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Post by mogarden on Dec 27, 2011 6:56:35 GMT -6
Is anybody getting yer plan together for next spring? I will have just a few containers by the door, but plan to have tomatoes,onions, peppers (hot) maybe bush cuke, maybe squash. Still thinking, nothing is set in stone. I will try to wait to put tomato seeds in dirt until sometime in feb, but might rush it lol. What's on your list? Trying anything new?
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Post by nofeargardener on Dec 27, 2011 7:54:10 GMT -6
no "official" plans as of yet. My plan is negotiable right up to the time I'm putting seeds in the ground. It is safe to say that I'll probably have about 16-20 tomato plants (variety), and lots of bush beans. I'm thinkin' about trying acorn squash this year. I'll probably also have a couple/few hills of cukes too. My taters haven't been producing quite as well as I'd like them to so I may use that room for the squash - we'll see! ;D  |
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Dec 27, 2011 12:41:13 GMT -6
to be honest..well, TO BE HONEST...we won't plan yet..because if we say we are putting in 30 tomato plants...it'll turn into 50  I do know that this year we are going at it with more of a "fun" twist..seems I remember gardening is suppose to be fun...correct?? One thing I'd like to succeed at this year is head lettuce..always a crap shoot here due to damp/cold springs..but then..last spring was anything but... |
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Dec 27, 2011 17:59:53 GMT -6
 You bet I have. In fact, I have been planning since August. Next Monday, Jan 2, 2012, I will be starting the following seeds, and putting them over heat: Hot Peppers: Serrano Bhut Jolokia Peach Habanero Scotch Bonnett Peter Pepper Sweet Peppers: Golden Treasure Red Fresno Cubanella Sweet Banana Super Heavy Weight Maters: Legend Celebrity Yellow Pear Juliet Caro Rich Down here in Texas, we have to get our gardens going in middle March, after the last frost, in order to have a garden, do to the heat of the summer. Some time in early to late Feb, I will start herbs, from seeds. Not sure just which ones yet. I am hoping that we don't have another summer like 2011, and that we receive rain, at least, once a week. Since I got hit by early blight, I want to plant early blight resistant tomatoes this year, with twice a week folair feeding with compost tea and liquid seaweed. I am hoping that I may get some maters this growing season. This weekend is supposed to be nice with a temp of 70 F on Saturday, so I plan on cleaning up my number one garden spot, till and add compost.
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Post by Christy on Dec 29, 2011 17:08:54 GMT -6
I haven't planed much yet but will do the ussual. maybe a new veg, I like to add a new veg each year.. the only things I do got planed out is to go bigger and plant more. and with this new job hours I think I can do that this year. Ill have a few more hours bephore Bb gets home phrom school  Even tho I love being in the garden with her, She gets sidetracked wich gets me side tracked n not much gets done..cept saving worms  ;D Phil i never had luck ith lettuce, ive planted iceburge phor years n its the same, grows stright up n gose to seed. no heads ever  I may try a new lettuce this year? |
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Post by jerseycub on Dec 30, 2011 9:44:42 GMT -6
I agree with Phil gardening is supposed to be fun, we are still working on the fields for the spring but exactly how much of what we are planting hasn't been worked out yet. We already have lots of seed for 2012 but I still need to sit down and really get an exact plan going.
Ruth and me have made up our minds to have fun growing this year and if things go well then that is a plus as far as marketing goes. We already have a few hundred garlic plants up, but those are mostly for seed plants next season. I sure hope everyone has a good season in 2012.
