Gardening threads (merged)

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

I always have tried to get along with my neighbors anyway. Sometimes you get onethat no matter what you do you can't engage so in that case I just leave alone.

Or hit them with Stink Skunk #10 - it makes miracles happen!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

So, our gardens are now in. We have 2 main vegetable areas - a 10 x 10 foot area directly behind the house and a terrace we have created over the last 10 years on the hill behind our house that is 8 x 40. We've harvested asparagus, peas, spinach and mustard from this year's crops, leeks and onions that over-wintered, horseradish, and have cabbages and rhubarb now ready to harvest. The squash blossoms are turning into squash and I need to thin the pears on the pear trees so they don't over-burden the trees.

Our crops this year include asparagus, yellow squash, zucchini, 9 different types of peppers, 5 different types of tomatoes, okra, Japanese eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, sweet peas, green beans, 2 different types of cucumbers, onions, leeks, garlic, 2 different types of basil, parsley, dill, 2 different types of thyme, oregano, chives, savory, rosemary (3/4 of our 10 year old rosemary tree died this past winter due to the extreme cold so we replanted), rhubarb, horseradish, chervil, prickly pear, 2 different types of pears, rhubarb, 3 different types of mint, sage, sorrel, bee balm, lemon balm and stevia. Our fig tree also took a hit this winter and all of the upper branches are dead (it was about 10 feet tall) but it has started regrowing from the roots so I doubt it will be big enough to produce figs this year again (photos deleted by OP)

Edited May 31, 2014 by Kathryn41

[luckytxn 2,264]

Wow. Excellent post and pics Kathyrn. You really supplement the kitchen with your garden. I saw in the 2nd pic that you had a major cleaning there. Did you compost it? I love squash and can I ask what type? My wife liked that cabbage you have. Great posting as usual Kathyrn and many thanks.

So, our gardens are now in. We have 2 main vegetable areas - a 10 x 10 foot area directly behind the house and a terrace we have created over the last 10 years on the hill behind our house that is 8 x 40. We've harvested asparagus, peas, spinach and mustard from this year's crops, leeks and onions that over-wintered, horseradish, and have cabbages and rhubarb now ready to harvest. The squash blossoms are turning into squash and I need to thin the pears on the pear trees so they don't over-burden the trees.

Our crops this year include asparagus, yellow squash, zucchini, 9 different types of peppers, 5 different types of tomatoes, okra, Japanese eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, sweet peas, green beans, 2 different types of cucumbers, onions, leeks, garlic, 2 different types of basil, parsley, dill, 2 different types of thyme, oregano, chives, savory, rosemary (3/4 of our 10 year old rosemary tree died this past winter due to the extreme cold so we replanted), rhubarb, horseradish, chervil, prickly pear, 2 different types of pears, rhubarb, 3 different types of mint, sage, sorrel, bee balm, lemon balm and stevia. Our fig tree also took a hit this winter and all of the upper branches are dead (it was about 10 feet tall) but it has started regrowing from the roots so I doubt it will be big enough to produce figs this year again :-(.IMG_3933.JPGIMG_3927.JPG

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We compost everything except the weeds that have seeds - those get disposed of elsewhere. I believe you can see the composter in the far back behind the tree near the fence. The barrel with the garden waste in it, unfortunately, is all weeds so won't be going into the composter. We also put the grass clippings into other areas of the terrace to be worked into the soil and enrich it. When we started ten years ago the hill was solid sun-baked clay in which even weeds had a hard time growing. When it rained the clay would turn slick and erode down the hill threatening to envelope the house. That is when we started our terracing project reclaiming the hill and making the soil fertile. I will see if I can find a picture of what it was like when we started.

We have the straight yellow summer squash and the crooked yellow summer squash plus Black Beauty Zucchinis. I forgot to mention it but we also have 2 'volunteer' watermelon plants that grew from a watermelon that got missed until it was too late last year to harvest it.

A little bit later in the season when the rest of the Spring crops are out and probably when the summer squash finish we will plant some winter squashes. The hubbards and acorn squashes we grew two years ago did really well, and they will continue to grow into the fall, which here lasts well into late November.

We had our first cabbage tonight with dinner - just steamed with some butter and salt - wonderful!

Something I tried last year that was very successful was to plant the summer squash and zucchini on mounds with a hole in the center where water could collect. I put a plant each corner, then made a sort of moat on the outside of the mound that would also collect water. It gets very hot here and we can go a number of days without rain so this seemed to work very well at keeping them watered yet giving them room to grow. We also saved up our newspapers this year so we covered all of the soil with the newspapers and then mulched around it so that will help with both weeds and insects. I try to rotate where I plant things each year to minimize insect damage.

Things look great now - but come July I am afraid it is all going to look like a tropical jungle and I won't be able to keep on top of it anymore!

Edited May 26, 2014 by Kathryn41

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ok - here is the back yard the way it was shortly before we started the terracing. The small 8 x 8 garden is in - Joe built that the year before I arrived. We initially terraced with landscaping timbers but had to replace them last year as they were rotting out and becoming termite infested. When they built the houses here they filled in a stream bed at the top of the hill, which with nowhere else to run, then began to run down our hill, eventually gouging out a gully in the hill. We put in drainage tile to direct the run off water to an overflow drain and planted water loving plants - specifically a river birch - in the area that was constantly soggy from run off. We still have issue when it rains but the yard doesn't flood now like it used to and the hill is useable space.

