What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[lisab]

Beautiful roses Zz, did you know that at one time I was a member of the ARS and local chapter, had over 80 rose bushes, and planted them in raised "themed" beds with walkways between? I had Ginger Rogers planted next to Fred Astaire, Bob Hope paired with Bing Crosby. I think I have pictures in some boxes in storage. One of my all time favorites was my Chrysler Imperial, a six foot tall bush that had 80 huge blooms on it at once. Gorgeous deep red and intoxicating fragrance. My Mister Lincoln rose was another favorite.

I love your clever use of the pole.

My inner adolescent giggled at the idea of an ARS club .

 

[turbo]

My wife likes growing flowers, and populating our front lawn with them. That's good, since there is less mowing for me. This is best year ever for poppies, with more to come. Big, showy red blooms with bluish centers and tiny black seeds. The plants aren't all that showy, but the flowers are killer.

Lupines are another favorite, and they spread like crazy. I wish some of these invasive flowering plants would take over, so I have less grass to mow.

Dennis Moore had the right idea, but handing cut lupine blossoms to poor people didn't endear him to them.

 

[Astronuc]

Looks like this year is the year of the Roses. All my roses are growing like mad, even after I pruned them earlier this spring.

The three rose bushes near my front door are doing extremely well. They are so colorful and vibrant, neighbors walking in front of the house have commented on how bright they are. The flowers also are larger than they were last year. I did give then the same amount of fertilizers as last year early this spring, so not sure what's different this year.

I bought three tea rose bushes earlier this spring to add to the front yard. These have deep red flowers, and they should also have bigger flowers than the one above. I was surprised that they already started blooming. I see several more buds that have yet to open. So far the flowers are fair in size, and I'm hoping that once they settle down, the flowers next year should be larger.

On a slightly different but related topic, when we bought the house almost 3 years ago, we inherited this metal post along the front driveway. It looks like it is a remnant of a basketball post. We wanted to get rid of it, but this is the case where it is a disadvantage that it was built too well. The landscaper company said that since it's buried in concrete, it will take quite an effort to dig it out, etc., and I didn't want to spend THAT much money just to get rid of a post.

So, following my life theme of turning lemons into lemonades, this year, I decided to mount hanging hooks on the post, and I made 4 hanging baskets to hang off the post. At least now the eye sore has been turned into something decorative. Neighbor across the street and next to us asked us when we put up the post! :) I had to tell them that it had been there all this while, and that I'm just re-purposing it! :)

. . . .

Zz.

Nice garden, Zz!

 

[dlgoff]

Looks like strawberries even after 60mph winds the day before yesterday.

I just made these strawberry spreads and toppings.

 

[Evo]

Very nice dl!

 

[turbo]

I just made these strawberry spreads and toppings.

I wish you lived near me. I would like to engage in a swap program. Soon, my garlic plants will throw out scapes, so if you like the taste of green onions/garlic I could give you a lot of them. Scapes are quite delicate (contrary to their appearance), and do not fare well under shipment. I have to give them out locally, and there is no reason to give them to people who are clueless about cooking. Scapes should be chopped and stir-fried like green onions to get the best out of them.

 

[dlgoff]

I would like to engage in a swap program. ... if you like the taste of green onions/garlic I could give you a lot of them.

:!) And we could swap lots of stories as we're eating.

 

[turbo]

:!) And we could swap lots of stories as we're eating.

That would work for me.

 

[dlgoff]

Looks like Blackberries. I see canning in my future.

 

[Monique]

Yumm, I love blackberries.

I have this plant that I don't know what species it is, does anyone recognize it?

 

[Evo]

Yumm, I love blackberries.

I have this plant that I don't know what species it is, does anyone recognize it?

The flowers are familiar, but I'm stumped on the plant. Maybe when I'm fully awake I'll think of it. I'm jealous, I want one.

 

[Monique]

Yeah I love the plant, I bought it at a garden centre and there was only one plant. It had a tag on it, but when I came home I noticed that there was no useful information on it. Worse is that I think I threw the tag away, otherwise I could have used the product code to inform at the centre..

I don't think it's legal to send seeds to the US, otherwise I'd send some over if it produces some. It reminded me of a puppy ear plant that I had, some cuteness factor (image not mine). What would be the proper name for the bulb that it grows out of, not a rhizome right?

 

[dlgoff]

Looks like Blackberries. I see canning in my future.

Here's the start of the process.

