What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[baywax]

I like how the grass looks two or three days after being cut with this mower. The top of each blade of grass is still green. With my old mower (an electric one), the tops would turn brown. The old one tore the grass, I think, while this one trims it.

Wow, that's a great observation. For some reason I oil my push mowers. I remember my dad doing this thing where he oiled every blade then pumped some in some receptacles that lead to the gears chambers on either side of the blades. But, sharpness has to be the ticket to get that nice cut. Nice one!

 

[baywax]

Either I eat it, give it away or throw it away.

Compost!

 

[rewebster]

I have 4 plants and if it's like usual, I will have plenty left over to give away. Seriously, how many bell peppers do you think I can eat? I've also got tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, and spring onions. I wish I had room for more, but I have limited space. Still, I will have more than enough.

And I know what I'm doing, I've had very large gardens all of my life and my dad's family are commercial farmers.

My challenge this year is patio gardening.

When I'm back there (in my garden/back yard) when they're ripe, I may eat four or five just while back there. I like green peppers though (cilantro, no, its soap,- If someone wanted me not to eat their food, put cilantro in it.).

 

[Evo]

Compost!

In my apartment?

 

[baywax]

In my apartment?

Sure. It looks like you have a balcony. There are kits you can get that come complete with worms! The turn-over rate is pretty fast. It beats buying fertilizer.

 

[rewebster]

https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher

https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/jsp/images/bucket-bpct.jpg

I think they made one even smaller at one time.




https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/jsp/images/bucket-oct.jpg
I've got this one--and everything that they say about these things is true.

"Make compost in 14 days"

 

[baywax]

https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher

https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/jsp/images/bucket-bpct.jpg

I think they made one even smaller at one time.

Here are tips for composting in an apartment.

http://www.perc.ca/PEN/1994-07-08/king.html

Here's a photo of an apartment composter

 

[larkspur]

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2215/mowerlj3.jpg

This is the 16" I got from Amazon. It was a bit tough to push at first, but it loosened up and now it's a breeze.

I used to have one of those...I gave it to my Mom when I move to a lot on a steep hill. Now I must have a self propelled mower or I pass out.

 

[rewebster]

(hhmmm..I got one in the garage behind some wood)

 

[rewebster]

:!) Wow I've never seen that color!

I have to get this.

here is an amazing supply of just about every variety (at good prices with photos)

http://home.search.ebay.com/iris_Flower-Bulbs-Roots-Corms_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ42207

 

[~christina~]

here is an amazing supply of just about every variety (at good prices with photos)

http://home.search.ebay.com/iris_Flower-Bulbs-Roots-Corms_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ42207

I think I'm in Iris heaven...
I never thought that there would actually be a Blue Iris that was actually blue. Awsome!


Oh and I forgot to mention that I have a yellow iris plant in my backyard but last year but I split it up and put 3 tubers int the front yard and now they all have bloomed! I'm not sure why the iris' were only having at max, 1-2 stems of flowers.
Now when they are split up, they all have 2 stems of flowers. Is it because they are an old variety of iris? (larger flowers) Someone down the street has a whole bunch of iris' planted in their front yard, maroon, purple and yellow varieties and they have so many flowers each year.

 

[baywax]

I think I'm in Iris heaven...

I think I'm in Iris hell. There really hasn't been any sun for about 6 weeks.

 

[~christina~]

I think I'm in Iris hell. There really hasn't been any sun for about 6 weeks.

I meant that looking at that site was heaven..there was every color under the rainbow on ebay!

But my iris' have bloomed and are looking yucky now...they look disgusting after they bloom, the petals turn soft and ew.

 

[turbo]

We have had so much rain in the last week that I have been taking care of inside chores. Yesterday, it turned off hazy and a bit warmer, so I got out and weeded the vegetable garden in the morning. By afternoon the lawns had dried up enough to mow (though they remained damp). Good thing I tackled that yesterday - it's been raining steadily all day, and we are under threat of showers and thundershowers all through Monday. By the time it dries up around here, the grass will be back up around my ankles - I want some dry weather.

 

[baywax]

We have had so much rain in the last week that I have been taking care of inside chores. Yesterday, it turned off hazy and a bit warmer, so I got out and weeded the vegetable garden in the morning. By afternoon the lawns had dried up enough to mow (though they remained damp). Good thing I tackled that yesterday - it's been raining steadily all day, and we are under threat of showers and thundershowers all through Monday. By the time it dries up around here, the grass will be back up around my ankles - I want some dry weather.

