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Post by ganews on Mar 27, 2015 21:34:11 GMT -5
What are you growing in 2015?
We aren't planting anything weird this year. 2013 was loofah squash and 2014 was adzuki (Japanese red) beans, but the goal for this year is more to get the garden back on track after a somewhat disappointing season last year. Perhaps some sunflowers at the new house. We are finally starting some seedlings tonight, because we actually have a few minutes and the last snow flurries fell seven days ago.
Verbatim from the "becoming your parents" thread:
Not only did I never expect to keep a garden of my own like the one my parents forced me to work in my whole life, I am now thinking seriously of buying a standalone freezer for extra garden produce. At least it won't be as big as theirs.
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Post by Judkins Moaner on Mar 27, 2015 22:17:08 GMT -5
Not only did I never expect to keep a garden of my own like the one my parents forced me to work in my whole life, I am now thinking seriously of buying a standalone freezer for extra garden produce. At least it won't be as big as theirs. My brother's convinced that a not-inconsiderable portion of the child support money my dad paid my mom after the divorce went into her flower garden. If she'd shown any interest in a vegetable garden I might have been interested in gardening long before I came to learn how at work. She ruined so much that should have been cool. I need to email my landlady to make sure I can put a couple of pots out in the yard. It'd be nice to try an actual plot, but I don't think I'll have time and I certainly don't want to make any for the rabbits. Thinking of growing some tomatoes and peppers, maybe basil. I tracked the sunlight around the yard a couple of weeks back and it looks like the neighboring wall next to the power station gets a lot of direct and reflected light. Rubbing hands in anticipation... |
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Post by ganews on Mar 28, 2015 15:31:43 GMT -5
Picked up some potted milkweed and rosemary for the house. Are you planting around your house again, Liz n Dicksgiving? |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Mar 28, 2015 17:50:40 GMT -5
ganews, thanks for starting this thread! I'd been meaning to all week but kept getting distracted by other stuff-- ooh! A shiny object! Anyway WOO HOOOO!!! to all of us for the start a new gardening year! How's the new house, from a gardening perspective? Will this lead to garden expansion? (I wish you luck with the sunflowers. We had one year where we had phenomenal success with them, and the most lovely thicket of a huge variety of them in our front yard. Then the groundhogs moved in under the deck of the abandoned house next door, and now they shear off every sunflower plant we put outside. I want to live vicariously through yours!) I love, love, love your "becoming your parents" story, by the way. My dad always had tremendous enthusiasm for the idea of gardening, but failed spectacularly whenever he tried; I inherited his black thumb with regards to things in pots.  By the way, speaking as someone with three standalone freezers, I highly recommend getting one. Heh. As for stately Dick n Hisses Manor Orchard & Gardens 2015, we're very delayed this spring. We just got on Thursday our first crocuses to open, a good 11 days after their average. So we got a late start under our grow lights, too, but it's starting to fill up in the shelves there. We had blight issues with last year's tomatoes, so we cut back to plans for just four plants this year instead of our usual 13; they germinated super-fast and actually just minutes ago got moved under the lights. Meanwhile, we had an astounding year of peppers in '14, so we're trying about eight varieties and expanding to a lot more plants in the garden. They've been coming along like gangbusters, and I can't even express, after such a bitter late winter, how happy it makes me to see the shock of green in the fluorescent "sunshine" every day:  Other things that are actually underway right now include red and yellow onion seedlings (they're still in that "flopping over and looking like potted strands of green thread" stage), tomatillos, and three types of basil. I can't wait for fresh basil. I think that might be the summer thing I take most for granted. Oh, and there's two beds of garlic planted in the garden, but I haven't been able to get out there to see if they're doing anything yet. Considering the state of all the flower bulbs in the yard, I suspect not. And peas! It's going to be April on Wednesday and we still haven't planted peas, dammit! I think it's finally going to be warm enough and snowless enough to do that this week.
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Post by Hugs and Hisses on Mar 28, 2015 18:05:44 GMT -5
I'm also hoping for a rebound on the gardening front after last year. My two lasting memories of last year's garden are:
1. Massively overwatering all the seedlings (tending the seedlings has ended up being one of my duties at Stately Dick n Hisses manor) and forcing an emergency re-potting of millions of tomato and pepper plants after dark and in the cold on a work night. I spent a solid two weeks being convinced that I single-handily killed every tomato plant thus ruining the garden before it even got started.
2. Being stung twice by the yellow jackets that took up residence in the onion bed.
I think things can only go up from there this year.
