Posted on 03/18/2016 7:45:27 AM PDT by ApplegateRanch
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks.
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I just ordered some tromboncino squash seeds. There was a lot of discussion on those a couple years ago but never saw if anyone had any success. I can’t grow squash (seriously that one I mentioned above was the only one for years) for the vine borers. Anyone growing them?
I don’t believe in shoes so snakes are always on the mind.
I knew we had snakes but never knew just how MANY until this bunch of cats. Their mama was feral so that may be why. The neighbors poo-poo the idea but their front flower bed is the girl cat’s favorite hunting ground. The same neighbors are also too good to have mice, but guess what...
use closer mesh fencing , and
don't forget to flare it out underground (buried) a foot or two ,
since many 'tree rats'(AKA: Squirrels) will dig under a fence.
Aie. I know we have snakes, just don’t really see them.
The mice come in my garage long enough to find the ‘mice heaven pellets’ hubby puts out for them.
Sends them straight to mice heaven.
We have feral cats in the neighborhood so that may be why I seldom see any snakes. Or really a whole lot of mice.
The ONLY squash I’ve been able to grow w/o having to plant around squash borer season (early and cover against freezes/frosts then pull up when the borers come out or late after borer seasons are done and then cover against freezes/frosts to let it ripen) are the c. moschata ones. Tromboncino is one of those.
The winter squash I got the most from the year I mulched them and made them happy with a soaker hose was ‘Rumbo’ from Jungs. It’s a hybrid but boy, did it ever make. Also a c. moschata one. I’m planting that one again this year too. Bought an ounce of the seed from them a couple years ago and store it in a freezer ziploc in the deep freeze. I’ll have to find another variety when that one runs out as I’m not sure they still sell that particular one.
In my experience, most winter squash will put down the roots at leaf nodes and walk across the garden that way. But the c. moschata ones seem to do it more vigorously. Their vines seem to be different shaped and ‘harder and crunchier’ than the other types too so maybe it’s more difficult for the borer larvae to munch on them. Dunno. Just know I had ‘zero’ luck growing any pumpkin type veg until I found out I had to grow the moschata ones down here.
All Curcubits don't like their roots disturbed , nor take well to transplanting
They require a 'gentle touch'.
I have used carpet remnants that I cut to width and laid between rows.
Depending on rainfall a piece of carpet would last two or three years.
We always had a gully that needed daming so the old carpet would go on top of the dam covered by a layer of rocks, which we seemed to have a bumper crop of *every* year.
Used old cardboard boxes as well. Held down by the ever present rocks.
I imagine you will get at least a half dozen suggestions for different weed control measures.
Experimentation, accompanied by the resulting frustrations and exultation of triumph, are half the fun of gardening.
In my own experience its been “well, I found another way *not* to do it”.
The frustrating years only serve to make the successful years even sweeter.
Just spent the morning and a couple of big bills at the Desert Botanical Garden annual plant sale on Member’s day. Got lots. Learning.
I figure if it didn’t kill my chinese cabbage the cucurbits will probably be OK with it. If not I’ve not really lost anything but a couple of weeks as these are seeds I’ve saved.
I’m all about reuse and recycle.
Love it ! .. a motion activated sprinkler ..
It gives garden protection by both water pressure (sound), and physical (sudden shocking spray), and ,
doesn't discriminate between two-legged and four-legged mammals .
EXCELLENT !
I have never seen squirrels mess up my garden.
On the farm we had so many squirrels you couldn’t hear yourself think when they took to talking to each other.
The house I have rented the past few years has two large pecan trees in the back yard.
I have never seen less than six active nests in them.
They have never bothered the garden.
Just my .02 cents worth.
The bushes might be just the 'rootstock' .
Carefully pull away the topsoil, an see if you can see a 'grafting knot'
Contact your source and see if they graft their plants to control plant height.
If there is a grafting knot , make sure the 'bushes' are coming above the knot, and gently replace the soil. They will be 'pure'.
If they generally graft that particular species, and you cannot find the 'graft knot', you may have only 'rootstock' bushing out.
We have a lone Asian pear but I don’t know if it’s self pollinating or not. We have several other varieties of pears...Bartlett and Bosc.
Let us know how the container garden goes.
Due to decreased demand, children grown and gone and painful neuropathy in the feet that makes *everything* painful, I won’t be planting a full garden this year.
I am going to experiment with planting tomatoes and peppers in a couple of cheap childrens pools.
I plan to get some potting soil to mix with the red clay we have around here.
I will also layer in some leaves I saved from last year.
I will mulch the tomato plants with last years pine needles.
Probably use old newspapers to mulch the peppers.
I am going to keep all my grass clippings and do a proper job of composting this year because I plan on building a proper raised bed for next year.
I have nearby woods that I can pull dry leaves from at will to make the proper layers of dry and green material.
I hope to get enough mistakes out of the way this year so next year won’t be too frustrating.
I grow T squash every year, it’s easily my favorite squash! Sturdy, resilient, versatile, tasty, and productive!
Thanks. Good to know about the squash. Can’t wait to try them.
Last week, I found a bird’s nest with 3 eggs in the spool of garden twine.
Those trees look wonderful!
Looking out my back door I see the old plum trees are loaded with blooms.
The temps are down close to frost so I won’t be surprised if Jack Frost throws one last curve at us.
Some links:
http://www.aces.edu/dept/peaches/frzcritical.html
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/files/TreeFruitCriticalTemperatures.pdf
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/files/PictureTableofFruitFreezeDamageThresholds.pdf
The MSU ones are from here:
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/freeze_damage_depends_on_tree_fruit_stage_of_development
Was the mama bird still around?
The “stick” that the deer kept chewing the top of, suddenly began sprouting bushy limbs and branches at the top—with leaves and blossoms ! Because the deer stopped chewing off the leaves and limbs and branches. So now it’s a tree, continuing to grow upward as it should, because the deer are leaving it alone. It’s not a bush. I misspoke.
But what you are referring to actually did happen with another tree—an apricot. The graft above the knot dried up and I assumed it was dead and cut it down. Then the root stock sprouted into a bush. It’s not a Moorpark, like I wanted, but it is producing some type of apricot that is ok for canning but not very tasty. The bush is about 6 ft tall and it sprawls.
For this reason I’ve started to avoid buying grafted trees. I just prefer a “real” tree with a strong central trunk growing from the root. IOW, with top and bottom that match.
No more “Caitlan Jenner” trees in my yard!
We picked up our beehives, on Wednesday. We get the bee packages on April 9th.
And, of course, we are looking at a foot of snow this weekend! GEESH!
Go out and find the HOTTEST hot sauce you can find. strain the juice into a spray bottle add water to dilute. Spray on the tomatoes only. It will burn the leaves.
I have found that squirrels will not get ANYWHERE near my tomatoes.
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