What did you do in the garden today?

[City farm]

Checked on the Cuban oregano that planted from clippings. . They are doing great. . Going threw seed's to finally plant. .

 

We put in a plug of Oregano last year in the garden.  It was a little $3 pot from the farmers market.  Not sure the specific variety...  It grew to a little bush about 9 inches in diameter and maybe 6 inches high.

It is a perennial.  It came back this spring, and EXPLODED.  It covers an area about 4 feet by 4 feet, and the branches are 18 inches tall.  Stems that lay on the ground put down new roots.  It's like edible kudzu.

Hope yours flourishes like that too! 

Next spring I'm going to have to do some serious boundary management for it.

PS:  The chickens weren't interested in eating it.

Yes, I have heard they don't like it.. We have ours growing in pot's at the moment.. Can you take a photo of it? We had 3 different types of mint. Between the chicken's and forgetting to water a few day's in the heat, we have none.. Chocolate mint was my favorite..

 

[KentuckyMom]

Planted 2 Apple trees, 2 rhubarb. (they've been potted since early spring.)  I have 2 Siberian Pea tree, 2 June berries left to go.  Every hole is dug with a pick axe, heavy clay soil with lots of big rocks to remove.

Any one have experience with pruning to keep fruit trees a manageable size?  I just looked at a web site where the guy recommends intensive pruning to keep even full sized fruit trees as small as you want them, and he even recommends planting 4 trees of different varieties (though all on the same root stock, so they don't grow disproportionately to each other) in a grid where they are each 18" apart.  All I can think is that this would set the trees up for increased disease risk.  He also recommends summer pruning, b/c that stunts the growth of the following year.  My trees are planted about 20' apart, but, I'm just wondering if anyone is experimenting with this concept.

I have never heard of planting apple trees that close. Even the dwarf varieties would be crowded I would think. Strange. I planted a winesap and a black Arkansas in the spring.They are about as far apart as yours. I also have a fuji that is around the corner from them and a yellow delicious in the front yard. The only one I'm not sure about having a close enough pollinator is the yellow delicious. I planted a crab apple in a diagonal line from it but it is puny,and I don't know if it'll survive.(daughter got it from Arbor Day promotion) So, maybe in the spring, I'll buy another apple tree. My husband says that when all of theses trees begin to produce, I'll have more than I can handle. Perish the thought!

 

[lazy gardener]

At least where I am, there are enough wild apple trees that I wouldn't ever need to worry about a pollinator. But, even so, I did plant 2. After the fact, I realized that I could plant just one, and then practice my grafting skills on it. (That's in my bucket list: learning how to graft.) I planted Norland (similar to Mac) and Maiden Blush (similar to Honey Crisp). I love Fuji and Yellow Delicious!

 

[KentuckyMom]

I have read some on grafting but have not been ambitious enough to try it yet. I planted two papaw seedlings this year and ordered three pawpaw seeds to try and start too. I planted them in pots back in March and had all but given up on them when they sprouted and grew in late July,early August. I am so excited. We had tried planting pawpaws once before with no success. They start small and it takes two to three years for them to become really established. Now, hopefully, they'll keep doing well...

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like you're moving along nicely in your gardening since I last talked to you. Weren't you looking for goose berries? Any luck???

 

[KentuckyMom]

Still trying to convince my husband that I NEED them! I like the taste and have good memories of the gooseberry jelly my Grandma made. Nobody else in my family shares my enthusiasm for the taste. Someday...Two of the apple trees,the pawpaws, and a nectarine tree came from an orchard here in KY called Root of David. They are very healthy trees with an established root system. I have ordered fruit trees from other bigger name orchards that did not thrive and had to be replaced.

 

[lazy gardener]

Check out this nursery.

http://www.sln.potsdam.ny.us/

They are only offering apples this year due to business being passed down in the family. But they will gear back up, and start offering a wide variety of plants. Excellent stock.

You can always ask for them for a birthday or Christmas present... or anniversary, or perhaps an un-birthday present!

 

[MeepMeeps]

Just a bit of trivia, that you may already be aware of: PVC breaks down in sunlight. If you paint it, it will last longer. Also, does not do well in freezing temps. Tends to shatter.

Oregano can certainly be invasive. Also, any members of the mint family as well... but, we can forgive them b/c they are so good, yes???

Thanks, Yes I read I was supposed to prime or paint the PVC. I'm too lazy..lazy gardener. haha. I didnt know it shattered in freezing temps though. I guess we'll find out what happens! thanks

 

[MeepMeeps]

Does anyone grow fig trees? I have 2. One died last year because I wintered it in the garage unwrapped. One came back but leafed verrrrrry slowly, with no ripening fruit. I forgot which died, Celestial or Italian fig... I received another as a gift (Peter's Honey Fig) but again the figs were not ripening and the few that did were not sweet. I'm almost ready to give up on owning them, they do much better in green houses.

 

[Peep_Show]

Today was a harvest day!

Our village is having their annual Harvest Festival tomorrow (village fundraiser), so I'm taking some produce over to the Old Church for their fiesta and the growers' "Taste of Corrales" table. Apparently one of the growers bowed out at the last minute, so it was a good thing I planted late and had stuff to harvest. Will be providing sweet peppers, assorted summer squashes, a bucket of Juliet tomatoes and a crate of apples.








And we're making cider on Sunday with the "not pretty or perfect" ones....