Posted on 01/10/2014 12:20:06 PM PST by greeneyes
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. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. There is no telling where it will go and... that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
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We have grey skies in the central Hill Country also, but still no rain. It feels like a light drizzle/heavy mist outside at the moment. The rest of the week is supposed to be warm with boringly blue skies.
I am going over my seed supplies, planning what I need to reorder. I keep a supply for a few years, rotating the seeds as they are used.
I have my graph paper out, plotting our garden areas down to the inch. Anal-retentive? Maybe. I get a lot out of space.
Once the temps stay above freezing, we cover the low hoops with plastic to spped warming of the soil. The onions, garlic, spinach planted last fall should come up, finishing by June, when we can direct-plant seeds and starts. Any areas that are free of these plants get forked 2’ deep, and compost and nutrients formed into the top 1’ of soil.
This is our 5th year of growing most of our food. It took that long to figure out what grew where best with 4 areas all having their own “climate”. We have everything planted so when one thing is harvested, another plant is coming up near it.
This has kept my canned and dehydrated stuff in constant supply, a good amount goes to our daughter and her family to help them out. It works for us.
Anyone else try to stay off-grid food-wise too?
Debbi
Rain fall has not been great here the last few years, but you have even more issues with that than I do. Missouri usually does pretty well with rain up until the end of May. July and August are the really dry periods here.
We do a little more each year. We also plant a few more perrenials each year. Bluberries, Blackberries, grapes, fruit trees, etc.
We probably won’t ever go totally off grid until we need to, but each year we experiment a little so that if we have to we are not facing a huge learning curve.
During the winter, is when I like to dehydrate and can stuff that is on special-usually meats. When we get cool fall days, that’s a great time to dehydrate some of the summer’s crops.
NW local:
My Christmas Cactus is ending its bloom period. I have one that blooms around Thanksgiving and the other Christmas time. Have had them for years and years in the same pots. I really must give them some new soil.
It’s amazing how long they will just keep on going without much effort other than occasional watering.LOL
I had a few “sweet slice” cucumber plants this last year that did well. They produced plenty, got to good size without being pithy, and had no evidence of disease or bug problems. I used a tripod trellis and kept them off the ground. I eat these with a little seasoned salt and vinegar.
I made newspaper pots last year but either the seeds didn’t germinate or they were unhealthy and died. The seeds in other containers did fine. It may be we have some poisonous ink in our papers. While they’re a great no cost idea, it’s beneficial to try seeds in other containers just in case.
In TX, we went from 12 degrees a few days ago to 70. If you don’t like the Texas weather, just wait 5 minutes.
Is that the name - Sweet Slice?
I like to use the little paper cups of various sizes.
Yes, sweet slice is the name of these cucumbers. It’s a slicer Burpless type.
Seeds not up under the grow lamp: No peppers are up and I have several kinds, and no celery is up. The rest of the plants are up.
I was looking for a book in one of my bookcases and saw “A Book of Ireland”. This must be the book that tells about how doctors were paid in early days. It is the book unless I bought one and I don’t remember doing that. The Ireland book that describes the doctors was given to me. I’m going through this book to see if I can find the bit about paying doctors if this is the right book.
Some of this book is too sad to read as there are poems throughout of men being killed in battle and their lovers’ sadness about their dying.
Mid April going by frost date maps. But the lore around here is 30 days past the last T-storm in Feb. I don’t know what they say if Feb. is T-storm free. LOL
The last three years’ gardening has been one disaster after another between constant 110 temps and drought except for freak hail storms and flash floods. I had to replant the garden 3 times, and some things 4 times, last summer so I simply gave up on a fall garden. This year, I’m determined to have enough to stock the freezer and put up. Mother Nature enjoys playing wicked jokes though so I may have opened my mouth too soon. But I have to do whatever it takes to cut the grocery bill even more.
The past couple weeks, I’ve searched every edible plant that can be grown here and am putting together a notebook. I can’t find harvest lengths on the majority so that throws off knowing what can go where and when in a fall garden. I guess I need to make a serious stand against Mother Nature in the spring garden first. The other problem has been our first and last freeze dates are a month off from what “they” claim.
The other day, we dug the random carrots that were left. Nasty things. Garlic is the only thing out there now. We need to get it tilled while the weather is good. Next week is indoor seed starting time.
The freeze did a number on the amaryllis here. They had good mulch so maybe they’ll bounce back. There were a couple daffodils or something poking up but I haven’t checked to see how they faired through the cold. The poor ginger had to stay inside for several days and it didn’t like the central heat but it’s back outside where it likes to be.
“I have a bunch of newspaper pots made, but need to make a few more.”
I don’t know about newspaper pots. Please explain what you do. Thanks for telling me something else I don’t know. :o)
https://www.jungseed.com/dp.asp?pID=53078&c=414&p=Potmaker
Get it cheaper with other purchases.
JustADumbBlonde used this stuff all the time for her transplants.
Here’s the USDA food costs as of November:
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov//Publications/FoodPlans/2013/CostofFoodNov2013.pdf
I’m trying to take plants through the winter just outside of KC for the first time in a heated greenhouse. I’m going to start tomatoes etc. earlier this year. When would be a good time to start. Also please add me to your ping list.
Sounds good.
I remember a couple of years ago, there was some place that had a three size set. I dont get newspapers, so I never followed up much, other than just out of curiosity.
No more more seeds than I’m gunna start this year, I may just use 5oz Dixie cups rather than the seed trays that I usually use.
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