The Gardening 2014 Thread - I just spent 2 hours in a garden center.

[tammat]

I've been watching this thread because I love gardening too. You have all been doing a great job . I didn't have anything to report because I haven't been in my garden for a little while. Last night I picked some thyme and it was nearly visible from the weeds so today I took charge. I have a sad little herb garden it only had rosemary and thyme so today I weeded and planted some coriander (aka cilantro) and some basil. I also pulled out my tomatoes which were nearly finished and planted bush beans. Veggies and herbs are not really my thing. I love my flower garden but I grew my first tomatoes this summer so now I'm going to try beans and maybe beetroot.

 

[happybird]

The blackberry bushes are starting to flower! I cannot wait for the scent to hit, probably another week or two. :9:
I thought I saw them along the tree line when we moved in, but wasn't sure. This is our third house with wild blackberries.
Hmm. Maybe I should sell them at the Farmers Market, it looks like we will be getting a ton.

 

[Winchester]

Funny you should mention a shed, Mooch. Rick and I were sitting out on the swing under the ash tree last night and he finally agreed that we really do need a shed. It would protect the mowers and get rid of some of the things in the yard: hoses, chairs when not being used, things like that. And because we could keep some of our more-used gardening tools, tomato cages, and fencing in a shed, that would help to organize the basement a bit, too. How large is your shed and how much stuff do you store inside? Did you pour a concrete pad first?

The problem is that he wants to put the shed where my little moongarden currently is planted. I can see his point because having it in that area would give us a bit of privacy from the neighbors when we're outside on the swing. And it would look OK because I'd put gardens around it. If I did the gardens in white, light blue, and grey, that could even become my moon garden. But it's the point of the thing, darn it. I guess we're going to start looking at sheds now. And while I would love to build a potting bench inside the shed, I already know there won't be enough room. 

Nice garden, Pat! Where do you keep your containers once it starts to get cold? Your fruit trees? Do you move them to the garage or put them in the basement for the winter? How do you winter over your containers? I'd love to do more container gardening, but we have no place to over-winter things. I thought about trying to grow leeks because we do use them and they can be very expensive when you buy them at the store. Apple raspberry compote......

 now that sounds so delicious. If you work it out, I will trade you some Old Farmhouse Chutney when I make it this fall for some apple raspberry compote. And I'm serious. I'd mail it. And gratefully. I would also trade for some good blackberry jam, happybird or Mooch, if you're interested.

I want to dig up some horseradish for grating. I love to add a bit of horseradish to things like baked beans, barbecue sauces, and such. I dig up one root every spring, grate it (outside!!! If you have sinus issues, grate some horseradish!), and then add my seasonings. I store it in the fridge. I need to do it soon before the plants start to bolt. Horseradish is a perennial and my aunt gave us some roots when we had our first garden, about 26 years ago. Even when we quit gardening that time, the horseradish continued to grow. Since we've started gardening again, we've started to take better care of it....it's not a lot, but it's enough that I can dig a root every spring. It gives me enough for the year, plus some to share with Rick's mom.

 

[kathyfromcanada]

 
Can't believe I missed this thread!  This year I was so eager for homegrown veggies and spring I got planting in early May.  That worked out only so so..lol.  I've been replanting off and on since.

My leeks are coming up nicely - two batches since I replanted 2+ weeks after the first batch.  My baby bok choy almost didn't survive some either slugs or as yet unidentified culprit but a few plants survived and I'm planning more seeds this week.

My bush beans - that I gave an entire raised bed to are going wackadoodle.  We will have LOTs of beans - yay!

My scallions are a no show despite two different plantings.  I'll try a third time with the seed then go get some starts..lol.

We added a dwarf raspberry to our collection of container fruits (two of my strawberries in hanging planters wintered over well and we've a nice tiny crop of berries coming) - wish our gooseberries would flower and produce - they are planted in front of our house and are going on 3 years since being planted w/out a single berry ever.  Grrr.

Our container apple trees put on a magnificent display of gorgeous flowers (bought these last Fall) and we now have what is honestly about 100 apples growing.  Yay!  I've told our friend D. that she's going to be sharing in the bounty..lol.  These are a great baking apple, and I plan to experiment at creating an apple raspberry (and other versions) compote recipe.

In my growncamp (a raised bed, plastic covered little green house) we have rainbow swiss chard, two kinds of lettuce growing, with one side left for arugula and more lettuce.  We have our tomatoes in - 1 roma, 1 cherry, 1 beefsteak and a 4th that I don't recall.  One bed is planted in peppers - 3 green bell pepper plants, 4 poblano, 3 serrano and 1 little jalapeno..lol.

Hubby is almost finished tilling the area where we are putting yellow and zucchini squash and cucumbers (currently the plants in their pots are in the growcamp on a shelf..lol).

