Mumsy's Romantic Garden Advice

[Kassaundra]

My veggie garden is struggling this year too, I'm getting food by the handful instead of bucketful.

My tomatoes I think have blight this year too

 

[midnightroo]

Leah, I have forgotten about you. Still recovering from a long weekend of non stop playing for my daughter. Did come across this site that might help you find a few suggestions. I also took a few photos of plants that I thought were interesting that I will post soon.

http://www.mortonarb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=871&Itemid=6

 

[MumsyII]

Seasonal planting is the way I go about choosing plants. I like interesting shapes in trees and bark texture. Winter isn't so monotonous when there is something happening in the garden twelve months of the year. Fall foliage colors are not just for trees but many shrubs are spectacular in Fall. I like the Blueberry variety called Toro for it's berries but the leaves turn brilliant red in Fall. Some turn yellow. I like Hellebore's for bloom in February and Witch-hazels for bloom and fragrance in March. Not to forget to mention Daphne for incredible fragrances. Bulbs come in varieties that bloom from late winter to Fall. Crocus comes up here in March and April and then there are the Fall blooming ones. If you do your research and shop around, you can have something blooming or beautiful in your yard twelve months of the year. I do.


Fresh herbs, Shallots, Bosc Pears and Gravenstein apples from the Fall garden last year.

 

[armorfirelady]

I pulled all the non essential pumpkin plants today. I found tiny grey beetles on some leaves today and later some tiny copper colored eggs. Wish I had my camera to take a picture of them. But the leaves they were on were turning yellow.

I had a nice surprise today. My small cuke plants was hiding 4 cukes behind its leaves and the cherry tomatoes are finally starting to bear more fruit.

Mumsy- I always thought I had strange crocuses when I saw some bloom in the fall. Glad to see there are fall blooming ones.

As for stuff growing in my gardens during the winter? The only thing that grows here is the piles of snow :/

 

[Calomel]

This is such an amazing thread. I am in awe!

I got some "wildflower mix" seeds this year and they grew really well in my garden, but everything is being overtaken by some kind of wild Morning Glory vine. It's flowers are a delicate white and pretty, but it's assimilating everything like the Borg. My lilies, the bushes, the lawn...it's everywhere! This stuff is so vigorous. Not even the chickens can completely eradicate it from their run, it keeps coming back even from the smallest little green nubs.

 

[Sally8]

I pulled all the non essential pumpkin plants today. I found tiny grey beetles on some leaves today and later some tiny copper colored eggs. Wish I had my camera to take a picture of them. But the leaves they were on were turning yellow.

I had a nice surprise today. My small cuke plants was hiding 4 cukes behind its leaves

and the cherry tomatoes are finally starting to bear more fruit.

Mumsy- I always thought I had strange crocuses when I saw some bloom in the fall. Glad to see there are fall blooming ones.

As for stuff growing in my gardens during the winter? The only thing that grows here is the piles of snow

Isn't that the truth!

 

[MumsyII]

This is such an amazing thread. I am in awe!

I got some "wildflower mix" seeds this year and they grew really well in my garden, but everything is being overtaken by some kind of wild Morning Glory vine. It's flowers are a delicate white and pretty, but it's assimilating everything like the Borg. My lilies, the bushes, the lawn...it's everywhere! This stuff is so vigorous. Not even the chickens can completely eradicate it from their run, it keeps coming back even from the smallest little green nubs.

Hello Calomel! I see you are in Omaha, Nebraska. I've been there three times in the last year and a half. You have got the craziest weather I swear! And the most awesome places to eat in a short distance than any where I've been in my life!

I know the Morning Glory vine you speak of. Convolvulus arvensis Also called Bind Weed. Chokes and strangles it's way every where. A friend of mine warned me not to plant it when I was admiring it growing along side the roads there. He said I would rue the day it got onto my property. I took his advice. Didn't bring seed home. Have you tried spraying it with the cheap distilled white vinegar? This stuff burns the leafs quickly. You will have to keep at it. Buy a few gallons at the discount store and a cheap pump sprayer. I use it straight for tough weeds like this. Some people water it down. It will kill flowers and vegetables too so be careful for over spray.

It can send roots nine feet deep. Seeds can live in the soil for years. It doesn't like wet or waterlogged soil. Thrives in poor soil. It can take at least three years to get rid of it if you persistently weed it every few weeks while in the growing season. Deep cultivation is required because as you know a little piece can rejuvenate the plant to spread. It is not native to America. Came from Europe and is considered one of the most noxious plants in the world.