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Post by colorado on Dec 30, 2011 15:33:06 GMT -6
I find I will not have a much room for any garden at new house. That was a flat lots I thought. They did the site plan for house and lawn will cover the back flat to down the slope. Just a little land behind the slope. Front is level with sidewalk and they leveled it back to put the house. Not really any back yard to plant. Little strip along the alley. The green house and shed will go in on that. If I want a garden I can rent land but have to be able to drive to it. I had thought sure be back yard but it is not the case. South of house be 5 foot of lawn from fro to back end of the slope. I would guess at least 10 feet wide strips along alley but shed will take up some. Right now a shed is setting out there to be move to his house this coming year. Clothes goes qwhere? Got to have one to least for warmer weather as dryer cost too much to use. North of house is cement parking and behine the parking if ever a garage goes. That takes up the whole 2 lots across. I hate that aand the steps I know I am going to fall. No rail and front can not have one wa the steps rounded. Back door maybe can get in a ramp under the porch roof with a railing. I sure was not planning on watering that much lawn. Thas town water is going to cost me. So it looks like I have 3 or 4 good size boxes of seed to trash. I d not grow flowers. I had been planning on a small garden in the back yard .I am stuck. I can measure it this coming week. I was planning on peas and green beans and carrots and beets and squash and maybe corn things I can. I can not have greens and such. If room melons. My son drove me by the community garden but where it is I do not know.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 31, 2011 7:32:09 GMT -6
Colorado, Get a Rainbarrel or two. Don't need fancy ones, they can be $10 plastic barrels (or free) (hopefully that had nothing harmful in it) that you can put a plastic faucet on, but they will save on the metered water. When we moved here last summer during a dry spell, I was wishing we had brought the old barrels from the last house. Wasn't only a week or so of using tap water before we went out and bought a rainbarrel and hooked a hose up to it. Of course, it was 3 weeks before we had any rain to fill it, but I made good use of it even for two months. This year, we will buy another to attach to the first. I don't have much of a yard here; the entire lot (house included) is smaller than the garden we had when we lived on the farm, but I'm getting used to growing on a smaller scale with each move. I brought 35 containerized plants with us this move. I had already started them when we decided to move closer to our Family. What didn't fit in the 10x15' plot, were raised in containers along the fence, on the deck, at the back of the driveway.... My plans this year include a lot less plants. Garden was too crowded because I just couldn't get rid of all those plants after raising them in containers for 3 months. In 2012 I am planning on Tomatoes 2 of each: Goldman's Italian American Sicilian Saucer Moreton's Hybrid (dehybridized) Wisconsin 55 Remy's Rouge (container) Lebanese Bush Marrow 1 or 2 plants. 5 was waaaaay to many Sweet Siberian Watermelon 1 plant Straight and Narrow bush bean Rattlesnake Pole Bean or Fortex Pole Japanese Cucumber 3 plants Sweet Chocolate Pepper 3 plants Orange Sun Pepper (container) 2 plants and in the front flowerbeds Swiss Chard Hinkelhatz Peppers Although there just might be more edibles out there, I haven't decided on what just yet. Hubs is not wanting edibles on the front lawn so I have to be coy about it |
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Post by jerseycub on Jan 4, 2012 5:59:58 GMT -6
WOW bluelacedredhead that's a lot a maters.
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Post by coppice on Jan 4, 2012 9:33:05 GMT -6
I'm up to my usual. One for me, one for everybody else. Is my usual speed. I sent off to Robin (one a my seed fairies) some seed of ground nut. I will try to get some of its tubers for me to grow out this fall. I ordered two new-to-me corns to trial. I've picked out my seed stash what looks like the four oldest (and thinnest quantity of seeds, mine) for grow out this year. Still need to buy more carrot and eggplant seed  Other stuph as I think of it. |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 4, 2012 11:03:41 GMT -6
WOW bluelacedredhead that's a lot a maters. No, not really. Only 10 or 12 plants and some of the smaller varieties will be grown in containers. I sat down last night and mapped it all out. Added a few extra items like an Italian Salad mixture and Eggplant seed that a phriend sent me for Christmas. The eggplants will be in containers as well. I find they mature faster in our short season when grown in black plastic buckets. |
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Post by jerseycub on Jan 5, 2012 4:42:41 GMT -6
WOW bluelacedredhead that's a lot a maters. No, not really. Only 10 or 12 plants and some of the smaller varieties will be grown in containers. I sat down last night and mapped it all out. Added a few extra items like an Italian Salad mixture and Eggplant seed that a phriend sent me for Christmas. The eggplants will be in containers as well. I find they mature faster in our short season when grown in black plastic buckets. Yes 10 or 12 plants is not a lot, it just seamed like a lot of verities. We will probably plant about 4 verities but that will make up about 60 plants. That is a good idea planting your eggplant in black containers, they do like heat and light soil, we always use plastic mulch and feed heavily. |
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Post by GrannyG on Jan 5, 2012 15:46:05 GMT -6
Always have to have Jalapeno Peppers, Tomatoes, and Zucchini.....
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Post by Michael on Jan 13, 2012 17:14:00 GMT -6
I did a test run of seeds a few weeks ago. I also have been going over notes I made last year. I am taking on the big task of getting my grapes off of the fence and build a trellis for them. I also started planning a greenhouse type of device which will incorporate some type of fencing and removable plastic. The goal is to put it together early in the season to start somethings. Remove plastic and use it to keep the birds off of the berries and grapes and at the end of the season put the plastic back on and extend the season a bit. My main focus this year is to improve the health of my trees and get some landscaping done without trying anything too different.
