Green thumb is itching, anyone else?

[3LilBirds]

Mainly to keep smell down. I read that it won't hurt earth worms. Plus I don't want flies. Flies breed fast out here in SoCal and we throw lots of parties threw out the summer and it's just unpleasant when they won't leave you alone.

 

[Czech's_chicks]

Mainly to keep smell down. I read that it won't hurt earth worms. Plus I don't want flies. Flies breed fast out here in SoCal and we throw lots of parties threw out the summer and it's just unpleasant when they won't leave you alone.

For flies I recommend the sticky traps AND the stinky ones that you fill with water. I keep mine down at the far end of the property where the birds are and they fill up fast. Sticky where people are. Stinky where animals are.

 

[3LilBirds]

I tried those last year. They didn't work too well. The other problem is my yard is probably only 30 ft deep so we could smell it.

The funny thing was the jerky neighbor was in his yard probably a week later going, "Kids look over there. There has to be something. Something must have died. Where the heck is that smell coming from?!" He then saw us threw the fence and told us to check our dogs because it smells like something died. I look at him and said, "Don't you think I'd know if one of my dogs died... I'm pretty sure I don't have a zombie dog." LOL We eventually told him... I didn't try the tape though so I'll give that a go this year.

 

[Carols Clucks]

Maybe in your case it would be better not to have a literal pile, but to get one of the compost rollers or closed bins. Our county sells bins at a discount at the transfer station and costco sells the roller ones. I would also make sure that you are not putting in meats or things that attract things. Stick with the coop cleaning, grass, leaves, etc

Mainly to keep smell down. I read that it won't hurt earth worms. Plus I don't want flies. Flies breed fast out here in SoCal and we throw lots of parties threw out the summer and it's just unpleasant when they won't leave you alone.

 

[3LilBirds]

Definitely no meats. Just basically fruits, veggies, grass and clean up from the chickens. I'll have to see about those rollers. I was just doing it the way my parents always did. lol

 

[rancher hicks]

Can anyone tell me if they trellis their cukes? I see an ad for a trellis that shows them trellised with lettuce growing underneath at Garden Supply co. I will most likely make my own trellis but wondered about doing so.

Thanks

rancher

 

[CaroleM]

Have a tomato giggle - last year I realised that I had 3 very OLD packets of seed open but not yet empty. By coincidence, each packet still held 20 seeds. Being good, and hopeful, I sowed all 60 seeds. Much to my total amazement all 60 germinated. Try as I might I could not give them away, no idea why but trying to get rid was like trying to get blood from a stone. So, when ready for transplanting into gro-bags; which I had already bought 30 of and cut in half across the waist to make 60; I got busy with the trowl. Despite great care, watering, feeding etc, guess how many actual fruits I actually picked.

Not a single one

​

Oh well, it gave me plenty of practise with my transpplanting technique if nothing else. When I emptied out each gro-bag, each plant had a lovely root run, had put on amazing amounts of greenery and everything looked health. They'd had sun, light and everything else they needed, but such is the gardening life.


I had got a little concerned though. What would happen if the someone saw all these plants growing and thought that what was in my greenhouse wasn't tomato plants? Would I be raided by the local Drugs Squad convinced I had quite a little drug empire going?

 

[rancher hicks]

Have a tomato giggle - last year I realised that I had 3 very OLD packets of seed open but not yet empty. By coincidence, each packet still held 20 seeds. Being good, and hopeful, I sowed all 60 seeds. Much to my total amazement all 60 germinated. Try as I might I could not give them away, no idea why but trying to get rid was like trying to get blood from a stone. So, when ready for transplanting into gro-bags; which I had already bought 30 of and cut in half across the waist to make 60; I got busy with the trowl. Despite great care, watering, feeding etc, guess how many actual fruits I actually picked.

Not a single one

​

Oh well, it gave me plenty of practise with my transpplanting technique if nothing else. When I emptied out each gro-bag, each plant had a lovely root run, had put on amazing amounts of greenery and everything looked health. They'd had sun, light and everything else they needed, but such is the gardening life.


I had got a little concerned though. What would happen if the someone saw all these plants growing and thought that what was in my greenhouse wasn't tomato plants? Would I be raided by the local Drugs Squad convinced I had quite a little drug empire going?

There must have been something wrong with the soil you used. I doubt it was the seeds. I have heard those grow bags don't work. If they are the kind you hang with the plants upside down.

Now as far as the compost is concerned , if it smells bad then your mix of green and brown is off. If you do not have enough brown I suggest buying some cheap topsoil and tossing that in. Also some dried hay, straw or cuttings, or perhaps some Peat moss.

If you can let the chickens work it that would be good too. While it needs to be wet you don't want it overly wet. I would look for damp and not soaking wet.

Also you may need to "work" it by hand if the chickens don't have access. You must keep it aerated. You don't want things to ferment.

 

[AliceMae]

I haven't had much luck with grow bags either. Guess you shouldn't mess with natural nature and gravity and plastics and .......

As far as those tomato seeds not producing, I absolutely cannot grow carrots or radishes in my big veggie garden, however, they will grow in my galvanized wash tub containers !! Go figure ?

 

[queenchick16]

Collards, chard and corn salad just peeking out of the ground I new as soon as I got stuff in the ground we'd get a cold spell. It's suppose to be almost 90 on Sunday I hope..The shallots and peas are loving it though hope everyone else is having better luck