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Posted on 05/27/2016 3:05:01 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. This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks.
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Plain old clorox will help the blight too.
Between clorox and the mulch I don’t have a problem with foliar diseases much anymore.
5oz of clorox concentrate (plain, not scented etc) plus one gallon (I save an old milk jug for this) mixed in a pump sprayer. Wait till the sun has gone down (If the sun hits it while the plants are still damp from the bleach spray it will burn them up) and then drench every part of the plant you can. Especially under the leaves and the new growth.
Stand UPwind and don’t breathe any in. I wear one of those masks you get at walmart when I do this. Also, wear old clothes.
Be sure to thoroughly rinse your sprayer including spraying out clean water for a bit. The bleach solution, if left sitting, will eat the little rubberized parts.
I follow up the next morning with a gentle feeding (1/2 strength of the urbanfarms texas tomato food is what I currently use).
If the vines are still green when you start they’ll be fine. Although they’ll look like hammered heck for a couple weeks. Eventually they’ll put out a little branch at the junction of each of the infected big leaves. They will then take over your garden.
This doesn’t do anything for soil borne diseases (nematodes, verticillium, fusarium, etc) but it will stop most foliar ones.
I use this technique to stop blackspot on my roses. I just feed them with miracle grow for roses afterwards.
I recommend joining ‘tomatoville’. Lots of people there who have all sorts of clever tricks. Tomatoville is where I learned of the bleach treatment. IIRC some of them use this to control powdery and downy mildew on cucumbers and squash plants too.
jet.com, check it out. The descriptions aren’t as good as Amazon, but sometimes the prices are better. The prices do change often though, sometimes a lit so I have to check back often. What I like is free shipping with $35, like Amazon used to have and - best of all for me - no tax!
I just read about the newspaper bit and will be trying it when I plant my tomatoes and peppers in a few days. if it really saves me work weeding, I will be super happy.
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My figs have all recovered from the cold snaps and are full of leaves, making the atmosphere quite tropical here. Only two (out of twenty-five) still have fruit on them. These are a Kadota and an unknown dark variety, located in a perfect microclimate. Before the cold snaps, all of my EBT figs (almost a dozen) were full of fruit, but they were also out in the open so they fared badly. Still, that fig (English Brown Turkey) produces more fruit than any other tree I have. The only one which can come close for me is a Brunswick fig, the type with the unique, long thin fingers and always oversized figs. Different varieties have different growth habits. Some are graceful, and willow-like, like my kadota. Some want to just be a bush. Celeste and BT are like this for me. Black Mission is just too much of a pain for me to mess with here, without building it a special house to live in.
That’s enough about figgies for now.
Worms
Vermiculture/Vermicomposting is where you let the worm be your garbageman (and soil man) because these guys turn garbage into great soil. After a chance encounter with a massive worm bed, I have been raising worms for the past several months. The original bin was harvested, and I’ve been watering plants with castings water, but the five gallons left are full of baby worms, so I’ve given them some cardboard on top, and if they take care of business I’ll give em some melon, but ultimately I need to put this mess to one side in bin with the other side consisting of fresh bedding and food. This way I won’t lose any worms.
I’ve been ruminating about how to make one’s own thriving worm bed, kind of like, if you love them let them be free. This would give me access to an untold host of worms which no amount of bins on my part could contain. The worm bed which I encountered by chance consisted of a green ivy/type plant which had taken over half an asphalt loading area. This area is also under several trees. The ivy took the pavement and accumulated leaf litter and random garbage from the restaurant had created a type of soil a couple inches deep. When this area was fully excavated, it appeared that the worms had eaten a garbage bin sized area of the pavement.
I’ve also heard of another naturally occurring worm bed, where the bedrock comes close to the surface. I believe the connection here is the vapour barrier of the concrete/stone, as well as, perhaps, the pleasure worms get rubbing against these materials (over a long period of time, worms release minerals of stones by their friction) This bottom must trap moisture and nutrient rich silt which the worms devour and thrive in. My thinking is that I could set stones in the ground and add my leaf litter and garbage over the top of that. If that doesn’t bring worms then my thinking must be off.
Grapes
Muscadine grapes are out of control wild and crazy, and the two young clones are cute, for now...
This year I am going to precisely measure my ingredients when making the wine, as last season I went by feel and only half my wine turned out. The rest was like vinegar, the taste of failure.
Cardboard
This is connected to the worms, as it’s one of their favorite foods as well as mating areas. This stuff has a lot going for it, at a price which is nonexistent. I think that perforating the cardboard over an area of sod and keeping it wet would draw a host of worms as well, but I still have to try it. As the sod dies it is more grist for the mill. I don’t need to ride the worm like Paul Atraides, but if I can simply direct a herd which is unconstrained then I’ll feel like I’ve achieved a personal milestone I’ll grow my herd, then draw them to the loading area with favorite foodstuffs and applied worm knowledge. I’ll then zap the ground with just the right amount of current to gently force the team up into the waiting Greyhound bus (nothing’s too good for the worms). We will do children’s parties and we also will rejuvenate land for the right price.
