What did you do in the garden today?

[akroberts1085]

I haven't tried using starts from the store with the exception of strawberry and watermelon. I have no luck with them, however I have a much longer growing season than a lot of people here.

 

[littledog]

I live in Northern California. I'm wanting to try to grow some different veggies because I don't know if I like them or not but I would like to grow it just to try the taste. Another reason is that I am the family gardener. The food is not just for me it's for my mom and dad and also the kids and grandkids.

I'm trying a new variety of broccoli this year: I've never had much luck getting broccoli or cauliflower to grow from seedlings, so I kind of gave up on them. But a few weeks ago, I was going home a different way and passed a "plant sale" sign, so of course I had to stop. The farmer had Romanesco broccoli, the kind that grows like a fibonacci fractal but he said his would be purple! So I just had to buy a few plants and try it.
Of course, I also had to buy some tomato varieties I didn't already have, some cauliflowers, and some red cabbage plants.
All are growing well in garden so far, we'll see how they turn out.
I can't wait to see how this new broccoli does, the only disadvantage will be cutting into it, because it's so beautiful!

My other new thing (maybe) is walnut trees. I know there must be a walnut tree around here, though I don't know where, because we're always finding random shells, dropped by crows or hidden away by squirrels (including in my truck engine, grrr)
Last year must have been a good year, because as I weeding I dug up several tiny trees that had walnut shells attached, that the squirrels must have buried in my garden last fall! So I planted 4-5 of them in gallon pots, put them in a semi-shady part of the garden, and they're all looking good so far! I'm hoping that in the fall, I can plant them along the fence line in the bare sections where last year's baby fruit trees didn't survive the heat wave.

 

[littledog]

I'm wanting to try to grow some different veggies because I don't know if I like them or not but I would like to grow it just to try the taste. Another reason is that I am the family gardener. The food is not just for me it's for my mom and dad and also the kids and grandkids.

The advice about growing what you like to eat and what suits your climate is spot on.

Another thing to consider, what fruits or veggies do you and your family like to eat that are expensive to buy or not available at all, in the store? Usually you can find some variety that grows well in your climate, so why spend the work and use up space in the garden to grow things that are inexpensive in the store (like the more typical varieties of potatoes and carrots that are $3.00 for a 5lb bag) when you can use that same garden space for less-available fruits and veggies?
For us, that's asparagus, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, Sungold tomatoes, red skin potatoes. I do grow carrots if I have space, though.

 

[Acre4Me]

Another thing to consider, what fruits or veggies do you and your family like to eat that are expensive to buy or not available at all, in the store? Usually you can find some variety that grows well in your climate, so why spend the work and use up space in the garden to grow things that are inexpensive in the store (like the more typical varieties of potatoes and carrots that are $3.00 for a 5lb bag) when you can use that same garden space for less-available fruits and veggies?
For us, that's asparagus, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, Sungold tomatoes, red skin potatoes. I do grow carrots if I have space, though.

This is true! We do this in the garden, but we also have fruit trees. We decided to go for fruits that are harder to find or taste amazing ripened on the tree. So, we have a good variety, but no apples bc they are easy to source in the store.

 

[littledog]

I didn't have any luck with my garlic and onions. I have planted melons but no luck with those. My pumpkins I got 9 the 1st year. Last year I didn't get any. My tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, crookneck and yellow squash, hot peppers all did really good. I sometimes think I am cursed when it comes to most of the vegetables I want to grow bc they very rarely produce anything. I'm hoping this fall instead of planting a fall garden I will make a HUGE garden area with raised hugelkulture beds and I also want to try some electro culture. I just have to get the yard rototilled to get most of the weeds out.

Typical superstar gardener you are! When faced with success, grow more of the same, but when faced with failure, make the garden bigger and better, and grow more!

 

[littledog]

Wanna move to PNW with me? This heat sucks.

Sueby, I just want you to know, here in the PNW I'm growing the second generation of Dahlias from the ones you sent me last year. Got so many new corms, I gave them an extra bed, and they're all growing great. I can't wait for them to start blooming in a couple months!
Thank you so much, these beauties bring huge joy to my life.

 

[Sally PB]

My other new thing (maybe) is walnut trees. I know there must be a walnut tree around here, though I don't know where, because we're always finding random shells, dropped by crows or hidden away by squirrels (including in my truck engine, grrr)
Last year must have been a good year, because as I weeding I dug up several tiny trees that had walnut shells attached, that the squirrels must have buried in my garden last fall! So I planted 4-5 of them in gallon pots, put them in a semi-shady part of the garden, and they're all looking good so far! I'm hoping that in the fall, I can plant them along the fence line in the bare sections where last year's baby fruit trees didn't survive the heat wave.

Don't plant walnuts anywhere near your garden. Google "juglone;" it's an allelopathic compound that walnuts produce that inhibit germination and/or growth in other plants.

 

[Sally PB]

Because we had some rain, today will be prime weeding time.

Because we had some rain, today will be prime bug time.

Ya gotta take the good and the bad.

 

[Sammster]

@Minanora glad he's feeling better!


How the heck many cuke plants do you have? LOL, every time I look you have jars & jars of pickles. I love it!

I got released from my back surgery restrictions today, which is nice, but told I have a 25 pound weight limit for the rest of my life. Now I can't carry a bag of chicken feed or a 5 gallon bucket of water. That's gonna be tough, but I need to be thankful I'm not in a wheelchair & suck it up.

Awww... definitely good news/bad news, huh?

 

[Sammster]

I think I have 9 or 12...

The chickens love the cukes so much there is nothing left for flies! When I get tired of canning I’m sure they will get eaten! I could can 12 quarts a week right now

Question on pickling cukes: what should I do? ~ I have a lot of cucumber plants, but I'm only getting a handful a day. Not enough for canning. I made 1 jar of refrigerator pickles and have a few stray pickles in the fridge. The stray pickles don't stay firm in the fridge - so it seems I won't be able to "collect" pickles until I have enough to can a batch. Ideas?