BS: Gardening, 2009

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 07:05 PM

I didn't pick up the great volumes of materials Bobert will be buying, but I found my favorite variety of tomato today (super fantastic). And a few others things I have room to put in new. The tomatoes will have to bide their time until that bed is ready, and maybe next year I'll order the seeds online. No one ever carries those seeds here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 02:13 PM

Cannibus - picturing an old, rusted out school bus in some one's back yard, sans engine, hood up, with canna's growing out of the engine compartment;>) Oh, no...that would be a cannabus.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 01:45 PM

Cannibus???

Jus' kiddin'...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 01:23 PM

Hurray! The papaver somniferum seeds have sprouted. I sowed them very late, so I was concerned.

Two years ago I got some seeds of lovely double apricot plants from a friend for whom I was doing some garden work that I didn't sow at the time because I was scared I would be moving before they would bloom and form seed heads. Not sure how long the seeds remain viable, so am really hoping they are among those that germinated.

Waited too late to look for flats of violas, and they are all gone now. What am I gonna plant in my strawberry pots now?

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 08:47 PM

Well, great news, maryrrf... Sandy's is both wholesale and retail... We loved it and I'm sure you will, too... It's off Mechnicsville Pike... One block east of 295 take left at IHOP then take first left and then 1/2 mile... Great nursey...

Glad to hear yer veggies survived the cold... The seads can do that okay... Once they sprout is when they have the greatest chance of getting killed back... Put a little straw and maybe a little freeze cloth over 'um and you might just get 'um tp produce for ya'///

Yeah, Janie... You and the P-Vine is kindred spirits...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Maryrrf
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 09:16 PM

Hey Bobert I know where Sandy's Plants is - It's a wholesale place, isn't it? I'll be at work so can't go by and say hello but enjoy your trip to beautiful Mechanicsville.

Now this is thrilling news - the PEAS that I planted on February 15th have sprouted - at least some of them have! Now it's supposed to snow a little bit tonight, but theoretically they can stand a frost. We'll see. The plants must be really confused, a couple of weeks ago it was 12 degrees and then temperatures shot back up to the low eighties. They're calling for rain/snow (wintery mix) but it's only supposed to go down to 35.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 07:53 PM

Ditto here, Maryrrf - at least what seeds the juncos didn't eat.

ain't it excitin'!

Glad you are getting rain, Maggie. Your no till suggestion might be useful to put a veggie or two just in the small spots in the yard that get more sun.

Bobert, the little azaleas are doing fine. Thanks so much to you and P-Vine for them. P-Vine is definitely a kindred spirit!

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 06:40 PM

We spent a couple hours yesterday on chicken manure for the veggie garden... A buddy brought over his trailer and I met him at Tony Weakleys chicken farm with the Kubota and loaded it up and then went back and spread it... It's about an inch thick over the entire garden area (90X35)... I'll try to repeat it before the tiller-man comes with the big tiller (5 foot) mext month...

BTW, Maryrrf, we'll be in yer area tomorrow... Sandy's Plants (wholesaler) in Mechanicsville is having their spring open house (with lunch) so we'll be there unless it snows to deep to get over the mountain in the morning...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 12:55 PM

My onions are very happy in our rain, pushing up green after partial concealment in the hay mulch for a few days. The chard is crisp and beautiful. I have to get the rest of this bed laid out and planted this weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Maryrrf
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 11:59 AM

Well, that lettuce that I planted on February 15th is coming up! The mesclun mix, the Grand Rapids and the Romaine have all pushed up through the ground, despite the fact that a few weeks ago it was 12 degrees and the ground was covered with snow. Yay! Of all the things I enjoyed about my garden, the fresh salads were possibly my favorite. Can't wait till I can start harvesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 11:23 AM

Still raining.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 12:53 PM

Rain today! All day! The creek is up!

The yard is getting a good long soak.

