Weekly Gardening Thread - Happy First Day of Spring and Happy Easter

My pea-brain and the Internet | 3/20/08 | Gabz

[Hot Tabasco]

Here's my favorite right now....

Spring gardening in Michigan

[Red_Devil 232]

I do a lot of googling and just browse around. This weekly thread is the only forum I have participated in.

The Hood pear tree that came with my fig trees is showing signs of life and the Pineapple pear I found at our local co-op is going great! My fig trees still have not budded. :(

I told my wife that I wanted to expand the garden this year. I had two small raised beds last year. I wanted to rent a tiller and she said why don't you try the tiller your Dad had? What tiller? The one in storage!

I did not know there was a tiller in storage! It was still in its unopened box along with other boxes of attachments. My Dad bought the tiller in 1994 and never opened the box! The receipt was still in the box. He bought the tiller when was 74 from Gardeners Supply. He had plans.

It is one of those small ones like a Troy-built you see on TV all the time. I assembled it Sunday, filled it with fuel and it started right up after I primed it. I told my wife that I did not think this thing was going to be able to what I wanted a tiller for.

I was wrong. After bouncing around and tearing up the sod it finally dug in and actually worked! It took me about an hour to define the garden area and rake out the grass and roots. Then It really started to dig in. Then more raking for roots and grass. Monday I really got it going and digging and churning deep. Another one of those Lagniappes that just happen outa no where!

I am waiting after the rains we have had to mix in some of my compost.

[OB1kNOb]

Seed Savers Exchange. Another of our heirloom favorites.

[Red_Devil 232]

I had problems with birds last year. I put some old heavy duty 3/4 inch PVC pipe up around the raised beds I had. Then strung twine between them and then every two or three feet I hung old CD ROM disk (you know the free AOL and other krap that comes in the mail) from the twine ... let them spin in the breeze. No more mysterious chunks out of my tomatoes. My wife was elated, she thought John Travolta just might show up!

[spotbust1]

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know.......many folks are still covered in snow

It's that darned global warming ;-p

[spotbust1]

Thing is, I despise tomatoes (to eat)...but I love to watch 'em grow.

Send 'em here. I'll be glad to take them off your hands. I have developed a new love for tomatoes. They are full of antioxidants great cancer fighter. I won't be able to start a garden this year I don't think. We just moved and the ground needs a little conditioning.

[spotbust1]

Mental image, mental image. Now I won’t be able to get that out of my head. ;-p

[tob2]

Oh boy! They look good enough to .... well, they are ready to eat yet. Can just taste fresh homegrown tomatoes.

[trisham]

I hate you. :)

[KosmicKitty]

Bump - for later

[kacres]

So far this is the only gardening forum I look forward to, although I do cruise the net some. Where else can you get ideas from gardening, and politics at almost the same time, maybe we should call it the political potato, I know thats pretty corney, could’nt help myself. LOL!

[Kviteseid]

I call my upsidedown tomatoes “Tomato Loco”. They worked out very well last year...
I now have 18 plants started and they all have turned their leaves to face the sun. There are the following varities: Better Boy, Early Girl, Red Siberian (Cherry), and Tomato Bush Silvery Fir Tree.
I'll try to get some pix soon.

[Califreak]

I goofed up and my mix was too mulchy, so it’s sinking down and exposing the roots. It is getting lower and lower every time I water.

I never said I was good at this! I’ll keep trying until I am. I’m pretty limited on space and experience. I eventually want to get to the point where I am skilled enough through experience and planning to prevent having to buy veggies all summer.

[Califreak]

Good for you!

I want one, but I’m not allowed to waste such money on anything but guns and ammo!

Just kidding-If we had a big enough space, he would relent.
We borrowed one this year and kind of spruced it up before we gave it back.

Also, guns and ammo aren’t really a waste of money! : )

[Red_Devil 232]

Grow some in containers. I had one in a container last year “Early Girl” that produced into late Nov.! Best thing you can do is grow more and more tomatoes than you will ever eat fresh. Slow roast them in the oven with a little olive oil and if you have any left after tasting them, freeze them. Great for sauces! Cooked tomatoes are supposed to be better, antioxidant wise, for you from what I have heard.

[Red_Devil 232]

I was born at the Alameda Naval Hospital. My Father a Marine from Mississippi. My Mother a telephone operator from Oakland. Lived in Barstow, which I don't remember other than pictures of me standing in a barren yard with toy pistols slung on my waist at about 1 year old. Then in the Oceanside area (Fallbrook). I remember these wonderful roadside stands shaped like Oranges that sold the best fresh squeezed OJ on this planet! And Disneyland!

[Red_Devil 232]

How about the PoliticoPatio?

[gardengirl]

Happy first day of spring!

It’s been a crazy one here on the east coast! Big tstorm rolled thru last night. It was 70 most of the night and when I got up. By noon the temp had dropped to jsut above 50, then warmed back up to about mid 60’s. Sposed to be in the high 30’s tonight.

Tommorrow is going to be insane at the garden center. It’s Good Friday—gotta plant! Nevermind that the weatherman —he lies and gets paid to!— is calling for snow flurries Sun night /Mon. Inland maybe, here on the coast—doubtful. They just like the S word. It’s like the H word. They can’t help themselves.

Sounds like many of you are off to a great start! Hope your season goes well and your crops do beautifully!

[Gabz]

My field got plowed this afternoon!!!!!!!!!

Oh happy day! And he’s going to come back and redo it again tomorrow after it has dried out some more with the wind!!!!

It looks like I might just actually get stuff in the ground this coming week!!!!!

[gardengirl]

Congrats! Mine got plowed, but that’s it. No discing, no rows made. Sigh

If they wait much longer, I’ll be too busy to worry about it! LOL