Green thumb is itching, anyone else?

[backyardcelia]

wow!!!! what a wild & an amazing collection!!!! i long for a green house or sunroom, or something, one day!!!
i mean spectacular!! thank you so much for sharing!
i love real photos SO much better than any in any of my many books.

although, if i ever heard of a sundew i don't recall... i could look it up of course ;p

last night i organised all my seed/plant catalogues and made a list of which coupon expires when
and the chickadees are singing there spring songs!! i hate to tell them it's gonna get butt cold again.

 

[queenchick16]

Hello all
First seeds came yesterday, dragged out the old "Victory Garden " book.
Great photos
My one rose bush has buds on it . Man have we screwed this earth up.
Going to the new England poultry congress in Springfield Ma. next weekend, I cant wait.I just hope the weather holds out for the drive.is anyone on this thread going?

 

[backyardcelia]

go VICTORY gardeN!! i am starting a brand new veg plot this spring... i'm not sure just how large i'll be able to make it, but that is definitely the first book i will consult to plot my course! poultry congress...nice, maybe next year! i am very new to the chicken world.

i just tallied all my seed and bareroot wishes and wants... now i only need to trim $150.00 and pace/place orders in a timely manner; i'm making sure to take advantage of each and every coupon, if it means i need to place an order a day with one company! paw paw and kiwi i got carried away with, i thought i've put it off so long until now that, the more the merrier! any advice planting, anyone?

meanwhile, i took a walkout into the snow today imagining my roses underneath! speaking of gardening (and winter) has anyone ever used one of those heavy duty indoor outdoor 4 gallon composters?

 

[queenchick16]

...

go VICTORY gardeN!! i am starting a brand new veg plot this spring... i'm not sure just how large i'll be able to make it, but that is definitely the first book i will consult to plot my course!   poultry congress...nice, maybe next year! i am very new to the chicken world.

i just tallied all my seed and bareroot wishes and wants... now i only need to trim $150.00 and pace/place orders in a timely manner; i'm making sure to take advantage of each and every coupon, if it means i need to place an order a day with one company! paw paw and kiwi i got carried away with, i thought i've put it off so long until now that, the more the merrier! any advice planting, anyone? 

meanwhile, i took a walkout into the snow today imagining my roses underneath! speaking of gardening (and winter) has anyone ever used one of those heavy duty indoor outdoor 4 gallon composters? 
No ...to the composter
Where do you live?
That book is great for the northeast gardener
Last year I told everyone about Burpees "Easy peasy peas" double the bang for the buck.

 

[rancher hicks]

Gotta question.

What is the difference between a Shallot and an Onion? They look the same to me.

 

[JeffOeuf]

Shallots have a bit milder flavor, in general are smaller, and each individual layer is much thinner. They bunch when the grow, which most onions do not do. They're often used in sauces where an entire onion would be too much, and the milder flavor is desired. Generally planted in the fall, rather than spring like onions.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks Jeff,

I am considering adding them to my garden. I prefer things I can grow enough of to store for the winter. While I'd like to do potatoes that would be a lot of space and work.

 

[JeffOeuf]

Well, if you don't have them in yet, it will be hard to get a decent crop of shallots. I plant my in September or October. You can plant them in the spring, but they don't do as well as fall planted ones.

Potatoes work? Man, they're about the easiest thing I grow. Short growing cycle and a good production to space ratio. I plant in March (St. Patrick's Day), harvest in June or July and don't have to buy potatoes until December or January.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well, if you don't have them in yet, it will be hard to get a decent crop of shallots. I plant my in September or October. You can plant them in the spring, but they don't do as well as fall planted ones.

Potatoes work? Man, they're about the easiest thing I grow. Short growing cycle and a good production to space ratio. I plant in March (St. Patrick's Day), harvest in June or July and don't have to buy potatoes until December or January.

You've got to post some pics of your potato garden. I do raised beds and was considering that method. How and where do you store yours for the fall? As this economy turns I'd like to not depend on the grocers so much.

 

[JeffOeuf]

I have a mix of raised beds and in ground. I've done potatoes in both, and they're much more productive (and easier to harvest) in a raised bed. I'm going to blog my spring planting, so I'll link the potato section to this thread.

I wish I had better storage for my potatoes. They need 50ish degrees and dark. I have friends that leave them in the ground, but that has never worked for me. They're always rotten when I go to get them late in the year.