2020 Garden changes

[mindfold]

I usually grow a random mix of stuff every year. Been very hobby like for me and want to keep my green thumb skills fresh.

Anyone changing up their gardens this year seeing the depleted grocery stores? Focus on one or two things only? I do have limited space. 20x 6 fenced.

Most bang for your buck?


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[Irving]

Yes, but just because we grew a bunch of stuff last year that we didn't eat.

[DFBrews]

Hobby gardening is just that. A hobby it will never be economical it will never be as shelf stable as commercial. It will never be a thing to rely on.

That said my garden is 24x50 I just added all the dollars of various organic amendments due to nutrient issues due to poor compost from the year before.

I garden excessively
Currently have 4 72 plant flats germinated going with the years production of peppers tomatoes etc my hydro garlic is about 4” tall
Kratky method lettuce is about 3 weeks from harvest have some Hempy style cilantro about 2” tall and we had a fresh micro green brassica salad tonight from the grow cabinet

[Irving]

I don't know what to do with my compost. I never get around to turning it, so it's not really where it should be. I just dug the entire thing out yesterday and it's sitting in a huge pile in my garden bed. I cleaned out my chicken coop for the last time so I need to mix in all that dry stuff. My compost is mostly chicken poop, pine shavings, grass, and the parts of vegetables that we didn't eat all last year.

[DFBrews]

https://i.imgur.com/8wpuNaY.jpg


Cats are doing well this time of year

[Gman]

I usually grow a random mix of stuff every year. Been very hobby like for me and want to keep my green thumb skills fresh.

Anyone changing up their gardens this year seeing the depleted grocery stores? Focus on one or two things only? I do have limited space. 20x 6 fenced.

Most bang for your buck?
Zucchini

You'll have so many you'll be giving them away.

...and your neighbors will be tired of them.

[Great-Kazoo]

https://i.imgur.com/8wpuNaY.jpg


Cats are doing well this time of year

You using the standard 7-4-4 on the cat, or something a little higher in nitrogen?

[buffalobo]

Zucchini

You'll have so many you'll be giving them away.

...and your neighbors will be tired of them.^^^This.

[clodhopper]

I don't know what to do with my compost. I never get around to turning it, so it's not really where it should be. I just dug the entire thing out yesterday and it's sitting in a huge pile in my garden bed. I cleaned out my chicken coop for the last time so I need to mix in all that dry stuff. My compost is mostly chicken poop, pine shavings, grass, and the parts of vegetables that we didn't eat all last year.

I had this issue. I added about 10% soil (introduces some native biologicals) and started soaking the pile at least once a week. We are just so dry here that the pile wont stay moist enough to break down, and yours sounds like too much brown matter, again, pretty normal for around here. Gotta add moisture. Turning helps, but water is more importanter.

[Mtneer]

I had this issue. I added about 10% soil (introduces some native biologicals) and started soaking the pile at least once a week. We are just so dry here that the pile wont stay moist enough to break down, and yours sounds like too much brown matter, again, pretty normal for around here. Gotta add moisture. Turning helps, but water is more importanter.

Yep, more greens (kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, etc) and watering during the dry months. I turn about once a month except when frozen; keep a 5 gallon bucket w/lid outside the kitchen door and when it's full, it's time to add and turn. Just harvested my compost yesterday and got three wheelbarrow loads of black gold full of worms. Sifted out the big stuff, which went back in the pile, and distributed on top of my raised beds.

[Irving]

The chicken poop was really helping with the moisture, but they are gone now. The bottom half is wet, and top half dry. I could/should use my rain barrel to add to the water. Maybe if I get lucky, I can keep on top of it and have something usable by May. Work has completely stopped, so I've got nothing else to do.

[MrPrena]

Without having a agricultural sub, price of water will be crazy.
I know a lady in aurora who hobby garden and convert majority of her backyard. She does provide small local markets with vegetables.
Not a lot of $ unless done on scale.

[buffalobo]

Turning and working it is key. I prefer to to dig a pit about 1' deep and what ever area you desire. Use the spoil to mix with composting material. Mound it from edge to center up to depth of pit above grade(1' deep pit + 1' mound = 2' total). Turn it weekly, add moisture after turn as needed, cover lightly with soil/leaves or tarp. It helps keep in moisture and heat, just don't let it smolder or catch in fire.