 

[Ouabache]

...Soon, my garlic plants will throw out scapes, so if you like the taste of green onions/garlic I could give you a lot of them. Scapes are quite delicate (contrary to their appearance), and do not fare well under shipment. I have to give them out locally, and there is no reason to give them to people who are clueless about cooking. Scapes should be chopped and stir-fried like green onions to get the best out of them.

We had a great garlic crop again this summer, scapes were delicious.. I also stir fry mine up I just set out new cloves in the garden for next season. With such a warm autumn, planting them by Halloween seemed about right.

I also dug in some well composted chicken manure from the laying hens in the garlic bed before planting.. After treating rhubarb bed last autumn with manure the new rhubarb stalks grew like no tomorrow. I vacuum bagged and froze quite a few for the winter

 

[Evo]

We had a great garlic crop again this summer, scapes were delicious.. I also stir fry mine up I just set out new cloves in the garden for next season. With such a warm autumn, planting them by Halloween seemed about right.

I also dug in some well composted chicken manure from the laying hens in the garlic bed before planting.. After treating rhubarb bed last autumn with manure the new rhubarb stalks grew like no tomorrow. I vacuum bagged and froze quite a few for the winter

I wish I had a garden again. I've never grown garlic, but at my last house we had wild onions growing everywhere and the scapes tasted just like garlic, One day I decided to saute some, and I was hooked.

 

[Evo]

Ok, I finally gave in, looking at the beautiful orchids that ZapperZ and ~christina~ have grown, I am going to try my hand at them.

I just bought a teeny tiny orchid to start with, anyone know which one it is? Of course it is in a tiny ceramic pot with no drainage holes, so once it fishes blooming, I will transplant it into something that will allow it to live. Is this article correct? I know that when I went to the orchid farm in Thailand, that all of the orchids were just hanging from suspended pipes in the air.

http://houseplants.about.com/od/growingorchidsinside/a/Orchidshouse.htm

I am naming my orchid ZapperZina after Zz and christina. :!)

 

[Astronuc]

Ok, I finally gave in, looking at the beautiful orchids that ZapperZ and ~christina~ have grown, I am going to try my hand at them.

I just bought a teeny tiny orchid to start with, anyone know which one it is? Of course it is in a tiny ceramic pot with no drainage holes, so once it fishes blooming, I will transplant it into something that will allow it to live. Is this article correct? I know that when I went to the orchid farm in Thailand, that all of the orchids were just hanging from suspended pipes in the air.

http://houseplants.about.com/od/growingorchidsinside/a/Orchidshouse.htm

I am naming my orchid ZapperZina after Zz and christina. :!)

Sounds like a great project.

One may wish to cross reference the advice from about.com with information from the American Orchid Society.
http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=72

Outdoor gardening season ended abruptly two weeks ago when we had our first freeze. I was not quick to cover the plants. Besides, deer ate down our peppers and chard , and caterpillars (cabbage moth?) ate our kale (first time that ever happened).

 

[ZapperZ]

Ok, I finally gave in, looking at the beautiful orchids that ZapperZ and ~christina~ have grown, I am going to try my hand at them.

I just bought a teeny tiny orchid to start with, anyone know which one it is? Of course it is in a tiny ceramic pot with no drainage holes, so once it fishes blooming, I will transplant it into something that will allow it to live. Is this article correct? I know that when I went to the orchid farm in Thailand, that all of the orchids were just hanging from suspended pipes in the air.

http://houseplants.about.com/od/growingorchidsinside/a/Orchidshouse.htm

I am naming my orchid ZapperZina after Zz and christina. :!)

I have a baby!

Zz.

 

[Evo]

I have a baby!

Zz.

I hope I don't kill your baby by loving it to death. I always second guess myself when I'm not familiar with a plant.

It is so cute, it looks big in that picture, but the flowers are only an inch across.

 

[dlgoff]

This motivated me to get some cauliflower and onions in the ground: https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=4693502&postcount=66

Here's what the garden looks like. Not green yet.

 

[Evo]

Good that you have covers, did you get hit by that hail storm today?

 

[AlephZero]

Here's what the garden looks like. Not green yet.

Those individual covers look way too fiddly and time consuming. Commercial growers in the UK just cover the whole field with plastic sheet. The crops don't mind being "sqashed" underneath for a short time.

They cover the ground for a while before planting, to warm up the soil temperature both by stopping night time heat radiation, and keeping cold rainwater out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ag...lake-of-plastic-captured-in-aerial-image.html

 

[dlgoff]

Good that you have covers, did you get hit by that hail storm today?

