What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

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Gardening is a cherished activity for many participants, with roots tracing back to childhood experiences and family traditions. Organic gardening methods are favored, emphasizing the use of natural techniques over chemicals. Current gardening efforts include cultivating perennials like blueberries and raspberries, alongside plans for vegetable and herb gardens. Participants express a desire for more space to garden, reflecting on the challenges of apartment living and the joy of nurturing plants. The discussion highlights cultural differences in gardening practices, particularly contrasting American and Spanish lifestyles regarding home and garden ownership.
  • #3,241
Andre said:
solution?
And there's this.

new%20squirrels2_adjust_1_1_1.jpg
 
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  • #3,242
  • #3,243
My amaryllis decided to join in the fun and bloom at the same time as my orchids.

img8163u.jpg


Zz.
 
  • #3,244
Gorgeous Zz, I am so jealous!
 
  • #3,245
Almost gardening season again. It is still cool here at night. But the blueberries are budding finally.

http://www.andreawulf.com/andrea-wu...e-and-the-shaping-of-the-american-nation.html

She describes how, even as British ships gathered off Staten Island, George Washington wrote his estate manager about the garden at Mount Vernon; how a tour of English gardens renewed Thomas Jefferson's and John Adams's faith in their fledgling nation; how a trip to the great botanist John Bartram’s garden helped the delegates of the Constitutional Congress to break their deadlock; and why James Madison is the forgotten father of American environmentalism.
 
  • #3,246
Two weeks ago, I started some starts (I guess that's why they're called that...:confused:). Nothing sprouting yet, still too cold - only in the 40s today.
 
  • #3,247
lisab said:
Two weeks ago, I started some starts (I guess that's why they're called that...:confused:). Nothing sprouting yet, still too cold - only in the 40s today.
Bulbs? What did you plant?
 
  • #3,248
Evo said:
Bulbs? What did you plant?

So far, just tomatoes and various flowers. Lots of tomatoes - I'm optimistic about a warm summer, for a change! Heirlooms and sauce varieties, my favorites. They're in the screen porch where it's kinda sort of warm.

I have basil :biggrin: seeds too, but I think I should wait for moderately warm weather for those.
 
  • #3,249
lisab said:
So far, just tomatoes and various flowers. Lots of tomatoes - I'm optimistic about a warm summer, for a change! Heirlooms and sauce varieties, my favorites. They're in the screen porch where it's kinda sort of warm.

I have basil :biggrin: seeds too, but I think I should wait for moderately warm weather for those.
You're handy, you might want to make a simple cold frame to get your seedlings going.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/building-a-simple-cold-frame/
 
  • #3,250
My brother and his wife have a portable greenhouse (basically shelves enclosed in clear plastic with some lights to warm inside) they keep in a dining area just off the kitchen. It gets background light since the kitchen faces northeast. It might get a bit of light in the summer during early morning.
 
  • #3,251
I just have my seeds, plots, and water mixed with a compost bin in my backyard and lawn. Mostly veggies, tea, herbs, and fragrances. Also two avocado trees that were previously here and a sour orange tree home to a pigeon in a nest.
 
  • #3,252
Being here in south Florida, my* mango trees withstood the winter quite well. The poor avocado tree, however, got half it's leaves blown off during these pretty bad pre-spring storms we've been having.

*not actually MY trees, but rather my parents' (I'm still a young'n compared to most of you). I just take care of them.
 
  • #3,253
ImATrackMan said:
Being here in south Florida, my* mango trees withstood the winter quite well. The poor avocado tree, however, got half it's leaves blown off during these pretty bad pre-spring storms we've been having.

*not actually MY trees, but rather my parents' (I'm still a young'n compared to most of you). I just take care of them.

I also live in SFL, I don't have mango, but I do have avocado and it withstood the winds quite well.
 
  • #3,254
Tell you what else we have (but really, REALLY don't want)...

Raccoons. Always stealing the low hanging fruit. Sure they're cute, but when the babies take after their parents it's "goodbye ripe mango".
 
