|
Post by mogal on May 24, 2021 15:20:48 GMT
Yesterday we got some space prepped for figs and "roselle," an annual grown as an ornamental and for its blooms to make tea. The leaves are also edible. We also moved and finished preparing some red cattle supplement tubs to use as container gardens. This morning, I planted pineapple sage, red and black goji berry plants I'd raised from seed, basil, lemon verbena, and the only seed that germinated from a packet of "Arroz con Pollo" peppers in them. I don't usually save seed from one plant but will with this one. When I started it was barely light enough to see. I love being up and out at that time of day to hear the birds.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on May 24, 2021 16:00:30 GMT
The apple trees are blooming like I've never seen before. Hopefully we won't have a killer freeze or several. So far the nighttime temperatures look to be above freezing for the near future. One of my neighbors - who has a big garden; big for up here anyway - has his garden completely in.
The grandkids and I planted lettuce when they were here a week ago. I have some very healthy looking chard seedlings that I'd like to get into the garden as well. We do have giant tarps to cover the raised bed if it gets too cold, so I'm going to plant those chard starts this week. The seedlings I ordered from the farm will be available to be picked up Friday. I can't wait to really get this gardening season kicked off.
|
|
|
Post by Woodpecker on May 24, 2021 22:37:48 GMT
Today was my girls 35 th birthday. Being the company called on Friday to tell me the Monarchs didn’t emerge in time, not my fault at least I ordered them in February. They had to send Painted Ladies instead. They’re not nearly as beautiful, but all 18 flew away, but a few did linger on the grass for a bit, then took off. One of the workers there was just about to turn on the sprinklers, but was very nice when I told him we had a butterfly celebration for my daughters BD.
They put the butterfly’s in clear wrapping individually, wrote our birthday wish on each envelope for Megan. This is the first year they sent milkweed seeds too. I’m going to plant them in the area Megs pup always came up onto the porch. That was sweet and a nice surprise!
|
|
|
Post by susannah on May 28, 2021 21:09:33 GMT
I picked up my seedlings from the farm today. Anyone want to guess the weather forecast for tonight? Not a frost advisory - as it was last year around this time - but an actual FREEZE WARNING. It's supposed to get as low as 25 degrees tonight. Obviously, none of the seedlings - either from the farm or the ones I grew - went into the ground or into planters today.
Dh and I just covered up the lettuce in the raised bed. That's all that's in there, just one section of lettuce. Still, it's coming up nicely. Right now we're letting all the seedlings enjoy the sun for a few more hours, then those are actually coming into the basement tonight.
I did get a bunch of planter tubs set up. We're trying an experiment this year - instead of keeping all the tubs on the deck (on their little wheeled platforms so I can walk them to follow the sun several times each day), we have and area staked out against one shed with southern exposure and fenced it off with deer netting. Which should keep the deer out. However, if other, smaller critters prove to be...problematic...the tub plants will return to the deck. We're actually doing this whole experiment because we'll be sanding and re-staining the deck and the tub plants will need a new home when we do, but it would be awesome if we could give the plants southern exposure sunshine all summer.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on May 30, 2021 13:40:21 GMT
I couldn't help myself, I just had to plant the raised bed gardens. Four kinds of lettuce (we eat a LOT of salad), two kinds of chard, kale and a row of scallions. Since the forecast was for "patchy frost" last night - better than a hard freeze - we got the big tarps out and covered the beds. Far as I can tell, it only got down to the low 40's here. But better safe than sorry.
Today I'm going to plant in the big containers - cherry tomatoes, cocktail tomatoes, one variety of larger tomato (an experiment to see how they do in this new, sunnier location), cucumbers and another tub of scallions. Also will be planting smaller containers of herbs - cilantro, chives, dill - to name a few. I am crazy excited to finally be gardening again!
