Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 21) June 03

Free Republic | 06-03-2011 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Good morning gardeners. Here in East Central Mississippi the heat has arrived. It was 101 yesterday and is expected to be in the high 90s and pushing 100 for the next week. A heat advisory is effect. My garden is surviving these hot afternoons. Some of my younger plants have needed watering every afternoon. My established tomato, squash and pepper plants have been doing well with a deep soaking of water about every three days. Looks like it is going to be a hot summer.

If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. Our Freeper community is full of gardeners, each with varying interests and skill levels from Master Gardener to novice.

[Red_Devil 232]

Weekly Gardening Thread

FREE SEED EXCHANGE

 

This EXCHANGE is brought to you by FReeper 

Mrs. Don-o

Thrifty? Gifty? Curious? Generous? Spare seeds? Rare seeds? For a tiny plot? Or a flower- pot? Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

 

If you have garden seeds you can offer other FReepers for free, for a SASE, and/or in exchange for other seeds, please send me your info. (Private Message Mrs. Don-o) and I will add you to this list, which I will post on the garden thread from time to time. Please also Private Message me to be removed when you no longer have the seeds to offer. FReepo-seedoholics can contact each other by Private Message to arrange any transactions.

Remember that old seeds may have reduced germination. (Although I’ve had great luck with them. And for free, you can’t lose...) If possible, list year and variety.

Mrs. Don-o

I CAN OFFER a few of these seeds (say, 10) for free to anybody who wants to send me a SASE:

Basil (“Genovese” 2010)

Beans (“Jackson Wonder Butterbean “2011)

Broccoli (“Bonanza” 2011) Chard (“Bright Lights” 2010)

Fennel (“Florence” 2011)

Kale (“Redbor Hybrid” 2010)

Squash (“Acorn 2009”… and I had really good germination with it, this year!)

Squash “(Georgia Candy Roaster” 2011.. a terrific winter squash!)

Tomato (“Brandy Boy” 2011)

INTERESTED IN

Seeds for Fall

Anything (surprise me!)

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I HAVE HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS (FREEPER TDSCPA) from about 75 popular, open-pollinated heirloom varieties. Tell me via PM what varieties you’re interested in, and if I have them I could send you a few seeds (10?) if you will send me a SASE.

Don’t know what variety to grow? I can make suggestions, if you want to grow plants from seed. Contact Tdscpa

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If anyone needs or wants okra seeds (says JustaDumbBlonde)… please let me know. I saved a ridiculous amount in the fall of 2010. Two different varieties, Clemson and Jade, are both are heirloom variety so that you will be able to save seeds from your plants. Both are spineless and heavy producers. Jade is a bit darker green than Clemson and the pods are a bit shorter and fatter. Both are good for frying, soups, freezing, dehydrating or canning. Don’t be shy, l have more than plenty to share! Tip for planting okra: soak your seeds for 24 hours before planting. Okra seeds are hard like peppercorns and soaking will assist in quicker germination. Contact JustaDumbBlonde

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I have some black-seeded Simpson lettuce seeds and some Buttercrunch lettuce seeds if anyone’s interested. (says Oberon), And... anybody have any Gold Nugget yellow cherry tomato seeds? I’m interested. Contact Oberon

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I have about 100 Canna seeds that I would be glad to share (says Dacula), These plants are tropical and last up to the first frost. I live north of Atlanta and my cannas grow up to 6 feet and have beautiful flowers. I leave them in the ground over winter, but you can take the bulbs and over winter them. . In order to get the seeds to germinate, you have to lightly sand the outside of the seed and soak them overnight. Contact Dacula

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Free Winter Squash or Stevia seeds or Heirloom Tomato/Pepper Seeds (says Black Agnes) The ‘Patio Marconi’ seeds are container peppers that are sweet and good for salads, sandwiches or frying. Open pollinated if that interests you. Cilantro seeds too. It’s good used fresh to detox heavy metals. Contact Black Agnes

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swheats Has the following packets of seeds to share. They were a gift and never used contact swheats if you would like any of these packets.

Ferry Morse seeds Dated 2010

Arugula
Organic Watermelon(Moon&Stars,100%certified organic seed)
Swiss Chard (rainbow of colors)
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Turnip
Tomato (brandywine heirloom variety)
Gourd (swan)
Carrot (nutri-red)
Carrot (Big Ideas Veggie Tales)

Burpee Seeds Dated 2009

Coriander
Cilantro (Chinese parsley)
Tomato (Delicious)
Organic Cucumber Sumter (100% certified Organic Seed)
Parsley (single Italian Plain Leafed
Spearmint
Basil (Summer Long)
Sweet Corn (Jubilee Hybrid)
Green Bean (gourmet mix)
Cucumber (bush Champion)
Lettuce (Loose leaf mixture)
Squash (Fordhook Zuchini)
Pea (Sugar Daddy)

Weekly Gardening Thread

[Red_Devil 232]

Ping to the Weekly Gardening Ping List.

I hope all of you will stop by.

This is typically a low volume ping list. Once a week for the thread and every once in a while for other FR threads posted that might be of interest.

If you would like to be added to or removed from the list please let me know by FreepMail or by posting to me

[who knows what evil?]

90’s a few days ago, 40’s this morning. Sweet potatoes are not liking this at all...

