Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 23) June 17

Free Republic | 06-17-2011 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Good morning gardeners. My tomato plants are struggling to survive these hot brutal sunny days. Their leaves are all curled up trying to save water. Temperatures are consistently in the mid to high 90s. My winter and summer squash along with all of my hot and sweet pepper plants are doing great. It does not look like any of my Opailka or Viva Italia paste tomatoes will make it through so I have restarted some more seeds in the hopes I can get them transplanted in time for a late harvest. I have about 4 Marion tomato plants that are in the rear of my garden that are doing well for now. They get some shade in the late afternoon so I will put my new paste tomato transplants in that same area of the garden. I may be down but not out!

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. Our Freeper community is full of gardeners, each with varying interests and skill levels from Master Gardener to novice.

[Red_Devil 232]

Weekly Gardening Thread

FREE SEED EXCHANGE

 

This EXCHANGE is brought to you by FReeper 

Mrs. Don-o

Thrifty? Gifty? Curious? Generous? Spare seeds? Rare seeds? For a tiny plot? Or a flower- pot? Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

 

If you have garden seeds you can offer other FReepers for free, for a SASE, and/or in exchange for other seeds, please send me your info. (Private Message Mrs. Don-o) and I will add you to this list, which I will post on the garden thread from time to time. Please also Private Message me to be removed when you no longer have the seeds to offer. FReepo-seedoholics can contact each other by Private Message to arrange any transactions.

Remember that old seeds may have reduced germination. (Although I’ve had great luck with them. And for free, you can’t lose...) If possible, list year and variety.

Mrs. Don-o

I CAN OFFER a few of these seeds (say, 10) for free to anybody who wants to send me a SASE:

Basil (“Genovese” 2010)

Beans (“Jackson Wonder Butterbean “2011)

Broccoli (“Bonanza” 2011) Chard (“Bright Lights” 2010)

Fennel (“Florence” 2011)

Kale (“Redbor Hybrid” 2010)

Squash (“Acorn 2009”… and I had really good germination with it, this year!)

Squash “(Georgia Candy Roaster” 2011.. a terrific winter squash!)

Tomato (“Brandy Boy” 2011)

INTERESTED IN

Seeds for Fall

Anything (surprise me!)

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I HAVE HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS (FREEPER TDSCPA) from about 75 popular, open-pollinated heirloom varieties. Tell me via PM what varieties you’re interested in, and if I have them I could send you a few seeds (10?) if you will send me a SASE.

Don’t know what variety to grow? I can make suggestions, if you want to grow plants from seed. Contact Tdscpa

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If anyone needs or wants okra seeds (says JustaDumbBlonde)… please let me know. I saved a ridiculous amount in the fall of 2010. Two different varieties, Clemson and Jade, are both are heirloom variety so that you will be able to save seeds from your plants. Both are spineless and heavy producers. Jade is a bit darker green than Clemson and the pods are a bit shorter and fatter. Both are good for frying, soups, freezing, dehydrating or canning. Don’t be shy, l have more than plenty to share! Tip for planting okra: soak your seeds for 24 hours before planting. Okra seeds are hard like peppercorns and soaking will assist in quicker germination. Contact JustaDumbBlonde

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I have some black-seeded Simpson lettuce seeds and some Buttercrunch lettuce seeds if anyone’s interested. (says Oberon), And... anybody have any Gold Nugget yellow cherry tomato seeds? I’m interested. Contact Oberon

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Free Winter Squash or Stevia seeds or Heirloom Tomato/Pepper Seeds (says Black Agnes) The ‘Patio Marconi’ seeds are container peppers that are sweet and good for salads, sandwiches or frying. Open pollinated if that interests you. Cilantro seeds too. It’s good used fresh to detox heavy metals. Contact Black Agnes

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swheats Has the following packets of seeds to share. They were a gift and never used contact swheats if you would like any of these packets.

Ferry Morse seeds Dated 2010

Arugula
Organic Watermelon(Moon&Stars,100%certified organic seed)
Swiss Chard (rainbow of colors)
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Turnip
Tomato (brandywine heirloom variety)
Gourd (swan)
Carrot (nutri-red)
Carrot (Big Ideas Veggie Tales)

Burpee Seeds Dated 2009

Coriander
Cilantro (Chinese parsley)
Tomato (Delicious)
Organic Cucumber Sumter (100% certified Organic Seed)
Parsley (single Italian Plain Leafed
Spearmint
Basil (Summer Long)
Sweet Corn (Jubilee Hybrid)
Green Bean (gourmet mix)
Cucumber (bush Champion)
Lettuce (Loose leaf mixture)
Squash (Fordhook Zuchini)
Pea (Sugar Daddy)

Weekly Gardening Thread

[Red_Devil 232]

Ping to the Weekly Gardening Ping List.

I hope all of you will stop by.

This is typically a low volume ping list. Once a week for the thread and every once in a while for other FR threads posted that might be of interest.

If you would like to be added to or removed from the list please let me know by FreepMail or by posting to me.

[goodwithagun]

I clipped my scapes and made this soup twice now: http://www.goinglocal-info.com/my_weblog/2009/06/garlic-scapes-now-in-season.html

I made it with russets once and new potatoes once. We like the new potato version best, it just seems silkier for some reason. I also used my own veg broth- I collect veg scraps in a bowl in the freezer and when my husband starts complaining about onion peels and carrot skins falling out I simmer the whole lot in purified water with whatever herbs I have. Cool, strain, and then into zip-top bags and into the freezer. Can't be frugal enough in this obama economy! Actually, in whatever economy it just tastes better than canned stuff from the store.

