Thinning - so you've got your little pot/peat disk/ whatever that you planted seeds in. Say you put four seeds in there and three sprouted. At some point you need to pick one to keep and two to remove, because having the plants all right there together isn't gonna work. So you pick the winner and pinch the two losers out, or cut them with some scissors or something. Usually this happens when one sprout puts out some true leaves before the other ones (for example, a tomato seedling spouts the two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) that are smooth and oval-shaped, and the true leaves are the ones that look like a tomato leaf with lobes and veins and whatnot). I cut/pinch the losers out instead of pulling the whole sprout up so as not to disturb the roots of the winner. That's thinning.


Hardening off - You've started your plants off indoors or in a greenhouse or under some plastic or whatever. Instead of just taking them outside in the blazing sun one day, they need to transition to their eventual spot in the garden. So you prop the lid of the greenhouse up or take the plastic off for a while, and then move them outside for a few hours or move them outside into a shady spot and let the plants acclimate to being outside in the sun and the elements. If you just went straight from the nice warm, humid place you started them to outside they'd wilt. So you harden them off so they can get used to the new conditions.

4/1/2010 12:16:11 PM

that's just the kind of information I was looking for. thanks!

4/1/2010 3:03:22 PM

STRAWBERRIES and GROWIN BAGS!!! the plants came in root form. the instructions said to plant them horizontally first until they root, then hang the bag up.

PS I tried to edit this post TWICE and I got an egg both times





[Edited on April 1, 2010 at 7:47 PM. Reason : .]

4/1/2010 7:45:31 PM

just was in Ace Hardware in Beaufort getting some bird feeding stuff for grandma and picked up a 9-pack of Rutgers for $3.49. Imma have a lot of tomatoes this year, I think.

4/3/2010 3:20:05 PM

good info at the top

^^i'm really interested in your progress with this...keep it up! May give it a whirl next year (I already got a big enough "farm" going on )

today was a big day...5 bags of mulch in my front bed and the portion I extended when I transplanted my day lilies a week ago--which are doing great! They like their new spot--and added zinnias, marigolds, dusty miller, and dianthus in the bed as a border. Also used those in containers in the front and back porch with purple & white bacopa. Got lots of compliments from our neighbors while I was working on the bed--w00t!

Transplanted the cuke and zucchini seedlings that were looking the best along with marigolds in large containers. Transplanted the flower seedlings in two window boxes. We'll see what happens with those--I dunno if they'll make it which was why I bought established seedlings today.

Lastly, picked up a rosemary and beef tomato seedling to replace my dead () seedlings.

Sitting on my back porch now with a glass of wine enjoying the fruits of my labor

Also picked up a geranium and lantana.

4/3/2010 8:16:16 PM

Has anyone done anything with perennial fruit bearers other than strawberries?

My grape fine is shooting off shoots again, and is starting to flower already And I just extended the trellis to plant to raspberry bushes, hopefully they will do better there then along the chain link fence.

4/4/2010 9:59:54 PM

I've got two scuppernong vines in pots that I'm trying hard to find a place to plant, but I don't think there's anywhere. My father in-law has a huge vine that's nearly wild (it's growing over a ditch in his yard and there's really nowhere to put up supports), and I got the seeds from it.

I also have two peach trees and two cherry trees that I planted in Fall 07 (bought from Arbor Day), and one of the peaches may bear a couple this year. And a fig tree from the farmers market that went in last fall.


I also went past Atlantic Ave Garden this afternoon and got myself in trouble buying tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers. I always go overboard.

4/5/2010 3:45:51 PM

I built a greenhouse/hothouse this weekend. My shoulder's all messed up, and trying to carry an aquarium in and out each day was getting really old, and I hated having to ask other people to help.

PVC pipe + zip ties + moisture barrier film. I shaped it like a pup tent, and put it in a spot that gets most of the morning and afternoon sun, but is shaded late morning - early afternoon. It was getting up to ~115 in the taller part today; I need to move the thermometer down to where the plants are. As far as size, it is 3.33' long by about 2.5' deep and about knee-high.

I accidentally killed most of my broccoli plants last week (which only highlighted my need for a greenhouse). They got too tall and were bumping up against the saranwrap I was using as a cover, and they fried.