No hail but lots of wind right now (on top of this hill, probably guest of 45+mph). Glad I have them covered, as they would be getting riddled.

Those individual covers look way too fiddly and time consuming. Commercial growers in the UK just cover the whole field with plastic sheet. The crops don't mind being "sqashed" underneath for a short time.

They cover the ground for a while before planting, to warm up the soil temperature both by stopping night time heat radiation, and keeping cold rainwater out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ag...lake-of-plastic-captured-in-aerial-image.html

I've had these paper caps for over 30 years.

I've only had these cauliflower plants in the ground for 3 days and will be removing them tomorrow. I used them because we were headed for -6°C the evening I planted them. I took a peek under one this morning and all looked well; green and not cramped. These were greenhouse starters and when placing in the loose soil, placing these caps only required the time to put a couple hands full of soil on their base.

 

[dlgoff]

Technically not the garden but still ...

 

[Evo]

Beautiful!

 

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

No garden for me (I live in student halls of residence), but I keep a small assortment next to my window sill (namely parsley, thyme, basil, coriander, greek basil and mint). Makes room smell a lot nicer.

 

[Evo]

I have given up on trying to have a patio vegetable garden, the squirrels are relentless.

So, yesterday, I found a little meyer lemon tree and orange tree suitable for container gardening, they are starting to bloom. I am afraid to put them on the back patio because the squirrels live in the trees behind my patio, it's like putting out a sacrifice to them.

The problem is that the front of my place only gets the afternoon sun, around 4pm, and then the townhouses across the street block the sun out after a couple of hours, so this is not going to work. I know, "forget it Evo". I don't want to give up. I successfully raised a patio orange tree for years at another house, bringing it inside during the winter.

I was thinking of making a tent over them of bird netting, I guess I'll need to rig some kind of portable frame around them. Any ideas? it needs to be lightweight and easily moved or removed due to the severe storms we have, I may have to bring them inside on a moment's notice.

It will have to survive the squirrels climbing on them, you know they will try.

I am open to suggestions. I'm actually considering buying a large dog crate to put them in.

SIGH

 

[dlgoff]

The bird netting is really strong. I had it over my blackberries and had a heck of a time cutting it loose this spring to remove the old canes. You won't be able to just drape it over your trees as the squirrels have skinny arms. So yea, you need a frame that won't blow away from wind. Does your patio have a railing of any kind around it? If so, make use of it. You'll need to be able to lift up a side to give them care.

Of course you know what I would be having for a meal if they were my trees.

 

[Evo]

The bird netting is really strong. I had it over my blackberries and had a heck of a time cutting it loose this spring to remove the old canes. You won't be able to just drape it over your trees as the squirrels have skinny arms. So yea, you need a frame that won't blow away from wind. Does your patio have a railing of any kind around it? If so, make use of it. You'll need to be able to lift up a side to give them care.

Of course you know what I would be having for a meal if they were my trees.

No railing, my patio is open onto the yard.

I know the squirrels won't want to eat them, but these things will pull the fruit off just out of curiosity, then throw them on the ground.

 

[dlgoff]

PVC tubing, Wire-ties, and bird netting. That's what I'd use.

e.g.

But a lot smaller.

 

[Evo]

That's awesome dl! I found some youtube video of some prepper that used bird netting over his vegetables and I have never seen such a mess. I don't know if the guy is lazy, or clueless or both. He just had piles of netting gather on the ground, on the sides, he just wadded it up haphazardly with pieces hanging loose here, wads shoved there, he didn't measure, or trim or use any care, it was awful, it was like "here is what you can do if you don't know/don't care about what you're doing".

I wish I was allowed to screen in my porch, that would solve everything. I hate not owning my own place, I haven't rented since I was in my early 20's.

 

[ZapperZ]

It is finally warm enough for me to finish up on all my planters.

Zz.

 

[adjacent]

Mickey <3

 

[Evo]

It is finally warm enough for me to finish up on all my planters.

Zz.

Lovely yard Zz! Does Mickey's lantern light up?

 

[ZapperZ]

Lovely yard Zz! Does Mickey's lantern light up?

Yes, it does. It gives a soft, white glow at night.

Zz.

 

[dlgoff]

Yes, it does. It gives a soft, white glow at night.

Zz.

I don't see any solar panels, must be it's using some kind of condensed matter technology.

