What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[turbo]

We planted most of the garden today (apart from the herbs that we will need to mature later, like dill, cilantro, etc). We set out all the tomato and pepper seedlings, planted beans, carrots, beets, zucchini, and other crops. Now, I hope that we can get a long, gentle rain to water the garden, unlike the torrential downpours that have been punctuating the recent dry spell.

 

[turbo]

The rain finally let up for long enough to allow me to get out in the garden and plant a bed of nasturtiums. They are in the vegetable garden for a reason - they are a nice companion plant that can draw bugs that would otherwise target cucumbers, squash, etc, PLUS the blossoms are a colorful, tasty addition to salads. Nice peppery flavor and visual accent.

 

[baywax]

As promised... the Fuchsia Tree and added bonus, japanese irises... (these irises have taken about 4 seasons to produce more than one flower... had to be there I guess!)

The Fuchsia is not a Canadian patriotic variety as it appears but the "strawberries and cream" of the species. The kids in the neighbourhood tell me it doesn't taste like its named.

 

[baywax]

The rain finally let up for long enough to allow me to get out in the garden and plant a bed of nasturtiums. They are in the vegetable garden for a reason - they are a nice companion plant that can draw bugs that would otherwise target cucumbers, squash, etc, PLUS the blossoms are a colorful, tasty addition to salads. Nice peppery flavor and visual accent.

Turbo, good info... are you using Marigolds to repel insects, slugs and snails etc...?

 

[turbo]

Turbo, good info... are you using Marigolds to repel insects, slugs and snails etc...?

There's no reliable information that confirms such great claims. I'm not planting them until there is. ;-)

 

[baywax]

There's no reliable information that confirms such great claims. I'm not planting them until there is. ;-)

Ah.. sticking with the old beer in a plate trick!

 

[turbo]

Beer works!

 

[baywax]

Beer works!

A bit about Marigolds and nematodes...

Certain species of marigolds release compounds from their roots that are toxic to some species of nematodes. Unfortunately, the great variety of nematode species in Alabama soils significantly reduces the potential for adequate control.

When the right combination of marigold and nematodes species does exist, visible results can take up to four months to appear. During this time, if the marigolds are planted around or intermingled with your vegetable or ornamental plants, they can act as weeds, competing for water and essential nutrients and causing additional stress for the plants. Also, the marigolds don't draw nematodes away from the other plants, so the plants still run the risk of nematode infestation and damage. The greatest disadvantage to using marigolds is they attract large populations of spider mites to many gardens and landscapes.

If you enjoy growing marigolds, French dwarf varieties have shown the most consistent control (of nematodes, not insects!). Plant these marigolds in an infested garden and maintain a solid stand for three to four months to reduce nematodes. After the appropriate amount of time, plow the plants under as green manure. The nematode population should be decreased and the garden ready for planting. Be sure to keep the garden weed-free until planting time.

http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/specialty/marigolds.html

 

[Borek]

I was hoping to take a picture with a better weather, but seems like our irises will stop blooming before we will see the Sun

They grow like a weed. They were even not properly planted, all we did was to throw a rhizome close to the fence 10 years ago.

 

[lisab]

I was hoping to take a picture with a better weather, but seems like our irises will stop blooming before we will see the Sun

They grow like a weed. They were even not properly planted, all we did was to throw a rhizome close to the fence 10 years ago.

Those are really beautiful :!). Here, people with more dollars than sense pay garden designers big $$$ to get that "wild, natural" look.

 

[Borek]

Those are really beautiful :!)

Do you want some? Not now, but I can send you rhizomes in Autumn and - as explained - you just throw them and wait

 

[Geigerclick]

I just grew some potted rosemary, and now my apartment smells absolutely terrific. My mother, who has a nice bit of land, is growing ferns, wildflowers, and ivy. I was there a week ago, and a juvenile hawk was hanging about in the crutch of a birch tree.

Borek, those are absolutely gorgeous, and I mean really stunning. I love that soft white turning to violet. Goes well with your hair.

 

[turbo]

The germination rate of my pickling cucumbers was much better than in previous years, so I have over 60 extra seedlings left. I called the lady that coordinates the town's community garden, and she's going to come pick them up. I'll also arrange to supply her with extra garlic this year for the garden. I don't mind supplying her with surpluses to help feed poor people in the community. Plus, she gets school-kids involved, so they get some exposure to gardening. The kids should get a kick out of planting garlic cloves in the winter and seeing the garlic shoots sprout in the spring.

