A general gardening thread

[TheOncomingStorm]

A week ago Monday I finally went to the local nursery at got the first round of seeds and plants and went a little overboard already. Got the usual veggies and few new ones. I had to expand the garden slightly for all the veggies to fit in.

As for berries we have then everywhere, well wild varieties we have raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and even wild strawberries but the fruit are so tiny.

We also have a grapevine. The problem with the grapevine is it grew up an apple tree now I have train to grow so we can get to the grapes.

[BigDon]

Well it looks like all six vines are going to live. Checked them today.

They were so sad that the nursery man dropped the price from ten dollars to 50 cents a piece. A guess in a couple of years I'm going to be one grape-eating son of a gun..The happier ones have side shoots about two inchs long and the ones that were really sad are peeking little green sprouts, like potatoe eyes.

[BigDon]

First I have a question about my valencia orange I planted last fall.

It's still less than waist high, but it's covered in buds. Would it benefit the tree if I removed the buds at this time? Put more energy into growth?

The plum tree I mentioned is still in it's five gallon container and it has a lot of plums al most of it's branches. I'm thinking maybe keeping the concret intact and planting in the tree peony I have place. Move the Peony to a large container. Two reasons to hesitate to supplant the peony with the plum are the peony has started to bloom regularly after almost ten years of not and sometime in the future there may be a issue of the crowns of the plum and the valencia crowding each other the trunks being only twelve feet apart.

No, maybe I will go ahead and hire that contractor.

[BigDon]

After reading that last post I think I should log out now and go to bed. Goodnight everybody.

[geonuc]

After reading that last post I think I should log out now and go to bed. Goodnight everybody.

Good move.

[HenrikOlsen]

It's still less than waist high, but it's covered in buds. Would it benefit the tree if I removed the buds at this time? Put more energy into growth?

Flower/fruit buds or branch buds?
I'm guessing it's still stressed from the recent planting and is in emergency procreation mode.
You'll definitely want to remove most of the potential fruits this year, though I don't think it'll be too bad if you wait until it's flowered so you have the benefit of the prettiness.
An attempted large crop might push it into a biannual cycle and will likely stunt its growth at a time where you want that instead of fruits.
Perhaps keep a couple so you get a chance to taste them.

Are you pruning/training it yet?

Note that this advice is based on what I know about other fruit trees, most notably apple and plum. I'm assuming the fundamentals are similar though the details are likely not so much.

[BigDon]

Oh, the orange has flower buds Henrik. Petals, a few olive sized fruits and everything. I plan on putting a circular bench around the trunk once the crown clears head height.

[TheOncomingStorm]

A couple of frustrating days here. First, last year a lost a pin that keeps on of tires on the tiller so I replaced it with a bolt and nut, lost two sets in the last couple of days. I started putting paper down between the rows to keep the weeds down, put a little dirt on top of them to keep the wind from blowing them but did not put enough dirt went out an hour ago and the sheets were scattered all over the garden and into the field.

[BigDon]

Sounds a little more than annoying there Dave

[chrissy]

I am worried about my poor cordyline, when I returned from Denmark at the end of March, the fronds were looking brown or paled in colour, I have had it for almost 6 years and it has passed the winters here without a hitch, but I think the bad weather we have suffered this year might have given it a shock to the system, I have cut a great many fronds of it already and now it is looking a sorry state, I am just wondering if it will recover or will I have to cut it down because it is dying? The centre fronds are also brown but I don't want to cut the off in case there are some healthy fronds lurking inside. Should I wait and see?

Sorry I have just taken the pictures tonight.

[TheOncomingStorm]

Sounds a little more than annoying there Dave

Some days I feel like Brian Dunning.http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4150

[Fazor]

we got our vegetable garden put in today and put up the fence around it, and also put the flowers in the side-beds (along the house) and multched. I'm more proud of it all than I probably should be. Still have a ton of stuff to do tomorrow, but I'd rather not think about that right now.

[Fazor]

we got our vegetable garden put in today and put up the fence around it, and also put the flowers in the side-beds (along the house) and multched. I'm more proud of it all than I probably should be. Still have a ton of stuff to do tomorrow, but I'd rather not think about that right now.

We finished planting the flowers in the side beds last night. What? I already did that once? Our mentally challenged dogs dug them up the first night. Stupid dogs. So we re-planted the ones that needed replanted, and sprayed with stuff that's supposed to deter them from getting into the beds, but I doubt it'll work. I also got the bed back by where we park put in, and started a handful of various plants in indoor feeders until they sprout and get big enough to transplant out to the gardens.

Tonight, I get to start on the front yard. It's kinda scary because we haven't touched those flowerbeds in years. Lots of big plants that I have no idea what they are. Lots of big bugs in there too. *shudder*

[RalofTyr]

I'd recommend growing vine snap green beans. I've got about four plants and they provide me with one serving of green beans per day.

I'm also pulling about a handful of cherry tomatoes per day was well from my 20 or so plants.

[Fazor]

I'd recommend growing vine snap green beans. I've got about four plants and they provide me with one serving of green beans per day.

I'm also pulling about a handful of cherry tomatoes per day was well from my 20 or so plants.

Yep, we've got some of the beans germinating right now. No cherry tomatoes this year, but we've grown 'em in years past and they've always done well. Also have a couple varieties of lettuce and some bell peppers. I'm (attempting) to grow some jalapeno and cayenne peppers, but they're going in planters rather than in the garden. Six or seven different herbs are (theoretically) germinating in pots in a planter on our deck too. Curious to see of all the stuff we're planting, what will grow and what won't.

[TheOncomingStorm]

Went to the nursery again to pick up some strawberry plants and other things. They were actually sold out on the strawberries so were their suppliers.