You have your work cut out for you but it can be gotten rid of.

 

[Calomel]

Hello Calomel! I see you are in Omaha, Nebraska. I've been there three times in the last year and a half. You have got the craziest weather I swear! And the most awesome places to eat in a short distance than any where I've been in my life!

I know the Morning Glory vine you speak of. Convolvulus arvensis Also called Bind Weed. Chokes and strangles it's way every where. A friend of mine warned me not to plant it when I was admiring it growing along side the roads there. He said I would rue the day it got onto my property. I took his advice. Didn't bring seed home. Have you tried spraying it with the cheap distilled white vinegar? This stuff burns the leafs quickly. You will have to keep at it. Buy a few gallons at the discount store and a cheap pump sprayer. I use it straight for tough weeds like this. Some people water it down. It will kill flowers and vegetables too so be careful for over spray.

It can send roots nine feet deep. Seeds can live in the soil for years. It doesn't like wet or waterlogged soil. Thrives in poor soil. It can take at least three years to get rid of it if you persistently weed it every few weeks while in the growing season. Deep cultivation is required because as you know a little piece can rejuvenate the plant to spread. It is not native to America. Came from Europe and is considered one of the most noxious plants in the world.

You have your work cut out for you but it can be gotten rid of.

Hi MumsyII!

Yep, I'm in Nebraska. I love it here, the weather does eventually 'grow' on you, hehe. I wish I had a friend like yours, to warn me about these little monsters. There was a time that I did admire the morning glories growing in the center divides of the road, but not anymore! My best friend said they were her favorite flower. I told her she could take them all. Nine feet deep?! I'll believe it. There is no barrier I've put down that's even slowed it. I've been trying to eradicate it from my lawn for two years now. Weed&Feed just made it angry. o.o I haven't tried vinegar, but I will now that you recommend it. I'll see what I can rip away from my lilies and spray the rest. The lawn may have to wait for next year to begin the fight again after this year's weeds have died.

 

[mlowen]

I have milkweed in my yard. I was thrilled to discover it 2 years ago...want the butterflies...but it also grows deep roots and sends up plants from them far and wide! It's getting into my vegetable (raised) beds and all through the yard. Does anyone know what might discourage it? I do want to keep the two small patches it started with. At this point it's "dadgummit!" and pull up the shoots as I find them. They literally grow several inches overnight! They hide well among the green beans and tomatoes. Thanks.

 

[midnightroo]

I pulled all the non essential pumpkin plants today. I found tiny grey beetles on some leaves today and later some tiny copper colored eggs. Wish I had my camera to take a picture of them. But the leaves they were on were turning yellow.

I had a nice surprise today. My small cuke plants was hiding 4 cukes behind its leaves and the cherry tomatoes are finally starting to bear more fruit.

Mumsy- I always thought I had strange crocuses when I saw some bloom in the fall. Glad to see there are fall blooming ones.

As for stuff growing in my gardens during the winter? The only thing that grows here is the piles of snow :/

They might be the squash bug they suck the life out of thenplants. https://www.google.com/search?q=squ...XJ4APSjIHoBA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA&biw=1024&bih=644

We get them and the squash big borer that bores holes into the stem basically killing the plant. I have miraculously been about to grow muskmelon/cantaloupe this year I think because of the weeds and hiding them in the tomatoes. Usually those buggers get them early here. The only squash I can grow easily here is the Seminole pumpkin. It isn't a pumpkin in our traditional sense. It is a squash that was grown in FL by the Seminole Native Americans. It produces smallish fruit that taste great when they can fully ripen and stores for a good amount of time.

Sorry mlowen. I would love my milkweed area to spread like yours. We had flowers and only one Monarch that we saw which a dragonfly decided it looked delicious and flew off with it.

I never knew that crouses bloomed in the fall also. Very cool, I will have to get some. Does anyone have a favorite bulb catalog they like to order from? I was going to order some from brecks, but they seem to charge a lot for shipping.

After spending too much time on the Internet yesterday I found this plant Japanese Kerria or Kerria japonica . I fell in love with it instantly and love the fact that it grows in the shade. I have the perfect spot for it. Does anyone have any experience with it?

Time to go wake sleeping beauty.