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.
  • #451
turbo-1 said:
They may start to ripen (or not), but either way that's not a problem. If you dry them and grind them, they'll still be great seasoning. Hot chilies do not have to be orange or red to be hot, but their flavor may be a bit better-developed when ripe. Due to my short growing season, I am forced to process many of my chilies green. I like my green-chili relishes and sauces, and some of them (especially the ones with green jalapenos) are VERY tasty. My wife's favorite chili relish is my "clean-up" relish made from the green jalapenos, green super-chilies, and green habaneros that were left on the plants when I pulled them out of the garden ahead of a predicted frost. Lots of peppers have a tarter flavor when green than when ripe, so try your habaneros green. You may like the taste.

Ok. I'll try one of them green. However, I am going to let the other stay on the plant. The reason? Here in Phoenix, we have a year round growing season (mainly...it is very very very rarely frosted), so I have plenty of time to wait.
 
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  • #452
When I was in Jamaica one time, I saw a 10 foot tall, 8 foot wide green pepper plant/bush. I didn't know they could live for YEARS in the right climate (10-20 was what the woman said--whether that's right or not)---I've dug up some of mine in the fall (and re-planted in the spring) and had one live for six years.
 
  • #453
rewebster said:
When I was in Jamaica one time, I saw a 10 foot tall, 8 foot wide green pepper plant/bush. I didn't know they could live for YEARS in the right climate (10-20 was what the woman said--whether that's right or not)---I've dug up some of mine in the fall (and re-planted in the spring) and had one live for six years.

Cool! I love my climate! I can't wait until I plant my other seeds. Savannah Red habaneros, tabasco peppers, super peppers, white lantern habaneros, I had a few more.
 
  • #454
rewebster said:
When I was in Jamaica one time, I saw a 10 foot tall, 8 foot wide green pepper plant/bush. I didn't know they could live for YEARS in the right climate (10-20 was what the woman said--whether that's right or not)---I've dug up some of mine in the fall (and re-planted in the spring) and had one live for six years.
I think in the tropics, tomatos and peppers grow for a long time. In temperate climates that have cold winters, the plants die off.

Here is an idea!

http://verticalfarm.com/index.php - The Vertical Farm Project

It's time to seriously think about moving to the west coast of Australia. Plenty of solar power and inexpensive land.
 
  • #455
turbo-1 said:
I get very tiny amounts of grapes that fit this guideline. If you want to come up here and plant grapes on south-facing hillsides and start a winery, I'd be glad to pitch in with money and labor.

OK Turbo... as long as you get rain for 10 months of the year, freezing cold winters and lots of mud slides, sleet, and the Winter Olympics in 2010... that would be the right environment for me to come and set up an ice winery with ya! Otherwise... I'm interested in a bannana crop on one of the Hawaiian Islands or some other warm and getting warmer spot on earth!

Speaking of Gardens... ever seen the insides of KoKo Crater near Hanowma Bay(sp)? I'll find some photos of the silver cacti and gardens that sprung up in there after all the eruptions. Volcanic soil is really good for plants. Totally a trip walking around that garden. Then dipping into the bay for a snorkle. Totally outragious!
 
  • #456
Never even been to Hawaii, though I'd be very interested in visiting volcanoes. Too bad we don't have any in Maine.:rolleyes:
 
  • #457
turbo-1 said:
Never even been to Hawaii, though I'd be very interested in visiting volcanoes. Too bad we don't have any in Maine.:rolleyes:

Koko Crater is dormant for the time being. Koko means blood so it may have been related to some kind of rituals or just extremely red lava.

Yeah, I guess Maine is on the Canadian Shield... or parts there south... and really quite quiet when it comes to volcanic activity.

I heard Mt. St. Helens blow her stack when it did. I've got Mt. Baker in my back yard (72 miles away) and that might be a major eruption. Can you say Pompei?! Can I say no highway, rail or planes for some time? It was always considered extinct but that's been upgraded to dormant because there's a steam vent on the south ridge.
 
  • #458
If Mt. Baker becomes active, let us know. We need to sacrifice the "funniest member" award winner.o:)
 
  • #459
turbo-1 said:
If Mt. Baker becomes active, let us know. We need to sacrifice the "funniest member" award winner.o:)
I'll bring the drums, beer and BBQ. o:) :biggrin:
 
  • #460
Astronuc said:
I'll bring the drums, beer and BBQ. o:) :biggrin:
Great! All we need is grizzly-bear type dart gun to take you down so we can toss you in. BTW, Molson Golden is OK, but if you can bring Beck's, I'll try to convince the tossers not to let you bounce of rock outcroppings on the way in. :smile:
 
  • #461
turbo-1 said:
Great! All we need is grizzly-bear type dart gun to take you down so we can toss you in. BTW, Molson Golden is OK, but if you can bring Beck's, I'll try to convince the tossers not to let you bounce of rock outcroppings on the way in. :smile:

So, I guess this means I didn't win... damn.

