Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 21) June 25

Free Republic | 06-25-2010 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Was hoping you could advise FReeper - surfer with their question.

surfer - in post 38 was asking about them

[who knows what evil?]

Whoa...posted at the exact same time...right to the second. Don’t we both win a car or something???

[Red_Devil 232]

Looks like I pulled the trigger a little early - I just could never follow the ROE very well! LOL

[MagnoliaMS]

I do. I use them, and everything I have ever planted in them did great. They really are just as good as they say they are. I usually put my tomatoes in mine, as they do so well, and I need all the tomatoes I can get. My entire yard, front and back, is covered with ages-old oak trees, so I can put these in whatever little sunny spots I can find.

[Red_Devil 232]

I think it is one of these! Who do we collect from?

[Red_Devil 232]

Do you reuse the potting mix or just renew it every year?

[who knows what evil?]

There really isn't a 'recipe'...I have been seeking the 'ultimate salsa' for my personal palate for a while...my wife uses paste tomatoes; to minimize the amount of liquid. Natch; I have about a dozen varieties of paste toms growing right now. She will also throw in cherry tomatoes for color or to sweeten it up a bit...toms like Isis Candy, Black Cherry, Cherry Roma, Sungold Select; that type of thing. Fresh garlic, onion, and cilantro a MUST. If sharing with wimpy New Englanders; we go with jalapenos. But for those with a discerning palate; in go the habaneros, scotch bonnets, peter peppers and such. She uses a packet mix for spices...I'll have to get back to you on the brand; although some fresh herbs will find their way in there, as well. A few quick zaps on the food processor, a trip thru the cheesecloth, and it's salsa time.

Here is an EXCELLENT site for salsa recipes. Have fun. :-)

[who knows what evil?]

Cool...there’s a big NASCAR race in NH this weekend. Wonder if the Robinsons can ship that ‘air express’?

[who knows what evil?]

You have to remove and replace the fertilizer strip every year; but the EB people say the soil only needs to be replaced every five years. The Pro Mix in my boxes is three years old; and everything is looking good...all tomatoes, all beans, and all cukes doing very well.

[greeneyes]

Good Morning Red_Devil 232, I just got in from gardening. Did not do too much. Watered, and pulled a few weeds. Looked at Hubby's garden.

We had to give in and water the cucumbers yesterday in his garden. Our air conditioner makes 5 gallon per day which takes care of my small sq. foot garden and potted plants. We only have about 90 gallons left in our trashcan “rain-barrels” for his gardens. Hope it rains soon.

I put up 2 pints of refrigerator pickles this week. We also got 2 pints of green beans. One we ate and the other I processed and put in the freezer. Hubby Picked another quart this morning and about 8 cucumbers.

My Black Zucchini has a bunch of little teeny tiny gnats all over it, and 3 of the leaves have turned yellow. I sprayed them with some homemade garlic,onion,pepper,soap spray, and they took off. I researched the internet, but never did find anything that sounded like the little buggers.

Came in the house, and squirted a water bug I saw in the sink. Thirty seconds later it rolled over and died. I was surprised. Now my sprayer is clogged so I have to come up with something else to use as a sprayer. I strained it twice, so I thought I probably had all the little pieces out. Every one have a great weekend, and God bless.

[who knows what evil?]

Almost forgot...for a real salsa treat; roast your tomatoes. To die for. Really.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Are you growing in mostly sand?"

Not really. It is Mississippi delta ridge ground, which has a sandy texture when properly prepared. It has enough clay to clump up quite well when it is not worked.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

LOL!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

It was rightly_dividing that was inquiring about grass under the trees. I have a nice lawn under my trees, but you have to have the trees trimmed to provide light.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Thank you for your kind words ... believe it or not I am still planting! It is an illness.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"We did plant some St. Augustine next to the patio were some of the oak branches hang down over it, and it has done okay..just does not spread."

Have you tried throwing some fertlizer out and keeping it well watered?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

How are your taters?

[stefanbatory]

as justadumbblonde says, fertilize that stuff...st augustine has a voracious appetite for fertilizer and water. It is a very high maintenance grass. Personally, I hate the stuff cuz I’d rather spend my time taking care of something i can eat. that’s why I prefer bahia...

[who knows what evil?]

Some of the ones in the raised beds are starting to blossom...the ones in the buckets are going nuts...almost four feet tall; a couple are going to come up out of the polypipe pretty soon...holy cow. The plants are amazing, but how many potatoes we will get remains to be seen...wife will be busy hilling beds and buckets tonight...they look like four-foot tall cigarettes with a bush coming out of the top.

[rightly_dividing]

This is the trees in question needing some ground cover. The ones in the front of the house are very shady but have pretty good grass coverage.