The Gardening Thread

[GVF]

Been in touch with @VolNExile. She’s raising chickens. She’s only planting forage for them. She’s tending blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries for human consumption.

Did they move? Or is she clear to raise ckickens in her urban Ashville hood? Shed did pick some great berries to tend to. I am surprised she abandoned her tomatoes though.

 

[Tin Man]

Did they move? Or is she clear to raise ckickens in her urban Ashville hood? Shed did pick some great berries to tend to. I am surprised she abandoned her tomatoes though.

Same home in Asheville. I too am surprised that she hasn’t planted tomatoes. Keep in mind that she’s finishing her college studies this semester.

 

[GVF]

I didn't see the cool snap coming the last few days so on last weeks false heating up for the season and in the midst of the heat and drought, I sowed my beans, peas, cukes, squash and melons and strawed them in. Took a peak under some straw yesterday. Got peas, squash, and cantelope breaking through. Still waiting on green beans, watermelon and cukes. Finished soiling up the taters yesterday. Now for a heat streak so the maters, peppers, and okra can quit staring at me. I'm excited for my best seed starting year I've had thus far. Peppers were 50/50 and I bought some extra, but hte tomatoes were about 90-95% self germinated og what I wanted to start up in the greenhouse. I have learned that proper seed starting mix is key. Exie swore by Coast of Maine seed starting mix. My locally owned garden center I frequent carries it and I didn't even know. I typically only seed up tomato and pepper and okra, as everything else I plant is easily sowed direct with great germination success. And my tomatoes of choice are not often found outside ordering seeds. I can get cherokee purple already started as well as the more mainstream heirlooms, but what fun would that be. But, if you have suitable heirloom trellis support for those vining heirlooms, you will want to try Goliath. Up to 8' high, with wonderful flavored smooth and crackk free fruit, much like a Better Boy gone crazy. We have a local mennonite garden center that gets all his seedlings of everything from a producer up in KY. He always has Goliath in his deliveries. I thoroughly enjoyed eating that tomato last year, but went back to Better Boy this year instead. Those are my two "insurance" reds to supplement my annual trying of other heirloom reds. Of course Better Boys are more like a standardized heirloom so to speak. They are indeterminate as far as harvest season, yet compact like determinates. And still one of the best eating IMO.

Also learned a new trick. This past week, when I've used green onions in the kitchen, I've trimmed the roots and cut off the end cap. Took those rooted white caps to the raised bed and poked them in soil level. I now have green onions coming back already and when I need scallions I can just go clip them off at ground level and have a perpetual supply. I will keep adding to them.

 

[GVF]

Same home in Asheville. I too am surprised that she hasn’t planted tomatoes. Keep in mind that she’s finishing her college studies this semester.

Her annual pictures were great. She got the most out of a garden in a small urban backyard of anybody I've met.

I'm just not a raised bed enthusiast, and she did hers kind of like hybrids. Not really raised beds, just short defining bed edges, and she maintained panting to the ground within. This year I broke down and got a two pack of those 2x4x12" metal beds on sale on Amazon. Worth the $35 thus far. Had no decent way to do carrots, radish, small onion patch or potatoes. So, potatoes in one and carrot, radish, onion in the other. Open bottom. Set them on top of my leaf mulch and added somesticks. But, wanted them to draw from all the good worm base and soil life beneath. I see now that next year I will get one longer unit to re-do my strawberries, which should thrive from doing that. That will probably cap off my raised bed ventures. I just don't get the expense and labor of building them, and buying the soil to fill them and all the prep you do to mimck the goodness of the soil you are avoiding. If you like the look and organization, just edge with stone or something and section it all off, but stay direct to soil. I have my tomatoes on trellis, then my two raised beds. Finish them off to the end and back down with the peppers. 4 plant block of okra and two rows of peas. Then 1/3 row of naturtium, and two squash on the old cuke wire for a vertical trial followed by 4 other squash beyond that to cap off about 30 feet. then a void. Then cantelop and watermeon. Then a green bean trellis which is half cukes this year, and half the family green bean to build my seed back up. For consumable green beans this year I did 6 rows of bush calima and opera because my son also fancies the french style bean.

