| | | Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens
| CraftZanie
User ID: 432377
5/24/2008 4:40 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
I'm indoors with out any access to outdoor space but I do have a garden of sorts. I've two bags of spuds growing on my kitchen floor. There are containers of herbs, and seedling onions, current tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, and spinach. All of this is growing in containers.
*
The focus on spuds is that they are my main carbohydrate. I am allergic to wheat. Corn can't be managed in an apartment.
*
The spud~
[link to www.flickr.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 439004
5/24/2008 5:10 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Yeah, I picked off whatever ones I could find, but I think they hide under the plant during the day and come out at night.
I practically tore up my cabbage looking for these damn things lol
Maybe the soapy water thing might work.
Who'd have ever thought that the critters would also eat the strawberry leaves, there aren't any strawberries to speak of, not yet anyway, I am just trying to get this plant established.
Tomato worms glow in the dark if you shine a black light on them.
Hubby rigged a portable shop light (very inexpensive purchase from our builder supply) with a long extension cord and a black light (the light was left-over from a Halloween display...lol). Last year, I was out there in the dark, picking the danged horned worms off my tomatoes. I used surgical tweezers to pick them off the vines.
The trick was to wear my reading glasses and get my nose right up to the plant so I could actually see the little boogers.
I didn't have any more trouble from them...but it's a new year and a new garden. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 436302
It sounds like "cutworms" and I've been having them all over my garden this year, they eat the leaves off everything, literally! They hide under the soil in the day and come out after dark and start munching! You can pick them off at night, and you can spray a natural bacteria liquid called "B.T." on the plants and they will ingest it with the greens and die in a few days. Ask for B.T. at your local garden store. |
| Bob White
User ID: 432031
5/24/2008 6:28 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Scratch the tiller if you have a mule. Mules, work horses, oxen can't live without em. Regretably I'm semi-rural. I bet I'd hear about it real quick if I were to bring a mule in to plow. "Underground" nice to have the freedom of an even more rural life. People tend to imprison each other with ridiculous rules and regs. a neurosis thing I suspect or just a generalized lack of brain power. As affordable food and gas go bye we're going to have to learn to end our dependency on the governcorp, and do and think for ourselves again. A gift far more than a curse if your willing to work for it. A ticket to brain dead slavery if your not. Take your choice. I agree with "Underground" that tillers do polute, but I see it as minimal and when used to initially condition your soil if you don't have a mule they make sense (been around quite awhile now-never have seen any of the farmers around here using a mule). If it's not crazy raining nothing wrong with a fork and a shovel. I still use mine extensively, but I don't have 22 others to pitch in. It's just lonely me and I usually break at sunset unless the moon is shining. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 433860
5/25/2008 7:36 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Awesome thread.
Thanks for the ideas.
Love the idea of just planting right in the potting soil bag. |
| Anka
User ID: 361818
5/26/2008 12:35 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
To make a pvc frame for the plastic, stick rebar in every four feet or so on both sides of the bed. This works for foot-wide beds of solid plants also. Then cut the pvc and bend, slipping the ends over the rebar. You now have a series of hoops for the plastic. No need to try to crawl inside! lol Just flip the plastic off, which on hotter days you'll do anyway. Opening it up to light and air now and then helps with any bug problems.
Plastic jugs filled with water inside this row cover keep it warm at night.
This will extend your growing season on both ends.
I used this to start my seedlings in spring, had LOTS to give to neighbors.
Yep, we're about to do that for a larger version... use the rebar that is. The wind has been relentless this year and it's not only beating the garden to pieces, but drying.
You can get the UV covers here along with plans for building, I think.
[ link to www.northerngreenhouse.com]
directly to Price list
[ link to www.northerngreenhouse.com]
For wind, plant a windbreak. Your plants will thank you, plus it saves on house heating and cooling expenses. I've got terrific winds here and soon will be putting in Arizona Cypress for a windbreak. I'm buying the smallest (and cheapest) plants I can find. |
| gooderboy
User ID: 70108
5/26/2008 12:54 PM
 | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Awesome thread.
Thanks for the ideas.
