PLANTED GARDEN TODAY - anybody planting yet?

[oldchickenman]

we just built a seedling stand with lights now we have some peppers tomatoes and other things started
the grandkids helped with it all.

 

[flgardengirl]

Your seedling stand sounds nice. I got a couple black wire shelves with the adjustable shelves from kmart. Then hung plant lights from each shelf. Since the shelves are wire some of my smaller pots would tip a little between the wire (wouldn't sit flat) so dh thought to get some of that clear fiberglass sheet stuff that is sold at Lowes for florescent lights and cut them to fit the shelves. I like being able to adjust them as the plants grow. I hope it gets warm here soon though because my house is overrun with plants and baby chicks and I want them all out lol!!

 

[math ace]

flgardengirl - make sure you get your soil tested BEFORE planting any blueberries.

They like very acidic soil. I KILLED my first year blueberry plants because my ph was 7.0 - 7.5.

The county will do it free for you. I get mine tested at least once a year.
I try for two - three times a year because of all the organic materials I supplement the soil with.

If you have NEVER done blueberries before - - goggle and read up on them. I am on my fourth year with them. I have learned many things while killing and replacing my blueberrry plants.

 

[flgardengirl]

Thanks. I will be sure to do that. Good to know soil is tested for free! I just moved to a new property so I dont know what the soil is like here. It is an old farmstead with lots of oaks and some pine. I will be planting the blueberries in raised beds. I might try some garden soil for roses to mix in. It is more acidic but will be adding organic compost and stuff so will need to test it to be sure. Do you fertilize your blueberries with Miracle Grow for alzaleas (Miracid)?

 

[vfem]

I just did so much, you wouldn't even believe what I managed to get done in one weekend... I'm in shock! ANd its like spring wasn't here last week and now... BOOM... it is! LOL

I posted some photos on my blog:

http://fromseed.blogspot.com

 

[math ace]

Flgardengirl,

That was going to be my next piece of advice from my live and learn experience - - -

I did use the liquid miracle grow on my blueberries. Their roots are shallow and near the surface, so you have to be carefulr with whatever you use. I did ok with the liquid fertilizer until I let my daughter water them one day. She spent too much time on the one plant and killed it with the liquid fertilizer.

The following is an excellent resource for growing blueberries in Florida. It discuss varities, fertilization, planting, etc. It is from the University of Florida.


http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg359

 

[featherbaby]

I'm in Jacksonville too, and have the worst case of Spring Fever in the world! I've already been out burying Dahlia bulbs, Liatris, Gladiolas, and planting cool weather seeds: sugar snap peas, nasturtiums, alyssum, herbs, etc. I got a catnip plant for my cat and put it in a hanging basket immediately. One year I had catnip plants in a pot on my deck. ALL the neighborhood cats came to the party the next night, rolling and chewing and shredding it. Needless to say I put the next ones up high in hanging baskets. If they can jump that high, they can have it.

I've got jiffy pots started with sunflowers, datura, passion flowers, columbine, etc. I can't wait to get them started and in the ground. Home Depot was running their 6 pack annuals for 1.29 and buy one get one free. That was more temptation than I could withstand. At Ten cents a plant, about 48 of them came home with me. Ooooohhh, I am SOOO addicted.

Fl Girl, I can't wait to buy/trade some cuttings or seeds of your Brugmansias and Daturas when they get going strong. I'm reserving space for them for later on.

Does anyone have odd or unusual things they grow to tell us about?????

 

[kcsunshine]

It's been sooo wet here this winter - like last winter- and it kept us from getting the garden worked up. This weekend part of it dried out enough to run the tractor tiller, so we planted about 60# of the 200#'s of potatoes we have. My SIL brought me a huge rubarb plant and we divided it into 4 plants and that's been put it the new bed I made especially for it. We have 2 really long raised beds with garlic and multiplying onions in them since fall. DH has built 5 more shorter raised beds that now have spinach, onion sets, and lettuce in 3 of them. One of the others will have carrots and the other will probably have radishes or beets. Our other garden in the back of our property is still very wet. We'll put corn and beans back there when it dries out. We'll also be planting cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, okra, and 5 or 6 kinds of greens for fall. (We sell at 2 Farmers' markets from May to November). I'll post some pics as things start to green up.

 

[urban dreamer]

I've had plants in the ground for the last three weeks. Cauilflower, strawberries, onions, and planted radishes last weekend. I really want to get my green beans out there. Im waiting for April to put any tomatoes, squash, and peppers out. So far, my cauilflower is grown alittle bit, the strawberries are still alive, and the onions are growing. This is my first big garden, so I am looking forward to it!

 

[BoerneChickens]

I'm in south TX and I think I started the cool weather crops too late. I planted brocolli, cauliflower, onions, brussel sprouts and cabbage the first week of Feb but everyone is telling me they will "bolt" and not produce. I thought I was starting early but I guess not! Two weeks ago I put in my tomatoes, tomatillos, cucumbers, potatoes, garlic and shallots (think the garlic, shallots and potatoes should have gone in earlier too) and I and planted seeds for watermelon, leeks, chives, basil, mesculin, carrots, yellow squash, corn, beans and black eyed peas. The cucumbers I started in the house and I guess I should have set them in the shade a few days to get accustomed to the sun but they all burned up and died in about a week

But I found some started at Lowes so I am hoping to plant those maybe this week.

I have only ever done tomatoes, peppers and cukes really before - so this year I added a bunch of new gardens and have really tried to expand to a little more of a backyard homestead concept.

I started a blog about the whole adventure and have posted lots of pictures - which includes my first chickens and the coop I am working on building for them! Here is the site - just in case anyone is interested - http://hillcountrybackyardhomestead.blogspot.com/