Speaking of the family green bean, I mailed some seed last year to someone in here. Was that you or someone else.

 

[Tin Man]

Her annual pictures were great. She got the most out of a garden in a small urban backyard of anybody I've met.

I'm just not a raised bed enthusiast, and she did hers kind of like hybrids. Not really raised beds, just short defining bed edges, and she maintained panting to the ground within. This year I broke down and got a two pack of those 2x4x12" metal beds on sale on Amazon. Worth the $35 thus far. Had no decent way to do carrots, radish, small onion patch or potatoes. So, potatoes in one and carrot, radish, onion in the other. Open bottom. Set them on top of my leaf mulch and added somesticks. But, wanted them to draw from all the good worm base and soil life beneath. I see now that next year I will get one longer unit to re-do my strawberries, which should thrive from doing that. That will probably cap off my raised bed ventures. I just don't get the expense and labor of building them, and buying the soil to fill them and all the prep you do to mimck the goodness of the soil you are avoiding. If you like the look and organization, just edge with stone or something and section it all off, but stay direct to soil. I have my tomatoes on trellis, then my two raised beds. Finish them off to the end and back down with the peppers. 4 plant block of okra and two rows of peas. Then 1/3 row of naturtium, and two squash on the old cuke wire for a vertical trial followed by 4 other squash beyond that to cap off about 30 feet. then a void. Then cantelop and watermeon. Then a green bean trellis which is half cukes this year, and half the family green bean to build my seed back up. For consumable green beans this year I did 6 rows of bush calima and opera because my son also fancies the french style bean.

Speaking of the family green bean, I mailed some seed last year to someone in here. Was that you or someone else.

Someone else. I’m trying haricot verts for the second time this year.

 

[GVF]

Someone else. I’m trying haricot verts for the second time this year.

It was 82/83

 

[GVF]

@82_VOL_83

Give me a follow up on the green beans I sent you. Did you plant last year? Planning to try this year??

 

[LouderVol]

Got my first picking, it was a jalapeno.

tomatoes are coming along, great fruit on every single one.

the other pepper plants all have fruit on them. One plant has been chewed back so it may not produce a lot, but its happy and healthy otherwise.

corn is about a foot tall, so I planted green beans to climb them.

Sunflowers are taller than the corn.

potatoes I am down to the final two, will likely go find some plants to replace the other 4. of the two one is going great, and should stay that way. other one looks good, just not as far along.

some bug got into about half of the ocra leaves and ate holes thru them. didn't touch the rest, and even two weeks later they are still doing ok.

 

[Go aeiou]

Got my first picking, it was a jalapeno.

tomatoes are coming along, great fruit on every single one.

the other pepper plants all have fruit on them. One plant has been chewed back so it may not produce a lot, but its happy and healthy otherwise.

corn is about a foot tall, so I planted green beans to climb them.

Sunflowers are taller than the corn.

potatoes I am down to the final two, will likely go find some plants to replace the other 4. of the two one is going great, and should stay that way. other one looks good, just not as far along.

some bug got into about half of the ocra leaves and ate holes thru them. didn't touch the rest, and even two weeks later they are still doing ok.

where are you?

 

[LouderVol]

where are you?

Just outside of Atlanta.

not sure what was going on with that one jalapeno. the rest are just buds.

