Gardens vegetable, flower or other?

[rumblefish]

The slugs are doing there worst to my pumpkins and squash! I need to get out with the baits again. Tomatoes are all in flower, spuds are growing happily and the asparagus is flourishing.

How much space do you set aside for your spuds? What type do your grow?

 

[jamespowers]

Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, I'm finally seeing some progress on my veggies. Although its the grape that's really caught my eye. Climbing right up the trellis and already has bunches of baby grapes.

Yes indeed, the grape vines are doing much better this year and even better than the year before here. They are growing rapidly---you can see the difference from day to day as they creep across the fence/trellis. They are invading my patio!lol
The one grapevine over my mother's place is doing very well this year---considering the neighbor picked most of the grapes last year. It had grown over there, unbeknownst to me. I pruned the heck out of the vine and trained it back onto the trellis. We thought it was dead after the dog attacked it. Obviously it wasn't.

 

[Puzzicato]

How much space do you set aside for your spuds? What type do your grow?

Maris Pipers. It's my first time. Each spud is in a deep growbag, 60cm a side. We'll see if it is enough space!

 

[RBH]

The garden is doing great!
I have already had tomatoes, squash, hot peppers, cucumbers and today some okra!!!
Its kinda dry in my part of the state and hot too!

 

[Foofoogal]

Yes, very hot and dry here in NW Arkansas.
Picked very first okra and went ahead and pulled all our potatoes up. White and yellow but got quite a bit.

Puzzicato: My dad used to put stale beer in jar lids around the garden to kill the slugs.

 

[Puzzicato]

Puzzicato: My dad used to put stale beer in jar lids around the garden to kill the slugs.

No beer lasts long enough in our house to go stale but beer traps are a great idea!

My squash and pumpkins are flowering, my sweetcorn is waist-high, the asparagus is bolting nicely, the spuds are flowering and the tomatoes have little fruit on. Now I just have to keep it all watered in this lovely hot weather!

 

[57plymouth]

I did a little 1/3 acre garden. This was the haul last night. I've been bringing in about two to three grocery bags of tomatoes every day. Lot's of canning to do this weekend!

 

[rumblefish]

I did a little 1/3 acre garden. This was the haul last night. I've been bringing in about two to three grocery bags of tomatoes every day. Lot's of canning to do this weekend!

Nice!:eusa_clap
I'd say you're about a month ahead of Long Island, NY.

 

[Mrs. Merl]

I thought about sharing my garden, but I think I would be embarrassed. But it is difficult to garden in this arid mountain region at 9000 ft above sea level! But I have had 3 peas out of my garden and my pumpkins and squash have at least blossomed and the tomatoes are getting ready to set on...it counts right? But I am hoping that since this is my first year here at our new home and the first year of getting my bees established that next year will be even better!

 

[LocktownDog]

I thought about sharing my garden, but I think I would be embarrassed. But it is difficult to garden in this arid mountain region at 9000 ft above sea level! But I have had 3 peas out of my garden and my pumpkins and squash have at least blossomed and the tomatoes are getting ready to set on...it counts right? But I am hoping that since this is my first year here at our new home and the first year of getting my bees established that next year will be even better!

That's about where I'm at here too. Spring took so long this year to actually roll in that my veggies are far behind the norm. My tomatoes are just flowering now, melons haven't blossomed yet, corn is slow growing, peppers are thriving but not setting any fruit. The only things I'm having very good luck with right now are the strawberries and grapes. I think they liked the cooler than normal weather. By this weekend we're supposed to hit 90F for the first time this year. Maybe that'll kick some of these plants into gear.

 

[Mrs. Merl]

Can you do melons? We can't here. Our season is FAR too short and no corn either. I have always been a good green thumb with strawberries, but I only have wild ones right now, since we moved. Our problem has been too much heat and no rain. But it was dreadfully cold late into the season before that. And we had a freeze about a week ago that really set things back. I kept running in and out trying to cover things when it got cold or hailed and then running back out to uncover them when it warmed and the sunshine came out. It was a circus!

 

[jamespowers]

That's about where I'm at here too. Spring took so long this year to actually roll in that my veggies are far behind the norm. My tomatoes are just flowering now, melons haven't blossomed yet, corn is slow growing, peppers are thriving but not setting any fruit. The only things I'm having very good luck with right now are the strawberries and grapes. I think they liked the cooler than normal weather. By this weekend we're supposed to hit 90F for the first time this year. Maybe that'll kick some of these plants into gear.

