Posted on 08/15/2014 12:26:58 PM PDT by greeneyes
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Yeah Mr. Binder I was so expecting to have a productive lush garden my first year back gardening. Once I pull my plants I will till my garden and hope I get some good recommendations for what to use as a cover crop that can be tilled in next spring. I have also started a new compost pile to till in next year. Just trying what I can to grow something and feel productive. Oh and my Pear and fig trees are doing great. The fig trees regenerated after the freezing cold this past winter killed them off and I should have a nice crop of fresh figs later this month or early Sept. And a big crop of cooking/canning type Pears to deal with. So all is not bad on my little farm. My wife bought some blue berry trees this last spring and she actually planted them by herself and takes care of them - so far.
GOOD ADVICE!
:-)
Patience. I go thru this every year...last year, we had hundreds and hundreds of green tomatoes that seemed to have no interest in turning color. I told my wife that with our luck; they were ALL going to turn at once. A couple of weeks later; I called her at work and asked if she remembered that comment. When she said 'yes', I replied 'today's the day'. Mine are ALL heirlooms/open pollinated, they are trellised on cattle panels, and they seem to take forever every year.
gun powder in the miracle gro. Works everytime! Lol =D
Well, that will make canning easier lol!
The leaves are curling inward and appear to be getting chewed on from the outside in.
I have settled on Common Vetch for a cover crop that I weed whack and spade in but keep in mind that I Garden in the closest place to paradise that crummy weather can buy...
I use winter barley for a cover crop. (and homebrew...)
Thanks, I am so glad you have grown some nice tomatoes in your crummy weather! Bet they tasted good!
Chilly here in Connecticut also. I did get a good crop of patio tomatoes but the weather has stalled everything, so cut them all back and planted Garzania’s (annual on discount from Walmart) in the pots. They are an interesting flower as they open in the sun, close when no sun.
Feels like Fall like you said. 50 last night and not about 75 here today.
Went to the farmer’s market in town, not much there.
Grew up in NY- Hudson Valley.
Well, I try.LOL
LOL.
Good list. Mine is more simple: leaves, fruits(includes solanese) roots, and legumes.
Leaves are stuff that like high nitrogen like spinach and lettuce. Fruits are basically fruits and veggies, solanese as you noted, roots like turnips, garlic etc, and legumes are peas, beans etc.
I don’t do much with pesticides. Pick and smoosh, wash off, sometimes use homemade garlic/pepper spray.
My organic gardening book, says good soil equals strong plants, and that with crop rotation means the plants can resist the critters. Color me somewhat sceptical.
However, I tend to work on the soil, and plant companion crops so that my whole harvest isn’t jeoperdized when the critters find something they like.
To make the garlic/pepper spray: In a quart jar:
Onion, chopped
Garlic bulb, smushed with knife
Cayenne Pepper
Add boiling water and let sit overnight up to 24 hours.
Strain and put into sprayer
Add a drop or two of dish washing liquid
Add a drop or two of cooking or neem oil
Shake before spraying.
Spray only at night to help avoid harm to bees. This stuff is lethal to many bugs when first sprayed. One reason I don’t even use it much anymore.
But, it’s not harmful to pets and humans.
Another good one.
Here’s a link to a site that gives some advice on organic pesticides and various pests that you might find interesting. I warn you it’s kinda hard core organic. Tends toward not spraying, but still informative.
http://supak.com/mort/insects.htm
Joe Bastardi called for a serious warming trend for the East Coast around the middle of the month
We're there now , so the heat should show up pretty soon .
Tonight's weather here calls for temps in the low 50's and mid 40's; definately not tomato maturing weather ! According to NOAA, we don't hit 80 degrees for another week, supposedly on Friday (7/23/14), and then we will cry for air conditioning with heat and humidity.
Time will tell because the heat will mature those tomatoes, and they will be comming out your ear !
Stay tuned for Saturday's Bastardi weather analysis
Even Obozo complained that the ocean water was too cold for a swim.
I wonder if that affects his opinion/agenda about "GlowBULL" warming
With all the rainfall over the past two weeks , and the anticipated heat expected in the Northeast, I imagine that there will be a short 'harvest season'.
Get your canning and freezing supplies set up for harvest.
Prepare to be overwhelmed !
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