What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[turbo]

I bought a book on bonsai many years ago, intending to visit Coburn Mountain and select some stock. I worked on the ski patrol there and was fascinated by the heavy-trunked, stunted birches, etc that grew on the edge of the evergreen-only peak. Never got around to making that hike, but maybe I'll give it a shot some day. Even easier would be to drive up the access road to Mt Washington over in New Hampshire and Pick up a few little conifers at the boundary of their range.

 

[Andre]

For me it's more like a memory. Three trees left from once some hundred. But moving frequently and bonsai don't match. Also it costs lots of time, almost like pets. They need care every day.

I never forget my then 5 year old sons observation when he saw me working on one of them. He did not ask what kind of trees those were. he decided that it were climbing trees for gnomes.

 

[Astronuc]

Ground floor patio, no fence, it opens onto a small backyard and a ravine, lots of privacy. But I can only plant on my patio since the grounds are kept.

Here is a tomato I was thinking of http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/tomatoes/beefsteak+tomatoes/tomato+-+bushsteak+hybrid+%281+pkt.+30+seeds%29.do

The would seem to work.

Just remember -

Fruiting crops, including tomatoes, need full sun most of the day for good production of quality fruit. Good drainage is also important. In high to medium rainfall areas (more than 30 inches per year) work the soil into ridges and plant on the ridge or build raised beds 12 to 18 inches deep. Plan on setting out at least one cherry tomato and 4 to 6 large-fruited varieties depending on the number of fresh tomato lovers in your family. You'll need stakes or wire tomato cages to support the plants to keep the fruit off the ground where it would rot. To insure even and efficient watering, you will want to put in a drip or soaker hose system for watering. Finally, count on mulch to keep down the weeds.

This is especially true for tomatos.

 

[Evo]

I'm going to have to set up plant lights.

 

[ZapperZ]

Orchids update

The orchid that was blooming in the middle of winter that I reported earlier seems to be doing just fine, despite the cooler environment. More flowers have opened up, and it has at least 3 more to go, so this bloom should last for another month or so.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2762/img0108mw2.jpg

But here's another exciting news. I have 3 different orchid plants. One is in the middle of its bloom, the other just finished about 4 months ago, and while I was watering the 3rd one this morning, I saw THIS:

That's the beginning of another branch for another bloom!

<dances around the house>

I don't recall having them overlap like this. At this rate, it should start with its first bloom in about a couple of months, which means I will have orchids over a better part of spring. This is the orchid that had bloom only twice before since I got it about 3 years ago. Other than two two, all it had done so far is putting out lots of leaves... big, shinny, dark green leaves!

Now if only I can remember the color of its flowers... :)

Zz.

 

[Astronuc]

The orchid that was blooming in the middle of winter that I reported earlier seems to be doing just fine, despite the cooler environment. More flowers have opened up, and it has at least 3 more to go, so this bloom should last for another month or so.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2762/img0108mw2.jpg

But here's another exciting news. I have 3 different orchid plants. One is in the middle of its bloom, the other just finished about 4 months ago, and while I was watering the 3rd one this morning, I saw THIS:

That's the beginning of another branch for another bloom!

<dances around the house>

I don't recall having them overlap like this. At this rate, it should start with its first bloom in about a couple of months, which means I will have orchids over a better part of spring. This is the orchid that had bloom only twice before since I got it about 3 years ago. Other than two two, all it had done so far is putting out lots of leaves... big, shinny, dark green leaves!

Now if only I can remember the color of its flowers... :)

Wow! That's great Zz. What are the conditions under which the orchids flourish? Do they have their own room?

I've been thinking about Evo's patio, and there are several options. One option would be to use small pots on a frame or bench. Another option is to use planters, which could be mobile or fixed. http://www.simplyplanters.com/

The problem with fixed planters, besides the fact that they may not be allowed in the development, is that they will deteriorate over time due to weathering.

My father grew a passion fruit plant in a large 15 gallon pot, which when full of dirt was about 200 lbm or so. He built a small cart so that the planter (pot) and plant could be moved in doors during freezing weather, or into more favorable sunlight as necessary.

 

[ZapperZ]

Wow! That's great Zz. What are the conditions under which the orchids flourish? Do they have their own room?

Nope. They share the same south-facing bay window with the rest of my plants.