Yeah, I'd like a chance to beat back the mold and fungus once in a while.

 

[turbo]

Yeah, I'd like a chance to beat back the mold and fungus once in a while.

There is a danger that my newly sprouting vegetables will have problems with mold, etc if we don't get some nice dry air and sunshine. They are very tender at this stage.

 

[baywax]

There is a danger that my newly sprouting vegetables will have problems with mold, etc if we don't get some nice dry air and sunshine. They are very tender at this stage.

Have they found the cause of leaf curl in peaches?Probably an insect larvae eh?

 

[turbo]

Have they found the cause of leaf curl in peaches?Probably an insect larvae eh?

If that is the case, you may be able to spray your tree(s) with canola oil (and a little detergent) using a hose fed tree sprayer. The canola suffocates, eggs, larvae, and adult bugs. I don't know if peach trees will tolerate the canola, but my apple trees thrive and produce heavily.

 

[rewebster]

Have they found the cause of leaf curl in peaches?Probably an insect larvae eh?

it's a fungus that survives on the bark during the winter--you have to spray the bark (tree) with a fungicide in the dormant winter to control it--
I missed spraying this year and its on both the nectarine and peach. Some leaves drop (die), others don't. The fungus gets into the mesophyll.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf

--Another thing is buckshot disease (on my too) it creates multiple holes in the leaves---again, it can kill the leaf, but often doesn't. Another bug that likes both is some (thing) that lays another egg, and the larva burrows to the seed and it eats the 'meat' of the seed (inside the pit/seed shell). I try not to spray a whole lot but then I only get fruit off of the nectarine about one in four years (two of those four, the squirrels get them all before they get ripe).

 

[hypatia]

My bell peppers are looking pale and the leafs are curling...HELP S.O.S

 

[rewebster]

My bell peppers are looking pale and the leafs are curling...HELP S.O.S

if they were just planted, they do that sometimes. Too much fertilzer can do it too.

 

[hypatia]

Planted about 10 days ago, no fertilzer at all, just somewhat sandy garden soil. I've never tried to grow peppers here befor.

 

[turbo]

Generally, pale peppers are the result of insufficient Nitrogen uptake. Be careful, because N uptake can be suppressed by low soil pH, and adding N and THEN raising the pH with lime will result in pepper plants that are way too leafy and don't set on enough peppers. For less than $20 at a True-Value hardware or similar, you can get a soil-test kit that tests pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium and gives recommended amendment rates for each.

I had balanced the nutrient levels in my garden almost perfectly, only to have my pepper plants appear pale and yellowish last spring. The culprit was the huge truck-load of peat that I tilled into the garden the previous fall to boost the organic content, which lowered the pH and inhibited uptake of Nitrogen. A liberal application of powdered Dolomitic limestone, watering and about a week of fretful waiting resulted in wonderful, healthy, and productive pepper plants. Good luck!

 

[hypatia]

Thanks, I'll check it out. They are flowering, and one had a itty bitty pepper starting, then it fell off. I'll keep you up-dated on my progress.

 

[rewebster]

Thanks, I'll check it out. They are flowering, and one had a itty bitty pepper starting, then it fell off. I'll keep you up-dated on my progress.

mine do that every year---Is your garden area mulched good? (good drainage?)-----Every year I add a little mulch and a little sand (I'll get a few photos up of how I put the sand on)--both help with drainage (I've got raised beds too)

 

[turbo]

mine do that every year---Is your garden area mulched good? (good drainage?)-----Every year I add a little mulch and a little sand (I'll get a few photos up of how I put the sand on)--both help with drainage (I've got raised beds too)

That is critical for peppers and I have extended it to every other type of vegetable in the garden. Everything is in raised rows, so that in case of lots of rain (this week comes to mind) the plants and seeds won't be ruined, and if things get too dry, I can use the hose to water the plants. My sister-in-law is generally successful, but she planted early this year and all the rain and cool temps have caused her seeds to fail to germinate, and she has had to re-plant almost everything. Raised rows that allow better drainage (and results in higher soil temps when the sun shines) would probably have saved her all that trouble.

