazy to do anything more.

[hammondc]

First year of doing all seeds. Everything but the Corn is heirloom.

[hammondc]

Start em young, Earl.

[Chainsaw13]

Seedling tray setup, seeds planted. Now we wait. Tomatoes, cukes, eggplant, radishes, onions, bell peppers, serranos, brussel sprouts, kale, watermelon, and prob a couple more I'm forgetting.

[azar]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0834_zpsfpz3tysm.jpg
The 2 big ones shown here are 16'x4'
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0836_zpssfgjxfjk.jpg
This on is 8'x4' and will have cucumbers growing near the fencing I used to grow and vine upwards and the other end will be my herbs. Next week we will fill it the dirt. here in Wyoming I wait until May to plant.
Mack

[Chainsaw13]

Wow, nice setup Mack!

[HK3-]

Some good looking setups Im seeing on here for this season! :)

Planting eight apple trees out back this weekend. Digging holes in this area is some back braking work. If these rocks were gold, I'd be outa here.

[hammondc]

I have spouts for everything but Jalapenos, Reapers and Bell Peppers. It must be a pepper thing. I put them on a heat mat to raise the soil temp to 85* (ish).

[Chainsaw13]

Hopefully my seedlings have started by the time I get home from my work trip. I did my plants from seed for the first time last year, using a seed mat. Works great.

[Chainsaw13]

I forgot though to start my chiltepin pepper plants. Need to get an earlier start than last year. Didn't get squadoosh from them before the first frost.

[Chainsaw13]

Checked my seedlings today. 6 days after planting and I already need to transplant my radish, kale, lettuce and a couple others.

[hammondc]

Coming along nicely....

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/hammondc/plants_zpsqzsiicsx.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/hammondc/media/plants_zpsqzsiicsx.jpg.html)

[hammondc]

Hopefully my seedlings have started by the time I get home from my work trip. I did my plants from seed for the first time last year, using a seed mat. Works great.

I bought a mat for the peppers. They seems to favor a very warm soil. Everything else did fine with solid 70*-75*

[azar]

Ok Gardeners I have a question. Do I go with a drip system, soaker hose or do a combo thing? This will be for my raised beds. Lets hear your thoughts what worked what didn't? I will be doing normal garden plants tomato, squash water melon cantaloupe carrot radish and onion but I also want to do herbs
Thanks Mack

[hammondc]

drip via pvc is what i do

[baust55]

I brought my 5 fig trees up out of the basement

[shilala]

Just a few more weeks and I can start playing in the dirt.
That might be a little ambitious, but I hope it dries out well enough to at least prepare my side garden and get in some cold crops.

[HK3-]

Spent the day filling my garden box with dirt and then finally getting some plants in. Man my butt is whooped! See all the trips up and down the hill!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_6.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/Lvmesum3zs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_6.jpg.html)

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_7.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/Lvmesum3zs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_7.jpg.html)

[shilala]

Looking good, Hal!!! :tu
I live on a cliff just like you.

I have some daffodils and crocuses coming up in the side garden, forgot all about them. I need to go dig up more and put them in, I know where there's a few huge patches.

I need to fertilize the grass and it's almost time to get the sprinklers fired up, make dirt for the garden, and all that good stuff.
Still a few more weeks till things will dry up enough to get at them.

[Chainsaw13]

Transplanted a few radish seedlings in one of my planting beds. Let's see if they can stand the cold weather. Seed book suggests not starting indoors, oops.

[HK3-]

Looks like most of the trees and shrubs I planted last year made it. Lots of buds and leaves popping out.

[hammondc]

How are they coming boys? I'm building another (2) 10X4 beds whenever this rain stops. All my seedlings are coming along. Probably go to ground May2.

[azar]

Finally got them full 2 yards each top soil and a yard of compost each.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0900_zpsq7yxkgm6.jpg

And this sounds odd but my wife, kids and myself have started a fairy garden
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0898_zpsqijaqqmi.jpg

[Chainsaw13]

Nice Mack, you'll get a lot out of those beds.

[HK3-]

Nice beds Mack! Like the fairy garden also.

[HK3-]

Spent most of the weekend in the yard. Picked up some replacement plants for the beds, put down a sh-load of mulch, and cut the grass. We were able to pick some lettuce from the garden to have in our salads.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_11.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/Lvmesum3zs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_11.jpg.html)

Still working the bottom grass down by the garden trying to get it caught up with the rest of the back yard. I've busted my ass on that hill numerous times when its wet….
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_10.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/Lvmesum3zs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_10.jpg.html)

[hammondc]

Finally got my seedlings to the ground. Starting from seed is a pain via transplant. I'll direct sow next year.