We have huckleberries to get out of their containers and into the ground in the next couple of weeks, and plans to go get a - not sure if hubby said it's  a hybrid/grafted or a dwarf) Northern Spy apple tree that would also be a container plant (so I can take it when we move).  My gram made the best apple pie - and it was due to her using Northern Spy apples.

I love Spring, and while I don't grow enough veggies to can, we grow enough to ease the grocery bill a bit, and to have the best tasting veggies.  Nothing tastes as good as what I can grow myself.

I didn't know you could even grow and apple tree in a container! Wow. Sounds like you've been really busy. We put in a variety of tomatoes,peppers, still to put in some peas. Were trying our hand at butter nut squash and cucumber. All this while trying to do kitchen reno's, sheesh, Oh ya and I forget to mention we took our cat Athena to the vet to have her teeth checked. $1000.00 estimate later...................it never ends! Sheeeesh!

 

 

[Winchester]

Whoa, Kathy, that's an expensive vet visit!

We got the garden planted tonight. It rained this morning, but then the sun came out and it got really nice this afternoon. We still need to work on planting flowers Thursday night.

I'd really like to get some onion sets, but I think I'm too late for them. I can't seem to find any.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Wow Kathy!  That's some sticker shock there!!

Our shed is 10x12 I think.  I now wish we'd gotten one a a bit bigger; but considering all the maneuvering they had to do to get it in there it might not have fit.  We bought a wood one from a local place; all pre-built.  They brought it in on a flatbed and were in and out in less than an hour!  But what skills driving that thing!  DH had to take apart the fence gate and dig out the 2 posts and pull the fence back on one side of the house.  They had to maneuver between the kids big swingset and the 2 big trees in the middle of my backyard! 

  It turns out the family that owns this company lives right up the street basically (the parents anyway; it's a real family business so I was so happy to support them!) so they stopped by to be sure they could do it before they put in the work order.  Apparently they have some other side businesses as well. The gentleman remembered pouring our back patio and installing the concrete steps when the builder was building the place. 

  If only we'd gotten the shed BEFORE fencing the yard 3 years ago and adding that big wooden swingset 2 years ago; it would have been much simpler!

DH wanted the shed for the lawn mower and yard things.  The mower did spend the winter out there; but it's back in the garage now.  It's giving me easier access to all the kids outdoor toys!!  We do still have things like the weed eater, large garden tools, a seed spreader and a thing to pull behind the mower (not the aerator, the other thing...thatcher?).  Things like that.  I think the wheelbarrow is in there too.  (the kids aren't allowed in there alone.  They help me fetch toys and put them away but it's locked all other times.)  Right now without the mower there there is still plenty of room.  DH hasn't hung the tools yet either.  That will organize it better.  It has 2 small windows that open for ventilation when you are in there.  That's a really nice feature!  They had some super cool sheds there.  Ones with lofts for more storage and workshops built right in.  Even some with little porches.

  It's on a concrete block foundation; no pad needed.  The biggest thing we had to take care of was getting the permit and making sure the inspections were done.

I let watering get away from me last weekend and now I have some brown spots on my beans.  It looks like what happened last year; and they came back fine.  I was outside when it was starting to thunder yesterday with my watering can to give them a quick drink in case the rain didn't pan out.  it did!  Sometimes I wonder what my neighbors think of me.  But then they were the one standing at the end of their driveway looking up the road.  4 of them.  I'm not entirely sure how many people live back there.  But yeah; interesting. 

 

[pat]

 
I didn't know you could even grow and apple tree in a container! Wow. Sounds like you've been really busy. We put in a variety of tomatoes,peppers, still to put in some peas. Were trying our hand at butter nut squash and cucumber. All this while trying to do kitchen reno's, sheesh, Oh ya and I forget to mention we took our cat Athena to the vet to have her teeth checked. $1000.00 estimate later...................it never ends! Sheeeesh!

 

wow...that's quite the estimate!  I'm not as busy as I should be out there.  Today I did plant a little bit of spinach and arugula, and some red sail lettuce seeds.  Did a little weeding.

 

[Winchester]

We bought some Snowbird Pea seeds....the pods are edible and you just cook them long enough that they stay a little on the underdone side for eating. We may wait to plant them more toward the beginning of August, so they start to produce around the end of September or so.

Still can't find onion sets. I'll probably find them again more toward fall, for winter planting. Next year, I hope to be more prompt for onion-planting.

Lowes has a wonderful Cinnamon Basil! I rubbed the leaves together and then sniffed my fingers. It's more of a subtle cinnamon-y scent; doesn't smack you in the face. They have a great Lemon Basil, too. And a Sweet Mint. I don't know what the other people thought.....there I was rubbing leaves and smelling my hands. And smiling.

