2014 Gardening Thread

• salto

  

  ernest_t_bass;1622234 wrote:
  
  The extent of my "gardening" this year. Will add some goldfish, and probably some plants.
  
  What's a good garden fish to have that'll help keep the water clean?

  How many gallons? imo- Go with koi. Get larger, can live through the winter and look cool.
  As for keeping it clean - like Justin said.
  
  [video=youtube;F5LmDQXDWeU][/video]
• cruiser_96

  

  1_beast;1622189 wrote:BRF: Dog hair around the plants works too....but only for a short period.
  
  Cruiser: I have to come clean, That pic I sent you of strawberries were store bought. lol

  Not cool at all!!! ...but funny as heck!!! I complained about our soil to my wife. I used your picture as a reference. You are a clever and funny man.
• cruiser_96

  

  mcburg93: I planted my blackberry bushes last year. I loved going out early in the morning and getting a handful of berries. Mmmmmmmm...
  
  Also, I watched a few YouTube clips about getting more from the plant/bush/shrub - one stated if a branch produces berries, it will never produce berries again...so cut them off. Mark the branch with paint or scotch tape and then cut the branch in either the late fall or early spring. I'm only a year in, so I can't tell you if it will work or not.
• mcburg93

  

  cruiser_96;1622370 wrote:mcburg93: I planted my blackberry bushes last year. I loved going out early in the morning and getting a handful of berries. Mmmmmmmm...
  
  Also, I watched a few YouTube clips about getting more from the plant/bush/shrub - one stated if a branch produces berries, it will never produce berries again...so cut them off. Mark the branch with paint or scotch tape and then cut the branch in either the late fall or early spring. I'm only a year in, so I can't tell you if it will work or not.

  I have dealt with them for a long time. You cant beat fresh berries that is for sure. They grow in a patch of three was the way I was always taught. You will have last years branch this years branch and next years branch. You always want to trim the ones you harvest from at the end of the season. You should have a branch that does not have any berries on it and that is next years branch you dont want to touch it. The last year one, if you didnt trim it last year, will just be a dead branch. Marking them with tape or string is the best way to keep track of them. I wish you luck and enjoy it does not get much better that is fo sho lol
• cruiser_96

  

  Thank you! Awesome stuff. I love me some berries! #Murica
• friendfromlowry

  cruiser_96;1622006 wrote:Friendfeomlowry: seen this? http://youtu.be/yGZK7VsYzcU

  I had a similar line of thinking with rain barrels.
• mcburg93

  

  Picked a few tomatoes today. Been picking lettuce for awhile now and same with herbs. I have put up about 10 bags of blackberries which came on real early this year for some reason. Will be eating a pie this weekend made from the blackberries. Put up 5 bags of raspberries and made a few pies. I hope everyone's gardens are doing well.
• BRF

  

  So far I have eaten from my garden lettuce, cilantro and jalepeno peppers.
• Belly35

  

  So far so good.... everything looking good and the deer, groundhog, rabbit and birds have done little damage..... fencing, spray, dog hair and tin pie plates hashelped.
  
  I've deside that after this year I'm putting up a 6 foot wire fence all around my garden and a small green house made with old windows...
• thavoice

  I put my stuff out late, usually teh week before memorial day and the corn is already 6' tall. Hasnt tassled yet but soon.
  So far it is has been a great summer with rain to keep it all going. Was gone the last 4 days and maybe when I get home this evening I may have some tomatoes
• cruiser_96

  

  I are a few jalapeños recently. Not bad. Great flavor, but no spice. I probably should have let them stay on longer.
• Belly35

  

  cruiser_96;1633965 wrote:I are a few jalapeños recently. Not bad. Great flavor, but no spice. I probably should have let them stay on longer.

  You can get another planting when the weather is hotter and the plants get more sun... That will make them hotter
• Classyposter58

  

  No fruits yet for me but they've all grown quite a bit. Cucumber plants are absolutely ridiculous
• thavoice

  Storms yesterday afternoon blew 90% of my corn down. Hope it is like a few years ago when most of it came back up on its own.
• Classyposter58

  

  thavoice;1634167 wrote:Storms yesterday afternoon blew 90% of my corn down. Hope it is like a few years ago when most of it came back up on its own.

  As long as it isn't too tall currently you're good. It just can't be completely flattened or you'll have problems
• thavoice

  Classyposter58;1634207 wrote:As long as it isn't too tall currently you're good. It just can't be completely flattened or you'll have problems

  They are about 6' tall. I know two years ago around the 4th weekend we had those bad winds and the same thing happened. Most of them came back ok that time so I am hoping it does again this year.
  
  Will be pissed as I just spend an hour weeding the damn garden the night before!
• Classyposter58

  

  thavoice;1634213 wrote:They are about 6' tall. I know two years ago around the 4th weekend we had those bad winds and the same thing happened. Most of them came back ok that time so I am hoping it does again this year.
  
  Will be pissed as I just spend an hour weeding the damn garden the night before!

  So it has already tassled?
• thavoice

  Classyposter58;1634216 wrote:So it has already tassled?

  Just started to last weekend. I even put my stuff out late....the weekend before memorial day usually.
• HitsRus

  

  My pepper plants have done nothing...usually the plants grow and get bushy, but even with fertilizer, they are small...getting like 1 pepper a plant at a time.
  
  Anybody have any answer for pole beans that are not blooming/producing beans. plants are huge and thick....but no fruit.
• mcburg93

  

  HitsRus;1634225 wrote:My pepper plants have done nothing...usually the plants grow and get bushy, but even with fertilizer, they are small...getting like 1 pepper a plant at a time.
  
  Anybody have any answer for pole beans that are not blooming/producing beans. plants are huge and thick....but no fruit.

  They will produce just have some patience. Some take longer to start producing fruit I usually only getting a few peppers this time of year. I have been having a good early year this year. I picked a few tomatoes and peppers tons of herbs.
• cruiser_96

  

  I will most likely uproot my garlic in about ten days. Leaves are turning gold.
  
  Uproot them, knock as much soil off as I can, bundle them in tens, hang-dry them for a few weeks and then enjoy!!!
• mcburg93

  

  cruiser_96;1634346 wrote:I will most likely uproot my garlic in about ten days. Leaves are turning gold.
  
  Uproot them, knock as much soil off as I can, bundle them in tens, hang-dry them for a few weeks and then enjoy!!!

  Just pulled up my garlic today. Cleaned them the best I could and bundled them. They are now hanging in my basement with onions I still have left over from last year.
  
  I have been eating zucchini and squash quite a bit. Grilling is the best way both. Dried some herbs and put up for winter. Deer ate all our pepper plants so it looks like I will have to hit the farmers market. Tomatoes are coming on pretty good and are doing well. I hope everyone of your gardens are doing better then mine. The deer put a hurting on my cabbage, broccoli, and peppers. Had no problems with rabbits I think the deer are just getting used to the pie pans.
• Big_Mirg_ZHS

  

  My plants are about 6 feet tall and budding nicely
• salto

  

  Big_Mirg_ZHS;1637234 wrote:My plants are about 6 feet tall and budding nicely

  If you need someplace to hang them up and dry I'll help.
• thavoice

  Tomatoes starting to ripen and man are they tasty!
  May be a week before the corn is ready if we get some more rain. It is looking odd since the wind store a few weeks ago but all the stalks are somewhat upright now.