Some while ago, I'd posted about cucumber plants having problems with the leaves. I thought it was because they'd been outside, relatively exposed, on a chilly, windy day, rather than the soil as someone suggested earlier (I meant to follow up, btw...sorry ). Now I know. All of the seedlings that were in the aquarium are super strong and beautiful. The crunchy seedlings...they're across the board. Some are dead, and some are about 80% of the ones that had been in the aquarium the whole time.

And my peppers finally sprouted and I repotted them all yesterday, as well as basil.

And...I finally planted my raspberries

Also, I am totally in love with this site: http://www.tomatofest.com/heirloom_tomato_seed_home.html

[Edited on April 5, 2010 at 4:26 PM. Reason : AD]

4/5/2010 4:26:00 PM

^ LOL ... finished your hot house just in time for the hot weather

4/5/2010 8:20:54 PM

Anyone want a hops vine? I pulled all the extra shoots off of mine and put them in water and they're growing roots. Send a PM if you do.

4/6/2010 9:25:37 AM

TWW ... I need your help!! My squash are getting what look like flower buds ... but the plants are still less than 5 in tall!!! Is it too early? should I pinch the buds off??

4/7/2010 5:25:44 PM

I was finally able to get some pics up.




Got my official upside down strawberry and tomato planters. The guy farmers market said that the five gallon buckets are actually better b/c they retain more moisture and supports the weight of the plants.

The orange five gallon buckets are on sale at home depot for $1.

In the ground i have cukes, zucchini, squash, and green, red and banana peppers. and soon some broccoli

4/7/2010 6:34:47 PM

My plants have positively EXPLODED the past few days

...except for the few that were almost dead that I threw in the hothouse to salvage, to see if some humidity would help make or break them. Something broke them.

These tomatoes need to hurry up. I've got a SERIOUS itch for a BLT

4/7/2010 9:44:03 PM

putting out sod...it's kinda weird seeing this bare spot have grass again

4/8/2010 4:14:50 PM

so I went ahead and pinched off all the flower buds, since I didn't get any advice! (thanks TWW! ) but I think it was the right thing to do.

at some point when I get less lazy I'll plant my baby plants in the ground!!! yaaay!

4/8/2010 4:41:04 PM

I don't plan to transplant til the first of may or so: I'm out of town from 4/15 til 4/29. It's easier on the person house, pet, and plantsitting to leave it all under the hothouse.

This makes me a little nervous.

4/8/2010 4:49:02 PM

you did the right thing Nerdchick

If you let it go into flowering, the plant would start production way too soon and never really get big enough to support normal sized squash.

4/8/2010 6:08:27 PM

whew! thanks Ribs!

By the way my strawberries are growing like crazy!!! pics to come

4/8/2010 6:21:47 PM

PICS!!!
lettuce first



the whole gang







BERRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4/8/2010 9:14:25 PM

MORE pics! yesterday I planted everything in the raised bed. The PVC pipes are to deliver fertilizer to the roots.

4/11/2010 9:22:25 AM

Got my in-ground bed tilled up and mostly finished this weekend; need to get the timbers around the border cut and leveled, and then it will be 100% finished. We've got some lettuce already planted, plus arugula, chard, and eggplant seeds that we're hoping will come up.

But..there's one problem...and it's got long ears and a cottontail.
There is this one brazen rabbit who had been prospecting around our yard for a few weeks now--there are several gaps in the fence that he can evidently squeeze through. And I believe he has developed an interest in our baby lettuces. Right now we've got bird netting over them as a stopgap measure, and I believe it's frustrated him so far because they haven't been nibbled on--yet--but the damn critter keeps coming in, and I don't want to be growing a salad bar for that troublesome rodent. Yesterday, he came in the yard when we were outside, and we threw rocks at him and chased him out of the yard, but I'm sure he'll be back.

What's the best way to deal with rabbits? I'd rather not kill him, but I do want him gone.

4/13/2010 3:46:53 PM

sounds like your easiest fix would be to block up the holes in the fence.