[30Moves]

I planted early this year - I had to travel to VA for the birth of my first grandchild. When I got home (after 6 weeks) the garden was growing well but covered (every square inch) in grass. After 6 days of work it is finally under control again. Am already eating green beans, peas and romaine.

Question, my potatoes have yellow leaves (the bottom tier) - too much water?

[Red_Devil 232]

Lows here are in the high 60s to 70.

[Red_Devil 232]

Are you seeing any brown spots on the leaves?

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Could hit 100 today. My tomatoes, tabascos, habaneros and Bhut Jolokia are loving it.

[Red_Devil 232]

Here is a link to a web site that you may find informative

Color Pictures of Mineral Deficiencies in Potato

[sneakers]

ping!

[Black Agnes]

Still working on the newspaper mulch. Should get it finished this weekend. I’ve found that using it I can extend the watering to 5-6 days with a soaker hose.

Okra, peppers, tomatoes and squash definitely loving the heat. There’s a giant volunteer winter squash in my compost pile that’s already run about 6 ft. I fertilized my other squashes this week and almost fertilized that one. Then I had a Homer Simpson ‘doh’ moment. Sucker’s in my compost pile. Definitely NOT going to feed him! I’ll feed the runners in a week or two.

Today we’ll set out some more okra and a few orphan tomaotes we have left. Plant some amaranth, sorghum, bush beans and what not. Peanuts too if we have time.

We’re picking about a gallon of blackberries every other day from our 10 Apache blackberry plants. I’ve had to use the soaker on those as well, every 3-4 days. Those are in line for mulching. Although we won’t use the newspaper under the leaf mulch with them.

[Gabz]

You’re up bright and early!

[lysie]

Thanks for the thread and ping, Red. We had a frost advisory over the night. I don’t think it happened, thank goodness.

[Red_Devil 232]

The Diagnosis of Mineral Deficiencies in Plants by Visual Symptoms

Index

 

Apples

• Barley
• Beans
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cherry
• Clover

Flax Hops Kale Lettuce Maize Mangold Oats Onion Parsnip Pear Peas Plum

Potatoes Radish Rape Rye Spinach Sugar Beet Swede Table Beets       Tomatoes Turnips Wheat

[bgill]

A few notes on the good vs. bad. The Kentucky Wonder beans are doing well but are lacking in flavor. The Oregon Sugar peas were a waste of time. Didn’t want them but they were the only peas I could find at the time. So long, Oregon, you won’t be in the garden next year. Also not in the garden will be the plum tomato. It just doesn’t have any taste and is mealy so it’s straight to the freezer for soups next winter. The husky cherry tomatoes disappear before getting to the table - yum. I lost the planting plan in a computer crash so don’t know which yellow squash is which but one of them simply isn’t edible so may have to plant both seed varieties and see again next year. Hopefully, I can save the good one’s seeds and see if they’ll make transplants.

It’s already getting too hot for the spinach and lettuce but they were good while they lasted so will get planted again for the fall. Oh my goodness, why didn’t anyone ever tell me how great a salad spinner is? All these many mumble mumble years and I thought it was silly, ha.

Both rounds of transplants and various varieties of berries died immediately in the “other” bed. Don’t know what’s going on there. Roses grew there fine previously and the one rose I saved from hubby’s tiller (don’t ask) is starting to take hold again. He sowed verbena seed there and they never came up either. I don’t know if it’s the soil (same soil as in the veg garden just 20 feet away but the verbena didn’t work in another little spot either.

Well, the sun is up and the bus is gone so I’m out to the garden.

[30Moves]

Yes, sigh - lots of brown spots.

[Hoodat]

Tomato Inquiry: Last year, I had a huge problem with blossom end rot. This year, I put out some gypsum before planting, and I got some calcium chloride spray. How often should I spray, and should I keep adding gypsum throughout the summer? Also, does stress from not enough water play any role, and if so, how often should I water? I've got a soaker hose and have been using it every four days or so, but I keep it in the same place, so I didn't know if that caused a problem with some roots being fed while others not.

Here in Atlanta, we went 24 days between the last two rains, and it is now been 12 days since the last one.

For the rest, my squash is doing fantastic, but my peppers don't look so good.

[gramho12]

Thanks for the ping - I love the info on this thread.

After a very cool, wet spring and later plantings, heavy thunderstorms and then hot, dry days, it is lovely here in MD today - cool and sunny.

I grew most all of my tomatoes, peppers, etc from seed and in spite of everything my tomatoes are looking great. Have to water today. My lettuce, onions and radishes have tasted wonderful. I put my cool weather veggies in my raised beds, and I added some Miracle Grow soil and mushroom compost to the beds and they are doing well.

In my big garden, I have tomatoes, corn, zucchini, bush and pole beans, cukes, and I did plant some watermelon.

My melons just never seem to be very good. Any suggestions?

[30Moves]

I saw a picture of my potato problem and it said potassium deficiency so.......I threw a little wood ash on the ground. I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing.

[30Moves]

Anyone concerned about this new bacteria they think is from fresh vegetables? Three cases in the US now.

[gramho12]

I’m in MD and my peppers are not doing too well either - too cool and wet, and then too suddenly hot.

I am going to try a suggestion I read about using dry milk mixed in the soil around the tomatoes - it adds calcium to the soil and may help blossom end rot.