 

[norrislakevol]

I didn't see the cool snap coming the last few days so on last weeks false heating up for the season and in the midst of the heat and drought, I sowed my beans, peas, cukes, squash and melons and strawed them in. Took a peak under some straw yesterday. Got peas, squash, and cantelope breaking through. Still waiting on green beans, watermelon and cukes. Finished soiling up the taters yesterday. Now for a heat streak so the maters, peppers, and okra can quit staring at me. I'm excited for my best seed starting year I've had thus far. Peppers were 50/50 and I bought some extra, but hte tomatoes were about 90-95% self germinated og what I wanted to start up in the greenhouse. I have learned that proper seed starting mix is key. Exie swore by Coast of Maine seed starting mix. My locally owned garden center I frequent carries it and I didn't even know. I typically only seed up tomato and pepper and okra, as everything else I plant is easily sowed direct with great germination success. And my tomatoes of choice are not often found outside ordering seeds. I can get cherokee purple already started as well as the more mainstream heirlooms, but what fun would that be. But, if you have suitable heirloom trellis support for those vining heirlooms, you will want to try Goliath. Up to 8' high, with wonderful flavored smooth and crackk free fruit, much like a Better Boy gone crazy. We have a local mennonite garden center that gets all his seedlings of everything from a producer up in KY. He always has Goliath in his deliveries. I thoroughly enjoyed eating that tomato last year, but went back to Better Boy this year instead. Those are my two "insurance" reds to supplement my annual trying of other heirloom reds. Of course Better Boys are more like a standardized heirloom so to speak. They are indeterminate as far as harvest season, yet compact like determinates. And still one of the best eating IMO.

Also learned a new trick. This past week, when I've used green onions in the kitchen, I've trimmed the roots and cut off the end cap. Took those rooted white caps to the raised bed and poked them in soil level. I now have green onions coming back already and when I need scallions I can just go clip them off at ground level and have a perpetual supply. I will keep adding to them.

I'll have to try some of those Goliath tomatoes, thanks.

My hybrid standards are Parks Whopper, Big Beef, Celebrity (will produce even on the worst gardening years, but come in all at once in comparison to others), Big Boy and Better Boys.

Heirlooms are always Roma and Big Red Delicious. I am raising extra Romas this year because I'm going to juice this year. A 70/60 percent mix of your regular tomatoes and a 40/30 percent mix of Romas yields a fairly pulpy tomato juice. Delicious!

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Hoping some of y'all have experience with this. I have a ton of this invasive honeysuckle in my backyard. I've decided to finally tackle it this year, gonna use the cut low, drill holes, fill holes with poison method. I've read this works best in late fall, will is also work in May? And my main question, what product should I buy to most effectively kill the damn things?

 

[Go aeiou]

Just outside of Atlanta.

not sure what was going on with that one jalapeno. the rest are just buds.

I always read "Loudon Vol" instead of Louder Vol, sorry.
I'm in Nashville. nights in the upper 30s and 40s have kept peppers at a standstill. Tomatoes are not much better.
I learned long ago that gardens planted a little late will typically quickly catch up. Father in law was high school principal, and always waited to the end of the school year to plant his sizable garden. 5 children to feed.

 

[82_VOL_83]

@82_VOL_83

Give me a follow up on the green beans I sent you. Did you plant last year? Planning to try this year??

Still not in the ground. This year is a greenhouse.

 

[GVF]

I'll have to try some of those Goliath tomatoes, thanks.

My hybrid standards are Parks Whopper, Big Beef, Celebrity (will produce even on the worst gardening years, but come in all at once in comparison to others), Big Boy and Better Boys.

Heirlooms are always Roma and Big Red Delicious. I am raising extra Romas this year because I'm going to juice this year. A 70/60 percent mix of your regular tomatoes and a 40/30 percent mix of Romas yields a fairly pulpy tomato juice. Delicious!

I didn't realize Park's was a hybrid. Always thought it was heirloom, but admit i never read up on it to try it. Pretty popular though it seems. I've had my hands on Celebrity plants but put them down. Very popular and good if you need the determinate harvest. One of my dad's favorites was Rutgers. That's going old school. The most prolific cherry/grape I've ever grown is A Grappoli d'Inverno and great eating. It didn't germinate this time so I bought the Huskee. My Goliath last year first time trying topped a 7' trellis and started laying over to come back down. Must admit, probably a little better overall than the better boy. Very similar fruit.

