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2014-02-26 12:46 PM

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Subject: 2014 Garden Thread

It could be because I'm staring down the barrel of a brutal 5-day forecast, or because the fruit and veg porn is arriving almost daily to the house, or because we just secured a new blank slate (what kind of person leaves their big back yard with beautiful sun exposure plain grass???!?), but I am giddy thinking about gardening season this year.

How's it goin garden peeps?



2014-02-26 2:10 PM
in reply to: switch

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Well it is still in the low 20's here today with talk of 6-8 inches of snow predicted for Sunday so I am only dreaming at this point . The kids and I talked about trying to grow some melons this year but I'm not sure we have enough room. Of course last year I accidentally grew pumpkins in a flower pot so I guess anything is possible .

2014-02-26 2:18 PM
in reply to: switch

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I'm thinking about it, but it snowed again this morning. My fig tree was supposed to go dormant indoors, but instead it's going crazy. Now I'm wondering if I can get a double crop of figs this year. I want to get another tree!

I wasn't at all happy with what I did last year. This year I'm going to trellis the back wall and grow beans. My space is severely limited, since my yard is cobblestone. So it's all pots and boxes.

2014-02-26 2:35 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Funny you start this thread a few days after I was thinking about making or buying a little greenhouse and the very day I was eating store-bought tomatoes while fantasizing about home grown.  Mmmm, fresh tomatoes...

2014-02-26 2:45 PM
in reply to: switch

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I've already started some pepper plants indoors in an AeroGarden.  They are currently almost 2" tall.

 

This weekend, I begin constructing an indoor aquaponics setup that will provide basic greens and such year-round.

2014-02-26 3:07 PM
in reply to: trigal38

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Dina, it's supposed to be 0 here for our high tomorrow.  I feel your pain!  Melons with the kids sound lovely :) What kind of melons?

Brian, what didn't work about last year--too much for the space?  Do you have a bean picked out?

Melanie, I would probably give a digit for good tomatoes and fresh basil right now.  That's the thing I fantasize about most!  Do you have a favorite tomato you like to grow?

Chris, That sounds AWESOME!  Do you have pics of your set-up?  What kind of peppers have you started?  When is your first frost-free date?



2014-02-26 5:25 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by switch

Chris, That sounds AWESOME!  Do you have pics of your set-up?  What kind of peppers have you started?  When is your first frost-free date?

No pics of the setup, yet... I start assembling everything this weekend.  However, it will be based off of a 20-gallon aquarium and using two 27-gallon plastic totes as grow beds.  It *should* be capable of keeping me stocked in leafy greens, green onion, and celery.  It's a small system to use as a learning system. If it is successful, then I plan to build a much larger, much more ambitious system.

 

The peppers are Carolina Reapers.  I'm curious about the new Guinness Record holders.  A few years back I grew several Dorset Naga and Naga Jolokia ("Ghost Pepper") plants that about killed me.... I'm excited to see what these can do

I'm in Cleveland, OH, so the first outdoor planting doesn't happen here until mid-May.  I've got two and a half months of indoor planting to give me a head start,

2014-02-27 8:31 AM
in reply to: cgregg

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Originally posted by cgregg

Originally posted by switch

Chris, That sounds AWESOME!  Do you have pics of your set-up?  What kind of peppers have you started?  When is your first frost-free date?

No pics of the setup, yet... I start assembling everything this weekend.  However, it will be based off of a 20-gallon aquarium and using two 27-gallon plastic totes as grow beds.  It *should* be capable of keeping me stocked in leafy greens, green onion, and celery.  It's a small system to use as a learning system. If it is successful, then I plan to build a much larger, much more ambitious system.

 

The peppers are Carolina Reapers.  I'm curious about the new Guinness Record holders.  A few years back I grew several Dorset Naga and Naga Jolokia ("Ghost Pepper") plants that about killed me.... I'm excited to see what these can do :)

I'm in Cleveland, OH, so the first outdoor planting doesn't happen here until mid-May.  I've got two and a half months of indoor planting to give me a head start,

That sounds really cool.  Do you have a link for your greens grow system?

I admire your ambitiousness with your starts:)  When do you expect to harvest your first pepper then?  Do you get the same kind of jump on tomatoes?