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Post by ganews on Mar 28, 2015 23:00:42 GMT -5
ganews, thanks for starting this thread! I'd been meaning to all week but kept getting distracted by other stuff-- ooh! A shiny object! Anyway WOO HOOOO!!! to all of us for the start a new gardening year! How's the new house, from a gardening perspective? Will this lead to garden expansion? (I wish you luck with the sunflowers. We had one year where we had phenomenal success with them, and the most lovely thicket of a huge variety of them in our front yard. Then the groundhogs moved in under the deck of the abandoned house next door, and now they shear off every sunflower plant we put outside. I want to live vicariously through yours!) I love, love, love your "becoming your parents" story, by the way. My dad always had tremendous enthusiasm for the idea of gardening, but failed spectacularly whenever he tried; I inherited his black thumb with regards to things in pots. By the way, speaking as someone with three standalone freezers, I highly recommend getting one. Heh. As for stately Dick n Hisses Manor Orchard & Gardens 2015, we're very delayed this spring. We just got on Thursday our first crocuses to open, a good 11 days after their average. So we got a late start under our grow lights, too, but it's starting to fill up in the shelves there. We had blight issues with last year's tomatoes, so we cut back to plans for just four plants this year instead of our usual 13; they germinated super-fast and actually just minutes ago got moved under the lights. Meanwhile, we had an astounding year of peppers in '14, so we're trying about eight varieties and expanding to a lot more plants in the garden. They've been coming along like gangbusters, and I can't even express, after such a bitter late winter, how happy it makes me to see the shock of green in the fluorescent "sunshine" every day: Other things that are actually underway right now include red and yellow onion seedlings (they're still in that "flopping over and looking like potted strands of green thread" stage), tomatillos, and three types of basil. I can't wait for fresh basil. I think that might be the summer thing I take most for granted. Oh, and there's two beds of garlic planted in the garden, but I haven't been able to get out there to see if they're doing anything yet. Considering the state of all the flower bulbs in the yard, I suspect not. And peas! It's going to be April on Wednesday and we still haven't planted peas, dammit! I think it's finally going to be warm enough and snowless enough to do that this week. The house gets sun on the front yard, so we can try to put sunflowers out there. One half of the house needs a little help with grading to shunt water away, so I'm going to hold off on any pleasant landscaping this year. (Actually, I've never really planted flowers besides some marigolds in the garden.) However, after that I will plant an heirloom gardenia, grown from a cutting of the bush at my parents' house, which was itself grown from a cutting of a bush at my grandparents' house. We will again be planting a double plot in the space up the road so that the back yard which doesn't get as much light can continue to be a yard. Goodness gracious, I haven't even been out there to look at the plot. I'll go out for the first time tomorrow and see the state of it, find out the condition of the shared tiller. We're still spending a third of our nights in Maryland near freezing. |
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Post by doctorhawkes on Mar 29, 2015 4:44:28 GMT -5
I'm excitedly waiting for my first taste of the passionfruit I planted nine months back. The fruit is very large and heavy, but I think it will be a few months before they are ripe.
My dwarf mulberry has already grown much larger than expected. Maybe I should go easy on the worm juice, but it is bloody delicious.
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Post by Hugs and Hisses on Mar 31, 2015 14:59:52 GMT -5
The big exciting garden news from Dick 'n' Hisses Garden and Orchard is that all the seedlings are out of their germinating hidey-holes and are now all under the grow lights! It's the little milestones that count this time of year, right?
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Post by Superb Owl 🦉 on Mar 31, 2015 15:05:04 GMT -5
Supposedly I am getting a pair of 4x4 raised beds that my dad doesn't think are going to move at his store, so I'm trying to figure out where those are going and what I'm going to plant. I'm also telling myself that this will be the year I really plant a good variety of herbs in our vertical planter and stay on top of harvesting/using them all. And we did have good luck growing cherry tomatoes in pots on our patio last year, so I think I might just do that again instead of taking up space in the raised beds.