Another must try for mater lovers and seeders is Orange Peach. Golf ball plus sized. Orange. Slighly fuzzy. Prolific for me. Flavor makes you cross eyed. My personal favorite. I normally do them but passed this year to try Dr. Wyche's.

I do switch my tomatoes up but always have cherokee purple as it's the only one my wife will eat fresh. It was actually the Purple Reign dwarf that got her to eat fresh. I didn't go back to CP until she went nuts over the dwarf purple just to get a larger harvest. Honest, it is beyond a Cherokee Purple in flavor in a dwarf plant habitat. I really got into the dwarf tomato project seeds, then let all my seeds get wet. The flavors on those 3-4' tall heirloom indeterminate breeds is exceptional. Not to mention the space saving. I had visions of going completely dwarf, like Li'l Joe.

This years tomato planting:
Better Boy (my insurance red)(swapped out Goliath)
Cherokee Purple
Huskee Cherry (My cherry didn't germinate)
Amish Paste (heirloom paste)
Dr. Wyche's Orange (heirloom orange)
Missouri Pink Love Apple (My heirloom red)
Orange Hat (potted 18" dwarf orange cherry)
Uluru Ochre (Heirloom Dwarf Orange/Black)

 

[GVF]

Still not in the ground. This year is a greenhouse.

All greenhouse? No outside garden? You have to atleast plant the beans to dry and build up your stash.

 

[GVF]

Hoping some of y'all have experience with this. I have a ton of this invasive honeysuckle in my backyard. I've decided to finally tackle it this year, gonna use the cut low, drill holes, fill holes with poison method. I've read this works best in late fall, will is also work in May? And my main question, what product should I buy to most effectively kill the damn things?

Never tried to kill honeysuckle but have had my share of nectar. Got a couple good stands of myself around the edge of the yard. It is invasive, but in my yard it's not a big deal and the blooms are beautiful. Not sure what a permanent fix is. The hole drilling and powder or whaever should be the ticket and more direct than spraying and killing everything around it too. Short term just clip those masive vines down to the ground and get your clean up the way you want it and you can circle back to the killing. There will be some good stuff that road crews use if you know someone but dont plan on much growing around it. If you try the spray poison route, you have to let it die before you cut it out. You can also get it to hte ground and start digging and pulling roots. May take a while to get it all up as you see it come back, but good therapy and no poisons. Not too bad though if you have decently soft soil in your yard.

 

[GVF]

Just outside of Atlanta.

not sure what was going on with that one jalapeno. the rest are just buds.

I remember those GA gardening days. Could plant in late March and have maters by May. I had a small garden in Hartwell. Back yard was red concrete and was a bi**h to get even my 10x15ish tilled, ammended and started. I packed alot in that little sucker.

 

[norrislakevol]

I didn't realize Park's was a hybrid. Always thought it was heirloom, but admit i never read up on it to try it. Pretty popular though it seems. I've had my hands on Celebrity plants but put them down. Very popular and good if you need the determinate harvest. One of my dad's favorites was Rutgers. That's going old school. The most prolific cherry/grape I've ever grown is A Grappoli d'Inverno and great eating. It didn't germinate this time so I bought the Huskee. My Goliath last year first time trying topped a 7' trellis and started laying over to come back down. Must admit, probably a little better overall than the better boy. Very similar fruit.

Another must try for mater lovers and seeders is Orange Peach. Golf ball plus sized. Orange. Slighly fuzzy. Prolific for me. Flavor makes you cross eyed. My personal favorite. I normally do them but passed this year to try Dr. Wyche's.