 

[rewebster]

Generally, pale peppers are the result of insufficient Nitrogen uptake. Be careful, because N uptake can be suppressed by low soil pH, and adding N and THEN raising the pH with lime will result in pepper plants that are way too leafy and don't set on enough peppers. For less than $20 at a True-Value hardware or similar, you can get a soil-test kit that tests pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium and gives recommended amendment rates for each.

I had balanced the nutrient levels in my garden almost perfectly, only to have my pepper plants appear pale and yellowish last spring. The culprit was the huge truck-load of peat that I tilled into the garden the previous fall to boost the organic content, which lowered the pH and inhibited uptake of Nitrogen. A liberal application of powdered Dolomitic limestone, watering and about a week of fretful waiting resulted in wonderful, healthy, and productive pepper plants. Good luck!

I put a dusting a plaster of Paris (because I had some) on the garden a couple a times in the early, early spring and rake it in each time. I hadn't ever heard of doing it, but I figured 'try it'--so far so good. Depending on how much I used the free standing fireplace in the garage (I've got one of those "magic heat" heat exchangers on it), I spread the ash on the garden too.


http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/17278_lg.gif

http://reviews.northerntool.com/0394/17278/reviews.htm

between this thing and the fan that I point toward the stove, the garage heats up nicely

 

[Evo]

My bell peppers are looking pale and the leafs are curling...HELP S.O.S

No spider mites?

 

[Evo]

Have they found the cause of leaf curl in peaches?Probably an insect larvae eh?

It's a fungus, and it's too late to do anything now, it has to be treated in the fall.

http://www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/factsheets/leaf_curl_sheet.htm

 

[Evo]

There's a hole in my bucket! There are a few tiny holes in the bottom of my stainless steel watering can. I *love* this watering can. Do you think I can repair it with some of that metal stuff they sell at Home Depot?

 

[turbo]

Evo, you can patch that with any decent epoxy. You don't need the J-B Weld high temperature stuff. It's just a watering can, so use the cheap stuff and don't worry, be happy.

 

[Evo]

Evo, you can patch that with any decent epoxy. You don't need the J-B Weld high temperature stuff. It's just a watering can, so use the cheap stuff and don't worry, be happy.

Should I sand the area first?

 

[larkspur]

There's a hole in my bucket! There are a few tiny holes in the bottom of my stainless steel watering can. I *love* this watering can. Do you think I can repair it with some of that metal stuff they sell at Home Depot?

I fixed mine with Mighty Putty. The diffuser on the spout broke off and I stuck it back on with Mighty Putty.

 

[turbo]

Should I sand the area first?

Yes. Even if there is no oxidation layer or crud, use some fairly rough sandpaper to give the epoxy a good "bite" on the surface. The thicker the epoxy components, the more important that step is.

 

[rewebster]

I CAN'T believe the white flies are on my tomatoes already. (they carry a virus that WILL eventually kill the plant)---Sprayed today with my own 'mix' --malathion, Sevin, and liquid dish soap.---those little moths (white flies) have a waxy coat and they are hard to get rid of--they're so small, I think that three or four can dance on the head of a pin.

__________________________________

I don't if it's been posted before but here's a great gardening forum:

http://www.gardenweb.com/

 

[turbo]

I CAN'T believe the white flies are on my tomatoes already. (they carry a virus that WILL eventually kill the plant)---Sprayed today with my own 'mix' --malathion, Sevin, and liquid dish soap.---those little moths (white flies) have a waxy coat and they are hard to get rid of--they're so small, I think that three or four can dance on the head of a pin.

I have not experienced that type of infestation, but I have had great success killing insects pests by smothering them with canola oil applied with a hose-fed tree sprayer. I put a good squirt of dishwashing detergent into each sprayer-ful of oil. If you can get the oil emulsified in water (maybe using vigorous mixing) you may be able to use a pump sprayer to apply it. This will help you get to the underside of the leaves where the eggs and immature bugs shelter.

 

[Moonbear]

I CAN'T believe the white flies are on my tomatoes already. (they carry a virus that WILL eventually kill the plant)---Sprayed today with my own 'mix' --malathion, Sevin, and liquid dish soap.---those little moths (white flies) have a waxy coat and they are hard to get rid of--they're so small, I think that three or four can dance on the head of a pin.