[shilala]

The garden just dried out enough for me to get it cleaned up.
I should get some cold crops put in the side garden, but I'm not all that excited yet.
May around here really weathers all over the place. It just got nice a couple days ago.

[HK3-]

The garden just dried out enough for me to get it cleaned up.
I should get some cold crops put in the side garden, but I'm not all that excited yet.
May around here really weathers all over the place. It just got nice a couple days ago.

Sounds like you're about to come out of hibernation. ;)

[shilala]

That's my master plan, Chronic. :tu

[Chainsaw13]

I transplanted my seedlings this past weekend. What a couple days of warm weather and real sunshine make. I think my tomato plants have already grown 1-2".

[hammondc]

I transplanted my seedlings this past weekend. What a couple days of warm weather and real sunshine make. I think my tomato plants have already grown 1-2".

Mine too. I did lose some in my tomato bed. I have some extras in an overflow bed though.

[bvilchez]

Well fellas, I think I can officially post in this thread now. Wife and I and fed up with having nothing in the yard. We decided and purchased an avocado tree (10-12 yrs old), and 2 citrus trees (potted right now), tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, basil, and mint. We'll see how far we can take them. Hopefully our green thumbs don't give way.

Any advice on any of these? Definitely do not want to see any of them perish, especially the avocado tree.

[357]

Good luck Jay. I'm in the process of buying a home. I'm hoping it moves along quickly. One reason is we were hoping to get some gardening going. Perhaps it'll just be planting some fruit trees and figuring out/managing the kinds of berries are already growing on the property.

[jjirons69]

Sadly I have nothing to add. My home plot is gone. My dad has a garden and has a few long rows of Irish and Red potatoes, way more than our 3 families will be able to eat. I planted some pumpkins for the kids in the back of his garden. Other than that, nothing to report. Glad to see you guys getting off you azzes and working in those gardens! Makes me smile.

[Chainsaw13]

I pulled a radish the other day, first I've ever grown. Never been a big radish fan, but my tastes have changed as I've gotten older. Was a little spicy, a little sweet too. Glad I planted a bunch more.

[azar]

:noon just got all of my plants today. Planting this weekend will get pictures up soon.

[Chainsaw13]

Nicely done Mack. :tu

They're calling for a possible freeze in my area next week. Ugh.

[azar]

:c:cWell chit guess I will only plant my seeds today weather showing 55 high and low at 35! Son of a beach!
I am so happy I didn't plant a week ago we had a hail storm roll through and ripped apart the flowers we had out.
Mack

[MarkinAZ]

:c:cWell chit guess I will only plant my seeds today weather showing 55 high and low at 35! Son of a beach!
I am so happy I didn't plant a week ago we had a hail storm roll through and ripped apart the flowers we had out. Mack

Mack, if you're planting tomatoes up your way, and with your type of weather in Wyoming, what varieties are popular? I would think some short season variety...

[MarkinAZ]

We decided and purchased an avocado tree (10-12 yrs old), and 2 citrus trees (potted right now), tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, basil, and mint. We'll see how far we can take them. Hopefully our green thumbs don't give way.

Any advice on any of these? Definitely do not want to see any of them perish, especially the avocado tree.

Jay, where abouts are you now in SoCal and what variety of Avocado did you purchase? Is it a standard, semi-standard, or dwarf tree?

[azar]

Mack, if you're planting tomatoes up your way, and with your type of weather in Wyoming, what varieties are popular? I would think some short season variety...

Roma and big boy are the types I am planting plenty of grow time just getting impatient! Beds are 59* showing moist. Ambiant T* is 56* right now. I have my spinach lettuce and onions in.

[shilala]

I just checked the moon phase and we can't plant till the weekend after the 2nd.
I still have to amend the soil in the back garden, but we can plant the side garden whenever. It's ready to go.
I'm stoked. The last two years were awful. This year is gonna be awesome. :tu

[MarkinAZ]

Roma and big boy are the types I am planting plenty of grow time just getting impatient! Beds are 59* showing moist. Ambiant T* is 56* right now...

