24,795 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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qbush(6, NE MA)

Wow has this been fun to read! I to was having this lack of energy for the garden work, it just seemed endless. But then I hurt my right hand. Nothing helped except staying out of the dirt, so the injury would heal. Three weeks of just watching from the sidelines and having to ask for help with everything has erased my disinterest in the garden. I just have to remember that gardening is not a race, and more is not always better.

This year I focused on less, but better, and some of it worked! We ate broccolli until we were tired of it, less green beans, but fewer tough ones. Rolling crops of beets and carrots, but blighted tomatoes. Plenty of cabbage, more cauliflower than expected, but fewer onions. Melons failed, but sweet potatoes are taking over, well actually Have taken over green house. So I guess it is always a win some lose some proposition, at least winter arrives. Unless New England weather surprises me again!

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qbush(6, NE MA)

Wow has this been fun to read! I to was having this lack of energy for the garden work, it just seemed endless. But then I hurt my right hand. Nothing helped except staying out of the dirt, so the injury would heal. Three weeks of just watching from the sidelines and having to ask for help with everything has erased my disinterest in the garden. I just have to remember that gardening is not a race, and more is not always better.

This year I focused on less, but better, and some of it worked! We ate broccolli until we were tired of it, less green beans, but fewer tough ones. Rolling crops of beets and carrots, but blighted tomatoes. Plenty of cabbage, more cauliflower than expected, but fewer onions. Melons failed, but sweet potatoes are taking over, well actually Have taken over green house. So I guess it is always a win some lose some proposition, at least winter arrives. Unless New England weather surprises me again!

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jean001a(Portland OR 7b)

Next time you have a soil test done, tell them it's for a home garden. That way, the math will be much simpler as it's based on 1000 sq foot areas.

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rrleesb(8)

I had the commercial test done because they don't give organic matter for the home test.

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theforgottenone1013(MI zone 5b/6a)

I'd say for certain it's from the "pepper garlic soap concoction". With homemade sprays you are supposed to test it on a leaf first to see if it has any negative effects, you don't just spray the whole plant without checking. Also, you aren't supposed to spray when the sun is beating down on the leaves (not sure if you did).

What was the "recipe" you used for the spray?

Rodney

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heyitsvic

No, i have tested the spray on a single leaf earlier and the plant did fine, meaning it stayed looking like this. And i just used garlic cloves, cayenne peppers, water, and a bit of unscented dish soap. And i did make sure to only spray the plant in the evening to avoid that issue :) I was just curious to know if this is a case of mosaic virus... i am new to gardening and am in deep fear of encountering the issue... The plant does seem to be doing better, however. Thanks anyway :)

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cherylinaus

.with light shining through leaf.

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goodground(z6 NJ)

Never tried it myself, but I don't think it's good practice to grow in clear cups. Can't tell from your pic if light can get in? I have always used the red/blue grocery store cups as they block light. I drill at least 6-10 holes on the bottom. If the soil drains well, there is no need for pebbles. Not familiar with your mix, but if you are using the one in the link below, it is not for containers. Clear cups with one hole filled with topsoil is a combo for failure. If so, time to go back to the drawing board.

Here is a link that might be useful: Black Earth

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jean001a(Portland OR 7b)

Please avoid the "drainage material" in the bottom. Contrary to popular opinion, it helps to retain moisture in the container.

As for sideways images, that's an issue with images taken w/ Apple products -- iPods, iPads and more.
When the rest of us click such an image, it will come up in a new screen and be both larger and upright.

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mdfarmer

I grew a few different colored orachs this spring, green, yellow and red. The flavor is somewhat similar to spinach, but I didn't think it tasted as good as other greens that I was growing, chard, etc. It's marketed as a warm weather alternative to spinach because it won't bolt in the heat, but the flavor is best in cool weather. It got too strong in summer.

I sell at a farmers' market and a few people bought orach once or twice, but I never heard any rave reviews. I started putting it in salad mix, a few of the varieties I grew had very vibrant coloring that looked very nice in a salad, but that's about it. I'm not sure that I'll grow it again.

