The Official Gardening Thread

[RichardNailder]

I'd love to grow jalapenos since the closest thing I can get is in jars...but it just doesn't get warm enough. I think that's why I've had trouble with tomatoes the past 2 years, just not enough heat/sun without a greenhouse.

I can show you how to make a simple cold frame that will let you grow peppers in Holland - I was able to grow them using cold-frame when I lived in the Eifel mountains which is about 800 meters higher than you are and almost as far north. Tomatoes are a bit of a problem because of the size of the plants. If you have a protected porch - hanging tomatoes can work well - especially with a variety like yellow pear http://www.google.de/search?q=yellow+pear+tomato&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

They are fairly early (75 days), taste wonderful and grow wonderfully as a hanging tomato http://www.google.de/search?q=hanging+tomato+plants&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=de&tab=wi&biw=1236&bih=732

 

[Red XXX]

I've a lovely old Victoria plum tree, plus a huge Clematis Montana that's been superb this year and in the main beds, I've climbing and standard roses, foxgloves, welsh poppies, oriental poppies, delphiniums plus all sorts of cottage garden plants like sunflowers, nasturtiums etc, etc

 

[bahodeme]

I have a small patch in the backyard for butterflies & hummingbirds (Cosmos, Black Eyed Susans, Nasturtium, China Aster). I have some mums in the front yard.

 

[TheOrangeCat]

I've a lovely old Victoria plum tree, plus a huge Clematis Montana that's been superb this year and in the main beds, I've climbing and standard roses, foxgloves, welsh poppies, oriental poppies, delphiniums plus all sorts of cottage garden plants like sunflowers, nasturtiums etc, etc

Nice ..errr... bush

 

[bigwarmload]

:dunno:

I enjoy plowing for hours, working with my hands and planting my seed into moist holes, ah errrrr... wait? Opps, I thought were talking about something else here. Ah... wait are we, so confused.

 

[Ulysses31]

We just sorted the garden out and layed new grass a couple of weeks ago, little did I know you have to water the fucker EVERYDAY! We've left space for a flower bed on both sides of the garden (30ft x 2ft) but haven't put anything in, any suggestions? ps They need to be colourful and grow no more than say 5ft (I don't even know if all plants grow infinately) plus we'll have to buy them ready grown rather than seeds. ps ps I've heard of Gothic plants (seriously), what types would people say they are?

ie http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Gothic-Graveyard-Garden

http://www.squidoo.com/GothicGarden

 

[Xombie3000]

Oh! I remember when I was just a little kid, I loved to eat strawberries! One day my parents decided they were going to teach me how to grow things and take care of it, so they set up this huge spot in the backyard and bought about 25 strawberry plants and we planted them and I watered them and was going to have a lot of fun!

About 3 months later my parents divorced and the house was sold and I moved. I've lived in apartments ever since then

 

[Member442]

We have strawberries, blueberries, black and green grapes for fruit. For herbs we have chives, purple sage, cilantro and basil.

We normally plant a few different peppers and 3 or 4 types of tomatos but since the house behind us is being torn down when the rain stops we haven't planted anything this year yet.

 

[jinxypie]

I have a bed of strawberries, a dutch variety that are sooo sweet. Then I have yellow zuchinni and green (though the green doesn't look happy), butter squash and pumpkin.

I also decided to give tomatoes one last go this year, but I'm hanging them and I also am giving potatoes a go.

My herbs include catnip (which looks like stinging nettles so EVERYONE avoids the huge catnip bush...except the cats), a few varieties of mint (I found an apple mint), sage, tarragon, rosemary, lavandar, and anise.

For flowers, I just scattered seeds plus I had lots of wild violets and forgetmenots coming in. I also have several begonias, morning glories, ice flowers, and hortensia.

Oooh, I want to do strawberries! Of course it's too late for this year. We're finally breaking down and getting a tiller this week (hopefully).

My yellow squash hates me right about now, it's too big for the planter pot it's in. Trying to get 'em planted before they die on me...

Apple mint? How is it? Sounds really interesting! We have an oregano plant that survived the winter somehow, and now it's a monster. Seriously, I am gonna take a pic of it this afternoon, I'll show you guys.

Also, interestingly enough, I somehow have tomatoes coming up where I had a few plants last year. I didn't expect to be caring for those this year, too! I'm going to have to move them out of my herb garden though.

I contemplated growing some jalapenos this year.

We grew jalapenos last year - turned out great! I bet you'd have great success. Although NC is quite different from MI, I certainly do remember those MI summers.


Now, I have heard that marigolds help keep pest bugs away from your garden. What else can I plant to help keep the pests away? Any suggestions?

 

[Mr_Balls]

I had
Strawberrys,
Lettuce,
& Tomatoes

As well as some wild spearmint which I use to make tea.

 

[Petra]

Oooh, I want to do strawberries! Of course it's too late for this year. We're finally breaking down and getting a tiller this week (hopefully).

My yellow squash hates me right about now, it's too big for the planter pot it's in. Trying to get 'em planted before they die on me...

Apple mint? How is it? Sounds really interesting! We have an oregano plant that survived the winter somehow, and now it's a monster. Seriously, I am gonna take a pic of it this afternoon, I'll show you guys.

Also, interestingly enough, I somehow have tomatoes coming up where I had a few plants last year. I didn't expect to be caring for those this year, too! I'm going to have to move them out of my herb garden though.



