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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 20) June 18
Free Republic | 6-18-2010 | Red_Devil 232

Posted on 06/18/2010 4:59:42 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232

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To: afraidfortherepublic

I start my corn in the greenhouse and transplant into 6 rows 12’ long with plants spaced 12” and rows 30” apart and hill once or twice. These rows are flat until I hill with a garden hoe (vs a street ho) The way you planted a common and accepted and I had a attachment for my Wheel Hoe that made furrows for my corn until I put boards around the raised beds. I water with 1/4” drip line laid down each side of the corn (and other crops). and yes you can transplant that wayward corn seed but take a deep plug to get most of the tap root.


41 posted on 06/18/2010 7:47:01 AM PDT by tubebender (Life is short so drink the good wine first...)
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To: tubebender; Red_Devil 232; Diana in Wisconsin; fanfan; Black Agnes; JustaDumbBlonde; All

We’ve gotten a lot of rain this past week. So much rain that I gave up a couple of times on the automatic waterer and turned it off. I tiptoed out at 4:45 AM today (before light) to turn it off again because we had a big T storm last night. I don’t know how much rain we actually got because I haven’t checked the rain guage. I will later.

The garden is almost completely planted. Perhaps over-planted. I have 2 little sections on the perimeter that could hold some flowers, or some shallow rooted veggies. Also 3 squares in one of the raised beds where I took the cauliflower out. Any suggestions?

My main tomatoes are nearly 4 ft. tall and starting to blossom (6 varieties). The later planted tomatoes (planted May 27 — 8 plants, various) that were stunted and dying in their seed starting pots are about 1 1/2 feet high. They have tripled, or quadrupled their size at planting in 2 weeks.

They are on the perimeter of the garden inside the because I ran out of space. I don’t know if they will do anyting, but they look healthy. Those perimeter beds are only about 7 in. deep and lined with carboard on the bottom. I don’t imagine that there is enough root room for anything big yet, because the cardboard probably hasn’t disintergrated enough to allow the roots to penetrate into the clay.

My peas and my peppers are blooming. One variety of bean has not sprouted. May need to re-plant. My pea foliage has become “mottled” — lighter green and darker green on the leaves. Is this normal? The plant looks healthy, otherwise.

Snipped that caterpillar in 2 with the scissors, per Red’s instructions. Eeeewwwwww!


42 posted on 06/18/2010 7:49:22 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Arrowhead1952
Around here we call them stink bugs. So the boric acid works on them? They are very destructive and hard to kill. I have yet to see any this year but they will show up sooner or later. I used a 12v vacuum that my wife has for her car and powered it from my lawn tractor and just sucked them from my plants last year.
43 posted on 06/18/2010 7:51:14 AM 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
This gardening thread always makes me hungry. Our first crop of figs (breba) is almost ripe.



Here are both trees in early spring with few leaves. Panda was on squirrel patrol.


44 posted on 06/18/2010 7:52:37 AM PDT by neefer (We didn't know times were lean. 'Round our house the grass was green.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I won’t tell you how I am sitting here in not much, haven’t showered yet, drinking my 2nd cup of coffee after my first cup of tea. Rest assured I only do this on the new Garden Thread Day. My first wife just informed me she was looking for a Garden Wizard hat for me to wear when posting on your threads...


45 posted on 06/18/2010 7:52:43 AM PDT by tubebender (Life is short so drink the good wine first...)
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To: tob2

I planted a variety of cherry tomatoes...


46 posted on 06/18/2010 7:53:26 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: Red_Devil 232

bfl


47 posted on 06/18/2010 7:53:55 AM PDT by hoosiermama (ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW.......I am swimming with Sarahcudah! Sarah has read the tealeaves.)
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To: neefer

Outstanding figs...is the a ‘Smart Pot’ on the left in the second pic? Looks a bit too firm for fabric, but you can never tell with pictures.


48 posted on 06/18/2010 7:55:39 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: tubebender
Well, there is no shortage of fog in Fresno County! Tule fog in Fresno County. I can attest that it is truly dangerous and just as bad as always.

Actually, I haven't been there in a couple of years, so maybe it's not so bad now since Pelosi turned off the water.

Didn't it used to be a death penalty offense for early pioneers to poison a well, or make a pond unusable for livestock? Turning off the water and ruining crops and orchards in the bread basket of CA ought to warrent a similar fate for Pelosi and some judges, I should think.

49 posted on 06/18/2010 7:57:42 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: neefer

We love Figs but they are tough to grow here. I must try again when I find a variety that will do well for this climate. Where do you garden and what type of potting soil did you use and how often do you water?


50 posted on 06/18/2010 7:59:44 AM PDT by tubebender (Life is short so drink the good wine first...)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Snipped that caterpillar in 2 with the scissors, per Red’s instructions. Eeeewwwwww!

Nice Job! I hate those big green hornworm caterpillers! Mainly because if they get big it means I have missed them on previous "hunt and snips".

Do you still have those red trays under some of your tomato plants?

51 posted on 06/18/2010 8:00:05 AM 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: tubebender

52 posted on 06/18/2010 8:09:36 AM 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

More cucumbers this week, another 8 or so, but most were given away to coworkers. I haven’t sampled the pickles from last weekend yet, so don’t want to pickle any more just yet.

Still have loads of green tomatoes, none red yet.

Potato and sweet potato vines are looking great!

