Posted on 03/04/2011 5:04:58 AM PST by Red_Devil 232
Good morning gardeners. It is finally March and in Central Mississippi it has come in like a Lamb so far, does that mean it will go out like a Lion?
People used to believe that bad spirits could affect the weather adversely, so they were cautious as to what they did or did not do in certain situations. Those beliefs often included ideas that there should be a balance in weather and life. So, if a month came in bad (like a lion), it should go out good and calm (like a lamb).
I am still waiting for my tomato seeds to germinate. I am not worried about them yet as they take 14 – 21 days. A couple of my squash seeds have sprouted. Time to get the garden ready and my soil tested. The testing only costs $6.00 at the county extension. Regular tests include: pH, Lime Requirement, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Sodium.
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.
Good news! He just found the wallet. He put it on a shelf in the conference room when he met with a vendor yesterday! Whew! That saves me from a world of hurt — getting replacement docs and licenses and changing account numbers! Little miracles.
Well, I know the feeling. Last year we had a pear tree loaded with pears and that bad hail storm hit. Not a single pear survived. Lots of branch damage too.
I bought an electric tiller today. I only have two 8 X 20 gardens anyway, so it will be OK. There is so much organic matter in the dirt, it went thru them in less than 30 minutes.
Have you been going back and forth to California?
How are your Mom and Hubby doing?
I agree with not planting too much in one spot. IIRC, Red warned me about that the first year, but I didn’t listen. ;-)
I’m going to try cucumbers on a trellis this year.
You won't be disappointed.
I’m doing Russian Black Crim and Brandywine this year... if I’m still around for the harvest :8
BLACK KRIM
75 Days. Aka Black Crim, this superb Russian Heirloom hails originally from the Isle of Krim in the Black Sea. A rare variety yielding 3-4” slightly flattened mahogany-colored beefsteak fruits with deep green shoulders. Exceptional intense smokey/slightly-salty flavors. Indeterminate.
Please add me to your ping list.
I have a large Lavender plant in the yard. I’m in the Hill Country NW of San Antonio. We originally bought the plant at a nursery, but it wasn’t doing well in the pot. The wife put it in the ground and basically forgot about it, and it has done great! The same for rosemary. Put it in the ground, and don’t mess with it. You should have a large bush in a year or two.
I have had other people tell me about Black Crim and I think it is Jerry Baker’s favorite of all the heirlooms he sells at Baker Creek Seeds. We have to buy our good tomatoes at the Farmers Markets because our summer temps are too cool and too much dampness. Our favorite large tomato is Cherokee Purple and a small tomato that looks a lot like the Black Crim but smaller...
?!?!?!?!
We had 33* this morning and some frost, 2 hrs east of you. I hope that your garden was OK. Fortunatly, my seedlings are in the garage and only reached 55*
Have made only one trip to CA. Mom is doing well for a 97 year old. The big problem is her self confidence. My sister-in-law (hubby’s sister) tries to undermine her self confidence. This is becoming a bigger problem than her age and injury. My next trip will be a surprise — unannounced.
My husband starts radiation tomorrow. We’ll see how that goes and decide whether I can leave him. I have to time my trips according to payroll, as I’m the only one who can run it. I can do many things long distance, but payroll is on a different system; and I have to be there.
I grew cucumbers on a fence this past year. Trouble was, they got too big before I found them. They were outside the area where my corn patch was and my squash that filled up all the walking space.
Justadumbblonde has the best idea — cattle panels that allow you to reach through and harvest from both sides. I’m hoping to try one of those. Justa says she buys a 16 ft. long panel and has it cut in 2. Then she has 2 8 ft. long panels. Sturday and useful for cucumbers, squash, melons, etc. Very cost effective.
If I don’t have to move again..
You won't be disappointed.
I tried cucumbers once a long time ago, and I didn't like the flavour. Also, they grew on the ground in a garden. This year they will be in the raised bed, and on the trellis.
I call it that for lack of a better word, but it does resemble the cattle panels Justadumbblonde uses, with slightly smaller openings.
I had snow peas climbing up it last summer, and I have two more like it.
I’m not sure if you meant you didn’t like the flavor of cucumbers at all, or if you didn’t like the flavor of those particular cucumbers that year ... but I would mention that cucumbers are one of those fruits that will taste bitter and nasty if the plant has not received sufficient water. The bitter taste will actually present itself before the plant wilts or shows serious need for water.
Thanks for that bit of wisdom on cucumbers. I have noticed that since we moved to Tx, the cukes in the stores here are bitter and have since stopped buying them. I guess we should give them another chance. The small pickling cukes are just fine and we buy them for salads and table use. We will keep in mind your advise here as we are going to grow pickling cukes and use a fence panel for support. We just love homemade pickles.
I keep my seed trays in the house at night. Good thing, since we had frost here this am.
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