badmonkey

I saved several of my windows when we had them replaced. For many years I have wanted to build a sort of raised bed with the windows above. I thought that I could rig it to allow me to open the windows on hot days. I haven't tried it yet but maybe next year? When I was a kid my dad had a junk car parked in our yard. He used that as a greenhouse for a couple of years. The plants did well.

I got about 3/4 of my garden planted over the last two days. One more day and I should be done.

Good luck! I'm going to try to get some stuff out this week too.

The plants now have six leaves each. I will plant them tomorrow and see how things go!

Smaller transplants, providing they have a good root system, really do better than the big things they sell in most nurseries. There is less shock when they go into the ground because there is not as much leaf surface to lose water from. I don't know where the mania for the giant plants came from.

The only thing I would suggest is to make sure they do have more than the one or two little roots that are on seedlings and keep them well watered. That shouldn't be a problem the way things are going.

I heard that it is time for the 17 year locust again. I know that they aren't really locust but, is this the year? We drove Through Maryland and Delaware last year and they were out in full force. You should have seen our van after about 100 miles of driving through them. At one point, we had to turn on the windshield wipers and use a little fluid to clean them off of the window. I don't know how the bikers were doing it. We saw countless bikes driving along the interstate and most of the riders were not wearing helmets. Man, that has to hurt!

NICE!

Here are some updated pictures of my garden.  The rain has beat the beans pretty good so they aren't standing up as straight as they should.  Plus the fact that they are full of beans.  We have already pulled out our peas but I am going to put more beans in there.

I plan on planting them tomorrow. The last time that we planted them we also had potato bugs. I had to walk the row at least once a day and pick them off. Do you know of any natural ways to get rid of them?

I quit planting potatoes because the plants attract potato bugs and the tubers are always scabby. Our soil is naturally acidic and pathogen that causes scab seems to thrive in it. Potatoes certainly aren't as cheap as they used to be and it might be worth trying one of the alternate methods of growing them. I did try them in a barrel once without much success but I think that area of the yard just didn't get the right amount of sun. Planting them in straw sounds interesting.

I agree that in the past it might not have been money saving to plant my garden. I think that it will be this year. I am even planting potatoes this year! This will only be the second time that I plant them. I did it once before to see what they were like to grow. This year I am doing it because I can eat potatoes at nearly every year and if kept properly, they can last a long time.

We use the plastic garbage cans, too. They just seem to be easier to clean and move than metal barrels. I'm going to start watering the orchids with rainwater this summer as both the well water and softened water is supposed to be bad for them.

With the money we put into seeds, plants, fertilizers, fencing and what have you I've never been sure we break even on the vegetables. With the rising prices I think it will be a good investment this year. I'm also going to figure in the price of a membership to the Y or Curves. Don't need that when you garden! ;D

Does anyone know where I can get a barrel or two for watering? Of course, I am looking for clean barrels that did not hold nasty chemicals. Thanks!

I was there today and bought some very small Granny Smith plants. The lady working there told me that they sold through there first plants and had to do a second planting. The plants that I bought are small (four leaves) and I hope that they make it. I plan to let them grow in the cell packs for a week or two before planting them.

 

 

The Valley Rainbow is the name of the greenhouse. I was there today!!!

 

Nature is amazing, isn't it?

Yes, they rub the aphid's tummy.

I'll give them a try this week. Thanks for the information.

ants "milking" aphids is amazing. If memory serves, They are after what is known as, "Honey Dew".

Ants and peonies is one of those interesting evolutionary developments that people have found an untrue explanation for. It is a form of symbiosis in which only one party benefits, the ants. If you have aphids you will notice the ants showing up as well because of the sweet fluids the aphid secrete. The ants actually "milk" the aphids. Nature is weird and wonderful!

You might want to see what the Heartland Peony Society has to say about ants and some other things.

 

http://www.peonies.org/cgi-bin/faqindex.cgi

 

Sorry the link activating thingy doesen't seem to be working.

I have grown squash from seed as well as from purchased plants. My best luck was clearly from the seeds. What have you guys noticed?

