Gardens

[airtime143]

Pouring rain again today, and my poor pepper plants are already starting to yellow from too much water.... C'mon Sun!!!

 

[HeHateMe]

Pouring rain again today, and my poor pepper plants are already starting to yellow from too much water.... C'mon Sun!!!

have you tried adding some sand to the pepper soil for better drainage?

 

[HeHateMe]

Garden update. Things are starting to POP!

over 10 days I've harvested a lb of red russian kale in three separate trimmings on just one plant. Checking all of the greens every morning and evening to keep them from bolting. got a week's worth of various salad greens this week as well.

My radishes are crazy - i have to harvest all of them and plant new seeds. in just 2 weeks I have golfball sized radishes, spicy af. Going to make the radish greens into creamed greens and pesto

a critter ate up all my beet greens down to the root. going to have to put a screen over the new batch. don't know why it doesn't eat anything else

I have 4 zuch plants sporting 3-5 blossoms each. HUGE plants now, expecting a zuch harvest by the weekend. it's amazing how fast those grow.

tomatoes need more cage support, wiring them all together because they are growing out just as much as growing up

pepper plants are almost 2 feet tall, nipping buds every morning

dozen ONIONS harvested. baseball-sized.

pumpkins and other squash have spread about 2 feet in diameter since planted 4 days ago


Forgot to share a secret because my wife handles it, but she's been putting red wriggler worm tea on all of this for a couple weeks. she showed me her worm farm last night, it's SWARMING and she had to add another container to the stack to keep them happy and wriggling. I totally forgot she had put that together last month.

 

[airtime143]

have you tried adding some sand to the pepper soil for better drainage?

I have not- but next year they will get their own area with sand!

 

[HeHateMe]

I have not- but next year they will get their own area with sand!

It's crazy all the different things you can/should do to maximize the potential. I didn't even think of sand until i got cussed out for letting mulch from under tomatoes spread to a couple rando peppers we through next to them that didn't fit in the pepper box.

did you get the Cactii yet? make sure that regional soil gets some sand mixed in and those will take off.

 

[airtime143]

Garden update. Things are starting to POP!

over 10 days I've harvested a lb of red russian kale in three separate trimmings on just one plant. Checking all of the greens every morning and evening to keep them from bolting. got a week's worth of various salad greens this week as well.

My radishes are crazy - i have to harvest all of them and plant new seeds. in just 2 weeks I have golfball sized radishes, spicy af. Going to make the radish greens into creamed greens and pesto

a critter ate up all my beet greens down to the root. going to have to put a screen over the new batch. don't know why it doesn't eat anything else

I have 4 zuch plants sporting 3-5 blossoms each. HUGE plants now, expecting a zuch harvest by the weekend. it's amazing how fast those grow.

tomatoes need more cage support, wiring them all together because they are growing out just as much as growing up

pepper plants are almost 2 feet tall, nipping buds every morning

dozen ONIONS harvested. baseball-sized.

pumpkins and other squash have spread about 2 feet in diameter since planted 4 days ago


Forgot to share a secret because my wife handles it, but she's been putting red wriggler worm tea on all of this for a couple weeks. she showed me her worm farm last night, it's SWARMING and she had to add another container to the stack to keep them happy and wriggling. I totally forgot she had put that together last month.

I just started a worm farm this past weekend- I am yanking out the ugly utility pole retaining wall that was out fromn and am gonna replace it with the same style as the wall i did last year, and the entire raised area is deep black topsoil crawling with worms.
I used that as starter and we will see how it goes.
If nothing else, it will be a vending machine for the chickens.

 

[airtime143]

It's crazy all the different things you can/should do to maximize the potential. I didn't even think of sand until i got cussed out for letting mulch from under tomatoes spread to a couple rando peppers we through next to them that didn't fit in the pepper box.

did you get the Cactii yet? make sure that regional soil gets some sand mixed in and those will take off.

I did not, but I staked a claim in the planting area behind the wall I am changing as cacti country. Full sun all day long!

 

[HeHateMe]

I just started a worm farm this past weekend- I am yanking out the ugly utility pole retaining wall that was out fromn and am gonna replace it with the same style as the wall i did last year, and the entire raised area is deep black topsoil crawling with worms.
I used that as starter and we will see how it goes.
If nothing else, it will be a vending machine for the chickens.

Great plan, earthworms are absolutely great to just add into your garden soil.

these red wigglers are a little different, used for vermicomposting. they turn veg/fruit scraps from dinner into worm juice and there's a little spigot in the bottom farming container that you fill up off of, mix it with some water and drizzle all over your garden. I guess it can get pretty overwhelming and start to stink if you don't have the right mix and keep humidity down but so far it's in a corner of the garage and been totally unnoticed by me...

 

[Penny Traitor]

My radishes are crazy - i have to harvest all of them and plant new seeds. in just 2 weeks I have golfball sized radishes, spicy af. Going to make the radish greens into creamed greens and pesto

Man, I gotta jump on that train. The prewashed store bought radishes are borderline flavorless.

As a City Cat, I have no gardening space, but I have a small porch and I got to think I can get 6-8 radishes in just a 12" pot. If you are yielding that fast, even six may be plenty since I am only feeding two.

Several lifetimes ago, I was living in this big & old farmhouse in Eugene, Oregon...which was every bit as boring as it sounds, but we had a legit garden filled with tomatoes, peppers and a bunch of other sprout & root veggies.

It was a very satisfying experience I have never been able to get back to since.

 

[HeHateMe]

Kale and radishes




More radishes. Sup with the huge purple one?



Planter box that came with the house that we kept and use for herbs.

 

[airtime143]

Kale and radishes

View attachment 20332


More radishes. Sup with the huge purple one?