2014-02-27 8:34 AM
in reply to: switch

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I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:





(goat kids.jpg)



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2014-02-27 9:19 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by cgregg

Originally posted by switch

Chris, That sounds AWESOME!  Do you have pics of your set-up?  What kind of peppers have you started?  When is your first frost-free date?

No pics of the setup, yet... I start assembling everything this weekend.  However, it will be based off of a 20-gallon aquarium and using two 27-gallon plastic totes as grow beds.  It *should* be capable of keeping me stocked in leafy greens, green onion, and celery.  It's a small system to use as a learning system. If it is successful, then I plan to build a much larger, much more ambitious system.

 

The peppers are Carolina Reapers.  I'm curious about the new Guinness Record holders.  A few years back I grew several Dorset Naga and Naga Jolokia ("Ghost Pepper") plants that about killed me.... I'm excited to see what these can do

I'm in Cleveland, OH, so the first outdoor planting doesn't happen here until mid-May.  I've got two and a half months of indoor planting to give me a head start,

That sounds really cool.  Do you have a link for your greens grow system?

I admire your ambitiousness with your starts  When do you expect to harvest your first pepper then?  Do you get the same kind of jump on tomatoes?

 

GOATS!!!   I want goats!  And a llama, or two. And some egg chickens.

Seriously, I wish my house was located more rurally, but it isn't  

 

 

 

Check out http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/ for info on the kind of system I'm building.  Basically, the premise is that you add fish to a hydroponics-like system.  You no longer sweat filtering your fish water as that is done by your grow media and the plants, and you no longer add nutrients to the water for the plants because they process the waste from the fish.  Just feed your fish healthy food and they will ensure you have healthy plants.   Ideally, you have a system large enough that your fish get large, and you use a type of fish you can eat like tilapia, yellow perch, catfish, etc... and then your system provides your completely chemical-free, organic veggies, and a few times a year also puts fish on your plate.

 

I'm hoping to get the first peppers from those plants around June.  They supposedly reach maturity in 90 days, but I'm doubting that.  If I do get them at 90 days, then I should get the first ones before the outdoor season even begins.   I only started these this early because the last time I grew the Ghost Peppers, they took like 150 days to reach maturity and it was damn near the first frost before the first pepper was large enough to ripen and I got absolutely nothing from the plant that year (wintered it over indoors).

 

 

 

 

2014-02-27 9:46 AM
in reply to: cgregg

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by cgregg

Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by cgregg

Originally posted by switch

Chris, That sounds AWESOME!  Do you have pics of your set-up?  What kind of peppers have you started?  When is your first frost-free date?

No pics of the setup, yet... I start assembling everything this weekend.  However, it will be based off of a 20-gallon aquarium and using two 27-gallon plastic totes as grow beds.  It *should* be capable of keeping me stocked in leafy greens, green onion, and celery.  It's a small system to use as a learning system. If it is successful, then I plan to build a much larger, much more ambitious system.

 

The peppers are Carolina Reapers.  I'm curious about the new Guinness Record holders.  A few years back I grew several Dorset Naga and Naga Jolokia ("Ghost Pepper") plants that about killed me.... I'm excited to see what these can do

I'm in Cleveland, OH, so the first outdoor planting doesn't happen here until mid-May.  I've got two and a half months of indoor planting to give me a head start,

That sounds really cool.  Do you have a link for your greens grow system?

I admire your ambitiousness with your starts  When do you expect to harvest your first pepper then?  Do you get the same kind of jump on tomatoes?

 

GOATS!!!   I want goats!  And a llama, or two. And some egg chickens.

Seriously, I wish my house was located more rurally, but it isn't  

 

 

 

Check out http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/ for info on the kind of system I'm building.  Basically, the premise is that you add fish to a hydroponics-like system.  You no longer sweat filtering your fish water as that is done by your grow media and the plants, and you no longer add nutrients to the water for the plants because they process the waste from the fish.  Just feed your fish healthy food and they will ensure you have healthy plants.   Ideally, you have a system large enough that your fish get large, and you use a type of fish you can eat like tilapia, yellow perch, catfish, etc... and then your system provides your completely chemical-free, organic veggies, and a few times a year also puts fish on your plate.

