BYC gardening thread!!

[dan26552]

Cushaw . They make the best pies . Better tan the Dickinson pumpkin .

I'll have to try it one day.

 

[lazy gardener]

Ditto that.

 

[dan26552]

http://m.ncregister.com/blog/kschif...ious-brother-who-discovered-them#.V60kLIo8Kc3

 

[dan26552]

http://hinduism.about.com/od/ayurveda/a/tulsibenefits.htm

 

[dan26552]

http://www.herbalrootszine.com/articles/just-a-spoonful-of-basil-helps-the-coughing-go-down/

 

[appps]

Okay, my latest dumb question. My strawberries have started to fruit and a couple just started to turn pink but then they vanished. I figure it's birds so I've put some bird netting over it as everyone does. What I'm curious about though is how the rest now get pollinated? The gauge on the bird netting seems to be pretty fine, can't image any but the most super determined bees getting through it?

And in other news, my seeds are coming along nicely. In our last month of winter here but wanted to get a jump on the season so this year I'm trialling sowing out of season and keeping warm so that when spring hits I've got decent size plants to put in. At night I put them on top of my large hermit crab tanks hood so the warmth from the heaters comes up from below and during the day I'm putting them out on the black glass of our outdoor setting. So far so good!

I've tracked down a cold frame (they aren't commonly used here) so hopefully it will turn up this week and I can repot a lot of them move it all out there.

I

 

[lazy gardener]

Okay, my latest dumb question. My strawberries have started to fruit and a couple just started to turn pink but then they vanished. I figure it's birds so I've put some bird netting over it as everyone does. What I'm curious about though is how the rest now get pollinated? The gauge on the bird netting seems to be pretty fine, can't image any but the most super determined bees getting through it?

And in other news, my seeds are coming along nicely. In our last month of winter here but wanted to get a jump on the season so this year I'm trialling sowing out of season and keeping warm so that when spring hits I've got decent size plants to put in. At night I put them on top of my large hermit crab tanks hood so the warmth from the heaters comes up from below and during the day I'm putting them out on the black glass of our outdoor setting. So far so good!



I've tracked down a cold frame (they aren't commonly used here) so hopefully it will turn up this week and I can repot a lot of them move it all out there.

I

Cold frames will add months to your growing season, both on the front and on the back end. I would find it very difficult to garden without one. But, you can easily make your own cold frame. The easiest one to make is with some square hay bales to make a box that is (at least in the northern hemisphere! Not sure if you would reverse it in SH.) open on the south, with a single bale on the east and west, and as many bales long as you want to make it on the north. This holds the heat well, and collects it from the southern exposure. I cover the top with storm window panels. (I have 2 that are patio door sized, so that will build a nice big cold frame. Be sure to provide some framing under the glass if you have issues with snow. If I plant veggies in my cold frame in the early fall, I can pick salads until mid November, and then start picking from the same plants in late February or March. If you're handy with wood tools, you can make a frame of wood that will support your glass.

Check out this book: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Season-Harvest-Organic-Vegetables-Garden/dp/1890132276

 

[appps]

Cold frames will add months to your growing season, both on the front and on the back end.  I would find it very difficult to garden without one.  But, you can easily make your own cold frame.  The easiest one to make is with some square hay bales to make a box that is (at least in the northern hemisphere!  Not sure if you would reverse it in SH.) open on the south, with a single bale on the east and west, and as many bales long as you want to make it on the north.  This holds the heat well, and collects it from the southern exposure.  I cover the top with storm window panels.  (I have 2 that are patio door sized, so that will build a nice big cold frame.  Be sure to provide some framing under the glass if you have issues with snow.  If I plant veggies in my cold frame in the early fall, I can pick salads until mid November, and then start picking from the same plants in late February or March.  If you're handy with wood tools, you can make a frame of wood that will support your glass.

 Check out this book:  https://www.amazon.com/Four-Season-Harvest-Organic-Vegetables-Garden/dp/1890132276

The hay would be a great insulator too I would imagine. I'm very much constricted by size unfortunatly so for me thing like a hay bale takes up just too much space. I did start building one out of scraps but since our second hand materials shop is pretty useless buying all the bits new to finish it was nearly as much as the fancy prebuilt one so I caved and bought one.
We are a long way from getting snow I couldn't even find a last frost date because we apparently don't get that. I have seen one a couple times though but it's not common.

I'm hoping to get a jump on the season so I don't get that two or three months when tomatoes (to name one) at the shops are $9 a kilo but mine are nowhere near ready. My tomatoes always seem to be ready by the time the prices drop. I've even wondered if I could grow them all year round almost here with some extra warmth. I had a volunteer cherry tomato that came up in late summer produce all winter long this year though the tomatoes were tiny things. It's got me wondering though what else I could grow with some extra warmth. I'll check out the book. Thanks!

 

[rusticpumpkins]

Anyone here have experence with gardening year around in a greenhouse? Last winter we built a small, hobby sized greenhouse and plan on growing in it all winter. i'm drawing out plans to make our own grow lights and trying to figure out a better way to insulate it. I also have been rooting tomatoes and tomatillo plants all summer for the greenhouse garden. Not sure if i'll put in a raised bed or grow in pots yet though.

 

[rusticpumpkins]

Has anyone successfully grown sage?

I've killed it twice so far. Once in the garden then on my second try in a pot. Hope this is third time lucky but not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I've grown it a couple years now. I plant it in the garden in the spring and dig it up in the fall because I can't keep them alive through the frosts. Their a mediterranean plant so it makes sense. It likes drier soil but dont think that means dont water it at all. I water it about twice a week or so and in my climate (zone 8) that works. I also have to fertilize it a lot, but to fertilize i just use fresh manure or compost on the top soil around the plant so I can't recommend a specific fert. Good luck!