2014 Garden Thread

[Ockham]

So what are you folks putting into the dirt this year?

Here's my list so far, though the cooler weather and wet has kept me out of the garden in early May, so I missed my early lettuce, spinach and radishes. I'm planning on going out this afternoon and do the last bit of tilling so I can get the last bits in.

- 1 row Burpee Kentucky Wonder climbing beans
- 6 beefstake type tomatoes, 2 Brandywine
- 6 California Wonder Peppers
- 3 Early Sweet Sugar Pie pumpkins
- 1/2 row of Bush Beans (Shumways has a experimental blend)
- Medium patch of ornamental corn (Hopi Blue Dent, Giant Indian and Bloody Butcher)
- 1 row Burpee Little Ceaser lettuce
- 1 row Red Romain lettuce
- 2 Red and 1 Green Rhubarb (wont' get anything for a few years but planted)
- 2 new Rosemary plants, supposedly hardy to -15 degrees
- 3 hills of Fordhook Zucchini
- 3 hills of Straight Eight cucumbers

I cut back my 5 hops plants this year and may divide them in the fall and dig the older plants out and replant them somewhere else. My Elderberry and blackberries seem to be doing good this spring but the Red Raspberries are again looking poor. I may have to go back to the Heritage ever bearing variety as these raspberries just aren't growing. My current plants are doing well but won't produce much this year as the winter was hard on them. It'll take some care to get them back to where they were. I lost half my gooseberry and may have to cut it out totally, and my two young persimmons are growing well. Another few years and they'll start bearing as well. My asian pears are finally doing well and I think I'll get a decent number of pears this year. I'll try and get some pictures up later.

 

[GottaGo]

The late freeze delayed my planting, but already harvested broccoli and most of the spinach.

Now active in the garden:

Tomatoes: Celebrity, Better Bush, Roma, Old German
Squash: Zucchini, yellow straight necks, patty pans
Cucumbers (for raccoon deterrent more then actual eating)
Hale cantaloupes
Charleston Grey watermelon
Blue Lake #274 green beans (organic)

And the strawberries, both June and ever bearing, are already coming in.... mmmMMmmmmm.

Herbs in containers on the deck:
Common sage
Self heal
Bronze fennel
Valerian
Italian large leaf basil
Cilantro/Coriander
Curly parsley

 

[polgara]

The late freeze delayed my planting, but already harvested broccoli and most of the spinach.

Now active in the garden:

Tomatoes: Celebrity, Better Bush, Roma, Old German
Squash: Zucchini, yellow straight necks, patty pans
Cucumbers (for raccoon deterrent more then actual eating)
Hale cantaloupes
Charleston Grey watermelon
Blue Lake #274 green beans (organic)

And the strawberries, both June and ever bearing, are already coming in.... mmmMMmmmmm.

Herbs in containers on the deck:
Common sage
Self heal
Bronze fennel
Valerian
Italian large leaf basil
Cilantro/Coriander
Curly parsley

Greetings, GottaGo. :2wave:

Kudos! A lot of those same plants are sitting on my deck in pots, still waiting to be planted! I had hoped to rototill today, but it's raining again so no go. Maybe tomorrow?

Good list! The only difference between our gardens is than I grow Kentucky Wonder pole beans - supports will go up after I get the garden tilled; I grow Brandywine heirlooms for slicing, but I do grow the Romas for making jars of salsa, and I grow Italian flat-leaf parsley - both for the roots that I'll slice and freeze for stews, but mostly for the leaves that just make everything taste better when cooked. I also grow California Wonder sweet green papers because we like to eat stuffed peppers occasionally, *BTW, paying a dollar for one pepper seems criminal to me when I can have a bed full of peppers for less than 50 cents by starting them from seed* plus I have a few jalapeno pepper plants. This is also the year that I'll plant sweet corn - I do it every other year. I've never grown a decent watermelon - they're not happy in my climate, I guess, but I grow pumpkins for the neighbor kids. One plant will invariably climb a tree, and that pumpkin is the one they all want! Maybe I should hold a lottery to stop the bickering! :mrgreen:

On the deck in planters are onions, garlic and beets. The herbs I grow are the same as you listed, but I plant them in a bed in the garden, and I have fennel for the seeds and I also grow dill, basil, chives, oregano, thyme and rosemary. I have several kinds of mint - peppermint, spearmint and lemon mint, which are bullies and want to crowd everybody else out, so I have to keep a close eye on them, bless their space-greedy little hearts! I use those in making potpourri, and I dry lots for making tea, although I really prefer coffee.