Depth or size of pit depends on your needs. I work mine with loader on my small tractor. I also chop/chip any branches/brush. Limbs take too long to decompose.

[Irving]

I've definitely find that limbs take too long. My pit is so large it is not easily managed.

[clodhopper]

I've definitely find that limbs take too long. My pit is so large it is not easily managed.

Consider reorganizing your system to a sequential one. Run several small piles of different ages rather than a single overwhelming one. In your current situation, decide what size mound you can work with what is available to you. Then break up your big one into smaller piles. Let some of them sit dry for the time being and focus on one or two. Keep the moisture up and turn them. As those start breaking down and making progress, add another pile to your schedule. Then, going forward, build one small pile at a time with waste, but keep the pile sizes manageable. One huge pile that is ignored does no good.

[Irving]

I don't have the space for multiple piles unless I get into it like a party time job. I think keeping on top of it and rotating once a week will make it easier than trying to flip a block that's been compressed for months at a time.

[clodhopper]

I don't have the space for multiple piles unless I get into it like a party time job. I think keeping on top of it and rotating once a week will make it easier than trying to flip a block that's been compressed for months at a time.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9iKDfCFzSzWsEdld1owAbk5dVyqsHc VTrhYAQsD99Ne6y0bK3

[Irving]

Not really. That's my problem. Heh.

[Gman]

A digging fork helps make pretty quick work of turning it.

[mindfold]

Soooo now this has been totally hijacked, No way in hell can you offset and/or grow more zucchini are my choices.


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[Irving]

I like tomatoes and peppers for salsa, but I only seem to be able to grow cherry tomatoes in abundance, but even those it seems like not enough. I can second the zucchini and squash. My first year I had four plants. Even the neighbors stopped taking them. Corn hasn't really done well me. The one year I tried to grow it, it was going okay then it all blew over. Last year we grew some type of Asian lettuce or something that was growing out of control, but we never really knew what to do with it. Pumpkins took over a good 1/3 of my yard, but they were carving pumpkins so it really just took a lot of water more than anything. It was cool, but we don't have the room for them just because they are cool. In the past I've grown peppers well, but last year they really struggled.

My neighbor across the street grew a whole garden in like 10 plastic kitty litter buckets (the bright yellow ones) and kicked everyone's but with his produce.

[XJ]

If work-from-home continues for a while, I could probably get a garden to survive past hail season! That has always been the problem, the storms roll through mid-day and just shred the leaves. Last year I tried containers/Homer buckets back and forth from the porch into June, and still got surprised.


Plenty of time until Mother's Day to get plants in the ground. Maybe there are some better approaches? Can't really see going to a full-on greenhouse, if those even stand up to hail.

[Mtneer]

If work-from-home continues for a while, I could probably get a garden to survive past hail season! That has always been the problem, the storms roll through mid-day and just shred the leaves.

Make hoop tents with PVC pipe and garden insect mesh. This stuff is hail-proof and has held up well for several seasons; their jumbo clips work well. www.growcover.com.au

[OtterbatHellcat]

If you like green onions/scallions...there is something really easy you can do to have perpetual fresh product from your window sill.

I was skeptical, but it's impressive on yield....2 to 4 inches of growth in just one week.

1 clear plastic egg container with 1/2 inch holes on the top of each compartment.
Cut the green onions high enough to reach through the holes you made.
Fill the compartments with water and change it out every couple of days or so.

It's also been kinda fun to see how well this is working.

[buffalobo]

If you like green onions/scallions...there is something really easy you can do to have perpetual fresh product from your window sill.

I was skeptical, but it's impressive on yield....2 to 4 inches of growth in just one week.

1 clear plastic egg container with 1/2 inch holes on the top of each compartment.
Cut the green onions high enough to reach through the holes you made.
Fill the compartments with water and change it out every couple of days or so.

It's also been kinda fun to see how well this is working.Post pics?

[Gman]

That green onion "hack" works if you just want the tops. It steals nutrients from the bulb, which to me is the best part of a green onion.


http://youtu.be/VYiOqwJTlHI

As to never buying green onions again? Riiiight. Eventually there will be nothing left for the plant to tap into for survival.

