Southern Spirit Hunters
Gardening => Vegetables and Fruit => Topic started by: duh on Apr 10, 2013, 05:25:34 PM
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So far I've got kolrabi and tomatoes planted.
The kolrabi is mostly in potting soil. Mostly for the moisture retention beads in it. I find that stuff in pots really dries out quickly.
The tomatoes are two plants a Juliette hybrid and a big boy. I'm only doing one of each. They are in the tire raised beds with about a 75% compost 25% garden soil mix.
I'm thinking about some shard or possible romaine in a planter but I haven't decided yet. I know I'd better get a move on.
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I may have missed the lettuce growing season since it keeps hitting 80 around here. But, I did buy two sweet peppers today and planted them in the two tires above the tomato plants. Hopefully they will do well. Again this are 75% compost to 25% garden soil.
I missed the radishes since they like to start out when it is still chilly. Maybe next year I can pull it off. I'll have to prep the garden for them in the fall or it will be to hard when it is time to plant. So much planning is required and I'm not as good at it as I assumed I would be.
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I've got butter lettuce, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, egg plant, bush beans, carrots, beets, radishes. I'm concerned about the heat already too duh. The lettuce is a pretty good size but not big enough to eat and the radishes are up but not enough to pull. I hope it cools a bit.
I usually plant bell peppers but since I end up giving them away I didn't plant any this year. Have you planted in tires before? I tried the potatoes in tires one year and it was a lot of work for little results.
Is there an herb thread?
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I've put the tomatoes and peppers in tires before. But this is the first time with my homemade compost. Each year seems like a new experience for me. I'm hopeful but I have more respect for farmers than I ever have before.
If I ever get an overabundance of peppers I'll blanch them and then freeze them. I love having stuffed peppers, pepper steak, hashbrowns obrien...
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http://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/index.php/topic,4148.50.html (http://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/index.php/topic,4148.50.html) it's a little off topic but this is the link to the herbs thread.
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thanks for the link. I like peppers but since Johnny won't eat them I'm not planting. Bet your stuff will do great with your compost.
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I've got my fingers crossed on that one. So far they look healthy and that's about all. There hasn't been growth or blooms but I'm not worried this early in the year. I'm just happy I had the compost and place to plant them in.
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It is early. I noticed that I have a few blooms on a tomato plant but the plant is only about 12 inches tall at the tallest stem. I don't know if it's the warm then cold then warm.....weather or what but I hope my tomatoes aren't going to be stunted.
Wonder what this cold snap will do to the lettuce. I was concerned that the hot was going to cause it to bolt but now that it's 40 again I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing.
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I know what you mean the weather has been back and forth. He I had the air conditioner on and today I wore long johns out in the garden this morning. I needed them too.
I did see one tomato blossom this morning. These are 60 days to harvest big boys so I guess they would put out blooms early.
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Both of the tomato plants have blossoms, yea!
The peppers have blossoms too!
The Kohlrabi are getting bigger leaves. They don't really show progress. They are like most root veggies. You just sort of have to know.
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i have 4 kinds of squash (or maybe 5?), no blooms, but they are growing nicely. watermelon, 6 kinds of beans/peas, okra, and i don't know what else. but i'm happy with how it is going.
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Enquiring minds want to know what types of squash you have planted. I like yellow squash and acorn squash and I've been thinking about adding it to the garden but I haven't gotten around to it. Any special problems with squash plants? Will the rabbits and deer eat them?
The trellis that I got on my tomato plant this year is now supporting the largest of my two tomato plants.
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i planted acorn, spaghetti, yellow (both crook neck and straight neck) and i'm not sure if i got the butternut squash i wanted to get. i've grown the yellow squash before, successfully, but haven't grown the others yet. i've also got gourds going, which are in the family with but are not squash.
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I bought some butternut bisque from campbells but it was very thin compared to the bisques I've had before. I don't think I've ever had spaghetti squash.
What kind of gourds are you growing?
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You guys are exciting gardeners. I only have straight neck squash in my garden.
duh, the problem I had with squash last year was relentless squash bugs so this year my squash is in straw bales.
Jen, where did you get your gourd seeds? I only got 1 gourd last year since the dog tore up my vine and I couldn't find any seeds this year.
I'm going to tiller up the 2 beets rows because I can't tell what's grass and what's beets. I think new beets look sort of like grass but I can't tell what's what.