I did learn a lesson when I got the rabbit droppings--watch out for maggots. There were a lot of them living in the rabbit droppings. I didn't do anything special about the maggots. I just spread the droppings around and left the maggots in the droopings. We will see what happens.

I agree that winter protection really isn't needed around our area. I haven't done nything to protect them during the winter and we have had lots of berries each year.

Here is what one County Extension Service says about pruning:"Blackberries bear on last year's canes. After picking the berries, you should prune the bearing canes to the ground. The new canes (this year's) should be pruned to a four-foot height. This pruning forces the plants to grow side branches, which will bear next year's crop. These lateral branches should be cut back to twelve inches during the winter..

Trellises are not necessary as the canes are erect and, when shortened to a four-foot height, will stand on their own and make a neat hedge."

 

I seriously doubt if you are going to need winter protection for the roots around here but mulching never hurt anything and will keep down weeds. The canes should be safe as well in most winters. They are probably your most vulnerable part. Since they bear on second year canes you must get the canes through the winter without freezing to get any fruit. I don't think you will have a problem if they are hardy to -10 unless you have put them in an area where they are likely to get dessicated by winter winds. Don't do that!

If you have to pin them down after they go dormant and cover them with straw to keep them from freezing like I have to do with my hydrangea you are not going to be a happy gardener.

I have moved them in the fall and in the spring. When I moved them in the fall, they bloomed nicely the following spring. When I moved them in the spring, they didn't bloom in the spring. I have also noticed that if there aren't nts working the buds in the spring, I don't get any blooms. Ants don't seem to be a problem this spring. There are plenty of them and they have found my flowers.

Can't burn here in the city. I may have made a BIG mistake. I placed the plants in my composte bin. We will see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

I spread them around today. I did spread them thinly and am hoping that it helps some. Thanks!

I searched the web after making this post and found this, "Rabbit droppings are considered a "cold" manure - they can be applied directly from the rabbit to the garden without fear of burning. Since most rabbits urinate in a different location from where they defecate, if one keeps the hutch or cage cleaned regularly, there is little risk of the pellets becoming ammonia-soaked. Even so, allowing the hutch cleanings to sit a week or so before using allows the volatization of any excessive amounts of ammonia.

Dry rabbit droppings are almost entirely barely recycled alfalfa - there is virtually no difference from using rabbit droppings as a steep or tea as there is in using alfalfa meal or pellets directly in this manner. If it bothers you, just don't use it on edible crops but it's not going to hurt the plants at all. In fact, rabbit manure is frequently referred to as "bunny gold" or "super fertilizer" as it contains the highest concentrations of basic plant nutrients of any common animal manure.

I've raised rabbits for years as pets and for their benefit as little fertilizer machines and have used their droppings both directly, as a tea and as a cold compost. In fact, rabbit manure is pretty much the only 'fertilizer' I have used on my garden in the past 15 years or so."

My plants got hit hard with this last year. At the end of the season I cut them far back. This year there are a lot of new plants growing. With any luck the orange stuff will be gone.

We have used the liquid version of terro placed on a small piece of cardboard near the hill. We try to place it outside  when it isn't supposed to rain for a few days.

 

 

Thanks!  I didn't know that.  I just have the liquid toro.

 

Since my wife LOVES green tomatoes, I always plant at least six Granny Smith Tomatoe plants. They produce well and stay green all season. I got mine from the greenhouse in the Sarvey Plaza. Sometimes they don't have them there but you can tell them what you are looking for and they can usually get them in a couple of days. I believe that they are affiliated with The greenhouse along 255 near Weedville. I also plant several ox heart or beef heart tomatoes. They are low acid and meaty. Great for sandwhiches.

Thanks for the link!

I found a great website on dividing bulbs.

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening/Detailed/345.shtml

We had problems with skunks every year since we bought our house on the east side. This is the first year that we haven't seen any in March or April. I guess they will be along soon.

Gotta love the lilacs. I have them planted in various places in my yard and they almost always produce flowers. The only problem that we have at times is a late frost/freeze.