111 replies to this topic

[Daniel]

Oh, in terms of the thing attacking my poor defenseless lettuce, my cousin guessed it to be a Fox Glove?

[Anthony Bonner]

Oh, in terms of the thing attacking my poor defenseless lettuce, my cousin guessed it to be a Fox Glove?

are the leaves hairy? they should be if they are foxglove

[tsquare]

I just looked at the foxglove in my neighbor's yard - no round leaves at the base - and the leaves are more ragged and hairy, with purplish ribs.

While looking for a start, I noticed my volunteer bleeding heart and that might be the other plant - the stem looks right, but still not convinced about the leaf.

Squirrels like bulbs like tulips (and cannas.) Not so interested in produce but they can cause havoc as they dig around to bury stuff (hello walnut tree starts all over the yard!) and then try to figure out where they buried stuff. I've also had significant urban garden problems from cats - they love those nicely tilled garden beds as cat boxes. With two cats of our own, I can't get too mad. I used to cover my starts with remay (fabric that allows sun and rain through) more to protect them from cats than from bugs.

Some birds will hang out and uncover bean seeds as you plant them. I'm trying to remember if that was pigeons or crows. Haven't dealt with that for a few years.

Your garden is looking great.

[Lauren]

While looking for a start, I noticed my volunteer bleeding heart and that might be the other plant - the stem looks right, but still not convinced about the leaf.

That's what I thought it was too!

[mongo_jones]

kyrgyztan may not have a stable government but their perennial oregano is pretty reliable--that and the sage have already exploded in the veg garden.

a question: how rigorous are you home gardeners about rotating plant locations? i'm going to expand my garden a little bit this year and the plan was to put this year's tomatoes in the new spot and do something else where i had last year's tomato patch. but now i wonder if i can just grow more tomatoes by using both spots. can i get by just composting heavily in the old spot?

[GG Mora]

Not foxglove – the foxglove leaf is blue-green, dull and hairy with a rounded end. Also, not bleeding heart, which is blue-green, dull, and lobed rather than toothed.

Mongo, since your garden is still young and since you didn't suffer blight last year, you should feel safe about planting tomatoes in the same spot. Just make sure they have plenty of good nutrition and don't get 'soggy feet' (where the soil doesn't drain well).

[memesuze]

One of the problems with not rotating nightshade plants is the bad kind of nematodes - those that develop on the roots, not the good ones that kill fleas. Chitosan [ground up shrimp shells] was touted years ago as a soil amendment to kill root nematodes. You might try that. GG and those more up on current garden thinking might have more experience or knowledge. It doesn't help with the viruses and other disease problems non-rotation causes.

[GG Mora]

I think since this is only mongo's second year gardening in that spot, planting tomatoes there again shouldn't be a problem. It's been my experience that it takes a few years to a) deplete the soil of nutrients required for specific plants and b) build up soil-borne diseases and pests. I wouldn't continue to plant tomatoes there year after year, but since mongo's still in the process of expanding his landscape, another year of tomatoes in the same spot should be ok. That said, I do rotate my crops and amend the soil as necessary.

[Daniel]

Added 5 rose bushes yesterday.. Planted a bunch bulbs.. Added some tomatillos, some more tarragon, some more sage, some habaneros, thai chile, cucumbers, and asparagus..

[GG Mora]

A little late, but earlier than I usually get around to them: peas. I planted an entire bed full of shelling peas yesterday. Because I love peas. Peas fresh from the vine, peas lightly steamed and swimming in butter, fresh pea soup. I'm hoping to have enough that I can freeze some for posterity.

I've also been busy digging out weeds that have sprung up anew, and amending the beds with dried blood and cottonseed meal, and getting ready to plant carrots and beets and parsnips and salad greens. All quite ahead of schedule, thanks to the blessedly early warm weather.

[mongo_jones]

hey gg, are these all planted from seed? how easy are peas?

[flyfish]

This weekend I planted a container of rainbow carrots and one of mei qing choi. Also a small tray of capers, but I am not holding out a lot of hope as it is old seed. Painterman had the tiller going and started preparing some of the beds. He is planning to build a potato box so we bought some cedar planks.

[Daniel]

Here are the roses.. In front we planted lilly and tulip bulbs..



Here are two enormous flowers that I purchased on a recent deal.. I put them in the garden one morning and wanted to see if Miss A fell for it.. I was not there when she came out back however, she claims to not have fallen for it.. Though, many guests who have come since comment on how pretty they are..

[GG Mora]

hey gg, are these all planted from seed? how easy are peas?

Yes, all from seed. Ever hear the term 'easy-peasy'? If you can draw a straight line you can plant seeds. For carrots and beets, make a furrow (a small trough) about .5" deep and .5" wide. Most instructions tell you to seed all along the row and then thin the plants. I just sprinkle a little cluster of seeds every 3" for carrots, or one single beet 'seed' (which is actually a cluster of seeds) every 4", then cover over with about .5" of dirt. When the plants are well-established (when they have two or three good string secondary leaves showing and they're about 2" tall) thin out all but the strongest of the seedlings.

For peas, make a furrow about 1" x 3" and drop single peas in a sort of zigzag pattern about 2.5" apart, then cover with about 1" of soil. No need to thin them, but unless you plant a dwarf variety, you'll need to provide some kind of trellising as they get taller.

For all of these, water well right after planting and keep the soil very moist until the seeds germinate. Beets will germ. in about 3 – 4 days, carrots may take a week or more, and peas as long as a few weeks. Cooler soil temps. will mean longer germination times.

This is a great time for you to plant this stuff in your climate. And it will help with your antsiness to get started planting something.

[GG Mora]

Here are the roses.. In front we planted lilly and tulip bulbs..

You planted the tulip bulbs this spring? If so, don't expect anything from them. They need a winter's chill to initiate growth, which is why they're customarily planted in the fall. The bulbs will likely just rot in the garden. Lilies should be fine, though (this I've never understood).