4/13/2010 3:54:10 PM

Well yes, but I'm not certain that will stop him. It's a picket-type fence, and even if we block up the few larger-than-normal holes where there are warped or missing boards, he may still be able to squeeze in through the "normal" ones. If mice are any indication of rodents as a whole, they can get through amazingly small spaces. Yesterday when we chased him out, he eschewed a standing wide open gate (usually closed of course), instead leaving through a gap where a board was just *slightly* off center, and doing it with the greatest of ease. We rent, so we can't replace the fence or anything like that, and it would be extremely cost ineffective to try to back the whole run with chicken wire or similar.

4/13/2010 4:03:12 PM

Get a dog.

No lie

4/13/2010 4:08:38 PM

well, thats not gonna be cheaper than putting up chicken wire

4/13/2010 4:10:28 PM

You better take care of the situation quick, he's letting all the others know.

4/13/2010 4:15:14 PM

Quote :

"What's the best way to deal with rabbits? I'd rather not kill him, but I do want him gone."

I've got 2 of these. The rabbit walks in and then the door shuts behind. You can then pick it up by the handle and take it to wherever you want to release him with no harm to the animal. These things work like a charm.

4/13/2010 4:51:07 PM

Finally seeing some sprouts starting to turn up in the garden bed, which is nice--I know several of them are arugula because they're in a nice straight line (yay seed tape) but the others might be chard, might be radishes--not really sure (the gf planted those and I wasn't really paying attention exactly what was where). Glad to see some green in any case, the lettuce was getting lonely. Just hoping the cold weather last night and tonight doesn't freeze out the little guys (or the zinnias sprouting over in the side bed).

Also picked up some tomatoes and peppers at the farmers' market on Saturday. Thanks modlin for the info on NC Tomato Man--picked up a cherokee chocolate, orange strawberry, big lucky red, and brandywine tomatoes from him, plus purple peruvian, golden cayenne, and bird chili peppers and a zebra eggplant. He didn't have any sungolds yet but another seller had them, and a big red bell pepper. Letting them spend the nights in the garage, plan to get them in the ground tomorrow once the lowest temps at night should be gone.

The rabbit seems to be gone, maybe he found greener pastures elsewhere. Knock on wood-like product. Something did eat the three ripe strawberries on our plant, but they were tiny anyway. Expect that was a bird or maybe a squirrel, the rabbit never climbed up onto the deck. If the damn thing ever flowers again, I'll have to net it up.

How are y'all's gardens faring?

[Edited on April 19, 2010 at 9:56 AM. Reason : bunny]

4/19/2010 9:54:25 AM

our tomato, jalapenos & zucchini are super happy w/ life right now. our cukes not so much. they lost their sapling leaves too early I think. the cukes' soil also has some funky fungus thing going on :/ I think it's just time to throw in the towel on cukes--which i really hate cause they were my strongest seedlings.

basil, oregano & cilantro are doing great too. esp the basil. smells so wonderful walking up our front porch. the rosemary is doing good too, but we've been snipping pieces left and right for cooking so it's still small

the sod has finally taken to the earth and looks amazing. my front bed is happy, and so are my container pots out back.

overall, i'm very pleased w/ my garden this year. I hope it continues to look great especially when we get in to the super heat of the later summer months.

4/19/2010 10:55:11 AM

Onions and potatoes are in the ground. Lettuce is looking promising. Finishing the fence this week. Getting the rest in the ground this weekend.

4/19/2010 11:10:41 AM

Quote :

"our cukes not so much. they lost their sapling leaves too early I think. "

my cukes arent doing well either

4/19/2010 11:17:19 AM

Planning on "potting" my plantlings this weekend. 2 Types of Tomatoes, bell pepper, and eggplant. Basil to top each planter...we'll see how this goes!

4/19/2010 11:34:28 AM

When your seedlings have some true leaves on them it's time to start fertilizing. Cucumbers need nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium so make sure to fertilize weakly and frequently (1/2 strength twice a week, or 1/4 strength every time you water). Tomatoes need something like 1-2-1 NPK and will also need calcium frequently throughout the summer.

4/20/2010 9:17:24 PM

some of my transplants' leaves are turning a really light yellow-green, especially the squash

I planted them with several scoops of vermiculite so they should be great on nutrients! WTF is going on

4/21/2010 4:38:35 PM

^possibly overwatering?




That's my garden as of this morning.