Love the idea of just planting right in the potting soil bag. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 433860
.... a bit on the expensive side though... how's about maybe getting another bag, or two, lol... and then mix down the potting soil one with just some plain ol' dirt. |
| gooderboy
User ID: 70108
5/26/2008 12:57 PM
| | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Yeah, I picked off whatever ones I could find, but I think they hide under the plant during the day and come out at night.
I practically tore up my cabbage looking for these damn things lol
Maybe the soapy water thing might work.
Who'd have ever thought that the critters would also eat the strawberry leaves, there aren't any strawberries to speak of, not yet anyway, I am just trying to get this plant established.
Tomato worms glow in the dark if you shine a black light on them.
Hubby rigged a portable shop light (very inexpensive purchase from our builder supply) with a long extension cord and a black light (the light was left-over from a Halloween display...lol). Last year, I was out there in the dark, picking the danged horned worms off my tomatoes. I used surgical tweezers to pick them off the vines.
The trick was to wear my reading glasses and get my nose right up to the plant so I could actually see the little boogers.
I didn't have any more trouble from them...but it's a new year and a new garden.
It sounds like "cutworms" and I've been having them all over my garden this year, they eat the leaves off everything, literally! They hide under the soil in the day and come out after dark and start munching! You can pick them off at night, and you can spray a natural bacteria liquid called "B.T." on the plants and they will ingest it with the greens and die in a few days. Ask for B.T. at your local garden store. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 439004
... for them cabbage worms, just wet your plants down and then liberally sprinkle 'em with flour... and poof, no more cabbage worms. |
| gooderboy
User ID: 70108
5/26/2008 1:25 PM
| | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
if you don't want deer in your garden, go drink a lot of beer and then go relieve yourself around the perimiter of your garden.
if you don't want rabbits in your garden there are three things off hand i can think of doing.
put black pepper around each plant (it would need to be replaced after rains)
plant some clover and wildflowers outside your garden (away from your garden) to lure the bunnies over there.
spray a mixture (gallon of water, cup of molasses, one tablespoon) over the wildflower/clover patch you're growing and they'll go there rather than into your garden. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 175812
... kinda sad to say... but then again, not really, lol... but my two kitties do their best for to keep down the rabbit population around here. And, the beer and marking your territory really works well too. |
| Redheaded Stepchild
User ID: 440901
6/5/2008 1:45 AM
 | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
I'm sooooo depressed.
My beans got a mosaic virus, and the squash got murdered by the larvae of the squash vine borer.
Sumbeeches.
The corn is up, but after a strong start I think the heat's getting to them.
I managed to quell the tomato worms. Hot sauce and garlic, baby!
The cucumbers and melons are languishing.
I'm going to start a new set of squash and beans. The growing season has been right thru the end of November, so I might pull it off.
Dang, I really wanted those squishes. We're having a big family reunion here at my house on the 4th of July (entire weekend), and I was hoping to supplement our groceries.
"Until you are willing to organize your friends and neighbors and literally shut down cities - drive at 5mph through the streets of major cities on the freeway and stop commerce, refuse to show up for work, refuse to borrow and spend more than you make, show up in Washington DC with a million of your neighbors and literally shut down The Capitol you WILL be bent over the table on a daily basis." Karl Denninger
Don't blame me; I voted for Ron Paul.
Silence is consent. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 433860
6/9/2008 3:12 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
There's still plenty of time for a garden in the southern states.
Am in Louisiana and just got my garden started a few weeks ago. First one in over ten years, and first one living here in Louisiana (longer growing season than Oklahoma, where used to live). Fortunately, garden faces east, gets morning and mid-day sun and is protected by trees and trailer from the harsh afternoon sun.
Starting everything in containers then am transplanting when hardy enough. After I transplant something, I start another to spout, in case something happens to the first ones. Experimented and the seeds started in containers sprout, grow faster and hardier, even after transplanting, than seed I planted in the ground. This really helps when trying to garden in a small area.
Have tomatos, peppers, watermelon, cantalope, zuccini & yellow squash, cucumbers & strawberries (purchased these sets at the nursery).
Started from seed and transplanting: corn, green beans, blackeyed peas, pinto, kidney, lima, black beans, more yellow squash (only one has survived that bought at nursery), cucumbers, cantalope and watermelon.
