OA 2015 garden thread

[jdmidwest]

What a difference a week makes around here.

Last Wed., sleeting and snowing followed by sub zero night. Today, 70 degrees and sunny.

Cleaned off another raised bed and planted sugar snap peas, spinach, and green onions. Pulled up old tomato stakes out of raised beds in main garden and turned over the soil in the beds. I noticed a deer had came thru and sank to its knees in the mud last night in the middle of the main garden. It is still soup, but I don't have to mess with it till I plant corn and okra in May.

Cleared out the strawberry patches and started to thin one out, but it got dark.

Bees were all flying strong out of all 6 hives today and bringing in pollen from somewhere. Probably the maples that are blooming now. Bradford pears are putting on buds now. Spring will be here soon.

[ness]

For sore muscles. Shovel time, get it?

Yeah, I get it now. We weren't on the same page. I start most stuff indoors and then transplant it. Heat mats help with germination. Raised beds and heavily amended soil add up to less work, no sore muscles, and happy plants.

[fishinwrench]

Every Winter my little gal says "We should do a garden this year".

And I say "Yeah let's do it".

I do have wild cherry tomatoes that pop up every year on their own, and about 6 blackberry thickets....but otherwise I still have never planted a veggie garden.

There is a little farmers market up the road and their stuff is always delicious and CHEAP.

Why do I feel the need to buy all the stuff and fuss over a dam garden? I'd rather just buy my veggies and not have to terrorize the rabbits.

[ness]

Why fish, when fish sticks are so cheap and easy to get?

[tho1mas]

Last year I spent $75 on materials ( cotton burr compost, rice hulls & peat moss). Went to Price Cutter in June to get the prices of the product I planted. Cherry & regular tomatoes, green beans, jal. & bell peppers, lettuce, spinach,sugar snap peas, green onions &cuks. I kept track of every picking & the total value the stuff came to $270.44.

Good return on investment plus, very little weeding & really good food. A raised garden is the way to go.

[jdmidwest]

Why fish, when fish sticks are so cheap and easy to get?

So true, but they taste like Park Trout.

[fishinwrench]

I've never been able to say "Fish Sticks" without it sounding like Fish Dicks. So I don't eat them.

[ness]

So true, but they taste like Park Trout.

Hey -- there's an idea for cutting MDC costs ...

[ness]

I got a late start on things, plus my indoor germination has been pretty spotty. Oh well, I know you can start lettuce and stuff in the garden. I may have to buy pepper plants if I don't get anything sprouting in the next week or so. No Anaheim or Poblanos have popped yet. Maters are late, like everything else, but farther along than peppers -- they should be okay. Onion seeds just haven't done much. I may have to go get some sets. Planted spinach and radish outside today after working in compost from last year's grass clippings yesterday. Plugged some store-bought garlic into the ground -- didn't get it done in the fall. We'll see what happens. Got peas and beet seeds soaking in water tonight. I'll try to get them in the ground tomorrow night.

[BilletHead]

Got tomato plants going strong in the house under lights. Some of them are five inches high and that is after we repotted them last weekend and buried the starts two thirds deep in the new pots. Pepper starts three inched high now. I am afraid it will be a jungle in here before it is warm enough outside. Did transplant lettuce starts and broccoli into the bed last weekend too. They have done well under the covers. Have more lettuce that we will fill in the bed this weekend. I put hinges on one side of the bed so it will be easier to prop the covers for ventilation during warm days. Did get new dirt mixture in six tubs too,

BilletHead