|
|
|
Post by susannah on May 31, 2021 21:09:26 GMT
The raised beds are planted. All the container plants are...planted. I got them all in before the rain. Murphy's law attached. The rain brought HAIL with it. Not huge hail, but as it happened (we were driving home from in town) all I could think is "This is NOT good for my baby plants." We rarely get hail, but today apparently is one of those rare days. I'm not worried about the seeds I planted. Heck, I'm not all that worried about the raised beds, because they're pretty well protected by trees (there's a reason that full sun loving plants do not go in the raised beds). But all my tomato plants in containers, well, I'm hoping for the best. The storm came from the north, and they are blocked somewhat by being up against one of the sheds. It's still thunder-and-lightning out, so I'm not going outside to check. I can see the plants from the grandkids' bedroom window, and they appear to be upright and green. I do like the setup we have this year. Deer netting kept the deer out of the raised beds all last summer, so since these are surrounded on three sides by deer netting (the fourth side being they're up against the shed) the deer will probably leave these plants alone. It's not the prettiest setup - I had to use shepherd's hooks to hold some of the netting up and it looks interesting. Okay, maybe it looks strange. The plants are in one of the areas where we store firewood in the winter, so there's that. But you know what, I like it. Just crossing my fingers that I find undamaged plants tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jun 4, 2021 18:37:08 GMT
I'm happy to report every plant seems to have survived the hail storm. Only one plant actually looked bad, and that was because of the lack of drainage in the container. Drainage problem was remedied with a drill, and the excess water literally poured out. I re-planted that little tomato plant, and a few days later, it looks healthy and green.
The lettuce in the raised beds is coming up like crazy - not just the stuff the grankids planted three weeks ago but the stuff I planted after that. I was video chatting with the grandkids last night, and I told them that "their" lettuce was coming up and I'll be sending them pictures of it. While Wyatt seemed happy and said "Cool", Amelia was overjoyed. She loves lettuce - she eats salads with both her lunch and supper almost every day. Honestly, I never thought I'd see a six year old licking her lips and just about salivating over lettuce, but then again I've had to referee who gets the last red pepper strip when they're here. And frozen, unthawed peas are a favorite snack for both of them. They love vegetables, and are very proud to be growing some of their own here. They loved planting the seeds, they want to come up soon and help weed the gardens, and of course they're eager to be able to pick the bounty. But as Amelia said "The best part will be EATING what we grew."
|
|
jenn
Full Member
Posts: 226
|
Post by jenn on Jun 18, 2021 12:57:49 GMT
I am LOL gobsmacked at SUsannah's lettuce and weather. 8a/b South AL if that isn't in my info. Our lettuce season ended months ago. I was very sad in March to decide no the bolting lettuce was too bitter to bother, but stick with the spinach longer. Then my farmshare folks had good lettuce the following week and I was amazed- and realised it was from their hoop-tee covered 'greenhouse' acting as shade for the lettuce plants. I will be starting the fall lettuce in a month or so and hope to nibble through the new year (first time back hardcore gardening, just retired and getting serious about it).
|
|
|
Post by mogal on Jun 18, 2021 19:32:36 GMT
Jen, check out Fedcoseeds.com for some good relatively heat tolerant varieties of lettuces. I've had good results with Anuenue and Jericho (developed in Hawaii and Israel respectively) that are available from other sources too. Also, you don't need anything fancy to shade lettuces but I've had better luck with the shade at least 2' higher than the plants. Experiment with degree of shade and keeping the soil very moist. The evaporation will help keep the lettuce cool. I've only done this in Missouri so don't know about as far south as you are.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jun 18, 2021 20:39:33 GMT
jenn , it's pretty amazing how different the growing seasons are. In March, your lettuce was bolting while up here (far northern Wisconsin, Zone 4a), the only lettuce that was growing was in my basement, courtesy of the LED grow lights. Nothing was growing outside, due most likely to the foot or two of snow still on the ground. Prior to moving back up here, we lived in the southeastern part of the state, in Zone 5b. The difference was pretty great. There are things like certain varieties of tomatoes that I'll never again be able to grow - well, not as long as we live up here. I do miss my prior climate zone. Did my picture show in my May 31 post, the picture of the container plants that I had just planted the day before? I never know if my pictures will show up. I mean, of course I can see them, but often other people can't. Well, on the chance that picture was visible, I'm going to attempt a picture to show the container plants 2 and a half weeks later. Never saw that much growth before in such a short amount of time, but then again, we have NEVER had a week of mid-90 temperatures before. Not as far as I know, anyway.
|
|
jenn
Full Member
Posts: 226
|
Post by jenn on Jun 19, 2021 15:15:13 GMT
First time really gardening in a few years. Aside from tomatoes taking over the whole area (square foot ha ha) and making my intermingled peppers hopeless, it is June in Zone 8- and 3+ months since the last frost and just starting to harvest red tomatoes. I think as part of my fewer plants spaced further plan for next year I might do frost protection on some so I have tomatoes earlier. Had just decided not to bother with potatoes and carrots when I realised I am appreciating pulling out a handful of either rather than getting that big bag from the store and not finihsing them all. However will plant the potatoes spread out so I can dig up the whole plant, not fear I've missed a tater, and not have infringed on the next plant's roots. Guess I might need those extra garden beds I haven't yet made. Now if only I could recall what flower seed I put in that one square foot- hope it blooms this year!