Also have carrots and green onions in deep containers. greens in another containter. Waiting on the potatoes to sprout so can plant them in bags of soil.
planted garlic around the tomatoes.
am saving seeds from items I get at the farmers market too. purple bell pepper seeds are dried and ready to plant.
Have already enjoyed a few strawberries and have several little peppers and green tomatoes on the vines. squash, cucumbers, watermelon and cantalope are blooming.
Way I look at it, I'm still going to be enjoying fresh veggies long after others gardens have been exhausted...
Happy Gardening.... |
| heirloom gardener
User ID: 448571
6/9/2008 3:46 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
2 tips on tomatoes: If you have a problem with tomatoe horn worms (those big nasty yucky ones), drive a tall stake with a cross bar on top in the middle of your tomatoe section. If you are lucky, you have cardinals (red birds) in your area. They love to sit on the poll tops and they will pick off the tomatoe worms for you.
Don't use a tobacco solution on tomatoes. Just about all tobaccco produced in America has tobacco mosaic virus that is easily passed on to tomatoes. It will kill them or stunt the plants. People who smoke have been told to wash their hands before touching tomatoe plants. To find hidden tomatoe worms, look for fresh worm poop on the leaves. Then look up from where you found the poop, and there is your worm. Icky, but it works. If you see any large horn worms with little white things on them, DON'T KILL THEM. Those are the cocoons of a parasitic wasp larve, and they are eating the worm from the inside. Let the young wasps hatch, and they will take care of your worm problem. The parisatized worm won't be eating much anyway. |
| Anka
User ID: 361818
6/9/2008 4:30 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
I'm sooooo depressed.
My beans got a mosaic virus, and the squash got murdered by the larvae of the squash vine borer.
Sumbeeches.
The corn is up, but after a strong start I think the heat's getting to them.
I managed to quell the tomato worms. Hot sauce and garlic, baby!
The cucumbers and melons are languishing.
I'm going to start a new set of squash and beans. The growing season has been right thru the end of November, so I might pull it off.
Dang, I really wanted those squishes. We're having a big family reunion here at my house on the 4th of July (entire weekend), and I was hoping to supplement our groceries. Quoting: Redheaded Stepchild
Don't give up. It's a learning process. Get your soil tested for ph and such. Have you incorporated plenty of organic material? In a non-acidic soil, I like peat moss. Acidic soil, lots of composted manure or old hay/straw or dig in a green manure crop.
Once your soil is healthy, your plants should thrive and pests will stay away, at least that's been my experience.
Check out "companion planting" to repel pests.
Want to hear a sob story? I've never gardened in the S. Arizona desert before, and I'm REALLY in the desert, surrounded by it, actually. Along with the INTENSE sun, we get high winds about every three or four days. (I'm planting a windbreak of Arizona Cyprus, but that'll take time...)
Anyway, the rabbits mow down nearly everything but potatoes, which are doing great. I've mulched heavily with old hay and bedding from the stockyard (70-mile round-trip, no pickup.) The sun is so intense and the wind so drying that I'm having a really hard time growing even chard, green bush beans, carrots and beets. The beans little leaves are just cooked in the afternoon sun and all new plants need water AT LEAST twice a day, because the soil is fertile, but sandy. AND THE WIND!! It's just really terrible.
English cucumbers, which sprouted from compost, are doing fine, evidently rabbits don't like the leaves. Strawberries, heirloom from a friend in Missouri, aren't exactly thriving - Ilost about half of them; I'll try digging in some peat moss. Zinnias and cosmos are making it, but the rabbits got to the nasturtiums - I've covered the survivors with chicken wire, which I also had to put over the strawberries. Numerous other plantings just never showed up. Gotta try pots, but even in pots, something has been doing some munching, maybe a beetle?
Digging holes for Gala Apple and English Walnut, ran into caliche about 12"-18" down. LOVELY. The caliche layer here is 20 feet thick, so it's hopeless to try to penetrate it.
