23,594 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
Don't know whether this thread has been closed or not... but since this thread no longer shows up on search results, I am bumping it to keep it from dropping off the radar. Please use the new thread, Unusual/Odd Veggies, for posts on this topic.
Almost lost this thread, it no longer came up in search results... but I had saved it in my clippings. Bumping to keep it in the active archive. Again, please do not post on this thread, but use the current "What's Your Favorite Unusual Vegetable" thread.
Kale is starting, spinach just a few since seeding on Tuesday (too warm at 67 degrees? About to move everything to basement). Lettuce germinated in 3 days and it's crowded - I tried for 5 seeds per cell since seed was packed for 2012, I bought it end of year to use 2013. But some cells have a dozen seedlings in them!
When to thin (1-2" like outside)? Can these be separated and when? Starting peppers today.
Fungus gnats could have been my issue in the past with the plant I brought to the office that had been outdoors. I've not really had issues with seed starting and bugs before now but since I was starting seeds in the office I didn't want this to be the first time.
So I have a related question, when you guys start peppers or tomatoes at how many days or at what stage of their growth do you move them to pots? I think in the past I've kept them in the tray weeks too long.
Last year I tried spigariello for the third time (it's never done very well for me), and sowed it in mid April right next to Gailan. The Gailan was so much more vigorous and the taste was so similar that I'll never bother with spigariello again.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I decided to go with red clover, ? with oats as a nurse crop? (that would suppress weeds better?)
How soon can we plant it? (there's currently 2 feet of snow on the ground, so it won't be very soon but can it be planted once the ground thaws in April? or does it need to wait until after the last frost (traditionally Memorial Day around here)?
Thanks!
What Dave said. Another thing though. Whether you use water, insecticidal soap, neem oil, or something else; you have to stay diligent. Instead of the recommended weekly treatments on the bottle for heavy infestations, try every 3-4 days for the 1st couple weeks until you can bring down the populations. Aphids reproduce at very rapid rates, so really attacking them is key, IMO. You could also release some ladybugs or lacewing larvae to clean up the guys. If you do, no pesticides.
Good luck
Kevin
According to my Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America it is classed as a medicinal plant only, not for regular consumption. It has potential cardiac, hypoglycemic, and respiratory side-effects that could be potentially hazardous if not used correctly. It is usually used as a tea or a decoction.
Dave
Most tarps let through way too much light Cardboard seems to be the unanimous choice. You might also try black plastic or even clear. With clear you want to make sure the area is thoroughly watered, tuck it in real well, and do it in the middle of summer --- you lose a season, but it solarizes the soil and kills anything a foot down. Don't worry about the worms and microorganisms.. they'll come back.
Also, to keep weeds down to a minimum, after planting your garden, mulch heavily. The few weeds that may come will be poorly anchored and can be pulled with a slight tug.
kevin
jean001, thanks for posting about day length sensitivity. I read it someplace but don't remember where (pre-internet days I think) but since I started planting spinach as soon as possible in the spring here in NH, I've gotten a good crop. I direct seed. I think the easiest way to get early spinach would be to direct seed in the fall and let it overwinter. That worked perfect for me one year even when we had little snow cover. This is our second winter with a high tunnel and last year we had too much spinach in winter so I didn't direct seed in the outside garden.
I direct seeded some about two weeks ago and they are emerging. The weather here at the PNW, has been in the range of low 30s to low/mid 50s., with lots of rain, clouds. This tells me that you should germinate Spinach in cool temperatures. You don't need a heating mat, You don't need too much warmth. Probably an unheated garage would've been just fine.
It's been awhile since I've grown green beans but varieties of bush beans I know of will grow all of their beans in a short period of time. For these you will need to grow more than one row/group to get a continuous crop. Whereas pole beans will not produce as many beans at a time but have a longer production time. My recollection is that bush beans were better for me. But, as I said long production bush beans were not available at the time.
Dan
Nice. A fair amount of work if one has lots of plants to label but and using thicker aluminum would not only be free, recycle aluminum cans, but the tags last for multiple seasons and no wire needed.
Dave
PS: You could have just added this to your previous post on this. That keeps all the info together for all to see. No need for a new thread.
Here is a link that might be useful: Your previous post on this issue
Dave thank you the tip on adding it to my similar post I'm rather new at posting and sharing ideas using the computer. I started making tags for my orchard [grafting] and morphed it into the garden.I see your point on construction time, it would indeed be faster and easier to use an different method , mini blinds and industrial sharpies [thank you xxxxx] for that information. I never knew industrial sharpies existed and combined with minnie blinds --fast and permanent and nonreflective -- my new method,as soon as my alum. markers get lost.
However- have already tried alum cans and dicarded them as they do not emboss as deeply and therefor are harder to read as" pie pan aluminum" and it is somewhat more difficult to cut out of the can as opposed to a flat pan.
delete - I was attempting humor. Sorry.
This post was edited by albert_135 on Sat, Mar 15, 14 at 15:53
Don't blame the gnomes! It was the gremlins!
Take advantage of your bum foot and hire someone to prep your garden this year! Then all you have to do is water and pick! Nancy