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Mar 31, 2015 16:00:40 GMT -5
Supposedly I am getting a pair of 4x4 raised beds that my dad doesn't think are going to move at his store, so I'm trying to figure out where those are going and what I'm going to plant. I'm also telling myself that this will be the year I really plant a good variety of herbs in our vertical planter and stay on top of harvesting/using them all. And we did have good luck growing cherry tomatoes in pots on our patio last year, so I think I might just do that again instead of taking up space in the raised beds. Oooh, staying on top of herb harvesting can be such a challenge. There was some talk of adding an herb spiral to our grounds, and while I love the idea I'm also realistic enough to know that it'll just end up being a little hillock of rangy and gone-to-seed plants. |
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Post by Superb Owl 🦉 on Mar 31, 2015 16:13:05 GMT -5
Supposedly I am getting a pair of 4x4 raised beds that my dad doesn't think are going to move at his store, so I'm trying to figure out where those are going and what I'm going to plant. I'm also telling myself that this will be the year I really plant a good variety of herbs in our vertical planter and stay on top of harvesting/using them all. And we did have good luck growing cherry tomatoes in pots on our patio last year, so I think I might just do that again instead of taking up space in the raised beds. Oooh, staying on top of herb harvesting can be such a challenge. There was some talk of adding an herb spiral to our grounds, and while I love the idea I'm also realistic enough to know that it'll just end up being a little hillock of rangy and gone-to-seed plants. Yea, that's what happened 2 years ago. Last summer with the new baby I purposely did very little in the way of gardening, but I did plant some basil and mint that we were good about using and/or freezing. I just want to add a couple more things this year, and I'm hoping now that Owl Jr. is pretty content to just play on his own outside as long as I'm nearby, I'll have time to at least make sure some Cilantro doesn't go to seed. |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Apr 1, 2015 9:30:42 GMT -5
Yea, that's what happened 2 years ago. Last summer with the new baby I purposely did very little in the way of gardening, but I did plant some basil and mint that we were good about using and/or freezing. I just want to add a couple more things this year, and I'm hoping now that Owl Jr. is pretty content to just play on his own outside as long as I'm nearby, I'll have time to at least make sure some Cilantro doesn't go to seed. Cilantro has been, much to my surprise, the most difficult thing we grow; I have no idea how farmers manage to keep up with it! We finally just deliberately let it go to seed so it would take over the garden paths. Now that we've got quite a bit of yardage of "volunteer" cilantro, I can maybe get to some of it quickly enough to actually get to eat it, rather than all of it bolting before I get the chance. Anyway, a friend of ours has been trying unsuccessfully for years to get it take over her front lawn. I kind of love that idea (because I'm one of those non-freaks who thinks cilantro tastes and smells amazing; clearly there are those who would find a cilantro lawn the most revolting thing ever...).  And guys! Guys! We're planting peas tonight! Outside! In the garden proper! And we'll probably toss some scallion seeds into a few beds while we're at it. I can't wait to play in the dirt a bit! Yesterday morning I did my first garden walkthrough since shutting it down last fall, and we have a garlic shoot busting out. For real! I can't wait to eat that monkey. |
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Post by ganews on Apr 1, 2015 10:06:24 GMT -5
I inspected the garden for the first time last weekend. That one green onion is keepin' on-keepin' on. The rest is too wet to till, plus we're still getting some frost.
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Post by Creeper on Apr 1, 2015 14:22:30 GMT -5
SEEDLINGS EVERYWHERE!!!
Multiple types of sunflowers, two different breed of pole beans, radishes, kale and spinach. I'll be starting some tomatoes and peppers soon.
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Post by Hugs and Hisses on Apr 1, 2015 14:52:15 GMT -5
Things are gonna start happening around here! (Here being the TI Garden Thread.)
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Post by Superb Owl 🦉 on Apr 1, 2015 15:09:03 GMT -5
Novice Gardener Questions:
1) Those of you that aren't a lazy-ass like me that just goes out and buys plants that are already started, where are you starting your seedlings when it's still cold out? Do you have conveniently placed windows/surfaces in your house?
2) For my new raised beds, will I be fine just going down to Ace and buying topsoil, or is there a better option I should be looking into?
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Apr 1, 2015 15:31:19 GMT -5
Novice Gardener Questions: 1) Those of you that aren't a lazy-ass like me that just goes out and buys plants that are already started, where are you starting your seedlings when it's still cold out? Do you have conveniently placed windows/surfaces in your house? 2) For my new raised beds, will I be fine just going down to Ace and buying topsoil, or is there a better option I should be looking into? 1.) We have very little direct sunlight in our house, and after a few years of relying on our single sunny windowsill for seed-starting, we got a grow light rig. I can't express enough how much easier it is for us now that we have this thing, but we're also compulsive about starting tons of seeds. A smaller operation would have been content to stick with the windowsill, I think.  2) Our raised beds have always been filled with leaf compost, but I'm under the impression that a person could do better with a middle ground between "all plain topsoil" and "all leaf compost". If you do go with topsoil, you'll probably want to get some kind of fertilizer/compost to mix in with it, to give your plants some more nutrients to work with. |
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Post by ganews on Apr 1, 2015 19:28:57 GMT -5
Novice Gardener Questions: 1) Those of you that aren't a lazy-ass like me that just goes out and buys plants that are already started, where are you starting your seedlings when it's still cold out? Do you have conveniently placed windows/surfaces in your house? 2) For my new raised beds, will I be fine just going down to Ace and buying topsoil, or is there a better option I should be looking into? We have south-facing windows, but the house stays at 70 degrees F because Lifemate can't live in anyplace colder. Our planter pots get moved in or out of sun until they sprout. After that we also have a shelf at the window. |
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Post by Hugs and Hisses on Apr 2, 2015 9:13:34 GMT -5
Just saw a map predicting when the snow melt will be done and it's saying the snow will stick around for another 50 days. As the lilac and forsythia bushes are *completely* under the snow right now, I think we can pretty much write off the whole "spring flowers" thing. That's horrible! I'm so sorry. Maybe the horrible winter will be made up for with a spectacular summer? |
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Post by The Tuck Pendleton Machine on Apr 2, 2015 11:38:02 GMT -5
We just got a house. It has a Meyer lemon tree, a regular lemon tree, and a dying orange tree. We think we'll dig up the orange tree in favor of a couple avocado trees.
