23,822 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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clorpt

Usually asparagus is fairly cheap. Were these bare roots?

It is going to take 3 years before a good crop happens. I have never staked any asparagus.
If you have critter damage you just need to protect them in some way.
Fed them heavily, make sure the soil is rich and deep and they should eventually reward you.
I guess patience is the key ingredient in growing asparagus.

    Bookmark     June 6, 2013 at 3:18AM
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macky77(2a)

Kevin... Alas, the bane of my existence strikes again... too short of a season! ;) But yeah, my main heads of broccoli average 1 to 1.5 lbs each. Love that!

QBush... re: right fertilizer at the right time...

I test and then feed the soil in the spring (if needed), use a soluble starter fertilizer when I transplant (I start my own from seed) and then add nothing the rest of the season. My neighbour down the road (we're rural) has very similar soil, but they don't add as much organic matter as we do. She plops greenhouse starts in the dirt, waters when she remembers, doesn't fertilize... and gets lovely heads every year.

Could it be that brassicas *like* to be somewhat starved in order to form nice heads (or sprouts in the case of the Brussels)?

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 9:56PM
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woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a

Never heard that one macky. I think they all prefer pretty fertile soil. I think it's all about a timing thing. I've had differently timed successions of broccoli and cauli in the same plot turn out different sized heads. I can plant them from Aug-Feb, but I notice the closer I get to the winter solstice to planting, the smaller the head. Which makes sense because the amount of sunlight. I also notice that my winter harvests(when planted in late/summer/early fall) are a bit better than my early summer summer harvests.

With my Brussels, I get big plants and I get sprouts. They're just always loose leaf sprouts. I read last year that July is supposed to be optimum for them here, so I'll give it one more shot I don't know how that's supposed to work out though -- our summers don't really get going until late july.

Kevin

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 11:28PM
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hnycrk(8a)

My garden is the first place I go in the morning, and the last place I go in the evening.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 9:18PM
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cb-garden(6b heatzone 7 Perry county tn)

The house ee live in we are renting but we are looking to buy it. Its a beautiful piece of property. The house sets on a hill and my garden is down by the creek. I have big plans for the yard but i don't wanna do to much till after we close on it. After that let the games begin. We also have a natural pond that i wanna turn into a koi pond. I dream about it at night. In obsessed.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 9:29PM
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fruitychick(8a)

I have ants all over my plants as well--especially the cucumbers. They don't seem to be a problem though. At least, I don't have any of the yellowing leaves like you do, so the leaf problem might not be related.

I'm a beginner as well though, so someone else might have better advice.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 6:05PM
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ottk2007

Thank you, Aili. The ants don't seem to be eating anything that I can see...just traveling like an army.
Fruity chick, good luck with your garden! :-)

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 9:03PM
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yayasgirls

The drip system can be the culprit but it has been very hot and dry in NorthernCalifornia. They are bell pepers not hot but that was the only group coming Up when I searched for pepper answer. We have been having colder nights very common here. Have to stop at nursery later
Thanks

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 11:00AM
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woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a

Same rules apply for bells than hot peppers when it comes to watering, soil, ferts.

Let them almost wilt before giving a good soak.

Also, folks over in the hot pepper forum are more than willing to help you with SWEET peppers.

Kevin

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 6:20PM
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ikea_gw

I pick them on the morning that they open. Bugs is often a problem, especially ants, inside the flowers. Though I am not grossed out eating them, I'd prefer to check and clean the inside first. Another consideration is if you are going to stuff it, since it is easier to stuff the flowers if they are not closed. You can pick them and keep stems in water in a cup in the fridge. They will last til the evening that way.

    Bookmark     June 9, 2010 at 1:00PM
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superOK

How do you know if you're picking off the blossoms before pollination has happened? I would think the more you pick the blossoms, the more it will lessen your chances of pollination.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 2:27PM
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ltilton

That's when it's possible to try. The fact that it's in a raised bed may make it easier to get the crowns out w/o damaging them.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:21PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Yep no problem after the plants go dormant. Just be sure to take a big root ball dirt and all with each one and be sure to have the new bed already ready for them to go in.