Sunflowers
Growing two giant sunflowers, they’re coming along slow, the tallest is about my height now (six feet). There are three posts in the ground, after my tragic losses last season, to support the plants and prevent them from getting their necks broke once their heads swell up. A rabbit ate my third sunflower. When I replanted, a squirrel came and dug up the seed in the night. Haven’t tried a third time yet.
Mullberries
This is my first season here in four years where the cold snap was perfectly timed to wipe out all mullberries. These have always been the first ripe fruits of the season. They are in the fig family, so it makes sense they got their butts whupped likewise.
Container gardening
I loathe it, but am doing it for my mother. The tomato which is doing the best is the one planted with dirt only half up a five gallon bucket with a cracked bottom. I think this makes a kind of moisture trap which the other flimsy, candy-ass 3 gallon pots can’t dream of.
Manure
I need horse manure (it is a favorite food of worms) but am dreading the whole ordeal. Worse, the longer I put it off, the hotter it will be when I finally go do it. Shoveling shit is a joy, but my back begs to differ. Oh well, builds character, amiright?
Stones
I need more of them, but my land doesn’t happen to yield any that weren’t put there by man. They are the ultimate slow-release fertilizer, releasing their minerals slowly and minutely as earthworms break up the ground from below and rub the rock. They are insulated from the chill of winter by this wonderful stone, so their work never ceases. After a big stone has been on a spot for a couple years, if the light is right one should plant in that spot and see what happens.
Grass
I like to harvest some of the clippings. Once decomposed about a week, grass clippings draw worms like nobody’s business. Also makes excellent mulch for plants. In a larger sense, mulching is really key to almost all of the gardener’s worries. Mulch, particularly grass mulch or hay, draws the worms, and the worms drop their castings while aerating the soil (their bodies secrete a slime when they tunnel, which keeps their tunnels open even in a deluge), this activity ensures your plants will be watered from the bottom up, as opposed to all top and mostly runoff. The worms castings produced while they till this mulched land are better fertilizer than any you can buy. The trick is to have enough grass clippings to keep the train rolling. Wanna-do is the biggest hurdle in life. If you can find the wanna-do everything is open to you.
Compost
Just made my first proper compost pit on a day off. In previous years I used this very spot by simply digging a hole, throwing food waste in, and covering it with dirt. This time I followed instructions from a 1954 book on the subject, and dug down a level area the dimensions of my desired pit the depth of the cinder blocks. I then laid my first course, then my final course of blocks. My innovation was dumping a case of oyster shells as my first, bottom layer (seeing if I can create a mini worm bed). I then threw in some dirt, then my garbage, then more dirt, then, another innovation, I topped it with wettened shredded cardboard and grass mulch, as I would do for any of my worm bins. This is all topped with a loose fitting steel lid with enough holes in it to let in rain. In my line of work I have access to a virtually unlimited supply of compost. Again, wanna-do is the main hurdle in everything.
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Be sure to use at least 6 layers, more is ok. Soaking them means they lay down flatter and don't blow away even after they dry if you press down a little when laying. They recommended black and white only, no colored ink, then some said they use colored, magazines, catalogs, etc. I never had any b&w but my Farm Journal now is mostly. Old phone books are probably a handy size. Good luck with it. I don't think you will be sorry.
Newspaper and stuff piles up so fast I already had to recycle some but had been saving them. Even though I can't do much gardening, I will try to get some newspapers laid down in certain spots. Walmart uses tons of brown scored paper as filler, I've got that saved, too, now am throwing it away. It's faster to roll it and then press on it real hard to flatten it, throw in with recycling.
Plant 5 or 6 old timey mothballs in close proximty just below soil level , the vapors have no effect on the plant , but repels most rodents.
I read the Amish spray it on their harvested green bean plants to stimulate reblossoming for a second crop.
I was winter sowing into gallon milk jugs almost everything. Then setting out in what they call HOS (hunks of seedlings) in the garden. Worked great. The plants know when to germinate, and the tops on the containers protect them, in warmer weather, open them during the day, don't let dry out.
I burned a lot of drainage holes. Rain and snow water through the small pouring hole believe it or not. The only thing I didn't do right and lost some is set up on something other than ground or sidewalk where the water can drain.
I wasn't growing veggies though, just tomatoes. Was planning on doing herbs and lettuce in my collection of plastic porch boxes and a few other things. Don't want ones that take too much soil and don't want clay pots as they dry out like crazy, aren't really better for plants unless you don't set the pots to drain properly or over water them.
Whatever my family can't use will go to the local food pantry.
In the same plot we've also got about 300 tomato plants and about 200 pepper plants, plus a pretty big area that's all onions.
It's been a very cool spring, with a whole lot of rain.
The potatoes and some of the tomatoes already have blooms.
Now if I could just get the other plot planted....
Nice weather, when it isn’t raining. So far this week, a bit over 1/2”. Good for the garden, but the downside is that lightning killed my modem Tuesday afternoon; phone company replaced it yesterday morning.
