23,821 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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mfran12345 (Zone 6b, northeast PA)

Laceyvail you grow your onions in a flat? Like what people start seeds in? I'm a little confused, am I missing something here. do you transplant them then? If you could explain a little more I'd really appreciate it. Thanks

    Bookmark     February 27, 2015 at 4:59AM
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laceyvail(6A, WV)

Yes, of course I transplant them. Usually in mid-late April. And while they're in the flat, I keep trimming them back with scissors to about 3 inches.

    Bookmark     February 27, 2015 at 7:10AM
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jnjfarm_gw(5a)

I assume you mean hydroponic. I would suggest you go on youtube to MHPGARDENER page and look at his trials using organic nutrient in hydroponics. Bobby has done several side by side trials. with the same results.

    Bookmark     February 27, 2015 at 5:35AM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

I'd suggest you ask the folks over on the Hydroponic forum here. And a quick search there pulls up several discussions on nutrient sources.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/hydro

    Bookmark     February 27, 2015 at 6:43AM
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fresc1000

Variable year to year here, but usually 120 frost free days, though lots of 40 degree days till may. Summer temps average 70 or 80 but can get in the 90s with heat index up to 100. Very humid here.

    Bookmark     February 26, 2015 at 4:18PM
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gridgardener

you need at least 75-90 days warm weather and temp over 75 during day since sweet potatoes don't like cool weather or cool soil. hoop house may be needed for early part of season to prewarm the soil.

    Bookmark     February 26, 2015 at 6:14PM
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

Grid, describe that procedure, please. With a steam machine or flame weeder?

    Bookmark     February 26, 2015 at 5:26PM
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gridgardener

bonfire according to Charles Wilber

like you could steam or flame cage with out missing parts

if cage is coated full bleach immersion might be only option

    Bookmark     February 26, 2015 at 6:09PM
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ancientthis news just in-23 year old lettuce seeds do not germinate.
Posted by davids10 z7a nv. February 12, 2015
7 Comments
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SouthCountryGuy Zone 4b-5 SE BC(Zone 4b-5 SE BC Canada)

Shall I come over with my carbon dating equipment to validate age of the seeds?

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 1:13PM
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daves10z7annv

don't make a special trip, but if you're in the neighborhood. . . . . .

    Bookmark     February 26, 2015 at 11:37AM
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dave_f1 SC, USDA Zone 8a(7b)

How about just planting your spuds into slightly raised hills (or level) and then covering with a thick layer of straw? Plants come up through it, with cool moist soil and no weeds. Reuse straw or till it in later in the season, I don;t understand why you would want to use fabric.

1 Like    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 11:35PM
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(NJ, Zone 7A)

I don't know about growing potatoes like that, I use garbage cans, but I think you'll love the way a garden works when you plant things through holes in weed fabric. I've been doing it that way for a long time and I don't waste time pulling weeds and my soil stays really nice and warm and moist.

    Bookmark     February 26, 2015 at 5:59AM
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farmerdill

Solanum Torvum is the only one That I am familiar with. Baker Creek Use to carry it as Thai Pea. Several ebay sellers advertise it.

    Bookmark     February 25, 2015 at 6:06PM
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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

I've been meaning to try those someday. If you Google them, you do come up with a lot of eBay offerings. It is known to grow wild (I think they're considered invasive in many southern locales), and I'm pretty sure they are OP and perennial, so it's really easy for people to come up with loads of seeds.

    Bookmark     February 25, 2015 at 7:46PM
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jnjfarm_gw(5a)

I am not a texas gardener, but if you find the varieties you like you could start suckers for your second crop. That would save you having extra seeds.

    Bookmark     February 25, 2015 at 5:36AM
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garybeaumont_gw(TX 9A)

I will be setting out tomatoes this Saturday after this cold spell. If a frost is possible (anything under 40 degrees) I will cover it with a 5 gallon bucket until it warms up to 40 (usually by 9:00). I like Better Boy for a midsize tomato. If you want a truly meaty tomato go with one of the paste tomatoes like Roma. I do grow my own since it is hard to get plants this early but I did see some at Krogers. I started my plants January 15th. I live in Beaumont.