Not much yet either from the jalapeno or cayenne peppers. I’m thinking they may be over “shadowed” by the tomato plants. But I do have several green serrano peppers. I think they are supposed to turn red, but haven’t yet.


53 posted on 06/18/2010 8:15:21 AM PDT by Tatze (I reject your reality and substitute my own!)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I do have those red trays under the tomato plants, and I can’t see that they make much of a difference. The “main” tomatoes (meaning the best plants that I planted first) are so tall and bushy that there certainly isn’t any “reflected” light getting on the plants from beneath. It is just like a jungle in that row. There are 6 types of tomatoes in that row, and I attribute any difference in growth and appearance to the different variety.

As you remember, I had too many trays, so I moved some of them over to the side beds where I planted the weaker seedlings — several weeks later. I see no difference in the plants with a tray and the plants without a tray. All look healthy. Now, it is very possible that the fertilizer in the tray that is supposed to drip on the roots is spreading out into the whole bed. The tray does hold a little water all day, so the plants stay moist.

The twisty (spiral) tomato supports seem to be holding the plants just fine, with an occasional nudge to keep the plant heading up the spiral. I would certainly use them again, but the store ran out of those early on.

Because I could get no more of the spirals, I have cages for the other tomatoes. Those are powder coated red — presumably for more of that “reflected” light! I also have another type of support (red, too) that is like half a support — a wire cage that is bent into a sharp V, when you are viewing it from above, and has cross bars for support, as the plant climbs.

We shall see.


54 posted on 06/18/2010 8:20:23 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Red_Devil 232; tubebender

ROTFLOL!


55 posted on 06/18/2010 8:21:17 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Red_Devil 232

PS — all of my tomato supports are superior to those round cone things we always used in the past.


56 posted on 06/18/2010 8:23:42 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: tubebender
I'm in Cleveland and have a microclimate of about zone 6. Last year, I didn't realize pinching the tips after the 5th or 6th leaf would help set fruit during my short season. Potting soil is Scotts Brand, a polymer that holds water (should have added more) and lots of Perlite.

I've been watering twice a day. Each takes about 2 plus gallons a day when fruiting with temperatures in the mid to high 80. Both are now in Smart Pots made of fabric so they require more water, but have had wonderful vigor.

Both are Mediterranean varieties (Negronne and Atreano) that do well in containers because they spread more than they gain height. After going dormant, trees are over wintered in the basement or attic. Our yard isn’t big enough for a large tree. We also want to move. And, mostly, I’ve read that types that will grow in Ohio (like Brown Turkey) don’t taste very good. Take a look at Rolling River Nursery in CA. They probably have something that will work for you.
57 posted on 06/18/2010 8:29:45 AM PDT by neefer (We didn't know times were lean. 'Round our house the grass was green.)
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To: Red_Devil 232
Good morning R.D. 232

Beautiful day here in Missouri. We picked our first Cucumber yesterday. Lots on the vines, but only one was ready to pick. I am going to make it into refrigerator pickle and onions which I love on salad or as a side dish. Still no tomatoes. Lots of flowers on our melons.

Square foot garden is growing like gang busters. Lemon/Lime tree has a bunch of teeny tiny fruit forming. It was pretty anemic looking this winter, but after we got the T5 high output grow light, it perked up, and once we deemed it safe to go outside, it started doing even better.

We also got about 3 gallons of various lettuces, so we'll have some great salad for Father's day. When we get tired of salad, then I make salad soup. Many years ago, I was reading a book about the “Money Diet”.

The author made the point that there is usually a way to use everything. He gave the recipe for salad soup as an example. I tried it, and liked it.

Ingredients are basically broth, potatoes, salad, and seasonings. Start with a little olive oil to saute the garlic and onion. Use about 2 cups of broth for each potato, and a couple of hands full of lettuce.

Add whatever seasonings you like. I am fond of pepper and tarragon. When the potato is cooked, whirl it all in a blender till smooth. Add a little cream or fat free half and half, butter or butter buds. Garnish with grated cheese and bacon bits.

It even works well for whatever salad is left over (in the serving bowl-not your plate) with croutons, and salad dressing left on. I also sometimes us additional veggies like carrots, celery, and/or cauliflower. Any one else have a favorite recipe for using up lettuce, when you have too much on hand?

One of our Northern Kiwis appears to have died, but we don't know if it was the male or female, so we are waiting for the flowers to see which it is.

Everyone have a great weekend.

58 posted on 06/18/2010 8:31:22 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: doodad

Jealous about the tomatoes. We have none here yet. One of my tomatoes in the topsy turvy has early blight. Hubby sprayed it with a fungicide. Hope it doesn’t spread. We had late blight last year, and burned everything. We also created a new garden plot back along the fence line to plant this year. Hoping to avoid it this year.


59 posted on 06/18/2010 8:36:08 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: I Buried My Guns
Spaghetti squash is going to grow just like your giant pumpkin -- putting on vines that will grow 15 ft. long. You can plant 2-3 plants in a group (hill) and hills should be 6 ft. apart. In other words, you have enough spaghetti squash plants to overgrow your entire garden. :)

I would not destroy the main pumpkin plant. There is a tremendous root system that the offshoots probably don't have. Better safe than sorry. If the dead-looking part gives you room to plant right there next to it, you could give it a try, but I wouldn't plant anything that is going to get huge and interfere with the root system of the pumpkin. Good luck!

60 posted on 06/18/2010 8:39:07 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies. Plan it.)
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