We grew jalapenos last year - turned out great! I bet you'd have great success. Although NC is quite different from MI, I certainly do remember those MI summers.


Now, I have heard that marigolds help keep pest bugs away from your garden. What else can I plant to help keep the pests away? Any suggestions?

I haven't done anything with the apple mint yet. When I crushed a leaf at the garden store, it smelled very mild compared to regular mint. I want to let it grow a bit bigger before I start taking leaves.

And the strawberries almost bit it this year. There were these tiny caterpillars eating the leaves and we thought it was snails so we didn't treat for the right pest. I did get to them in the nick of time and the plants seem to be bouncing back.

 

[Facetious]

Red Hot:

''Let me take you to the movies. Can I take you to the show
Let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow?

From the houses of the holy, we can watch the white doves go
From the door comes Satan's daughter, and it only goes to show. You know.

There's an angel on my shoulder, In my hand a sword of gold
Let me wander in your garden. And the seeds of love I'll sow. You know...''


''...Squeeze me baby, till the juice runs down my leg.
The way you squeeze my lemon, I'm gonna fall right out of bed!

:sunny:

 

[Facetious]

And my contribution!

I have a bed of strawberries, a dutch variety that are sooo sweet.

Are they deeply red pigmented on the insides?
I was just curious because many of the grocery store purchased strawberries here tend to be somewhat dry, tart and tend to be pale (almost white) on the insides. (probably genetically manipulated by the trolls at Monsanto Corp.:hammer

I also decided to give tomatoes one last go this year, but I'm hanging them

It's probably too cool of a climate to grow a good tomato in your environment, yea?

 

[TheOrangeCat]

What else can I plant to help keep the pests away? Any suggestions?

How about this .. it'll keep Maley away too :1orglaugh

 

[jinxypie]

And the strawberries almost bit it this year. There were these tiny caterpillars eating the leaves and we thought it was snails so we didn't treat for the right pest. I did get to them in the nick of time and the plants seem to be bouncing back.

I hate not knowing what pest(s) are damaging my plants. I have an apple tree and a pear tree, they're still fairly young but producing fruit. We also have some very young pecan trees. Anyway, the apple tree seems to be the worst, leaves are half-eaten, fruit goes bad very quickly. I wish I knew what to do to help it along...

How about this .. it'll keep Maley away too :1orglaugh

Hahaha! Perfect.

 

[RichardNailder]

I hate not knowing what pest(s) are damaging my plants. I have an apple tree and a pear tree, they're still fairly young but producing fruit. We also have some very young pecan trees. Anyway, the apple tree seems to be the worst, leaves are half-eaten, fruit goes bad very quickly. I wish I knew what to do to help it along...

Hahaha! Perfect.

There are a number of bugs that can ruin your fruit trees - I've had great success using Azatrol - you should spray it now and two or three more times during the summer.

 

[squallumz]

im pretty much trying to figure growing in the desert. so far everything's ok. then again, it hasnt hit our hot hot hot temps yet.

i did get some heat stress on a tomato plant but i moved it where its halfway under a bush and it bounced back quick.

im gonna have to try that shaking thing. i had 3 small flowers fall off on their own which was really weird. im not sure what the means..

 

[RichardNailder]

I had
Strawberrys,
Lettuce,
& Tomatoes

As well as some wild spearmint which I use to make tea.

I forgot to mention I have peppermint and spearmint next to the hot tub - they were perfect for tea as I was leaving for Europe but will probably be in bloom, and a bit too tough for the perfect tea, by the time I get back.

Didn't get plant lettuce as it gets too hot in my rock-bordered gardens for many leaf crops. I have planted swiss chard in the past - much easier to keep bug-free than spinach and does well in hotter weather.

Also forgot to mention that I put in kohlrabi and carrots together (the kohlrabi will be ripe and harvested before the carrots mature) and purple bush beans on the border of the lower garden.

 

[Facetious]

im pretty much trying to figure growing in the desert. so far everything's ok. then again, it hasnt hit our hot hot hot temps yet.

i did get some heat stress on a tomato plant but i moved it where its halfway under a bush and it bounced back quick.

im gonna have to try that shaking thing. i had 3 small flowers fall off on their own which was really weird. im not sure what the means..

Another thing I have heard about tomatoes is, it's always best to grow a series of plantings as opposed to growing solo plants :dunno: I'm not a botanist by trade, but I think that the plants compliment one another as far as the pollination exercise goes.

Also, you indicated that you had moved a plant to a more suitable location, well, if this particular plant is in a pot, I doubt that it will grow successfully because tomatoes are very deep rooting . . . as in, several feet deep rooting...(4-5-6+ feet deep rooting). Having said that, it's best to first dig out your growing bed to see if you have any ''hard pan" (clay)... if yes, you prolly wanna let a hose drip steadily over the hard pan overnight, thus allowing it to soften up to facilitate and easier digging experience. It's a lot of work sometimes, I know, but the reward comes in the form of fruit! :lovecoupl

In the meantime . . . :shake: :shake: :shake: :coolman:

 

[squallumz]

this one is in a deep pot for the time being. i have some in the ground but this one is absolutely thriving in the pot so i decided to play it out. i was surprised as well.

everything we have we started from seed. some was seed to ground, the rest we germinated indoors then transplanted. i just watered and found some gorgeous flowers on our peas. yay!