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Post by jerseycub on Jan 14, 2012 9:22:16 GMT -6
Starting to get the seed orders together now, it's getting hectic trying to figure out what verities of each type to try and what we have had success with before. I have four main seed companies that I use, and have picked up a fifth supplier from Delaware for all my onions and greens, because everything is started in flats as far as greens go and all onions are in sets. Makes more seance to me since I have a limited seed starting bench that will only accommodate eight flats of 72cell seedlings. That accounts for all my other plants.
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Post by mogarden on Jan 21, 2012 6:34:45 GMT -6
This is related to garden planning so I hope it fits here. Last night I was thinking about my choice of tomato varieties. Surfing a couple sites I found where I had saved in the shopping cart, but not ordered a couple packs of seed for large slicers and a sweet pepper. I guess I thought I had ordered them before. It was late and I feel a little older and tired-er late at night, lol. So I ordered them. As I was clicking I had a deja-vu moment and went to "mail" to check for confirmation. Ta-dah, 2 emails. Dern lousy memory. One from Tomato Grower's Supply confirming my order and another from Burpee saying my order has been shipped! I laughed out loud, literally. I will have plenty of seed, not enough containers. Happy gardening everybody! 2012 is starting off great  |
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 21, 2012 15:36:26 GMT -6
This is related to garden planning so I hope it fits here. Last night I was thinking about my choice of tomato varieties. Surfing a couple sites I found where I had saved in the shopping cart, but not ordered a couple packs of seed for large slicers and a sweet pepper. I guess I thought I had ordered them before. It was late and I feel a little older and tired-er late at night, lol. So I ordered them. As I was clicking I had a deja-vu moment and went to "mail" to check for confirmation. Ta-dah, 2 emails. Dern lousy memory. One from Tomato Grower's Supply confirming my order and another from Burpee saying my order has been shipped! I laughed out loud, literally. I will have plenty of seed, not enough containers. Happy gardening everybody! 2012 is starting off great well Mo...that's why Ima on here at this "odd fer the weekend" hour...checking my emails...same deal//no memory of what we ordered last year...thank goodness for the "seacrh mail" feature huh |
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Post by kansasterri on Jan 23, 2012 10:11:32 GMT -6
My Miniature Peach is 3 years old and doing well, and so I believe that I will put in more miniatures. I cannot find a miniature plum, but there are apricots, a wide variey of peaches and nectarines, an apple, and almonds. Decisions, decisions!!!!! I also want a Freedom apple, which is a larger tree than I want, but it was bred to not need much spraying. It is supposed to be resistant to the diseases common in my area, and fairly resistant to worms as well. A home raised apple with no worms sounds lovely! I hate to spray but even if I cut the apple up 3-4 worms can RUIN an apple!  |
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Post by mogarden on Jan 23, 2012 13:30:34 GMT -6
Is there a way you can use bonsai techniques to make a plum tree stay small? Just an idea.
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Post by kansasterri on Jan 24, 2012 18:38:33 GMT -6
I think that would mean restricting the roots to a small area, which would mean very frequent watering would be needed.
