Anybody gardening this year?

As one who is a former meticulous gardener (don't do it now cause the wild critters eat everything around here), I am enjoying reading about all your hard work in this thread. I'm actually missing it. I will do a little on deck container gardening.

I will share with you that my 3 DS used their own money, purchased about 12 different types of seeds, and planted them on their own. I laugh because I know all the hard work gardening requires, but fully expect the "luck of little boys" to yield fruit in their loving attempt at gardening. They insisted in having no adult help with their project. We'll see how it goes.:D
 
My husband is outside spreading topsoil to cover the rocks that are presently our yard. He rented this small cat. I keep hearing it go "beep, beep" as he backs up. We live in an area that is completely limestone and clay after you dig about a foot. So when you build a home all that is left is rocks. He's built me two natural stone planters. One that goes all along the front of our house, and the other that spreads out from the corner and also serves a a retaining wall. They are beautiful. If gardening includes growing ornamental things, I qualify as an avid gardener. Don't know why, but I never grow anything to eat outside of tomatoes, peppers, and herbs (Herbs are outstanding you get their beauty and their aroma!). I adore flowers, and experiment every year with new varieties. Gardening saves my sanity. I truly feel like I am going nuts during the winter when I don't have anything to get my hands dirty with. I am so proud of my husband's work. He is a dear! I am loving designing and filling these beautiful planters. Just had to take this moment to sing his praises!!!:)
 
>I will share with you that my 3 DS used their own money,
>purchased about 12 different types of seeds, and planted them
>on their own. I laugh because I know all the hard work
>gardening requires, but fully expect the "luck of little boys"
>to yield fruit in their loving attempt at gardening. They
>insisted in having no adult help with their project. We'll
>see how it goes.:D

You'd think that since seeds pretty much propagate on their own in nature without our help, so much work wouldn't be necessary. But one year, I intentionally planted sunflower seeds, and they didn't do as well as the ones that were dropped by the birds at the feeders and took root!
 
Hello There,

Yes, I've used my green houses to start tomatoes, cukes, zuchinni, basil, sugar baby watermellon, and pickling cukes. In the garden, I planted 59 asparagus roots, and wow they have taken off like crazy. Planted all kinds of lettuce, and small snow peas. We can't grow peppers, or hot loving plants here in the Pacific Northwest, so I sometimes think about using clear plastic to protect them. Perhaps next year I'll experiment with that.

Also planted thornless blackberries, blueberries, a cherry tree to help pollenate the one I already have.

And weeded all my fruit trees and grapes , strawberries, raspberries at the bases and gave them mushroom compost.....the work goes on forever, but hey, don't you just love it!

Janie

"Whoo Hoo"
-Cathe Friedrich-
 
Hello Acatalina,

The first two years trying to have a garden, the deer just made it their daily thing to do. They ruined everything we planted, and then some. We even tried putting lights out that go on when something moves. All that did was light up the vegies so they could eat what they saw. Oh, it was so frustrating! I'm laughing now about it, but it was hard to figure out how to outsmart them. So, here's what you do. Get a plastic fence, about 6 feet all (use posts to keep everything in place) all around your garden area. It works, and no more frustration, they won't go under or over the fence. Make sure though, your fence is tack down somehow (I use garden staples), so that the other criters can't get under it.

Have Fun, it's worth the effort,
Janie

"Whoo Hoo"
-Cathe Friedrich-
 
I'm LOL. The boys planted seeds last Saturday and today they have tiny cucumber sprouts, spearmint and oregano sprouts, and I think tomato sprouts. I just hope the critters don't eat them.
 
DH is out cleaning up the garden right now and getting it ready, but he says if it doesn't start raining enough, he won't bother with the garden. It has started getting dry out here where we live in Virginia. A fire also started on the mountain and burned down 3000 acres, at least. It has finially been put out.

Charlotte~~
 
> We can't grow peppers, or hot loving plants here
>in the Pacific Northwest, so I sometimes think about using
>clear plastic to protect them. Perhaps next year I'll
>experiment with that.
>

I just saw some cool "tomato bells" in a catlog (www.cooksgarden.com ?). They are plastic cones, with an area you fill with water. The water heats up under the sun and insulated the tomatoes, and the plastic allows the sunlight to reach the plant. Looks like they would work well.