Nice varieties Mack! If I had the dirt area that some of you do, I'd be a planting fool and shoving asparagus, tomaters, and such in the ground... Right now, I have a couple of columnar apple trees that you see in the foreground. Not too much columnar shape as I've allowed them to spread out a tad. The one in the foreground has "sets" of marble size fruit at this time:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/Stag%20Horn%20Fern%20001_zpsvbwkols1.jpg
I have two tomato plants in containers. The one on the left is Celebrity (determinate variety) and the one on the right is Big Beef (indeterminate variety). Big Beef was a mistake. I wanted two Celebrities and pulled two out of the "Celebrity" box. When I got home and checked the tags, I saw that someone had misplaced a variety in the Celebrity area. Oh well, we'll have to run with Big Beef and see how it looks in a couple of months. Both plants are already setting fruit:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/Stag%20Horn%20Fern%20002_zps4c49x3v3.jpg

And then, my pride and joy I've been nurturing since 2004, as it developed from small pieces of bark (about 12" L x 5" W), is the Stag Horn plant:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/Stag%20Horn%20Fern%20006_zpsjotq9hod.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/Stag%20Horn%20Fern%20005_zpsvf79bgw9.jpg

I've been thinking about bring in a couple of 28" pots (similar to what the columnar apples are sitting in) to increase tomatoes, but I'll wait till next season on that...

[bvilchez]

Jay, where abouts are you now in SoCal and what variety of Avocado did you purchase? Is it a standard, semi-standard, or dwarf tree?

Mark, I'm in the Temecula/Lake Elsinore area....Wildomar to be exact. The avocado tree is a standard fuerte.

[azar]

Mark absolutely beautiful to bad we weren't closer together I would give you the patio pots I have gathered over the years. An older neighbor of ours gave us a ton of them. She moved to a nursing home.
I talked with another neighbor she is planting today. I am going to let today pass the 7 day forcast starting tomorrow seems promising at least away from the freezing mark!
Mack

[MarkinAZ]

Mark, I'm in the Temecula/Lake Elsinore area....Wildomar to be exact. The avocado tree is a standard fuerte.

You're definitely in avocado country Jay. My parents have 104 acre's of avocado/grapefruit property in Pauma Valley (just South of your location). Your fuerte will have no problemo in surviving. You will basically have to go out of your way to kill it by not watering it.

Well, that standard tree can reach a height in excess of 25+ feet for one. At some point in time, and for convenience of harvesting, you will want to keep it trimmed low in time (maybe to around twelve feet). It will be easier to get a picking latter up into the branches that way. There are picking poles that extend with a small canvas bag on the end. You telescope the pole to the desired length, find a avocado, cut it, and it falls into the bag. However, that's some time down the road for you.

Make sure you have dug a nice size hole to plant the tree in, add the appropriate nutrients and compost and work it well into the soil, then water it all in, and plant your tree. Back fill with a mixture of the original soil and compost, and water in good. I don't know what the diameter of your tree's canopy, but your hole should be approximately the same size. When irrigating the tree, you should irrigate underneath the tree about the same diameter of the canopy. That is, the circumference of the spread out branches (hopefully that made some sort of sense). You can check out more here:

http://uccemg.com/Edible_Plants/?ds=530&uid=127

http://www.mastergardenerssandiego.org/downloads/Avocado%20Production%20in%20Home%20Gardens.pdf


Mark absolutely beautiful to bad we weren't closer together I would give you the patio pots I have gathered over the years. An older neighbor of ours gave us a ton of them. She moved to a nursing home.

Thanks Mack. I'm sure someone in your area can make use of those pots...

[bvilchez]

Thanks for the advice Mark. The tree is in the ground already (planted by the nursery where we purchased it from) but they did add any amendments to the soil. It is starting to produce fruit though. Their guidance to us was water everyday for the first week and then 2-3x a week after that. They did make a 'well' of mulch around it and stated fill the 'well' and that will suffice for water for the tree. I will say I am somewhat fearful of adding fertilizer (too much or not enough). I have been keeping it simple by adding MiracleGro to it. Is that beneficial? BTW, thanks for the input. I will read up on those sites tonight.

[MarkinAZ]

Thanks for the advice Mark. The tree is in the ground already (planted by the nursery where we purchased it from) but they did add any amendments to the soil. It is starting to produce fruit though. Their guidance to us was water everyday for the first week and then 2-3x a week after that. They did make a 'well' of mulch around it and stated fill the 'well' and that will suffice for water for the tree. I will say I am somewhat fearful of adding fertilizer (too much or not enough). I have been keeping it simple by adding MiracleGro to it. Is that beneficial? BTW, thanks for the input. I will read up on those sites tonight.


