Weekly Gardening Thread --- Happy Mother's Day

Garden Girl's Monthly Gardening Column | May 2007 | Garden Girl

[AuntB]

The weather finally got warm enough to put out some of my seedlings yesterday! Now it’s hot and dry.

[Gabz]

Our new across the road neighbor stopped by yesterday and gave us about 2 pounds of “Sugar king” corn seed. So now I’ll have 2 varieties and will do even mmore staggered plantings of it.

Of course that is IF my poor husband can ever get the danged tiller to start again.

[Arrowhead1952]

I’ve never grown potatoes before. I didn’t know about mounding the dirt up on them as they grow.

We used to plow the dirt up onto the sides of the plants, but I've just let them grow the way they are and they still produce. The biggest thing about potatoes is to have enough loose dirt below the seed potato. I planted some in a hole and filled it with hay. They went crazy and had a lot of produce.

FWIW, we are expected to hit 92 tomorrow and 97 on Thursday. The tomato plants are loaded. My garden is kind of wet with the 1.2" rain we had the other night. I noticed some tomato and pepper plants already have yellowing leaves from too much water.

[Califreak]

I planted my corn too early and had to replant last week.

I only have four dinky little rows that are finally filling up.

[Califreak]

Something ate most of my zucchini plants. Most of the slugs are dead now. Squirrels?

I need to plant some more in a few days.

[Califreak]

Thanks. The plants are almost two feet tall and flowering. I dug around and not one sign of a spud.
I guess I’ll just wait and see.

[xtinct]

Yes. It's news that I've been looking forward to for quite some time.

My daughter-in-law has been sending me pictures of the baby's development. S/he is now a kumquat... lol

Birthday card was signed "Rob, Michelle, and the kidney bean.

So, I sent Michelle a Mommy's Day Card from "the kumquat" :o)

[Red_Devil 232]

I have Squirrels all over the place and they have not bothered anything in my garden yet. I started my zuks early(inside) and when I transplanted them they were about 2-3” tall and protected them from a couple of late season cold snaps ... they are huge with leaves 10” across and shadowing out some near by carrots!

[Arrowhead1952]

Just let them grow and eventually you will notice bumps under the ground that are swelling. Later, the bumps will crack the ground surface and that is where each spud will be. Once the plants start turning a dingy green - yellow stalk, the potatoes will be ready to dig.

Whatever you do, never let the plants get too much water. Potato plants and the spuds will rot in the ground.

[Gabz]

chuckle!!!!

[Califreak]

I just remembered there is a hole in the fence next to the squash.

One day, I saw a cat batting the leaves around and darting back under the hole in the fence. It was so funny!

Maybe I’ll cover up the hole and see what happens.

[Califreak]

I figured overwatering would make them rot.

So far, they are very healthy looking.

[envisio]

Is this the gardening ping list? I’d love to get on it....

[cherry]

could you add me to your ping list if you have one?..thx

[Gabz]

Welcome aboard — I’ve added you both!

[envisio]

I moved into my house late last summer. The spot beside the carport had an old dried up bush. I left it alone and look what recently popped up......peonies. Weird because I am on the NC/SC border.

[Gabz]

How pretty!

[Arrowhead1952]

Our cats get into the garden too. They love to lay under the plants and watch for birds and other invaders.

I noticed several dead grasshoppers and other bugs the past couple of years.

[Red_Devil 232]

I created a new compost pile this past week from grass clippings and have been tending it and measuring its temp. This pile really took off temp. wise ... up to 145 degrees within a few days. I have been turning it over and adding lots of water every day. I want to use this particular compost as a mulch for my garden. When I turn it I keep getting a lot of what you could call gray ashy areas in the pile ... kinda like it was getting very hot. There is nothing in this compost pile but grass and the added water.

My question is, is this normal for a compost pile ... to create this grat ash?

[gardengirl]

No! Stop! DO NOT plant anymore squirrels!

Oh, wait—you meant zucchini....