23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
I think I'm going to end up buying and putting down mini bark nuggets on Monday unless I get a better suggestion before that.
Pine straw sounded like my best option but is not available at any of my local garden centers. Online it is $59 for a box delivered, a bit more than I want to pay for a cover.
I am not going to a coffee house to ask for grinds. Besides it would take a long time to accumulate the quantity I need. I want to put the cover down all at once.
I an not going to use straw (whole or shredded) based on the possiblity of it having been previously treated with something (there is another thread in the soil forum that I created after I started this thread in the veggie forum).
Actually, I've put some toothpicks into a sweet potato, put the bottom half in water (changing the water every couple of days) and had the vines grow all the way around my kitchen window! It would save some garden space and you'd have them right there in the house year round!
I'm hoping I'm not confusing sweet potatoes with yams (if there's a difference) I don't know, I don't eat either one.LOL Nancy
What they commonly sell as "Yams" in the USA are sweet potatoes. There are actual yams, but they are not common in the US.
Sweet Potatoes are easy to grow, especially if all you care about is the leaves. The vines could be ornamental, just like the light green and purple types they sell for just the looks.
Frankly, I would just restart them directly in the ground. You haven't really lost much time, plus pumpkins don't have to be picked until October. I'm not even starting my pumpkins or melons yet. Will direct seed them late May or Early June, and the pumpkins will probably still be ready too early.
Thanks all.... I hardened a little - only a couple days. IT seems to be doing better... I didn't rip the bottom of the peat pot off but the roots were already starting to come out the bottom of it so I did not want to hurt anything... thanks for the follow up.
Uaskigyrl, you have a great attitude! All new gardeners make mistakes, so expecting them and having fun with them is the best way to learn. :)
Dave, you taught me something new. I had no idea about the roots of marigolds and sunflowers having a growth retardant affect. Does that apply in the main garden, too, or just containers? I don't generally companion plant, but I'd be curious how far away marigolds need to be planted from veggie crops to be "safe".
And me too. I knew about sunflowers, did not know about marigolds.....So maybe it was the marigolds in the early years that were causing less than outstanding tomatoes....maybe I double dug my beds for nothing? Either way, no more marigolds with tomatoes.
Something to plant? No.
What you can do is add beneficial nematodes to the soil and let them take care of them but based on your previous post about this your problem is minimal you said - 8 worms in traps - so the cost of b. nems might not be justified. In such a small area as your garden using several potato traps should get most of them but be sure to check them daily.
If you have no objections to chemicals then this fall you can treat the bed well to kill them off before planting next.
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: your previous post
See pics below. Note pic of flying ants vs. termites.
Here is a link that might be useful: Pics of migrating termites
Glad to know!
The black part seems to be growing and spreading on the leaf and some of the other leaves is having tiny bit for dark parts on the edge as well.
edit: went out and took a quick picture
This post was edited by bobosaur on Fri, May 17, 13 at 15:20
Harvesting should be done when heads are tight.
You'll know when it's a tad late when the florets start to separate. You'll then know for future harvests.
t-bird: give them some time -- most heading broccoli, in my experience, take about 80-90 days to harvest.
Kevin
Yea, 40 is about the max for that space, maybe a few less is better. Trimming suckers is one of those topics people can discuss forever, but my opinion is leave them alone. Suckers often tastle, which is helpful in smaller plantings for pollination. Sometimes you even get some good ears on the bigger suckers.
Don't forget to side dress with a nitrogen rich fertilizer once or twice as the corn grows.
Yes, the oaks leaf-out very late here because of the cool maritime spring (I guess). Beeches and maples are leafed, mostly. Further inland the oaks will be more advanced. Probably it is about equal here to way upstate NY.
I just chopped down mine a week ago. :) They are pretty, for sure. I left one for the bees, though they have plenty other sources... Like my strawberries! Do you just let that self sow?