[greeneyes]

Greetings Gardeners. Hope you are all doing fine. It has been a cool week here, with some rain. Had to break out the sweaters and put on socks instead of barefootin' in sandals. Today was gloomy, but the sun finally came out just before it started going down.

Just when I thought that I would have no more tomatoes, the volunteer plants had some nice red ones that were sort of hidden, and I got two handfuls of grape tomatoes and some that are just a bit larger than a ping pong ball.

The various volunteers which are all smaller varieties have quite a few green ones and some blooms. The ones in pots still have a few green ones and a few flowers. The garlic is just beginning to peak out of the dirt.

We are supposed to have some warmer days and nights for the next 5 days, so I will not have to cover anything yet. I did bring the lemon tree in, and it takes up 3 times more space than last year.

Prayers up for all. Have a great weekend. God Bless.

[SkyDancer]

What’s the best way to get a root ball to loosen up? I think it’s what’s called pot bound. The root ball is about six inches in diameter and about ten inches high. Thanks in advance.

[Shadowstrike]

What kind of lemon tree do you have? I had bought a miniature Myers lemon, but it died, tried to come back, but is well and really dead this time.

Can you recommend one?

[greeneyes]

Pinging the list. Hubby is ready to go back to work, but has one more Dr. appt. in 2 weeks, thanks to everyone for all the prayers and get well wishes.

[left that other site]

I have a magnificent oak tree that is probably over 100 years old right next to my house.

I am waiting to be totally inundated by LEAVES.

HAPPY AUTUMN!

[lee martell]

Thanks for giving me something else to thing about besides the Great Election Soap Opera.
Hmmm. I’m thinking about Violets.
When I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, I often saw small patches of violets growing in gardens. Some as ground cover, other times, in a pot. They were tough little plants, appearing right after the Crocus in Spring, and lasting all Summer long. These were NOT African Violets.
I’m in California now, and never see that type of Violet for sale, only African Violets or Begonias with a violet hue. Anyone know if these little flowers are exclusive to the Midwest or East Coast?

[mythenjoseph]

Speaking of trees ...This will be the first winter for my “black” pussy willow tree on her own. I have her planted on the edge of a natural below grade stream that runs to the river behind my house. Initially she lost a small branch of leaves to it being dry...but has rebounded strongly and it just shows the strength and resilience of this type of tree....I am so proud of it (sounds stupid but i feel responsible for the thing...I think its beautiful) the growth from any rains and two or three watering’s seem to have done the trick for it here in Waterville , Maine . Beyond that it is foliage season and it has been BRILLIANT and long lasting but tonight will be the first night below 32 degrees...not a big deal with the fantastic summer and great fall beginning. Thats it for now from central East Maine.

[Battle Axe]

I have spent 5 days going through all my dahlias (about 75) labeling each one, and making sure it has the right code according to the dahlia book. If anyone needs help with dahlias, I can try to help you. I”m getting 4 awards at the dinner tomorrow. Remember....I am still in the novice category and will be according to them for another year.

Once the frost hits, I will not be able to remember what was what and they need to be labeled in the winter storage boxes. My garden boys who tilled for me while I was sick, did not pay attention to the labels and rototilled many of them under.

All in all the the new bed did well. None of the expensive glads bloomed in time for either fair. There is always next year.

Marcia

[Alas Babylon!]

It hasn’t rained in my part of Alabama since August 30th.

Thank goodness pecan trees have DEEP tap roots!

The pecan season is now upon us. I have 3 huge trees and a few—about 8—just getting big enough to give a few nuts.

If I can just keep the crow and squirrels out of the trees I’ll have at least 20 5 gallon paint buckets full.

Aw, who am I kidding? Those critters will get most. I usually get about 8 big full buckets and they get all the rest.

I gotta clean my 22 and put the scope back on.

[SaveFerris]

Hope somebody can tell me when to pull carrots. They are WAY WAY too close together and look small (no kidding).

First time around. Oops.

[patriot08]

You will always find Dale, local meteorologist, at the KRIS TV Spring and Fall Home & Garden Shows in Corpus Christi. He has developed a formula famous in this area for growing tomatoes.

http://www.kristv.com/category/294095/dales-tomato-formula

There are two Tomato formulas... One formula for sandy soil and one for clay soil. The first time you use the tomato formula use the "Original" formula no matter what type of soil you have.

Original Formula / Sandy Soil

1 cup 10-20-10 (1-2-1 ratio) fertilizer

1/4 cup super phosphate

1/2 cup gypsum

2 cups cow manure

Dig a hole and mix ingredients. Then, add regular dirt on top of formula before placing tomato plant in hole. Otherwise, formula will burn the roots of the plant. Don't let formula touch the roots when they are first planted. Let the plant grow into the formula. Water regularly. Stand back and watch them grow! Best varieties are Sonny, Bingo, Carnival, Heatwave, Celebrity, Big Boy, Better Boy and President. Best cherry tomatoes to use are small Fry and Cherry Grande. Everything needed is available at any local nursery.

Caution: Please be aware that excessive use of phosphorus in our clay soil over a long period of time can be non beneficial to your plants.

Clay Soil*

1 Cup 21-0-0 (1-0-0 Ratio) Ammonium Sulphate

3/4 Cup Gypsum >p> 2 Cups Cow Manure

Mix these ingredients together with existing garden soil and plant one tomato plant per hole mixture. *Most clay soils in this area already have too much super phosphate, which tends to stay in the soil for a long period of time. The local nursery people tell me, the best way to correct this is by adding ammonium sulphate which is 21-0-0.cc

[ApplegateRanch]

Had another hard freeze, and a skiff if snow earlier this week; back to 80+ today. Back down to 60s & mid-30s lows into next week.