It sounds like you're all set there Jay. It appears that the nursery crew most likely prepared the soil prior to planting your tree. You may want to call and ask them if they did prepare your soil with fertilizer just for the fun of it. If they did, great. If they did not, there's most likely a reason. I would also ask about a fertilization program for your tree once it has established itself in your yard. The one thing you do not want to do is over fertilize and burn out your beautiful avocado tree.

Enjoy all of that guacamole Jay!

[azar]

After weather this weekend Monday rolls around still over cast T* are up a little and 7 day doesn't even come close to freezing! I got up early and here are my results
Cucumber/lettuce(seeds)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0905_zpse1grqjbe.jpg
Onion bed
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0906_zpsn8kaj906.jpg
Tomatoes/squash/and broccoli.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0904_zpslhbwrmoh.jpg
More tomatoes/water melon/ and celery!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0903_zps71c7bm8y.jpg
Later today I will be putting in my PVC for irrigation system we went with soaker hose simply because we got the hoses for cheap and we will see how well it works.
We have had successful years in the past. The past 2 years have been very disappointing as far as gardening go weeds ate my lunch the 1st year then our city workers sprayed last year for weeds and killed my garden 1 month in!

This is my first year doing raised beds and we are looking forward to our results. I began doing home work on these almost a year ago. After talking with a couple of friends and neighbors they are trying them also.

Mack

[Fordman4ever]

Looks great Mack

Here's my first raised bed
https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11269651_10155577935490581_3607322842251817866_n.j pg?oh=c1aa410c8c7c27b3ec62b3fac66021eb&oe=55C00E1E

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10408653_10155577935560581_746221950032246576_n.jp g?oh=a99cb90c7274af02a5398b98c0af1c33&oe=55C01921

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11231154_10155577935630581_5949522552919293206_n.j pg?oh=ba6ba83ab4d07c519a0956f36f0c99e1&oe=55F96904

Now all I have to do is fill it with dirt and plant stuff. I wont be planting anything anytime soon though, getting ready to deploy over the summer.

[HK3-]

Garden update- I've got more lettuce than i can eat and I'm getting tired of eating it. Broccoli is looking good and probably has a few more weeks to go. Tomatoes are plentiful but still green. Zucchini has been picked a few times and is about to be in full swing along with the cucumbers.

Had to break out the 7dust yesterday due to the caterpillars having their way with my greens.

[Fordman4ever]

Fried green tomatoes

I filled the bed with compost today.

[azar]

Garden update- I've got more lettuce than i can eat and I'm getting tired of eating it. Broccoli is looking good and probably has a few more weeks to go. Tomatoes are plentiful but still green. Zucchini has been picked a few times and is about to be in full swing along with the cucumbers.

Had to break out the 7dust yesterday due to the caterpillars having their way with my greens.

Hal you are killing me I want a fresh salad out of garden so bad I can taste it! Tell you what send me some up if you have to much. Even mailed to me is probably fresher then anything we get here!
Ford that is a great looking garden spot. I am sorry you won't get to try it out this year. But you will have a jump on next year's growing season.
Mack

[HK3-]

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/IMG_9244.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/Lvmesum3zs/media/IMG_9244.jpg.html)

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll115/Lvmesum3zs/IMG_9243.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/Lvmesum3zs/media/IMG_9243.jpg.html)

[hammondc]

Hal-

The lettuce--- Does it keep producing or is it a one and done type thing?

[Chainsaw13]

Hal-

The lettuce--- Does it keep producing or is it a one and done type thing?

You should just be able to cut it back, leaving the root, and it'll regrow.

My tomato plants have started to take off. Seems like over night they doubled in size. Finally put the cages over them before they got too big.

[HK3-]

Hal-

The lettuce--- Does it keep producing or is it a one and done type thing?

It's crazy. Some grew a second head next to the original but most grew almost three feet tall….

I harvested six heads of broccoli this morning and hacked down some of the whacked out lettuce heads. Planted a ghost, scorpion, habanero, and two Thai hot pepper plants.

Looks like the cauliflower will be ready to harvest in less than two weeks.

Maters are plentiful but still green…. Oh, I toasted a rabbit in the garden yesterday evening. One down and a few more to go. ;)

[hammondc]

OK! I have a little spare room in one of my boxes. I may thrown some lettuce in there.

[HK3-]

Picked a handful of zucchini on Sunday along with one jalepeno and two bell peppers.

Finished removing the rest of the lettuce heads and replaced them with two carolina reapers, two okra, and one more tomato plant.

My daughter and I planted two Wee B pumpkin plants on the side hill far away from anything for it to choke out or grind up in the mower.

