Garden thread
Replies
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Tacklewasher wrote: »Back on topic, how do most of you set up your irrigation? I put in hard pipes to my planters last year and ran small nozzles off of them, but I'm wondering if I should go to something more flexible so I can do some re-arranging if needed. I know I need to redo my potato box.
i have a sprinkler. run that in the evening0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »Back on topic, how do most of you set up your irrigation? I put in hard pipes to my planters last year and ran small nozzles off of them, but I'm wondering if I should go to something more flexible so I can do some re-arranging if needed. I know I need to redo my potato box.
I don't have any irrigation system set up. I have focused on building the soil over the years with plenty of compost, and then in my vegetable beds mulch with a heavy layer of rotted straw, which is incredible for retaining moisture. My perennials kind of fend for themselves (I mulch them with a fine hardwood mulch, but I don't think it's that great for retaining moisture) but if the grass/garden starts getting crispy I drag the hose around and water for a half-hour in each section 1x per week. (I use one of those small rectangular sprinklers that outs out a lot of water but doesn't cover a big area).
I have a lot of flowers in pots on our front porch and deck, but those I pretty much have to hand-water every day.2 -
I'm bringing this back! it's almost time for me! I'm so excited lol. I was wanting to start seeds indoors this year but I don't really have any good windows with a lot of light so I'd have to get some sort of grow light which I didn't really feel "up for." I'm just going to buy tomato plants at the nursery again like I always do. I think I'm just going to plant cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, cucumbers, zuccini and a few different types of peppers and that's it. Maybe green beans, I don't know. My green beans never turn out that well, I need to try a different variety.
What are you guys up to?1 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »Back on topic, how do most of you set up your irrigation? I put in hard pipes to my planters last year and ran small nozzles off of them, but I'm wondering if I should go to something more flexible so I can do some re-arranging if needed. I know I need to redo my potato box.
I want to do this... I was thinking about even just buying an extra hose and poking holes in it that way I can just lay it however I want in the garden. That would work right?0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »Back on topic, how do most of you set up your irrigation? I put in hard pipes to my planters last year and ran small nozzles off of them, but I'm wondering if I should go to something more flexible so I can do some re-arranging if needed. I know I need to redo my potato box.
I want to do this... I was thinking about even just buying an extra hose and poking holes in it that way I can just lay it however I want in the garden. That would work right?
i feel like we had something like this as a child. i think they make hoses premade holey0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »Back on topic, how do most of you set up your irrigation? I put in hard pipes to my planters last year and ran small nozzles off of them, but I'm wondering if I should go to something more flexible so I can do some re-arranging if needed. I know I need to redo my potato box.
When I had more extensive gardens I mulched and used a sprinkler when needed. I just have 7 boxes now and mulch and water by hand.
For those of you who use premade soaker hoses - what brands do you use and where do you get them? I tried this years back and wasn't happy with the results - I think they got clogged.0 -
What great ideas!!!0
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According to the "Victory Garden", in my area (Boston) peas can be planted on St Patrick's day. I usually wait until April 1 though - peas I plant on March 17 and two weeks later develop at the same rate. Also, right now there is still snow in my beds so I will wait for the ground to dry out.0
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kshama2001 wrote: »According to the "Victory Garden", in my area (Boston) peas can be planted on St Patrick's day. I usually wait until April 1 though - peas I plant on March 17 and two weeks later develop at the same rate. Also, right now there is still snow in my beds so I will wait for the ground to dry out.
not in the same area but the ground is still frozen, so i won't be planting anything just yet0 -
I need to pull what's left of the broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts out of my raised bed and prepare the bed for planting. Planning on 3 tomato plants: Roma, cherry, and some kind of heirloom, basil. Swiss chard and maybe peas from seed. I have a smallish pomegranate tree and several dragonfruit cacti that need to go into the ground (if the latest cold snap hasn't killed the poor dragonfruit off completely).1
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Anyone grow edamame? I love edamame. They seem like they would be easy to grow like green beans.0
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For those of you in the US, plop in your zip code for the gardening calendar for your area:
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
WHAT IS A PLANTING CALENDAR?
Find the best dates for planting vegetables and fruit in your garden! Our free planting calendar calculates the best time to start seeds indoors and outdoors, as well as when to plant young plants outside.
Simply put, a planting calendar is a guide that tells you the best time to start planting your garden. Most planting calendars are based on frost dates, which dictate when you should start seeds and when it's safe to plant outdoors. Our planting calendar also shows dates for planting by the Moon (learn more about this technique below).3 -
I’m starting my seeds indoors in 2 weeks already have most of the seeds. Trying to shrink my garden but excited looking at all the seeds and it ends up the same size every year. Can’t wait!!!!!1
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Great calendar. Some earlier dates for starting outdoors than the Mother's Day rule of thumb I know for my area. I'm excited so maybe will start some seeds indoors this weekend or next (this weekend fits the early end of the proposed indoor timing for broccoli, cauliflower, collards, chard, brussels, among others, where I live).1
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kshama2001 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »Back on topic, how do most of you set up your irrigation? I put in hard pipes to my planters last year and ran small nozzles off of them, but I'm wondering if I should go to something more flexible so I can do some re-arranging if needed. I know I need to redo my potato box.
When I had more extensive gardens I mulched and used a sprinkler when needed. I just have 7 boxes now and mulch and water by hand.
For those of you who use premade soaker hoses - what brands do you use and where do you get them? I tried this years back and wasn't happy with the results - I think they got clogged.
FWIW, I've always just bought them from mainstream places (like big-box home improvement stores, the big combo "everything" stores (Meijer is our local chain in the US Midwest), member stores like Sam's or Costco), looking for good deals, irrespective of brand, and they've been fine.