Yesterday, I transplanted leek seedlings; today, 6 tomatoes went in: 3 Roma; 1 heirloom Heinz Super Roma; 1 Cherokee Purple; and 1 Rutgers. Tomatoes don’t normally do good here, so it’s a compromise between not having any, and wasting a lot of space on them...and STILL not having any.
Cut our first rhubarb yesterday, and the last asparagus of the season today.
Next week, the potatoes will need their first hilling. Also ready to start putting in warm season seeds...including the Great Northern beans; the ones from the grocery store sprouted, so for less than $1 I have a pound of heirloom bean seed.
Up at our trailer after a hump-bustin’ week. Barb has a lot of “her” garden planted (Raised beds). I have the posts and support frames painted, sunk and assembled. Have the paint for the rest and will finish the job next week. The arch is painted and in place, framing the entrance to her garden.
“My” garden is almost ready for planting. Running about two weeks late.
The raspberries we planted last year are doing well. Asparagus, also.
We had to add the third booder box to each bee hive after two weeks! The way they are going, we will be adding a queen excluder and the first honey super, soon!
Impressive! Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!
I meant “brooder” box. Our primary bee-keeping goal, this year, is making bees. Any honey for us is a bonus.
Same here in SE Wisconsin. Rain, rain, rain!
I do have lettuces, radishes, beets and spinach in, but I have tomatoes, peppers, pole and bush beans, summer and winter squash, sweet corn, melons, cukes and zukes waiting on the porch. Flowers, too!
This season, I’m in my new garden, so I have 3 raised beds and a 20x20 tilled plot and lots of BIG pots waiting to go. I thought I could get some things done yesterday, but it poured like crazy-mad! We DO need the rain, so I can’t complain too much or too loudly...dammit! :)
Other than that, the rain held off for the niece’s soccer game last night. Sugar River Raiders won 5-1! Wa-Hoo! :)
I guess I’m STILL on track - when I was managing Jung Garden Center, I NEVER got my own garden in until end of May, first half of June. WHY I thought things would be different, I do not know, LOL!
Happy Gardening, Everyone. Keep your heads above the water line! :)
You Tater Patch is a work of art! :) I won’t be doing taters this year, but will do a mess next season.
What varieties? I like Kennebec and Red Norland up here, and I’m probably the only person who appreciates that Yukon Gold are now available in just about any grocery store, year ‘round!
Check out the Anasazi bean... little mega-heirloom appaloosas.
Greeneyes, for some reason I’ve been having a heck of a time with insomnia .... finally dropped off to sleep at 4:30 a.m. 3 nights ago & about 3 a.m. this morning. Sigh. Too much going on, I guess ... the mind tends to ‘race’ & won’t slow down.
In the garden, FINALLY the tomatoes & squash are starting to really grow. They’ve been hanging out’ and not doing much due to the cool weather we’ve been having. A couple of sunny & much warmer days since Wednesday (around 90) have got them growing at a rapid rate. The eggplants that went in a week ago must have grown an inch or more in the last two days as well. I also put down some Garden-tone for everything but the tomatoes (they got Tomato-tone) & the plants definitely ‘greened’ up. They were getting so much rain, they were a bit pale.
Yesterday, I found my first pea pods!! Having the first produce of the year is a really good feeling. The pea flowers are attractive too - first time I’ve ever grown peas & I’m enjoying them so far.
Basil is my favorite herb & thyme is rapidly becoming my 2nd favorite - I have some recipes where fresh thyme just “makes” it. I have both in the garden this year. I looked for a pot that had more than one tiny basil plant in it when I bought plants a week or so ago. There were 5 in the pot I bought & when I pulled them apart I was worried some wouldn’t survive, but all of them have and are growing. I am hoping to have enough basil to make pesto this year - love the stuff.
I was going to work on my last raised bed today (digging the dirt to fill it), but it’s sunny, hot & humid & I have an invitation to my brother’s for a picnic at 5 .... I think I’m going to stay ‘cool’ & do the digging tomorrow when it will be cloudy & hopefully not too rainy from “Bonnie”.
Happy Memorial Day weekend to all.
PS - great roasted carrot recipe using fresh thyme & rosemary - perfect for potlucks/picnics since the carrots are delicious both hot out of the oven and at room temperature. Make sure to use fresh thyme & rosemary - there’s just no substitute for the fresh herbs.
Roasted Carrots with Honey, Rosemary & Thyme
http://www.creative-culinary.com/roasted-carrots-with-honey-rosemary-and-thyme/
The patch is about 80% russets and 20% reds. There are several varieties of each. Can’t even tell you which varieties, frankly. I didn’t buy any seed at all this year. Had enough left over in the basement this spring to plant this big patch. Had so many I didn’t even bother to cut ‘em. Just planted. Which might be one of the reasons it’s doing so well.
Some good-looking, rich black loamy soil you’ve got there. But the climate looks sort of dry based on the treeline. Do you have to irrigate? If that’s a plowed field in the distance, you’ve done a lot of soil amendment to get that black loam. Where is this, general vicinity, if you don’t mind my asking?
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