Maybe some good digging conditions next weekend. :)

Hey, Janie, on my Dirt Doctor site I was reading a request from a person in this area for advice about how to put in a veggie garden in his yard that is full of trees. He has a spot where he has the light but the tree roots run through it. He doesn't want to damage the trees by cutting roots. The response that he seems to like best is the response to put in a no-till garden. Pile dirt and compost on top of the area he wants to garden and use that as the growing layer, don't try to dig down.

Is there any way advice like this would broaden your options for putting in a garden?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 11:38 PM

We're in a drought, but there was a little rain in the forecast. I think it missed us. Darn.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 01:04 AM

I have had a couple of photos on my fridge that I pulled out of magazines with gardens that I'd like mine to look like. Don't know if I'll get there. Ideas will occur to you.

I see garlic coming up in the newest bed (the one I used for the first time last summer). I poked a whole bunch of those dried little corm things in to see if they'd sprout. Looks like they will! I love using my own garlic when I cook. That bed is going to be my kitchen garden--in that when I'm cooking I can go pull something out of it to use right now. It isn't going to be stuff that will be ready to use later. At least, not much of it, and not stuff that takes up a lot of space. I'm evicting the tomatoes to a different bed this year. The eggplant can stay. They were big, but wonderful.

100

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: maeve
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 10:58 PM

A gardener could build a whole garden around Mr. Wolff's pots. I'd surely enjoy trying. What a treat to stop by tonight and see your post.

Janie, you'll figure it out. For now, just do what gives you pleasure.

maeve, with a riverbank full of clay but no wheel.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 10:20 PM

I am glad to hear so much talk hear on vegtable growing in flowerpots.. I just got Smith & Hawken to go for making less expensive Large Tara Rose pots from a Dutch pottery friend in Ixing .. I remember Steve Jobs getting large pots from me to put tomatos in along his walk-ways years ago . Cool idea !

I had the fun of demonstrating flowerpot making at the Phili Flower show today . The last day of the show and still wall to wall humans . Sorry to hear the Boston show died this year .. With the lack of money in the world it is great to see how many people are growing things !! Very inspiring .. All my best to all here .. Yours Guy

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 07:19 PM

uhmm...visualize. I seem to be forgetting to type the suffix on an awful lot of words lately.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 06:32 PM

I just can't seem to visual what I want to do here that is within my budget (time, as well as money,) and my physical capabilities.

So I worked on taking apart a rock pile today and whacking back ugly shrubbery.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 12:58 PM

I bet that's in honor of tits being out in your yard, eh? A place for them to perch and preen.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 04:15 AM

2 crocus blossomed, the 'tete a tete' daffodil (singluar) in the front is blooming, there's a suspicion of colour in the clemetis and the primroses are still flowering... otherwise, it's still all ivy and garbage.

But the fence is still erect!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 07:10 AM

Onions are breaking through. The kale seeds have sprouted. Gonna re-sow lettuce and spinach today and cover the pots with chicken wire to keep the Junco's out.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:16 PM

That sounds delish, Leo. I'll definitely try preparing them that way.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: MMario
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 10:04 AM

We do beans almost the same way , with the folllowing differences.

No butter - start the beans in about a tablesppon of olive oil; and once the onion and garlic start to soften toss in a tablesooiin or so of soy; cover briefly to take advantage of the steam from the soy boiling off.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 09:40 PM

I'm lazy - I like stringless beans. I know many say that pole beans have a better flavor and yield better, but I have never had much luck with them. Probably because disease becomes a big problem in the hot and extremely humid summers we have here, and I can't grow them under row cover to keep out disease-spreading insects.

My favorite snap bean recipe:

About a lb. of whole, young, tender beans, tips removed.
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
1 to 2 tblsp. softened butter
1 clove garlic
2-3 tbsp. finely chopped or minced onion
Fresh tarragon or Mexican Mint Marigold
Any combination of the following fresh herbs: Parsley, oregano, summer savory, marjoram)

mash the garlic and herbs into the butter with a fork. Set aside for 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

Toast the sesame seed in a dry skillet. Remove.

