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Post by notanotherdecade on Mar 16, 2017 16:10:17 GMT -5
Including a YouTube video that shows lowered basin growing beds in use, that might be something to try next season, take a look at the Similar videos YouTube suggests.
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Post by notanotherdecade on Mar 16, 2017 16:15:14 GMT -5
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Post by phoenixcat on Mar 17, 2017 10:06:20 GMT -5
I'm "verklempt" with all the effort you guys are making to help me!! SO SWEET! Definitely will be looking at those videos and links!! I managed to donate the rest of my tomato plants to our friends. Kidded them that the downside is if we both do well - we can't give to each other Turns out Supersweet are cherry tomatoes that grow in a big cluster. Kind of kicking myself that I didn't actually look that up while at the nursery. I'm not sure if that would be my first choice but DH loves those and I can always cook the overage for sauce. I like them too but not as much as "regular" tomatoes. Thanks Hollyhock - I may turn the beds into zucchini and cucumber beds - I already have those plants so at least I won't have to buy more. Started a "gardening" notebook so I can keep track of the "attributes" of all my new plants. I am kind of wondering about the watering schedule. I can find out about "how much" to water but I need some recommendations on watering times for my "zone". Hope to get everything done this weekend regarding the planting. So far everything is still alive THANK YOU SO MUCH! PC
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Post by gifted on Mar 17, 2017 18:56:13 GMT -5
Don't stress over buying the cherry tomatoes. I beleive,in general, cherry tomatoes fruit earlier. In this case, you will have cherries to eat before the Roma start producing.
I would definitely plant the mint in a container. Second choice, I would plant it somewhere else in the garden, not in the raised be. Mint will spread by underground stems. Though if you have a dry climate, the mint may not spread. I think it likes a lot of water.
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Post by Unswamping on Mar 17, 2017 21:52:10 GMT -5
phoenixcat im so happy to hear you are finally starting the garden! Dont feel too overwhelmed - the stuff you pucked are pretty easy to grow. Mint as everyone said should definetely go in a container. I like to plant my basil around my tomatoes, it discourages pests and they are complementary about the nutrients they need. The supersweet is a good cherry tomato. The fact that it grows in clusters is a good thing. Nothing more discouraging than to make a salad and have only one ripe cherry tomato. The whole cluster doesnt ripen at the same time but you are more likely to get a decent amount at each harvest. They are also good on pizza margherita and i make a pasta dish, like a primavera, and they hold well. The romas mature later and ive found, alot at one time, which is a good thing. I do eat them on salads and sandwiches but they are best in sauces. If youre going to make sauce, you dont want just one or two tomatoes at a time, you want alot. (Freezes well, just do useable portions, not huge vats of it). Definetely stake/cage as soon as you as you put them in. As for watering, a set schedule is hard to say. Even in the same garden, it can vary from year to year. With tomatoes, i water every day when i first put them in, until they settle in, about a week. Then i will water every two days or so until it starts getting hot. Then they will need watering every day. Im in zone 6 so not as hot as where you are. Containers dry out fast so yours may need watering twice a day. I bought spikes at walmart, you fill a 2 liter soda bottle with water, screw the spike on and then stick the spike into the container. The water will slowly seep into the soil. I find they easy to use and good for those heat waves we have.
You want to shade the plants for a few days after you transplant them. They need a little time to adjust so a simple sun block for a few days gives them a little break. If youre caging the tomatoes right away a flat sheet tossed over the cages and weighted with a rock will work.
One thing ive learned about tomatoes and peppers. They need very different conditions. Some years are really good for tomatoes and other years are good for peppers. Last year was not a good tomato year, i got one, like others here did. Too bad i didnt plant peppers. So if one or the other doesnt do well, dont beat yourself up, it just might not be a good year weatherwise.
(What a great reminder that spring is really coming, still digging out the driveway here)
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Post by purpleangel on Mar 17, 2017 23:24:30 GMT -5
phoenixcatOh, PC, you are speaking my language! I love to grow flowers and veggies. You already got so much advice - but I will add my two cents. 1. I like to start from seed and have a green house downstairs. I usually have tons more of plants than I need. I've placed free ads on craigslist and given them away. One man's trash . . . I limit what plants I buy, though. 2. Even if it is dry where you are, don't smash to tomatoes together. They grow BIG and if they are squished, the air can't circulate and the plants are sensitive to fungus and wilt. It's a lot of work juast to have them all turn yellow and die because they are crowded. There should be size of each type of plant available online. 3. When you plant them (small), be sure to place a wire ring or poultry netting cage around them at the same time. I learned the hard way that you can't just put that up once they are bigger w/o damaging the plants. 4. Pull off the lower leaves and plant the plants a min of 4 inches deep in soil. Gives lots of room for root development. 5. When you plant them, make a little 2 inch ring about 8 inches from the base. Kind of a little mound with a moat. This will catch and hold water when you water the plants. They need lots of water = longer watering for deep saturation. 6. When it gets close to setting fruit, you can buy red soil plastic-like things. This causes many more tomatoes to set fruit rather than plain brown soil. (I just learned this a few years ago ) 7. Finally, don't use a sprinkler if you can help it because it spread disease. water at ground level. ************** Mint will take over your entire yard if you aren't careful. That's both a blessing and a curse! Mint needs lots of water and moist soil. Also: broccoli, spinach, cabbage, even bush watermelons are good to grow if it's not too hot. Zuchini is 99c a pounds, might as well grow what is more expensive to buy! (Unless you love zuchs). Closer to mid summer you can add beets and kohlrabi, Brussels sprout or cauliflower. I've grown artichokes and boch choi (sp?) for "fun" too. Experiment and have FUN. So much FUN. Sorry if I "talked" your ear off. I just love to grow things. UH oh - Dh going to bed - gotta run.