Doggone it, I'm STILL going to plant filberts (with the peat moss) and maybe a desert willow just for fun. FUN? This is fun??? |
| Anka
User ID: 361818
6/9/2008 4:39 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
And I lost this year's grape crop. In April or so we had three days of really high winds, 50MPH gusts. I didn't go out. BIG MISTAKE! The winds dried the grape plants, then we were hit with a night freeze.
My beautiful newly-leafed grapes went bye-bye. Lesson learned: KEEP GRAPES WATERED IN HIGH WINDS.
They've recovered, but all the last-year's new branches or whatever you call them just flat DIED from the wind and freeze, so no grapes this summer.
AH, BUT WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR! |
| Jdd 
User ID: 347452
6/30/2008 1:05 AM
 | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
As the news gets continually worse, I'm starting to think ahead to winter gardening. Vancouver, BC is pretty temperate so I hope to keep greens, root veges and brussel sprouts going, at the least.
I've been thinking about trying out the rubber tire method... stacking them maybe three deep, filled with good soil mixture. I'll cover them with glass to protect from cold and frost.
I'm thinking that I could stuff the tire rim with something that will help keep the cold out (it does freeze here occasionally). Anybody have any ideas on a material I could use as insulation... high % of cold block, but no nasty chemicals or petro-vapors that will contaminate the veges?
Any advice appreciated.
(Good luck on those re-plants, Redheaded Stepchild. I'm rootin' for ya!) |
| Jdd
User ID: 347452
7/17/2008 2:01 PM
| | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Not much action here in the Gardening thread.... I hope that means everybody's outside, working in their garden.
I found a really great online encyclopedia of vegetable & fruit plant illnesses & deficiencies. Color pictures of each malady so you can identify what the problem might be, and what will solve it.
Here's the picture index page: [link to www.hbci.com]
And here's the book text that goes with it:
[link to www.hbci.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 498676
9/6/2008 10:27 PM | | Anka
User ID: 503866
9/15/2008 3:15 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
As the news gets continually worse, I'm starting to think ahead to winter gardening. Vancouver, BC is pretty temperate so I hope to keep greens, root veges and brussel sprouts going, at the least.
I've been thinking about trying out the rubber tire method... stacking them maybe three deep, filled with good soil mixture. I'll cover them with glass to protect from cold and frost.
I'm thinking that I could stuff the tire rim with something that will help keep the cold out (it does freeze here occasionally). Anybody have any ideas on a material I could use as insulation... high % of cold block, but no nasty chemicals or petro-vapors that will contaminate the veges?
Any advice appreciated.
(Good luck on those re-plants, Redheaded Stepchild. I'm rootin' for ya!) Quoting: Jdd
What about the nasty chemicals in the tires?
You can garden practically year-round in Vancouver. Just make some row covers:
Insert 4' rebar about 4 feet apart (row width) and every five feet or so. Then get lengths of pvc pipe, bend it and fit over the rebar. You've now got hoops for a roll of clear plastic to be thrown over. Anchor the plastic with rocks or whatever.
This is a quick, easy and cheap greenhouse.
Open during warm days for ventillation and light.
Jugs of water placed inside this little "greenhouse" will warm up during the day, then radiate heat at night. Also, lots of organic material in the soil helps keep things warm and will grow fantastic crops with no diseases or pests. |
| Anka
User ID: 503866
9/15/2008 3:20 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
QUOTE
Want to hear a sob story? I've never gardened in the S. Arizona desert before, and I'm REALLY in the desert, surrounded by it, actually. Along with the INTENSE sun, we get high winds about every three or four days. (I'm planting a windbreak of Arizona Cyprus, but that'll take time...)
Anyway, the rabbits mow down nearly everything but potatoes, which are doing great. I've mulched heavily with old hay and bedding from the stockyard (70-mile round-trip, no pickup.) The sun is so intense and the wind so drying that I'm having a really hard time growing even chard, green bush beans, carrots and beets. The beans little leaves are just cooked in the afternoon sun and all new plants need water AT LEAST twice a day, because the soil is fertile, but sandy. AND THE WIND!! It's just really terrible.
