Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 09) March 04

Free Republic | 03-04-2011 | Red_Devil 232

[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.

[Arrowhead1952]

If I don’t have to move again..

Just move to Lago and buy a house.

[rightly_dividing]

My neighbor has about 35 tomato plants in the ground along with a number of other things. I haven’t talked to him today to see how he fared.

[tubebender]

It’s just not fair! I just want to lay down and cry my little heart out...

[Arrowhead1952]

One of the ladies at church said her one early tomato plant showed a little frost damage today.

[tillacum]

Thank you. How tall do the bushes get? I want a low hedge of them along the fence to the 4th tee, along with some climbing or pillar roses.

[tillacum]

I am going to climb my cucumbers too, plus the watermelon. We have a fence gate that’s just leaning on a tree in the back yard. Shoot, if it can lean there, it can stand in the garden and be useful.

[tillacum]

OH, your veggies look so good and the melons!!! WOW! I have 2-2 1/2 foot high raised gardens, and by mid summer they look like something happened.

[daisy mae for the usa]

We planted cucumbers on a fence row last year and were very happy with the outcome. Easy to harvest, high yield. We have a small fenced in back yard and do square foot gardening. We are newbies. Last year was our first, but we produced very well. Looking forward to using the lessons of last year to improve this year! Good luck with your cucumbers!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Those photos are from last year and I think one of them was the year before ... I was trying to show the variety of things I’ve grown on a cattle panel.

[fanfan]

I love cucumbers. You are right. The ones I grew were bitter.

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll make sure they have plenty of water this year. How do I tell if I’m overwatering them?

[who knows what evil?]

Black Krim...yummy, yummy, yummy. I started growing several blacks last year; Black Cherry, Black Plum, Paul Robeson; all outstanding. Added Black from Tula and Japanese Black Trifele this year...thumbs up, WAY up for black tomatoes.

[who knows what evil?]

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. Sturdy and useful for cucumbers, squash, melons, etc. Very cost effective.

On her recommendation; I used cattle panels last year. Outstanding for cucumbers!

[Nepeta]

How large of a container do I need to grow sweet potatoes?

[txhurl]

That’s what I’m afraid of: once you go black, you never go back.

The black cherries especially tempt me. Is the flavor really smoky? I love the absence of sogginess blacks seem to display.

[who knows what evil?]

I get the impression that many of these people who write descriptions of tomato flavors have attended one too many wine tastings...I don’t find them ‘smoky’ at all...just damn tasty. :-)

[txhurl]

Black Cherry

Black Plum, I will probably try a couple of these, plums are my favorite.

The Paul Robeson

What I really want, the

JAPANESE BLACK TRIFELE
80 Days. This prized Russian Heirloom is of the Trifele variety, of which there are several colors. (The name translates to “truffle”.) Plant is short and potato-leafed, and produces prolific quantities of mahogany-colored, Bartlett Pear-shaped, fruits with green shoulders.

One of the blackest varieties and just gorgeous sliced open; 6-8 ounce fruits. Resistant to cracking. Indeterminate.

[who knows what evil?]

Collect them all; save the seeds.

[who knows what evil?]

I’m looking forward the the Black Trifele...I have been growing the harder to locate yellow ones for several years...

[txhurl]

You can't help but infer that the darker colors hold more light/heat and ripen faster, and probably sweeter. Something cold-climate people might find helpful.

We'll see. High dessicating winds and still cold temps keep mine from from going into the ground.

[txhurl]

How large of a container do I need to grow sweet potatoes?

---

Somebody posted a new way to do this. We’re assuming you’re meaning the vegetable and not the decorative vine.

The decorative ones are knockout in hanging baskets: mix the purple, tricolor and green together. Something beautiful to come home to everyday on the porch!