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Post by phoenixcat on Mar 18, 2017 9:15:05 GMT -5
so the general consensus seems to be that mint is a big fat bully And, that I need to separate and stake/cage my tomatoes as soon as possible. One of the homes I grew up in had a entire section of mint - our little doxie would love getting in the middle of it and rolling and rolling. Some relatives took some cuttings and it overtook part of their yard too! DM was upset though because she couldn't get it to grow when she moved back to the farm. We snooped around our old house on one visit and the new owners had taken out all the mint - it was kind of sad. Went to another nursery yesterday and found my patty pan squash plants Very nice nursery too - now I have two nearby Although I don't think they are as concerned about what grows in this area. Several things I asked about in the first nursery they told me that it doesn't grow well so they didn't carry it. But the second nursery had it - of course with no guarantees The first nursery is big on customer service and I think the second (while nice people) are big on providing a bit of everything. DH went with me and picked out two more hot peppers That makes FOUR spicy peppers. I'm tempted to throw them all in the same container and create a super volcano. Fighting a bit of a cold but really want to finish as much of the planting as I can today - maybe trail into tomorrow. But first I have to go buy a bunch more containers, etc. Going to work on my gardening journal now and re-read all this great advice to make my shopping list. And, another day - everything is still alive Thanks everyone for all the great advice - everyone is bringing just one more idea and a little bit different take on it - I really appreciate it. But as you all are reminding me - I should enjoy this - not stress about it PC
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Post by purpleangel on Mar 18, 2017 10:43:38 GMT -5
phoenixcat - I forgot one thing I really like to do - mix in a few flowers with the veggie garden. I love Marigolds bordering my tomato plants and lining the paths. Black-eyed Susans are bright and cheery, too. Trailing alyssum edging pots. Also, I mix in zinnias, but they can be get moldy. Have Fun!
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Post by Unswamping on Mar 18, 2017 12:00:26 GMT -5
Yay for everything still be alive. Im glad you found your patty pan squash plants. What purpleangel said about the tomatoes is true, red mulch will also work. I tend not to bother, i usually get enough tomatoes without it. I love your comment about a super volcano!
For your gardening journal, it would be interesting to make notes about other things happening. For example, in my area, when the forsynthia blooms is a good time to plant peas. This is was/is a big farming area, lots of folk wisdom about planting. By making notes in your area, you can start to learn when its a good time to do certain things or to expect crops. It will take a few years to start to see patterns so just jotting notes now will help in the long run. Not just plants but birds and insects too. Are the birds nesting? Are the monarch butterflies migrating through?
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Post by casper on Mar 18, 2017 12:54:05 GMT -5
We have a building here called the "county agricultural department" or something like that. We all just call it the "Ag" place. They have a couple million free pamphlets on everything that grows here including weeds and all the different types of insects in this area. Pamphlets on how to adjust soil or water to help your plants do better. Pamphlets on the best plants/veggies for our area, best way to eradicate bugs and weeds. Pamphlets/cookbooks for using what we grow. Pamphlets for making bat or owl boxes and ones for making humming bird/butterfly gardens. Maybe you have an "AG" building with pamphlets near you too.
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H2H
Banned
halfwaytohoarder gets rid of it all!
Joined: February 2017
Posts: 2,041
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Post by H2H on Mar 18, 2017 16:24:20 GMT -5
OK, might as well ask here as the plant brainiacs are reading:
I have several OLD Burpee type seed packets some are from 2000 I know, I know (they got displayed in a cute tole painted wood tray, never planted.."cheap art" )
If I planted them, just scattered in good soil soon, or carefully as directed in starter pots DO these ever come up? Or not worth the effort? I may do it as a science experiment no matter
I figure seeds are sold and are good only for THAT season...otherwise us hoarders would buy one time, and done forever.