[Alpine]

Anyone here eat Dandalion Salid? I know some restaurants offer it, organic. The stuff that grows around my house is 100% organic. No fertilizer or pesticides used around my house. The little research I did says to avoid eating large quantities of the flower stems. Any other concerns? I've also read some can be bitter tasting?

[OtterbatHellcat]

That green onion "hack" works if you just want the tops. It steals nutrients from the bulb, which to me is the best part of a green onion.

Exactly. If you eat the whole cow, there is also no more cow to eat either. It was an experiment that is turning out pretty good to harvest "just the tops"....to clarify.
:)

[buffalobo]

Anyone here eat Dandalion Salid? I know some restaurants offer it, organic. The stuff that grows around my house is 100% organic. No fertilizer or pesticides used around my house. The little research I did says to avoid eating large quantities of the flower stems. Any other concerns? I've also read some can be bitter tasting?We have eaten Dandelion salad. Not the best greens but edible, the best was with fancy cheese chunks and dried cranberries, nuts and some fancy flavored vinegret dressing. As said we avoid stems.

[mindfold]

Potatoes, onions and tomatoes it is. Rebuilt my tiller, waiting for parts. Adding water and repaired fencing. Debating if I will expand to add cucumbers(different location).


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[Irving]

Timely bump wife just got done shopping for seeds with the neighbor. We'll see what she bought when she gets home

[Great-Kazoo]

green beans, carrots, red peppers, lettuce, tomatoes (roma & plum) maybe some onions and lots of herbs.


Garlic she planted in nov, has 8-10" stalks.

last year she planted a few things to see what the results were. Outside the drip system for watering and some neem oil for those damn aphids on thre tomatoes. Everything was really successful. Which means this years harvest will end up being picked, from the farmers market.

[hunterhawk]

Bought a grow light and building a green house. Should extend my growing season tremendously. Also adding some poted tomatoes since i plan on spacing out seeds so i have endless tomatoes as my garden boxes just dont seem to be big enough. Should have plenty of vegies to share with my neighbors and provide my family of 4.

[TheGrey]

I'm going to try more types of squash this year- spaghetti, butternut, and one or two zucchini plants. No tomatoes- they're a pain and I can buy them cheaper at Sprouts and can them.

[Gman]

I'm going to try more types of squash this year- spaghetti, butternut, and one or two zucchini plants. No tomatoes- they're a pain and I can buy them cheaper at Sprouts and can them.
I agree. Our growing season is too damn short for getting good yields on tomatoes.

[hunterhawk]

Really? I have had no issues with tons of tomatoes im just getting greedy trying to see how long I can extend my growing season. Im actually going to keep a log this year on all my vegies from start to finish with the new greenhouse method

[TheGrey]

Really? I have had no issues with tons of tomatoes im just getting greedy trying to see how long I can extend my growing season. Im actually going to keep a log this year on all my vegies from start to finish with the new greenhouse method

Well that gives me hope, although my tomatoes were a source of constant disappointment. I was plagued by blossom rot, and then they just stopped producing.

I ended up just buying 50# of romas from Sprouts and canning them.

[mindfold]

Just a heads up, there is now a run on seeds if you haven?t bought this years yet. No clue about seedlings at garden places. Will be heading to HD for a look and some supplies.


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[mindfold]

If you are looking for tomato seeds, slim pickings. Seeding supplies are picked clean. Not sure if it is just the typical time of the year or this situation has more people trying gardening.

Too bad it took the destruction of our economy and a pandemic, more people getting active in gardening and guns are good to see.

Also, my wife commented that more people are getting to know their neighbors better as well.

There are my positives for the week.


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[Erni]

If you are looking for tomato seeds, slim pickings. Seeding supplies are picked clean. Not sure if it is just the typical time of the year or this situation has more people trying gardening.

Too bad it took the destruction of our economy and a pandemic, more people getting active in gardening and guns are good to see.

Also, my wife commented that more people are getting to know their neighbors better as well.

There are my positives for the week.


