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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 Vol. 14 May 7
Free Republic | 5-7-2010 | Red_Devil 232

Posted on 05/07/2010 6:30:17 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232

Good morning gardeners! If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. There are many Freepers from all over the Good Ol’ USA that are willing and eager to help.

I thought a little primer on fertilizers might come in handy this time of year especially to those of you just starting out.   

What do the numbers mean? 

Every bag or container of commercial fertilizer has a three number code that tells you the percentage that that particular fertilizer has of the "Big Three" nutrients used by plants.

The big three nutrients are, in the order listed on the container:

  1. Nitrogen - Important for green growth 
  2. Phosphorous - For flower and fruit production
  3. Potassium - Strong stems roots and other functions.

A bag of fertilizer labeled as 13-13-13 will have equal percentages of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium for a total of 39%; the rest is filler.

Ideally a soil test is needed to determine how much of these nutriments your soil needs. 

Also  the type of vegetables or plants you are growing may require different percentages of these nutriments to grow or produce successfully. Know your plants needs.

And remember small amounts will go a long way. Don't over fertilize. Too much at one time or too often can overwhelm plant systems and cause problems.

 


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening; recipes; weekly
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To: Red_Devil 232

Thank you.


161 posted on 05/07/2010 10:36:55 AM PDT by kalee (The offences we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde; Cailleach

My daughter is the pumpkin expert, LOL and she live in a town house. I have pinged her because she loves to talk punkins.


162 posted on 05/07/2010 10:38:24 AM PDT by kalee (The offences we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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To: dennisw

You use the old cornstalk as a bean pole?


163 posted on 05/07/2010 10:53:15 AM PDT by LomanBill (Animals! The DemocRats blew up the windmill with an Acorn!)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I bought two 100# bales of wheat straw for $7.50 at the feed store a couple of weeks ago. Every thing except Redwood and Fir lumber has to be trucked 300 miles up here. Hell gas is #3.30 a gallon this week...


164 posted on 05/07/2010 10:53:50 AM PDT by tubebender ( I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it...)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
"I can hardly wait to see the food GROWING on that magnificent palette."

It is beginning to take off. Still lots more to plant, but here is some of what is growing. Also, my crude furrow irrigation -- block each end of the row with sand bags and let the water flow:

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

165 posted on 05/07/2010 10:55:04 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies. Plan it.)
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To: Red_Devil 232
Whoops! Still figuring the links out.... It's a hot one today in northeast Florida! Thanks for the tip on the zukes! Cucumbers: Cucumbers Zucchini Zucchini Jalapenos Jalapenos, with cilantro in background Red bell peppers (not sure what to think; these are 4 wks. old, from seed) Red bell peppers Cilantro Beautiful cilantro
166 posted on 05/07/2010 10:56:24 AM PDT by StopBigGovt
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Wow, I’m jealous....you have a really green thumb! Great garden, and I wish we could plant melons and butternut squash. :)


167 posted on 05/07/2010 10:57:52 AM PDT by StopBigGovt
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To: StopBigGovt

Cilantro bump! You can almost taste the salsa already...


168 posted on 05/07/2010 11:01:50 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: LomanBill

No...You grow corn and beans same season and the beans creep up the cornstalk


169 posted on 05/07/2010 11:03:17 AM PDT by dennisw (It all comes 'round again --Fairport)
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To: Red_Devil 232; All

I have a question for any of you who have Chickens..Our chickens were laying pretty well until we decided to put two more young hens in with them, about 3 weeks ago. Well ever since then they are not laying, so not sure what is going on or what to do. The two new hens are young. We had 4 that were laying. We have 3 Roosters.So if anyone has any advice please let me know. Thanks!


170 posted on 05/07/2010 11:22:14 AM PDT by kacres
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To: rightly_dividing
"I learned at an early age the benefit of 100% cotton clothes in the summertime."

This cotton farming family thanks you very much!

171 posted on 05/07/2010 11:33:33 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies. Plan it.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

So, it’s Mother’s Day weekend and ONE guess what the forecast is for this weekend......

Someone needs to move Mother’s Day back into February so when it snows for it, it won’t be such a problem.

I’ll be out today or tomorrow covering up cold sensitive plants.


172 posted on 05/07/2010 11:38:57 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: kacres

Pretty obvious. The young ones are getting all the attention of the roosters and the older ones are holding back their eggs in protest.


173 posted on 05/07/2010 11:48:41 AM PDT by Drill Thrawl (Another day, another injury, another step closer. Are you prepared?)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

You’re very welcome. And thank you for the pictures today. I sent my wife the link so she could enjoy your garden, too.

Oh, incedentally, my dad grew up raising cotton. He was allowed 1 acre for personal use. He grew his acre to provide his spending money. Also, in his backyard later in life, he grew a cotton plant next to his patio, in the city.


174 posted on 05/07/2010 12:03:53 PM PDT by rightly_dividing
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To: StopBigGovt
Great pictures, thanks!

How far apart are your jalapenoes? Just guessing but it looks like they are less than a foot apart in the picture. If you have the room you might want to space them about 2 ft. apart. Jalapeno plants can get quite big and need a little more space.

Hmmmmmm jalapenos - cilantro looks like we can look foward to a grear salsa recipe in the future!

175 posted on 05/07/2010 12:27:56 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: metmom

Where are you located? Snow at the end of the first week in May - no thanks!


176 posted on 05/07/2010 12:32:02 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: StopBigGovt

Yummy. I love cilantro. And your cucumbers are lovely. I’m anxious for my first cucumber salad. Still probably 2w out from that, my cukes aren’t as big as yours.


177 posted on 05/07/2010 12:36:19 PM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: afraidfortherepublic

That sure is a beautiful plant. I hope it turns out it will grow in your area!


178 posted on 05/07/2010 12:40:52 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Red_Devil 232; tubebender

Last night got down to 19F and about 2 inches of snow. Starting some things indoors. Tomato, broccoli, summer and winter squash.


179 posted on 05/07/2010 12:52:01 PM PDT by MtnClimber (Osama and Obama both hate freedom and have friends that bombed the Pentagon)
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To: StopBigGovt
My wife found me a crockpot at Wal-Mart yesterday that I am interested in. It is made by Hamilton Beach and is a 3 in 1 with sizes of from 2-4-6 quarts. It is on sale for $30 and since she works at Wal-Mart she will get 10% off that price. She will bring one home tonight.

I am just worried about the size of the 6 quart insert as that is what I will be cooking my chuck roasts in. I am afraid it might be too small at the bottom for a whole uncut chuck roast.

180 posted on 05/07/2010 12:53:40 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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