I have veggie packets too..rather see the flowers, as the veggies might not do well, or never get eaten anyway...thinking of spreading the veggie seeds out in the local forest in a sunny spot for deer and such.
advice please?
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 18, 2017 17:12:01 GMT -5
Back when I owned my townhouse, I too had packets of old seeds - mostly morning glories, cosmos, some forget me nots, maybe that's all. I just thought 'what the heck' and decided to plant them. I cant recall how old they were, but might have been around 2000. Nothing grew - but since I had the space I thought 'why not?' - they weren't doing any good in the packets.
I'm trying to recall, but either those morning glories, or others, I sprouted inside on wet paper towels, and then just planted them sprouted. I had a lot - some went in front of trellises, some around an obelisk, and some in just plain planters. However there was an abundance of squirrels that seemed to just love these and all were dug up. Repeatedly. So I got none.
Now that I am 10 stories up, I will probably try again. Last year I bought about 4 morning glory plants and they grew very well.
So all I can say is if you've got the seeds, and the space, and the soil, why not? Just let nature do what it wants to with them.
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Post by Unswamping on Mar 18, 2017 23:28:47 GMT -5
H2H, give them a shot. I think it depends on how they have been stored. If its been cool and dry, they are more likely to come up. Keeping seeds in the shed is a bad idea, too humid and hot in the summer. Ive had some old seeds come up and others that didnt.
hollyhock morning glories dont like to be transplanted, you were very lucky to have sucess with them. Then again being so high up, the critters weren't bothering them. Ive never had them come up when i did the paper towel thing. Usually i just plant them in the ground with no prep. I think i did soak moonflower seeds (same family), those were bigger and harder. I really wish my place was sunny enough for them, i love them.
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Post by phoenixcat on Mar 19, 2017 10:15:22 GMT -5
Thanks Casper - we do have some agricultural resources through the universities. I've been looking at their online stuff. But there may be some at county level too - I will take a look. PurpleAngel - I'm in super hot area We have spring gardens and fall gardens. Summer is when we do our winter hibernation. Although it has been in the 90s for the last 2 weeks - it is supposed to cool back down this week so I'm not sure if that will be good or bad for my plants. Pretty much all the vegetables/fruit (tomatoes) I plant have to be harvested/used in 90 days or less. I'm even later than some people But the advantage is everything you mentioned will be on my fall garden list! HalfwaytoHoarder - Seashell recommended the Burpee website to me. I really have found it helpful. Of course, I'm sure they will tell you to buy more seeds Of course, I'm like everyone else - if you have the land - it might be a fun surprise. So, herbs are all done - offloaded the basil, mint and oregano to their own homes. I have three pepper plants to do. Moved all the tomatoes into their own deep pots and staked them. Moved the swiss chard into its own container. Cucumbers and squash each have their own raised bed. Some plants looking a little stressed - I have a few flowers that need some love. Not sure if this batch of beans will make it. I may have to buy more. Will see after a couple days of me not bothering it Swiss chard - the transplanted ones look a little weak. Going to finish the "small flowers" tonight and the pepper plants. And put out the mulch. I hope to finish the big flowers tomorrow night and then everything is done and in its spot. And, then will wait and see how it goes. Thanks everyone! PC
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H2H
Banned
halfwaytohoarder gets rid of it all!
Joined: February 2017
Posts: 2,041
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Post by H2H on Mar 19, 2017 10:42:27 GMT -5
thanks all ....NONE of my seed packets are stored in a shed I have lots of bare garden space in front I can toss them into. but may use TIRE POTS. I have a couple plain black ones ready to use. I wanted to share a gardening raised bed container idea. the guy who invented turning regular car tires inside out (I cut and turned 12 at age 50 as a weakling, so it can be done!) (one rim is cut off) you can search online and see some crazy ideas. the pure black rubber tire LOOKS like a large pottery planter, I painted mine adobe color like crockery, it is 6" taller when turned, does not look like a tire, and stays warmer in the sunlight holding the heat, good for germinating, and a old window screen over the top, or a glass sheet can also aid in solar warmth for seedings, and keep critters/birds off. tires do NOT off-gas! once washed of road dirt they are fine. there are silly videos with big guys trying to turn the car tires..but there is a SECRET... a man-Paul Farber of Tire ReCycling is Fun taught in his book and DVD that even I could do! ( I can share if interested) I also KEPT the 12 "rings" that are the cut off sidewall..and laid them as stepping stones with poured gravel/slate bits inside (pic) ..they worked for a long while. you can find pics online of painted car tires that look hinky to me, here are a couple pics. just turning the tire inside out, the smooth black disappears in the garden, no need to paint them (or surround with bark) the good thing on the rubber pots is a lawn mower can run into them, and nothing is hurt, and a ground cloth of screen under the pot keeps slugs and voles out. here is a link to colorful pots.. NO Need to go this far!! but ideas.
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