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My friend in LA started a garden in case food becomes scarce. So I can see that.
Of course food wont be an LA problem, water will be the number 1 issue.

[ChickNorris]

Ive quite a few tomato seed varieties, if someone is looking. Mostly heirlooms. I always order more than I start & store them properly, still good after several years. Salad cherries too.


Tick tock tick.... lmk

[ChickNorris]

Have some other random vegetables seeds too & won't be using them all.

[TheGrey]

Okay, so I have a few veggie plants in large pots and 5-gallon buckets while the spouse works on the raised garden beds.

Hot wind is definitely something I had not thought about. My poor plants!
I moved them onto the porch where they were mostly protected, but it took them hours to recover from being flailed about.

Is there something I should be doing to protect them from wind? What about when they are in the garden bed?

[hunterhawk]

I use the plastic sheeting that comes in a roll.. polycarbonate on top.. made out of pvc.. helps with hail and wind... doing pretty well this year.. everything except my broccoli because of rabbits and my peppers were lagging but expect them to pick up now with the warmer weather.

[TheGrey]

I use the plastic sheeting that comes in a roll.. polycarbonate on top.. made out of pvc.. helps with hail and wind... doing pretty well this year.. everything except my broccoli because of rabbits and my peppers were lagging but expect them to pick up now with the warmer weather.

Okay, so now the questions: are you speaking of hoops to go over the top, or do you make a sort of high fence with it?

Edit: Okay, I've done a little research. You're talking about hoops!

[encorehunter]

For the last few years, we have not been buying tomato seeds. When we slice a roma or whatever tomato we want, we take a slice with seeds out and lighlty bury it in potting soil. It will mold and then several small tomato plants will start growing. Much cheaper than buying the seeds, if you find the breed you want in the store.

[TheGrey]

Tomatoes are so fussy. I'm trying to make sure the calcium balance in the soil is good...but man, it's a battle. That's good advice for the seeds, though. Maybe when I finally master growing them, I'll start on the seeds.

[Great-Kazoo]

Okay, so now the questions: are you speaking of hoops to go over the top, or do you make a sort of high fence with it?

Edit: Okay, I've done a little research. You're talking about hoops!

Here's what the spouse did with left over green plastic wrap. from moving.

https://i.imgur.com/W8ACLUVm.jpg

[TheGrey]

Here's what the spouse did with left over green plastic wrap. from moving.

https://i.imgur.com/W8ACLUVm.jpg

Is that wrapped around tomato cages? Brilliant!

[Great-Kazoo]

Is that wrapped around tomato cages? Brilliant!

Yes. it was laying around the storage racks. Might as well use it. She did say. Next year water walls. I'm thinking of some green polycarbonate panels cut to size considering the price per water wall.


The wind down here, gives wyo a run for the money. A good day it's an average of 5ish mph.
Then we get a week of 30-50 mph winds .

[DFBrews]

Tomatoes are so fussy. I'm trying to make sure the calcium balance in the soil is good...but man, it's a battle. That's good advice for the seeds, though. Maybe when I finally master growing them, I'll start on the seeds.
Cal mag is readily available around town garden centers
Soil ph can lock out the nutrients too making them unavailable

[TheGrey]

Cal mag is readily available around town garden centers
Soil ph can lock out the nutrients too making them unavailable

I'm learning how much I don't know about tomatoes!

[Great-Kazoo]

I'm learning how much I don't know about tomatoes!

The only thing we've done for the tomatoes is. Spray neem oil, for the aphids , either they grow or don't. Stick to roma and cherry ones down here. the beefsteaks suffer from the heat / monsoon dilemma. Too much water than, heat for weeks on end. So we end up with very tough skinned, cracked (chasm actually) tomatoes.

[TheGrey]

The only thing we've done for the tomatoes is. Spray neem oil, for the aphids , either they grow or don't. Stick to roma and cherry ones down here. the beefsteaks suffer from the heat / monsoon dilemma. Too much water than, heat for weeks on end. So we end up with very tough skinned, cracked (chasm actually) tomatoes.

With all that effort, I'm just tempted to buy and can a couple of cases and call it done!

[mindfold]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200624/a942c068b77ff421f8ce206dd5ce8800.jpg
Tomatoes are doing well. Onions and carrots too! Potatoes are doing well. First time growing those.


