Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 13) April 8

Free Republic | 04-08-2011 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Good morning gardeners. I hope things are going well for all the gardeners. My seedling trays are over flowing with growth. I have heirloom tomatoes, Marion and Arkansas Travelers ready for repotting. Paste tomatoes and squash were repotted a few days ago. I Also have a few types of flowers also doing well. I will plant some hot peppers in my garden also. Hot peppers have always done well for me. Sweet Bell peppers I have always had problems growing but will try them once again.

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.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

When I lived in NH I grew Habaneros. Started them indoors around January, moved them to the sunroom then outdoors as things warmed up. They wintered over well also. Ghost chiles were unheard of at the time or I would have tried them.

I have some seeds if you would like to try germinating them yourself. PM me with an address and I’ll send you 5 or 6. That should be good for at least 1 successful plant.

[Gabz]

OH NO...........that’s awful.

[Free Vulcan]

I have lousy luck at growing the traditional onions too. I’ve taken to growing potato onions, topset onions, and shallots, plus growing green onions from seed. The first three are bulb planted and divide into 5-10 more bulbs which I save back a percentage to replant each year.

I like them better, they have a better flavor in my opinion unless you’re talking about some of the Italian speciality varieties. Really wish I could grow some of those.

[who knows what evil?]

I was able to over-winter several fatali plants...one actually has peppers on it...

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Good morning! I’m late to the party - I only flower garden here in the city. Last week I found a guy nearby that was selling some Knockout Roses for $6.00. I added 2 to the ones I bought last year. Absolutely love them!! I’ll be perusing the perennials shortly to add to my beds and containers :)

The weather is warming up nicely here in St. Louis with a bit of rain here and there. Should be a nice spring once it gets going and stays going.

[Gabz]

I’d say I would trade your temps for my rain, but you are describing July and August around here.

It was nearly 80 with sun and pretty windy yesterday, yet everything is still swampy and squishy.

[texanyankee]

Our soil is well drained and low on organic matter - so I gotta keep up on that aspect of it.

I spread out turkey compost twice a year and goat manure once a year but one wouldnt know it by looking at the soil.

I probably need to increase the amount of compost.

[Gabz]

I was able to over-winter several fatali plants...one actually has peppers on it...

Lucky you. I have never had any luck getting the fatalis to even germinate.

There is no such thing as too many hot pepper varieties growing, in my book!

[who knows what evil?]

Lucky you. I have never had any luck getting the fatalis to even germinate.

Really? I even had success 'dense planting' them this year...

There is no such thing as too many hot pepper varieties growing, in my book!

Amen...amen...amen!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I know I'm supposed to know what I'm doing, but I'm having some germination problems this season with tomatoes and peppers, so I'm starting another batch right now. Guess it's tomatoes in August for me this year, LOL!

Cleaned out the chicken coop and started on the tree line on the west side of my farm. Got about 1/5th of it done but it's a HUGE job. Lots of scrap shrubbery in there that needs to go - and it's going, Baby!

Going to seed in lettuces, radishes and more spinach in the small garden today. Rainy all weekend and warm, warm, warm!

Pansies and some early spring veggies are coming in at Jung's today, so get over there! My competition only beat me by ONE day this season, so I'm obviously getting much better at my job, LOL!

[Gabz]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

3 years in a row I tried fatalis and not a single seedling. I’ve had similar problems with some of the other less well known varieties. Habaneros and serranos, OTOH, I just look at the seeds and they germinate.

[Gabz]

Don’t feel so bad — I don’t have a single seed started yet.

I’m supposed to be working on taxes right now — but as you can see by my presence here, that is not exactly going according to plan :)

[who knows what evil?]

Weird...I start them in sterile Pro-Mix, spritz the surface with filtered water, drop a little shrink-wrap over the top of the cell; and keep them on a warm surface.

Works like a charm every time...my seeds come from Diana's old employer.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m totally unmotivated this season for some reason. Kinda crashin’ after this past year, I’m thinking. A girl can only handle so much before she has to decompress! But gardening is uber-sweet therapy. When it warms up more and stops raining on me, I’ll perk right up - just like a plant! :)

But, it’s not like I don’t know where to BUY veggie plants - and it’s kind of nice I’m the one that chooses and orders which ones we grow out, LOL! Gotta love that kind of POWER! I shall wield it fairly, though! :)

[Gabz]

I attempted to start them in the same seed starting mix I use for everything else, and I too got the seeds from Diana's former employer :)

On a thread related note, it seems the Donald is interested in growing:

Donald Trump buys foreclosed Kluge winery in Virginia

[Gabz]

Believe me, I totally understand. I’m so totally unmotivated it isn’t even funny. I went out to the greenhouse yesterday and just stood there. I didn’t know where to begin.

[Sarajevo]

Is that your normal soil? I’ve been amending the caliche on my farm like crazy.

[tubebender]

On another note - any beekeepers here? My first hive is arriving this Sunday

I was sitting in my garden contemplating my next chore when it hit me that there was a thread on honey bees on FR early this year and with a little searching found the link... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2667836/posts and I believe AGR raises Bees? There were several bee keepers on this thread who had good reason to continue using the old traditional hives...

[TASMANIANRED]

Earlier in the week I had to dog my mini green house down to keep seedlings from freezing... Today I had to throw it open to keep them from baking.

[TASMANIANRED]

Take the lid off and get them in some sunlight.

They are straining to reach light.

Don’t transplant until you have at least 2 true leaves.