24,795 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM

Thank you, both. If I were not to water at all, I know they would die. This year and last, I have been watering them more in an attempt to help them recover from grasshopper damage but it sounds like when that is not an issue, I can probably water less than I have been which will definitely be nice.

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drmbear

Use lots of good organic mulch - like ground up leaves - and make it thick!! My asparagus is still fairly new, but I didn't water at all, but I checked the soil moisture under the mulch, even after the longest dry spell of the summer, and it still had a moist feel to it. Asparagus is looking great.

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jazzersaxman

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to give that a try with drying the soil. I have 6 4x4' beds so there is a lot of soil...should be an interesting project. Do you recommend any particular rehab regimen?

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weirdtrev

Garden soil does not belong in pots. The container forum is a good place to learn why not. I am sure that is not what you wanted to hear.

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Rebecca Norman

I've eaten store-bought arugula for years, but when we got some volunteer arugula growing in our garden last year, I was surprised to find that when the leaves got big and too hot to eat in large amounts, they also had a very pleasant sesame flavor as well. This was in addition to the usual slightly skunky arugula flavor. The little white flowers also had a very pleasant sweet sesame flavor.

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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

I suspect that you may have let it get too mature for your taste. Rocket has a unique flavor regardless.....some people just don't like it.

I use it in salads, as a topping for sandwiches, tossed into a pot of garden soup, meaty soup, rice and sausage, etc.

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defrost49

Georgi, I have lots of sun and pretty good soil thanks to the lasagna method. We found a great source of composted horse manure, bedding and kitchen scraps that the owner turns during the winter and just charges a nominal fee to load our utility trailer in the spring. I actually don't like the manure from our neighbor because it has too much sawdust in it and somehow turns to concrete. Wishing you luck finding a great source of composted manure. But despite all my successes such as an amazing winter squash patch this year, I can't seem to grow a decent zucchini. Indoor started plants in one bed struggled. Direct sown plants in a different bed also struggled. Possibly not enough water early in the season. It's been pretty dry here. I lost 4 blueberry bushes to improper planting followed by neglect. Gardening is about learning and accepting the challenges. Right now I see a small amount of tomato hornworm damage, even spotted some poop, but I can't find the worms. I have my fingers crossed that birds are getting the worms. You might find that areas of less sunlight help you grow the best lettuce and greens. I have grown tomatoes in less than full sunlight. They've done fine just haven't produced as much as plants grown in more "perfect" conditions. And you will probably do better than another gardener who doesn't care as much.

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yolos - z 7b/8a Ga.

didn't think about the tree roots. I think the closest tree to my beds will be around 10 feet - hopefully it is far enough

Sorry, but depending on the variety, age and height of the tree, 10 feet away from the tree isn't far enough to keep roots from invading your box. After 2 years I had to dig out all the roots from 4 raised beds and now I am having to raise the beds off the ground.

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jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)

Agreed, those don't look very healthy. Here is my patch, from a few weeks ago, they were planted on May 20th.

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jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)

Also, this thought just crossed my mind, are those ornamental sweet potato vines? The color looks like some of those types as does the leaf shape. Just wondering.

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RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
You have such an operation going on. I think I can manage two weeks earlier next year. Onw week with larger slip plants and one more week with planting. Soil condition is another thing.
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farmerdill

jrslick, that is one nice looking tater patch.

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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

Smug, I'll zay that MG would be 'safe', but I never recommend it for container use. I simply don't feel that it can offer the season long porosity that is so essential to happy, healthy plants.

Vegetable plants must have an excellent coarse textured medium in order to thrive.

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Sherry_7bAL

Yes, Miracle Grow Potting Soil is safe. I use it all the time and love it. It is not organic. I also use the Miracle Grow bags that are used to amend your garden beds. This is intended to be tilled in with your soil to "loosen" it up. It is not to be used by itself. I do not like the Miracle Grow with the water retaining crystals. It holds too much water in my climate when it rains. I think it would only be useful in a desert climate for plants that had a need for a lot of water.

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Jim's(6 East end of Long Island)

There are so many things I am comfortable with in life, having patience doesn't appear on that list, lol. I will plan on eating them with out Easter dinner.

Appreciate all the input.

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A J(9A)

Can't always wait till the vine dies sometimes. As long as they have a very good start to their final ripe color, you can take them off the vine early with great results. For curing, just wait for the stem you cut to dry out completely. You can also finish riping the squash off the vine if you place it near a sunny window for a bit. I can't taste the difference that much between both types.

Great point about making sure you clean the squash before storage.

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Neo Slash

Bump?

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A J(9A)

Organic - BT, spinosad. Diatomaceous Earth could work but require reapplication. Netting/mesh around the vegetables.

If organic doesn't matter, go get a pesticide/insecticide and follow the directions exactly.

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shermthewerm(8 PNW)

Thanks for the link. That is amazing! Chickens are daylight sensitive too and the 10-hour day seems to be their requirement for laying eggs Good information (learn something new everyday!).

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emmalehman

Wow the WV Calendar is amazing! Thank you, that is just what I needed.

