Got the garden turned and tilled yesterday. Got the fence up on 2 sides, but I am leaving the other 2 sides open until we till it the last time, which will hopefully be 1 day this week.

The fence is about 7 ft high so hopefully that will deter the deer from jumping it. But we'll see. If we notice deer have been in it then I will add another layer to the top.

3/22/2010 10:08:29 AM

Whelp, I've got a few sprouts coming up in my mini-greenhouse, but they're pretty much all the herbs that were planted. I guess the veggie seedlings take a little longer to sprout up?

3/22/2010 10:30:25 AM

basil and snapdragon seedlings came up this weekend!

3/22/2010 11:10:31 AM

Too late to put down pre-emergent?

3/22/2010 11:56:51 AM

Anyone want/need any broccoli or cucumber sprouts?

3/22/2010 1:45:33 PM

^can you grow cucumber in pots?

[Edited on March 22, 2010 at 1:58 PM. Reason : ]

3/22/2010 1:58:50 PM

I have no idea.

3/22/2010 2:08:28 PM

^^ you can grow just about anything in pots if you have big enough pots.

3/22/2010 2:13:32 PM

Quote :

"Nerdchick I am very interested in this strawberry planter you got...will you be putting something other than strawberries in it?"

no, I was going to just do the berries. I haven't gotten the planters yet, they're going to mail out when it's time to plant (it comes with plants)

3/22/2010 4:53:12 PM

IT BEGINS! Just took these pictures a few minutes ago. This is the work we did yesterday. WOW, check out the creepy sky in the last one, pretty neat:

3/22/2010 6:00:55 PM

Quote :

"^can you grow cucumber in pots?"

yes. In my research, as i've not done this yet and this will be my first year doing cukes, a large pot (5 gallons should do) and a trellis to help guide. Water thoroughly and often.

We can be potted cuke newbies together

^that looks really good!

[Edited on March 22, 2010 at 10:05 PM. Reason : ]

3/22/2010 10:03:02 PM

^
its absolutely possible to grow them in a pot. here's a crappy pic from last year's cukes. the plants were huge and put out lots of blossoms, but never yielded any full size fruit. details are in last year's container garden thread if you're interested.

3/22/2010 10:52:58 PM

i found posts/suggestions from the previous thread for easy reference on potted cukes and ^ chop's problems last year...here they are for reference

Quote :

"I think the cucumbers are dying b/c either they aren't getting pollinated by the male flowers (Male has no fruit attached) and/or they are getting too much rain causing blossom-end-rot...blossom-end rot can also be caused by calcium deficiencies in the soil as well. If I could guess I think it is b/c they are being fertilized. If you see both male and female flowers blooming take a brush/q-tip and transfer pollen from the male to the female flower. I hope I'm right!"

Quote :

"chop- are they just browning and drying, or does mold/fungus eventually develop? you might have one of a billion kinds of blossom rot that affects squashes. try to minimize the amount of contact bugs are having with your plants- look for cucumber beetles and signs of vine borers and eradicate them if possible. make sure you are keeping the flowers from touching the soil, and are staying dry (ie only water the base of the plant, dont spray leaves and flowers). cucumbers often need hand pollination- i am waiting for some female squash blossoms so i can do the same thing."

the self pollination thing seems to ring a bell from my research. there's a particular cucumber plant that grows well in pots that you won't need to aid in pollination, but I can't remember what species it was.

3/23/2010 7:54:59 AM

Quote :

"Too late to put down pre-emergent?"

3/23/2010 8:11:45 AM

djeternal that looks awesome! Is this what's being planted:
tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos , banana peppers, watermelon, zuchs, squash, herbs/spices, corn, pumpkins?
How will you be arranging them? I'm very unfamiliar with plants so sorry if this sounds a little but will the banana peppers and jalapenos start blending together (milder jalapenos and spicier banana peppers) if they're planted close to each other?

Quote :

"We can be potted cuke newbies together "

elkaybie, I think I'm going to avoid doing cucumbers after reading through some of last year's thread. My poor gardening self-esteem couldn't handle pitiful plants...believe me I'd sit outside and sing to them everyday because to me that is what a gardener does!

So in order to avoid my neighbors assuming I've lost my mind, I think I'll just stick with herbs!!!