Also, a metric shit-ton of flowers. The lady likes camellias, so those are a go.
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Post by Hugs and Hisses on Apr 2, 2015 15:57:55 GMT -5
Passonfruit, avocados, citrus... I'm officially jealous of everyone else's gardens. I have to remind myself that in September I'll be happy I live in this area; nothing beats a Jersey tomato. (Except maybe fresh-off-the-tree citrus... gah!)
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Post by heroboy on Apr 2, 2015 16:41:43 GMT -5
Oooh, staying on top of herb harvesting can be such a challenge. There was some talk of adding an herb spiral to our grounds, and while I love the idea I'm also realistic enough to know that it'll just end up being a little hillock of rangy and gone-to-seed plants. Yea, that's what happened 2 years ago. Last summer with the new baby I purposely did very little in the way of gardening, but I did plant some basil and mint that we were good about using and/or freezing. I just want to add a couple more things this year, and I'm hoping now that Owl Jr. is pretty content to just play on his own outside as long as I'm nearby, I'll have time to at least make sure some Cilantro doesn't go to seed. I didn't have time to plant a garden last year, also due to having a new baby, but the mint that we had transplanted 2 years ago from our old house came back in force and actually squeezed out some of the weeds. If I don't keep them in check this year, they'll probably wind up taking over the whole garden. Maybe I'll plant some raspberries on the far side and let them have a turf war in a few years. |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Apr 2, 2015 17:50:37 GMT -5
I didn't have time to plant a garden last year, also due to having a new baby, but the mint that we had transplanted 2 years ago from our old house came back in force and actually squeezed out some of the weeds. If I don't keep them in check this year, they'll probably wind up taking over the whole garden. Maybe I'll plant some raspberries on the far side and let them have a turf war in a few years. Most delicious turf war EVER! |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Apr 5, 2015 13:22:01 GMT -5
Check it out -- garlics you don't have to squint and poke around in the dirt to see!  |
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Post by ganews on Apr 5, 2015 17:54:03 GMT -5
Tomato seedlings poking through!
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Post by Creeper on Apr 7, 2015 13:41:35 GMT -5
Sunflowers!!!  |
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Post by Creeper on Apr 7, 2015 13:44:02 GMT -5
She picked out a froggy, and planted some flowers around her sister's tree.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2015 13:48:17 GMT -5
She picked out a froggy, and planted some flowers around her sister's tree. Oh my god those freckles! What a lovely picture. |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Apr 7, 2015 14:57:55 GMT -5
She picked out a froggy, and planted some flowers around her sister's tree. That is just too cute for words!! |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Apr 13, 2015 9:40:38 GMT -5
Oh man, it was gorgeous here this weekend! Hugs and I got a lot of gardening fun done -- we had one raised bed that needed to be rebuilt (well, we have many, but we only had the lumber on hand for one this week), a mulchy layer to take off the garlic beds, and onion seedlings to transplant. Our garden is in our front yard, just outside the door, and it felt so fantastic after we were done to look out from the front hall and see green stuff out there in the afternoon sun. And to know that old bee-infested bed was no longer full of bee-infestation and rotten wood surrounds. (Well, we hope the bees have moved on. Their points of entry and egress have been walled off, at the very least.)
In the course of the bed-rebuilding we came across an overwintered onion. It was just a wee scraggly little thing, but most of the soil in the bed had to be overturned to get the new frame around it, so the baby onion had to be harvested. I minced it up and sprinkled it atop our traditional Saturday-night pasta dinner, and it was delicious. The first of the 2015 harvest has begun!! (I should have taken a picture; it was hilariously small and pathetic. And we each got about a half a teaspoon of minced green onion on our plates. So perhaps calling it a "harvest" is an overstatement, but the excitement is the same.)
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By the way, speaking as someone with three standalone freezers, I highly recommend getting one. Heh.