Here's some geologists sampling the steam vents on Baker

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Imgs/Jpg/Baker/Images/Baker81_gas_sampling_fumarole_mount_baker_1981_med.jpg

and here's the volcano as I see it.

mt_baker.jpg


And here's the entrance to Koko Crater Botanical Garden... when I was there it was a wild area with a path... now its gone hollywood!

http://sparks-mexico.com/hawaii/koko/koko1%20(2).JPG
 
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  • #462
Pretty view of the mountain, baywax! I hope you're far enough away if it pops.:eek:
 
  • #463
turbo-1 said:
Pretty view of the mountain, baywax! I hope you're far enough away if it pops.:eek:

Thanks Turbo... it'll be the smog in the photo or a tsunami or terrorists or an NK nuke or smoking or beer or a truck before we're BAKED by Mt. Baker I have a feeling. At least... if you believe the news and the people in the news! Otherwise... I'll take the BAKE over any of them!

Actually we've got about 5 of those cones in the area. There's a famous garden that's parked in a cone left over from early eruptions by Baker. Its called Queen Elizabeth Gardens (named after the Queen who now resides in England, same one your DickTator was dissing near your place) Here it is...

http://www.aboutvancouver.org/img/DS_5950_10559.jpg

And Black Tusk is a chimney leftover from major eruptions around here... its up by Whistler where the 2010 Winter Olympics are going to be canceled due to no snow...

http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/urbgeo/vanrock/images/garibaldi_5.jpg

And of course we've got Mt. Rainier (which was one of my favorite beer next to Olympia Beer). That one will blow before Baker.

RainierEmmonsView.jpg


And here's a map of all the cones in the Pacific NW (everyone is encouraged to ski on these mothers!)

CascadesMap.jpg
 
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  • #464
Speaking of plants and gardens...

Ever grow one of these Gunera?

http://members.shaw.ca/newgardener3/Weskwick%20gunnera%201%20SGE%20(908%20x%20600).jpg

They're also called elephant plants. There are a few tricks to keeping them healthy and BIG! My methods are adaptations to the climate we have here which is... something Georgia would like to have at this time... RAIN!
 
  • #465
Wow! Those leaves are BIG! We don't get enough temperate weather to grow anything like that. Though if the climate keeps warming up here, we could be looking at winters with little snow and lots of mud.
 
  • #466
baywax said:
So, I guess this means I didn't win... damn.
Heck, I'm not even in the contest. I'm just a test dummy.

Here's some geologists sampling the steam vents on Baker
Cool! or rather - Hot! I presume that's yellow deposit is sulphur. Sooo there must be hydrogen sulphide or sulfated around that place?

turbo-1 said:
Great! All we need is grizzly-bear type dart gun to take you down so we can toss you in. BTW, Molson Golden is OK, but if you can bring Beck's, I'll try to convince the tossers not to let you bounce of rock outcroppings on the way in.
How thoughtful of you. :smile:

Actually volcanos don't find me very tasty.

I'll do better than Molson Golden or Beck's.


Anyway, speaking of gardening - again - what's the best place to grow hops. I just heard a local (regional) radio program with three local brewers, and they talked about a shortage of hops in the US. The prices have gone from $2-3/lb, to $5-6/lb, up to in some cases $34/lb (Cascade hops)! Apparently various small breweries and micro-breweries are in jeopardy. The hops shortage may last for some time. AND - the price of barley (for malt) has increased.

Farmers are less likely to grow barley because of the uncertainty about the quality, which has to be just right for malting (better price) or the barley becomes feed. Farmers get more money to grow corn, because the US government in its infinited stupidity is subsidizing corn and promoting ethanol production, which of course is increasing the cost of the food supply in the US.

Anyway, I want to look into growing barley and hops, as well as various berries and hot peppers. :biggrin:

Turbo, what is the hops potential up your way.
 
  • #467
Astronuc said:
Turbo, what is the hops potential up your way.
Very good! If you trudge around to old farm-steads, you will find hops. My neighbor years back had hops that were climbing through his lilacs alongside his barn. Here is a web-page by a guy who seems familiar with this situation.

http://byo.com/feature/116.html
In New England, where there is a short growing season (sometimes only 50 days), people have had success with almost every available variety, but especially with those that are normally fast-growing and productive such as Cascade, Nugget, Chinook, and Willamette.

In some places such as New England, lucky homebrewers found old-growth hops (often gone feral) around abandoned house sites, in old barnyards, and in similar forgotten areas.
 
  • #468
Astronuc said:
Heck, I'm not even in the contest. I'm just a test dummy.

Cool! or rather - Hot! I presume that's yellow deposit is sulphur. Sooo there must be hydrogen sulphide or sulfated around that place?

How thoughtful of you. :smile:

Actually volcanos don't find me very tasty.

I'll do better than Molson Golden or Beck's.


