Post by: Larry Ashcraft on May 13, 2006, 09:41:26 AM
Looking forward to canning season.
Post by: Brad Johnson on May 13, 2006, 10:32:19 AM
Your list made me chuckle. I had some neighbors a few years back that were about as "cityfied" as they come. Calling someone to mow the yard was about as close to anything horticultural as they got. Well, they decided to have a garden. So they planted an even dozen each of corn, tomatoes, peppers, and... zucchini squash. Those of you who've ever had zucchini squash in your garden know exactly what happened next. Let's just say that the whole block eventually got tired of having BAGS (big brown grocery sacks) of extra squash left on their front porch every couple of days.
Brad
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on May 13, 2006, 10:59:58 AM
A dozen zucchini?
Well, we have a big garden, and I only plant three plants. And if two die, we're still in good shape.
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on May 13, 2006, 11:01:12 AM
Quote from: Blackburn
Should I post pics?
Of your garden? Please do. I think I have a pic of last year's garden around somewhere.
Post by: Twycross on May 13, 2006, 12:05:54 PM
Quote
Those of you who've ever had zucchini squash in your garden know exactly what happened next.
Reminds me of the time my folks did that. Except they had around sixteen plants. I am soooo sick of zucchini now. There was a stretch of time wherein every single supper had a zucchini base. :barf:
Post by: Brad Johnson on May 13, 2006, 12:09:06 PM
Quote
And if two die, we're still in good shape
Zucchini don't die. Ever. The rest of the garden, maybe. But not those dang zucchini. They're like an annoying mother-in-law - no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you can't keep them from sticking around and irritating you.Brad
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on May 13, 2006, 12:23:05 PM
A good friend of mine (now passed) once asked: "How can hunger and zucchini exist on the same planet?"
Post by: mtnbkr on May 13, 2006, 12:38:10 PM
My wife makes a mean zucchini bread. Send all you don't want to us.
Chris
Post by: mtnbkr on May 13, 2006, 12:39:53 PM
Chris
Post by: Guest on May 13, 2006, 12:48:33 PM
Used to , also assisted with neighbors and friends and they mine.
Used to even do Tomatos in buckets when living in an Apt.
Life experiences and all - I've been planting differnt seeds , mangaging different weeds, pests and weather conditions to reap different crops.
Then again - you knew that...*wink*
Steve
Post by: BozemanMT on May 14, 2006, 03:37:29 AM
It's two 5' wide patches by 30' long. Now you might ask "why 5' wide?"
Because my tractor tiller is 5' wide. TAkes longer to hook it up then it does to till it.
We also put in 12 rasberrey bushes on a big patch (also another sprinkler zone).
I expect she'll be busy in two years.
OH yes, she planted a salsa garden. 15 tomatos, lots of onions, peppers, couple melons. She asked about zuchini and I said "no, we'll just take the neighbors". Wall of waters are cool.
Post by: Stand_watie on May 14, 2006, 05:35:56 AM
Quote
A good friend of mine (now passed) once asked: "How can hunger and zucchini exist on the same planet?"
In poor, rural parts of Maine, they still have their fair share of fat people. Cheap staples are (or were when we lived there in the 70's) Baked beans, potatos, canned tomatos, apples and zuchinni, all of which can be had if not for free then nearly so. Throw in fish and game and you'd be hard pressed to starve to death (freezing to death is easily accomplished though). We practically lived on those one winter.
Post by: grampster on May 14, 2006, 08:20:05 AM
She wanted the plants in the ground. Neighbor has a roto tiller but someone else was using it. What to do. Well, I found a patch of ground that is pretty well irrigated by my sprinkler systsem. (I irrigate with lake water, lot's of nutrients in our lake water, it's shallow and weedy.) So I dug up 8 holes about the size of the top of a galvanized pail.
Threw some cow poop and topsoil mix in the holes and then planted the tomato plants and stuck the metal hoops in. I really didn't have the time to do a proper dig job under the circumstances.
So far, a lot of eyerolling from swmbo along with some huffing and sighing. I'm keeping the buggers watered and if the grass grows up between the plants, I'll weed wack 'em, though I left just enough room between 'em to push the mower.
We'll see how Grampster Greenjeans does in this little escapade. heh.
Post by: kudu on May 14, 2006, 11:36:59 AM
Post by: Guest on May 14, 2006, 02:17:29 PM
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on May 14, 2006, 02:47:01 PM
Kudu, I've seen the bounty from your garden, keep us posted.
Post by: Jamisjockey on May 14, 2006, 02:58:05 PM
I've been daydreaming over some recreational property for the future. I was wondering what kinds of vegetables and fruits could probably be planted with the expectation of growing back every year, with little maintenence? The area is VA or WV, so four real seasons and decent annual precip.
Post by: BozemanMT on May 14, 2006, 04:23:38 PM
Quote from: JamisJockey
Hijack!
