What did you do in the garden today?

[Paz]

Curious if hydroponics actually uses less water... We assume a lot of water because of the amount of water in the system, but it's a pretty well sealed system so evaporative loss is likely much less than typical growing/ watering methods.

I would say, as far as I know at least, the best tactic to use less water, is to live on the British isles. But if you can’t do that, there are vegetable varieties that were specifically bred to use less water.
Baladi Shami tomatoes don’t need watering at all when they reach two months old! They use dew.

 

[Sally PB]

Thinning... Do you wait to thin out seedlings until you have true leaves or do you thin the sprouts? I'm specifically curious about tomatoes and peppers right now, but this will apply for my cucumbers and melons too when I start them.

I wait until they're 3-4" tall. At that size, it's all about stem strength. I snip the weakest looking stem off at ground level.

When I transplant into the garden, I don't try to separate plants that grew in the pot; their roots are too entwined. I try to have 1-2 good looking plants in each pot by the time I plant them out.

Am I crowding with 2 plants together?

 

[Paz]

I have not seen the commercial, but I have taken expensive off the shelf testosterone supplements that were worthless in comparison to Centrum Sliver 50plus. However, there is no claim on the label that says it has anything to do with testosterone. They only claim it supports heart, brain, eye health and muscle function. There is also a warning not to take additional zinc supplements with this product.

I’m taking HRT. I fought with the problem for the longest time, and finally went to see a doctor regarding my issues. I can proudly say, that my voice is finally breaking at the age of 23.
Edit: I tried a bunch of different vitamin pills, and some Japanese’s remedies like ginger and cumin roots. And it didn’t help.

 

[Sally PB]

I went out to rake up some thatch today, as it's sunny and not too windy/chilly. For a laugh, I took the shovel into the garden, and tried to stomp it into the soil.

OMG. It went into the raised beds just fine!!! I'm thinking I'll be planting potatoes in a couple of weeks, unless everything freezes back up.

 

[Heirloom Grown]

New to the thread,
I'm finally getting a garden started on our new property. Last year we were moving right at planting season. Needless to say I'm dying for planting to begin!!
I'm starting herbs, potatoes, okra, tomatoes, and pumpkins soon.
I'm trying out Survival Garden Seeds this year, they had some great reviews so I'm hoping for a good turnout.

Today I added more soil to our raised beds.

Welcome to the thread I am sure you will enjoy it here.

Question of the day:

Thinning... Do you wait to thin out seedlings until you have true leaves or do you thin the sprouts? I'm specifically curious about tomatoes and peppers right now, but this will apply for my cucumbers and melons too when I start them.

Yes I wait till the cotyledons are gone. When those first leaves show on my tomatoes I snip out the weaker ones.

Today I got a picture of my tomatoes sprouting. I save most of my tomatoes and seeing them sprout let’s me know I did everything right.

That larger plant in the back left is butterfly pea. New to me this year. I am allergic to artificial colors so can’t wait to see how it does. Hoping to grow it in my greenhouse.

 

[CNJ]

I am transplanting my Genovese basil starts into a gallon pot today. All I need is two, its hard for me to keep up with pruning the flowers off of more than 2 plants when they mature. My plants die once the flower are allowed to be turned into seeds.

 

[WthrLady]

New to the thread,
I'm finally getting a garden started on our new property. Last year we were moving right at planting season. Needless to say I'm dying for planting to begin!!
I'm starting herbs, potatoes, okra, tomatoes, and pumpkins soon.
I'm trying out Survival Garden Seeds this year, they had some great reviews so I'm hoping for a good turnout.

Today I added more soil to our raised beds.

Welcome!
Don't let the high speed of this particular board stress you out. Read what you can, ask questions, join in where you want. We're a fairly chatty group.

 

[igorsMistress]

So I had an accident yesterday and I'm kinda embarrassed to admit it. My Catawba grapes, green onions, and a raspberry bed are paying the price...

DH and I had one more brace to put up inside the hoop house to fix storm damage. DH loaded up a bunch of cut 2x4s on the 4-wheeler so I could drive them down to the garden. In the garden area, I had to cut a bit of a sharp corner. The wood shifted and slammed forward into my hand which was pinned to the gas lever. The 4-wheeler lurched forward and slammed full force into a bunch of galvanized steel raised beds and T-posts. It completely crushed one corner of the raspberry bed. Ripped out half my green onions. But the damage I'm most worried about is the Catawba grapes. It took a direct hit. At least one main cordon was snapped off completely. I don't think the main trunk was broken but I couldn't tell if it was pulled out of the ground or not... I had just fertilized it and added some spring compost, then re-mulched with straw around the base. I guess I'll find out how bad it is when/if it doesn't bud out.

I feel bad for the damage, but are YOU ok?

 

[igorsMistress]

Yes, I'm fine. My hand was a bit sore last night from getting smashed but it's all good today. My pride was hurt a lot worse... DH never uttered a word about it.

Smart man.

Shoulda read further along, really glad you’re ok!

 

[igorsMistress]

Garden question of the day:
When do you sow carrots seeds?

I find sources saying to site in early Spring as son as soil could be worked. How frost hardy are the seedlings really? I have a nantes type seed btw.

I sow in early Spring, but don’t have to wait for the soil. I cover if it gets down to freezing or if we have a frost warning and they’ve been fine.