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How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?
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Author:  Bluebonnet [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:00 am ]
Post subject:  How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

We're still waiting for things to thaw but the damage so far appears minimal. We'll know later in the month how things went.

Sooo, I've spent the weekend doing my research for the 2010 garden.

I know, I know - ya'll think I'm crazy (especially my nothern friends) but realize that my potatoes need to be in the ground by February 1st followed by most of the garden planted by March 1.

I've researched the Extension Service web site for the growing calendar and discovered why English peas and carrots just didn't work out for us last Spring - they are Fall crops here in my neck of the woods. :huh

Gardening this close to the Gulf can be a bit of a gamble. Last year, we waited too long to put stuff in the ground from the big box stores and, as a result, the drought took its toll and then the heavy rains in June (just as what was left produced) kinda finished the rest off. The Fall garden didn't work as well as we'd hoped - the potatoes never came up! :gah

I've also been working on a plan - yeah - who knew a garden plan? I've found a really nice site to plan your garden - will have to insert link later as it is on the computer at home. Kewl!

So now we have a plan, a list of plants specific to our area, and a planting calendar. Time to get busy.

Sooo - here is what we plan to plant/grow this year:

Bush beans - 3 varieties
Pole beans - 2 varieties
Cucumbers - slicing and pickling
Potatoes - in some really cool potato bags from Gardner's Supply - Red Pontiac and, maybe, Russian Fingerling
Tomatoes - 4 types - yeah this may definitely be a problem later on IF the tomato crop comes in. East Texas is still not sold on the numbers of tomato plants because he is the only one who eats tomatoes.
Leaf lettuce - 4 different types including Romaine which did really well last year.
Eggplant - trying a new type this year.

We are not growing:
Corn - too much space
Cabbage - too much space
Brocolli - same
Cauliflower - same
Squash - because, frankly, we have yet to be successful with either summer squash or zucchini - it seems to ripen just when we begin our tropical downpours and rots on the vine.
Watermelon - because THAT didn't work either.

I've talked East Texas into Square Foot Gardening this year and he is attending a class on the 16th - so keep ya fingers crossed. He is a bubba/redneck and firmly believes in row planting so teaching that old dog new tricks may be a chore.

We're still not sure if we will do plants or seeds. Don't really want to invest in the seed starting kits, etc. but that is yet to be determined.

What about ya'll?

Author:  L2L [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Good lord women us Northerners won't be thinking Gardens till Mid May :scared :awe

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

:spit :crylaugh

Yeah, I know but what can I say - I live in Zone 9 - subtropical! If I waited until May - there would be zippo, zilch, nada to harvest. :gah

Gotta get these babies in the ground so we can harvest before the heat, humidity and monsoon rains! Sigh - such is life, right?

Author:  L2L [ Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Oh how I love razzing your southern butt about your TROPICAL WEATHER...

I swear one of these years I am gonna send you and East Texas two plane tickets to Toronto in Mid-January so we can have a good ole Canadian BBQ, WINTER STYLE, 3 feet of snow, -20 weather and BBQ a blazen...

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Quote:
3 feet of snow, -20 weather and BBQ a blazen...


:crylaugh

And I will send you and yours a plane ticket to dear ole H town in August - highs in the 100's with 95% humidity equals a heat index of, oh, 120 F!

We'll cook outside on the patio - literally! I'll show you how to fry an egg on the sidewalk. :crylaugh

Author:  L2L [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Bluebonnet wrote:
Quote:
3 feet of snow, -20 weather and BBQ a blazen...


We'll cook outside on the patio - literally! I'll show you how to fry an egg on the sidewalk. :crylaugh


There goes the morning coffee :spit :crylaugh :roflmao :clap :clap :clap :clap

Author:  Selene [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Hi, Blue -

You commented:

Bluebonnet wrote:
We're still not sure if we will do plants or seeds. Don't really want to invest in the seed starting kits, etc. but that is yet to be determined.


If I may, learning how to start from seed is a priceless gardening skill, and most of those 'kits' can be reused, with proper cleaning. Old fashioned cheapskates like me use plastic lined (garbage bag) cardboard boxes that have been cut down to 3" high (or cardboard fresh veggie flats your grocer might be recycling), fill with 2" potting soil, moisten, not soak with water and cover with more plastic until sprouts show up.....No fancy kits needed! (I believe I posted the starting-from-seed process in more detail somewhere elsewhere in this section.) And year over year, there's no question that seeds are far, far less expensive than nursery plants, as well as offering you a greater range of varieties. And if you learn to sow certain crops in flights, several weeks apart, you can have fresh whatever all season long, instead of one giant OMG harvest.

