23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
Altito.
I meant what do you do with the harvested tubers. I know how to plant it.
I personaly like to pickle them. They make real crunchy pickle. You can also use the like Chinese water chestnut in stir fry or in soups(as you mentioned) or just raw .
I have never had to cut them back. But I can imagine that if you cut them they should grow more than one branch, just like sun flowers. When you cut them at 3 feet, they will grow branches which the will grow several feet.
pickling sounds delicious; i'll definitely do that next time. cutting at 3 feet does sound better when you explain it like that. it'll make the stem extra sturdy because the new branches should be fairly thin compared to the main stock. i like it. the extra branches should also be great for the bean poles. i planted too many compared to the jerusalem artichokes. this will even out the climbing area. thanks for the tips.
by the way, i'll cut some at 1 and 2 feet as well; for experimental reasons. check out this thread at the end of the season and i'll be sure to post an update.
Carrots are such a cheap item to buy at the store, that I do not bother growing them.
I think wireworms are the problem though, not cutworms. I would think that would be a big PITA to plant each carrot in a toilet paper tube... and not worth the effort for such a low value crop.
Different varieties of potato will different times last before sprouting. Looks like you got a variety that sprouts early. Personally, I'd probably compost those and start over. If you really want to use your own seed potatoes, you need to find varieties that will hold up until Spring.
If you want to plant those, go for it. It will be a learning experience.
Waaaaaaaaaay too early for setting them out in ME in my opinion. I am in NJ, and with the odd spring this year (even in a normal season) I would not set out my watermelons or any cucurbits yet. I normally do that sometime around this week or next, once the night time temps are averaging in the mid 50's or so.
This weeks local alt rag actually has a good idea - kale floret pesto. I'll be freezing a batch of this!
http://citypaper.com/special/sizzlinsummer/marketable-skills-1.1489203
Here is a link that might be useful: Kale floret pesto
OP here.
I think I'm in the clear. See pics below for how I protected my cukes and others these last three nights.
I stapled the 6 mil plastic sheeting into the bed frames and during the day I pulled some of the corners off to prevent getting stewed veggies.
At night I re-stapled to keep the cold air out.
My zuchinni plant actually liked the conditions under the plastic because when I pulled if off this morning, I saw my first flower bloom. Which actually answers another question from another thread I posted last week...the topic of whether or not my seedlings were too big to transplant.
This post was edited by njitgrad on Wed, May 15, 13 at 11:11
There are many good "hole prep" discussions over on the Tomato forum.
When doing hole prep rather than whole bed prep (the best method) then you have to start with a much bigger hole for each plant. 3x wider and at least 2x deeper than normal and you mix the 3T of fertilizer in well throughout the entire hole area as the instructions indicate. Then put in the plant.
You do NOT want all the fertilizer concentrated in one area. You want it where the roots will find it as they grow and expand.
Peppers and herbs have very different nutrient requirements from tomatoes. So with that particular fertilizer - Eggplant yes, peppers use only 1/2 as much, herbs none.
Dave
Thank you, I will follow your advice about spreading out the fertilizer and the amounts for the eggplant and peppers.
For next season, how soon in advance do you recommend I add the fertilizer and mix into the soil?
My raised beds for tomatoes are only 2x4, or 8 sq ft, so I would use about 1/6th of the 9 cups for 50 sq ft. Basically 1.5 cups per bed, sprinked uniformly on top and then worked in with a hoe or hand raked in to a depth of about 4 inches. Does that sound about right?
For the containers I'm assuming it should be mixed in a wheelbarrow prior to filling the containers. 30 parts of gowing mix to 1 part of fertilizer.
Georgia Jet gets a lot of recomendatons for northern gardeners. never grown it. have grown Beauregard and Covington. Covington may be slightly more flavorful, but there is very little difference in growtg habits and production. Both have rampant vines which bloom a lot. Very Pretty.
Covington
In my experience Ga Jet will always produce a crop, but many will be huge "lunkers". Beauregard is a better potato, and I've seed very impressive numbers on the yield of Covington though I haven't grown it myself yet. I like the way Beauregard runs about 6 feet and smothers weeds.
A couple of years ago I tossed a mango seed on my compost heap. Everyday I would put kitchen scraps, grass clippings, etc. (typical compost heap) on top. Then I went on vacation. When I got back I had an 18-inch mango sprout coming up. Therefore, I would cover the seed.
Also, I just noticed that you are using a water softener.. that may be part of your issue, those tend to add a lot of salt to your water and are generally not reccomended to use for irrigating plants...
Let me guess - you bought the Jiffy "Organic" Seed starting mix this year? Gold foil-like package? Notice the difference in the texture and consistency? Been lots of complaints about it over on the Growing from Seed forum here the past 2 years since it came out.
Yes it gets crusty, no it is not sterile - has all sorts of composted chicken manure and feather meal added - and yes, germination rates seem to be very reduced.
Even the traditional Jiffy mix gets very mixed reviews at best but the so-called "organic" stuff seems to be causing folks even more problems than the traditional mix ever did.
Sorry for all the problems but for next year it really is worth investing a bit more in a quality, sterile seed starting mix. There are many brands available. ProMix BX is often recommended as the best but Johnny's also sells a good one as do several other seed suppliers. Fox Farm is another brand I have seen good reviews on.
Dave