Gardening/Maintenance Thread

[blackjack68]

I like the use of the gaps in the cinder blocks as cells for planting. Probably gets roots warmer and speeds growing.

Of course, when it's hot they will need extra water.

[Freddy Rumsen]

I like the use of the gaps in the cinder blocks as cells for planting. Probably gets roots warmer and speeds growing.

Of course, when it's hot they will need extra water.

I picked that up in this book. http://www.amazon.com/Square-Foot-Garde ... 1591865484

It worked almost too well last year with the tomatoes. Trying it with potatoes this year and as you can see I may get 3 or 4 growings out of it this year.

[blackjack68]

I like the use of the gaps in the cinder blocks as cells for planting. Probably gets roots warmer and speeds growing.

Of course, when it's hot they will need extra water.

I picked that up in this book. http://www.amazon.com/Square-Foot-Garde ... 1591865484

It worked almost too well last year with the tomatoes. Trying it with potatoes this year and as you can see I may get 3 or 4 growings out of it this year.

Good book.

[tifosi77]

Planted an artichoke plant last year, that bore three buds. I read that if you don't harvest the first crop from an artichoke, the yield in subsequent seasons will be a bit higher. So I didn't take the chokes last year.

It is now approaching the end of April, and while the plant has grown in nicely, there is not a single choke to be had. I planted two varieties of tomatoes in the same bed, plus half a dozen carrots. All of the carrots are gone - they didn't die, they're just gone - and I'm wondering if the tomatoes are are sapping water from the thirsty artichoke which is keeping it from blossoming. (I only had one tomato plant in the bed last year.)

Such disappoint.

[blackjack68]

Tomatoes don't require an excess of water. If they are overwatered the leaves will yellow and the fruit will crack.

No experience with artichokes, though.

Carrots?

[count2infinity]

Here's what we got for our "no digging up the ground cause we're in a rental" garden...



One the left it's lemon balm, mint, basil from top to bottom. Top right is actually my wife's work office window, 3 of her succulents. In the very middle back row is rosemary, chives, parsley, and the front row is thyme, green onions, oregano. Middle right is just a couple house plants in our front window. Bottom middle are 5 types of flowers (one of which is a nasturtium, and the bottom right is a jalapeno and a tomato.

[tifosi77]

So we've got half a dozen tomatoes (all Romas) coming in, and.................... one (1) artichoke!

Any idea what might account for it coming in so late in the season? They're a good six weeks overdue.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

Climate change, Monsanto, Obama, and/or Dan Bylsma.

[mac5155]

So we've got half a dozen tomatoes (all Romas) coming in, and.................... one (1) artichoke!

Any idea what might account for it coming in so late in the season? They're a good six weeks overdue.

I have 3 Romas and 6 Beefsteaks starting to get real big. I put tomato stakes on them Friday. Also, I can't figure how my snap beans aren't coming in but the pole beans are...

[Troy Loney]

The front of our place gets a ton of sunlight. the direct light starts at about 7:30 AM and last till about 4-5.

I sprouted seeds in March, three packs of tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1 basil and one or two other herbs that didn't make it. I was trying to find places for the rest of the tomato plants after scrounging around all the pots that I have.

I've had the cucumbers in a plastic bin for over a month by now, and they are growing like crazy. I really hope that they produce a ton, I want to try different cucumber juice recipes with the juicer.

[grunthy]

Climate change, Monsanto, Obama, and/or Dan Bylsma.

Can't be Dan bylsma. If it was they'd come in great early, only to stop producing before the season is over...

[mac5155]

The front of our place gets a ton of sunlight. the direct light starts at about 7:30 AM and last till about 4-5.

I sprouted seeds in March, three packs of tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1 basil and one or two other herbs that didn't make it. I was trying to find places for the rest of the tomato plants after scrounging around all the pots that I have.

I've had the cucumbers in a plastic bin for over a month by now, and they are growing like crazy. I really hope that they produce a ton, I want to try different cucumber juice recipes with the juicer.

Cukes grow like crazy. You'll get easily 5-10 cukes per plant.

[robbiestoupe]

Spent the good part of yesterday afternoon clearing out the garden at our just-purchased house. There must have been 100 volunteer tomatoes growing! I think the previous owners just threw away their unused tomatoes and hoped for the best. Well, after 5 hours of backbreaking work, I transplanted/thinned them out and hope for 3 dozen or so healthy tomato plants.

Also planted some bell peppers, chili peppers, pumpkins, cucumbers, summer squash and basil. Still have some asparagus and winter squash to plant.

My goal is to eventually build an aquaponics system. Saw one in Texas at a homestead when I was visiting my brother and fell in love. I have a shed right near my garden that I'll use to catch rainwater and feed into a tank for the fish. It'll be quite the project, but I think it will be worth the effort.

Tif, are you a pgh'er? I never thought of growing artichokes. Don't know if they'll grow here or not...if so, I'd be willing to try!

[blackjack68]

Tif lives in Cali.

[robbiestoupe]

hmph, may not be ideal for pgh then. will have to do some research.

[grunthy]

Yes you can grow them in Pennsylvania.

[Freddy Rumsen]

Already harvesting in south Mississippi (Corn, Pole Beans, and Okra pictured). Also have potatoes, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and peppers near ready as well. Looks like we'll be able to have three harvests this year.

[shmenguin]

got sod put in last year. i have clovers growing in it this year. what's my course of action?

[mac5155]

got sod put in last year. i have clovers growing in it this year. what's my course of action?

Ortho works well

http://www.ortho.com/smg/goprod/ortho-w ... /prod10001

Or you can get some big expensive truck to come.

It's bound to happen yearly. just because you got sod doesn't mean clover will never grow.

[shafnutz05]

I posted this in the other thread, but my God is pokeweed an absolute menace. We are the only lot in our subdevelopment that has it, and it grows so fast and everywhere. I was trying to clear it out last weekend, and now have itchy welts that are worse than poison ivy all over my right arm and both legs.

Once we get our trees taken down (finally) in a couple weeks, I'll be able to mow most of the areas where it grows, but I'm just tired of looking at it. And a bonus, the berries are highly, highly toxic:

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

Kill it with fire

[tifosi77]

Tif lives in Cali.

hmph, may not be ideal for pgh then. will have to do some research.

True fact: 99.99% of all commercially grown artichokes in the US are grown here in California.

[dodint]

We call that "the saving grace."

[Shyster]

So... How close do you guys like to trim your bushes?

[dodint]

My wife and I just planted some tomato plants this afternoon. The first foray into a much grander gardening adventure that we have planned for the next five to seven years.

Our dog dug them up and then shat in the hole.

All you can do is laugh, right?