You don't have to start your whole garden that way this year - just try a packet of beans - what have you got to lose? And if the seeds come up, you'll have dozens of starter plants, instead of a cell-pak of 6-for-a-fortune from the nursery, along with some useful learning. You can pass the extras along to a neighbor - they might trade you for something nice they are growing.

P.S. It's always useful to pay attention to what other gardeners in your area do well with - that's what will thrive in your climate and soil. And local gardeners can be an invaluable source of growing tips that 'click' with your local situation.

Meanwhile, here in the frozen North, we are reading garden catalogues and dreaming......

Cheers,

Selene

Image

Author:  Selene [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Hi Blue -

Here's some good tips on starting potatoes from scratch - from the whitish "eyes" of those potatoes sitting on your counter or in the fridge this time of year - when they've starting to sprout. Like growing onions or garlic (in a hot sunny climate), these are dead-easy: Just cut your favorite sprouting grocery potato into chunks, one eye per chunk, and plant....

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/349105/the_secret_to_growing_huge_potatoes.html?cat=32

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/30227/potatoes_plant_your_own_successful.html?cat=32

My granny would have been horrified at the thought of store-bought potato plants. :tounge Nah, she'd probably have died laughing.....

Garlic? Plant the cloves.... One head = 15+ plants.

Enjoy!

Selene

P.S. Do. Not. Ever. eat green potatoes. They can be poisonous - let them ripen to brown.... seriously. Uncover the roots to check them, but cover them up again if more time is needed.

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Thanks, Selene!

Yep, we've made up our minds to get 1 seed starting kit with 55 cells. That should just about get us started with some of our veggies.

The problem with the potatoes is that so many have been sprayed to retard growth. :gah

We were succesful last year at planting some red potatoes that had sprouted. ;)

Yep, I just plant garlic cloves, too.

If you've never tried it, plant some pinto beans - they make awesome green beans when they are young - you have to string them but the flavor is out of this world.

Then let some mature and voila - pinto beans for next year!

Author:  Genesis [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Selene wrote:
Old fashioned cheapskates like me use plastic lined (garbage bag) cardboard boxes



Hope you don't mind my buttin in.....but thought i'd remind everyone that garbage bags are treated with pesticides. if it's not a problem for you, that's ok. but personally, i'm trying to omit all the chemicals in our food that i can.

also is why they are not recommended for any food storage.

Author:  Selene [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Hi, Genesis!

You are, of course, utterly correct:

Genesis wrote:
.....but thought i'd remind everyone that garbage bags are treated with pesticides. if it's not a problem for you, that's ok. but personally, i'm trying to omit all the chemicals in our food that i can.

also is why they are not recommended for any food storage.


How deeply organic anyone is prepared to go is up to their own capacities, for sure. Long-term food storage is certainly a situation where transfer of chemicals might be an issue, if indeed the brand of bags you are using is treated this way. But in this case, garbags used as lining for a seed box would have minuscule contact or transfer to the seedlings themselves - there's probably more crud in the soil mix LOL - since the amount of water and time involved in all is minimal. And I'm not personally averse to the old belief that 'nipping in the bud' (i.e. preventing starter bugs rather than dealing with an larger infestation later) is the lowest-toxin way to go, so if there's a useful fungicide or critter remover in the garbags, that might have certain advantages for healthy plants later- who knows?

But to each his own. And certainly, if you have access to another kind of water proofing - or plastic, glass or metal trays - that's another option. My point was simply that you don't have to invest in fancy 'starter kits' to start your seedlings.

Cheers,

Selene

Author:  Genesis [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

i've been thinking about this for the last couple days.

....what about using something like burlap formed cups...maybe tied together with string? decomposable...and the burlap would wick moisture if they were sit upon something that stayed somewhat damp, but not too wet (mold, etc) sponges, i don't think, would contain enough absorable water. some kind of wicking material. but you get my thinking.

i've also been saving my half gallon cardboard orange juice conatiners. cut them off near the top and i think they'll do great for my maters when they need to be transplanted to the bigger transplant pot. should be a nice size to plant outside after that.

Author:  Selene [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

It's really just a matter of convenience - you want your starter trays to remain sturdy enough without getting soggy so that they can be moved or manipulated as necessary. You might want to stack or shuffle them as seeds get growing. And you'll want to keep the surfaces they are sitting on dry and clean - if they happen to be on your dining room table or nice hardwood floor or carpet!