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sheri, i got them at either walmart, lowe's, or tractor supply. BUT, i'll put some in the mail to you tomorrow. i have more than i can/will use and i can put them in a regular envelope. i'll do that on my way to work tomorrow.
i finally have the "official" list of what is in the bucket garden:
- Green beans - blue lake bush
- Yellow wax beans
- Green beans - Kentucky wonder
- Snow peas
- English peas
- Black eye peas
- Spaghetti squash
- Acorn squash
- Yellow squash - straight & crook neck
- Gourd - large bottle
- Carrots
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Rabbit eye blue berry
- Fig
- Sunflowers
i also planted 4 o'clocks, and i bought lavender but don't know if i planted the seeds or now :dunno:
forgot, here is one of the squash plants.
(https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv322%2FJiffymouse%2F2013%2FIMG_20130509_155625_996-1.jpg&hash=32a52c03ecb0b40bc0516f2068a605646e4fb043) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Jiffymouse/media/2013/IMG_20130509_155625_996-1.jpg.html)
i have 3 per bucket, and they are growing nicely, and have the starts of blooms :grinnnn:
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Gourd seeds? Thanks and oh boy!!!
That's a nice list you have there. I love 4'oclocks. They've never grown well in my yard but at one of the schools where I worked they'd get to 3 feet tall.
The straw bale squash is doing fine but I don't have blooms yet and one of the bales has ants on it. I put Neem Oil on the ants tonight so I hope that takes care of it.
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I hoed up the 2 rows of grass where I planted beets and am thinking of putting a row of corn there. Is it too late for corn?
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(https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpic20.picturetrail.com%2FVOL145%2F2152270%2F24349512%2F406703709.jpg&hash=681bdcc6d6457f321cf5e2253473ee0d445a7749)
Looks good but 2 of the squash rotted on the vine. I think that means I need to add lime for calcium. Is that right?
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i don't know about the adding lime thing. but it does look very good!
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I'm with jenn on the lime thing. I'm not sure why you would need to change the pH which is what the lime would do. Calcium I think is something that helps the plants to absorb other nutrients rather than being something that they need for themselves directly. But I could be wrong I haven't researched that information in quite awhile.
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If they are rotting on the vine before they get any size it could be lack of pollination. All of the rain may be washing the pollen off the blossoms before the bees can transfer the male pollen to the female blossom. You might have to resort to manual pollination! :goofy:
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Interesting, that's a really good idea. It never would have occurred to me. Thanks Jim.
I noticed the other day that my tomato plants have little green tomatoes on them. I'm excited.
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I posted here this morning. Where did it go? This is a ghost forum so I shouldn't be surprised I guess.
Jim, I took another look at the squash and thought about the pollination issue so I went out there this morning around 7:30 planning to pollinate and guess what. The flowers were full of rain. Looked just like little tea cups. I'll try again in the morning. We have a friend who keeps bees and she said her hives haven't been as active as usual because of all the rain and cool weather. Interesting.
Regarding lime, I've had a problem with blossom end rot in previous years and was advised by a master gardener to add calcium. It didn't help what was already on the vine but the rest of the season was fine. I guess it could have been a coincidence. I think I added lime which also contains calcium or something like that.
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blossom end rot is most easily treated with epsome salts. That's what I do for my tomatoes.
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I went out this morning and hand pollinated and there aren't any flying or crawling creatures around. It's really strange since those straw bales are right up against a field of whatever whats to grow in it. I hope nature will take it's course because I sure don't want to have to to that everyday. It's not really that much trouble. I'm just lazy.
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I harvested some squash and hand pollinated again. Where are the insects and bugs?
I planted egg plant and the plants are gigantic but no blooms. Is that normal?
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Everything here is planted, and i have tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, squash, radishes, cucumbers, lettuce and all kinds of herbs
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Everything is coming up so far. Looks like I may have to reseed some of the okra as it didn't come up. I've got some volunteer gourds where they were planted last year. I planted squash, cucumbers, beans, corn, peas, okra and tomatoes this year.
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I have blooms on the egg plant now. Yippee.
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What kinds of fertilizers are you using on your tomatoes? The volunteers are so small I'm wondering if they need some help.
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i just mixed miracle grow garden soil with compost. and i don't generally fertilize.
in the garden today, i had peas on my pea vines, squash on my squash vines, okra on my okra plants, watermelon on my melon vines, baby peppers on my ornamental peppers, and a single fig on my fig tree. it is kind of cute all there by itself. nothing except the peas are ready to eat, and they are only because they are snow peas (pea pods). but the rest is coming along nicely and i am looking forward to it.
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I put 10-10-10 in the soil to start with then used Miracle Grow 1 time.
The bees must be working out there now because it's been raining and raining and raining some more so I haven't been hand pollinating and today I went out in the rain and got 3 bags of squash. Johnny's taking some to give away. We have some gigantic green tomatoes. I'll be glad when they get ripe.