I do switch my tomatoes up but always have cherokee purple as it's the only one my wife will eat fresh. It was actually the Purple Reign dwarf that got her to eat fresh. I didn't go back to CP until she went nuts over the dwarf purple just to get a larger harvest. Honest, it is beyond a Cherokee Purple in flavor in a dwarf plant habitat. I really got into the dwarf tomato project seeds, then let all my seeds get wet. The flavors on those 3-4' tall heirloom indeterminate breeds is exceptional. Not to mention the space saving. I had visions of going completely dwarf, like Li'l Joe.

This years tomato planting:
Better Boy (my insurance red)(swapped out Goliath)
Cherokee Purple
Huskee Cherry (My cherry didn't germinate)
Amish Paste (heirloom paste)
Dr. Wyche's Orange (heirloom orange)
Missouri Pink Love Apple (My heirloom red)
Orange Hat (potted 18" dwarf orange cherry)
Uluru Ochre (Heirloom Dwarf Orange/Black)

You'll like the Huskee.

 

[GVF]

You'll like the Huskee.

Never grown it. I'm sure I've eaten it. Those sugar bombs are fantastic, but I'm not averse to old fashioned tomato flavor and kick. Grew up on it before all these new breeds came about. And I didn't really know about heirlooms till I started my own. I'm kinda thnking Huskee may be a bridge between old fashion and sugarland.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Hoping some of y'all have experience with this. I have a ton of this invasive honeysuckle in my backyard. I've decided to finally tackle it this year, gonna use the cut low, drill holes, fill holes with poison method. I've read this works best in late fall, will is also work in May? And my main question, what product should I buy to most effectively kill the damn things?

Goats would eat it.

 

[Tin Man]

Goats would eat it.

Goats would eat everything…

 

[LouderVol]

I remember those GA gardening days. Could plant in late March and have maters by May. I had a small garden in Hartwell. Back yard was red concrete and was a bi**h to get even my 10x15ish tilled, ammended and started. I packed alot in that little sucker.

Thankfully I have a decent bit of topsoil, at least 6" before you hit the clay. I till up some of it too to mix it in.

I usually try to plant the week after Easter, seems like most things do pretty good. This will only be my third garden, so I definitely haven't figured out what will or won't work, and definitely haven't touched the "why" it doesn't work.

One thing I want to do this weekend is go buy some much stuff to fill in the areas that didn't grow.

 

[GVF]

Thankfully I have a decent bit of topsoil, at least 6" before you hit the clay. I till up some of it too to mix it in.

I usually try to plant the week after Easter, seems like most things do pretty good. This will only be my third garden, so I definitely haven't figured out what will or won't work, and definitely haven't touched the "why" it doesn't work.

One thing I want to do this weekend is go buy some much stuff to fill in the areas that didn't grow.

Welcome to the addiction of gardening. Well that didn't come up. Let me go see what I can get. lol. I do it every year if certain tomatoes or peppers don't germinate.

We grew up gardening. It's what the 5 person family of an agronomist on $48K did to eat. But then never really had a spot in a yard on my own. Then transferred to Hartwell, and had a big spot after I moved into a house I eventually bought. Soil around the house was great. About 15 feet out it went GA red clay. The kind only Bermuda can grow. Then we moved to TN and I missed a couple years till we got the old house ready. Tried one spot 2-3 years, then went to other side and tilled the big one. Been working back to more natural ways cause tilling the weeds to the top and turning 60 wasn't working. This is my first year at full no till planting and 3rd year full mulching. Won't be long and you'll have you a nice little greenhouse. My 6x10 from amazon has worked perfectly for my needs.

 

[norrislakevol]

Hoping some of y'all have experience with this. I have a ton of this invasive honeysuckle in my backyard. I've decided to finally tackle it this year, gonna use the cut low, drill holes, fill holes with poison method. I've read this works best in late fall, will is also work in May? And my main question, what product should I buy to most effectively kill the damn things?

The method you mention would be best in fall I'd imagine since the growing season is coming to an d end and that doesn't give the plants time to recover before winter sets in.

I don't know what all you have over there, but if it's just honey suckle and junk then any glyphosate spray will kill everything.