23,594 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
I agree completely about the squash as sensors. They're the sensitive ones. When they wilt, I water them. Every other time, I water everything else.
But in general, when things wilt a little, put on water. They won't mind being thirsty briefly. The squash perk back up in an hour or two. You'll develop a keen eye for when things look like they're drooping a bit.
The inches/week also depends enormously on sunlight, temperature, and humidity. If I did one inch/week in a central Texas summer, everything would be dead.
DO NOT keep the top of the soil moist. That's fungus heaven.
Well unfortunately I don't have any squash right now lol. I did decide to mist all the seedlings that have sprouted (lettuce, kohlrabi, a few herbs and flowers) since it hit almost 90 today. But tonight it's supposed to start raining for several days straight so I'm hoping they all do ok.
No.. Lol. I watched a you tube video explaining how to grow them vertically so you can fit more plants in a smaller space. It said to use soft thick rope and tie the stem to a heavy tall garden stake every few inches. Once you harvest zucchini, cut off any leaves below the fruit line and move the rope up. It's working pretty well actually. I'll take a picture of the full plant when I get home from work tonight. :)
Watering any plant isn't a set a schedule thing. Sometimes it might be every day sometimes once a week. It all depends on your soil and the weather, the needs of the plant since all don't need the same amount, and in the ground or in a container. Depending on where you are located every other day could easily be over-watering.
But as a general rule watering less frequently and deeper is.much better that watering frequently and more shallow. It isn't the surface of the soil that you go by, it is the moisture level down at the roots. Stick your finger deep into the soil. If it is still cool and at all moist or damp, don't water.
Keep in mind that most gardeners OVER-water and that most all plants will tolerate too little water much better than they will too much water, so when in doubt, don't water.
Dave
If one does decide to use a pesticide it is imperative that one follows the label directions to the letter. So many bees have been killed by people who do not take the time to read instructions. Farmers around here are now "beekeeping" so their crops will get pollinated!
Deborah....are you CERTAIN that your "black and orange babies " were assassin bugs? Because when I hear a description just like yours ON TOMATOES, I'd suggest that leaf footed bug nymphs are present. They appear in large numbers. The adults look quite similar to ordinary stinkbugs.
Hi folks :).
I love leeks,, and grow about a hundred each year from seed. January is the perfect time to start them, in the PNW.
I clean them by peeling back each outer leaf about 2" and washing under it.
I am a weirdo and like to eat the green parts too, so I don't blanch them. I don't trim them while growing, either.
At harvest, I trim each leaf where it transitions from tough to tender (I do this by feeling them). I use the cut-off straps to make stock, and eat the tender green parts and the white.
Braised leeks are fantastic! I also use leeks in place of onions or shallots, in nearly everything I make. Stir-fry, soups, casseroles... they are great in Thai chicken curry, for example.
I've taken to 'recycling' leeks bought at the store or farmers market. Cut off the bottom 1 or 2 cm and plant.
I've been doing it with green onions (japanese bunching onion) for about a year, and have enough to eat some green onions every day. Now I've added leeks, but it will take a while to build up a collection of them.
I plan on growing them as cut-and-come again leeks, we'll see how that goes.
Regardless, poo of any sort is not generally a good idea in the garden until it's been composted for a couple years. Although around shrubs and trees it's ok.
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NILA
The above is correct or chicken poops but not the case for rabbit poops. I use fresh rabbit poops for my vegetable especially Okra. My 0kra gets 8-9 feet tall and abundance of fruits.
I'm always learning from other experienced growers and Bunty is one of the best I know, this video blog format means it is easy to follow here grow many crops from seed to harvest . . .
These gardening networks are all about sharing information and Bunty's blog is a wealth of great information.
Here is a link that might be useful: Bunty's Blog
seedlings die in dark
Uhhh, you need to explain this comment, at least in the context of this question.
There is no need to leave grow lights on 24 hours a day as plants do benefit from a few hours of darkness daily to complete the photosynthesis cycle. But a few days of 24 hour light isn't going to damage them.
So seedlings do NOT die in the dark. If they did millions of nurseries and growers would be out of business. Not to mention Mother Nature.
Dave
Hey all,
I just returned lights were on for 36 hours just about and they seem fine. Here is the photo I just took, thanks for the comments and great advice.
Now I am gona shut them off at the usual time so I don't break the routine until I get that timer this week.
-Thanks agian,
- Mr Beno
I think you'll be ok, as others have said in different posts, you may need to add some Nitrogen. I would not just go adding lime or dolomite though. You should probably get a soil test done first to see what if anything you need to add to the soil. Check with your local university's agriculture dept, they often will do soil tests for low cost.
I would also not worry about the fungus from the decaying wood, that will most likely help rather than harm anything.
I think I would put more than 6 inches of top soil over the area.
Although you ground down the stumps and surface roots, there are far many more subsurface roots that you're going to have to contend with. I've done the very same thing that you're doing, and I found out the hard way. I'd also till the area as deeply as possible.
Vanlsle_BC, thanks for the link. That's what I was seeing. Tomorrow they both go.
Hopefully my handpicking is coming to an end as I got notice today that my ladybugs have shipped and should be here the end of the week. Sure hope that they arrive hungry....
wolverine1012; please don't forget to post follow-ups on the effectiveness of the ladybugs.