The only thing I would recommend with this type of orchid is that, unless you have a humidifier close by, then you'll need a spray bottle to make sure you give them enough humidity, especially during the winter months.

Zz.

 

[Astronuc]

Nope. They share the same south-facing bay window with the rest of my plants.

The only thing I would recommend with this type of orchid is that, unless you have a humidifier close by, then you'll need a spray bottle to make sure you give them enough humidity, especially during the winter months.

Zz.

I know they like tropical weather which means sun or partial shade with warmth and moisture.

Zz, are you a member of AOS?

They have some great information for anyone wishing to grow orchids (of course).
http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx
http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/orchids/documents/cultureinhome.pdf

 

[turbo]

Astronuc, there are lots of orchids here in Maine, which is a long way from tropical. Most have small blooms, but some are big and showy, like the Pink Lady's Slipper. These bloom in the cool of late spring, about the time the mosquitoes are showing up. Most are a bright purple/pink, but I know where there are some white variants growing alongside the pink ones.

 

[Evo]

I'm so happy for you Zz! I need to get some houseplants again.

 

[Astronuc]

I'm so happy for you Zz! I need to get some houseplants again.

Have you thought of growing rosemary? That's a really fragrant plant. One could put it in a transportable pot.

Would Dr. Foofer and Fruitbat leave the plants alone? Our cats like to nibble on certain plants. Misty chewed some jalapeño seedlings once, and they never recovered.

 

[Evo]

Would Dr. Foofer and Fruitbat leave the plants alone? Our cats like to nibble on certain plants. Misty chewed some jalapeño seedlings once, and they never recovered.

Dr Foofer is my concern, cats love destroying plants. I have some high plant stands which I think are my only hope. I really want a large potted plant, but I don't want it to suffer.

 

[turbo]

Dr Foofer is my concern, cats love destroying plants. I have some high plant stands which I think are my only hope. I really want a large potted plant, but I don't want it to suffer.

Cats are such good jumpers that they would have to be really tall stands. When we got ferrets, we had to get rid of lots of potted plants. They wouldn't chew the plants, but they LOVED digging in dirt, like looking for a prize in a cereal box. A tall wooden plant stand saved our huge Grape Ivy (started for me by my mother over 30 years ago), though our current house is really too small for it, so it's now at my brother's place. Now, we're down to a couple of compact cactii that thrive on neglect.

 

[Astronuc]

Dr Foofer is my concern, cats love destroying plants. I have some high plant stands which I think are my only hope. I really want a large potted plant, but I don't want it to suffer.

Some plants aren't bothered, but others are.

We've tried bad tasting sprays, and they seem to work.

We also suspend (hanging) plants from the ceiling. This is necessary for an airplane/spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) we have.

 

[ZapperZ]

This is why no cats are allowed at my place. :)

Besides, Chuck is allergic to cats.

Zz.

 

[Math Jeans]

I currently have a Savannah red habanero seedling sitting on the window of my room. At any given time, one of the cats is always sitting right next to the plant so they can watch my gecko over the top of his cage.

I am yet to receive any nibbles on the seedling (although I can understand why).

 

[Evo]

This is why no cats are allowed at my place. :)

Besides, Chuck is allergic to cats.

Zz.

Your poor orchids would be little chewed stumps. I went from a house that looked like a tropical jungle (pre-cat) to nothing (post-cat).

I also had one cat that decided to turn one of my large potted plants into a cat box. I finally had to cover all the exposed dirt with large, sharp edge rocks to get him to quit. Then he shredded the plant to get even.

 

[ZapperZ]

Your poor orchids would be little chewed stumps. I went from a house that looked like a tropical jungle (pre-cat) to nothing (post-cat).

I also had one cat that decided to turn one of my large potted plants into a cat box. I finally had to cover all the exposed dirt with large, sharp edge rocks to get him to quit. Then he shredded the plant to get even.

I'm not going to let my orchids see your post. I don't want any of them to get traumatized by this.

<There, there, Freckles. I won't let any nasty cats come near you...>

Zz.

 

[Evo]

I'm not going to let my orchids see your post. I don't want any of them to get traumatized by this.

<There, there, Freckles. I won't let any nasty cats come near you...>

Zz.

 

[rewebster]

This is why no cats are allowed at my place. :)


Zz.

totally agree there---they love to knock over stuff on shelves, tables, etc. too---esp. the bigger cats

 

[Math Jeans]

This morning I woke up and saw the habanero plant that I was growing in my room was lying on the side of the cup.

