What did you do in the garden today?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

First year with a garden after many years without one. We've only had one summer in this house and almost didn't get a garden started last year, but the previous owners had put in some raised beds, so at least part of the work was done.

We like to grow potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, peas. Always try some new things, so tried some black beans this year, but planted for a fall harvest, but too late - the frost killed them before they fully developed. Tried 3 kinds of melons: the orange one would have been great, but just took too long to grow so couldn't really fully ripen, then the watermelon was a disappointment (and it was a cooler climate type) with hardly any red, and the third kind (green interior) grew and ripened but was a disappointment in taste.

This year we have several varieties of peppers to start from seed - most new to us. Try to get the raspberry plants in, but need to determine location. Bought a cold-weather Fig (great reviews from midwestern growers, most in colder areas than here) so am hopeful to get a few figs next year, after it gets established this year. Have some melon seeds that supposedly grow well in my kind of climate...so will try those out (they are orange flesh melons).

I did plant some potato starts in one raised bed in the fall, as I read that you can plant them to overwinter and they will begin to grow when they determine the right temp in the spring. Maybe they will grow, maybe not, but I figured worth a shot!

Awesome regarding the fig tree. I got one of those this past summer. It's currently hanging out in the garage. I'm curious to see how both of ours do as a comparison. I built my raised garden beds last Spring. Lots of work, but you only have to do it once. I'm trying to determine where to place additional separate container so I can plant more veggies. I would like to grow some potatoes but need to keep them far away from the tomatoes. Have you or perhaps some one else tried raising asparagus in a container? That's the only way I could do it. I have way too many pine trees that suck all the available water up in what's left for planting.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Welp, today I placed my order for vegetable seeds! Some things are backordered for a bit, but it's a month out from seed starting weeks anyhow so I have time. My order was placed 2 weeks later than last year and the year before.... I've just been a little all over the place. I still don't have my rotation finished. Alas. I need to buckle down and work on it.

I was so confused with the "crop rotation" thing mainly because I do companion planting. However, there was a little guide on the Old Farmers Almanac site that actually finally made sense to me. I feel like I have evolved a little more.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi everyone,

It's been a few pages since I checked in.

Will be transplanting tomatoes this weekend and likely buying an Armenian cuke plant, none of our seeds germinated this year but they've been around for a while.

I have watering chores today, and I'm debating about trimming the dead stuff off several plants, or not. The frost has damaged a few but they always grow back in Spring.

The oleanders I planted a few weeks ago are still alive so I transplanted the last one to a large pot and left it on the front porch. I hope those in the ground will grow quickly, they're to shade a block wall from afternoon sun in summer.

Future plans are to revamp the enclosed garden a bit so we can put a brooder out there for quail in Spring.

Have a great day all, the sun is up so it's time to get busy.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Weather update from New England: We survived that awful storm and deep freeze. Now it's 48F and pouring rain. Can't see much of the garden. The ice accumulation on the path to the chicken coop is getting washed away then the deep freeze will return this weekend. My only gardening "triumph" to report is my Meyer lemon tree I brought home from my office when I retired is finally recovering from the moving shock. It's popping out new leaves like crazy. I've had the tree for about 3 years now but with all my moving around it really hasn't grown as much as it should. I'll be re-potting it as soon as it looks healthy enough. Any suggestions for feeding it?

 

[Acre4Me]

Weather update from New England: We survived that awful storm and deep freeze. Now it's 48F and pouring rain. Can't see much of the garden. The ice accumulation on the path to the chicken coop is getting washed away then the deep freeze will return this weekend. My only gardening "triumph" to report is my Meyer lemon tree I brought home from my office when I retired is finally recovering from the moving shock. It's popping out new leaves like crazy. I've had the tree for about 3 years now but with all my moving around it really hasn't grown as much as it should. I'll be re-potting it as soon as it looks healthy enough. Any suggestions for feeding it?

We had the warm temps/rain yesterday. There was standing water in places I’ve never seen standing water...all over while driving around. The rain and temps melting many inches of ice and snow, along with the rain itself, and it was impressive.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Awesome regarding the fig tree. I got one of those this past summer. It's currently hanging out in the garage. I'm curious to see how both of ours do as a comparison. I built my raised garden beds last Spring. Lots of work, but you only have to do it once. I'm trying to determine where to place additional separate container so I can plant more veggies. I would like to grow some potatoes but need to keep them far away from the tomatoes. Have you or perhaps some one else tried raising asparagus in a container? That's the only way I could do it. I have way too many pine trees that suck all the available water up in what's left for planting.