 

I'm hoping to get the first peppers from those plants around June.  They supposedly reach maturity in 90 days, but I'm doubting that.  If I do get them at 90 days, then I should get the first ones before the outdoor season even begins.   I only started these this early because the last time I grew the Ghost Peppers, they took like 150 days to reach maturity and it was damn near the first frost before the first pepper was large enough to ripen and I got absolutely nothing from the plant that year (wintered it over indoors).

 

 

 

 

That is SWEET! Have you heard of Will Allen and his non-profit "Growing Power"? He's an aquaponics master! Salty (I hope she's still going!) and I were thinking about tacking on a field trip to AGN this year (he's in Milwaukee), and it would be fun to have you go too, of you'd dig it and are going to be at AGN.


2014-02-27 9:57 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by switch
Originally posted by cgregg

Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by cgregg

Originally posted by switch

Chris, That sounds AWESOME!  Do you have pics of your set-up?  What kind of peppers have you started?  When is your first frost-free date?

No pics of the setup, yet... I start assembling everything this weekend.  However, it will be based off of a 20-gallon aquarium and using two 27-gallon plastic totes as grow beds.  It *should* be capable of keeping me stocked in leafy greens, green onion, and celery.  It's a small system to use as a learning system. If it is successful, then I plan to build a much larger, much more ambitious system.

 

The peppers are Carolina Reapers.  I'm curious about the new Guinness Record holders.  A few years back I grew several Dorset Naga and Naga Jolokia ("Ghost Pepper") plants that about killed me.... I'm excited to see what these can do

I'm in Cleveland, OH, so the first outdoor planting doesn't happen here until mid-May.  I've got two and a half months of indoor planting to give me a head start,

That sounds really cool.  Do you have a link for your greens grow system?

I admire your ambitiousness with your starts  When do you expect to harvest your first pepper then?  Do you get the same kind of jump on tomatoes?

 

GOATS!!!   I want goats!  And a llama, or two. And some egg chickens.

Seriously, I wish my house was located more rurally, but it isn't  

 

 

 

Check out http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/ for info on the kind of system I'm building.  Basically, the premise is that you add fish to a hydroponics-like system.  You no longer sweat filtering your fish water as that is done by your grow media and the plants, and you no longer add nutrients to the water for the plants because they process the waste from the fish.  Just feed your fish healthy food and they will ensure you have healthy plants.   Ideally, you have a system large enough that your fish get large, and you use a type of fish you can eat like tilapia, yellow perch, catfish, etc... and then your system provides your completely chemical-free, organic veggies, and a few times a year also puts fish on your plate.

 

I'm hoping to get the first peppers from those plants around June.  They supposedly reach maturity in 90 days, but I'm doubting that.  If I do get them at 90 days, then I should get the first ones before the outdoor season even begins.   I only started these this early because the last time I grew the Ghost Peppers, they took like 150 days to reach maturity and it was damn near the first frost before the first pepper was large enough to ripen and I got absolutely nothing from the plant that year (wintered it over indoors).

 

 

 

 

That is SWEET! Have you heard of Will Allen and his non-profit "Growing Power"? He's an aquaponics master! Salty (I hope she's still going!) and I were thinking about tacking on a field trip to AGN this year (he's in Milwaukee), and it would be fun to have you go too, of you'd dig it and are going to be at AGN.

 

I have not heard of him, but that would be cool!  I don't know if I'm doing AGN, again, or not this year.  I haven't qualified for Oly's (yet), and not sure i want to make that drive just for Sprints.  That would be cool to be able to make the trip more than just the race, though!

2014-02-27 11:27 AM
in reply to: cgregg

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
We have been eating turnips and other greens throughout the winter. Tomato and peppers have been started (inside) and will ready to transplant late March or early April. Onions have been hanging in there most of the winter but have recently started to grow again. Apples and peach tree buds swelling, and the peaches should start blooming in about 10 days. The neighbors pear trees are at peak bloom and the bees are active. On the large scale, corn is starting to be planted, wheat is fertilized and burndown has started on bean ground. It is going to get busy very quickly.
2014-02-27 12:43 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.

2014-02-27 1:23 PM
in reply to: BrianRunsPhilly

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.