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Post by horsea on Jan 24, 2012 23:31:34 GMT -6
Colorado, Get a Rainbarrel or two. Don't need fancy ones, they can be $10 plastic barrels (or free) (hopefully that had nothing harmful in it) that you can put a plastic faucet on, getting used to growing on a smaller scale with each move... People put fawcets on rain barrels?  No kidding! I have developed nice little muscles from leaning into our rather large rain barrels with 2-gallon watering cans to get the rainwater out. Lots of huffin' & puffin' & snorting. What us silly gardeners won't do for our precious vegetables. By the way, that sounds like a plenty-big-enough garden you are planning, if you ask me. |
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Post by Rita on Jan 25, 2012 5:11:25 GMT -6
Colorado, Get a Rainbarrel or two. Don't need fancy ones, they can be $10 plastic barrels (or free) (hopefully that had nothing harmful in it) that you can put a plastic faucet on, getting used to growing on a smaller scale with each move... People put fawcets on rain barrels? No kidding! I have developed nice little muscles from leaning into our rather large rain barrels with 2-gallon watering cans to get the rainwater out. Lots of huffin' & puffin' & snorting. What us silly gardeners won't do for our precious vegetables. By the way, that sounds like a plenty-big-enough garden you are planning, if you ask me. Yes they do put spigots on the rain barrels here is a link for a kit www.amazon.com/Rain-Reserve-2012314-Barrel-Spigot/dp/B004RYF410 |
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 25, 2012 5:36:31 GMT -6
I think that would mean restricting the roots to a small area, which would mean very frequent watering would be needed. I would think that would be correct Terri...the standard bonsai methods should apply,  Coppice...we need your advice  |
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Post by coppice on Jan 25, 2012 10:09:15 GMT -6
Is there a way you can use bonsai techniques to make a plum tree stay small? Just an idea. Prunus are trained as bonsai. A Chinese or Japanese gardener might be more interested in their plum flowering, and only keeping a few fruits for display. The question of why of just flowers, goes the the next paragraph. Small is relative. How small did you have in mind? As a follow-up poster notes if you're root pruning and keeping your tree in a pot or tray, then watering becomes critical. Bonsai are the product of regular watering and fertilizing. If anything they are a bit over fed, vs by deprivation. Now, all bonsai aside, can you prune any fruiting tree short while it is planted to field? One look at espaliered trees should confirm your speculation. I just found this post! |
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Post by coppice on Jan 25, 2012 11:33:54 GMT -6
I have a stumped (coppiced) prostrate beach plum that came with me to OH. Its got a ways to go before it will look like a doddering ruin a Japanese grower would covet.
My size question has a possible answer (for me) in this tree will not likely ever get much taller than about 24".
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Post by mogarden on Jan 25, 2012 14:32:17 GMT -6
I didn't mean to use every and all bonsai tricks to keep the tree at a 6 inch height. Moderation is more what I had in mind. Just keep the top trimmed to the size you want and the roots will take care of themselves.
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Post by coppice on Jan 26, 2012 8:06:57 GMT -6
That was what I expected . The short answer is: if you clean your tools between trees, and have a methodical (and maybe a little bit ruthless) hand at it, I beleive you can keep a tree within reach. I've not kept up on dwarfing root stocks for prunus, they may help. Prunus (or any other tree) kept in a pot will need a liberal hand with water. |
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Post by mogarden on Jan 27, 2012 17:16:40 GMT -6
Well it's 5, count 'em _5_ days until Feb. I will start planting a few seed on the first. Besides my container garden I will start plants for another garden for a friend. Just a few small pots is all I'm starting since my stream-lined system worked so well last year. I didn't "pot on" anything. I planted 5 or 6 seeds to a cup. The cups were yogurt cups with drain holes, filled with Miracle grow potting soil and topped with 1/4 inch ground-up peat moss seed starter. I did fertilize but with low N ferts so they didn't outgrow the kitchen. On planting I kept the best-looking 1 or 2 out of each pot and gave away or trashed the rest. Kind of a survival of the fittest thing, lol. This year I will have one early tomato and 3 mid-to-late-season slicers. I got seeds for dwarf cherries, haven't decided which/how many to plant. One ground cherry, 2 mild peppers and 2 hot ones. I had to cut back my piquin plant growing inside again today. I hope that trimming will do it, or maybe one more before setting out.
How are y'alls garden plans coming along? Tell me everything ;D
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Post by mogarden on Jan 31, 2012 5:47:44 GMT -6
Tomorrow is the day I plant my first seeds for 2012. I have some seeds for the Fish pepper that I had to trade back for since I gave mine away (dummy). Originally I think I got them from Phil several years ago. They make a purty plant besides being plenty hot enough for me. I only use hot peppers as a seasoning, can't chomp down on whole ones any more. Then I have some bull's horn sweets I'll start at the same time. Tomatoes will have to wait 2 weeks but I think staring at the peppers will give me something to do til then, lol. |
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 31, 2012 8:27:50 GMT -6
We're going to plant onion seed either this afternoon, or tomorrow afternoon Mo...quite a few, not sure yet how many...will report in...Good Luck with your plantings... I think the seed we sent ya for the fish was a couple years back...Yeah I like the plant...I like to leave the peppers till they start to turn red...makes the plant really stand out with the variegated leaves...If ya ever need any seed Bro..ask...I am afraid we are a couple of dem der "HOARDERS"  |
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Even tho I love being in the garden with her, She gets sidetracked wich gets me side tracked n not much gets done..cept saving worms 
;D
I may try a new lettuce this year? 
No kidding! I have developed nice little muscles from leaning into our rather large rain barrels with 2-gallon watering cans to get the rainwater out. Lots of huffin' & puffin' & snorting. What us silly gardeners won't do for our precious vegetables. 