(photo deleted by OP)

Edited May 31, 2014 by Kathryn41

[TBoneTX 45,002]

Trees: About 13 months ago, we took down two mature maples. The backyard tree, which was very distressed, had ants and other small bugs on and inside the bark; however, the tree man said that they weren't termites. When the trunk was cut, the core of it had an irregular dark blotch running through it. The tree in the front yard had similar distress without obvious cause. This tree was dying from the top.

At about the same time, we had a termite inspection. The man said that we had no termites near the house, but there were some in the ground near the backyard tree (which was several yards from the house).

The tree guys didn't grind up all the roots, which makes lawnmowing difficult. Might the roots be infested with bugs? What's the best removal procedure -- hire a tree outfit to use a stump-grinding machine on the roots? Try to chop them out with an ax? What do you make of the insect situation? Thanks.

Edited May 26, 2014 by TBoneTX

[luckytxn 2,264]

Very nice. I see the compost bins now. They use that type up in the city. Also a friend of mine uses a roll bin about that size. Very nice. I hear you about the weeds. I just use the clippings and greenage that is around the house and our business. Of course we (or the wife) dumps the food scraps.

My fave has always been the yellow squash. I do like all squash and zucchinis. I am like the watermelon. I didn't thing they would grow that far north though. Let me know how they do please.

I like the winter veggie plans. I don't have much experience with them and need to myself learn. We did grow winter squash.

We compost everything except the weeds that have seeds - those get disposed of elsewhere. I believe you can see the composter in the far back behind the tree near the fence. The barrel with the garden waste in it, unfortunately, is all weeds so won't be going into the composter. We also put the grass clippings into other areas of the terrace to be worked into the soil and enrich it. When we started ten years ago the hill was solid sun-baked clay in which even weeds had a hard time growing. When it rained the clay would turn slick and erode down the hill threatening to envelope the house. That is when we started our terracing project reclaiming the hill and making the soil fertile. I will see if I can find a picture of what it was like when we started.

We have the straight yellow summer squash and the crooked yellow summer squash plus Black Beauty Zucchinis. I forgot to mention it but we also have 2 'volunteer' watermelon plants that grew from a watermelon that got missed until it was too late last year to harvest it.

A little bit later in the season when the rest of the Spring crops are out and probably when the summer squash finish we will plant some winter squashes. The hubbards and acorn squashes we grew two years ago did really well, and they will continue to grow into the fall, which here lasts well into late November.

We had our first cabbage tonight with dinner - just steamed with some butter and salt - wonderful!

Something I tried last year that was very successful was to plant the summer squash and zucchini on mounds with a hole in the center where water could collect. I put a plant each corner, then made a sort of moat on the outside of the mound that would also collect water. It gets very hot here and we can go a number of days without rain so this seemed to work very well at keeping them watered yet giving them room to grow. We also saved up our newspapers this year so we covered all of the soil with the newspapers and then mulched around it so that will help with both weeds and insects. I try to rotate where I plant things each year to minimize insect damage.

Things look great now - but come July I am afraid it is all going to look like a tropical jungle and I won't be able to keep on top of it anymore!

OMG. Seeing that hill and the placement of the house looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Glad y'all saw this and took corrective action. You have a beautiful set up Kathyrn. Thanks for showing us.

Ok - here is the back yard the way it was shortly before we started the terracing. The small 8 x 8 garden is in - Joe built that the year before I arrived. We initially terraced with landscaping timbers but had to replace them last year as they were rotting out and becoming termite infested. When they built the houses here they filled in a stream bed at the top of the hill, which with nowhere else to run, then began to run down our hill, eventually gouging out a gully in the hill. We put in drainage tile to direct the run off water to an overflow drain and planted water loving plants - specifically a river birch - in the area that was constantly soggy from run off. We still have issue when it rains but the yard doesn't flood now like it used to and the hill is useable space.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Kathryn41

[luckytxn 2,264]

Yes the roots can get infested with any sort of insects. Personally I always just go and rent a stump grinder and grind them down myself. Last year I rented one and ground down 2 at the house here and a couple at the shop. It is easy to do if you want to go that route and if you do I can give advice on it or just google it. Very easy. I used to charge a big fee to do it when I had my own business long ago.

The insect situation is that the termites that were found near the tree were feeding at a source where they would have been happy feeding for years. You just need to get termite killer and take them out. Use the trench methods or just a straight pour. Sounds like a small area so it should be easy. Check around your house at least once a year for termites. In our area here this should always be done. The Formosan Termite are big here but easily killed and rid of but need to be vigilant.

At our business I had to trench half the house and do heavy pours of termite poison. If building anything in our area always spend more and get treated wood. Now the main areas of your house to be really careful are the kitchen and bathroom and where the water heater is for the obvious reasons. Formosan termites have to have humidity and wet areas to thrive.