If you don't want to build raised beds, you can use 5 gal. buckets to grow tomatoes. Back in the dark ages when in college, I worked on research with container grown tomatoes. Yields can match those in the ground, but you have to water more frequently. The white color of the bucket also was beneficial in reducing soil temps on hotter days than containers of other colors. As with tomatoes planted in the ground, do not over fertilize or you will get beautiful plants with little fruit. You can also grow potatoes in old tires. Yes I am a red neck, but let me know if you are interested.
2014-02-27 1:39 PM
in reply to: NXS

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.

If you don't want to build raised beds, you can use 5 gal. buckets to grow tomatoes. Back in the dark ages when in college, I worked on research with container grown tomatoes. Yields can match those in the ground, but you have to water more frequently. The white color of the bucket also was beneficial in reducing soil temps on hotter days than containers of other colors. As with tomatoes planted in the ground, do not over fertilize or you will get beautiful plants with little fruit. You can also grow potatoes in old tires. Yes I am a red neck, but let me know if you are interested.

Thanks! They were in black metal pots last year. I bet that was bad. I was hoping to have something a little nicer to look at, since we're out there all the time, but if buckets work, I'm willing to try.

A red neck with a green thumb beats a white Northerner with brown plants



2014-02-27 3:34 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
We are almost done expanding our pond that was 4'x4' to 10'x10'. It has water and fish.
We just need a couple of aquatic plants and finish applying stone to the wall we built around the new water fall.

We did all of the work ourselves versus hiring out a pond company. For us, that makes it all the more rewarding.
2014-02-27 5:18 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Started working on my tiller this week. Should be up and running this weekend. Breaking ground next week sometime. Come on warm weather......
2014-02-28 8:09 AM
in reply to: BrianRunsPhilly

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.

If you don't want to build raised beds, you can use 5 gal. buckets to grow tomatoes. Back in the dark ages when in college, I worked on research with container grown tomatoes. Yields can match those in the ground, but you have to water more frequently. The white color of the bucket also was beneficial in reducing soil temps on hotter days than containers of other colors. As with tomatoes planted in the ground, do not over fertilize or you will get beautiful plants with little fruit. You can also grow potatoes in old tires. Yes I am a red neck, but let me know if you are interested.

Thanks! They were in black metal pots last year. I bet that was bad. I was hoping to have something a little nicer to look at, since we're out there all the time, but if buckets work, I'm willing to try.

A red neck with a green thumb beats a white Northerner with brown plants




You could always place smaller pots of herbs or flowers around the buckets to disguise them. I agree though, black metal pots are a lot more attractive than white poly buckets. Good luck.

2014-02-28 8:21 AM
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Originally posted by Hugh in TXWe are almost done expanding our pond that was 4'x4' to 10'x10'. It has water and fish.We just need a couple of aquatic plants and finish applying stone to the wall we built around the new water fall.We did all of the work ourselves versus hiring out a pond company. For us, that makes it all the more rewarding.
This post requires pics!
2014-02-28 8:27 AM
in reply to: NXS

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.

If you don't want to build raised beds, you can use 5 gal. buckets to grow tomatoes. Back in the dark ages when in college, I worked on research with container grown tomatoes. Yields can match those in the ground, but you have to water more frequently. The white color of the bucket also was beneficial in reducing soil temps on hotter days than containers of other colors. As with tomatoes planted in the ground, do not over fertilize or you will get beautiful plants with little fruit. You can also grow potatoes in old tires. Yes I am a red neck, but let me know if you are interested.

Thanks! They were in black metal pots last year. I bet that was bad. I was hoping to have something a little nicer to look at, since we're out there all the time, but if buckets work, I'm willing to try.

A red neck with a green thumb beats a white Northerner with brown plants

You could always place smaller pots of herbs or flowers around the buckets to disguise them. I agree though, black metal pots are a lot more attractive than white poly buckets. Good luck.
Couldn't Brian just use a more attractive, biggish, light colored pot? I've seen some really nice variations, cream glazed clay pots, pots that look like stone, but are lightweight, etc.? Just make sure it's big and not dark?


2014-02-28 8:49 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.