I just picked my first strawberry of the year yesterday so I know what you mean. The grapes are also going great guns. I see a hint of mildew so I have to get out the baking soda tomorrow.
The weather here has not been warm at night and thus not condusive to ripening tomatoes very well. I have some on the plant but not as many as flowers so far.
It was a very good year for the Damsons but the furry tailed rats (squirrels for the rest of you) ate them all before I could even get one. They weren't even good and ripe yet! :rage: Furry-tailed rats will eat anything. :eusa_doh:

 

[Foofoogal]

It was 98 degrees here today. No rain lately.
I am thinking by watering every day my corn and other vegetables will cost about $4.00 each one if it keeps up. lol

We do succession gardening so hopefully some will do better than others. Even in Texas I don't remember Okra plants wilting in the sun.
Will take a few years to get soil right with manure and learn how to plant late after the 5 snows this year but happy with the potato haul anyway.

tip:Roma tomatoes one can put in freezer as they are so meaty. I used to grow a lot of them to do soups all winter long. Just blanch and freeze. Here is a tutorial.
http://www.pickyourown.org/freezingtomatoes.htm

 

[Mrs. Merl]

Here we have to put everything in little tiny gardens with cages over them or if you want a large garden you have to put up a 7 ft. fence to keep the deer out. They will eat EVERYTHING - literally - including things they say they don't eat (ha) and poisonous things too! But you also have to worry about all the other critters too. Birds, bears, squirrels, chipmunks, my furry dog... It is a challenge!

It is funny too, that I live in a town that once claimed to be a lettuce producing capital...and my lettuce is doing terrible! I think it is the heat. Oh well, if it were easy, it wouldn't be as much fun right?!?! I still love to grow stuff though!

 

[Puzzicato]

I just picked my first strawberry of the year yesterday so I know what you mean. The grapes are also going great guns. I see a hint of mildew so I have to get out the baking soda tomorrow.
The weather here has not been warm at night and thus not condusive to ripening tomatoes very well. I have some on the plant but not as many as flowers so far.
It was a very good year for the Damsons but the furry tailed rats (squirrels for the rest of you) ate them all before I could even get one. They weren't even good and ripe yet! :rage: Furry-tailed rats will eat anything. :eusa_doh:

Tell me about the baking soda, please? How do you use it?

 

[Son_of_Atropos]

In regards to,

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=50937

I consulted How to Grow Vegetables and Fruit by the Organic Method by J.I. Rodale which is from the fifties. It said that you should plant apple trees which are disease resistant, rather than relying upon poison sprays which make the fruits as unfit for human as for fungus consumption. Since the book is so old, they may have developed better sprays. Hope that helps.

Do you have any kids or neighbor's children that could chase them away? or do you have a pet that likes to chase them?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Come on Paddy, show me your best. (just kidding, it's bound to be better than mine …

The first pic is from last saturday morning, the second from this morning. My courgettes are growing! Once that flower gets big enough, I shall kill him and eat him. ever the hunter.

bk

 

[jamespowers]

Come on Paddy, show me your best. (just kidding, it's bound to be better than mine …

The first pic is from last saturday morning, the second from this morning. My courgettes are growing! Once that flower gets big enough, I shall kill him and eat him. ever the hunter.

bk

You eat the flower and not the zucchini? Makes sense to me. I don't like zucchini anyway.

 

[jamespowers]

Tell me about the baking soda, please? How do you use it?

Ok, Ok. lol I should charge for all my recipes.
I have two of them that I use depending on severity

Light Baking Soda Spray:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 quart water
A few drops of liquid soap

This Will Kill it All Spray:
■1 tbsp vegetable oil
■1 gallon unchlorinated water
■1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
■1 tsp Listerine (yes, the famous mouthwash, no mint flavor, just regular)
■1 tbsp liquid soap
■1 ½ tbsp baking soda
■Pump sprayer (large)

Mix the baking soda, soap, Listerine, and oil with 1 cup water. Add the vinegar last so that the mix won’t bubble over. Pour the mixture into the sprayer and add 1 gallon water. Shake to combine. Spray plants thoroughly---this means under the leaves as well.

The second one works wonders for my roses and will get rid of bugs as well. They absolutely hate the taste.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The flower and the zucchini. The flower tastes like really powerfully strong zucchini. Stuffed in various ways, it can be a stunning thing to eat.

You eat the flower and not the zucchini? Makes sense to me. I don't like zucchini anyway.