Add 1/4" to 3/8 " water to the skillet, cover, and bring to a boil. Add the beans and onion. Boil over medium high heat, uncovered, until the water is evaporated, but absolutely no longer than 5 minutes. Reduce heat and shake the beans in the skillet briefly over the burner until the skillet is dry. Add the sesame seeds and herb butter. Toss until butter is melted.

Yum!

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 08:01 PM

Well, its not the only way to have 'um, SRS, but they sho nuff good that way...

But we use 'um in soups and casseroles, too...

We grow a 35 foot row on a sections of 5 foot fence and we get about 50 pounds outta that little amount of space...

If ya' compare it to lima beans they are real prolific... We might get 10 pounds of limas for the same amount of garden space... But they is yummy, too... Actually, I love limas... Especially when they are fresh...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 07:32 PM

sautee. Mmmmmm! Sounds good!

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 02:34 PM

We grow a flat pole bean (smeraldo) that grows to about 8 inches long... You cut them up into 1 1/2 lengths, blanch them, vaccum pack 'um and put 'um in the freezer until time to eat 'um... The P-Vine sauteas (sp?) 'um in a pan with a little garlic and olive oil and yummy...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 12:58 PM

pollen allergies both me no more in the garden than anywhere else - (Or maybe they bother me just as much out of the garden as in the garden?)

The exception is grass mowing. It not only stirs of respiratory stuff, but my skin breaks out in a rash and I start itching, so I always have to mow with long pants, long sleeves and a dust mask.

Maggie, you were asking about beans - I like Provider and Jade bush beans. My favorite french filet bean is Tavera.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: MMario
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 12:27 PM

Malabar spinach isn't spinach - I think it's an Indonesian vine of some sort, and doesn't really taste like spinach, at least to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 10:09 AM

You'd think with all of the time I spend in the garden that I'd have built up various immunities to pollen that drifts through the area. But here I am again, another spring, another series of sinus headaches and starting down the path of Allegra + decongestant + motrin + neti pot. Does anyone else on this thread suffer for their gardening?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 10:11 AM

I have Swiss chard in a couple of beds, and it does very well through the summer here. Anything you can make with spinach, you can make with chard, and chard in a lot of ways is more flexible and tastes better.

I hate scarlet runners. My mom grew them all of the time when I was a kid, I didn't like the smell when they cooked. Maybe after 40 years I ought to give them another try? But you'll never ever get me to grow Lima beans. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: MMario
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 08:50 AM

Got any place for pole beans? Or Scarlet Runners? They go well in a stir fry and tend to like the heat. Have you ever grown Malabar spinach? If I recall that's a heat lover as well; and likewise good in stir fry.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 12:31 AM

Bobert, I'm going to go see what they have at the garden center. I love snow peas, but they only grow here in the spring, it's too hot after about May. I'll look also for something in addition that likes more heat. Do you have any recommendations? Green beans/blue lake, etc.? Something to steam, stir fry, drop into soup? Freezes well? I'll probably start them from seed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: maeve
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 08:16 PM

On the other hand. I've had peas and lettuce do just fine under similar conditions. Wait and see.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 08:03 PM

Sorry, Mary, but ya' can't trick nature...

Didja get an almanac??? The plant times are right in there and they are based on real lunar cycle stuff... The better farmers around here swear by it... It will tell ya' the best times to plant based on the moon... No, I don't get it but I do know that it seems to work???

BTW, we're goin' be in yer neigborhood next Friday... No, not this one but next... Sandy's Nursery is having an open house with food and we are going to be buying a,lot of stuff from them so... why not??? Plus, any chance I get to go back to Richmond, I'll take... Got a lot of history there...

B~

p.s. Cheer up... It will be 65 on Saturday...

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Maryrrf
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 07:42 PM

Well I guess I did jump the gun on the peas and lettuce, considering that now they are covered with eight inches of snow and it's 12 degrees outside. Shucks!

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 06:30 PM

What variety of beans, SRS???