 

[tammat]

Winchester I rub the herbs and smell them too. :lol3: I'm sure lots of people do.
I've planted bush beans and round carrots this week. I didn't realise the carrots were round until I was about to plant them but I'm sure they will taste ok. They just seem wrong.:dk:
I trimmed my hedges on frid and Sunday so today I need to vacuum up the mess and then everything will be neat and tidy for winter. I think the rest of you are going into summer. Lucky ducks. Enjoy the warmth.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

  Too funny Pam!  I used to love doing that with my Gram's lemon balm.  If/when I do get a dedicated herb garden; I will have that planted!! 

We had a fairly wet week last week and my beans loved it!  I did find something has been eating holes in the leaves so I used a spray on them tonight.  With that we weather I didn't get any weeding done so I took care of that.  I replanted a few garlic cloves since some didn't come up.  I also re-did the twine on my cucumber trellis' and DH pounded those into the ground for me.  I replanted a few cucumber seeds too where those didn't come up.  It feels like they are growing SO slow this year!  Maybe I'm just a little over anxious!

I bought some supplies to make my own herb markers for the pots this weekend.  I just need to find some kind of stake to attach them and then have everyone leave me alone long enough to put them together.  I love the idea in my head so I really hope it turns out as nice as it looks up there!

 

[Winchester]

We went out looking at garden sheds. The one we're thinking of is 10 x 14. Rick thinks that it's roomy enough for the mowers and the wheelbarrow, plus all the gardening stuff. I'm not convinced, but we'll see. One thing I did suggest is that we put a few sheets of plywood above the rafters to use for more storage for smaller items. We can put hooks along the one end inside to store garden hoses, larger garden tools, the tomato cages, netting, and the like. I also suggested putting a shelf in that's hinged, so you can push the shelf up out of the way and hook it to the wall when it's not needed. I already know there won't be enough room for a potting bench inside, but I guess that's OK. 

Rick wants to talk to our electrician about the cost of running an electrical line out to the shed.....you never know it might come in handy sometime. He's not sure if he wants to put a concrete pad down or stone.

It's a bugger not having a garage, but we simply can't afford to build one right now.

If we do do this, it probably won't be until more toward fall. 

I did find onion sets, so will be planting onions this afternoon.

 

[kathyfromcanada]

 
We went out looking at garden sheds. The one we're thinking of is 10 x 14. Rick thinks that it's roomy enough for the mowers and the wheelbarrow, plus all the gardening stuff. I'm not convinced, but we'll see. One thing I did suggest is that we put a few sheets of plywood above the rafters to use for more storage for smaller items. We can put hooks along the one end inside to store garden hoses, larger garden tools, the tomato cages, netting, and the like. I also suggested putting a shelf in that's hinged, so you can push the shelf up out of the way and hook it to the wall when it's not needed. I already know there won't be enough room for a potting bench inside, but I guess that's OK. 

Rick wants to talk to our electrician about the cost of running an electrical line out to the shed.....you never know it might come in handy sometime. He's not sure if he wants to put a concrete pad down or stone.

It's a bugger not having a garage, but we simply can't afford to build one right now.

If we do do this, it probably won't be until more toward fall. 

I did find onion sets, so will be planting onions this afternoon.

Yes, garden sheds are good to have. The bigger the better.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

My husband has installed a few "fast track" type things in our shed now.  You just attach it to the wall studs and add the separate brackets.  So far so good but he had to adjust the handle on the weed-eater so it would fit.  He wants one on the other side now. 

I don't know that I'd want a potting bench inside because it gets hot in there.  Opening the windows and of course the doors helps a lot; but still.  DH doesn't like the doors left open unless we are in there.  He'd thinking of the yellow jackets and things we've had nest in the yard underground.  He doesn't want them in the shed.

The garden is growing pretty well here. My beans are getting taller; though I've had to spray for something eating the leaves.  I've got flowers forming nicely on the potted tomato plants on my patio too.  I found a big white spot on one of the zucchini plants but it's not grown or changed.  I haven't looked that up yet but I'm going to lowes for a sink drain thing so I can look at their big book then.

The down side; we pulled a tick off our 4 year old last night. It was hooked on on the back of her upper thigh.  I only noticed it when she was kicking around as I tried to tuck her into bed.  She'd been running around in a skort in the backyard helping me weed and playing and she was wearing repellent.  This is the 2nd time I've found one; but the other was a few years ago.  Poor kid. She got to stay up late watching cartoons so we could distract her while we tried to get it out.  The hot match didn't do too much but the olive oil helped enough for DH to grab it well with tweezers.

  It's just a small red mark now.  I'm keeping an eye on it. 

 

[Winchester]

Wow, I'm so glad you found the tick. And that you were able to get it out of her with out a lot of trouble.  One of my GFs used to have indoor/outdoor cats and, even with repellent, she would sometimes find a tick on one of the cats. She watched them like a hawk when they came in the house.