BTW, I think that if I didn't grow Brandywines my family and neighbors would lynch me! They do taste great, but they do expect some coddling, as compared to other tomatoes that almost grow wild!

I have grown potatoes in the past, but it's easier to buy them at the store, so I don't bother any more.

 

[beefheart]

I just pulled 10 tomatoes from my hydroponic planter I have outside, some nice Black Krim, and Thessoloniki and Rainbow, and a few other heirlooms. As I live in PHX, gardening starts in January, stops in Jun, starts again in Aug. I have 3 Papaya solo plants, largest about 8 ft high, but it has something that is hurting it. I have 2 stands of Rajapur Bananas each with 3 large stalks, up to about 10 feet high, and several pups, that will be culled and moved, hoping for one of them to bud in late summer. Have a guava that I must put into the ground soon, that is doing well, two types of passion fruit, one that is 20+ ft long and crawling all over the house, but not flowering, another that I brought back seeds from Hawaii, it is the kind that the catepillars feast on, and is just getting to grow. One pineapple, one pomegranite, 4 dragon fruit that are climbing the walls of my house, 5 different types of bamboo, a fruiting mulberry tree, a fruiting blood orange tree, a couple of struggling Moringa plants (amazing plant), 3 indoor coffee plants, a surinam cherry that has to be planted, some lavender, mint and basil, three wonderful Hawaiian Plumerias that are becoming trees (one is blooming), a pesky, nasty Kiwano vine that I planted a few years ago that comes back every late summer, and some hippy smelling Pachouli plants that smell so good. But, 115 degree days are nearly upon us, so it willl be time to get my automated watering all set up soon....

 

[GottaGo]

Greetings, GottaGo. :2wave:

Kudos! A lot of those same plants are sitting on my deck in pots, still waiting to be planted! I had hoped to rototill today, but it's raining again so no go. Maybe tomorrow?

Good list! The only difference between our gardens is than I grow Kentucky Wonder pole beans - supports will go up after I get the garden tilled; I grow Brandywine heirlooms for slicing, but I do grow the Romas for making jars of salsa, and I grow Italian flat-leaf parsley - both for the roots that I'll slice and freeze for stews, but mostly for the leaves that just make everything taste better when cooked. I also grow California Wonder sweet green papers because we like to eat stuffed peppers occasionally, *BTW, paying a dollar for one pepper seems criminal to me when I can have a bed full of peppers for less than 50 cents by starting them from seed* plus I have a few jalapeno pepper plants. This is also the year that I'll plant sweet corn - I do it every other year. I've never grown a decent watermelon - they're not happy in my climate, I guess, but I grow pumpkins for the neighbor kids. One plant will invariably climb a tree, and that pumpkin is the one they all want! Maybe I should hold a lottery to stop the bickering! :mrgreen:

On the deck in planters are onions, garlic and beets. The herbs I grow are the same as you listed, but I plant them in a bed in the garden, and I have fennel for the seeds and I also grow dill, basil, chives, oregano, thyme and rosemary. I have several kinds of mint - peppermint, spearmint and lemon mint, which are bullies and want to crowd everybody else out, so I have to keep a close eye on them, bless their space-greedy little hearts! I use those in making potpourri, and I dry lots for making tea, although I really prefer coffee.

BTW, I think that if I didn't grow Brandywines my family and neighbors would lynch me! They do taste great, but they do expect some coddling, as compared to other tomatoes that almost grow wild!

I have grown potatoes in the past, but it's easier to buy them at the store, so I don't bother any more.

Sounds like a summer bounty!

I skipped on the dill and oregano this year, my neighbor is growing those. She knows she can come scavenge my herbs when she needs them, and I can clip hers as needed.

