Green thumb is itching, anyone else? - Page 60

I hope everyone is going to have a great growing season like we have experienced this year.  Enjoy, our growing season is over here in central Florida. All that is left is butterbeans and peppers.  Now to spred more horse poop, till and wait until late August for fall garden.

We need rain here in Upper East Tennessee.

The mountains to the south east of us in North Carolina is getting it almost every day.

Close enough to almost touch, but still yet so far away.

Harvested my first garlic ever, very exciting. All the T-storms have been keeping things nicely watered around here.

I could start harvesting my shallots also , man do they look beautiful. Tomatoes are 6+ feet high and loaded with green ones, now to keep the chickens away from them.

Why are the skins soooo thick on my tomatoes?! Argh! Last year I thought it was too much sun and not enough water since the sun is brutal out where I'm at. So I've been growing them in partial sun this year and they are doing well and I'm able to keep them from drying out. I used to grow beautiful veggies in Michigan but here in SoCal I'm having the worst time!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Chick 

how can I get weeds to stop growing with out chemicals? 

I'm a strong advocate of raised beds.  I can pull weeds easy enough or cover them with fabric.  I weed whack between the beds.  Mine aren't on level ground or I could have spaced them wide enough to mow between them. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by queenchick16 

4 colanders and counting 

This reminded me I have the first of the yellow beans in my pocket.      I sometimes just stick things in my pocket if I haven't got a bag or basket with me.  I'm waiting for the day I smash an egg in there. 

Picked my first 2 tomatoes today.  The beans are growing before my eyes. Every time I go up front and see my zucchini growing on my wisteria I crack up .Hopefully I can keep the people walking pass from helping themselves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3LilBirds 

Why are the skins soooo thick on my tomatoes?! Argh! Last year I thought it was too much sun and not enough water since the sun is brutal out where I'm at. So I've been growing them in partial sun this year and they are doing well and I'm able to keep them from drying out. I used to grow beautiful veggies in Michigan but here in SoCal I'm having the worst time!

Can you see the middle picture.  These are my tomatoes of a few years ago.  I use #10 cans with the tops and bottoms cut out.  I push it into the soil a couple of inches.   Then as I go around the garden waterering  I fill each can and it keeps the water on the plant and each gets at least a half gallon of water I think.  I also do this with Peppers, but you can do it with any veggie plant that it will work with.  

This year I've planted three types of winter squash, cucumbers, two types of peppers, garlic, okra, yellow and green beans and Blk cherry, Cherokee, Red Husky, Amish paste, California gold, Italian ice, and Rutgers,  tomatoes.  Lettuce, ( I have one head that came back from last year)  Swiss chard, two types of mint, rosemary, two types of basil, Oregano, Thyme and lavender.  The Lemon Balm is three years old now and I've had to cut it back.  

Oh and rhubarb.  I ordered from Shumway, but of the three plants only one survived so I bought some at Country Max and they didn't take.  I did by two at the farmers market and they seem to be ok.   Shumways did send me a letter so I can re order next year.  They have Canada Red and Victoria varieties. The Canada Red didn't make it. 

I did have some Red currants on the plants this year but I think the chickens ate them.  I haven't fenced them in yet.  Ugh!  

What can anyone tell me about Gooseberries.  I didn't get any this year, though it is the first year.  I don't expect to get raspberries till next year either. 

I planted three David Austin climbing  Roses,  Crown Princess Margret. 

I bought three books for canning.  I like to make jams and jellies. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by rancher hicks 

This year I've planted three types of winter squash, cucumbers, two types of peppers, garlic, okra, yellow and green beans and Blk cherry, Cherokee, Red Husky, Amish paste, California gold, Italian ice, and Rutgers,  tomatoes.  Lettuce, ( I have one head that came back from last year)  Swiss chard, two types of mint, rosemary, two types of basil, Oregano, Thyme and lavender.  The Lemon Balm is three years old now and I've had to cut it back.  

 

Oh and rhubarb.  I ordered from Shumway, but of the three plants only one survived so I bought some at Country Max and they didn't take.  I did by two at the farmers market and they seem to be ok.   Shumways did send me a letter so I can re order next year.  They have Canada Red and Victoria varieties. The Canada Red didn't make it. 

 

I did have some Red currants on the plants this year but I think the chickens ate them.  I haven't fenced them in yet.  Ugh!  

 

What can anyone tell me about Gooseberries.  I didn't get any this year, though it is the first year.  I don't expect to get raspberries till next year either. 

 

I planted three David Austin climbing  Roses,  Crown Princess Margret. 

 

I bought three books for canning.  I like to make jams and jellies. 

My gooseberry bushes are pretty hardy except for the chickens loving them even though they have thorns.What I have the best luck with are the thornless blackberries