I got up and looked inside the cup, and apparently, one of the crickets in the gecko's cage chewed through the stem, and was sitting in the cup looking proud of himself.

Well. There is a lesson for me, however, now I have to start from scratch again .

 

[Evo]

This morning I woke up and saw the habanero plant that I was growing in my room was lying on the side of the cup.

I got up and looked inside the cup, and apparently, one of the crickets in the gecko's cage chewed through the stem, and was sitting in the cup looking proud of himself.

Well. There is a lesson for me, however, now I have to start from scratch again .

I am so sorry!

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work and they had just gotten in a truck load of plants and were having a huge sale. I couldn't resist. It's been so cold for so long here that I decided it was time to bring in some plants to cheer me up.

Here is one of the miniature roses I got. Blurred shot, but I'm too tired to take another.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8463/rosespn7.jpg

 

[hypatia]

They are just lovely. I think I'm ready for a few flowers myself, maybe trick myself into thinking spring is almost here.

 

[Math Jeans]

I am restarting my planting this season with a vengence.

I have three types of habaneros (savannah red habaneros (color red), white lantern habaneros (color white), and paper lantern habaneros (color red). Orange habaneros don't even come close.) growing under a heat lamp right now (with clear covers on them to help keep in the heat and moisture as well as crickets). By the time they sprout and I have to remove the covers, it will we warm enough to take them out from under the heat lamp and remove the cricket threat.

I'm hoping that I get a good growing season this year.

 

[turbo]

Good luck Math Jeans. I'm anticipating planting two 35' long raised beds about 2" wide - all in red habanero and jalapeno, though I may plant some of the super chilies again - they go really well in dill pickles. When I open a new jar I like fishing around for at least one super chili and one of the garlic cloves.

I can't wait for spring. I planted my garlic in December and mulched it with straw for the winter. By July, I should be digging the bulbs, drying them, and using some for my pickles, salsas, and chili relishes. I also mulched the parsnips and left them in the ground to sweeten over the winter. I'll dig those out and dry them for storage when the ground thaws (May, sometime).

 

[Math Jeans]

I'm considering next winter (because I do not have a lot of plants and because there is an outlet outside) putting my peppers under heat lamps in order to keep them from getting too cold. Do you think that will be enough seeing as it doesn't really get blisteringly cold out here?

 

[Evo]

I'm considering next winter (because I do not have a lot of plants and because there is an outlet outside) putting my peppers under heat lamps in order to keep them from getting too cold. Do you think that will be enough seeing as it doesn't really get blisteringly cold out here?

If you are only doing a few, that's probably fine, for larger numbers, you might want to consider a cold frame.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_seasonal/article/0,,hgtv_3624_1473507,00.html

 

[turbo]

Years back an elderly friend of mine that ran a roadside vegetable business got a head-start with row-crops with plastic row-covers. They were basically a series of hoops to straddle the rows with transparent plastic stretched over them. The clever part was that the plastic cover had rows of slits, and if it got hot under there, the plastic would soften to allow those slits to sag and vent the hot air. As the temperature went down, the plastic would shrink and the slits would close up. It worked great, though I don't know if anybody is still making/selling these.

Edit: Yep! This looks like the same system.
http://gardeners.harrisseeds.com/cart/browse.asp?subcat=253

 

[Math Jeans]

My white lantern habaneros sprouted earlier today. I believe the other two are close by.

 

[turbo]

My white lantern habaneros sprouted earlier today. I believe the other two are close by.

Good luck! You've got my recipe for chili relish, but you should branch out and use those chilies in other recipes, too. Last night my wife started whipping up a nice stir-fry of hamburg, garlic, onion, and other vegetables and spices, and she rolled that mix into soft flour tortilla wraps to make a baking-pan full of enchiladas that she topped with my home-made hot salsa and Monterey Jack cheese. Man, that stuff is good!

Once you learn how to whip up some good salsas, etc, you should work with your parents to learn safe canning techniques so that you can grow bigger crops, can bigger batches, and have those treats year-round. I have a lot of non-gardening friends who buy Pace, Newman's own and other salsas for their own use, but once they get a taste of my stuff, they are hinting around for jars or my salsas. Very few ask for my chili relishes, though - too hot!