 

[Geigerclick]

The germination rate of my pickling cucumbers was much better than in previous years, so I have over 60 extra seedlings left. I called the lady that coordinates the town's community garden, and she's going to come pick them up. I'll also arrange to supply her with extra garlic this year for the garden. I don't mind supplying her with surpluses to help feed poor people in the community. Plus, she gets school-kids involved, so they get some exposure to gardening.

Ooooh, do you pickle them? I'm always looking for new pickling recipes; beets, cucumbers, onions, peppers... what isn't good pickled?

Answer: pig feet. YECH

 

[turbo]

Ooooh, do you pickle them? I'm always looking for new pickling recipes; beets, cucumbers, onions, peppers... what isn't good pickled?

Answer: pig feet. YECH

Yes. I make dill and bread-and-butter pickles. In fact, my wife and I prefer the tartness and crispy texture of pickling cukes in salads and sandwiches, so that's the only kind we ever plant.

 

[Geigerclick]

Yes. I make dill and bread-and-butter pickles. In fact, my wife and I prefer the tartness and crispy texture of pickling cukes in salads and sandwiches, so that's the only kind we ever plant.

You are a scholar and a gentleman. Anyone who makes their own pickles is, de facto, a good person. Do you go for a mustard seed base? I tend to go heavy on the garlic and mustard seed, but for the butter I use a bit of coriander and fennel.

 

[turbo]

You are a scholar and a gentleman. Anyone who makes their own pickles is, de facto, a good person. Do you go for a mustard seed base? I tend to go heavy on the garlic and mustard seed, but for the butter I use a bit of coriander and fennel.

You could have fun on a visit here. One of my best "secrets" that I have shared pretty freely here is that instead of using dill seed, you need to use fresh dill florets. They are KILLER with a rich bouquet that is impossible to approximate with dill weed or seed.

 

[Geigerclick]

You could have fun on a visit here. One of my best "secrets" that I have shared pretty freely here is that instead of using dill seed, you need to use fresh dill florets. They are KILLER with a rich bouquet that is impossible to approximate with dill weed or seed.

MMmmmm good idea, I have to try that sometime!

 

[Insanity]

My wife and I garden. Always some tomatoes, various peppers including some hot ones. This year trying squash and pickling cucumbers. Often we will have radishes and onions.

I prefer not to use any chemicals, and mostly add composted manure each year.

I am thinking at getting some hop rhizomes, as I do brew beer, and be nice to have my own fresh hops to use. Also thinking of giving tobacco a try, blend my own pipe tobacco.

 

[lisab]

My wife and I garden. Always some tomatoes, various peppers including some hot ones. This year trying squash and pickling cucumbers. Often we will have radishes and onions.

I prefer not to use any chemicals, and mostly add composted manure each year.

I am thinking at getting some hop rhizomes, as I do brew beer, and be nice to have my own fresh hops to use. Also thinking of giving tobacco a try, blend my own pipe tobacco.

I was driving in eastern Washington several years back and saw a field of hops growing. Wow! Those things are *tall*! The vines climbed up ropes (I think they were ropes) over 20 feet high!

A neighbor has one, it's a nice plant. It must be a different variety than the commercially grown ones I saw; it only gets to about 10 feet high.

 

[poor mystic]

Hi Guys
reading your posts makes me feel very lucky.

I was brought up in Mew Zealand, and presently live on the temperate East Coast of Australia. I am a competent gardener and I love my garden to bits (when I've got one).

Nearly everybody in New Zealand had some sort of garden when I was growing up, and nealy everybody has the opportunity to grow vegetables here in Australia too. Most houses here do have back and front yards.

Strangely, the people nowadays seem not to take much advantage of the wealth of the soil, but depend on plastic-looking vegetables from the supermarkets.

Without the supermarkets, many of the people would not know how to feed themselves.

 

[turbo]

Here is Duke the Wonder Dog next to my garlic bed. The garlic has already developed harvestable scapes, so I've got to start snapping those to keep them from diverting resources from the bulbs. I didn't notice the horsefly between his eyes until I put the image on my computer. The garlic got a head-start this year from an abnormally warm March, and now it's at least 2-3 weeks ahead of normal. We usually don't get scapes until the last part of June.

 

[baywax]

I was driving in eastern Washington several years back and saw a field of hops growing. Wow! Those things are *tall*! The vines climbed up ropes (I think they were ropes) over 20 feet high!

A neighbor has one, it's a nice plant. It must be a different variety than the commercially grown ones I saw; it only gets to about 10 feet high.

