Topic: What will be in your garden this year?

[bestofour]

So Wrennie, even though you used a bush variety you had to have something for them to grow up?

[Penny]

I have a couple trellis's that i made from twigs, that i soaked and made them easier to bend.
I should make a couple new ones this Spring.

[bestofour]

I have plenty of twigs in the yard. 

[Wrennie]

The variety I grew only got about knee high. I propped them up just to keep them off the ground.

[Penny]

Hmmm, do you remember the name Wren.

[barleychown]

I start most things in the greenhouse, but peas, beans, all squash and cukes are started in the ground.

[Penny]

Of the ones that you mentioned Sarah, i started my beans and peas inside, i may even start a few more, given how popular they are here.

[bestofour]

I started a bunch of stuff inside this past spring and regretted it.  I did this to myself once before.  It's so much trouble to transplant outside.  My weather is conducive to starting everthing outdoors.  dodge starts all her stuff outside in a cold frame that she made with old windows.  I might try that.  I've got old windows.

[Tina]

It is still needing to be transplanted, Sheri.

[bestofour]

yes it will.  I was thinking of just trying a few plants, maybe flowers rather than vegetables.

[Penny]

I bought 2 of those portable greenhouses last year, and i am really looking forward to trying those.

I may actaully buy another, just to have more room.

[Tina]

Where would you set those up. Penny?

[Penny]

Not too sure yet, somewhere where they will be safe from the wind and the dog.

[Tina]

I have wind issues with any greenhouse set up. And secondarily is the critter issue. They discovered my lean-to shade house a few years ago and decided it was a safe haven. And then when I grew nice tender greens for them they decided to really dig in and stay.
When I'm done traveling, I am going to become the neighborhood crazy cat lady and adopt a couple for small critter control. Until then it is trap and bait and stuff.

[Dianna]

Every time I see this topic title I want to reply, "Jim, I hope!" After he gave up on the garden last year, I am looking forward to seeing if we can keep the critters out of it this year so he can garden....

[Tina]

And everytime I see this topic I want to engineer a critter scarer. I'm thinking someone will soon that will work on motion sensors/batteries. Can you imagine a scarecrow waving its arms? I like the idea of the noisy rainbird sprinkler but that wouldn't be good for all crops all of the time. And things like cannons blasts that go off regularly don't thrill me either. The owls with or without turning heads and with or without glowing eyes only work for so long before the critters and birds get smart. But in my mind I am designing interesting, cute animal terrify-ers.

[Dianna]

But in my mind I am designing interesting, cute animal terrify-ers.

Let me know when you get it designed and marketed, Tina. Jim will be your first customer...

[bestofour]

Dianna and Tina, did you try the stuff from Lowe's that has cayenne pepper in it?  I used it last year to keep the animals out of the bird nest and it worked.  Lizzy seemed like she was drugged a lot of the time because she walked in the garden anyway.  I was thinking Tuesday that I'm going to use it around the place where I plant lettuce to keep Lizzy from digging in there.

[bestofour]

I've got radishes and lettuce coming up outside.

[Penny]

I planted 30 kinds of tomatoes and i have wee tiny sprouts coming up now, my pepper seedlings are doing great.
In another couple of weeks, i shall start my beans and peas.

[duh]

Fruit trees and bushes lol.  I don't think I'll do any veggies this year.

[bestofour]

I've been wanting to put out my peas for a few weeks now but I'm going to have to make a space and it's been too wet.  Maybe this week.

Tammy, I can't imagine you not planting peppers.

[Jessica]

Sheri, do you plant your lettuce in the ground or in a container?  I was thinking about planting a pot of it on the deck so the deer wouldn't eat it.  What kind do you grow?

[bestofour]

I plant it in the ground.  I keep saying this so I hope I don't jinx myself but deer don't bother my stuff.  We have a lot of them around the barn and in the pecan trees but so far they haven't eaten up my plants.  Maybe it's because Porter pees everywhere.  I plant red lettuce and bib lettuce.  How come lettuce isn't pluralized like radishes.  You know - lettuces.

[duh]

nope not peppers or tomatoes.  it's not really worth it until I have good soil for them.  And that requires that I build retaining walls to keep the top soil in place.  It's a bit of a chore but I"ll get there.