But good luck, let me know if you need help singing!

3/23/2010 11:19:08 AM

We had some success with cukes, but we went out there and pollinated them manually, had probably 5 or 6 per plant that grew full size. But we probably let them sit too long before we picked them (kept waiting for them to get bigger) because they were a little bitter.

We had them in 2 separate pots, on a second story balcony. Potted cukes also need a TON of water. If we didn't water every single day (sometimes twice a day) they would be noticeably droopy.

[Edited on March 23, 2010 at 11:29 AM. Reason : ]

3/23/2010 11:27:37 AM

This is the only info I have for this

Quote :

"Arbor Day - Seedling giveaway at Jordan Hall 9 a.m.- 1 p.m."

This saturday

3/23/2010 1:47:45 PM

We got 10 trees for making a $10 donation to the Arbor Day Foundation. I forget what all they were, I know there were a couple dogwoods in there though. We need to plant them here soon.

3/23/2010 2:01:53 PM

goddammit
between this morning and now, a good number of my cucumber seedlings have gotten ...funky?
like, parts of the leaves are dry and crispy, despite adequate water. Some plants, it's just a spot or two on the leaf(-ves); others, it's nearly all of it.

wtf.

3/23/2010 5:05:04 PM

^check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites or aphids. I had a hell of a time with them last year.

3/23/2010 6:16:03 PM

I am SOOOOOO looking forward to these again this year:

3/23/2010 6:18:04 PM

So how long should I keep my seedling in the "greenhouse?"

I found one of those little things at lowes with the peat pellets and clear plastic cover. Since I have to leave early in the morning I usually just switch on a gro-light to light/warm them during the day, and about 1/2 of my seeds look as if they've sprouted (though these are mostly the herbs which weren't sowed too deep) Should I take the well-sprouted ones out and leave the late sprouters in? And if I take them out, what should I do with them?

BTW it'll be about 2 weeks worth of germination come this Saturday.

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 9:23 AM. Reason : asdvqa]

3/25/2010 9:22:00 AM

Wondering about a couple things. We did a small container garden (2 tomatoes, 8 peppers, some herbs) last year and I want to go ground this year. However, as I don't own a rototiller and would have to rent a truck to get it home if I rented one, I've begun to think raised bed is the way to go. How deep do I need to build it? Everything will be above-ground except for some radishes and I don't think they grow all that deep. Do I need to do any basic soil prep for the ground below it, or should I put down gardening plastic at the bottom to keep the plants contained in the bed itself? Planning on planting eggplant, watermelon radishes, globe radishes, arugula, rainbow swiss chard, and lettuce (variety TBD) from seeds, plus several varieties of peppers and tomatoes from transplants.

Is now a good time to sow seeds in the ground, as we *should* be clear of frost? Weather forecast shows 34 tomorrow night (wtf?) but 40+ from here on out. Also does proximity to rain matter--i.e. if I can get the bed built we might plant Saturday afternoon, but they're calling for rain on Sunday, would my seeds float away?

Also does anyone know where to get a sungold tomato plant? Our house is pretty bad for starting pants indoors so I want to just get already growing tomatoes and peppers, and the girlfriend LOVES sungold tomatoes. But I couldn't find any last year (though we got a late start, bought them in mid-May, so the selection may have been unsatisfactory).

3/25/2010 10:02:19 AM

Man this random ass cold snap is not helping out my plants at all The basil and the dill look the worst off. What are the chances they'll bounce back?

3/25/2010 9:17:26 PM

^^ I'm doing raised beds this year.

The taller the better, I used 1x8 planks cause they were cheaper than 1x12. Hammer stakes into the ground for the corners, and nail the planks on. I used treated pine and lined it with plastic on the sides b/c of the chemicals in treated wood. no plastic on the bottom!!! deeper roots are better, you don't want to mess that up!!

You don't need to prep the ground under the bed, maybe stab it some to loosen it up but nothing serious. Here's a good site about how to prepare a raised bed.

http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/build-a-garden.html

3/25/2010 9:46:29 PM

problems with the roots show up as problems with the leaves. if you have leaves dying, its a good idea to check your soil conditions.