I think some of mine (in perennial beds) have probably been laying out in 12 months of weather (including very cold winters, below zero F sometimes, very freeze/thaw-y in Fall/Spring), right on the soil surface, for 10 or more years, and still working. I'd be peeved if they didn't last at least 3-4. Because I'm lazy, and winding an uncooperative hose through a complicated perennial bed is a challenge**, there are a few that have a duct-tape wrap where a gusher came out, and I've occasionally replaced the rubber washers, but there's been no problem with the drip function. Mine do lay on top of the soil, though, not under.
** You've probably figured this out, and quickly, but laying a new hose out in direct sun on a warm day, stretched to its full length, will make it a little more cooperative.
Possibly it matters what type of soil you have? Mine, by nature, is pretty high in clay, but my beds have been amended with both topsoil and humus in various forms, some with sand, over the years, so they're a little lighter.
I'm going to be self-indulgent here, not about veggies, and those not just dragging themselves out of a WTF?-style Michigan Winter won't understand my enthusiasm, but I finally had my first Tommie Crocus pop yesterday (Snowdrops started blooming a month and a half ago, through snow). Man, these early bulbs just give my Winter-weary heart a boost! Next up and blooming, rock garden iris and (non-bulb) Hellebores, I predict. Can. Not. Wait.
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/runs out to look for crocuses/
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Nope, no crocuses yet. Plus I thought I'd transplanted some winter aconites from Mom's. Those usually bloom around my brother's birthday, late Feb.
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How to Get High on Soil
M. vaccae, a living creature that resides in your backyard compost pile, acts like a mind-altering drug once it enters the human body, functioning like antidepressant pills to boost your mood.
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I'm bringing this back! it's almost time for me! I'm so excited lol. I was wanting to start seeds indoors this year but I don't really have any good windows with a lot of light so I'd have to get some sort of grow light which I didn't really feel "up for." I'm just going to buy tomato plants at the nursery again like I always do. I think I'm just going to plant cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, cucumbers, zuccini and a few different types of peppers and that's it. Maybe green beans, I don't know. My green beans never turn out that well, I need to try a different variety.
What are you guys up to?
You don't need expensive grow lights. I use fluorescent shop lights on a metal shelf or ones my husband built for me. It's really good enough if you intend to plant them outside once they are big enough and the weather is conducive.
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I use a 4’ shop light and a metal shelf. I get a good bulb for them though.0
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kshama2001 wrote: »Nope, no crocuses yet. Plus I thought I'd transplanted some winter aconites from Mom's. Those usually bloom around my brother's birthday, late Feb.
<image of pretty things snipped for length - see PP above>
One of those pretty little guys had popped out at my friend's house yesterday, and it clearly has a nearby buddy on the way.
It seemed like they bloomed a little slowly/late the first year after I planted them, here. Maybe yours are on that track?
I don't have any yet. Sadly, they don't spread as well at my place as they do in some other local gardens, so tend to peter out. (Maybe it's the clay?) I think after the first year, they tended to show up after the Snowdrops, closer to the rock garden iris and the regular (non-Tommie) crocus, so maybe March sometime. Things are a little later, this year - it went down in the teens (F) last week, which is unusual here in February, and we had a fair bit of February snow and ice.
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kshama2001 wrote: »How to Get High on Soil
M. vaccae, a living creature that resides in your backyard compost pile, acts like a mind-altering drug once it enters the human body, functioning like antidepressant pills to boost your mood.
No wonder I am happy after gardening....lol3 -
I am growing broccoli, kale, and cauliflower now. Soon I will be planting my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, and annual herbs.
My fruit trees are all dying though.
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What's wrong with them?
I'm jealous of people with fruit trees. I do have grape vines, although I don't know what kind.
I need to hire someone knowledgeable to tell me about what's currently planted in my garden (and I need to learn more about plants in general!).3 -
What's wrong with them?
I'm jealous of people with fruit trees. I do have grape vines, although I don't know what kind.
I need to hire someone knowledgeable to tell me about what's currently planted in my garden (and I need to learn more about plants in general!).
The soil in my yard sucks and I cant relandscape it all. Also, my water is very hard and alkaline. They just wither away despite getting sun, water, and proper fertilizer.1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Nope, no crocuses yet. Plus I thought I'd transplanted some winter aconites from Mom's. Those usually bloom around my brother's birthday, late Feb.
<image of pretty things snipped for length - see PP above>
One of those pretty little guys had popped out at my friend's house yesterday, and it clearly has a nearby buddy on the way.
It seemed like they bloomed a little slowly/late the first year after I planted them, here. Maybe yours are on that track?
I don't have any yet. Sadly, they don't spread as well at my place as they do in some other local gardens, so tend to peter out. (Maybe it's the clay?) I think after the first year, they tended to show up after the Snowdrops, closer to the rock garden iris and the regular (non-Tommie) crocus, so maybe March sometime. Things are a little later, this year - it went down in the teens (F) last week, which is unusual here in February, and we had a fair bit of February snow and ice.
I called Mom after posting this yesterday - her winter aconites are just now popping because they were buried under snow. I guess it's just when we didn't have a lot of snow that they come out late Feb. Her snowdrops start just after the aconites do.
Before her soil was improved it tended to be sandy rather than clay-ey, so your clay could indeed be the problem.2 -
Happy first day of Spring gardeners!!!
Thought you might laugh at this:
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Felt so good to get out into the garden and start doing some spring clean-up. It was 16 degrees outside and sunny. It also helped me get 10,000 steps in.4
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Finally first crocus!
Hey, when is my ornamental grass going to start coming back? I'm in Zone 6b. Google was no help.
I planted Zebra grass and one other type whose name escapes me last fall.
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not sure about the grass
i got a few things coming back, strawberries, tulips, iris, mint
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