I also have some volunteer garlics from cloves I must have missed last year, given to me from a Garlic Grower expert in my Master Gardener group. Italian exotics. Yum!

 

[nota bene]

Next year I swear I'll have a veggie garden. I need help setting it up is all. I am so envious reading these posts. I have one tomato plant.

 

[beefheart]

L-R Blood Orange, Rajapur Banana, Papaya Solo



Hydro Tomatoes that will need to move under the shade soon.



And the big Rajapur bananas swooning from not being watered yesterday.

 

[GottaGo]

Next year I swear I'll have a veggie garden. I need help setting it up is all. I am so envious reading these posts. I have one tomato plant.

If worse comes to worse, try container gardening. Big pots, some soil and you actually have better control over the plants.

Vegetable Gardening in Containers and Small Spaces

 

[polgara]

Sounds like a summer bounty!

I skipped on the dill and oregano this year, my neighbor is growing those. She knows she can come scavenge my herbs when she needs them, and I can clip hers as needed.

I also have some volunteer garlics from cloves I must have missed last year, given to me from a Garlic Grower expert in my Master Gardener group. Italian exotics. Yum!

And the really great thing about all this is that I get to play in the dirt - guess I'm still a child at heart! :mrgreen: My rhododendrons are starting to open, so I'm looking for a magnificent display for Memorial Day! :yes: The rose garden is leafing, but that's as far as they've gotten to date. Vesper seems to have the magic touch on flowers, doesn't she? :rock:

 

[GottaGo]

And the really great thing about all this is that I get to play in the dirt - guess I'm still a child at heart! :mrgreen: My rhododendrons are starting to open, so I'm looking for a magnificent display for Memorial Day! :yes: The rose garden is leafing, but that's as far as they've gotten to date. Vesper seems to have the magic touch on flowers, doesn't she? :rock:

My flower garden took a beating this past winter, plus what used to be a full sun garden is now overshadowed by trees, so I've been digging up perennials and putting them in pretty ceramic pots all over my deck. I'll have to take pictures. Of course, to satisfy the I gotta see it bloom NOW urge, I've added some annuals.

 

[Gardener]

I plan on using pollen from these that bloomed for me last year.

and many others.

 

[Muhammed]

I don't even have a garden yet. But I do have some roma, and early girl tomatoes and California Wonder bell peppers that I started indoors. Any day now I could transplant them outdoors. Lucky I didn't do it last week or they would be dead.

 

[Ockham]

Not much to see yet but it's getting there. We're getting rain for the next two days so that will help. I just came in from planting a 3 packets of ornamental corn!

 

[Helix]

i'm in, and finally planted a few days ago. this year, i'm growing two kinds of tomatoes, sweet corn, green pepper, habanero, a cucumber, and pumpkins. also planted some onions that started growing before i could eat them, just to give them a chance to stay alive.

i have a garden, a backup smaller garden, and a pumpkin patch. here's the main garden :



you'll notice that the second row of tomatoes looks pretty sickly. that's because the place that i bought them didn't take very good care of them. i bought four, hoping i could nurse them back to health. i might be able to save one or two of them, because the ground back there is good.

corn is planted in the back; two rows, and another two short rows in another garden.

other tasks on the list : buy more tomato cages
put up a fence to keep out animals. i have a backyard bunny buddy this year.
try to prevent squash bugs from getting my pumpkins.

 

[sangha]

i'm in, and finally planted a few days ago. this year, i'm growing two kinds of tomatoes, sweet corn, green pepper, habanero, a cucumber, and pumpkins. also planted some onions that started growing before i could eat them, just to give them a chance to stay alive.

i have a garden, a backup smaller garden, and a pumpkin patch. here's the main garden :

View attachment 67166853

you'll notice that the second row of tomatoes looks pretty sickly. that's because the place that i bought them didn't take very good care of them. i bought four, hoping i could nurse them back to health. i might be able to save one or two of them, because the ground back there is good.

corn is planted in the back; two rows, and another two short rows in another garden.

other tasks on the list : buy more tomato cages
put up a fence to keep out animals. i have a backyard bunny buddy this year.
try to prevent squash bugs from getting my pumpkins.