If you don't want to build raised beds, you can use 5 gal. buckets to grow tomatoes. Back in the dark ages when in college, I worked on research with container grown tomatoes. Yields can match those in the ground, but you have to water more frequently. The white color of the bucket also was beneficial in reducing soil temps on hotter days than containers of other colors. As with tomatoes planted in the ground, do not over fertilize or you will get beautiful plants with little fruit. You can also grow potatoes in old tires. Yes I am a red neck, but let me know if you are interested.

Thanks! They were in black metal pots last year. I bet that was bad. I was hoping to have something a little nicer to look at, since we're out there all the time, but if buckets work, I'm willing to try.

A red neck with a green thumb beats a white Northerner with brown plants

You could always place smaller pots of herbs or flowers around the buckets to disguise them. I agree though, black metal pots are a lot more attractive than white poly buckets. Good luck.
Couldn't Brian just use a more attractive, biggish, light colored pot? I've seen some really nice variations, cream glazed clay pots, pots that look like stone, but are lightweight, etc.? Just make sure it's big and not dark?


Yes, that would work well, but would negate the use of the most common landscape feature in my neck of the woods, not including the car on blocks or old sofa under a tree!

2014-02-28 10:28 AM
in reply to: NXS

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Switch - LOVE the baby goats!!  So adorable!  My two favorite tomato varieties are Sweet Baby Girls (cherry tomatoes, good for pooing in mouth anytime I get near the plant) and the other extreme with regard to size: Beefmaster or any nice, big, meaty, fill-out-a-sandwich-with-one-slice tomato.  Great, now you have me drooling.  I usually plant multiple varieties for different purposes: canning, salsa, sandwiches and instant gratification.

 

2014-02-28 10:49 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
here in Canada!!



(1912002_662978670415294_1655753812_n.jpg)



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2014-02-28 11:32 AM
in reply to: NXS

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by switch
Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly

Originally posted by switch

I don't have any fruit or veg going yet.  We are usually maple tapping the last week on Feb, but that requires days in the 40s or above and nights below freezing, and we're well below that for daytime highs :/

Sigh.

This isn't exactly "gardening," but we did have 11 Nubian goat kids born this week.  Here's a pic of our first set of twins, a few hours after birth:

How cute. I'll refrain from any 'they look just like you!' jokes.

So what went wrong last year? The tomatoes. Yield was terrible. Pretty sure the containers were too small, and there was too much nitrogen. All the herbs and peppers were fine. This year I think I'm going to try and build some sort of planter 8 foot by 2 foot, raised if possible. Maybe its better to build two 4'x2' and use railroad ties to get them off the ground. My yard is about 14' wide and 16' deep, and I have my car (Mini), table and chairs, and a BBQ packed in there, so space is really tight.

If you don't want to build raised beds, you can use 5 gal. buckets to grow tomatoes. Back in the dark ages when in college, I worked on research with container grown tomatoes. Yields can match those in the ground, but you have to water more frequently. The white color of the bucket also was beneficial in reducing soil temps on hotter days than containers of other colors. As with tomatoes planted in the ground, do not over fertilize or you will get beautiful plants with little fruit. You can also grow potatoes in old tires. Yes I am a red neck, but let me know if you are interested.

Thanks! They were in black metal pots last year. I bet that was bad. I was hoping to have something a little nicer to look at, since we're out there all the time, but if buckets work, I'm willing to try.

A red neck with a green thumb beats a white Northerner with brown plants

You could always place smaller pots of herbs or flowers around the buckets to disguise them. I agree though, black metal pots are a lot more attractive than white poly buckets. Good luck.
Couldn't Brian just use a more attractive, biggish, light colored pot? I've seen some really nice variations, cream glazed clay pots, pots that look like stone, but are lightweight, etc.? Just make sure it's big and not dark?
Yes, that would work well, but would negate the use of the most common landscape feature in my neck of the woods, not including the car on blocks or old sofa under a tree!

Pretty funny. My neighbors are pretty cool, but we are densely packed and the wrong part of Philly for cars on blocks.

I'm going to do some searching. I can't imagine someone doesn't make something nice that I can use and doesn't cost a fortune. If not, I'll build it. I may be urban, but I do have a goodly supply of power tools! Maybe something like this

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