Cool lisab... we used to have a lot of hop farms up the Fraser Valley with the tall climbing structures you're talking about. I think they've all been imbibed since then cause their all gone now.!

 

[Geigerclick]

Here is Duke the Wonder Dog next to my garlic bed. The garlic has already developed harvestable scapes, so I've got to start snapping those to keep them from diverting resources from the bulbs. I didn't notice the horsefly between his eyes until I put the image on my computer. The garlic got a head-start this year from an abnormally warm March, and now it's at least 2-3 weeks ahead of normal. We usually don't get scapes until the last part of June.

Nice looking garlic, and that is an adorable pup.

 

[lisab]

I'm going to plant some lavender in containers for my deck. According to several web sites it's doable, as long as they have well-draining soil. But I don't think I've ever seen lavender in pots! Is there a reason why it's not commonly done?

English lavender, btw...

[PLAIN]http://www.georginagardencentre.com/images/LAVANDULA_angustifolia_Blue_Cushion1.jpg

 

[turbo]

I've never planted lavender, Lisab. At our last place we had wild lavender growing all over the lawn, and the soil was sandy-acid, so the comment about well-drained seems appropriate. I used to fertilize the lawn with acidic Miracle-Gro, and the mosses and lavender loved it.

 

[Ouabache]

Here is Duke the Wonder Dog next to my garlic bed. The garlic has already developed harvestable scapes, so I've got to start snapping those to keep them from diverting resources from the bulbs. I didn't notice the horsefly between his eyes until I put the image on my computer. The garlic got a head-start this year from an abnormally warm March, and now it's at least 2-3 weeks ahead of normal. We usually don't get scapes until the last part of June.

I've only learned about garlic scapes since you've described them here on PF.
I've recently stumbled upon a fellow who features these on video clip. He has dogs
too and shows some of their antics. Do you like grilled scapes? Eric shows off
his technique in the last half.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF6xpezTNIs

 

[turbo]

I've only learned about garlic scapes since you've described them here on PF.
I've recently stumbled upon a fellow who features these on video clip. He has dogs
too and shows some of their antics. Do you like grilled scapes? Eric shows off
his technique in the last half.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF6xpezTNIs

I have made them into garlic scape butter, tossed them in salads, and used them in stir-fries and soups. I'll have to try grilling them, too.

 

[Insanity]

I was driving in eastern Washington several years back and saw a field of hops growing. Wow! Those things are *tall*! The vines climbed up ropes (I think they were ropes) over 20 feet high!

A neighbor has one, it's a nice plant. It must be a different variety than the commercially grown ones I saw; it only gets to about 10 feet high.

I just got some cascade and centennial rhizomes from a friend, his established plants grow 20 feet every year, and he cuts them back down to the ground each season. Its not uncommon for them to grow 6-10 inches a day in good conditions. He has gone out and tie them down to the wires in the morning, come back in the evening and they will have grown 8 inches that day. As he said, "They grow quite hardyingly." He suggested growing over a trestle so that I may still pick them by hand rather then needing a ladder. Some people will grow them like grape vines on wires, though maybe a bit higher.

His cascade and centennial survived a japanese beetle attack that killed his tettang and fuggles plants, so not all hops are equal.

 

[turbo]

What connection does a dog have with garlic, apart from being a handy indication of scale? I went to my garlic patch to pick scapes, and left Duke tied to the bumper of my truck on a very long lead. He kept coming over and sniffing, and when I went to put the basket of scapes into the back of the truck, he acted VERY interested. I snapped off about a 1" piece of the base of the scape, and he gobbled it up. I was surprised, because scapes have a strong green-onion taste combined with garlic (which he likes). He doesn't just wolf down the scapes either. He chews them up. The guy's an alien!

 

[Evo]

I've only learned about garlic scapes since you've described them here on PF.
I've recently stumbled upon a fellow who features these on video clip. He has dogs
too and shows some of their antics. Do you like grilled scapes? Eric shows off
his technique in the last half.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF6xpezTNIs

I mentioned cooking wild garlic scapes here years ago, they grew all around my old house The Pit of Doom. I sautee them in butter and toss them into couscous.

 

[lisab]

I mentioned cooking wild garlic scapes here years ago, they grew all around my old house The Pit of Doom. I sautee them in butter and toss them into couscous.

Ah, couscous! Haven't had that in a while, definitely going to have some. Thanks for the suggestion .

 

[turbo]

My wife and I incorporate scapes into stir-fries, and she makes scape-butter and scape-pesto in small containers to freeze. Very nice.

Crappy weather, so I haven't yet tried drizzling them with olive oil and grilling them, but that's next.

