Posted on 05/03/2013 1:37:50 PM PDT by greeneyes
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
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Welllll, while most of you guys had problems due to cold weather or wind or family obligations, I was very busy. When one doesn’t know much about gardening, one has to get educated and I’m on that path.
I got bags of potting soil mix, had two that size already and had two bigger ones already. I planted seeds in these suckers and put them in the garden in blank spots. One was baby carrots and my mentor, Johnny, says I likely can’t eat them as they will bolt. Sooo, I look up “bolt”. Now that I know what it is, I’ll tell them not to do that.
I planted in those bags: Little Finger Carrots, Alpine Strawberries, Hot Jalapeno Pepper Medium Hot, Armenian Pale Green Cucumber, Gourmet Italian Onion, and a type of small Acorn Squash.
Then, I considered my situation. Not much real dirt space and I’ve managed to get some plants in there but I’ve got a lower back problem and hate digging in dirt. Better to use those bags and let the plants grow in the bags sitting in the dirt garden part (call the bags instant “raised beds”).
Have lots of wood raised deck space. Conclusion was that large wood deck space has to grow food. Looked for ways to do that and settled on “Tomato Trellis Garden on Wheels”. I ordered two of them yesterday. Each one will hold two regular size tomato plants by the time they grow to full size. That also gives me the support for the tomatoes as they grow, as the trellis part is in sections and as the plant needs another section, just stick it in the top of the ones already there. The trellis goes to four feet high. You can look at this thing here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NBZDNG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I’ve already bought the potting mix for the two of them. If these are good, I’ll get two more next spring. That wood deck is going to grow food. I also got a little gizmo to help me plant small seed. Some are so tiny, I manage to get a glop of them in one little space. Have to fix that and think this gizmo will do it. Also got some seed starting mix and I didn’t know that existed.
The veggies I’ve already planted are doing well except for the lettuce – it’s just not growing right - hard to tell any is growing now. I think maybe the dirt in those two planters on the ground doesn’t have what’s needed in it. I’ll take that out next spring and put potting soil mix in there.
I’ll keep reading and learning until I know what I’m doing.
I saw the pictures of the live oak trees and they were as bare as any post oak tree in the dead of winter. Piles of green leaves that were 20X20 and three feet tall.
Lettuce, turnip, squash, cucumber, melon plants all beat to a pulp. Some of those may come back from the center, but all the vines are gone.
Sometimes, that can be a GOOD thing.
Wow. I haven’t seen a walk in cooler since Granny sold her business.
Here in DFW got a bit cold last night too. Didn’t chance it so I covered up the ‘matoes with the old blanket plus the pepper plant. The arugula lettuce is doing ok. Last 2-3 weeks we had clouds galore but very little moisture from the sky. Hope that changes soon—don’t want to go into the scorcher summers here with dry ground from the get-go.
Thanks for the link. I just got in a Miles Kimbal catalogue, and it has pots that are designed to go over 2x4 deck railing. Looks great for herbs, lettuce and spinach etc.
My experiment so far shows mushroom compost superior for little gem lettuce and spinach-I think it was bloomsdale spinach to the top soil bag.
Pretty soon, you’ll be the expert here. LOL
I’ll just say a prayer for all those who are gardening and ask for a bountiful harvest this year. Amen.
It's certainly going to delay the harvest, though. It makes the peppers angry to get chilled.
The winds were harsh enough that the catz were right next to me all night long. It's down to gusts of 20MPH now.
/johnny
Yeh, like I get to enjoy my favorite movies just like it was the first time viewing.LOL
Also hard to hold grudges if you can’t remember! Ha Ha Ha!
It's supposed to get to 41 degrees tonight. In May in southeast Texas where I am about 40 miles north of Houston.
This is crazy weather with the cold/cool in May. 2011 killed all but two bush roses and there are only two sickly looking climbing ones left. The 205-207 temp. every day that summer cooked the leaves on the roses and they died. Many trees in this area died in 2011. That is the worst hot summer I've ever had in this state and I've been here all my life.
Hey johnny speaking of pepper plants mine got off to a bad start to begin with. Its a banana pepper with somewhat wilted, streaked leaves. I fed it some coffee grounds and a sprinkling of the seaweed molasses mix you recommend but so far no real change. Maybe I just need to give it more time in the warmer weather.
Walled gardens were a favorite of Edwardian/Victorian estate gardeners. You have to be aware of sunlight impact/shadows during the day.
I could live with a walled garden here.
It's a moderating influence.
/johnny
The cold snap didn't help a weak plant.
/johnny
“Pretty soon, you’ll be the expert here. LOL”
You people know so much, it will take me a long time to get where you are. I’m amazed there are plants growing in that garden. The Kentucky Wonder plants are growing so fast. And two I think are squash are also growing fast.
I did write on these bags today what I planted in them.
/johnny
My sister is like me, just wanting a few fresh veggies to use in the meals. I feel sorry for her and hope some come back. I lost my entire garden a few years ago as well.
That could be a picture of the maple I have in our back yard. Talked to the local Arborist and he said “grow fast, die fast”.
Upstate New York (Rochester)
Usually we don’t plant until Memorial Day up here, for fear of late frost. But this year I am getting started three weeks ahead of time.
Already put out about a dozen seven gallon container potted plants, assorted annuals so that I’m surrounded by various purple flowers when I have the morning coffee.
This week has been raking, trimming back tall grasses (shame ofnme for slothness in not doing it last fall!), cleaning out beds. I have three more beds to prepare and an overgrown hill to try to tame with fabric and mulch.
I hope to get all my planting in within a week. A sudden frost would really wreck me but I’m going to roll the dice.
That’s right. Good point. No grudges.LOL
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