Posted on 09/07/2012 10:09:42 AM PDT by greeneyes
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
You are welcome. Any time the thread hasn’t been posted by about noon, I am happy to pick up the thread and get it posted.
My poor garden’s been a little neglected lately, I haven’t even gone out to pick zucchini for almost a week! Fortunately the variety I grow makes a good winter squash, so even the giant ones won’t go to waste. Money shortages have meant I’ve been working overtime on trying to build my fashion design business. Negotiations fell through with the company that wanted to buy them, so I’m listing them online myself. The first one is up, the second should be up soon, as soon as I get the photographs right.
The website I’m listing them through is http://www.ustrendy.com/ellendra-nauriel . They have a contest running where the designs with the most votes will be awarded a production contract!! If any of you folks feel like helping a FReeper out, could you click on that website and vote for me? I’d really appreciate it.
I’ve never realized how much work is involved in designing clothes before. It really is a full-time job.
The "just in case" was why instead of throwing out some 15 year old black bean seeds and red pea seeds, I'd give them one last chance the other day. Nothing has come up but I'll give them a few more days. If not, there's some new yellow wax beans to go in instead. I want to try out a few different varieties to hone in on what will do well and what won't.
I've also reworked a little part of the garden layout to squeeze in another row. Before next spring, it's going to be totally redesigned for easier watering. I don't know what to do about the row along the roadside fence because nothing grows there. We dug up a bunch of old broken bathroom remodeling that the contractor hid so I'm thinking there's more there or something weird. I know the little side plot doesn't grow some things well but I'm not giving up on it.
BTW, I'd asked last week about black and orange bugs and finally listened to that little voice and sure enough they were ladybug larvas!!! Stupid, stupid me! I should know better and should be banned from going anywhere near a garden.
I’ll do it. Good Luck.
Thank you!!
Raintree Nursery out in Washington state, I believe. At least, that’s where I got mine. Be sure to get a male plant or two to pollinate. Here’s a recipe:
http://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/pdf/sea-buckthorn-fizz/
That’s really interesting. I never knew that there was corn like that.
I am thinking of planting red clover in a new area where I want to set up next years garden.
At what temperature do you plant it? When do you cut it down - before or after flower? Do you plough it under or just cut it and let it sit there breaking down?
Thanks for the help.
I am thinking of planting red clover in a new area where I want to set up next years garden.
At what temperature do you plant it? When do you cut it down - before or after flower? Do you plough it under or just cut it and let it sit there breaking down?
Thanks for the help.
IIRC, you just plough it under before it flowers and a few weeks before you intend to plant. No mention was made of the temperature, but in the booklet entitled: growing your own grains, it stated that you could intersperse the red clover seed with the winter wheat in February.
This was just my third summer for real gardening, so I am certainly no expert. I have done a lot of reading at various websites in addition to books.
The problem is my memory is not as good as it once was, so I have to keep re - reading everything!LOL.
MissMagnolia has requested to be added to my list. She says she was on JDAB’s list. Just wanted to be sure she is on yours.
What I learned this year about heirlooms.
My heirloom BUSH green beans were no longer viable after two years in storage. It may have just been that particular package - but it has made me cautious.
Heirloom tomatoes seeds I had sitting around for two years came up nicely. I’ve never grown tomatoes from seed before, just always purchased heirloom plants from the nursery, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I should have started them earlier - by about three weeks. And they seem to grow a bit slower than the non-heirloom plants my husband brought. They come back nicely after deer attacks- but slowly. I am hoping the tomatoes have time to ripen. I also planted some six or seven year old seed for grape tomatoes, and I figured they weren’t viable, but after six weeks they sprouted. I don’t think the fruit will have time to do much though, but it has been a good lesson to me.
Heirloom cucumber seed (straight eight) seems to do fairly well even after three years in storage, beets not so much. Pole blue lake beans seem to hold up better after storage than the bush variety, but I’d say had about a 60% viability after two years stored.
I scooped up a good bunch of heirloom seed packs at the Agway this summer on sale. They were out of most beans, which bummed me out. I wanted to try beans next year.
I planted a couple of zucs in early summer - after most of my garden had been consumed by varmints and horrid weather - and I am happy to say that I have two lovely zucchinis just about ready to be picked. I really don’t care for zucs, but I knew they are vigorous growers, have a short season, and I wanted to harvest SOMETHING this year LOL. Husband makes amazing zucchini bread, so that’s the bonus. While I know that I should have expected more than two fruits, after the horrid season I have had I am content with those. Hell, I feel like having them bronzed.
The old pomegranate bush in bloom earlier this year .....
... and we ended up with a few pomegranates ... but very few compared to the number of blooms!
I just try to plant and harvest some of the favorite heirlooms each year, and save enough for next year. I put them into medicine containers, and then in a coffee can, and store in the refrigerator.
I only keep the last 2 years on hand. My main interest is corn, beans, melons, cukes, and tomatoes. I did harvest some lettuce seed this year too.
Great pictures, thanks for sharing. What zone are you in? How long does it take a pomegranate to produce fruit?
We’re smack on the line between 7a & 7b. The picture of the bush with blooms was taken May 23 & I took the pomegranate fruit picture today ..... so about 4 months .... don’t think the fruit is ripe yet.
I guess I’m dumb, but I went to your website, and I can’t figure out how to vote for you or to check out prices and sizes available. When I clicked “buy”, the website took me to a bunch of other designers. I was able to find you again by name, however.
I’m not looking to buy (at least not right now) but I’d like to know know more about your garment design because I have friends who might be interested. You need to work some glitches out of that website, or your business won’t take off. And I really want it to be a success for you!
It’s not just you, the website isn’t all that user-friendly from the seller’s point of view. If you click the link, there should be a picture and a row of stars on the right side of the screen, you can click the picture to see more details, and click the stars to rate them. I’m still figuring out how to list things for sale, but I’ve managed to get some things added to my portfolio there.
Done!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.