 

[lisab]

Does anyone here know much about Japanese maples?

One I have is an amazing tree, because it has a strong will to live no matter what happens to it.

First off: I didn't plant the tree where it is, a landscaper did. A landscaper who should have known better, I might add. I'm going to post a pic in a minute, but the set up is: house - deck/walkway - tree.

A while back, it started blocking the walkway, so I cut it back a bit. Then my dog decided to dig up the roots on the other side of the tree, because...well I have no clue . This caused some of the branches on that side to die.

The combination of these two events seems to have caused a growth spurt back into the walkway area.

I need to clear the walkway again but I'm afraid that would remove too many branches, since (what needs to be removed) + (what the dog killed) = about 50% of its foliage in its natural state.

I think I have to wait for the other side to fill in again before re-cutting; is that correct?

Btw, despite all this trouble it seems to be quite healthy.

 

[lisab]

If you want to walk up onto my back deck, duck!

 

[turbo]

Deck, duck, goose!

 

[Evo]

I had a dwarf Japanese maple. They are beautiful. You're right, yours is rather lopsided. I would guess you could prune it back after it goes dormant in the fall.

 

[dlgoff]

I would get rid of this limb (see attachment) and it should fill out nicely.

By eliminating it now, you'll have all summer for the tree to grow and since the tree doesn't have to support this limb...

 

[lisab]

I would get rid of this limb (see attachment) and it should fill out nicely.

By eliminating it now, you'll have all summer for the tree to grow and since the tree doesn't have to support this limb...

It would definitely look better with that gone. So I can take that much off and it will be OK?

 

[Evo]

It would definitely look better with that gone. So I can take that much off and it will be OK?

I'd be careful. If you do decide to prune it now, be sure that you seal the cut with pruning tar.

 

[Andre]

It would definitely look better with that gone. So I can take that much off and it will be OK?

That's a great looking Acer palmatum var atropurpureum and no, Evo is quite right, most definitely, do not prune it now, especially not large branches like that. It might bleed which could weaking it considerably. You better wait until fall, when the pores close. Also Acer palmatum can be sensitive to fungus attack (at least here), however it is controversial nowadays if it is helping to cover the cut with tree wound dressing.

 

[Evo]

however it is controversial nowadays if it is helping to cover the cut with tree wound dressing.

I've heard yes and no on it. But I do see cuts healing better when I put a good seal on the cut, prevents insect infestation in the cut. Just my personal experience.

 

[turbo]

Lisab, it's best to hold off any heavy pruning until the tree loses its leaves and goes into its dormant state for the winter.

 

[lisab]

Lisab, it's best to hold off any heavy pruning until the tree loses its leaves and goes into its dormant state for the winter.

Yes I think that's what I'll do. Thanks, everyone, for the input .

 

[craftsmaster]

I grows them from seed, normally during winter. :)

Carmel

 

[Ms Music]

We have had such a miserably wet and cool spring that all my tomato plants have black spots on them... *grumble grumble* Anyone else having weather issues?

On the flip side of the coin, my slugs are very happy!

 

[Evo]

We have had such a miserably wet and cool spring that all my tomato plants have black spots on them... *grumble grumble* Anyone else having weather issues?

On the flip side of the coin, my slugs are very happy!

The weather has been terrible. I swear we are getting as much rain here this spring as in the tropical rainforest. I'm expecting to wake up and find that vines have encased my house.

 

[dlgoff]

This is the first time I've ever seen, with the perfect cool temperatures, cauliflower drown in the rain. I harvested one head out of eight plants. Even the broccoli had smaller large heads than they should have.

 

[lisab]

We have had such a miserably wet and cool spring that all my tomato plants have black spots on them... *grumble grumble* Anyone else having weather issues?

On the flip side of the coin, my slugs are very happy!

I definitely am, the cool spring is getting old. I use an iron phosphate slug killer - seems to do a good job and it's fairly safe.

 

[turbo]

This is the first time I've ever seen, with the perfect cool temperatures, cauliflower drown in the rain. I harvested one head out of eight plants. Even the broccoli had smaller large heads than they should have.

We have spinach plants only 4-5 inches high with baby leaves, BOLTING!. Normally, spinach does not bolt here until we get some real heat, but this year is very odd. We might be able to avoid bolting after re-planting, but I doubt it. We'd need some very cool nights to balance the warm days, but that's a low-probability situation. I hope my squash and cukes grow quickly, so I can plant some of our cool-climate spinach in the shade of those vines and hope to get usable amounts for salads.