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[tactical_2012]

My garden is doing great have 70 plants going

[tactical_2012]

My Garden is doing Great this year harvesting a large bowl of lettuce and large bowl of spinach almost daily. Also picking 6 to 8 zucchini and 6 to 8 yellow squash every day. Have spaghetti squash, butter cup squash, and cucumbers coming in. Tomatoes are loaded looks like I might be filling a few 5 gallon buckets this year.

[tactical_2012]

Watermelons and cantaloupe growing but dont see any fruit on them

[Irving]

We planted very late. I just now saw my first tomato this week. We have something like 25 pepper plants with zero flowers, let alone peppers.

[TheGrey]

tactical_2012, I am jealous. We also planted pretty late, and my squash plants seem to be in a holding pattern as far as growth. Hopefully the rain we got tonight will help with a nitrgen boost.

[tactical_2012]

We didnt plant until the middle of June

[Erni]

Radishes grew big, but are hollow and mushy inside. I think either grew too big or not enough fertilizer.


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[TheGrey]

We didnt plant until the middle of June

Really? Then it must be something on my end. I added some more fertilizer recently, so I'll see if that does anything.

[TheGrey]

Radishes grew big, but are hollow and mushy inside. I think either grew too big or not enough fertilizer.


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How frustrating!

[mindfold]

Tomatoes are doing very well. Started them from seed myself during the school closure for science portion for my boys. Turned out damn good. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200726/077362ab24c346c45aea08d43aed05de.jpg


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[tactical_2012]

Heck ya those Mator plants look good. We are doing all Heirloom variety plants and are going to harvest seed from veggies this year and try starting garden next year from this years seed

[tactical_2012]

Have been eating zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers daily. Already frozen 20lbs of zucchini and this is what we still have. Picked our first tomato today. Plants are full have 12 tomato and 8 cherry tomatoes

[Irving]

The tomatoes came in and are looking well. The proper plants have all started to flower and take off in growth as well. Only that has been a let down has been the arugula, that is so tart and sour and it tastes spicy.

[Great-Kazoo]

Maybe a few bags of green beans. The spinach and lettuce bolted last month. Cucumbers flowering, peppers a disappointment, carrots looking good. Tomatoes, eh nothing special this year.

[tactical_2012]

Ya Garden is a like a Jungle. We have tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, spaghetti squash, buttercup squash, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupe, lettuce, spinach, rosemary, sweet basil, and oregano. Everything has fruit on it and all loaded. We are having a good year with the garden

[tactical_2012]

So long 2020 Garden looks like this weekend might be the end to the 2020 Garden Season as we will have multiple days of below freezing temps here in Elbert County

[Aloha_Shooter]

Thanks for reminding me. I need to harvest my mint and basil this weekend before the cold hits.

[tactical_2012]

I will update tomorrow night with our fall harvest

[buffalobo]

Ground is very warm, can cover alot of stuff for couple nights and be pretty safe.

[tactical_2012]

Well we decided to pick what we could here is our 2020 Harvest

[tactical_2012]

Got my best Tomatoes ready for seed Harvest. Also had some zucchini and yellow squash to harvest for seed

[hatidua]

We'll cover what we can for the Tuesday/Wednesday event but will also proactively harvest anything that is even remotely able to ripen off-vine. I just wish my mosco peppers had turned red, they are all still green (6" long) except for one.

[Great-Kazoo]

Well we decided to pick what we could here is our 2020 Harvest

Very nice. down here the serious drought killed most everything, or it went to seed real quick. The carrots and yellow cukes are doing good. The rest, not even the gophers, or rabbits, slowed down to look at. The spouse started redesigning next years garden, on paper, this weekend.

[clodhopper]

Our garden is too big to cover and with the hail damage and drought, there wasn't that much (at least for how many plants we have) anyway. We pulled the whole thing.

[TheGrey]

Well we decided to pick what we could here is our 2020 Harvest

What an amazing harvest!

My squashes all needed at least another 2-3 weeks to ripen everything. My poor beans- both bush and pole, are likely goners. I'm so bummed- I was really looking forward to harvesting my squashes.