Posted on 05/15/2021 6:40:39 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Good Saturday morning and Thank you Diane!
(Raining here in NE Kansas!)
WE only got ‘spit on’ about 6am this morning, so looks like Job One is hauling water to my newly-planted taters, today!
Grrr! This time last year, we were 8” AHEAD on rain - this year we are 3” behind.
However, I’ll take dry over too wet, any growing season. I can always get water where it’s needed.
Thx. U 2. Will be working in lawn and garden today.
Good Morning!
Sunny here in New England! :-)
My favorite story as a child was the Secret Garden. My Aunt took me to see the stage play at the Eastman Theater in Rochester NY....about 1952
Hopefully there will be enough rain that I do not need to water today. They predict four or five more days of rain here.
I have not generally grown potatoes, but this year I decided to grow some in fabric gardening bags. (So I can relocate them carefully if I want!)
Soil in the bottom then potatoes eyes up. (about 1 month ago) Added additional Soil / Rice hull / EZ straw mix last night and will keep doing that until the bags are full!
So...??...I initially fertilized the soil with a Potassium and phosporus heavy fertilizer...Should I be adding more? At what intervals?? Growth is currently pretty heavy!
Front section (most sun) of seedlings started in 20oz cups about 5-6 weeks ago. After planting cups were cut in half and placed over the plant to protect from the often strong winds that can break these. Later these will be replaced with larger containers which you can pour water into so it gets more directly to the plant. Mulch has been lightly placed throughout to cut down on the mud that splashes on leaves from heavy rain drops:
Side section (half the sun). Planting was done by digging a deep hole, then placing screened soil (rock are the best "crop" in NE) made from 1/2" screen and 2x4's, and then adding water, then the plant, then more screened soil and then lots of water. Rain barrels are in back, covered, though I sometimes spray a little "Pan" non-stick oil (no more then second) on top to prevent mosquitoes:
Fence my neighbor and I made using donated lumber from a demo site last year. Praise God.
My neighbors chopped down their two remaining citrus “trees” after about eight years of trying to get them to take.
They were planted in full sun here in my part of Florida south of Tampa.
We got lots of rain Thursday which should keep other plants alive.
6’ + tall Brandywine with 5 tomatoes on it. 5’ Black Crim with about 10 on it. All the others except one are short and getting loaded with tomatoes.
Zone 8a.
My goodness! I did see the movie and I think my daughters have the movie but I do not know if on Tape or Disc!
(Yes, I do like to use a doors opening on gardens pictures.)
(Scroll down! Resource start at post 114 of the Jan 9-15 Thread!)
Zone 7 near Annapolis Maryland.
I may have some tomato success this year. Planting in same bed (8 hrs sun). Prior years the “blight” got them at late August and they grew very lanky/spindly. BUT got some “Copper Mixture” (I think it is also called Bordeaux Mixture) and put it on every 10 days to soil around the plants to inhibit fungus. They are now strong & healthy foot tall with many leaves and stem 3/8” to 1/2” wide. Started from seed late Feb... in garden 1st week of April (we had a mild spring... covered them 2-3 nites with no loss)
Lost all my pepper plants, bell & jalapeno. Low temps at night (low 40’s). Leaves all fell off. Cukes are looking pretty bad as are some small cherry tomato plants - fingers crossed they’ll pull through. I’ve bought replacement pepper plants & transplanted them from 4-packs to individual peat pots. This will give them a little room to grow while I wait for better weather. They’re looking pretty happy right now.
My Celebrities (which were about a foot tall when I bought them) are doing fabulous, despite the weather. One is blooming - not sure if it will set fruit until it warms up a bit more - should have nights above 50 after tomorrow.
I’ve started flowers in peat pots - tithonia, giant sunflowers, marigolds. I sowed some seeds directly in a flower bed a while ago (tithonia) & zero came up. The peat pots are working a lot better - most of the seeds have germinated & for those that did not, I replanted seeds yesterday.
Chilly night last night - first fire in the new fire pit at the garden. It was fabulous - could see the stars, some good wine, good company.
Happy garden thread. My mustard greens are almost ready to start harvesting. Behaved well at the farmer’s market in anticipation.
One of my Christmas Cactuses is set to bloom again.
Too cold and rainy to put out any more herbs. I bought a bunch this week amd my windowsill looks like a nursery gone wrong.
Potatoes aren’t picky. I’m growing mine in dirt with straw-composted mule manure mixed in. ;)
You’ve probably given them enough nutrition - just make sure they get adequate water each week. :)
P.S. Thanks for the link, as always!
Nice job on the fencing. I love ‘free!’ ;)
Speaking of potatoes, does anybody have advice for a newbie? Once I cut a potato apart, do I need to let it scab over before planting? I’m assuming yes.
We had to cut down several trees and branches of trees recently, and I can see that now I have a few sunny spots where I didn’t have any before. So I’m hoping to plant a few vegetables that I like. I thought potatoes might be a fun choice to start with. Any FReeper help is greatly appreciated.
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