Garden thread

ReenieHJ wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

ReenieHJ wrote: »

Does anyone use black plastic in their gardens? I was looking up growing sweet potatoes and it recommended using black plastic to keep the warmth in. Someone I used to know used it in their whole garden and he said it turned out to be the best garden yield he ever had. I'd most likely just do the potatoes but was curious if others have done it.

I do use black plastic, but only in the beginning of the season, to warm up the soil for warm annuals. I have some over where I'm going to plant pole beans. When I stuck a marigold in the middle of that section last week I noticed the soil was super dry, so I wouldn't use it once the weather warms up unless you plan to water aggressively.

Is your friend using it for mulch? I prefer sterilized chopped straw, and my mom prefers leaves. I think straw is superior for mulching lettuce and strawberries, and anywhere where slugs are a concern. Mom likes leaves because they are free

I'm not sure if they used it for mulching purposes or not but they did their whole garden that way. I'll try it on a couple of my veggies, such as sweet potatoes(IF I can ever get them to sprout enough to replant )
I did use straw in my strawberry beds and they're growing like crazy, flowering and look really healthy.
I'm planting other stuff today. Usually Memorial Day weekend is the big planting time here due to a surprise late frost some years but we've had consistently warmish weather for the past 2-3 weeks. And same predicted weather for the next 10 days so here's hoping.

I really think you'll have better results buying sweet potato slips of varieties that were designed for New England rather than trying to sprout a store bought potato that was likely a southern variety...

Local availability is very short, so this is something that needs to be planned. Or you can order from a company like Burpees anytime early spring and they will ship when the time is right to plant in your zone.

girlwithcurls2 wrote: »

@kshama2001 , did you create that strawberry life cycle picture? That's beautiful! We remodeled our kitchen last spring and I'm going to get some pictures of my flowers and veggies framed to hang. That is a really neat idea

I did not create it, no - all the artistic images or memes come from my gardening group on Facebook, which was my Safe Space during the pandemic

I have two halves of a sprouted potato in the ground. I suspect there might be a layer of gravel at some unknown depth underneath so we'll see if they do anything.

The potted vegetables are still in their tent in my kitchen. It's supposed to warm up for a few hours today, but they'll have to come back in for the night.

For the people growing zucchinis, my daughter uses a tomato cage over them & says it makes them easier to pick.

Would you....


Plant tomato starts that you inherited that have no label on them?

I have two San Marzano plants in the soil plus another I may leave in a big pot. I have a little Sungold my neighbor gave me because she knows they are favorites. Then I have these two four-inch pots.... My planting space is fairly limited because of all the perennial plants (blueberries, raspberries, artichokes, grapes) plus the big bed of garlic. I'd like to add a slicing tomato, but maybe the San Marzanos will have to pull that duty.

I'm thinking of planting those random pots out in the orchard and seeing if maybe they survive.

I don't even know whether or not they are determinate plants or would prefer to be staked.

mtaratoot wrote: »

A neighbor stopped me the other day as I was driving back from canoeing on the river. I thought she was just waving, but then she clearly made the WAIT sign.

I unlocked the passenger door (yes, my truck is old enough that the windows are manual... so is the transmission... even have a cassette deck) and opened it. She said, "I hear you have more artichokes than you can eat...."

I told her I had enough to share. I was right.

@mtaratoot: I've never cooked with fresh artichokes. I've read about it in various Joy of Cooking cookbooks over the years but I guess I've felt intimidated. How do you cook them?

kshama2001 wrote: »

mtaratoot wrote: »

A neighbor stopped me the other day as I was driving back from canoeing on the river. I thought she was just waving, but then she clearly made the WAIT sign.

I unlocked the passenger door (yes, my truck is old enough that the windows are manual... so is the transmission... even have a cassette deck) and opened it. She said, "I hear you have more artichokes than you can eat...."

I told her I had enough to share. I was right.

@mtaratoot: I've never cooked with fresh artichokes. I've read about it in various Joy of Cooking cookbooks over the years but I guess I've felt intimidated. How do you cook them?

So many ways.

