Fifth Avenue Forum

Consider some myrtle or pachysandra as ground cover to mix it up. Also little to no maintenance required.

In the last five days, Japanese Beetles have descended onto my shrubs like a plague.

I have green peppers ready, and cukes a few days away! How exciting.

In the last five days, Japanese Beetles have descended onto my shrubs like a plague.

I really can't recall seeing them in the past 15-20 years around my area.

I remember bag traps working somewhat.

Guess I'll throw it here, anyone have any good dill pickle recipes? Don't want anything fancy - a plain jane dill. None of this spicy dill stuff.

Threw away about 15 cukes that turned Yellow. Gosh darnit

Too much rain/water

I figured it's cause I left them on the vine too long. I also picked about 15 other good ones. I haven't watered in weeks. All this dang rain

Yeah, leaving them on the vine can do that too.

I have a small backyard, which is really just a weed bed.

Its flat just behind the house, goes up a slight hill, and is flat at the top of the property.

That top part is where I would like to plant a garden.

Should I just tear up all the grass and add some topsoil to it? I'd like to try planting some peppers and green beans this weekend, but I'm not really sure how to go about creating the space.

You're awful late for both of those, I think. But it's worth a shot. Rip up the grass, and use some manure. Top soil wont get you much. Mushroom manure (in bags at Walmart) is much better.

ok thanks, ill see if i can find that.

i figured beans especially would grow pretty quickly and easily, but maybe i need to do more research

I planted my beans via seed the second week of May. This week I got my first harvest. We planted 10" tall pepper plants the same day, and have only picked one pepper off them.

I have a black walnut tree that has skyrocketed in the last few years. I mainly let it grow because it was a great natural barrier from the neighbors. 9 years ago, we got 2 Japanese flowering crab apple trees (malus I think?) for a wedding gift. I saw an article recently about how Black Walnuts release a toxin that are bad for other trees/shrubs around it. I've read multiple reports saying that the malus crab apple is both good and bad around the walnut. The apples are 9 years old and growing fine. The black walnut is probably 6 years old. How long until I should see problems? I'm hoping I don't need to do anything and continue to take advantage of both nuts and apples/flowers... Anyone know anything about this?

I have a black walnut tree that has skyrocketed in the last few years. I mainly let it grow because it was a great natural barrier from the neighbors. 9 years ago, we got 2 Japanese flowering crab apple trees (malus I think?) for a wedding gift. I saw an article recently about how Black Walnuts release a toxin that are bad for other trees/shrubs around it. I've read multiple reports saying that the malus crab apple is both good and bad around the walnut. The apples are 9 years old and growing fine. The black walnut is probably 6 years old. How long until I should see problems? I'm hoping I don't need to do anything and continue to take advantage of both nuts and apples/flowers... Anyone know anything about this?

Yep - juglone. We have a few 75'+ ft black walnuts in the very back of our yard. No direct experience with the effect on Malus (apple) species, but I know I sure can't grow tomatoes in that soil.

Ok...looking for ideas on what to do with this 10'x10' space in the middle of what is going to be a U-shaped grape arbor with the open side by the driveway.

Still no red tomatoes. Starting to grow impatient...

Still no red tomatoes. Starting to grow impatient...

Any luck yet mac? I just started picking some this week after transplanting my tomato plants in early June.

On another note, I walked back to my garden last night to find a groundhog inside the fence of my garden. I scared the bejesus out of him, and he scurried around trying to find a way out. Kept banging his head up against the fence (it's a completely enclosed garden with a 4 ft, closely meshed, wire fence). After opening the gate and letting him out, I searched for a hole but didn't find any. I'm curious as to how the varmint got in there?? Can groundhogs climb? There's a dead tree right next to the fence, so I wonder if he climbed the tree and jumped over the fence.

Still no red tomatoes. Starting to grow impatient...

My wife is, too.

YEs.. picked about 2 bushels of them... but they're very soft.

Any tips for autumn/winter prep?

I have a black walnut tree that has skyrocketed in the last few years. I mainly let it grow because it was a great natural barrier from the neighbors. 9 years ago, we got 2 Japanese flowering crab apple trees (malus I think?) for a wedding gift. I saw an article recently about how Black Walnuts release a toxin that are bad for other trees/shrubs around it. I've read multiple reports saying that the malus crab apple is both good and bad around the walnut. The apples are 9 years old and growing fine. The black walnut is probably 6 years old. How long until I should see problems? I'm hoping I don't need to do anything and continue to take advantage of both nuts and apples/flowers... Anyone know anything about this?

Yep - juglone. We have a few 75'+ ft black walnuts in the very back of our yard. No direct experience with the effect on Malus (apple) species, but I know I sure can't grow tomatoes in that soil.

Black walnut is one of the best, if not the absolute best, wood to burn in the fireplace. Cut 'em down and keep warm for the winter.

Spent most of the day tilling the garden, getting things ready to plant, and building a new trellis for cucumbers and beans.

Also this thing is worth every penny of $20