23,594 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

You may not have heard about it but it does occasionally happen. Personally, I'd err on the side of caution when dealing with the seeds. They are the source of Ricin.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ricin

I want to use castor oil to control voles and moles. Here it costs $7US for 3 US fluid ounces. Therefore I would like to make my own by growing the plant, which is beautiful too. Can I make it by boiling the seeds?

Looks beefsteak to me!
Being in zone 2-3, I would pick those puppies soon and let them ripen on the counter or wrapped in paper in a box in the garage! You don't want to loose them to frost! Nancy

Agree with the above posters... Almost impossible to ID a tomato by look. Best option would be to go back to the dollar store and see if there are any seed packs that look like what you purchased. A second suggestion would be to save the seeds from your tomato harvest, under the assumption that it is not a hybrid.... Dollar stores seldom carry hybrids. (Surf the web on seed saving if you need more info.)

Lot of very knowledgeable people here who'll answer questions. But also some of the other kind, unfortunately

Yes. So far, so good here.

As the msds states it is practically non-toxic (that's an actual quote), and that health injuries are not known or expected under normal use, and that it is inherently biodegradable and does not accumulate, I'd say it has a higher safety profile than many organic products. Of course, it can never replace adding rich organic matter to the soil.

I have a couple zucchini that were powdery, but they too have some fresh green leaves...especially one of them AND it is without a new fertilizer boost.

I think the pot is big enough for 1 plant. What kind of soil are you using?
Maybe it's just tired. :)

Catherine I used a Miracle Gro Potting Mix.

I *think* Walla Wallas should be harvested from June-August, and they do like they're going to flower. Also, (in case you didn't know) they don't keep very well, so break out your recipe book & use those beauties soon! Nice harvest BTW.

In the future, when the leaves fall over and start to yellow they should be harvested and cured.

Rodney

Here in the Boston area, our soil is naturally acidic - due to bedrock, rainfall, etc - so I know I can put dolomite lime on the garden and lawn every year and do good things. I just put it down on my cleaned beds for next year, as it needs time to bread down and become bioactive. It's also a good source of calcium, so I kill two birds with one stone.

I always leave the lime out of the bed I'll be using for potatoes next year. If not for the certainty I have about my soil, I would definitely get my soil tested.

Yes, it pays to know what kind of bedrock is under you. In areas with limestone bedrock, alkaline soils are pretty much the rule. There are several natural ways to acidify soil, but pyrites, which are common in many different kinds of metamorphic bedrocks, degrade into sulfates, which acidify soil.

Our soil (over limestone) is mildly alkaline, and it is largely a losing battle to try to acidify it. That's because the groundwater is similarly alkaline, so irrigation (which we have to do a LOT of) just kills the acidification you're trying to achieve. Yeah, collecting rainwater would be best, but we just don't get enough.

Our issue would be the deer ruining crops if it was sorghum

Crimson looks like it is good to grow from seed but when do we plant the cover crop? We plant corn in June/July so when would we need to plant this to prep for June/July? Or should we toss fertilizer over the winter to increase nitrogen.

While searching this topic, i found the following article. Sounds like my method in bags would be similar to the "white tunnel in the farm"

Anaerobic Composting
By Compost King 13 Comments

Bokashi_Anaerobic CompostingAnaerobic composting or composting without the presence of oxygen has been practiced for centuries. Records indicate that the Chinese are the oldest known civilization to practice this form of composting to fertilize their rice paddies.

In more technical terms, anaerobic composting is composting organic materials, using living anaerobic organisms such as bacteria in an environment that has no oxygen present. This is the same process you will find occurring in nature as peat bogs and marshes.

Unless you happen to have access to a large field of water you are going to have to find another way to create your anaerobic compost pile. While most composting experts will talk about not letting your compost piles get too wet or they will rot, anaerobic composting requires approximately 70% moisture levels in order for it to work properly.
The Standard Compost Pile

You can turn your current compost pile into an anaerobic one quite simply and effectively by adding plenty of water. Yes I know we have spent hours telling you how important it is to maintain moderate to low moisture levels, but with this type of composting you need to remove the oxygen from your compost pile. The water will drive out the oxygen and keep it out if you keep the water level high enough. By covering the pile to help keep in the moisture, you will end up with a slimy mess, which indicates that it is working properly. You should however, be prepared for a very odoriferous compost pile. This is really more suitable to households with larger tracts of land where the aforementioned odoriferous pile can be placed away from the house or the neighbors.
The Submerged Pile

This method of creating anaerobic compost is very similar to that which is has been in use by the Chinese for centuries and involves keeping your compost under water. For this you will need a large tank, plastic pool or tank that is big enough to hold your compost and then be filled with water. As your compost pile decomposes the odors are trapped in the water. While slightly more involved than a standard anaerobic compost pile, your neighbors will certainly appreciate it.
anaerobic composting in a fieldThe Big Bag Theory

You have probably seen this method in use in the local farmers’ fields, this would be the long white bags that lay in the fields over the winter. This version is a little simpler and a lot smaller. You can use a large heavy duty plastic garbage bag. You first layer the bottom of the bag with soil or cured compost, then add your compost and add enough water to make everything moist. Seal the bag so that no air can get in and roll it to get things started and then leave it alone for 6-8 weeks.
No Hole in My Bucket

Off all the different forms of anaerobic composting, the bucket method is perhaps the easiest and least offensive. This is a long term project and will take up to a year to create the compost you are looking for. You simple cut the bottom from a five gallon bucket and plant it a few inches into the ground. You then fill it with your scraps and organic waste, place the lid on it and forget it for a year. Do not open until the year has passed or you will let in more oxygen and ruin the process. As you can see a fair amount of patience is required for this method. At the end of the year you will have perfectly usable humus. All of these forms of anaerobic composting work well, some will produce more compost than others, while at the same time creating a rather smelly situation.

Sherm, check the animal control (pound) and at any local feed stores! Nancy

Yes, they're aphids. Common this time of year on cabbage family crops. I've got them on my brussels sprouts and collards too.

Yeah, that's very common. If the aphids are on the sprouts themselves, you'll have to wash them before eating. I find that soaking the sprouts for an hour or so helps.

As the weather gets colder the aphids will die off but unfortunately they leave behind quite a mess.

-Mark

Ps. Hey tcstoehr, i'm next door to you in Oregon City. Small world!