Breaking Ground

[hysop]

Here are my apple seedlings. Are the tiny sprouts weeds or grass coming in? I know I will need to transplant them to their own pot soon enough. It’s ten total. I hope all make it, but out of my pear seedlings my kids recently broke some stems off, so I’m hoping they don’t mess with my apple seedlings. I’m much more watchful now

 

[Mtnboomer]

Not sure how true it is but I was told the Rabbits don't like marigolds. Something about the way they smell?? The old farmers almanac facebook page has a few good charts showing great ideas for companion plantings.

Thats what i was told growing up as well.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Here are my apple seedlings. Are the tiny sprouts weeds or grass coming in? I know I will need to transplant them to their own pot soon enough. It’s ten total. I hope all make it, but out of my pear seedlings my kids recently broke some stems off, so I’m hoping they don’t mess with my apple seedlings. I’m much more watchful nowView attachment 2040219

Weeds

 

[hysop]

Weeds

Thank you! I shall start taking em out. It’s been chilly lately so I don’t take them out as often as I should. I’m hoping it clears up soon but by the looks of it it’s going to be a gloomy week. I’m gonna need to buy some lights.

 

[Acre4Me]

I got my first tilling of the garden done today and layed out the planting plan for it. If weather clears up, hopefully i can get it limed, fertilized, tilled again and raked this week. Potatoes, peas, lettuce, and spinach go in the ground in 2 wks! Stoked!
Anyone else diggingin yet?
Attached is my planting plan. Anyone grow anything unique/ different than the basics? Im always looking to try something new.
This year i have kiwi, elderberries and gooseberries ordered to be planted in the yard.

Looks nice! We will try tomatillos this year as something new. Also will give cabbage a try. So far, the Brussels sprouts have gotten heavily infested with bugs, so I’m guessing we may have trouble with cabbage too, so I think it will be a fall crop, along with the Brussels sprouts.

We bought two Asian Pear trees, which should arrive in 2-3 weeks to plant.

good luck with the kiwi. The variety the in-laws planted 25 years ago needs M and F plants (which they had), and they grew well by all appearances. However, it took about 25 years (yes, that long) for the plant to produce fruit! They live in sunny E Washington and had planted them in a protected area that was a bit out of the way -so they never pulled the plants bc they were attractive.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Looks nice! We will try tomatillos this year as something new. Also will give cabbage a try. So far, the Brussels sprouts have gotten heavily infested with bugs, so I’m guessing we may have trouble with cabbage too, so I think it will be a fall crop, along with the Brussels sprouts.

We bought two Asian Pear trees, which should arrive in 2-3 weeks to plant.

good luck with the kiwi. The variety the in-laws planted 25 years ago needs M and F plants (which they had), and they grew well by all appearances. However, it took about 25 years (yes, that long) for the plant to produce fruit! They live in sunny E Washington and had planted them in a protected area that was a bit out of the way -so they never pulled the plants bc they were attractive.

Supposedly its a "hardy kiwi" and does not produce the brown fuzzy fruit we see at the grocery store. Instead its supposed to look more like a lime but be sweeter than store kiwi. The nursery says it will produce fruit in its 2nd year sometimes in the 1st with ideal conditions. So fingers crossed.

Do your BS have aphids? Beetles?

 

[Acre4Me]

Supposedly its a "hardy kiwi" and does not produce the brown fuzzy fruit we see at the grocery store. Instead its supposed to look more like a lime but be sweeter than store kiwi. The nursery says it will produce fruit in its 2nd year sometimes in the 1st with ideal conditions. So fingers crossed.

Do your BS have aphids? Beetles?

first year Brussels had some kind of worm/caterpillar. Spraying with Bt worked great, but they never produced very well. We then bought Brussel starts that same year for a fall harvest from Burpee. They send them according to your zone. Plants were very healthy, and bug free, but shipped too late to produce more than tiny sprouts. Last year, tried a different variety started from seed. these grew ok, but got the caterpillar (nixed with Bt), then infested with tiny black bugs-assuming an aphid. I try not to use much in the way of pesticides, unless really need it, and decided not to treat them. Instead pulled one a day and gave them (stalk and all) to the chickens. So, this year, I’ll start them in late June from seed and plant in Late July or early August and should have a hopefully bug free, hearty crop.

 

[Farmdog267]

first year Brussels had some kind of worm/caterpillar. Spraying with Bt worked great, but they never produced very well. We then bought Brussel starts that same year for a fall harvest from Burpee. They send them according to your zone. Plants were very healthy, and bug free, but shipped too late to produce more than tiny sprouts. Last year, tried a different variety started from seed. these grew ok, but got the caterpillar (nixed with Bt), then infested with tiny black bugs-assuming an aphid. I try not to use much in the way of pesticides, unless really need it, and decided not to treat them. Instead pulled one a day and gave them (stalk and all) to the chickens. So, this year, I’ll start them in late June from seed and plant in Late July or early August and should have a hopefully bug free, hearty crop.

I've had similar issues with worms and black spot mold on mine last year. Only saw a very tiny crop and it was barely worth the effort. I've started the seeds indoors already in the peat pellets this year. Normally I do loose soil but I wanted to try something different. I'm also trying a new variety from Johnny's and also some of the long island improved I had remaining from last year. I'm hoping to be more vigilante with my pest control tactics and perhaps using a floating row cover to minimize some of the exposure.

 

[Acre4Me]

I've had similar issues with worms and black spot mold on mine last year. Only saw a very tiny crop and it was barely worth the effort. I've started the seeds indoors already in the peat pellets this year. Normally I do loose soil but I wanted to try something different. I'm also trying a new variety from Johnny's and also some of the long island improved I had remaining from last year. I'm hoping to be more vigilante with my pest control tactics and perhaps using a floating row cover to minimize some of the exposure.

Good idea. Interestingly, my 4-H kid picked a vegetable project. In the book there is a list of the usual veg, with various bits of info, including the difficulty in growing the different crops. Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts are one of the few listed as “difficult”. Kid will be planting cabbage (an early variety), hopefully getting a decent specimen by project judging time in later July. But, is planting a variety of veg, so will hopefully have a large basket of veg to bring to the project judging, even if it doesn’t include any cabbage.

 

[Mtnboomer]

In lieu of pesticides, 3 Tbls of dish soap per gal of water sprayed on the plants can help keep aphids in check. Apply in late evening or dusk so there is no sun damage. Reapply every 2-3 wks as necessary.
It will control them and help prevent crop loss, but it won't eliminate them.