3/26/2010 11:42:28 AM

^^^It's still a bit early for seeds in Raleigh, wait a couple weeks. The soil temp is still too cool. Transplants are prob OK after tonight's cold, and it's better to plant those on days when it's overcast/cloudy/raining.


Re: Sungolds - Head out to the Farmer's Market in a few weeks and look for a guy named Craig Lehoullier, aka "NC Tomato Man"

http://nctomatoman.weebly.com/from-the-vine-vegetable-seedings-2010.html

You might have read about him in the paper. He sells heirloom tomatoes that do well in NC for a few weeks every year. He's got a place up on Honeycutt Rd or Durant somewhere and his entire yard is tomato plants.

[Edited on March 26, 2010 at 12:14 PM. Reason : sungolds]

3/26/2010 12:09:18 PM

Any ideas for a table to put all my pots on? I need one for the balcony so that they get enough sunlight.

Also, cucumber and green chilli seeds are sprouting!

3/28/2010 6:29:28 PM

^
i used these cheap metal tables that i got at target for ~$25ea. they have a steel mesh surface which allows for good air flow and drainage. also, they are stackable, so that makes for easy storage. unfortunately i couldn't find them on target's website, but you can probably find something similar.



[Edited on March 28, 2010 at 7:30 PM. Reason : .]

3/28/2010 7:28:34 PM

my snapdragon seedlings have hit the proverbial brick wall

they sprouted within 7-8 days of planting the seeds, but over the last 1.5 weeks, nothing....

basil, dill and jalapeno seedlings are doing well though. should be ready to transplant in a week or so

3/28/2010 7:40:46 PM

^4 thanks for the info on the tomato guy, will definitely be paying him a visit for our tomato and pepper plants. Trying to get the eggplant, basil, and some flowers started in the little peat cups currently.

I've already kind of given up on the raised bed idea; I think it would be rather expensive and kind of a pain to get enough garden soil to fill up a bed the size I want. Going back to the idea of tilling up a section of the yard that doesn't have much grass on it currently, and working in some good soil/fertilizer with the earth that is already here, as I've found a way to get it from and to the rental place. Though I do have drainage concerns...not sure what to do about those exactly.

Also trying out strawberries in a large container this year. Have those worked well for folks here? How did you go about securing a trailing plant within bird netting?

3/30/2010 12:19:36 PM

I've got big old containers for growing in. They're high quality 25 gal. for specialty nurseries. I'll sell them for $7.50 ea.

3/30/2010 8:30:47 PM

Great thread folks! I've been missing out.

We grew onions, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, okra, green beans, butter beans, silver queen corn, better boy tomatoes, jalapenos, mexibells, cayennes, chili reds, hot bananas, and sweet bananas in about 3rd of acre last year.

I'll get some pics as stuff goes in, but I just have garlic and tiny onions in there at the moment.

I'm looking forward to checking this thread throughout the summer and seeing how everyone's gardens are!

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 1:27 PM. Reason : .]

3/31/2010 1:26:21 PM

Getting the zuchs and the sunflowers started this weekend. Also going to finish spreading the manure, hay, turning, and tilling the garden. Hopefully finishing the fence too.

3/31/2010 1:43:18 PM

got my GROWIN BAGS and plants in the mail today!!

pics to come

3/31/2010 4:20:38 PM

any recommendation on which herbs i should grow?

i plan on doing a container with a couple

3/31/2010 6:26:20 PM

Rosemary or oregano! Both are easy to grow, great for cooking, and can last through the winter in NC. Basil is great as well for cooking but doesn't last as long.

Dill is nice in creamy sauces and dips. Last year I made a great dip out of greek yogurt, sour cream, and fresh picked dill.

3/31/2010 7:36:33 PM

moved 6 of my day lilies from their pots (have been in them for ~5 years) to our front yard this week...I kept 3 in their pots for the back porch as I do like them back there.

my seedlings aren't looking so hot except for the jalapenos, peppers, and cilantro. tomatoes could be better/happier.

cukes & zucchini and dahlies & butterfly flower are okay, but not great
only half of the marigolds are doing well
the rosemary seedlings looked terrible when we got back from out of town over the weekend and haven't recovered

my basil is even pissed at me

admittedly this seed idea was a 1st, and it may just be that seeds aren't for me...I can obviously handle some, but maybe some plants I'm just better w/ established seedlings *shrug* (as obvious by my day lilies, jasmine, and gardenia shrub that I've kept alive for 5 years)

3/31/2010 9:20:58 PM

I got inspired and went out and took some pictures of the garlic this afternoon. Each row is two heads broken up and planted of a different kind of garlic.