A lot of seeds are really quite tiny, smaller than a grain of salt - so most get sowed by sprinkling over the soil, rather than planted individually like corn or beans. (You can make even sowing easier to control by mixing the seeds with sawdust or white sand.) You can't really predict where or what percentage of the seedlings will show up, which is why you sow them onto flats of relatively shallow soil indoors, and then transplant the most vigorous of these shoots into the small cells/pots you get from the nursery, or into deeper soil, for growing onward as individual plants before setting out in the garden.

The burlap idea is an interesting one for growing seedlings onward before planting out, but I'd wonder how quickly the burlap would actually decompose once it was set into the soil with the plant. You'd want it to be permeable to the roots within 30-45 days or so... Try burying a piece of burlap - one tip sticking out so you can find it, to see how long before it disintegrates, maybe?

That's why either the pressed-peat or (mashed) newspaper pots are popular - they decompose quickly. Or reusable plastic cells that release the plant roots cleanly, slipping them out easily for planting. Come to think of it, I've seen a gadget for twirling pots from old newspapers (assuming you can find any these days! LOL) that might work. Check your garden catalogues for that one....

(If you have the luxury of a very long growing season and no concerns about late frosts you can, of course, just sow your seeds right into the warm soil of your garden and work from there.)

Cardboard orange juice containers are wonderful. I'd punch a hole in the bottom to ensure drainage, set on plastic until planted.

Cheers,

Selene

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Here's the latest:

East Texas is on the hunt for potato sets today. We were too late last year (early March) but he has scoped out a feed store near us. If that fails, we'll just buy a bag of red potatoes and set 'em on the window sill to sprout. Once sprouted, we'll cut out the eyes and into the ground they go. :mrgreen:

BTW - our high today will be in the 70's. :tounge

But colder weather is on the way for this weekend with the lows in the upper 20's by Sunday. :gah :huh

We're still jawin' with one another over "the plan" and what to plant - nothing settled yet and no seed starter purchased either. :gah

Author:  Selene [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

P.S. for Genesis -

Egg cartons make fabulous starter cells: the paper ones will cut apart and can be popped right into the soil, and the plastic ones will slide the soil and roots out nicely for planting - Punch a hole in the bottom of each cell for drainage, though. The plastic ones can be washed, stacked (cut off the lids - maybe use those as your starter trays... ;) ) and saved for the next year....

Cheers,

Selene

Author:  L2L [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Awesome idea Selene thanks

Author:  Genesis [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

sounds like you've got your gardening system down pretty good selene. some of your excellant ideas...like the egg carton cells directly planted into the garden. unfortunately, up in the hinterlands where i live, i have to do things a little different if i want transplants large enough to bear in our short season.
and i think barb, my amish friend i buy my eggs from, would be a bit sorry not to get her egg cartons back. ......bet she'd start charging me full price too, :roflmao

i just start out with my reusable 1" plastic cells. a little more than half fill them with a mix of light soil and a few water gel crystals. plant a few seeds in each cell. i then keep them on this length of material that wicks water. last year was the first time i used this and i just love it. keeps them nice and moist continuously, and no watering from above. (i absolutely abhor those peat pots.....mold has more than a couple times put my schedule behind) nice even quick growth. when they get about 1/2" - 1" tall, i clip (not pull out) out all but the best seedling. as they grow, i add a little more damp soil, but do not add more crystals. when these small cells are filled and the seedlings are ready, i would then transfer to left over 3 or 4" pots. again i only fill half way, adding a few crystals in the bottom portion. and still using the wicking matt with watering from above only when necessary. i add more soil as they grow. after a couple-three weeks there, they go in the garden as nice big plants ready to bloom and fruit soon.

my problem has been having a bunch of miss matched 3-4" pots. they are of different heights, etc, which has always made using my grow light system inefficient. and i invariably end up with plants themselves being of different sizes. saving up all those orange juice cartons, they will now be uniform. tall and narrow, perfect for the maters. i'll also have a bit larger container, so that i can get a couple extra weeks of growing inside before they go out.

we have planted over 50 large bushes/trees at our house, and i dont' think the burlap is going to decompose nearly fast enough. once while having to dig one back up and move it, i have found quite a bit of burlap still there ...even after a couple years.
so....scrap the burlap.lol
isn't it funny...that even after 30 yrs of doing this....you're still look for better/easier ways to do it?