Anyway, speaking of gardening - again - what's the best place to grow hops. I just heard a local (regional) radio program with three local brewers, and they talked about a shortage of hops in the US. The prices have gone from $2-3/lb, to $5-6/lb, up to in some cases $34/lb (Cascade hops)! Apparently various small breweries and micro-breweries are in jeopardy. The hops shortage may last for some time. AND - the price of barley (for malt) has increased.

Farmers are less likely to grow barley because of the uncertainty about the quality, which has to be just right for malting (better price) or the barley becomes feed. Farmers get more money to grow corn, because the US government in its infinited stupidity is subsidizing corn and promoting ethanol production, which of course is increasing the cost of the food supply in the US.

Anyway, I want to look into growing barley and hops, as well as various berries and hot peppers. :biggrin:

Turbo, what is the hops potential up your way.

Cool Astronuc. There's hops here. There used to be more. Now its looking more and more like one monotonous corn field. However, we've been making our Ethanol from Cannola plants here. I thinks its been the last 30 years that we've had 10 percent Ethanol in Husky and Mohawk gasolines. Its an nice alternative and you pass "Air Care" much easier with it. For berries we've got them all. There are cranberry fields forever. At harvest you flood the field (its right beside a large river) and pick the dislodged berries off the top of the water. Its a cool sight since you have all these people who've immigrated here from India in their super bright saris and stuff and they're wading around in these bright red berry ponds the size of 8 football fields.

if000011.jpg
 
  • #469
turbo-1 said:
Very good! If you trudge around to old farm-steads, you will find hops. My neighbor years back had hops that were climbing through his lilacs alongside his barn. Here is a web-page by a guy who seems familiar with this situation.
You and your neighbors could be sitting on a gold mine. It bears investigation! :biggrin:
 
  • #470
Astronuc said:
You and your neighbors could be sitting on a gold mine. It bears investigation! :biggrin:
Well, the vagrant vines that climb around here and there are not likely to provide a lot of income, though if you want to come up to the K-valley and buy a hillside sector, I'll find a nice one for you so you can plant a few dozen acres with Cascade and sit back. I'll round up a few crocks and we can get into regular small-scale production while you provide high-quality hops to the designer micro-breweries.
 
  • #471
turbo-1 said:
Well, the vagrant vines that climb around here and there are not likely to provide a lot of income, though if you want to come up to the K-valley and buy a hillside sector, I'll find a nice one for you so you can plant a few dozen acres with Cascade and sit back. I'll round up a few crocks and we can get into regular small-scale production while you provide high-quality hops to the designer micro-breweries.

Well - I'm kinda thinking along those lines.

What's an acre cost up that way?

I'm thinking about calling those breweries, because some people are getting quite desparate. There's a market there. And the shortage is going to be for some time.
 
  • #472
I'm thinking that since we we got this place for less than 90K with a nice little house and about 8-9 acres, you ought to be able to do well.
 
  • #473
I seem to remember about 40 acres or so just south of your place. :biggrin:

I'll give you a buzz this weekend.
 
  • #474
Geeks in the Garden!

This is really cool!

http://www.kitchenbudapest.hu/en/node/274
The aim of the Landprint project is to reproduce subtle patterns and photos by combining various species of plants with programmed robotics.

Plants and flowers that spawn seem to make continuous patterns with their various colours and shades seen from a distance. With the use of programmed robotics for the planting and cutting of plants, we can manipulate the evolving patterns, to render photo-like, delicate images.

It helps to have a high-tech lawnmower.
 
  • #475
As long as this thread has been bumped, I might mention that I planted some savannah red habaneros today.
 
  • #476
Astronuc said:
Well - I'm kinda thinking along those lines.

What's an acre cost up that way?

I'm thinking about calling those breweries, because some people are getting quite desparate. There's a market there. And the shortage is going to be for some time.
I'd be thinking of moving directly into vertical integration and then I could quickly become my own best customer :biggrin:
 
  • #477
There are opportunities to grow some high-value crops here. Our tendency toward warm winters and regular summers could leverage some crops into real money-makers!
 
  • #478
turbo-1 said:
There are opportunities to grow some high-value crops here. Our tendency toward warm winters and regular summers could leverage some crops into real money-makers!
I'm thinking along those lines. Thanks for the info.
 
  • #479
If you are willing to bet on the continuing warming of Maine's winters, our cheap land prices make this a nice place to start a vineyard, a hops plantation, or even a New England nexus for hot chilies. The ones in the stores around here stink!
 
  • #480
turbo-1 said:
If you are willing to bet on the continuing warming of Maine's winters, our cheap land prices make this a nice place to start a vineyard, a hops plantation, or even a New England nexus for hot chilies. The ones in the stores around here stink!

Speaking of stink, garlic is a good crop. Less land required, high yield and fair prices. People almost use as much garlic as they do beer. Did I say that!?

I've seen companies selling their own grown excellent garlic in the same region as the vineyards of BC. Those land prices are jumping by about 6 percent a year or more so, no great deal in the making.
 

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