Pictures visible and gorgeous
|
|
jenn
Full Member
Posts: 226
|
Post by jenn on Jun 19, 2021 15:20:05 GMT
What do y'all do with indet toms? Re staking and pruning if any? My bamboo stakes were pitiful and my old tomato cages- circular type- might be overwhelmed soon, I will see. The square wire pens I bought cheap are way too short and flimsy. Think the circular tomato cages- placed early and deep- might suffice but I will need more. Scored a few free on my road side mulch collection earlier so that was $10 or so saved over new.
|
|
|
Post by mogal on Jun 19, 2021 16:49:00 GMT
Jenn, years ago when we first moved to this place, DH hit 2-3 in person auctions per weekend looking for wiring, etc., for the barn we were building at the time. One of the treasures--and I'm not using that word lightly in this story--that he brought home were partial rolls of concrete reinforcing mesh. We cut those into 5-6' lengths, rolled them into a circle and tied the edges together to make tomato cages. Here we are 24 years later and we're using the same cages. Granted they are a royal pain in the neck to move/store in the off season but their strength and utility is worth it. We place a metal T-post at the beginning of a row and every 9 feet along the row and set the first tomato at 18" from the first post, the second 4 1/2' from the post and the third 7 1/2' from the post or 1 1/2' from the second post. The next set of 3 plants starts 1 1/2' from the SECOND post, then 4 1/2' and 7 1/2'. The THIRD post is 1 1/2' from the last of the second set of 3 plants. Each tomato gets 3' of space within the row. When I crowded them, they didn't get enough sun and when I gave them more, it wasted space. Continue as long as the row in your garden, always a multiple of 9' and a post at the end. If you set 12 tomato plants, you'll need 5 metal posts and a cage for each tomato plant. Apply mulch before you put the cages in place and lay out soaker hoses if you so choose. At one time I used repurposed hay twine to tie the posts/cages together in succession down the row but now that we get net wrapped bales, I ended up buying hay twine from the farm store. It can be carefully untied and stored for use the next year. I tie a clove hitch to the first post near the end of a length of twine, usually about 12', loop the twine around one of the upright wires of the cage near the top and proceed to the next cage, make the loop and go on. Tighten the string as you go. When you get to the second post, you can either go back up the row on the OTHER side of the cages to support those three OR tie a loop around the post and continue with the next set of 3 cages until you include all cages and the posts, including the ends. I prefer to do 3 cages and 2 posts in case one of my strings breaks. It's far less complicated than it sounds.
The cages are 5' tall with a 6" x 6" mesh. I've also used them to grow pole beans and cucumbers although the cucumbers tended to overtop them.
I know this is clear as mud. Sorry.
|
|
jenn
Full Member
Posts: 226
|
Post by jenn on Jun 19, 2021 17:11:43 GMT
Things that havent worked so well: I've not planted the flowers I'd hoped in the garden or pulled them because they looked like weeds! pulled out an odd looking plant- thought it was early pigweed or nightshade- from the tomatoes crowded in that area. Aarrgh! It's the 9 year old tomatillo seed I tossed in there- if there are any others that made it (in the tomato jungle) maybe I'll recognize them now.
|
|
jenn
Full Member
Posts: 226
|
Post by jenn on Jun 19, 2021 17:13:41 GMT
I know this is clear as mud. Sorry. Have filed your post to read carefully later, maybe drawing myself diagrams, some morning when I have had my caffeine and am thinking straighter (but well in time for my next tomato planting). Also reading last year's posts I read some of you bottom prune tomatoes. Picking tomatoes just now as I retrieve or toss some lower down that were grounded/ damaged I can see the benefits of that practice.