Rick put some fast track stuff up in the basement and that's probably what he'll use in the shed, too, I would think. Ours would have windows that we could keep open during the day, but you're right about keeping the doors hanging open. I never gave bees a thought....thank you. And I think he is going to put a concrete pad beneath the shed.....we have groundhogs and those little buggers love to burrow. 

Garden is doing well, but we could use some rain. Not a t-storm, a nice, gentle all-day rain. Our squash is flowering, but the leaves are getting the same color and markings as the cucumbers did last year, even though we've sprayed them. We'll probably lose the cuke plants and all the squash before it's over. We had to tear them out last year, too. We've sprayed to keep it under control, but the spray isn't doing much. Corn is coming up and so are the lima beans. Peppers and tomatoes seem to be doing OK. But we do need some rain.

Finally opened the pool and the water is green. We can't get the pool pump to prime, so Rick called the pool guys to come down. He's tried everything he can think of. Until we get the pump to work, we can't clear the water up.

 

[pat]

 
Funny you should mention a shed, Mooch. Rick and I were sitting out on the swing under the ash tree last night and he finally agreed that we really do need a shed. It would protect the mowers and get rid of some of the things in the yard: hoses, chairs when not being used, things like that. And because we could keep some of our more-used gardening tools, tomato cages, and fencing in a shed, that would help to organize the basement a bit, too. How large is your shed and how much stuff do you store inside? Did you pour a concrete pad first?

The problem is that he wants to put the shed where my little moongarden currently is planted. I can see his point because having it in that area would give us a bit of privacy from the neighbors when we're outside on the swing. And it would look OK because I'd put gardens around it. If I did the gardens in white, light blue, and grey, that could even become my moon garden. But it's the point of the thing, darn it. I guess we're going to start looking at sheds now. And while I would love to build a potting bench inside the shed, I already know there won't be enough room. 

Nice garden, Pat! Where do you keep your containers once it starts to get cold? Your fruit trees? Do you move them to the garage or put them in the basement for the winter? How do you winter over your containers? I'd love to do more container gardening, but we have no place to over-winter things. I thought about trying to grow leeks because we do use them and they can be very expensive when you buy them at the store. Apple raspberry compote......

 now that sounds so delicious. If you work it out, I will trade you some Old Farmhouse Chutney when I make it this fall for some apple raspberry compote. And I'm serious. I'd mail it. And gratefully. I would also trade for some good blackberry jam, happybird or Mooch, if you're interested.

I want to dig up some horseradish for grating. I love to add a bit of horseradish to things like baked beans, barbecue sauces, and such. I dig up one root every spring, grate it (outside!!! If you have sinus issues, grate some horseradish!), and then add my seasonings. I store it in the fridge. I need to do it soon before the plants start to bolt. Horseradish is a perennial and my aunt gave us some roots when we had our first garden, about 26 years ago. Even when we quit gardening that time, the horseradish continued to grow. Since we've started gardening again, we've started to take better care of it....it's not a lot, but it's enough that I can dig a root every spring. It gives me enough for the year, plus some to share with Rick's mom.

Our winters are so mild that the apple trees just stay where we have them in the backyard - as does the hanging strawberry baskets.  The growcamp we can use for cold weather veggies during the fall and winter. 

 

[MoochNNoodles]

We could really use the rain too.  We got some rain today; downpours!  It's better than nothing; but I'd like a good soaking rain!

 

[tammat]

We had rain yesterday and last night. Yay! We have been having a fairly dry winter. My basil has died. The other herbs look good. Now I think of it basil has never grown for me. Doess anyone have any good tips for growing basil?
I bought ranunculus last year and they are coming up. I also have primulas flowering. They add a nice fresh look to an otherwise dull winter garden.

 

[Winchester]

Tammat, B.C. (Before Cats), I used to grow basil in pots like a houseplant. It always did well in my kitchen and by me constantly pinching its leaves to get fresh basil for dinner, it was always a nice, compact bushy plant. You need to grow it in a nice sunny spot in your kitchen, if that's the way you decide to go. Or even throw it into a pot and put it on your deck or on a step outside your door.

 

[tammat]

Tammat, B.C. (Before Cats), I used to grow basil in pots like a houseplant. It always did well in my kitchen and by me constantly pinching its leaves to get fresh basil for dinner, it was always a nice, compact bushy plant. You need to grow it in a nice sunny spot in your kitchen, if that's the way you decide to go. Or even throw it into a pot and put it on your deck or on a step outside your door.

Thanks. Yes I'll try it in a pot. I'd love enough to make pesto but I'll start with the pot. I need to keep it alive first. I had coriander ( cilantro) in a pot in the kitchen. I couldn't work out why it was looking so terrible until the cats started hacking it up.

 

[bbdoll22]

I have basil in a pot it looks horrible. Pale green and yellow. It gets sun and water but man it's dying