  • #3,255
It's time to prune the fruit trees. I need to be quite diligent about spraying the trees before and after blossoming, so that the birds won't spoil the fruit. I only use canola oil in a hose-end sprayer - no pesticides. Still, that is enough to suppress insect activity so that insectivorous birds won't damage the fruit looking for for bugs to eat.

I won't use pesticides anywhere on my property, but I have to be wary of the huge fields of commercially-grown crops and the large orchards around here. The bugs that come here are already too tough, and the wind-blown pollens are hard to deal with. Got to roll with it.
 
  • #3,256
My garlic is up, poking through the oat-straw mulch. Looking pretty good.
 
  • #3,257
I have decided not to attempt a vegetable garden this year, it's cheaper to just buy them and at least I'll have some, what few grew last year were eaten by squirrels.

So, this year I am doing flowers. I just received my dwarf ever blooming day lilies today. I will have to keep the pots covered with metal grates until I get the plants going or the squirrels will dig up the bulbs and destroy them.
 
  • #3,258
  • #3,259
Monique said:
My peach tree still has leaf curl :frown: Are there any fungicides effective? The only fungicide I've been able to find in the gardening center is one that treats mildew.
Copper soap is recommended, if you can find it there.

All purpose fungicide controls mildew, blackspot and rust. se on ornamentals, vegetables and fruits. Controls peach leaf curl.
Available in concentrate or ready-use-spray.
Contains Copper Octanoate (copper soap)

http://www.greenhousegardencenter.com/green_garden.html
 
  • #3,260
The peas are in the ground, along with kale, spinach, lettuce, etc. The garlic is coming up nicely through its mulch.
 
  • #3,261
turbo said:
The peas are in the ground, along with kale, spinach, lettuce, etc. The garlic is coming up nicely through its mulch.

I have difficulties with any type of beans, the crows and pigeons find a way to dig them out.
 
  • #3,262
Julio R said:
I have difficulties with any type of beans, the crows and pigeons find a way to dig them out.
Darn them, darn them to heck.
 
  • #3,263
Monique said:
My peach tree still has leaf curl :frown: Are there any fungicides effective? The only fungicide I've been able to find in the gardening center is one that treats mildew.
The leaf curl fungus needs to be treated with fungicides in the winter, as it lives in the bark and is easier to kill then. Once it's in the leaves, it doesn't do any good to spray with a fungicide. You'll need to treat for several winters to completely get rid of it, from my experience.

Edit: Unfortunately the EPA has banned most of the good stuff but I still have some Zineb. Zinc is the secret.
 
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  • #3,264
Alright, I'll have to live with it until winter comes again then.. Maybe I should just get a new tree.

Today I'll be planting seeds for a whole list of plants: green and gold zucchini, bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomato, flesh tomato, balcony tomato, watermelon, coriander, Eastern papaver and a mixture of cutflowers.

I don't know how I'll fit them all on the terrace, probably I should buy some pots to put the individual plants in. A friend told me not all produce can be grown next to each, is there any truth in that?
 
  • #3,265
Monique said:
... A friend told me not all produce can be grown next to each, is there any truth in that?

That's called intercropping or polyculture. But I wonder if all combinations mentioned here are tested used the scientific method.
 
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  • #3,266
Andre said:
That's called intercropping or polyculture. But I wonder if all combinations mentioned here are tested used the scientific method.
Alright, I'll put the cucumber in separate pots then :smile: I planted seeds last Sunday and the cucumbers are the only ones sprouting at this moment.. hopefully the other seeds will follow soon.
 
  • #3,267
We are having a cool, dry spring. This morning it was 2 C (36 F). I had to water plants yesterday, but hopefully we will get some rain this week.
 
  • #3,268
Remember this post.

It looks like this today, before the sun hits it:

 
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  • #3,269
Looks like strawberries even after 60mph winds the day before yesterday.

 
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  • #3,270
Very nice grow-bed, dlg. Is the watering on a timer?
 

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