[Gabz]

Good morning. We got a bit of rain last night, but not enough to do anything other than make it sticky this morning.

[Arrowhead1952]

It is so hot in Texas, our tomatoes have quit putting on new fruit. We have quite a few ripe ones, but no new ones on the vines. The 100+ temps are killing everything this year. The only thing growing well, are the jalapeno peppers.

[metmom]

The garden is getting off to a much slower start than it did last year, but we are starting to see SOME produce come in.

[Red Badger]

We’re beginning our second garden of the year..............

[momtothree]

About three weeks ago, I planted about ten Knock Out Roses and one Rhodo. The roses all took but the Rhodo is just wilting. We prepared the soil well but I have a feeling the plant had to stay in a container too long during our month of rain. Should I transplant the rhodo to another location and hope that perks it up or allow nature to take its course? I have a Hydrangea ready to be be planted somewhere so I am wondering if I should just replace it with that and be done with all this “drama”? Any suggestions or advice are appreciated.

[Red Badger]

Rain? What is the ‘rain’ of which thou speak?..................

[texanyankee]

With daily temps over 100 degrees, we’re going from dire to critical as far as moisture around here.

The outside oven got turned up about 10 more degrees this week.

We’re in survival mode now.

Just got tomatoes, okra & peppers. Tomatoes shut down any new production. What tomatoes are on the vines are getting burned.

Llano river is about to dry up.

We’re praying desperately for rain.

[Red Badger]

The Rhodo is lonely.
It needs a Philo for company...............

[afraidfortherepublic]

Good morning. The weather report is so confused around hear. First they say rain. Then they say no rain now, but rain all weekend. My daughter and her family are arriving Mon or Tues. I’ll never get this place ready.

My DR trimmer/mower arrived 2 days ago and I’m anxious to try it. It is a beast of a machine but very mmovable. I think it is toatlly assembled, but my husband needs to check it over, fill it with fuel and start it for the first time. It is electric start, so that should not be a problem. I’ve got waist high grass around my well and elsewhere to try it on.

We are off to a slow start too, but the garden looks good. It was very cold until just recently and I just got my PURCHASED plants all planted. I finished mowing all the lawns yesterday but the gardens up by the house are totally out of hand. I’m hoping that my daughter will help me with some weeding while she’s here.

[Texas Fossil]

We had our first squash and okra from the garden this week.

We have had only 1 inch of rain in the past 8 months, the temperature has been as high as 107 F. and the Sun extremely intense, and the wind has been horrible. Have to really pour the water to everything to keep it alive.

The biggest problem I had was getting my 29 new bare-root fruit trees to put out. I flood watered them 2 times per week since they were planted but about 1/4 of them either did nothing or put out from the root stock instead of the grafted wood. At first I thought it was the hot/dry winds, but I have come to the conclusion that it is really the intensity of the sun.

Did anyone else have problems getting properly cared for young trees to survive in this environment?

[texanyankee]

I heard reports that there is a 20% chance of showers starting Tuesday.

Those numbers dont make me optimistic.

[Red_Devil 232]

Twenty percent rain for me - means it will rain all around me but I will not get a drop!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Where are you gardening? Rhodys are pretty hardy plants, once they are established. They need acid soil and half day shade, unlike your roses which need full sun. Don’t worry about the droop. They often droop when stressed. Did you apply transplant “shock” when you planted it? If not, you can apply some now.

[Daisyjane69]

I’ve been in a lousy mood since yesterday.

When I ordered my plants, I explicitly asked the customer service person who answered my call the size of the pot/plants. This person, at High Country Gardens, attempted to “guess” what the size of their standard pot was. I was astonished that she didn’t know it. She led me to believe it was a 4” pot, but admitted that she wasn’t entirely sure. I ordered only because I had one week to do so; that is normal out here; many nurseries “sleep” once hot weather sets in, resuming operations in August/September. But at the end of the day, I realized she was simply poorly trained.

These plants were $ 5.99 each and so it seemed reasonable that they were 4” pots. That is about right for a perennial, once you add in shipping.

When I opened the box today, I was stunned. These plants were in 2” pots (herb starter pots!) and the pots were not particularly robust. Not full at all by anyone’s definition. My order was more than $ 34.00 including shipping for 4 scrawny plants. I was shocked.

I might break my rule about complaining about a product and raising hell; that isn’t my nature.

But I can tell you this. I purchased plug trays from a grower (http://mgnliners.com/) that were CHEAPER than these, go for more on the open market, and on top of it, I paid the royalty to the grower!

I doubt I’d ever order another thing from High Country Gardens.

Make sure you do your due diligence, folks.

[momtothree]

LOL! I was actually thinking that the Knock Out Roses bullied and beat the poor plant till it is obviously depressed. With the term “Knock Out”, no one is really surprised to learn they can be quite the mean bullies!!!

[texanyankee]

Most definitely have had problems.

We planted 2 peach, 1 pear & 1 plum tree 2 winters back, so they’ve had an opportunity to get some decent root growth. But the drought has still necessitated watering 2x a week.
They are in survival mode......

The problem is the 1.5” burr oak I planted this past winter. We almost lost it about a month ago - it lost 60 percent of it’s leaves and I was able to rescue it by watering every other day. I noticed there are new leaf buds coming out - but the intense heat has really stressed it out.

[ngat]

How long was it from the time the trees were pulled until you got them in the ground?