Done tilling for planting. Some plants nearly died because hot temperatures and not enough rain. Yes I did hand water them but still not enough for them. Some beans, peas and potatoes are coming up.

[Fazor]

Done tilling for planting. Some plants nearly died because hot temperatures and not enough rain. Yes I did hand water them but still not enough for them. Some beans, peas and potatoes are coming up.

Cool! Our tomato plants are getting pretty tall; we'll need to put in the cages for them to grow around this weekend. Out of the seven various herb pots, the basil and the thyme were sprouting like weeds as of yesterday. We started the sprouts of other things inside; they're currently in the kitchen window. Two varieties of lettuce are growing pretty fast, the bell peppers are sprouted, and the green beans are sprouted, I have some pretty good okra sprouts too. My jalepeno and cayenne haven't sprouted yet, but IIRC, they have a slightly longer germination period. Exciting! I hoping to get to use the cayenne and the okra to make home-made spicy pickled okra; one of my favorite foods.

[TheOncomingStorm]

Just took a walk out in the garden and the lettuce, spinach and swiss chard are coming up. Got tomatoes, basil, thyme an dill plants and some cucumber, squash and pumpkin seeds which are probably going into the garden this weekend, I forgot to get more fertilizer last trip. Also got some marigolds which help keep away the deer.

[RalofTyr]

Yep, we've got some of the beans germinating right now. No cherry tomatoes this year, but we've grown 'em in years past and they've always done well. Also have a couple varieties of lettuce and some bell peppers. I'm (attempting) to grow some jalapeno and cayenne peppers, but they're going in planters rather than in the garden. Six or seven different herbs are (theoretically) germinating in pots in a planter on our deck too. Curious to see of all the stuff we're planting, what will grow and what won't.

My peppers are taking forever and a day to grow.

I tried some Serranos, but they haven't come up at all. I save some of the seeds when I buy them at the store.

[jokergirl]

This year my windowsill has two types of cherry tomatoes - one are the tried and true Tiny Tim, and they just get better every year. They are already growing tomatoes now.
I'm also trying small eggplants - very, very curious about those. They have flowerbuds but they're not open yet. Anybody who could give me a hint about eggplant pollination? I hope it's not like zucchini...

Chiles and peppers are doing fine, but as for everyone else - slow.

[mahesh]

Most of the weeds I have are grasses milkweed and horseradish. The horseradish pops up everywhere. I think it is similar to goutweed in the method it spreads. It was started by grandfather years ago. He liked chopped up and put into chopped up pickled beets in kind of a relish. Now I am the only one that likes spicy food so it does not get used at all.

Aaw...that's a real shame. Horseradish! I used to hunting for it, inner city areas, to make my sauce from scratch.

Wouldn't you consider making your own brand a la Paul Newman?
Seems a waste not to use it. May be you could...oh well...

[mahesh]

...I'm also trying small eggplants - very, very curious about those. They have flowerbuds but they're not open yet. Anybody who could give me a hint about eggplant pollination? I hope it's not like zucchini...

Chiles and peppers are doing fine, but as for everyone else - slow.

You mean aubergines! Oh the Lovely, Delicious, Most Delicate, Beautifully Coloured, Gorgeously Edible Vegetable! Yuuuuuuum!

jg, for your files for future use:
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/AtoZ.aspx

but here's http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/s...our/index.html

you might end up using q-tips and / or a mascara brush to help it along, in absence of natural agents in inner cities.

when's dinner?

[RalofTyr]

I've got a heavy clay soil. I'm thinking of digging a small hole in between each corn plant to catch water. When I water, I suspect the water is just running over the rows instead of soaking in.

[jokergirl]

You mean aubergines! Oh the Lovely, Delicious, Most Delicate, Beautifully Coloured, Gorgeously Edible Vegetable! Yuuuuuuum!

jg, for your files for future use:
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/AtoZ.aspx

but here's http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/s...our/index.html

you might end up using q-tips and / or a mascara brush to help it along, in absence of natural agents in inner cities.

when's dinner?

Three flowers opened yesterday! I've been brushing them the same way I have been successful with tomatoes already, using my fingers or a small paintbrush.
Another flower opened today, and there are lots of buds on all of the plants. Yay!

I can't wait... yum.

[TheOncomingStorm]

Everything in but the cukes, can't find the seeds. The weather forecast is for rain for 5 out of the next 7 days. All I have to say is let it rain.

[mike alexander]

I could use just a bit less rain, but the weather pattern is slowly moving towards summer.

Second-year blueberries look like they'll be ready for picking in 2-3 weeks. Not a lot yet, but the plants are doing nicely and I expect a good payoff next year.

[BigDon]

I went and checked my parent's yard yesterday. One of the grapes has two big red leaves finally.

I have the flowers looking good, but now the lawn needs more attention. So much rain I have a rust problem with my grass! Though the roses are fine.

[RalofTyr]

I'm pulling a handful of cherry tomatoes and green beans every other day.

My peppers are coming up and growing very slowly...my beats and melons aren't doing a thing.

Since I've been watering more frequently, my corn and tomatoes are booming. Some of them are almost as tall as me!!!

The girls at work love it when I give them plants to go as I have beans and cherry tomatoes growing as weeds.

[slang]

When should chili peppers be picked? As soon as they've turned fully red? (Got a plant with peppers in several stages of growth)

ETA: Strawberries doing great, also got a few broccoli and cauliflower plants that are doing great. Moved a cherry tomato plant we bought a few years ago from its pot into the ground. It never gave much fruit, maybe it will now.

[geonuc]

I've been growing chiles for over twenty years and I like to pick them when they're fully red. But you can pick them earlier.