I grow asparagus in raised beds. I’m not sure what you mean by a container but I do know that my beds are where I harvest the spears and that the root system runs far and wide under the ground all around my box. Asparagus takes A LONG time to mature before you can harvest (3 years spears are a good eatable size) but once established they are hardy tolerant plants.
These are the mistakes I made in learning about asparagus.
Tiny ferns do not transplant well at all. If I did not seed right in the ground I would grow from seeds in a 3 gallon container for 2 seasons (out in the yard) to give the asparagus a fighting chance from being pecked by my monsters.
I used starters for my beds.
Take the time to plant them properly. I did not. So I had to dig up and replant them. YouTube has great videos.
My asparagus is the first thing that comes up every year. They do well in cold dry climates. But in summer they take Lots of deep/soaking water. As soon as I start watering ~ here they come! So when I can turn my water back on (outside) I start watering them.
I have many male plants. Which I plan on removing most. Female spears are more tender and tasty!
I will keep a few as I like to have seeds every year.
The best Omlet ever~Fresh eggs & asparagus & tomatoes!
I hope you plant some asparagus....even if you have to wait to have a harvest ~ good luck!

 

[Acre4Me]

Awesome regarding the fig tree. I got one of those this past summer. It's currently hanging out in the garage. I'm curious to see how both of ours do as a comparison. I built my raised garden beds last Spring. Lots of work, but you only have to do it once. I'm trying to determine where to place additional separate container so I can plant more veggies. I would like to grow some potatoes but need to keep them far away from the tomatoes. Have you or perhaps some one else tried raising asparagus in a container? That's the only way I could do it. I have way too many pine trees that suck all the available water up in what's left for planting.

Have never tried asparagus, so not sure about container growing!

Our raised beds are fine, but water pools around them. Not sure why the people who put them in, didn’t go slightly further and just make the ground flat and even too. So, we might do some improvements in this manner, but not sure about this year. We will be adding 2or 3 beds in another sunny area and may focus our efforts there.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Hi everyone,

It's been a few pages since I checked in.

Will be transplanting tomatoes this weekend and likely buying an Armenian cuke plant, none of our seeds germinated this year but they've been around for a while.

I have watering chores today, and I'm debating about trimming the dead stuff off several plants, or not. The frost has damaged a few but they always grow back in Spring.

The oleanders I planted a few weeks ago are still alive so I transplanted the last one to a large pot and left it on the front porch. I hope those in the ground will grow quickly, they're to shade a block wall from afternoon sun in summer.

Future plans are to revamp the enclosed garden a bit so we can put a brooder out there for quail in Spring.

Have a great day all, the sun is up so it's time to get busy.

Oleanders scare me. I remember as a child they had a petition to have them removed from all the parks where children and dogs could get at them.
Every part leaf,stem,roots,flowers are poisonous! I double checked before I posted this. I read where one leaf could kill a horse! So please please double check me.
I have poisonous plants that I keep in my front yard away from the chickens.
Please double check okay?

 

[igorsMistress]

Oleanders scare me. I remember as a child they had a petition to have them removed from all the parks where children and dogs could get at them.
Every part leaf,stem,roots,flowers are poisonous! I double checked before I posted this. I read where one leaf could kill a horse! So please please double check me.
I have poisonous plants that I keep in my front yard away from the chickens.
Please double check okay?

Thank you, they are terribly poisonous but they are outside the backyard where fur and feathered babies can't get them. We even have a fence across our yard in an area to keep the chickens away from any oleander parts that might drop off those growing in our neighbors yard for that reason.

Ours won't be allowed to grow above the top of that wall to make sure we don't have any leaves or flowers falling into the backyard.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Have never tried asparagus, so not sure about container growing!

Our raised beds are fine, but water pools around them. Not sure why the people who put them in, didn’t go slightly further and just make the ground flat and even too. So, we might do some improvements in this manner, but not sure about this year. We will be adding 2or 3 beds in another sunny area and may focus our efforts there.

I was fortunate regarding the water issue. The houses on my side of the road are at the base of a forested hill. The town put in an elaborate drainage system to deal with this. Where I built my raised beds even has a little "stream" running next to it. The whole garden area is on a slight slope so rain water generally runs on by, no ponding. Because of the septic drain field I have to keep my vegetable gardening away from that. I've thought about using a couple of containers to add garden space near the septic lines so they won't disturb the field (and keep the town inspector happy). One addition to the main garden area this year will be to laying cardboard for a weed barrier and mulch between the garden beds. Because it's on a slope, it was a real PIA to mow last summer. I didn't get around to putting in an herb garden last year, will try to do that this year. I am acquiring a supply of pallets from the wood pellet deliveries so I thought I would repurpose that wood into raised beds for herbs. No real time for boredom. LOL! But regarding your fig tree: I'm excited to see how our trees do this Spring. I have mine in what I think is about a 100lb container. It about killed me getting it onto the wheels I bought for it so I can move it around. All that work should pay off with a few fresh homegrown figs. LOL!