P.S. When I said easy to use a stump grinder I mean it is easy but big and bulky and heavy. I need to hire someone with strong back to help me.

Trees: About 13 months ago, we took down two mature maples. The backyard tree, which was very distressed, had ants and other small bugs on and inside the bark; however, the tree man said that they weren't termites. When the trunk was cut, the core of it had an irregular dark blotch running through it. The tree in the front yard had similar distress without obvious cause. This tree was dying from the top.

At about the same time, we had a termite inspection. The man said that we had no termites near the house, but there were some in the ground near the backyard tree (which was several yards from the house).

The tree guys didn't grind up all the roots, which makes lawnmowing difficult. Might the roots be infested with bugs? What's the best removal procedure -- hire a tree outfit to use a stump-grinding machine on the roots? Try to chop them out with an ax? What do you make of the insect situation? Thanks.

Edited May 26, 2014 by luckytxn

[TBoneTX 45,002]

Very helpful -- many thanks!

Yes the roots can get infested with any sort of insects. Personally I always just go and rent a stump grinder and grind them down myself. Last year I rented one and ground down 2 at the house here and a couple at the shop. It is easy to do if you want to go that route and if you do I can give advice on it or just google it. Very easy. I used to charge a big fee to do it when I had my own business long ago.

The insect situation is that the termites that were found near the tree were feeding at a source where they would have been happy feeding for years. You just need to get termite killer and take them out. Use the trench methods or just a straight pour. Sounds like a small area so it should be easy. Check around your house at least once a year for termites. In our area here this should always be done. The Formosan Termite are big here but easily killed and rid of but need to be vigilant.

At our business I had to trench half the house and do heavy pours of termite poison. If building anything in our area always spend more and get treated wood. Now the main areas of your house to be really careful are the kitchen and bathroom and where the water heater is for the obvious reasons. Formosan termites have to have humidity and wet areas to thrive.

P.S. When I said easy to use a stump grinder I mean it is easy but big and bulky and heavy. I need to hire someone with strong back to help me.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Anytime T-Bone. Rented my last one from Home Depot.

Very helpful -- many thanks!

[Teddy B 17,251]

So, our gardens are now in. We have 2 main vegetable areas - a 10 x 10 foot area directly behind the house and a terrace we have created over the last 10 years on the hill behind our house that is 8 x 40. We've harvested asparagus, peas, spinach and mustard from this year's crops, leeks and onions that over-wintered, horseradish, and have cabbages and rhubarb now ready to harvest. The squash blossoms are turning into squash and I need to thin the pears on the pear trees so they don't over-burden the trees.

Our crops this year include asparagus, yellow squash, zucchini, 9 different types of peppers, 5 different types of tomatoes, okra, Japanese eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, sweet peas, green beans, 2 different types of cucumbers, onions, leeks, garlic, 2 different types of basil, parsley, dill, 2 different types of thyme, oregano, chives, savory, rosemary (3/4 of our 10 year old rosemary tree died this past winter due to the extreme cold so we replanted), rhubarb, horseradish, chervil, prickly pear, 2 different types of pears, rhubarb, 3 different types of mint, sage, sorrel, bee balm, lemon balm and stevia. Our fig tree also took a hit this winter and all of the upper branches are dead (it was about 10 feet tall) but it has started regrowing from the roots so I doubt it will be big enough to produce figs this year again :-

Kathryn, that's one heck of a landscaping job and a really big garden. Hopefully you'll reap your rewards tenfold. I can't wait to get another veggie garden going.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Kathryn41

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

It seems another post about this was asked to be removed, too bad. But here's another one...

I started my garden this year with cucumbers, tomatoes, mung beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and sweet corn. The corn hasn't done well, but the sweet potatoes are going like gang busters (cut several runners and stuck them in water to start new plants cuz my Pinay wife wants the leaves for cooking). Pruned the "suckers" off the tomato plants and have started about 15 more plants for late summer.

This, in addition to our 5 Plymouth Rock and 3 Rhode Island Red chickens and my now 7 hives of bees. Been a BUSY spring thus far!!

[GandD 5,966]

Oh mung beans nice. Let me know how those turn out.

Bee keeping is quite impressive btw.

[rlogan 2,036]

We're skipping gardening this year. Last year the moose came in and snipped everything right down to the ground. It was disheartening. But vengeance will be ours.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Oh mung beans nice. Let me know how those turn out.

Bee keeping is quite impressive btw.

I plan to harvest the mungs and plant another crop, even more than the first, then grow me own bean sprouts. Haven't actually tried mung beans by themselves, I don't think!

Bees are neat. Always wanted to try my hand, then when I heard about how the US bee population is dwindling, I figgered it was something good I could do for nature. It's an expensive hobby, to be sure, but if it produces more crops, why not?

We're skipping gardening this year. Last year the moose came in and snipped everything right down to the ground. It was disheartening. But vengeance will be ours.

Just get some 3' chicken wire and stick it around your garden with electric fence posts.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Them dang mooses can take WHATEVER they want, eh? But if ye think of a garden NOT as a source of vegetables, but as a meat trap...