|
|
|
Post by mogal on Jun 19, 2021 17:57:47 GMT
I know this is clear as mud. Sorry. Have filed your post to read carefully later, maybe drawing myself diagrams, some morning when I have had my caffeine and am thinking straighter (but well in time for my next tomato planting). I don't have a way to take pictures to post to the forum. Sorry about that too.
|
|
|
Post by Woodpecker on Jun 19, 2021 20:02:22 GMT
Your container plants grew leaps and bounds SUE…wahoo!!!
|
|
|
Post by gran29 on Jun 19, 2021 20:28:49 GMT
mogal, We have the same tomato cages! We've used them for many, many years. When I clean up the garden late fall/early winter I line the cages against the fence and tie them there, doesnt take much to hold them there. That way they are out of the way of the tractor when DH tils in the spring. We're getting eggplant, squash and peppers now. tomatoes still green. Wet, cool spring made all a little late.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jun 19, 2021 20:46:21 GMT
What do y'all do with indet toms? Re staking and pruning if any? My bamboo stakes were pitiful and my old tomato cages- circular type- might be overwhelmed soon, I will see. The square wire pens I bought cheap are way too short and flimsy. Think the circular tomato cages- placed early and deep- might suffice but I will need more. Scored a few free on my road side mulch collection earlier so that was $10 or so saved over new. Since my pictures did show up, I guess I can give examples. The two wire cages are heavy duty wire - a lot thicker than previous ones I had. The thin wire ones never worked right for us. If you notice, one is upside down and the other is rightside up. My husband did that - and I have no idea why. Neither does he - I asked him. Then he said something about it being less likely to tip over. Oooo...kay. I mean, I'd think cramming the leg supports in the dirt would work better, but whatever. The second plant from the left is one of his homemade cages - wood scraps, dowels, nut, bolts - he's a pack rat who saves everything. There's a reason we have four garages and sheds. Not shown are other plants that he made wooden cages for but they're rougher looking. Apparently this one was his work of art. Or at least he's satisfied with this one. Second plant from the right shows a long, plastic-y green stake, if you look closely. For some reason we have dozens of these; maybe it was from snow fencing (that we no longer do). I don't know, but some plants will be loosely tied to stakes, like that one. I mean, it's not tied up yet, but it will be.
|
|
|
Post by Woodpecker on Jun 20, 2021 0:26:44 GMT
Your DH upside down cake cages, the wood ones, the whole first paragraph of your description of everything had me in stitches! Thank you! I’ve always loved improvising.
My grandfather, father & then of course I used wood stakes my grandfather made from wood. He would carve the ends to a point, to push the stakes into the ground. Then tied the tomatoes with twine to keep them up.
Worked me for me too for many years. Actually about four years ago when we cleaned out the garage, the stakes went into the dumpster. Don’t feel sad, I hadn’t used them in over 10 years and they needed to go.
Now I have three tomatoes in big pots on the deck and they have produced squat as of yet. Maybe this year 🍅
|
|
|
Post by solargeek on Jun 21, 2021 16:26:57 GMT
Sorry I have been a while but we had three deaths in 13 days in our family and we also had a bunch of church events and then of course the funerals.
On the gardening discussion: as you may recall I planted I think 410 tomato plants last year and had a fantastic crop Of all types. It was amazing. I restocked all of my salsa’s and sauces and soup bases.
So this year I planted 206 spread between San Marzano, Roma, Glacier, Galahad and other determinates that I found on Johnny selected seed site, A whole bed of Cherokee purple which I love, 19 plants of Evans purple pear, and many others I can’t remember.
I am expecting not as good of production this year because we had 5 30° nights and 1 28F° hard freeze, with 10 40° to 50° days with no sun.
But I will be grateful for anything we get. I’ve had to re-plant squash which simply did not come up but it was fresh 2020 Bakker seeds! Also had to replant lettuce which struggled in the cold. Hard to believe. It will be an interesting year and this is why I always overplant.
I’m going to plant a third crop of green beans as I have the first two started. I have an electric pressure canner and I will be able to can vegetables this year. Needless to say all of the early carrot seeds I put in did not produce with the exception of maybe 10. Same for the parsnips.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jun 30, 2021 18:32:55 GMT
The plants have all been loving the sunny weather. We really, REALLY could use more rain but as long as I'm willing to water the plants, they're willing to grow. In the "feast or famine" that rain is in our state lately, while some areas have way too much rain, we're still hoping for more rain up here. We did get a brief but heavy shower yesterday, but that was it. A nice, soaking rain would be very much appreciated.
