Gardening/Maintenance Thread

[NTP66]

Nice! May want to invest in a can of Fluid Film to spray on the underside of the deck. It will help grass with sticking. Once you mow in damp grass all bets are off though.

I was reading on the mower, and it has a spot to hook up a hose to run water into it while you engage the blades... apparently washes everything right out.

I'll buy you a beer if that actually works. I know a few people who have that port - one on a riding mower like the one you just bought, and another on a push mower (Husqvarna), and that port does nothing. WD40 or similar is going to work so much better, IME.

[count2infinity]

Spray it on afterwards to clean it out or before hand to prevent sticking?

[NTP66]

Spray it on beforehand, but make sure you leave time for it to dry. Before my Honda, I would spray the deck of my Craftsman about 15 minutes before mowing, and it made a world of difference.

[count2infinity]

[robbiestoupe]

All this talk about hydroponics has me pining for an aquaponic garden again

[skullman80]

Can confirm that hose port is useless in my push mower.

[Shyster]

Might look into that spray. I have a Toro Super Recycler mulching mower, and I know from experience that if the grass is wet a lot of it will stick on the bottom of the deck. I check the underside each time I mow and spray it off with the hose if there's any grass stuck. I once mowed when it was wet and didn't clean it off, and a couple days later the smell coming from under the deck was amazing. I seriously thought that some critter had crawled into my garage and died, and I was looking for the corpse when I realized the stink was coming from the mower. The sheer amount of multicolored mold that was growing under there was seriously impressive.

[King Colby]

How do you maintain tomato plants in those little aerogardens? I couldnt keep up with the basil and dill even, let alone something large.

[NTP66]

Might look into that spray. I have a Toro Super Recycler mulching mower, and I know from experience that if the grass is wet a lot of it will stick on the bottom of the deck. I check the underside each time I mow and spray it off with the hose if there's any grass stuck. I once mowed when it was wet and didn't clean it off, and a couple days later the smell coming from under the deck was amazing. I seriously thought that some critter had crawled into my garage and died, and I was looking for the corpse when I realized the stink was coming from the mower. The sheer amount of multicolored mold that was growing under there was seriously impressive.

I had the same experience with my old Craftsman. The garage smelled brutal for days.

My Honda has a “NeXite” deck, which is some kind of polymer, and it does an amazing job of keeping the deck clean. I’ve only had to remove grass a handful of times, and every one of those times was when I had no choice but to mow tall grass after rain.

[mac5155]

Might look into that spray. I have a Toro Super Recycler mulching mower, and I know from experience that if the grass is wet a lot of it will stick on the bottom of the deck. I check the underside each time I mow and spray it off with the hose if there's any grass stuck. I once mowed when it was wet and didn't clean it off, and a couple days later the smell coming from under the deck was amazing. I seriously thought that some critter had crawled into my garage and died, and I was looking for the corpse when I realized the stink was coming from the mower. The sheer amount of multicolored mold that was growing under there was seriously impressive.

They sell fluid film in a quart can too, if aerosol isn't your thing. (I think wd40 can also be bought that way)

[King Colby]

Does anyone know where I can find Fox Farm potting soil in the Pittsburgh area? Specifically, the Ocean Forest blend. My local joint stopped carrying it and it's the best stuff around.

[tifosi77]

Did some garden upkeep this morning. Removed the last of the unused lettuces leftover from winter, and planted squash, radishes, tomatoes, and peppers. Somewhere in the process, I think I accidentally planted my Kershaw pocket knife, too, because thing has gone UA on me.

Also planted some petunias in a tall planter for the front stoop, which was fun.

[robbiestoupe]

Pretty sure my potatoes died with the frost over the weekend. Also killed all my seedlings by putting them outside too early, even though I brought them in before the frost.

I'll try to reseed some things this weekend but looking like a bare garden this year.

[Freddy Rumsen]

Get 12 chicks on Thursday to start our egg-laying flock.

I am slowly but surely enclosing about 3/4 acre for a field for goats.

Thankfully, because of hen house construction I was late in getting things planted.

[offsides]

Pretty sure my potatoes died with the frost over the weekend. Also killed all my seedlings by putting them outside too early, even though I brought them in before the frost.

I'll try to reseed some things this weekend but looking like a bare garden this year.

My Dad who grew up on a farm in Greene County had a magic day for planting frost sensitive seeds. He told me to never plant before May 15th. Seems like he was right most of the time about pretty much everything.

[robbiestoupe]

Yeah it's probably a good rule of thumb. I just get antsy with the winter and want to get things started. Potatoes are supposed to be OK planting early but with the few warm days before hand, they sprouted early. You're older so you probably remember days when it hit below freezing in May, but in my 43 years I don't remember any.

[mac5155]

I try and plant the week of mothers day. So may 15th seems about right..

@robbiestoupe all the garden centers around me are open and have plants. Usually a flat for 20 bucks. Get ya some man! Almost all direct sow seeds are still able to plant too.

[robbiestoupe]

I try and plant the week of mothers day. So may 15th seems about right..

@robbiestoupe all the garden centers around me are open and have plants. Usually a flat for 20 bucks. Get ya some man! Almost all direct sow seeds are still able to plant too.

Aldi had tomato, jalapeno and basil starters. Bought 2 of each and will try to plant some seeds this weekend. Not sure if I'll be able to salvage the potatoes though. Maybe if I tear all the brown leaves off, new ones will grow.

[mac5155]

Just went and got a flat of Vegs. 15 bucks per flat. Really can't beat it. Idk why I even piss with seeds anymore.

[offsides]

Welp, it's the 15th. Guess what I did today? Yep they are in the ground.

[willeyeam]

Welp, it's the 15th. Guess what I did today? Yep they are in the ground.

Killed your enemies?

[King Colby]

Just went and got a flat of Vegs. 15 bucks per flat. Really can't beat it. Idk why I even piss with seeds anymore.

How the hell is it so cheap?

I spent $40 on a flat at my garden center.

[King Colby]

Welp, it's the 15th. Guess what I did today? Yep they are in the ground.

I got my first row in. Hoping I can beat the rain on some more. I'm doing some high density growing this year so we'll see how it goes.

I did about half from seeds and half from starters.

[Kaiser]

Just finished planting these bad boys.

[mac5155]

Just went and got a flat of Vegs. 15 bucks per flat. Really can't beat it. Idk why I even piss with seeds anymore.

How the hell is it so cheap?

I spent $40 on a flat at my garden center.

Fayette county? Idk.

Christner Farms in Dawson PA. Look em up on Facebook.