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 06:08 PM

Onion sets are in, and a new little bed in a sunny corner next to a fence where I'll staple on some chicken wire for climbing is set for beans.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 11:24 PM

I've started a sort of impromptu blog on an organic gardening site out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I've been a member for a while, and have dabbled in the forum, but there is a category for member blogs, so I thought "what the heck." I described my yard, the process I used to find it and what I was looking for in a yard (space and good soil! sunlight, water, and shade!), and I've posted some of my photos of insects (in the first instance, the tobacco hornworm caterpillar and pupa stages). The guy who owns the site likes the photos and asked to move them into the library on his site. This is only the beginning--he hasn't been aware of my penchant to photograph everything going on out there, with perspective but also as close as I can reasonably get. :) It would be nice to be able to provide photos for his site or even books. We'll see what happens.

I wonder if they'll smile at the photo of the vulture hanging out on my next door neighbor's TV antenna? Or of the big black and white bug rolling a nugget of dog poop? Time will tell!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 06:15 PM

Well, seein' as it was a warm day today I took off work and stayed home and did a little early spring clean up... There was a nasty Paradise Tree on the east side of the veggie garden that I cut down a couple weeks ago so the garden would get better morning sun and half of it is still laying in the veggie garden but I got the other half cut up and outta there... Arranged to get a nice load of chicken manure and weather permitting should have it down and the other half of the nasty Paradise Tree gone within a couple of weeks...

We have had our eyes on some fine looking blackberry canes growing on the side of the driveway and plan on digging them up and planting them on the fence line of the veggie garden... The ones we put in year before last gave us one heck of alot of blackberries...

The poor P-Vine is a mental case trying to get her orders in with all the wholesale growers in NC and Virginia and we are still trying to plan our trip for next weekend... Seems that every day there are new variables...

One plant that we love is the long needle pine and no-one other than us uses them in their landscaped around here but that is going to change as we're going to buy 10 of them for the garden center... The problem now is figuring out just which trailer and tow vehicle to take to bring home plants... The Honda CRV has a 4X6 covered tariler which is only about 4 feet high and gets 25 mpg... The Chevy truck has a 7X10 trailer and is about 6 feet high inside but get about 14 mpg...

We'll know in a couple days...

Meanwhile, Janie and Dani, hang in there...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 12:05 PM

I have a bag in the laundry room with a type of narcissus I haven't seen before. It doesn't match what I have in the yard, but I'll find someplace new to tuck them in and see how they do. This is a "gift" from my ex with the not-so-green thumb (the stuff still growing in his yard is the stuff I planted there years ago when I still lived there). A co-worked dug out extras and gave him some, and he figures they'll die at his house. Probably not. I offered to send back one of the bag (of bags and bags) of root stuff that I have sprouting in the garage and beside the house. I could spend all of my time trying to find someplace for all of these iris and daffodils. I'm guess I'm going to have to put a bunch in behind the back fence, where they can look wild. It's a place where I haven't planted any of my extra stuff yet.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 08:43 PM

hmmm, I'm dialing in from home, and I see I show up as guest.

Guess I'd better go reset my cookie.

Or maybe my 'puter knocked it out and that'swhy I can connect ...

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 08:42 PM

Well, Janie, the nice thing about gardeners is that there really aren't too many rules... Yeah, once you get it then you always kinda know what a plant needs to be happy but that's the extent of it...

We make the decisions as to what we want given our planting conditions...

When we left our West Virginia gardens we thought that that we'd never again be so blessed to have what we had there...

But then we started looking at this spot or that spot and next thing ya' know it, we figured some of it out...

But, as you know, gardening is the journey, not the destination... We do it because it feels good to create...

BTW, we have the opposite from you... Our West Virginia garden was created in what you have now and our Virginia garden is what you left behind...

We are just getting out "sun legs" under us...

Wish we could bottle some of it up and send it to you...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 08:22 PM

The plastic containers, etc., work fine if you have enough light, have enough time to tend them carefully, and/or you are starting plants that sprout quickly and are ready to set out within 6-8 weeks of germination, and/or you are not growing large quantities of plants from seed. I was working full-time, plus growing flowers, veggies and plants for market, plus maintaining a large perennial garden just for the fun of it. I needed a system that worked well if I neglected the seedlings.