The easiest is to get a good sharp knife and cut off a bunch of the pointy bits. Maybe the top third or quarter of the flower. Use shears to trim off the thorns from the rest of the leaves, except you can pull off some of the tough very outer layer of lower leaves.


Set a pot on the stove with a steamer basket in it. Some people squeeze lemon juice in the water to help keep the artichokes from changing color. I don't bother. Place the chokes cut side down on the steamer basket. This way steam gets up inside. Turn the pot to medium, and steam for 30 to 50 minutes - until the leaves can pull off easily. Use tongs to remove them. Peel off each leaf and scrape off the delicious meat at the base of each one. When you get to the middle (the choke), scoop that away gently with a spoon. Then you're left with the heart.

Lots of people make some kind of dip with lemon/butter/olive oil/garlic. Some even use mayo. I eat mine without anything. I sometimes spread the tiniest amount of butter on the heart and sprinkle with finishing salt.

You also can partially cook them in the steam and then finish them in the smoker.

I have roasted them in the oven.

I think it would be fun to scoop out the choke of raw artichokes and stuff them with something and bake or steam right-side up. I suppose I could cook them fully, and THEN take out the middle and stuff with dungeness crab meat, but I didn't save any from crab season.

Sadly, the only way I've ever eaten artichokes has been in Artichoke Dip.
Roasted artichokes look good, love roasted veggies!

Thanks @mtaratoot! I'm going to try steaming some tonight! (I hope they haven't been sitting in the frig too long.)

ReenieHJ wrote: »

Have to google this but just wondering if anybody here would know why my zucchini plants are going pale on me? They're planted in my garden, lots of friendly sunshine and water; I used composted cow manure. Maybe they'll come around as they grow?

How long ago did you plant them?

ReenieHJ wrote: »

moonangel12 wrote: »

ReenieHJ wrote: »

Have to google this but just wondering if anybody here would know why my zucchini plants are going pale on me? They're planted in my garden, lots of friendly sunshine and water; I used composted cow manure. Maybe they'll come around as they grow?

How long ago did you plant them?

Early last week? But they were turning lighter before that too.

Hmmm... first thought is maybe seedlings that got too much sun too fast (I am notorious for doing that to mine 😜). If they aren’t wilting hopefully they are OK! Mine did that but eventually snapped out of it and are back to growing like they should... but I am still learning so there might be others here way more experienced to offer advice.

I expect to have peas soon.






And marion berries (a blackberry variety), raspberries and blueberries.


And cherries (if the spotted wing drosophila doesn't ruin 'em all), Chojuro Asian Pears, and Bartlet Pears.



I already am harvesting lots of artichokes.

@mtaratoot I have artichoke envy!

@girlwithcurls2 What kind of basil are you growing? I'm growing sweet, Genovese, Cardinal, Thai, Opal, Mammoth, and Cinnamon. For some reason sweet and Genovese aren't starting as well as usual, I was supposed to grow for the food bank farm and only a couple started, it's embarrassing! At least my tomatoes for them grew and since I water there a few days a week I don't feel like a complete loser!

I'm growing zucchini for the first time and it looks like I'll have two to harvest next weekend, woohoo! A couple tomatoes are right on it's heels. My luffa plant doesn't look very happy but everything else is doing fairly well.

@moonangel12 Lettuce leaf basil would be fun to grow! I love mints too, what do you do with them? I mostly use them in water, I have spearmint, orange mint, and berries and cream. I bought a packet of mixed mints and none have sprouted. Chocolate mint is good on strawberries and balsamic over ice cream! My aunt introduced me to getting good block feta and cutting it in chunks and wrapping in mint, that's pretty awesome! I bought my seeds from Baker's Creek which has a good reputation but my lemon balm didn't start either. I ordered a new African basil and they said it needs to be hot to germinate so I'm still waiting but it's hit 90s and nothing.

Do you grow other herbs? I have two different kinds of oregano, marjoram, rosemary, lavender, basil, mints, evening primose, pinapple sage, regular sage, parsley, chives, echinacea, chamomile, dill, stevia, and I think that's it. My herb garden area was my first garden, I'd eventually like a bay laurel tree as well. I have a few others I just started like anise hyssop, I'd like to get a good selection for tea.

My first zucchini are about ready, woohoo!