[sigsauer]

broccoli
tomatoes
squash
string beans
arugula
romaine

[hammondc]

broccoli
tomatoes
squash
string beans
arugula
romaine

I am going Romaine & Arugala next weekend.

[azar]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/mecleor/DSC_0922_zpshrgrcvce.jpg

The garden after I fenced it and graveled the walks.

[MarkinAZ]

Looks great Mack! Always nice to place some gravel in between the raised planters...

[HK3-]

Everything is putting out except the hot peppers. Picked up a handful of more zucchini and cucumber plants for the side hill where I planted the pumpkins.

How's everyone else's gardens doing?

[Chainsaw13]

My garlic's about ready to pull. Cut off the last of the garlic scapes yesterday. Grilled up a few of them for dinner last night, plus a few extra to put into some hummus I've yet to make.

Cut down my mustard greens plant. I like wilted greens on occassion, but those plants produce way too much for me to eat. So into the compost pile it went.

My plants all have flowers on them, hoping to see something sprouting soon.

[Chainsaw13]

Cleaned up the garden today. thinned out the mater plants, cutting off all the sucker branches. Found lots of small tomatoes growing. :tu

Dug up all my garlic. No real huge heads this year, but all 40+ heads developed nicely.

Now I have a 4x8' raised bed that's empty. Anyone have ideas of late season plants I could get going? Or should I just wait for fall and plant cooler temps plants?

[Chainsaw13]

Did a little picking in the garden.

[hammondc]

Heat has scorched most of mine. I am trying to water daily to at least keep the soil moist. Peppers are coming in and watermelons will be ready shortly.

.......AND Carolina Reapers

[Chainsaw13]

Pulled the last of my plants and finally dug up my sunchoke plant. Holy crap that thing just kept on giving. Pulled most of the rest of my chiltepin peppers and the last few Serrano. Those I'm going to ferment and make into hot sauce.

[Chainsaw13]

Peppers.

[hudd]

Grew orange habanero, cayenne, jalapeno, and ghost peppers this year. Critters ate my jalapeno plants. Cayennes did poorly. Ghost and habs done pretty well. Made hour sauce with some and drying the rest for powder. With all the rain early on this season it's lucky anything produced at all this year here.

[8zeros]

I've been busy. Not growing a lot this year. Lots of room, too much, not enough time. I was real late. I just planted a few tomatoes, cukes, peppers, beans, squash, melons. No corn or punkins.
Anyone else? I'm not talkin about your "medicine".

[hudd]

Put out habanero, jolokia, and cayenne plants this year to make hot sauce with. Really hope the cayenne's do well this year. Got a recipe I come up with that makes a really tasty sauce.

[Chainsaw13]

Put out habanero, jolokia, and cayenne plants this year to make hot sauce with. Really hope the cayenne's do well this year. Got a recipe I come up with that makes a really tasty sauce.

I did a fermented hot sauce with Serrano and chiltepin from my garden last year. Crazy good. And pretty easy. Unfortunately no garden this year. Need the space temporarily for a new garage.

[sigsauer]

Mr B are the cukes curling?

[Dave128]

I only have a small area for planting so just did some tomatoes, eggplant and hot peppers this year. All of my hot pepper plants got eaten to the ground by a mole (I suspect), my tomatoes are OK, but seem to be rotting on the vine before they ripen and my eggplant are coming along slowly. Overall, not a great season for me. Oh yeah, I have a raised box for herbs that did pretty well. So there's that.

[Chainsaw13]

Did some breaking down of one of my two 4x8 planters. Both squash plants were way overgrown. Still producing, but I can only eat so much as well as my neighbors. Did pull a 6.5lb zucchini which is currently sliced up and dehydrating. Now my serrano plants have room to grow.

[357]

Thanks for the thread revive Bob. Once we own some dirt again a garden is on the first page of things to do. Love any and all pics and tips

[Axeman]

I need to get my photo server back up and running. This year has been amazing so far.

[Axeman]

Good stuff, Cliff.
Here's what I have so far:
http://fracstar.com/pics/20120525.jpg

Well, it looks like my old pics server is already working. That was from ten years ago. It's still about the same.

[Chainsaw13]

Impressive,

[RobR1205]

Working on a container garden of lots of ridiculously hot chili varieties. Got ‘em all in five gallon pots on my porch to help give them a fighting chance against this summers brutal weather.

[Axeman]

I love ghost, scorpion, Caribbean reds, Habs!
Tough for me to grow them. Those super hot are hard for me to eat. Anything less is not. I let my wife decide how spicy to make food.