Dave

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:38PM
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edweather(Zone 5a/b Central NY)

What does the raised bed soil consist of? Is that mulch on top? How's the drainage? How much rain did you get? Looks like they survived the frost ok, but you are right, they are very small. Are they possibly rootbound? What did you transplant them from, and how long ago?

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:20PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

At the very least that plant needs a good dose of fertilizer. Like Ed said that soil looks awfully wood chippy. If it is like that throughout then much of the nitrogen in the soil is locked up by the decomposing wood chips.

Lots of rain, especially in poorly draining soil, quickly leads to yellowing of leaves and the root rot that develops in overly wet soil can lead to stunted plants.

If it were my bed I'd mix in a good dose of of a dry nitrogen fertilizer throughout the bed and see if things didn't improve quickly.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Tomatoes forum here

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:25PM
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edweather(Zone 5a/b Central NY)

That's a very broad question. What kind of fertilizer? Are there instructions on the package? 5-7 inches sounds about right as far as distance. Not sure if I would put it into 'holes.' Just spread it evenly around and work it into the top of the soil.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:24PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

If you'll go over to the Growing Tomatoes forum here (linked on this forum's front page) you'll find numerous threads running right now on your question about pruning. They even have a detailed FAQ all about it and the effects it has.

Pruning the ends off of leaves (leaf branches) normally poses no problems as long as you don't get carried away. Make a note for next year to increase the spacing. I know Sq Foot gardening recommends 2 sq foot each but many fine 3 sq' works much better.

Dave

PS: Just in case you didn't know there is also a SQ Foot Gardening forum here that deals with the issues unique to that form of gardening.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato forum

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:20PM
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gbecki49

Thanks to both of you for your responses. Good thing I have 2 other varieties going; one we direct sowed from seed and the other, we got as plants from a different nursery. I'm going to assume the ones that are bolting need to head to the composter?

    Bookmark     June 4, 2013 at 10:06PM
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farmerdill

Those tiny heads are edible, you just don't get any quantity.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 8:09AM
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NilaJones(7b)

>>To clarify, IS there a benefit to spraying the leaves with a soap solution if you don't see any bugs on them?

If you know what aphids look like, then probably not. If you don't know what they look like, then maybe :).

Mine were the color of the leaf, and smaller than the head of a pin, and buried deep in the crevices of the undersides of the leaves.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:50AM
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seysonn(8a WA/HZ 1)

A lot of responses. I have not read all of them but here is my 2 cents worth of suggestion:

If I were you, I would just direct sow and forget those plants. They don't look healthy for whatever the reason. It could possibly be stressed and will not develop into vigorous plants. My cucumbers were cold stressed too, I just pulled them and planted another series.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 5:17AM
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seysonn(8a WA/HZ 1)

I would say fertilize and water more often. Also mulch the hills with straw, pine needles, to keep the roots cooler and maintain moisture longer.

I think on the trellis they loose water much faster under Texas sun as opposed to laying down on the ground. That is one reason they need moisture.

PS: Post a picture , if you may. So people here can help you better.

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 3:24AM
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CaraRose

I'm pretty sure you need a male cuke to pollinate. I believe if you have a normal variety nearby, it would also work..

    Bookmark     June 5, 2013 at 12:40AM
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john9001(SW, PA, 6)

Preen makes two types of pre-emergent weed preventer, one has trifluralin the other is just corn gluten, the corn one is labeled "organic". after a while the corn gluten turns to fertilizer. Read the labels.

    Bookmark     June 4, 2013 at 5:19PM
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barbe_wa

It's the organic one that I use.

    Bookmark     June 4, 2013 at 11:51PM
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