2016 Garden Thread

[BilletHead]

Couldn't agree more Tho1mas. Love the raised beds. What lettuce we don't eat this weekend will be in the compost..

BilletHead

[MOPanfisher]

Spinach and lettuce got pulled and put into compost pile this evening.  Put two purple heirloom tomatoe plants in their place, and left some room for some fresh dill.  All 28 if the rest of the Tomato plants are looking fabulous, corn is a little pale yet, like everyone else need some sunshine.  Strawberries and cherries are done now but awfully good while they lasted.  If it dries out enough I still need to plant some butternut squash and maybe some crowder peas just because.  Cantelouopes are coming up finally, had about given up on them.

[Quillback]

Crowder peas - My grandparents on my mothers side of the family were farmers in the MO Bootheel.  Every year my grandpa would set aside a couple of acres for what he called a "Truck garden".  He always grew some crowder peas.  Grandma canned them, and she also canned some sweet tomato relish.  Mix that relish with the crowder peas, that was good stuff.  I even liked it as a kid.

[ness]

Bunny-mowed spinach:

 

Beets needing more sun:

We're getting there! Gooseberries:

Peppers maters -- needing some sun:

Carry-over herbs. Oregano, chive, sage, thyme:

Best looking crop of carrots I've ever had:

A few more maters: 

Heirloom lettuce. Yugoslavian Red, Forellenschluss, Webb's Wonderful and Sol Bolt:

Almost there:

Starting to get a few. Dwarf Grey Sugar:

[tho1mas]

I think I see gooseberry pie on the menu.

[MOPanfisher]

Toss a handfull of blueberries into the gooseberry pie, buddy calls it "blue goose" pie and it is delicious.

[BilletHead]

   Looking good there Ness buddy,

Our gooseberries are huge this year. Mrs. BilletHead says she is going to start picking some tomorrow.I think we have three gallons still froze up . The wild raspberries we have in the road ditch are changing color now and like yours it won't be long.

BilletHead

[joeD]

I like your boxes Ness. Just wondering, why not one big garden (seems you have room), vs multiple small boxes. I, myself, have not committed to one large garden either, though I have room. Lazy, maybe, just 'rassling with my usual inertia. No big whup, idle musing.

[ness]

 

8 hours ago, joeD said:

I like your boxes Ness. Just wondering, why not one big garden (seems you have room), vs multiple small boxes. I, myself, have not committed to one large garden either, though I have room. Lazy, maybe, just 'rassling with my usual inertia. No big whup, idle musing.

Thanks, Joe. Small beds allow you to reach in and work without stepping into the garden compacting the soil.

My main problem now is that I've lost late afternoon sunlight due to tree growth, and I was already slightly handicapped since the beds are up against the fence . I placed those beds there to free up yard space for the kids. Now that they're grown, I really need to relocate to the center of the yard.

[BilletHead]

    Oh what have I done now? Tall tomato plants in one bed. I did put some good potting mix and soil to amend this bed plus sprinkle a little triple 13 pellet fertilizer. I mean just a little before tilling. I was under the impression the pellet fertilizer breaks down slowly and would not influence this seasons growing period?  This is the same bed I had the lettuce growing under the tomato starts when they were small. The plants are loaded with tomatoes of all sizes, big at the bottom getting smaller towards the top. I have big cages with a six foot stake in the middle of the cages, then some four to five foot stakes zip tied to the six footers. When that mess started to lean metal fence posts and heavy cord to reinforce all that. I will need a step ladder to give a shot of seven dust when the tomato worms appear. I think I will be giving this mess a buzz cut this weekend and just let the lower fruit grow. 

     Cucumbers coming out the wazoo. We have been picking them small a the Mrs. doesn't care for them big and seedy. I get out  daily and pick a couple small, rub off the little spiny roughness and begin to chow down skin and all. Of course there is a ongoing summer of cukes and onions in the fridge. My lunch today was just a big bowl of cukes and onions,

    Early crop of blackberries need picking each day now with the other later varieties still in the green stage. Got a gallon bagged up so far and will start another bag in the morning. Still have some froze up from last year. May have to try my hand at blackberry syrup.

    The baby  chestnuts are growing daily You can actually see the change every few days. The blooming catkins are not too fragrant actually a bit stinky. Have yet to see a honey bee on them but all kinds of other insects being pollinators,

 Have had a few cherry tomatoes to eat and am so ready for the big ones to ripen. As far as peppers go some cubanells have been picked and eaten. A couple sweet yum-yums too. Nice big jalapenos soon and the anchos not far behind. So far a good season,

BilletHead