Wow, you have LOT'S of stuff! Wish I had a bigger front yard (or more sun in the backyard---I 've pretty much got full sun in front and partial sun at best in the back (but the back is nice for shade plants like hostas and astilbes).
 
>DH is out cleaning up the garden right now and getting it
>ready, but he says if it doesn't start raining enough, he
>won't bother with the garden.

It rained for three days straight BEFORE I planted my garden. Now, we've got a rainless streak (wouldn't you know it!). I'm glad I added those water crystals to the soil, though I do water daily.
 
>DH is out cleaning up the garden right now and getting it
>ready, but he says if it doesn't start raining enough, he
>won't bother with the garden.

It rained for three days straight BEFORE I planted my garden. Now, we've got a rainless streak (wouldn't you know it!). I'm glad I added those water crystals to the soil, though I do water daily.
 
I LOVE gardening!!!

I've been working on my perennial beds for the past month or so, and finally got some veggies planted yesterday here in zone 4.

This year I converted my large veggie garden into a series of eight 4'x8' raised beds, and I'm loosely trying the "Square Foot" method of gardening. So far I've planted broccoli, cauliflower, several funky lettuces, spinach, radishes, and beets. There will definitely be more because I have absolutely no self-control when I get into a garden center. :) :)

Another new thing I'm trying this year is planting some of my tomato plants in Topsy Turvy upside down planters. Here's a link:
http://topsyturvys.com/

It should be an interesting season...
 
>This year I converted my large veggie garden into a series of
>eight 4'x8' raised beds, and I'm loosely trying the "Square
>Foot" method of gardening.

Let me know how that works. I've been reading about biointensive gardening (planting in raised beds, with plants close together rather than in rows) and am comtemplating doing a raised be next year.
 
Kathern,

Why not have a bigger garden in your front yard, where all the sunshine is?

I've tried using water towers here, but you know, it just doesn't work. I think I'm going to have to start peppers very early on in the greenhouse, then plant them again in larger containers and then once more into the garden around June 10th or so. I'll use plastic around the bed for even more protection. It will look like a tunnel, only with plastic and the peppers will probably do better in those surroundings. Any way I hope.

We have 2 ft. raised beds, and there is nothing like it. It works so very well for us.
 
>Kathern,
>
>Why not have a bigger garden in your front yard, where all the
>sunshine is?


That's where my garden is! And I'm using all the usable space there.

The rest of the space is herbs, butterfly bushes, and other flowering plants for birds and butterflies. (I'm not fond of 'front yards'!)
 
Kathern,

Sorry, I misread your post. I do wish everyone could have enough space to garden. I know I'm very blessed, wish I could send all of you wonderful organic vegies.

You are so full of information, it's unbeliveable. I look forward to your posts everytime I see them. I feel sometimes I owe you for all your knowledge that I use. I have another post for you under the vegan section. If you read it, (and if it's OK) could I perhaps give you a sourdough starter, made by me, from a wild yeast caught in the Pacific NW?

Janie


"Whoo Hoo"
-Cathe Friedrich-
 
> If you read it, (and if
>it's OK) could I perhaps give you a sourdough starter, made by
>me, from a wild yeast caught in the Pacific NW?

"wild yeast" sounds wild!;-) Do you catch it by just leaving some flour and water mix out to sit at room temperature for a while?

I love sourdough, but I haven't made bread for a looong time, so I'd need some recipe ideas, too. Sourdough buns sound especially tasty right now.
 
Kathryn,

You've made me a very happy person. Yes, I caught it leaving out flour and water. I do also make a fantastic wheat flour sourdough bread.

If you give me your address, I will be happy to send you some starter and instructions, on making the bread. Be prepared to ferment for a few days, then in the fridge for a day, then baking it the next. I'll also send you some recipes for buns and others.

Glad to contribute,

Janie

"Whoo Hoo"
-Cathe Friedrich-
 
"Another new thing I'm trying this year is planting some of my tomato plants in Topsy Turvy upside down planters. Here's a link:
http://topsyturvys.com/

It should be an interesting season..."



My father sent me an upside down tomato planter to try. I will put herbs in the top of it. It would lovely to try some lettuces again, but I fear the rabbits, gophers and dear will eat them before I can harvest them.

After 16 years of heavy duty vegetable gardening, We scaled back because the critters were eating everything !


Judy "Likes2bfit"


If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.



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