Marigolds, borage, mint, tansy, nasturtiums and radishes are said to repel squash bugs

Natural Insect Control Bugs:

The one thing I don't like about where I live now is it's not really possible to have a veggie garden, so I have some pots with tomatoes, chives, marjoram, basil and chard. I think I'll pick up a couple of cuke plants from the nursery and plant them in a spot I think they'll do well even if somewhat neglected

 

[MaggieD]

Not much to see yet but it's getting there. We're getting rain for the next two days so that will help. I just came in from planting a 3 packets of ornamental corn!

Looks like a beautiful piece of property!

 

[beefheart]

My plumeria are in their 4th year, and are really becoming trees, nothing beats the smell of this flower. The white plant just started to bloom, hoping the red one and the pink one start soon. It is what they make leis out of in Hawaii.

 

[Gardener]

My plumeria are in their 4th year, and are really becoming trees, nothing beats the smell of this flower. The white plant just started to bloom, hoping the red one and the pink one start soon. It is what they make leis out of in Hawaii.

and when you think about it,who would ever turn down a good lei?

 

[Medusa]

l feel hungry for fresh green onions and cucumbers grown in our garden in the town.

 

[GottaGo]

i'm in, and finally planted a few days ago. this year, i'm growing two kinds of tomatoes, sweet corn, green pepper, habanero, a cucumber, and pumpkins. also planted some onions that started growing before i could eat them, just to give them a chance to stay alive.

i have a garden, a backup smaller garden, and a pumpkin patch. here's the main garden :

View attachment 67166853

you'll notice that the second row of tomatoes looks pretty sickly. that's because the place that i bought them didn't take very good care of them. i bought four, hoping i could nurse them back to health. i might be able to save one or two of them, because the ground back there is good.

corn is planted in the back; two rows, and another two short rows in another garden.

other tasks on the list : buy more tomato cages
put up a fence to keep out animals. i have a backyard bunny buddy this year.
try to prevent squash bugs from getting my pumpkins.

I believe common tansy will help ward off the squash bugs. Just be careful though, tansy can develop a root system that goes to China! :lol:

 

[beefheart]

and when you think about it,who would ever turn down a good lei?

Flights are too full, otherwise, I'd be on the plane to Kona in 2 hours...

 

[beefheart]

l feel hungry for fresh green onions and cucumbers grown in our garden in the town.

I went to the store last night and bought a mess of green chilis, jalapenos and yellow chilies. Going to roast today and make a big mass of pico de gallo with all the tomatoes from the garden. We are so close to the opressive heat that shuts down this town for 2 months, until the monsoons (hopefully) hit us and give us a bit of humidity...

 

[Medusa]

I went to the store last night and bought a mess of green chilis, jalapenos and yellow chilies. Going to roast today and make a big mass of pico de gallo with all the tomatoes from the garden. We are so close to the opressive heat that shuts down this town for 2 months, until the monsoons (hopefully) hit us and give us a bit of humidity...

my favorite pepperr

 

[beefheart]

my favorite pepperr

I used to grow them, the Phoenix dry heat makes for some amazingly hot ones. I might go buy a plant and put it in the hydroponic planter, I have a dead tomato plant in there that was the wrong variety for the desert. I couldn't find any of the Hatch chilies, those are the best. A few of the Hispanic grocers here roast them over fire outside of their stores, which is the best, better than the oven or a backyard grill. I need to try to make nopalito salsa, it is made with very chewy pieces of cactus pads. When it is good, it is really good, but not easy to get them tenderized...lots of fiber!

 

[sangha]

I believe common tansy will help ward off the squash bugs. Just be careful though, tansy can develop a root system that goes to China! :lol:

Tansy is also reputed to make many veggies taste better when planted near to them. However, it can be invasive and it is poisonous so don't plant it in an area where a young child, cat or dog might get at it. If you're concerned about it spreading, you can heavily mulch or even better, plant it in a pot and spread clippings from the plant around the area where you want to repel pests.