English cucumbers, which sprouted from compost, are doing fine, evidently rabbits don't like the leaves. Strawberries, heirloom from a friend in Missouri, aren't exactly thriving - Ilost about half of them; I'll try digging in some peat moss. Zinnias and cosmos are making it, but the rabbits got to the nasturtiums - I've covered the survivors with chicken wire, which I also had to put over the strawberries. Numerous other plantings just never showed up. Gotta try pots, but even in pots, something has been doing some munching, maybe a beetle?
Digging holes for Gala Apple and English Walnut, ran into caliche about 12"-18" down. LOVELY. The caliche layer here is 20 feet thick, so it's hopeless to try to penetrate it.
Doggone it, I'm STILL going to plant filberts (with the peat moss) and maybe a desert willow just for fun. FUN? This is fun??? END QUOTE
Part of my problem was sandy soil. Added TONS of peat moss and mulched heavily with old alfalfa.
My present garden is absolutely thriving! Cosmos as high as the house eaves, lots of beans and tomatoes. Strawberries going wild, grapes taking over the area, etc., etc.
Mulberry tree as almost tripled in size. So now I'm hoping it's getting cool enough for peas and a fall garden. Hope springs eternal... |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 368888
9/15/2008 8:55 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Planted seed potatoes today. Using bags of Miracle Grow Potting Soil.
Poored half the bag out (into a trash bag).
Planted four or five potatoes in the 1/2 full potting soil bag. (four types of seed potatoes, four bags)
Temps are extremely cold for September. Not sure if it will get warmer or not. Currently 50 degrees at night.
Can bring the bags into the house at night if it gets too cold. As the plants start growing, I can unroll the bag and fill with potting soil to encourage more potatoes to grow.
Hoping the new potato crop will last over the winter. Want to be able to use some as seed potatoes for next spring. |
| Redheaded Stepchild nli
User ID: 493346
10/9/2008 6:52 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Well, my sissy garden didn't produce much. I learned NUMEROUS lessons, and am preparing for the next round. LOL!
Hubby and I helped our friends move this weekend. They bought a house, and the former owner left a great big french door out back. I got it!!! Hubby's going to make a cold frame for me and use that door.
My tomatoes didn't do a darned thing all summer, but as soon as Hurricane IKE hit, the daytime temps dipped, and I've suddenly got Roma and cherry tomatoes. Lots of them. I hope they'll be able to ripen before our first frost.
The cantaloupe plants did too well. They vined and fruited all over the trellises, and then the possums got 'em. Still, I now know I can grow them.
My peppers (bell, jalapeno, anaheim) have been doing much better in the cooler weather. They aren't big, but they are meaty.
The possums ate my figs. Drat!
The herbs are doing splendly.
The lettuces came, went, came back again (staggered planting).
The squash(es) didn't make it...not even the second time around.
Beans? Riiiiiiight!
But I've got a great crop of birdhouse gourds. LOL! |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 483886
10/12/2008 5:53 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
I've now got a live-in friend with a big Rottweiler. No more rabbits! But the danged dog just loves to dig lounging holes in any newly watered area, especially flowerbeds or newly planted spaces. He really can't understand why I get so upset...
Planted peas about three weeks ago, and they're doing quite well, chard and kale coming up for a fall crop. Strawberries going berserk, the peat moss was just the ticket. Got a GREAT crop of string beans and tomatoes, FINALLY. No bugs, planted lots of garlic here and there everywhere along with cosmos and marigolds.
I'm now occupied with digging huge holes for fall tree-planting. I'll add peat moss about two to one part (very sandy)soil, then mulch quite heavily with old alfalfa. I've got a few little trees which were planted last spring; they'll need some sort of protection from our ferocious winter winds. The desert willow, only 6" high in May, is now over five feet tall. It's going to be just gorgeous.
Two mulberry trees which were quite small when I planted them last spring have grown to to be enormous in spite of total neglect. They'll have to be cut back and moved, will use them for part of the windbreak cuz I've got another older mulberry, which increased in size about 5x this summer. It should be old enough to bear next year (if it doesn't take over the property).