Health is back to normal; feeling great. Will do my Fall tilling this weekend, as well as cut & split about another cord of firewood.

Final bean count: less than 2 oz of Great Northern beans yielded just barely over 2 pounds of dry beans. The butter beans also gave us about 2 pounds; exact amount uncertain, as some of them are still drying.

Late planted garlic to overwinter is finally sprouting; I had about given up on it.

Shorter days means the chickens have dropped their laying by at least half, but still enough for daily use, plus a few to spare. I’m working on getting power into the henhouse, without resorting to a long run of extension cords. Once that’s done, the on at dusk timer can be reconnected to give them a few extra hours, as well as reconnecting the heater.

[tob2]

Beautiful fall weather today and I spent some time outside. Rearranged the largest planter, scheduled to be replaced early next year. It is showing it’s age. What I did was dig up the lily bulbs and put them in planters, then planted pansies and violas on top of that and watered Well. Took some of the smaller, loose planters and put them on top of the planter as well. Watered everything. Can hardly wait for next year’s growing season!

[Wneighbor]

Hi folks, I haven’t commented on a garden thread in years but have loved reading and seeing all your experiences. I have had my best gardening year this year than in over 7 years. Several times this summer I’ve thought of posting but I’ve worn myself out day after day just working in my soil and loving it.

We bought this place in late ‘09 as our retirement home. The first year we were still moving in. The 2nd year we had record-breaking heat and drought that killed several trees, including old live oaks and almost everything we’d managed to put in ourselves. The third year I was permanently disabled by a texting driver.

And for the first year, this year, I was finally able to learn to get around slowly and steadily enough to grow tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in pots and get them thru the whole growing season (thus far) without abandoning them to die due to my infirmity. I’m in Texas so I’m still getting fruit :) I’ve also finally gotten a small start on the landscaping dreams I had for this place from the very beginning.

Got a blessing of God the last week of May when a local hardware store needed to clear out the last of their herbs. A friend and I had stopped so I could buy 1 lavender plant to replace one in a grouping of 5 that had died last winter. The plant lady at the hardware store said we could take all the herbs we wanted on one particular row for free as her manager said she had to trash them on Saturday. Told us we could have all we wanted IF we’d love them, not resell them and do her the favor of bringing her pics of our gardens. Us 2 ladies fit 13 flats and several individual 3” pots into every nook and cranny of my Mustang. Got home with nearly 500 3” herbs. Not all lived because many were already stressed but it gave me a big jump on the afore-mentioned landscape dreams. With my slowness and difficulty working I still have a few dozen pots that will have to be brought in before first freeze but am hoping as cooler weather comes I might be able to dig some new places to get more out before full winter sets in. Have more than a dozen potted rosemary and am particularly looking forward to some promised assistance in getting those onto a fence row out back.

Have a mild but widespread case of poison ivy right now from some of that fence area...small price to pay for my immense enjoyment of being back outside :)

[Wneighbor]

I did bring the lemon tree in, and it takes up 3 times more space than last year.

Husband got me a lemon tree for our anniversary this year. It bloomed and made 4 lemons that are now huge! I read that they ripen in Dec but I don't know how to tell when to pick them. Advice?

[tubebender]

A old friend invited us out to pick a peck of King Apples and when we got home Lady Bender peeled a few and made me a apple pie and also a Apple Kutchen for October Fest at our Church tomorrow (10/16/16)

[tubebender]

I picked a few tomatoes and cucumbers and started harvesting the 11 pumpkins that grew for us this year. Also only planted 5 rows of Garlic for next year…

[TMSuchman]

I have started dehydratin some of the veggies out of the garden. There are a lot of cucumbers & a few zuke’s , so far. My pumkins did not do well at all, not my melons, or just about anything else. I am going to have to rethink my garden plans for next year.

[Augie]

What a beautiful weekend it was here in Central Missouri!

Been playing catchup for the past week. Mrs. Augie and I took off on the 1st for some badly-needed vacation time. We spent a couple days touristing around the Great Smokie Mountains National Park. From there we took off to Myrtle Beach, where we were planning to spend a week laying on the sand relaxing. Mother Nature had other plans though, which didn't hurt our feelings because the place is a dump. It was the filthiest beach we'd ever seen. Absolutely disgusting. Anyway, we spent one night, cancelled the rest of our reservation, and bailed out of there at 6:45pm on the 4th. We rolled into Fort Pickens State Part in Pensacola Beach, FL at 5:00am on Wednesday. Watched the sunrise on the beach without another soul in sight. Spent four nights there and had a great time. Got home at 1:15am on the 10th and have been nose to the grindstone ever since.

Still have okra, green beans and tomatoes going in the garden. Need to get the garlic and winter greens planted, and finish cleanup in the tomato patch to get ready for fall plowing. The back food plot is done. I fertilized and limed it, then sowed wheat and turnip for winter browse.

I spent Friday evening and Saturday morning making some repairs to the post hole digger, then commenced to building some board fence. Got that little bit done yesterday afternoon. I've got another 100' to do on the other side of the barn next weekend if the weather remains suitable to that kind of thing, and that will complete the fencing projects for the time being.

I'm fairly well pleased with the way this turned out. It's much more attractive than the hotwire fence that it replaced.