If you have large flowerbeds to fill it is much less expensive to grow them from seed. You can also get exactly the varieties you want. The range of perennial plant varieties available at most garden centers is extremely limited. Sometimes you want to be very sure of your color or shade of color. For example, I love yarrow "Colorado Mix" because of some unusual shades of cream to apricot that it produces. When those creams and apricots are sufficient the mix is stunning in a big sunny bed. However, it tends to produce high numbers of pink, burgandy and white plants and many fewer of the cream to apricot shades, which are also not as vigorous and easily crowded out after a couple of years by the burgundies and pinks. So I started them from seed every few years, planted them out in a nursery bed until they flowered, and transplanted the desired colors into the yarrow bed out front. When I was selling at the farmer's market, I potted up the other colors and sold them there. Once I stopped doing the market, I'd send out an e-mail to the two garden clubs in Hillsborough as well as pass the word to people who worked in my building when I was getting ready to dispose of plants I didn't want or was getting ready to divide perennials. I'd also put a sign up by the street that said "free perennials to good homes." Then I'd just dump the bare-root plants by the curb, sprinkle a little dirt or leaf litter over them and then water the mess a bit to delay the drying out. The majority of the plants usually got taken and the street department would pick up what was left as yard waste.

Also, once I stopped doing the market, I'd take leftover flower and veggie seedlings that I didn't need for my gardens, as well as excess produce from the garden to church and set up a table with a basket for money on the sidewalk. People would take what they wanted, toss money in the basket, and the proceeds went to the Rector's Discretionary fund which was generally used to help with things like eviction notices and utility cut-offs for folks in the community who weren't eligible for emergency funds from DSS. Soon, other people were bringing eggs from their chickens, bouquets from their gardens, etc., and putting them out also.

Even if I had the sun, I don't have the time anymore to do those sorts of things (and probably not the energy.) But I am grateful for having had that time and that opportunity in my life. For all the time, effort and money it took to garden as I did, I got back much more than I put out. It fed my soul. I won't say that I don't look at photos of my old garden with sadness and grief at leaving them behind, but the truth is I had neglected the garden terribly the last two years before I moved and that neglect showed. I am beginning to understand that it was a once in a lifetime experience for me that I got to participate in for more than 10 years before age and life-changes made it impossible to continue on that scale. What a blessing to have had that opportunity.

Sorry for the ramble, but thanks for listening.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: robomatic
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 07:25 PM

We don't put things outside until there is no more chance of evening frost, and that is Memorial Day!

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:18 PM

I have lots of iris and daffodils coming up, and this is the time I need to transplant those that decided to volunteer in the middle of the turf, or that stubbornly remain in an area where I no longer want to maintain a bed. It happens every year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 03:59 PM

All my bulbs are up, thanks to the warming we usually get in February.

Every year I tell them: no, not yet, not yet ...

I think I'll spend the summer digging out bramble roots and trying to take better care of my roses.

And tomatoes, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: paula t
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 02:18 PM

I have experimented with growing seeds in half a plastic drainpipe. It makes transplanting a doddle. All you do is thin the seedlings to the distance apart you want ,then dig a shallow trench and slide the whole contents of the pipe into it.Less root disturbance and the plants can be left a little later before planting out if frost threatens.

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 01:33 PM

Good point. I tend to keep larger yogurt plastic containers because quite often someone will be here I and want to transplant some small plant for them to take home. Those are handy for transfer and storage of plants and various garden items.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Gardening, 2009
From: Janie
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 01:22 PM

The buds on the dogwoods have swollen significantly over the past week, and are starting to redden. Flower buds are just beginning to emerge on the one redbud in the yard.   A few flowers have opened on a flowering almond, the earliest of daffodils are blooming and the tulips are about 5 inches high. There is a puny forcythia out front that has a few flowers opened.