The grapes recovered, and although I quit watering them some month's ago, they're spreading out about twenty feet from the parent plants. So, I cover the vines with soil here and there to have grape plants for sale this fall. Ditto raspberries which are also out-of-control
My cosmos flowers have grown higher than the house eaves. One of the golden ones is a regular tree, with a trunk about 2" in diameter and branches out a good five feet. It looked like it was never going to bloom, so I stopped watering it to make it think it was about to die and would try to reproduce. Got flower buds now. I'll save some of the seeds in case this is a mutant.
Winter will be nice, for a rest... |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 368888
10/12/2008 9:55 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
So, I cover the vines with soil here and there to have grape plants for sale this fall. Ditto raspberries which are also out-of-control Quoting: Anonymous Coward 483886
Raspberry question.
I have raspberries growing and they are just spreading.
Did you leave yours to lay around, or did you use some type of trellis?
Are you cutting them back for the winter?
I was going to dig some up and move 1/2 to another area. Planted them too close to each other.
Thanks |
| Anka
User ID: 483886
10/15/2008 8:08 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
So, I cover the vines with soil here and there to have grape plants for sale this fall. Ditto raspberries which are also out-of-control
Raspberry question.
I have raspberries growing and they are just spreading.
Did you leave yours to lay around, or did you use some type of trellis?
Are you cutting them back for the winter?
I was going to dig some up and move 1/2 to another area. Planted them too close to each other.
Thanks Quoting: Anonymous Coward 368888
wait til they go dormant to transplant. water well at that time and kind of tamp down the earth. (no air bubbles)
you can tie a few plants up for new year's berries, cut back the others. this can be done in early spring when the plants first become kind of pliable or in the fall. to tie up I like to use old nylons cuz they won't cut the plants. Here I use metal fence posts for support, pounded in pretty deep. (sandy soil, LOTS of wind) Mulch for the winter. Because our winds are so strong, cold and drying, I'm considering waiting until spring to tie up next year's plants.
raspberries like good drainage. I got my best most yummy crops in N. Idaho when they were planted above ground (heavy clay soil), then mulched HEAVILY with compost. they don't like to sit in water, but don't like to dry out either. Plant about twoor three feet apart, or more. they really spread out come warm weather. they also like a slightly acid soil.
every area is different, so it's a constant learning experience. |
| Anka
User ID: 483886
10/15/2008 8:15 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
I've now got a live-in friend with a big Rottweiler. No more rabbits! But the danged dog just loves to dig lounging holes in any newly watered area, especially flowerbeds or newly planted spaces. He really can't understand why I get so upset...
Planted peas about three weeks ago, and they're doing quite well, chard and kale coming up for a fall crop. Strawberries going berserk, the peat moss was just the ticket. Got a GREAT crop of string beans and tomatoes, FINALLY. No bugs, planted lots of garlic here and there everywhere along with cosmos and marigolds.
I'm now occupied with digging huge holes for fall tree-planting. I'll add peat moss about two to one part (very sandy)soil, then mulch quite heavily with old alfalfa. I've got a few little trees which were planted last spring; they'll need some sort of protection from our ferocious winter winds. The desert willow, only 6" high in May, is now over five feet tall. It's going to be just gorgeous.
Two mulberry trees which were quite small when I planted them last spring have grown to to be enormous in spite of total neglect. They'll have to be cut back and moved, will use them for part of the windbreak cuz I've got another older mulberry, which increased in size about 5x this summer. It should be old enough to bear next year (if it doesn't take over the property).
The grapes recovered, and although I quit watering them some month's ago, they're spreading out about twenty feet from the parent plants. So, I cover the vines with soil here and there to have grape plants for sale this fall. Ditto raspberries which are also out-of-control
My cosmos flowers have grown higher than the house eaves. One of the golden ones is a regular tree, with a trunk about 2" in diameter and branches out a good five feet. It looked like it was never going to bloom, so I stopped watering it to make it think it was about to die and would try to reproduce. Got flower buds now. I'll save some of the seeds in case this is a mutant.
Winter will be nice, for a rest... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 483886
Man, watch out what you ask for! We got 28 degrees (and below) and drying wind for THREE NIGHTS. This is Southern Arizona, for pete's sake. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the first signs of frost damage because it was 80 degrees that afternoon. Many plants gone bye bye...