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

Yes, it is in the Chenopodiaceae, not the Brassicaceae. It self sows all over my allotment. I use a few baby leaves in early salads when there's not much about but otherwise don't bother to pick it. Chard also self sows and is far more flavoursome imo. and easier to harvest (bigger leaves). I've also added the fresh seed pods to salads but they were uninspiring and tough. It's so easy to grow you've nothing to lose trying it - it requires no care at all.

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

Recently discussed in this forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Will butternut squash continue to ripen after picking?

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nancyjane_gardener(Zone 8ish North of San Francisco in the "real" wine country)

Looks beefsteak to me!
Being in zone 2-3, I would pick those puppies soon and let them ripen on the counter or wrapped in paper in a box in the garage! You don't want to loose them to frost! Nancy

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grandad_2003(9A/sunset 28)

Agree with the above posters... Almost impossible to ID a tomato by look. Best option would be to go back to the dollar store and see if there are any seed packs that look like what you purchased. A second suggestion would be to save the seeds from your tomato harvest, under the assumption that it is not a hybrid.... Dollar stores seldom carry hybrids. (Surf the web on seed saving if you need more info.)

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ltilton

Lot of very knowledgeable people here who'll answer questions. But also some of the other kind, unfortunately

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Deeby

Yes. So far, so good here.

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elisa_z5

It has been zapped by extra terrestrials.
The same ones that make the crop circles.

Sorry, I'm in Halloween mode, it being October 1st and all. My actual best guess is a vole ate its roots.

But doesn't it *look* like it's been zapped by extra terrestrials?

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theforgottenone1013(MI zone 5b/6a)

Doesn't look like root damage to me. Looks like the leaves were eaten. You can see the other plants' leaves getting eaten as well. I'd guess that it was cabbage worms or loopers but I'm not sure if you have those in Australia.

Rodney

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Peter1142(Zone 6b)

As the msds states it is practically non-toxic (that's an actual quote), and that health injuries are not known or expected under normal use, and that it is inherently biodegradable and does not accumulate, I'd say it has a higher safety profile than many organic products. Of course, it can never replace adding rich organic matter to the soil.

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wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana

I have a couple zucchini that were powdery, but they too have some fresh green leaves...especially one of them AND it is without a new fertilizer boost.

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soilent_green

Photo showing scale. Again, if desired, click image to see larger.

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planatus(6)

These look like small versions of "neck" pumpkins, which have an even smaller bulb at the bottom. They are butternuts (C. moschata) which gives them natural resistance to squash vine borers. Most neck pumpkins like Dickinson Field Neck are very large, though. A straight neck is a desirable characteristic, too, for easier processing.

I have had moschatas like this keep for over a year in the basement.

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catherinet(5 IN)

I think the pot is big enough for 1 plant. What kind of soil are you using?
Maybe it's just tired. :)

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thedailyem(7)

Catherine I used a Miracle Gro Potting Mix.

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shermthewerm(8 PNW)

I *think* Walla Wallas should be harvested from June-August, and they do like they're going to flower. Also, (in case you didn't know) they don't keep very well, so break out your recipe book & use those beauties soon! Nice harvest BTW.

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theforgottenone1013(MI zone 5b/6a)

In the future, when the leaves fall over and start to yellow they should be harvested and cured.

Rodney

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jonfrum(6)

Here in the Boston area, our soil is naturally acidic - due to bedrock, rainfall, etc - so I know I can put dolomite lime on the garden and lawn every year and do good things. I just put it down on my cleaned beds for next year, as it needs time to bread down and become bioactive. It's also a good source of calcium, so I kill two birds with one stone.

I always leave the lime out of the bed I'll be using for potatoes next year. If not for the certainty I have about my soil, I would definitely get my soil tested.

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

Yes, it pays to know what kind of bedrock is under you. In areas with limestone bedrock, alkaline soils are pretty much the rule. There are several natural ways to acidify soil, but pyrites, which are common in many different kinds of metamorphic bedrocks, degrade into sulfates, which acidify soil.

Our soil (over limestone) is mildly alkaline, and it is largely a losing battle to try to acidify it. That's because the groundwater is similarly alkaline, so irrigation (which we have to do a LOT of) just kills the acidification you're trying to achieve. Yeah, collecting rainwater would be best, but we just don't get enough.

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