Posted on 05/04/2012 7:31:41 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde
Good morning FRiends and fellow gardeners! I really enjoyed all of you that participated in last week's thread. I've been so busy that I didn't have time to respond to each and every comment, but I think about what y'all write and the photos that you post while I'm out working on my own projects. You truly inspire me!
Looking forward to reading your updates this week. We welcomed 2 new members to the ping list last week, bringing us to 525 members. That is fantastic, and we are on track to add 100 members this year.
In my own little patch of earth, I've worked on many projects this past week and I did take plenty of photos along the way. If I get a chance I'll share some later on this evening, but if I don't, I'll post them all as next week's thread. My mind is reeling going from one thing to another and it would be easier to tell you what doesn't hurt on my body. It is all very rewarding though, as I'm sure y'all understand.
Happy gardening!
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!
Ticks need moisture to survive. The don't like short grass and they hate rocks used as mulch. Keep a wide area (3 feet)around your beds as rock. A ticks primary vector is the mouse. Make the area inhospitable for mice and that should reduce the issue. Also attracting toads and frogs could help reduce bad bugs in general.
For your protection I would suggest that you get some pyrethrum. Dedicate a pair of pants, socks, and shoes for gardening. Spray those clothes heavily with the pyrethrum. Let them dry. Wear those clothes to garden. The ticks touch the clothes and more or less die on the spot. Good for about three washings.
Since the best methods are already ruled out, you can try this:
OMRI Listed Organic Materials Review Institute
safe for use in protecting fruit, vegetables and other food crops.
Contains no synthetic additives, is non-toxic,
and is not harmful to animals or the environment.
Considered the most cost-effective
and environmentally safe animal repellent available.
http://www.plantskydd.com/repellent.html
I have some that I’m going to use this year on a large corn patch outside the deer/rabbit fenced garden.
Now, if I could just find an effective grasshopper deterrent...
Turkeys.
We are, and have been, over run with wild turkeys for years; they can only eat so many; also they can die from eating too many, as it plugs them up.
Last two years were declared ‘ag emergencies’, which allowed the use of normally disallowed pesticides on a large scale.
I did spread a grasshopper disease spore last year, but killing on an acre surrounded by thousands of (government) acres of uncontrolled breeding grounds doesn’t make a dent.
Hello, all! We started a terraced square foot garden on a hill on the south lawn this year(since we can’t sell our house and get out into the country). It’s proving to be a much larger project than we anticipated! We knew that the soil wouldn’t be cheap but are limited to two beds at the moment. We may try for two or three more throughout the summer for late crops or a jump on next year.
Also, starting plants from seeds is horrifying! I started with 6 of each seed and am down to one survivor from each plant. Mostly tomatoes and peppers. I’ve got them in a sunny window that I open so the breeze hits them for part of the day. I’m trying to get them strong enough to go outside and into the ground. I’m afraid I’m going to wind up going to the local nursery to purchase plants after buying all the seed and killing all the plants. I pray something survives my not-so-green thumb!
Next year I’m just going to drive down to Mansfield, MO and buy substantial plants ready for the ground from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. It’s going to be hard for me to try to can stuff this year if there’s nothing to can. Oh, woe is me!! :0)
I wish you all much success!
How did you seedlings die off? Did you have any grow lights?
We are so new to this and think we did a lot of things wrong and are making mental notes. We did use a grow light but had it on 24 hours a day. Probably stressed them out. We tried to move them outdoors for a couple hours at a time but think we started too early and should have put them in the shade first, then direct sunlight later. Some of them needed a bigger pot to grow in other than the tiny things we started them in.
Now the peppers and tomatoes are in their own separate larger pot sitting in natural sunlight most of the day and only one or two of them look like they won’t make it. The rest are reaching for the window. We turned them all around one night so the kids could see how the plants reach for the sun. I think next week I’ll try setting them outside for one hour at a time.
I really don’t know what I’m doing. It’s so easy to read a book or info on the web and think, “I can do this!” It’s entirely different to actually do it. I’m a slow learner.
Mark Viette Video - Lilac Pruning Tips
Their website, in general is helpful. There is also a forum where you can add questions. Andre has a very popular radio show - I enjoy listening to it on Saturday mornings!
Hope some of this helps - I love lilacs!
Be careful if you’re allergic to poison ivy because mangos are their cousins. There’s a substance between the skin and the meat that is the poison/allergic part so even if you peel it carefully there’s some that will get into what you’re eating. I learned that lesson the hard way.
I think anyone who has started gardening could say "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt". It's frustrating I know but stick with it. Next year will be better and the year after better still.
If you don't already have them, I recommend the following books:
The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, 2nd Edition - Ed Smith
Garden Way's Joy of Gardening - Dick Raymond
Some are in half-gallon, some are in one-gallon. Two days without rain earlier in the week and they were starting to wilt.
#!^_&_$^(*%@!!! SNAKES!!! I hate snakes!! I was driving in and saw two making whoopie out in the road in front of the house. BIG ones!!! I ran over them but when I went to reverse on them, they were gone. I drove around looking for them and hubby came out to look and we couldn’t find them. Ugh, we’ve already had two - a little one dead in the garden and hubby took care of a big on on the porch a about three weeks ago. FYI, I don’t know what part of TX you’re in but the evening news out of Austin a few days ago had a segment on snakes and said we’d have a lot of them this summer because of the heat last summer (don’t know how that relates but whatever) and they were already getting more reports. Ugh, I just know they and their offspring will be camping out at my front door any day.
Y’all, be careful in the garden.
Lilacs need full sun to bloom happily. Are yours getting plenty of sunlight?
Thank you for the suggestions. I’ll look for them at the library. We certainly need all the help we can get. I look forward to the future when we can look back, laugh at ourselves, and help others. :0)
This was in the chickencoop.
You don't know how envious I am. My mango tree has been about 3ft tall for the last 2 years. It also dropped a lot of it's leaves.
Yes, I knew that. One year long ago I was walking through one of our cotton fields and noticed how the leaves were similar and the flowers were almost identical, but cotton flowers were smaller. That's when I started reading about the african origins of each.
If anyone wants to grow a few cotton plants as ornamentals, let me know and I'll mail you some seeds. Makes a very pretty plant. Areas where the temps cool off at night will provide a particularly good home.
I will do just that. My neighbor’s Lilac (right next door) doesn’t bloom either. A close friend who lives two streets away... no luck on hers. I keep thinking alone your lines... it is something in the soil (especially since the one use to bloom). Something has changed... the soil test may tell me what. Thanks!
Good article. Thank you, Mike. It is getting 5 hours of sun. We don’t really fertilize the soil; however, our next door neighbors dump everything you can purchase at Home Depot on their yard (grub control, seed, weed and feed, etc...) I am beginning to think there may be run-off of sorts. Thanks, Mom
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