I just looked at the picture I posted less than two weeks ago, and I have to laugh because the plants have once again grown so much larger. I've had to move a few of them out of there and onto the deck because it was just getting too crowded along the south facing wall of the shed. Every tomato plant has green tomatoes now, the cucumber plants are vining like crazy (no flowering yet but I don't think it'll be too much longer before I see some). The cilantro...I am looking up more and more recipes to use cilantro because it has absolutely gone bananas. Cilantro lime rice was a side dish last night and will be again soon. We'll be making pico de gallo shortly. I found some chicken recipe that calls for cilantro that I might try. And of course, a lot of Thai recipes use it. I am not going to think about the second pot of cilantro I was fool enough to plant. I mean, we love cilantro but are having a hard time keeping up with it.
I'm picking lettuce for salads - yippee. I have one rainbow chard plant that's big enough to pick. Unfortunately, out of all the chard seeds Amelia and I started that was the only one that took off. However, the direct sowed seeds are coming up, but it'll be awhile before those are ready to pick and eat. When we visited the grandkids last week, I showed them the most recent garden pictures and Amelia told me the first thing she'll do when she visits next is "go pick a salad."
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jul 9, 2021 16:58:59 GMT
I picked the big bunch of chard yesterday - it wasn't enough for a meal but I had some fresh spinach and just added the two together. It was wonderful.
The basil is going crazy - it'll be pesto time soon. For now, I've picked some to put on pizza and in sauce. Cilantro continues to be a challenge to find ways to use it all.
We continue to pick lettuce and scallions often - several times a week. It'll still be a few weeks before the tomatoes are ripening - later than last year but we had some seriously cold weather in June before the temperature decided to skyrocket.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jul 11, 2021 15:50:25 GMT
Progress pictures from the container gardens: Due to the growth spurts they've been having, there are now only four tomato plants along the south facing wall of one of the sheds. It was just getting too crowded in there, so four other containers of tomato plants were were relocated to the deck, along with containers of dill and cilantro. Yes, those tomato plants are now on wheelie contraptions and yes, I am walking them around the deck to follow the sun several times a day. I do what I have to do. One of the cherry tomato plants below is now growing above the gutter we put on the shed to keep from flooding the plants if we ever get rain. The cucumber plants on the right in this picture show a very dramatic size change from my last picture (pictures of relocated plants to follow):
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jul 11, 2021 15:54:59 GMT
The container plants in there new home. These three tomato plants (Clementine cocktail and glacier) have lots and lots of little green tomatoes (broken dead tree in the background courtesy of one of our many high wind days):
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Jul 11, 2021 15:58:19 GMT
Last one, I promise! This is the tomato plant that I thought was a goner after one of the hail storms - it was literally just floating around in the container. Accompanying it are a container of dill and one of the all too many containers of cilantro:
|
|
|
Post by grannyg on Aug 1, 2021 21:21:55 GMT
Lady in waiting in the grape arbor....
|
|
|
Post by grannyg on Aug 1, 2021 21:23:46 GMT
Very few figs this year....
|
|
jenn
Full Member
Posts: 226
|
Post by jenn on Aug 8, 2021 1:50:12 GMT
Our "Henriettas" as we call the yellow garden spiders don't usually show up until fall, but they are already building webs like winter's coming. No egg sacs yet but my fall reblooming azaleas in flower.
|
|
|
Post by susannah on Aug 8, 2021 2:54:15 GMT
Some of the garden plants are either winding down or done. Crazy dry hot summer - although we got a good rain today.
Cilantro was starting to bolt; I salvaged what I could then dumped the dirt from the containers in a low spot in the woods. Chives also weren't doing all that great, but I've been picking a lot of dh's wildly overplanted bunching onions to thin them and I use the greens for chives. Basil is looking sad but it had a great run.
Cucumbers have about a week then the vines are being pulled up, but they did surprisingly well this year.
Lettuces continue to do well in their shady raised bed. Scallions are doing great, and chard and kale are going absolutely insane.
Tomatoes are producing okay, but not as good as prior years - there were stretches this summer where it was just too hot to set fruit.
|
|