 

[dlgoff]

I believe this will be a big enough garden for this year. Onions (red, yellow, & white), spinach, baby carrots, 12 cauliflower, 6 broccoli, 4 muskmelons, 3 peppers, and 3 tomatoes.

 

[Evo]

That's a nice looking garden!

 

[dlgoff]

Just thought I'd share the results of this years cauliflower.

 

[Evo]

Oh, I love fresh cauliflower, it tastes like butter.

 

[Borg]

For all of the Ghost Chili lovers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVJjZG_u7Wo

 

[Ouabache]

Just thought I'd share the results of this years cauliflower.

very fine looking brassicas don! i heard when heads are the size of a chicken egg is time to blanch (tie up leaves) of developing cauliflower. I wonder when did you blanch them? How loose do you tie their leaves? or perhaps you are growing a self-blanching cultivar.

 

[dlgoff]

very fine looking brassicas don! i heard when heads are the size of a chicken egg is time to blanch (tie up leaves) of developing cauliflower. I wonder when did you blanch them? How loose do you tie their leaves? or perhaps you are growing a self-blanching cultivar.

I used spring-type wooden clothespin to keep the leaves shading the heads from the sun. It's the sun that yellows and hardens them. This springs cool wet cloudy weather was good for growing cauliflower, so I only had to pin up the leaves for a few days before harvesting.

 

[OmCheeto]

Anyone know what this garden pest is?
I can only describe it, as a micro-moth.

This is the first year I've seen them.
It has babies that look like that creature Khan stuck in Pavel's ear in that Star Trek movie.
Beasts!

They were in the process of killing off some weed trees in my backyard when I found them.

 

[Dr Transport]

the squash growing out of my compost bin is doing better than my tomatoes in the pots on the porch? Whoda thunk it?

 

[Astronuc]

the squash growing out of my compost bin is doing better than my tomatoes in the pots on the porch? Whoda thunk it?

We have observed that squash and tomatoes do much better when grown in compost. We have had both growing in our compost bin.

 

[lisab]

Anyone know what this garden pest is?
I can only describe it, as a micro-moth.

This is the first year I've seen them.
It has babies that look like that creature Khan stuck in Pavel's ear in that Star Trek movie.
Beasts!

They were in the process of killing off some weed trees in my backyard when I found them.

Could that be scale?

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

 

[lisab]

I think it could be scale - you need more cats.



They won't help with the scale problem. I just think you need more cats.

 

[dlgoff]

It's been to wet to control the squash bugs. I've only got one plant left and I might as well let them have it. I just put Zucchinis on my shopping list.

 

[OmCheeto]

I think it could be scale - you need more cats.

They won't help with the scale problem. I just think you need more cats.

I do not need more cats...

Anyways, I've identified the culprit: Stephanitis rhododendron

The Rhododendron Lace Bug

courtesy: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nurspest/lacebugsonrhodies.htm

Adult

Satan's Child​

This makes sense, as I had a 15 foot tall Rhody in my backyard, which was fine, until this year. It is now dead.

Rhododendron lace-bug, Stephanitus rhododendri, is a fairly common pest of certain Rhododendrons. It is, however, rarely diagnosed correctly. It is our opinion that the symptoms may appear to many as a drought related or nutritional and thus rarely is brought to plant clinics. The other presumed reason as to why we don’t see it commonly in plant clinics is that there is an apparent host plant preference. One may find a planting of several Rhody varieties or species in close proximity and only one will be consistently infested with the bug, suggesting clear preference or conversely varietal/species resistance to the pest.

(ref)

So I probably thought that the wilting leaves last summer were due to a lack of rain. Rhodys all look very sad when they don't have enough water. I also have two other Rhodys that show no sign of infestation.

About the only good thing to come out of this, is that I've finally identified, what I called "weed trees" yesterday.

Lacebugs can also be a problem on indian plum, pyracantha, oak, , toyon, and coyote bush.

Oemleria cerasiformis, a shrub commonly known as osoberry or Indian plum, is the sole species in genus Oemleria.

Native to the Pacific coast and ranges of North America, from British Columbia, Canada to Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.A.

I have at least 50 of them growing in every corner of my yard, and they always look sickly. Now I know why. A quick survey a few minutes ago indicates they are all infested.

Some people claim there is never a good reason to go to war. I say bs.

And Om's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the spritz bottles of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the Earth
With carrion lace bugs, groaning for burial.

​

ps. The creature from Star Trek is known as the Ceti Eel. I did not know that.