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I got my first tomato today. :BigGrin:
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:good2: i have 2 on the bush... but nothing quite ready to harvest.
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I also got a lot of cucumbers, squash, and green peas. I think the heat has done in the rest of the green peas. I can never get green peas planted at the right time.
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I got my first tomato today. :BigGrin:
Awsome!!
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The egg plant has blossoms and has for a while but so far no fruit. Is this a pollination problem too ya think?
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Today I brought in potatoes that we didn't plant this year, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers. The green bean plants are there but seem to be just sitting and the egg plant gets bigger and bigger but does nothing. I don't eat egg plant anyway but Johnny told me he does. I'm waiting to see if he really does.
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:ThumbUp: We had fresh squash last night. There were 2 small ones which means we have already had twice as much fresh squash as last year.
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Yum Jim. I'm sending my squash bugs to you so look out.
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Yum Jim. I'm sending my squash bugs to you so look out.
I don't need any, thank you! So far I haven't seen any either.
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Got a few carrots today and I think the beets are ready too. The squash, cukes, potatoes and tomatoes are still rolling in.
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More squash yesterday and picked a few green tomatoes. Have a few cukes that will be ready in a day or two. We've had plenty of rain but the plants look heat stressed. Guess they don't care for the 90°+ weather we are having.
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The plum tomatoes are ripening at about 2 to 4 per week. They aren't very big or flavorful but they do work in the salad.
The better boy has some nice sized tomatoes on it but they aren't turning color yet.
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Had my first better boy tomato yesterday, Loved it!
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I'm feeling pretty blessed right now. Our garden has been doing wonderfully but a lot of the growers who come to the local farmers market have been flooded out. A lot of them haven't gotten any squash because their fields have been too muddy or the squash has rotted on the vine. I know they plant a lot more than 14 squash plants but that's made plenty for us. I planted the squash in straw bales this year so that might have saved them but we've had plenty of cukes too and they are growing on the ground.
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i'm thinking cukes next year, i want to try my hand at sweet or bread & butter pickles. those are the only kind i eat.
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Love bread and butter pickles but I'm not ready to try canning again. I like to do it in a group but there is just me here.
The tomatoes are doing great.
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I've chosen my first veggies for 2014. I'm going to try kale. I picked up the seeds today at wal-mart. Cross your fingers for me. If they start I plan to have at least one plant for each member of the branch.
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Kale is a good thing duh and pretty easy to grow in my neck of the woods.
This year I'm growing okra again. I've grown it before but didn't keep it cut and it was a mess. Now that I'm retired I can do a better job. I'm growing squash in straw bales again and pray that it rains during the summer. We've built 2 raised beds and tomatoes and cucumbers will go in those. In the big garden will be green peas, blue lake bush beans, corn, potatoes and a few experimental tomato plants a friend sent me if they germinate. I've got beets scattered around in containers. I'm planting everything from non GMO seeds this year so we'll see.
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GMO? i'm sorry I don't know the term.
The kale is planted and I followed that by planting the radishes. I love radishes and I plan to try something like a puree or relish with it. I'm thinking something like the creamy horseradish? Because I love them but without teeth they are impossible for me to eat. This is going to be my answer.
I'm thinking I will do tomatoes and banana peppers this year. But I'm not sure i'll do anything else at this point. Not that I don't change my mind when I get in the store and start looking at seeds.
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GMO, genetically modified organism. Also GE is used, genetically engineered. I just think of it as Frankenfood.
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Frankenfood that's a good one. That will help me remember. So they are basically very different from Heirloom. Our new Fresh Market has heirloom tomatoes for sale. I haven't bought them yet but it probably won't be long before i start trying them out.
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I know that I don't have the numbers exactly right on, but a lot of what used to be 'healthy' food alternatives have been genetically modified. But real science is slowly debunking health or crop property myths. It is running between 80-90% that are GMO in several crops. Soy, corn, sugar beets, are all some of the biggest offenders and found in everything.
So I read labels. I buy only cane sugar, it has not yet been modified. I buy unmodified popcorn and grind my own cornmeal these days. I can still find sweet corn in non GMO but you pay a hefty price. The same with soy products.
I buy absolutely nothing that has canola oil in it if I can help it.
Heirloom seeds and plants are the way to go. And then hope there are no GMO crops nearby to cross pollinate with yours.
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Well the kale is going to church as a part of our renewable food storage program. Most of the seeds have germinated.
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BTW are the radish seeds dead since they got buried beneath 12 inches of snow? I know they like a chill but this is ridiculous.