Jerusalem artichokes still thriving though, and the peas didn't mind. The HUGE golden cosmos got frost bit where the plant was higher than the roof. I watered it today, maybe I'll still get blooms.
Desert gardening is a real trip! |
| Enaid
User ID: 515273
10/15/2008 8:22 PM
 | | RHSC
User ID: 544094
11/15/2008 3:59 AM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
It's weird, but the cherry tomatoes suddenly went wild in the last 4 weeks. The temps were decent. We are getting so many that my two "at home" adult kids are complaining. LOL!
The roma tomatoes are starting to ripen. I haven't done anything for them; in fact, they have been suffering from neglect, but you'd never know it by the numbers of fruits.
My bell peppers are coming in...again...and again. They aren't large, nor meaty, but they are juicy as heck.
The anaheims and jalapenos are going crazy.
We have cabbage and brussel sprouts...but nothing to harvest yet.
As soon as everything dies back, we'll be moving the raised beds and clay pots around. I'm moving the greens closer to the back door so I don't ignore them between salads. The shade at the back door is no different from where they are right now. |
| Maude Frickert
User ID: 551492
11/15/2008 5:43 AM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
they constantly come back multiply and come back multiply on and on. Quoting: Grower 435644
Wow, sounds like they're the Ron Paul/Chemtrail/nancy zeeta believers of the vegetable kingdom!
Do they say the moon is in the wrong place, or the landings were a hoax? |
| Anka
User ID: 483886
11/17/2008 2:05 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Progress? Report:
Garden done for the year. Peas didn't make it, too hot in late August, too hot through October, now we've had hard frosts. Oh well.
Jerusalem Artichokes still hanging in there, everything else either dead or going dormant.
Time for a break. Not really, lol, gotta clean up, cut back, mulch, blah, blah, blah. Have planted lots of elephant garlic where I'd pulled out the dead flower plants. |
| SouthernLight, nli
User ID: 491473
11/17/2008 2:43 PM | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Yep, ours is done for the season too...
Late spring and too hot Aug., Sept, Oct made for lots of green tomatoes left when the frost came. Have been canning enough chow-chow, salsas and pickled green tomatoes to feed the whole town! lol
Okra, cantaloupe, melons, pumpkin, squash, peppers, beets, eggplant and herbs all did well this year. Lost our corn, peas and green beans too though... Hoppers hit late in the season and wiped them out since they were struggling anyway.
Chickens have loved the clean-up and it has helped get the young roosters ready for harvesting... One of the less pleasant jobs of a homestead scene, but will bless them with every bite!
Didn't get the winter beds ready in time for planting... bummer! Did save seed though (all heritage), and got enough produce put away to see us through (pretty good) until next spring. By then, we should be able to switch completely over to raised beds with intensive planting. This will double our production area. Should also have a couple of chicken tractors ready for bed rotation, egg selling and chick barter/sales.
It has been a lot of work, but is so satisfying to see it beginning to come together! |
| zacksavage
User ID: 553172
11/17/2008 3:00 PM
 | | Re: Recession Proof GLP...Veggie gardens | Quote |
Hey Red,…sorry I don’t have time to read yer great thread here.
I just helped some people get a lasagna garden going.
Very cool. You layer it with newspaper, cardboard, raked leaves, horse poo and such,…
Then cover and bake all winter.
“There's no hard and fast rules about what to use for your layers, just so long as it's organic and doesn't contain any protein (fat, meat, or bone). Before I go any further, let me just say that the basics of making garden lasagnas are simple:
• Don't remove the sod or do any extra work, like removing weeds or rocks.
• Mark the area for your garden using a water hose or a long rope to get the desired shape.
• Cover the area you've marked with wet newspapers, overlapping the edges (5 or more sheets per layer).
• Cover the paper with one to two inches of peat moss or other organic material.
• Layer several inches of organic material on top of the peat moss.
• Continue to alternate layers of peat moss and organic material, until desired thickness is reached.
• Water until the garden is the consistency of a damp sponge.
• Plant, plant, plant and mulch, mulch, mulch. “””
[link to ourgardengang.tripod.com]
Note:Sorry if this info is already present.
Namaste
Z
Free your mind,...Your Ass will follow. |
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