Author:  rutsuyasun [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Hat tip to guanosphere

Seeds could be in short supply

A poor growing season last year and increased orders from Europe could make it difficult for home gardeners to get seeds for the most popular cucumber variety and some vegetables this spring. Farmers, who usually grow different varieties than home gardeners, aren't likely to be affected.

Seeds for what's known as open-pollinated cucumbers seem to be most scarce, but carrots, snap peas and onions also could be in short supply.

"I suspect there will be some seeds you just won't be able to buy if you wait too long on it," said Bill Hart, the wholesale manager in charge of seed purchasing at Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. in Wethersfield, Conn. "The sugar snap peas we're not able to get at all, and other companies that have it will sell out pretty quickly."

The problem is primarily because of soggy weather last year that resulted in a disappointing seed crop. European seed growers also had a bad year, leading to a big increase in orders for American seeds.

Demand for seeds in the United States soared last year, as the poor economy and worries about chemical use and bacteria contamination prompted many people to establish gardens. Homegrown food seemed safer and more affordable. But some wonder if the wet weather that ruined gardens in many areas last summer will discourage first-time gardeners from planting again.

con.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 1BQLSC.DTL

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

And herrrreeeeee we go! :clap

Told ya'll Spring was on her way! ;)

This weekend was a chamber of commerce weekend! Blue skies, low humidity and 70 degrees. Doin' the happy dance! :brockoli

Sooo - here's what's up in the flower garden:

Bought 15 azaleas at Lowe's for $1.98 ea. :mrgreen:
Cut back roses and fed
Removed a bunch of hedges
Worrying over dead stuff - particularly my Nile Lillies and Pride of Barbados - nothing yet.
Crepe Myrtles trimmed
Louisiana Iris is up in the bog! :heart
Worrying over my bog and pond plants - they look seriously DEAD - but ya never know, right? :dunno
Looks like we lost the split leaf philodendrun! :candle :(
Waiting on the hibiscus with baited breath
Day lillies look like they made it!

Veggies:
Onions and garlic coming right along

Planted:
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Bell Pepper
Bush beans
Pole beans
Carrots
Corn

Still need to plant:
Strawberries - lost 'em ALLLLL last year in the drought! :gah
Meyer Lemon - same as above :roll
Asparagus - new bed :popcorn
Annuals
Perennials - depends on what we lost

The blackberries are hanging on by a thread and are in need of serious life support. :doh

And the apple tree is full of blooms! So maybe this year - we might get some apples. :heart

Okra goes into the ground once the temp hits 80 degrees or so!

Author:  Genesis [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

well, folks, it looks like the race of 2010 has started...

...and you're difinately in the lead, bb.

your 'planted' list looks really nice. :clap

it'll be mid may before i get to start mine. :roflmao

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Yep, Genesis, 'cause by mid-May it will be 90 degrees with 95% humidity!

My poor garden will be standing on it's head screaming "I'm melting... I'm melting.." :roflmao

Author:  L2L [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Genesis wrote:

it'll be mid may before i get to start mine. :roflmao



X 2

Author:  Lynnwood [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

I am in the Pacific Northwest. I am turning soil and hope to have starts in the ground within 3 weeks. Last year was my first garden in over 20 years and except for the tomatoes and cucumbers, it was a miserable failure.

My zucchini flowered but never grew, and I have never known anyone else to fail at zucchini, so it's nowhere to go but UP.

Author:  recall15 [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

This depend of some Factors: (1)

Quote:
The male flower is borne on the end of a stalk and is longer lived.

While easy to grow, zucchini, like all squash, requires plentiful bees for pollination. In areas of pollinator decline or high pesticide use, such as mosquito-spray districts, gardeners often experience fruit abortion, where the fruit begins to grow, then dries or rots. This is due to an insufficient number of pollen grains delivered to the female flower. It can be corrected by hand pollination or by increasing the bee population.


Related:
Hand-Pollinating Zucchini Flowers
http://green-change.com/2009/05/20/hand ... i-flowers/

(1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zucchini

Author:  Bluebonnet [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How does your garden grow - 2010 edition?

Quote:
My zucchini flowered but never grew, and I have never known anyone else to fail at zucchini, so it's nowhere to go but UP.


Lynnwood - I have the same problem with zucchini. I hand pollinate like recall shows above BUT in my damp, humid climate I have to pick them young - otherwise they rot on the vine.

Our garden last year didn't do well either. We had too much rain at the wrong time and then drought! :gah

Good on ya for trying again! :clap

Makes you wonder how our ancient ancestors EVER figured it out! :dunno :doh

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