3/31/2010 11:24:35 PM

all of that is garlic???

4/1/2010 12:06:30 AM

yeah

The five kinds are Sonoran, Shilla, Kettle River, Chesnok Red, and Music

4/1/2010 12:15:40 AM

wow i had no clue of so many variations

4/1/2010 12:32:39 AM

That's so cool. How do you know they're ready for harvest?

4/1/2010 2:55:12 AM

Quote :

"the rosemary seedlings looked terrible when we got back from out of town over the weekend and haven't recovered"

don't feel bad, it's really hard to start rosemary from seeds. Instead you could try a cutting, just cut a piece off your neighbors plant and stick it in the dirt.

4/1/2010 5:51:07 AM

Planted my second shot at morning glories yesterday. Last year I started in the summer and they were toast in a hurry. Also, when and where is a good time/place to shop for house plants? Last year I bought different things from both Lowes and Home Depot but I waited too long so my selection was meh. One last thing, how is the best way to keep an ivy happy? I had two last year and they both hated me. I tried keeping them out of direct light but still wanted them to have some. Would they be happiest across a room well away from the light source?

4/1/2010 7:35:40 AM

BIG NEWS!
Even though I never thought I could grow anything from seeds, it looks like my $1 packs of seeds from Big Lots are pulling through! I don't know if these will work out too well in this climate, but I have snapdragons, petunias, and some daisy things growing, and they're looking good!

The mint is already going out of control. And I'm keeping a close eye on my cilantro. It seems to quickly turn a yellowish color (I thought depending on the weather/water, but it's probably due to the generic soil I used). I've heard that cilantro tends to bolt if it gets too hot/too much sun, should I move that plant to the opposite side of the apartment where it won't get as much sun?

Quick easy recipe:
1-2 pints of strawberries
10-15 fresh mint leaves
2 tbsp honey
1/2 juice of a fresh lemon

Clean and slice the strawberries, cut the fresh mint (chocolate mint!)...use scissors if necessary. In bowl, combine strawberries, mint, honey, and lemon juice. Cover and allow to chill out (prob in fridge) for at least 30 minutes. Remove from fridge and allow the bowl to warm up just a little closer to room temperature, then serve! (I usually only use 1-1.5 tbsp of honey).

4/1/2010 8:36:18 AM

I'm trying my hand at onions this year. red, yellow, white, and shallots. How late is too late to plant them, if we expect to harvest them sometime this summer?

4/1/2010 9:06:46 AM

It almost seems to be a matter of luck what survives the winter and what doesn't re: herbs. Our oregano made it through just fine, and the mint has recovered nicely despite looking dead late in the winter. Also, somewhat surprisingly, our parsley and thyme both made it despite being relatively small plants to begin with. The rosemary, on the other hand, didn't survive, nor did the chocolate mint.

4/1/2010 9:08:43 AM

^^ We literally just put ~200 onions in the ground yesterday.

Right now is an ideal time to get them started. Plant them about 4" apart and then start thinning them as they grow for spring onions. You should expect to have big onions ready to eat right around the end of June.

Quote :

"wow i had no clue of so many variations"

There are hundreds. I got a sampler pack for our zone off of http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com

Quote :

"How do you know they're ready for harvest?"

All the lower leaves start dying and when only the top 5 or 6 leaves are still green it is ready for harvest. Some kinds get ready way before others so I hope that I can begin harvesting some in a month or so, but they can go all the way into summer.

After they are out of the ground they then need to be hung up and "cured" for a week or two to dry out before eating.

[Edited on April 1, 2010 at 9:51 AM. Reason : gahlic]

4/1/2010 9:43:35 AM

can somebody expound a little on thinning and hardening off

this is my first time growing from seed, and i'm not familiar with the lingo/techniques

4/1/2010 11:18:31 AM