I get those infestations every winter on my houseplants (I guess the flies come in with them when I bring them indoors and start hatching in winter). Usually it's the death of my plants, but this year, I learned a very simple and non-toxic (to us) method of getting rid of them that worked, and rescued my hibiscus. Mix 50/50 water and rubbing alcohol with a few drops of dish detergent in a spray bottle. Spray it liberally on the plants (and flies). It took reapplying it weekly for a few weeks as the eggs already laid hatched out (be sure to get the undersides of the leaves where the eggs are laid), but it eventually eradicated them without having to resort to insecticides (which never have worked for me anyway when it comes to pesky white flies). The other thing that will help is before you spray the alcohol solution on the plants, do a vigorous spray with the garden hose to physically knock off the pests. Since I had my infestation in the winter, I put my plant in the shower and used the shower sprayer for the same effect.

This was really great for houseplants, especially, since my cat is the other hazard to any indoor plants, so I didn't want pesticides on them that she would end up eating (and I don't really need all those insecticides inside either). I try to avoid insecticides on plants I intend to eat as well. Usually I limit insecticide use to structures rather than organisms as more of a barrier to keep pests out of places I don't want them rather than directly applied to them...the foundation of the house, around windows and doors, the patio umbrella where the wasps otherwise nest, etc.

 

[larkspur]

This year I thought I would try to grow tomatoes in pots. I have noticed yellowing of the leaves at the base of the plant. Could this be a watering problem? I don't see any other problems with the the plants. I have been watering daily, should I wait until they dry out more?

 

[baywax]

It's a fungus, and it's too late to do anything now, it has to be treated in the fall.

http://www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/factsheets/leaf_curl_sheet.htm

OK Evo... thanks! My dad never really figured out how to stop leaf curl. It was his nemesis and pet peeve. He tried the soap thing Turbo's talking about but it kept coming back. Its par for the course to find out what the treatment is, long after he's left the planet. I'll try to let him know anyway.

 

[Borek]

my cat is the other hazard to any indoor plants

You need caticide then

 

[Evo]

Every other day the forecast is

Severe thundertorms with strong winds and large hail.

I can't take it anymore. At least it has been really nice and cool so far this year, I see everyone has their windows open which is unheard of here this time of year.

 

[~christina~]

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6209/imgp3810it8.jpg

my garden ^_____^ (backyard)

 

[Borek]

My view from window right now

Yes, my neighbors are so close

 

[~christina~]

My view from window right now

Yes, my neighbors are so close

what flowers are on the bush on the left?

 

[Borek]

what flowers are on the bush on the left?

White ones

Not sure what you are asking about. It is a mock orange (or at least that's the page in English wiki linked from Polish wiki page for the plant). Smells very strongly right now

It is not very interesting as a bush, as it is rather shapeless, but I love the smell.

 

[Andre]

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6209/imgp3810it8.jpg

my garden ^_____^ (backyard)

Still got tulips in your garden, Christina? Right here the season is long past.

Borek, the white flower could be Viburnum?

 

[Borek]

Borek, the white flower could be Viburnum?

No, for sure not. It doesn't have fruits like viburnum. Besides, smell is very distinctive.

 

[Evo]

Christina and Borek, those are just beautiful!

Ok, I have to post an update on my little patio garden. I saw some beautiful rose bushes yesterday and it reminded me of the 80, yes 80 rose bushes I had in raised beds with walkways between the rows. And I don't have any of the pictures.

 

[Astronuc]

Very nice gardens Christina and Borek. Beautiful flowers.

We just had a nice downpour from a thunderstorm. Just good enough to drench the various plots.

We found some squash plants from seeds from last years plants. They survived!

I have two garlic plants from last year, so I need to study up on how to deal with them.

We've some herbs, tomatos, peppers and peas growing. I'll probably plant more chile (chilli) peppers.

Our strawberries are ripening, and we've already harvested some. I really need to improve that patch. The blueberries have fruited, and the blackberries and raspberries are flowering.

80 rose bushes in raised beds with walkways between the rows.

Wow, that took some work. Must have been a nice garden.

 

[Evo]

Ok today's plants.

I found some tomatillo plants, but I read that they can only be pollinated by flowers from a different plant, the flowers on the same plant don't work. So I bought several, we'll see if I get lucky. They were only $1 each and they are already blooming.

a jalapeno plant

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2856/camerapictures121dy9.jpg