Brandywine tomatoes
yellow pear
yellow globe
cherry maters
Rutgers
Early Girl
Bell peppers
fig tree
Cherry trees (and shrub-like tree)
Peach trees
cukes
squash

and a giant pumpkin vine way up in the top right that you can't see yet.
And a hops vine over on the top left that you can see.



I'm gonna trim those bushes back this weekend, and put up some fencing around it. So far the only critters that have bothered me are garden slugs, of which I've killed like 50 of by now.

4/23/2010 9:13:34 AM

vermiculite is a decent soil conditioner since it holds plenty of water, but the only nutrients it provides are iron and a little magnesium. Your plants NEED some fertilizer, Nerdchick. Look for 10-20-10 to start with, preferrably with some magnesium and calcium in it as well. another thing to watch out for is too much sun, but it looks like you've had them outside for a while so its probably just simple chlorosis.


you can keep slugs away from your plants by burying half-filled cups of beer around your yard. they smell the carbon dixoide and drown themselves in it. much SAFER and more effective than that arsenic salt crap they sell.

4/23/2010 10:25:32 AM

i didn't really know where else to ask this question.

are geraniums annuals or perennials? or does it depend?

i'm kind of annoyed cause i sent a plant to someone as a sympathy gift - i ordered a chrysanthemum which is a perennial (i thought) but the florist was out of those so sent a geranium instead. oh well. at least it will be pretty for now.

4/23/2010 11:38:59 AM

^Not sure. I've heard of folks keeping them as houseplants though, which might be a solution if they're only annuals in our climate.

Finally have my tomatoes and eggplant in the ground and peppers in pots/ground, just have to wait to see if the sprouts are what I think they are (should be arugula and chard) and then I can fill in with radishes, and it'll all be in place. The frustrating thing about growing from seed in the ground as opposed to in pots is trying to figure out what's a weed and what's a baby vegetable--they all look kinda the same when they first emerge!

I've got some landscape timbers that I'm going to use as a border--right now they're just sitting in the grass alongside the bed, but I was planning to set them into the tilled ground at the bed edge so they lay lower and make a better barrier. Since I presume timbers are treated wood, do I need to use plastic under them to keep things from leaching into the soil, or does it not really matter?

4/23/2010 12:53:12 PM

Don't worry about the plastic.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/vegetable/treated_lumber.html

4/23/2010 1:34:28 PM

Rose time!!







Ok

4/23/2010 4:32:05 PM

Got a new tiller and the garlic started forming scapes!

pics to come tomorrow

4/26/2010 7:45:48 PM

my tomatoes are doing great!!!

the new leaves on the squash are nice and green ... I guess things are OK! also Greenjay, I misused "vermiculite" when talking about fertilizing my plants. I meant worm compost ... I thought it was called vermiculite but maybe not.

4/26/2010 8:37:46 PM

I just built a set of cedar raised garden boxes last weekend. I have pictures somewhere I'll post in a little while. Still have to get the dirt for them, but hopefully we can have them loaded and the plants in this weekend!

4/27/2010 8:06:52 AM

Does anyone need CitrusTone?



I got this when we had a lime tree. It's a 5lb bag and hardly any was used. I'll give it to you if you need it.

4/27/2010 3:43:45 PM

dang ... will it work on vegetables?

4/27/2010 3:58:55 PM

Not sure...it's formulated for citrus, avocados and nut trees. It's a 5-2-6 blend

I use tomato-tone for my maters. Need to find out what to use for my zucchini (google results say none is necessary if using the right soil as they produce so well).

[Edited on April 27, 2010 at 4:13 PM. Reason : ]

4/27/2010 4:09:46 PM

Pics of the old and new tillers, garlic, its scapes, and baby onions













I cut up the scapes and put them in a little olive oil and sauteed them. Then, I added some green beans and let them cook together. It turned out incredible.

4/27/2010 10:22:58 PM

^I've got some garlic that looks about the same, as far as size. I didn't know you could do anything with the tops of the plants, Imma try that scapes deal out.

Also, planted corn and beans last night at 10:40 pm. My neighbors prob think I'm a loon.

4/28/2010 9:19:11 AM

oh you know I gotta get in on an ***OFFICIAL*** thread

4/28/2010 9:30:03 AM

i gots no plants . i dug myself one hell of a hole though.

4/28/2010 11:04:39 AM