Garden Time

[jglass]

Anyone else getting ready for it? I notice tons of people are plowing around here. Many are putting out their lettuce beds and the like. My father in law has his garden plowed and ready to go. He said he has put out a few things at his place and at his other sons. I think he said snap peas, parsnips and a few other items I cannot remember. He told me to bring the seeds I have bought when I come for Sunday supper. I counted them today and I have 51 packs but they are just the regular packs of seeds like WalMart sells. I have zucchini, butternut squash, sweet basil, genovese basil, dill, fennel, italian parsley & chives. My sage, thyme, mint and oregano come back every year. I figure by the time my FIL misplaces part of the packages just about the right amount will end up getting planted lol. I still need a few more genovese basil but that will take care of me.

On a side note tomatoes have gone way up in price! Jon and I went to SAMS a week or so ago and I picked up some ripe grape and some not so ripe cherry tomatoes which are just now ripe enough to enjoy. I got them right before the price went up. I really dont care for hot house tomatoes unless they are cherry or grape. The big ones are tasteless.

 

[jglass]

Thankfully my father in law grows a big garden at his place and shares with me. I do look forward to having fresh herbs again. Dill seems to be to come to maturity more quickly than any other herb we grow. It starts out the same as the others and then when it hits about 4 inches tall it seems to be 3 feet tall overnight.

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Welcome to Spice Place, Peaceful! We're a fine groupa folks and we enjoy meeting new people and making new friends!

janie- I may try my hand at a few herbs this season too- and 'maters, fer shure. I ain't payin' the prices they're gonna be tryin' to demand this year, that's for sure! And Lord knows I can't let a whole summer pass with no tomatos!

 

[Jafo232]

My garden is still under a few inches of snow, but I have been thinking about it. I have a big pile of compost next to it ready to go as soon as the soil is workable. REALLLLLY looking forward to fresh herbs again! Will have tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, carrots, parsnips, and a few other surprises this year.. I will not however grow any corn. It takes up too much room and you can get it fresh right at the local farms..

 

[jglass]

You sound like my FIL. He says corn takes up to much space and attracts to many animals. He doesnt have much trouble with the animals at his place but his other son lives way out in the country and it is a constant fight with the raccoons and groung hogs at his place. They wiped out alot of his corn and totally destroyed the sweet potatoes. My FIl has the most problems with birds. His garden has apple trees on two sides and the birds destroy hundreds of apples a year and go after anything they can peck a hole in that is in the garden. I cannot tell you how many beautiful apples and tomatoes I picked up off the ground with holes drilled into one side. I had to start getting the tomatoes a little before they got fully ripe and bring them up to the apartment at one point. It made me so mad to see big red delicious apples destroyed and wasted.

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Has anyone ever tried one of those nifty looking green, hanging topsy-turvy tomato-growing kits? I may try one or two of them on my patio this year- especially w/ the price of tomatos doin' what it's doin'- already!

 

[jpshaw]

Going to be just "maters" this year. I have a craving for red bell peppers and had 3 plants last year with 4 normal bells. Got a very few normals and only 1 red. Not worth it. Oh yeah, not to mention my thyme and I will include some mint, basil and cilantro but all in pots.

 

[Dilbert]

>>tried one of those nifty looking green, hanging topsy-turvy tomato-growing kits?

two years in a row. miserable failures.
the soil gets too warm and they dry out in a flash.

 

[ricksrealpitbbq]

I have a few customers who have used them and been pleased. I've got a few raised beds I'll be putting in this year. Hopefully we'll do better than last year.

 

[Dilbert]

by all means have a go at the upside down tomatoes - especially if you already own it! it will require close attention to watering - which was probably my downfall - I mulch my garden heavily - that cuts down on having to irrigate every other hour (exaggeration . . .) hence I probably did not keep them soaked.

just started a whole flat of leeks plus broccoli, cukes, ufo squash, tomatoes & green peppers. couldn't find any acorn squash or banana pepper seed in the local stores...

 

[jglass]

I know several people who have tried those topsy turvy tomato things and none of them had any luck with them.

I went out to my little herb section of the garden today and pulled all of the old dead remnants from last year out. It had been raining so the ground was soft and they came out easily. My brother in law had stopped by after Sunday supper and as soon as he comes in the topic of conversation will go to trucks, tractors or bull riding. You can forget hearing the TV over him, my husband and their Dad lol.
I still need to yank out the old parsley from last year. It is getting green again but I read it will be sparse and go to flower early in the spring of its second year. I didnt take it out til I came home and looked up the details about it.

 

[jglass]

I went out to the garden and chopped out the parsley and the weeds from the herb row.
I had no idea parsley had such roots!