View attachment 20333

Planter box that came with the house that we kept and use for herbs.

Screw you, showoff.



That herb garden looks fantastic.

Yesterday I spread straw between my plants in preparation for the heat the next few days- gonna water them up tonight and the straw should help keep things moist.

 

[HeHateMe]

Screw you, showoff.



That herb garden looks fantastic.

Yesterday I spread straw between my plants in preparation for the heat the next few days- gonna water them up tonight and the straw should help keep things moist.

Expecting the heat abuse to make my tomatoes thrive. They love that harshness. Same with peps

 

[airtime143]

Props to you tube for helping me get my watermelons kick started.
I have never had success growing watermelons, but thanks to a you tube clip I got further than I ever have before- I have 2 the size of softballs so far.

By my watermelon plants I have pumpkins and squash and cukes growing.
Those plants all have huge flowers and leaves, the watermelon vines and flowers are tiny in comparison.
Apparently they pull the bees focus and the tiny little flowers get no love. I just keep getting the grape sized watermelons that dry up.

Jumped on you tube and learned how to pollinate them myself, and now I have a couple actually growing.

 

[BBBF]

How are the brussels sprouts doing? Mine are nothing but leaves. Kohlrabi looks good. Black Raspberries are only on their first year, after being transplanted, so I'm just happy enough of them took. Tomatoes are kinda meh, but new house/new garden and I'm wasn't sure how good the soil is or even how much sun each part of the yard would get.

 

[Scoot26]

How are the brussels sprouts doing? Mine are nothing but leaves. Kohlrabi looks good. Black Raspberries are only on their first year, after being transplanted, so I'm just happy enough of them took. Tomatoes are kinda meh, but new house/new garden and I'm wasn't sure how good the soil is or even how much sun each part of the yard would get.

I've never attempted Brussels sprouts before though I'd be interested some day. I have also never tried berries before, mainly because my mother struggled so hard to ever get berries when I was growing up.

I've never had an issue growing tomatoes anywhere I've lived in the Chicago area, including one place they only got direct sun for maybe 3 hours a day. Certainly could be a soil thing I suppose depending on where you live... My current house, my garden pretty much gets sun all day long... My tomatoes are currently just starting to change colors and I should have an abundance of them.

Also did cucumbers (though looks like the leaves are starting to get a fungi or something, but they've already produced a ton), variety of peppers, beans, radishes, variety of lettuces in my garden. I have a ton of herbs in pots.

 

[airtime143]

How are the brussels sprouts doing? Mine are nothing but leaves. Kohlrabi looks good. Black Raspberries are only on their first year, after being transplanted, so I'm just happy enough of them took. Tomatoes are kinda meh, but new house/new garden and I'm wasn't sure how good the soil is or even how much sun each part of the yard would get.

The brussels sprouts are on track it hink- about 2-3 feet tall, tons of leaves and at the stem on top of the leaves tiny beginnings of the sprouts themselves- about half the size of a pea.
I could be wrong and they could be a little behind, but IIRC, they dont really start ripping till late august/early september, then harvest after the first frost.

My tomatoes have not been spectacular at all- I am getting the cherry type tomatoes daily, but the bigger ones are taking forever to turn red.
I have crap tons of them of varying size, but they are just taking forever. Maybe it is where I put them- they do get a bit of shade in the morning.

Just this past week the peppers are staring to pop all over. Banana, Anaheim and jalepeno are all going to have several each to pull this week, but the bell peppers have been slow going.

... and of course the zucchini and crookneck squash have been exploding daily. I have been pulling so many out I have been giving them away, and I have left one out there just to see how big it will get.


The pumpkins are doing pretty good- I have a couple that are right between softball and basketball sized that I have been babying along- I have them sitting straight up on pieces of wood so they stay nice and even and perfect for jack o lanterns.
Gonna give them to my nephew to carve.

 

[airtime143]

I've never attempted Brussels sprouts before though I'd be interested some day. I have also never tried berries before, mainly because my mother struggled so hard to ever get berries when I was growing up.

I've never had an issue growing tomatoes anywhere I've lived in the Chicago area, including one place they only got direct sun for maybe 3 hours a day. Certainly could be a soil thing I suppose depending on where you live... My current house, my garden pretty much gets sun all day long... My tomatoes are currently just starting to change colors and I should have an abundance of them.

Also did cucumbers (though looks like the leaves are starting to get a fungi or something, but they've already produced a ton), variety of peppers, beans, radishes, variety of lettuces in my garden. I have a ton of herbs in pots.

I did some direct planting of Cucumbers, and it has been pathetic- they are off by themselves, and I didnt keep up with the weeding.
As it stands, I have only one vine style and one bush style starting to produce after I cleared the weeds- and they are pathetic little things.
But dammit, I am going to chop those little bitches up and eat them anyway.

 

[airtime143]

Expecting the heat abuse to make my tomatoes thrive. They love that harshness. Same with peps

How about you- What is the tomato situation?

 

[HeHateMe]

How about you- What is the tomato situation?

amazing and hard to keep up with. the cherries need to be picked before they get red because they're bursting! I throw burst ones on the ground for the critters to eat and so far have not had any helping themselves to what's on the vines. I can't tell you enough how getting the soil right in terms of compost increases yields. The peppers are also out of control. This season has been my most prolific ever. Can't wait for next year when I add in the red wiggler worm tea. I've added a third level to their farm because they are multiplying like crazy.

 

[Hawkeye OG]

Tomatoes looking good, waiting to change color. Storm came thru last night and wife said one of the plants got knocked over. Haven't been out to look yet. Cucumbers did really well. Still waiting on bell peppers. For my garden this year being my first and a spur of the moment type deal with zero planning, I'm pleasantly surprised. I think I'll expand it next year.