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Give those radishes a chance to see after the snow melts, Tammy.
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I'll bet those radishes pop right up.
I've got beets, spinach, lettuce, carrots, and green peas above the ground.
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the kale is above ground but it is also in the house lol.
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I planted potatoes this week and have started on the straw bales for the squash.
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I put the tiller on and tilled up the garden spot again this year. If things don't go better than last year, this will be the "last" year.
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hope your garden is great this year Jim.
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I echo the wish for your success. The Kale plants went to church and were a success. The radishes survived the 7 inches of snow and seem to be doing well. I should thin them but I know I won't. I'm such a mess when it comes to thinning.
I bought 4 tomato plants, 3 sweet pepper plants and got them in the ground. Then I went back and got cages for the tomato plants. The only problem is I don't know which end is up literally.
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The freeze got the tomatoes and the peppers. I think I have the tomato cages upside down.
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Are your cages in a conical shape, Tammy? The smaller end goes down on those.
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duh, I haven't planted tomatoes or cucumbers in the ground yet. The only things in the ground are peas, potatoes, beets, carrots. I'm waiting 2 weeks before putting the other stuff out. It's just too cold.
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I found that out myself about it being to cold. I lost about 60 dollars worth of plants. Thanks for telling me which way was up on the tomato cages.
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Gosh sorry about that duh. Have you ever tried starting your own seeds? It's cheaper.
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I've done that but it takes up a huge amount of space indoors along with potting soil and extra lighting. I'd rather just buy the plant since I buy so few. But if prices keep going up I may go back to seeds.
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i haven't started anything or bought anything for the garden yet. i am thinking maybe i'll do some shopping today for veggie plants. i want to do something.
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I'm waiting until the 1st of May tomorrow to buy the replacement tomatoes and peppers. I'll look forward to hearing what you decided on.
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two of the tomatoes that I thought had died have actually come back. They are small but I'm going to let them go and see what happens.
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I got a double handful of cherry tomatoes off of the two plants today.
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:ThumbUp: Yay Tammy!
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love tomatoes.
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this is what's in my garden today
(https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpic20.picturetrail.com%2FVOL145%2F2152270%2F23823082%2F409769879.jpg&hash=43469a25eb941c8acf52e57965d71eb103cbabe8)
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Pretty!
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oohh,don't let Dianna see it!
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:SmileyFear:
:naughty:
:viking: <- Jim snake-hunting
Dianna-> :Whack: <- Sheri
:BigGrin:
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I knew you'd love it Dianna.
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:SmileyFear:
:naughty:
(https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sherv.net%2Fcm%2Femoticons%2Fguns%2Ftommy-submachine-gun.gif&hash=d001b73f07709223de88288924f1d5592489d233) (http://www.sherv.net/) <- Jim snake-hunting
Dianna-> :Whack: <- Sheri
:BigGrin:
Fixed it for you!!
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You can't kill a king snake or the other snakes will show up for the funeral and move into the empty snake hole.
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King snakes are good. They kill some of the venomous snakes like copperheads and rattlesnakes.
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Jim, did you plant a garden this year?
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Jim, did you plant a garden this year?
Nope. I decided to opt out this year and try again next year. My garden spot needed the break anyway.
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I'm going t do fall kale and see how that works this year.
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sheri, i was thinking your guest was a much prettier sight than the rats, mice, and moles that could have been in the garden eating your plants....
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agree Jen. I dislike rats more than I dislike snakes.
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Went out to take up the squash and 2 of the plants have squash and blooms on them. I left those 2 alone. Pulled up a few tomato plants but they are full of green tomatoes and flowers so I left most of them too.
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You are having a very good season, Sheri.
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Jen, did you ever plant your buckets?
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sheri, i did not. other than using the dirt that was already in them to put other plants in. another blueberry bush, and some canna lilies :BigGrin: robert and i were talking about that today, how we should put in a winter garden. some greens and whatever.
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Jen, did you plant a fall garden? I'm not going too this year.
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not yet sheri. i want to, i really do, but i haven't gotten that far.
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I don't even want too this year. Taking it easy.
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do the saffron crocuses cOUNT?
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The squash bales are ready but I just started the seeds in the pretend green house. It's just been too chilly to put anything directly outside. It's 46° this morning. The potatoes are coming up sporadically. I hope that will improve.
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I bought 4 sweet pepper plants for the tires and I topped the overwintered tomato and have 11 i think, tomato plants rooting in the house that will go outside as soon as I have an overcast morning.
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I'm glad I haven't put anything in the ground. I just heard that a farm that sells blueberries every year lost their entire crop last week when we had a cold snap.