I've been daydreaming over some recreational property for the future. I was wondering what kinds of vegetables and fruits could probably be planted with the expectation of growing back every year, with little maintenence? The area is VA or WV, so four real seasons and decent annual precip.
so, given that I don't know the area, so figure out what grows well in your areaI've been daydreaming over some recreational property for the future. I was wondering what kinds of vegetables and fruits could probably be planted with the expectation of growing back every year, with little maintenence? The area is VA or WV, so four real seasons and decent annual precip.
But commonly
asparagus, rhubarb, fruit trees (ok, they grow, but they need care, still), berries (rasberries, blueberries, blackberries, all very aggressive)
that's all i can think of off the top of my head.
And Kudu, what is this rain thing you refer to?
I seem to remember some of it, but it was a long time ago. (normal for April: 1.57 inches, this april: .09 inches (not a typo), dry doesn't begin)
Post by: grampster on May 14, 2006, 07:01:43 PM
Thanks for the tip. I'll pass that on to swmbo who would like me to have a continuous hose pointed at her "babies".
It's been raining pretty much steadily since Wednesday. Again tomorrow and then stop. Been in the mid 30's, low 40's at night. Supposed to warm up on Tuesday.
Post by: BobR on May 14, 2006, 07:34:51 PM
Maybe it is time to move back to WA and grow an honest to goodness garden.
bob
Post by: doczinn on May 14, 2006, 08:16:35 PM
Post by: stevelyn on May 15, 2006, 03:11:51 AM
Can't get squat to grow out here in AH. 'Course the locals seem to grow recreational plants with little problem.
Post by: Iain on May 15, 2006, 04:25:53 AM
They'll be putting runner beans in this year. It's enough trouble contending with the two small apple trees that are so prolific that they used the last of last years just the other day. And then there is the damson. Believe it yielded 30lbs of fruit last year. Mother gets sick of making jam so pounds are given away. She had to give away several bags last year to make room in the freezer for that years crop.
Post by: Brad Johnson on May 15, 2006, 06:23:34 AM
Brad
Post by: Brrlgrrl on May 15, 2006, 08:02:50 AM
Post by: garrettwc on May 15, 2006, 12:17:27 PM
Quote
Those of you who've ever had zucchini squash in your garden know exactly what happened next.
Old gardener's proverb. Never plant zucchini unless you have lots of friends.
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on May 15, 2006, 01:16:58 PM
Quote from: Brad Johnson
So Larry, when you need help keeping all those pesky garden-eating critters at bay do you call Whittington and have them send over a few folks with some .50's?
Nah. Me and my .17 HMR take care of them. Last year we had a buck deer in the garden. He was eating the bindweed between the rows. Maybe that says something about my gardening?when we get zucchinis that are too big, we either throw them over the fence to the neighbor's cows, or feed them to the chickens.
Post by: InfidelSerf on June 16, 2006, 05:52:36 AM
I always "think" about starting a nice one. But I'm terrible with vegitation.
It always seems like I have time to start one when it's not the right time to be starting.
Sometimes something so simple can seem rather complicated.
So rather than digging up a spot in the yard I'm thinking of cutting my teeth with a small collection of pots.
I figure it will be easier to get started tending them in pots on the deck.
Perhaps Zuccini would be a good plant to boost my gardening confidence. Besides fried zuccini sticks with ranch dip is the best
I would like to extend this thread a bit and try to learn a bit more about the APS green thumb's, configurations. Equipment used, etc.
To me the most complicated aspect of gardening seems to be the timing.. knowing when to plant what and where.
Post by: Sawdust on June 16, 2006, 06:24:24 AM
How do y'all keep the critters away? Last year my tomatoes at my new house were decimated by (I think) ground squirrels. I've been thinking that the only way I can garden again is to go raised bed with some kind of removable screen structure.
Man, I'm glad APS still exists; I need the relief from the craziness that is THR of late...
Sawdust
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on June 17, 2006, 06:52:11 AM
Quote
To me the most complicated aspect of gardening seems to be the timing.. knowing when to plant what and where.
Not really complicated. It varies by zone, of course (I'm in Southern Colorado) but here's a few simple guidelines:Late fall or early spring, October 15 until say April 15: onions and garlic go in. You can plant them as soon as you can work the ground.
Early plants such as sweet peas, lettuce, any cabbage family plant and a few others need to go in by April 15, earlier if possible. A freeze won't generally hurt these plants.
The rest of the garden should go in when the ground temps reach about 55 degrees, around here about May 5th or so. I've held off until Memorial Day with good results. This is the time to plant pepper and tomato plants and seeds for all your bean, flower, cucumbers, squash and melon plants. Remember this though; when planting tomato plants, bury about 80% of the plant. Tomatoes will grow roots wherever the stem touches soil. At this point, you are going for strong root systems. The top growth will come soon enough.
If you plant sweet corn, plant a batch every ten days from around May 5th up until July 4th if you want that much. This will keep you in fresh corn from around July 20th clear into October.
Some plants, like carrots ad radishes, can be planted anytime from spring until mid-summer. They make a good follow up crop after your early spring plants are gone.
edited because I can't type
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on August 19, 2006, 11:30:03 AM
How were the 'maters?