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gumby_ct(CT it says Z5)

I'm gonna add water bug to the roach guess but I think water bugs will come out in the daylight were roaches scatter when the lights come on.

The first time I saw a roach was at Lackland Air Force Base, TX - it was rather large and extremely fast. They say everything is bigger in TX.

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zzackey(8b GA)

That's not it either. I just googled it. What a creepy looking bug that is!

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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

My extension service says blossom drop in beans is from heat. But beans are exquisitely sensitive to conditions during fruit set. Heat, humidity, water stress, etc. All of those will cause blossom drop.

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drscottr(7)

Farmerdill,

I suspect that pH might be the issue then. The patch was until recently the location of a pine tree. The needles may have caused a low pH. I'll do a soil test. Thanks.

Scott

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jctsai8b(8B)

You may use 10 to 1 diluted urine for fertilizer too, it works pretty good for me, no more chemical fertilizer.

This post was edited by JCTsai on Sat, Jan 10, 15 at 15:39

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jctsai8b(8B)

use Kitchen scraps, urine, coffee ground, liquid grass clipping may be good enough for your vegetables

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angelmat37

I skimmed most of the comments, but it is not all about wood chips. Most people in my area have tried it but have not incorporated all what Paul said or followed what he said. I live in a state with plenty of trees and wood chips and with no effort a tiny seed falls and by summer you have a four foot tree. It is interesting to do what he says first, "observe," He also has chickens that are fed from his garden waste and veggies they provide the rich compost in the area where they walk around. This compost is key for planting in soil not wood chips.

We have friends who have not seen the video and on their own have begun doing what Paul has done. Their garden is amazing. Growing grapes that can't be grown in our area. Fruit trees growing faster then expected and everything tastes so good. We just started but we are amazed. There is a four hour version of Back to Eden that a private group of people made where Paul gives more clear instruction. Three things people do. They till the soil, make raised beds and don't have enough composite soil or a way to continue producing composted soil. These things are very important. Providing compost through chickens, rabbits or horse manure. Paul explains in more detail in the four hour version. The couple who don't know the method are using rabbit manure and I have never seen such a garden and they are providing covering. The veggies I have tasted so far are full of water and tasted so good that I can't eat a regular cucumber from the store, garlic, potato or lettuce. I live on the opposite side of the country from Paul and a covering works. It does not ruin anything. Paul was asked," What about termites." His answer, "Great it helps decompose the wood." Don't till your soil or try raised beds and just follow what he did. Green houses are great, but they must have a few panels open for real sunlight. He goes into detail of how he grew crops next to crops to protect them. Very interesting. My friends through observation found the same thing works for them and they again as I said have not watched Back to Eden.

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William O'Dell

I started my 8,000 sq. ft. BTE garden 12 months ago and absolutely love it. The effort involved is just a fraction of a standard garden. I started my BTE for many reasons mostly to reduce the work load as I am now 67 and wanted to ease my burden for future years. I live in North Central Florida and like most of Florida it is all sand. I started with 5, 000 sq. ft. using paper and four to six inches of quality wood chips, the balance of the garden has 6 inches of oak leaves and 6 inches of wood chips. Both methods are doing great especially in the leave wood chip areas. I am 100% organic so this was right down my alley. Since starting a year ago I have added more wood chips 2 to 3 times as they are breaking down fast. Key is to keep them damp as possible and promote good fungal activity. Weeding is almost a thing of the past. Like Paul, I maintain my whole garden with a single garden rake. Each and every month it just keeps getting better. I use fish emulsion, Mushroom Fungi and compost tea on my garden every two to three weeks. Never had a over water problem to date even with 10 inches of rain in three days, however it can still go dry with the sand as time goes by this will change as well. It rained every day for over 30 days and the garden survived just fine. Plant root systems are abundant and far reaching both lateral and deep. I had huge Candy onions for the first time last spring. Some approached two pounds. I am starting my Fall garden now and am looking forward to the Fall and Winter growing season. I have an abundance of trees and the leaves make a great source to re-mineralize the garden and for adding more organic material. I grow Blue Berries and Black Berries side beside with all sorts of vegetables. My Ph has balanced close to 6.8 to 7.0. all across the garden. I started with 250 cubic yards of quality wood chips and have about 6 full loads left to use as needed. This whole process is about building a living soil that will support abundant growing each and every season. I am a firm believer in this method as the results speak to the validity and truth of the method. My second stage to this process is to build a Chicken operation that will support 30 chickens to give me a full self sustaining garden. Paul has the right idea about chickens, they do make great garden soil if you follow what he actually practices.

Best Regards

Bill

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nature_gardener

Summer dance is the best and most productive cucumber I have ever grown. Have been growing it for several years. We have very hot and humid weather and it likes a little afternoon shade. I get many pounds of cucumbers from one plant and requires no pollinator. I could only get the seed from pine tree seed for several years, but now others are offering it. You can let the fruit get very large and it is still good. zone 8 La.

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daniel_nyc(7a)

My wife’s favorite cucumbers last year, were: Sweeter Yet and Straight Eight.

Mine was Sweet Slice.

I don’t know about Summer Dance.

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