23,594 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

Looks fine.. The very first leaves(cotyledon) Alway die off, they are there to produce food for the plant so she can get off to a good start.. They always die off, you plant looks fine... If the new green foliage looks fine, I wouldn't worry.. Water thoroughly, then le it dry out.. You want it like a consistency of a rung out sponge.. It seems like your growing them fine, get on growing my friend!
Joe

Thanks for info Anne and Dave, forgot to mention I grew the potatoes in multi purpose compost that I bought so maby it was mushroom compost of some sort. Also we had bit of rain last week so that would explain a lot then. New to this site and gardening in general, iam from Scotland. Will add location in future posts.
Nick

Thanks for info Anne and Dave, forgot to mention I grew the potatoes in multi purpose compost that I bought so maby it was mushroom compost of some sort. Also we had bit of rain last week so that would explain a lot then. New to this site and gardening in general, iam from Scotland. Will add location in future posts.
Nick

Bush Slicer, Little leaf, Fanfare. Even the bush varieties my develop short vines (depends on variety) but vertical trellising is the solution for small spaces.
Why not post over on the Sq Foot Gardening forum here for their recommendations and on the Container Gardening forum too?
Dave


Hot and sticky (though not as hot as Nancy's!) here. Planted more peppers yesterday and a couple of tomatoes that were starting to blossom in 1 gal pots. Was going to plant the rest of my peppers today (maybe 12 or so, have 61 in the ground, I always end up planting more than I originally planned - in this case b/c somene gave me some new varieties). But more severe T-storms predicted tonight/tomorrow so didn't want to risk them. Some of the ones I planted yesterday were leaning, had mulch (hay) blown over them just from a brief storm yesterday. Of course Thurs they had predicted strong storms and we got some wind (thought it was going to rip the squash out) but only 1/2" of rain. Been picking up branches all month, DH keeps fixing the road whenever it washes out.


Near Denver, CO - 'been in the mid 90's and near 100 off and on - mostly on. I figured I was ripped off by the nursery. I planted seeds but one out of 12 germinated - again too late. I think it was first week of June - couldn't get the garden prepared before that. I understand no seed will germinate when temps are over 85. Bummed.
Westy

I have a problem with a zucchini squash plant. I had a female flower and I was anxiously awaiting it to open. I went to check it at 6am this morning. It wasn't open, but the tip appeared to be brown. I opened the flower and the ovum (?) was brown. Is this going to be able to be pollinated or is it bad? Is it the heat or other factor. This plant has already produced a few good squash.


Adult Agapostemon splendens (Lepeletier), a sweat bee.
Pollinator...good to have.
Here is a link that might be useful: sweat bee, figure 3

Well, you can use my suggestion above and bag your grass clippings when you mow. (If you have a bagger) just be sure to dry them out first before putting them on the garden. The reason for this is when the grass clippings decompose, they get HOT. And could potentially harm your plants. I work at the Home Depot garden center and a lot of people use straw. We also sell pine straw, a little pricier, but works well. I would not use landscaping or wood mulch. You could also use leaves. We take the leaves off our neighbors hands in the fall and till them in in the spring, because not only are they a great mulch, but an excellent soil amendment. So. There are lots of options, just depends on what your can get your hands on.... I've also heard ppl using cardboard, newspaper....etc. There are lots of benefits to mulching: less weeding, less washing away of soil, keeps soil cool and moisture in after a rain, less splashing of dirt on leaves of plants which reduce diseases spreading. Hope this helps.
Alley

University of California Cooperative Extension
San Diego County Farm & Home Advisor
5555 Overland Avenue, Bldg. 4
San Diego, CA 92123-1219
(858) 694-2845
If I recall correctly.. if not, they should be able to point you in right direction.
If not them, try the master gardener hotline between 9am and 3pm at (858) 822-6910
It's been a few years.
Good luck.
Kevin



That looks a bit like bruising, and is exactly the color you get when cut basil is exposed to air for a while. (Oxidation.) That's why you don't cut basil and leave the pieces exposed to the air. Instead, you cut (blend, chop, tear) the basil with oil. The oil covering the leaves keeps the air out. That's how pesto keeps from turning brown.
But yes, when washing the leaves before making pesto, just hose em' down and drain. Don't squeeze or flex them by hand.

Have you used any fertilizer? They might appreciate some compost or a good balanced fertilizer. Also, they do have a finite life span, which is why succession planting is a good idea. Put a few new seeds in the ground every month so new plants will take off when the old ones are in decline.
Here is a link that might be useful: What's Growing On?

I did spread some organic manure compost recently just over the top of the entire bed...this was about a week after I applied the fish emulsion. That's really the only fertilizing I've done since planting in March.
I didn't realize that about their life span. I do have a lot of seeds left...would you just bury them in between the others?? I currently have eight plants equally spaced in each square foot. Would that make them too crowded?

Thanks to all for your input. I'm getting back to gardening after about a 20 year layoff. I lost my first round of starts to gophers. The second round was planted during constant winds in northern CA. I've never had a wind problem before. The plants were healthy when set out and the soil in the raised beds is rich. We learn each year for the next one. :) Thank



With the cabbage, the question is whether the caterpillar is down there in the center of the head. Holes in the outer leaves aren't a problem in themselves, but they signal the possibility of a problem you're not seeing.
Best thing to fight the Cabbage Loopers is called Bacilus thuringiensis aka Bt aka Garden Safe Bt Worm & Caterpliiar Killer. I get it at Lowe's; I would imagine just about any store with a decent garden center has it. This is my first year growing broccoli and I;m wondering about head formation, too. Good luck!
Edie