23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
Just some thoughts and observations, not entirely sure of the science, tho....
I've noticed much earlier snow melt on the east side of fields bordered by trees both to the east and west. As I see it, both receive equal sun, but due to warmer air temps during the afternoon sun times there is greater warming and melting of the snow in the areas that are sunny in the afternoon.
I've also noticed frozen soil longer in the spring on the west edge of a high sided, incompletely filled raised bed that I attribute to similar causes.
Perhaps your soil temps on the east side are higher even during warmer weather because of a similar effect and give faster growth. Might try sticking a soil (or meat) thermometer into the soil to check temps in the different areas.
I wonder if this also dries out the soil on the east side faster. This could increase growth during wet times and cold times (again partly from warmer soil.) Once summer heat or dry conditions come, it might not be an advantage, though.
Great thanks. I didn't know that not picking them frequently slows down their production. I have been snipping off yellow/damaged leaves, mostly from the hardening process. This shouldn't hurt growth in any way right? I've been cutting each leaf right by its branch, leaving the branch sticking out from the stem.
You sound just like him. Lol i live in a very small town in the middle of no where. The nearest walmart is 30 some miles away. Dollar general is thru most happen spot in town. I live on 29 acres surrounded by hills and we have a creek and pond. We have horses in a nice pasture. I don't want to move. He says he will make more but the cost of living is slot higher out there from what i understand.
Cb-garden
Don't be afraid of messing up. Gardening is supposed to be fun- we all make mistakes (and come here to laugh about them). If you obsess on perfection, you won't achieve it and you won't be happy.
Probably the worst that will happen is something won't grow. The next worst is you will be so successful (zucchini) that you will have wheelbarrowfuls of produce.
I've heard of using broccoli leaves in place of cabbage to make rolls, so I tried it last year... after the broccoli headed. The leaves were very, very tough, much more so than any cabbage. I didn't try using them again, though I suppose I could have tried cooking them longer before making the rolls. I think younger, pre-heading leaves might taste better. Perhaps growing a row with tighter spacing just for the purpose of leaves?
I'd think they'd be more like collards, which imo, like to be cooked a long time. The reason I don't harvest broccoli leaves is because i usually have collards and kale going at the same time.
Nope. After my 1st and successful attempt at cabbage this past winter with Napa, it has now become my "go to" for that.
Kevin
Mine own DH thought the wood ashes would be great for the garden but wasn't sure so he dumped them mostly in one pile, which became one soaking wet, cement-looking heap that made me say "What is that??!!" Got most of it out since I want to plant tomoatoes in that area this year.
Well, my plants are looking great, just forgot about the "extra" stuff added and added a little more! Oh MY!
I do have some flowers happening!
Should I just flood them to get rid of some of the xtra?
Its as much about how you plant them as what they look like. Dont plant them in rows - plant them in groups, as you would any annual - mix them up or create patterns. There is a current post in the Potager forum about someones new front yard edible landscaping - take a look at that.
Here is a link that might be useful: Edible Landscape
wolverine's right. Broccoli does the side shooting ..LOL
I wouldn't have pulled them -- some times(I've noticed) it was a rush of warmth that finally kicked my brassicas into heading.. Especially the broccoli -- not nearly as finicky to the heat as cauli.
Kevin
Probably not much at this point since they're so small. And since I don't know how much rainfall you'll get, you'll have to play that by ear. Almost all veggies prefer MOIST soil. Not wet.
One thing i noticed though -- no mulch. After you finally thin down to one plant per 18", you'll probably want to lay down 2-3" of mulch. This will help greatly with keeping the soil moist and cool throughout the coming hot season.
Kevin
Possibly what you see is what you will get. Both onions and carrots are small seeds and therefore require very fine soil in their bed. I have had good success broadcasting carrot seeds in a well worked bed and then cover with a thin layer of potting type soil (1/8") You might want to start over with the carrots (?)
It seems very late to be doing anything with onions. They are light sensitive and should have been planted months ago. Even if you had onion seedlings, it would be very late to be be starting now. Here in Zone 8, I am now harvesting (delicious) Keepsake onions which were planted in mid-August and over-wintered. And also have several long day varieties which have not bulbed yet and were planted as seedlings in March
I hardened them for about 10 days but the weather was so erratic, it was hard to get a few consecutive days in a row. I'd just leave them on the sill and open the window. I think next year I'm just going to direct seed them into the ground or use cloches or something.
Most of these critters come out at night to chew on your cucumbers. Most likely it's slugs and/or snails. If it was the beetle, he would bore a hole through the stem and eat your cukes from the inside out. I would recommend using diatomaceous earth. It's relatively cheap and has worked well for me. Just sprinkle around your plants. It also improves your soil composition in the process and adds a lot to trace minerals to the ground.
I caught some slugs munching on the leaves of my duke start which caused the plant to die. Look for slugs late at night and if you see some, get sluggo.