    Bookmark     February 25, 2015 at 3:35PM
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elisa_z5

glib, you mean glib2 is NOT your doppelganger?

    Bookmark     February 25, 2015 at 9:42AM
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planterjeff(7b Grant Park Atlanta)

thanks.

    Bookmark     February 25, 2015 at 10:55AM
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

Just for accuracies' sake, bark based potting media have been around a lot longer than Tapla formulated his recipes. They don't make for good seed starting though.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 6:33PM
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asm198 - Zone 6a (MO)

Thank you, Digdirt2. You've been so awesome at answering this newbies questions and I really appreciate it.

I haven't been able to check out local sources yet, (had an issue with my car battery and have been hesitant to leave the house this past week), but plan to hit up the local garden store tomorrow to see what they have and to ask what they might recommend.

I've read everything on the FAQ for growing from seed, growing under lights, and growing tomatoes, but will definitely refer back to them when needed.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 7:59PM
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theforgottenone1013(MI zone 5b/6a)

Post this over on the Seed Exchange Forum.

Rodney

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 2:49PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Not a vegetable. Try Perennials forum. Far as I know Black Negligee is sterile - not seeds and only grown from cuttings.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 3:42PM
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celestial(Zone-Enabled)

just last night I pulled out my copy of Four Season Harvest because I had the same question about row covers. There's a table in the book that charts temp differences with row covers. I'm considering building a double-wall row cover for extra warmth and multiple purposes.

First, two layers of insulation are better than one--especially if separated by a little air space between layers. Second, if I use shade cloth for the first layer, I can pull off the outer, thicker layer during the day and still have shade/bug protection underneath.

I'll probably go with the hoop method and test using a high/low thermometer to measure inside/outside temperature differences to see how much actual warmth I get from it.....'cause I'm a bit of an incurable data junky.

    Bookmark     February 22, 2015 at 7:55AM
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Seysonn_ 7b-WA/HZ1

I think that row cover can be useful in case of an overnight light frost. But because of its porosity, it is not a good insulator. So in case of cold it can moderate a bit. I don't think it has much "greenhouse effect" property. Unless it is very tightly woven. I could be wrong.

Seysonn

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 3:16PM
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farmerdill

Red Garnet is not the usual supermarket sweet potato. Mostly they are Beauregards ans Covingtons. However to start your own plants dot not cut the potato. Place the whole potato root end down into a container of water. The water should not cover much more than the bottom quarter of the potato They can also be started in moist (not wet) potting mix.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 12:13PM
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prairiemoon2 z6 MA

Great, I would have cut it, if I hadn't asked. Thanks for the photo which helps. In the Whole Foods, they often have potatoes labeled as Garnet. They are gorgeous and tasty. I don't know what they have in the stores right now though. Will have to check next time. Thanks!

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 1:28PM
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Hydrosoil Pty Ltd

Hi rkslander,

Sandy, hydrophobic soil is a big issue here in Western Australia and it helps to understand what is happening or it will remain an issue - especially before adding organic matter. Check out Hydrosoil and MuddyThumbs (flick through the slides on the first screen). They are dedicated to solving the problem here in Aus and will explain how organic matter creates a waxy coating over the soil particle leading to water run-off and how best to combat it. Good Luck.

    Bookmark     February 23, 2015 at 2:58PM
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azdoctor

Where are you located? High levels of sodium in soil can make the soil seal up and not accept water. If this is the problem, applying gypsum should help. Decomposed organic matter or animal manure are also good additives. Watch out for salts with animal manure.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 9:10AM
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farmerdill

Remember that with tobacco you are smoking or chewing the foliage not the fruit.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 7:44AM
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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

That's exactly right. I forgot that tobacco bears fruit! And the fruit doesn't contain much nicotine. One has to wonder if tomato, pepper, eggplant, and potato foliage has a lot more nicotine than their fruits do. Interestingly, in the depression, people dried and smoked tomato leaves because tobacco was too expensive and, I gather, there is some halfway useful amount of nicotine in those leaves. There is other bad stuff in tomato leaves, so it wasn't very smart, in retrospect.

    Bookmark     February 24, 2015 at 8:01AM
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