Posted on 03/25/2017 7:21:25 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. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table(recipes)preserving, good living - there is no telling where it will go and... that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.
I’m Zone 4 or 5, depending on which map I’m looking at, and grow garlic most years. I Fall plant most of it; and Spring plant more.
Both mature, and grow well, assuming we didn’t get really long, deep freezes over the Winter. The Spring planted grow for a few weeks longer than the earlier ones, otherwise not much difference: early July, vs August harvest. Your milage may vary.
One other difference is that the Spring plantings pretty much stay put, but frost cycles tend to move the others around.
Maybe I’ll plant a few in the next day or two as an experiment, if nothing else.
I live in an apartment building, and have a South-facing balcony. We want to grow basil and dill this year, and we bought one of the Park Seed Bio-Domes, for starting seed inside.
The kit came with many of the little ‘sponge’ things for starting, but when I looked toward the future and wondered about replacements for these, they seemed kind of expensive.
Has anyone else used this kit, and found a home-made way of making those little ‘plugs’?
(We’ve thought that the little plastic ‘greenhouse’ would be useful just to start seeds in little peat pots, even if we didn’t use the foam insert...)
Thanks,
JT
Look for some Peat Pellets to use as seed starters for small amounts. They are compressed peat in a net that enlarges when soaked in water...
Thank you! Maybe I could manipulate them into a shape that fits the little holes in the Bio Dome; and if they are in a net, that would probably work.
You can check with seedsnsuch.com or totallytomatoes.com they are cheaper there. I get mine through a cooperative where they cost about 20 cents each, keep in mind they are a new hybrid that finally brought old fashioned flavor back, so they will cost you. If you do choose to grow them pick them at red/orange ripeness and let them ripen for about a week inside, you will not be disappointed.
A peat pellet dry and a peat pellet wet.
Peat pellet in the pots nine days old.
Some like them hot, some like them cold.
Some like the in the pots, nine days old.
LOL... I was trying to think of that ditty but had a severe brain fade...
Ok thanks much and thank you for your service. Hubby is an army vet and I am asking for him, always in search of a better tomato.
That’s good to know about Tasti-Lee, as this is my first try with them. I didn’t mean for a pollinator about the Blossom Set; I’ve used it to prevent the blossoms from falling off when we get a suddenly real hot spell. However, mine get shaken a lot, so I’m glad to know they can do without bees. I worry about not seeing bees.
Well, Walmart tomatoes stink except when they get Arkansas-grown here in July/Aug., so I hope my Bella Rosas taste better than that! I’m growing half my seedlings for a friend at church & would hate to have her disappointed, too. I better give her some of my Tasty Lee!
I used to grow a lot of tomatoes - but dozens of plants, not thousands! when I had a big garden in Texas in the 80s & was a lot younger.
Territorial Seeds has Tasti-Lee for $4.95 but it’s only 10 seeds. But I got 11 in the packet & they all germinated.
Thanks for the info!
isn’t buying all that powdered milk a little spendy?...are there anymore alternatives?
Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner - laptop crashed & I just got the new one up & going.
Powdered milk IS expensive as I found out when I first started using it on my tomatoes. That being said, I only plant 6-8 plants maximum so a couple of tablespoons per plant might use up two packages. I usually have some left over in the box .... I also use it on my peppers (bell, etc.) & have fewer black spots, etc. I’m not sure if using it on the peppers makes them better or if it’s just a psychological thing with me :-) Anyway, with so few plants, I buy one box with packets a year & usually have some left over.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.