Originally posted by mcgilmartin I'm sure this topic has been covered, but I can't seem to find it~ weed mitigation. With all the rain in Chicago this summer my garden is more like a jungle, complete with weeds everywhere. I pull out huge garbage bags full of them, only to come back in a day or two and it's overgrown again. My garden is 100% organic, so I'm not going to spray roundup or other chemicals on it. What do you all do to prevent weeds?
We use flattened (broken-down) cardboard boxes between rows and plants, newspaper works well too, but make sure you use a few sheets. If you have access to old straw or hay, that's nice, but you need a thickish layer or the weeds will still come up. We use a combo of cardboard and old animal bedding on top. We keep the animal bedding away from direct contact with the plants as the nitrogen levels are too high and will burn them, but as the season goes on the bedding composts and with rain washes nutrients in a compost tea like fashion down to the plants.
As promised, here is a picture of our "container pumpkins" They're looking pretty sad. We've had a couple hot days recently. Not sure these are going to make it!
Originally posted by mcgilmartin I'm sure this topic has been covered, but I can't seem to find it~ weed mitigation. With all the rain in Chicago this summer my garden is more like a jungle, complete with weeds everywhere. I pull out huge garbage bags full of them, only to come back in a day or two and it's overgrown again. My garden is 100% organic, so I'm not going to spray roundup or other chemicals on it. What do you all do to prevent weeds?
We use flattened (broken-down) cardboard boxes between rows and plants, newspaper works well too, but make sure you use a few sheets. If you have access to old straw or hay, that's nice, but you need a thickish layer or the weeds will still come up. We use a combo of cardboard and old animal bedding on top. We keep the animal bedding away from direct contact with the plants as the nitrogen levels are too high and will burn them, but as the season goes on the bedding composts and with rain washes nutrients in a compost tea like fashion down to the plants.
As promised, here is a picture of our "container pumpkins" They're looking pretty sad. We've had a couple hot days recently. Not sure these are going to make it!
They don't look great, but they don't look "terrible" yet. How many plants do you have per container? Maybe you could go down to just one per if your not there already?
Josh your garlic looks great! What varieties? Is that Inchelium Red?
A few years ago we ordered 12 varieties of garlic from Seed Savers Exchange (a nice day trip from my house) and then had a garlic tasting the next year. AWESOME! I love the reds. They're so pretty.
Josh your garlic looks great! What varieties? Is that Inchelium Red?
A few years ago we ordered 12 varieties of garlic from Seed Savers Exchange (a nice day trip from my house) and then had a garlic tasting the next year. AWESOME! I love the reds. They're so pretty.
I couldn't tell you what kinds they are. My wife found a grab bag bin at a nursery and grabbed some and my brother had some growing in the yard of his rental house that he gave to us. This is our first time trying to grow garlic, so we're pretty happy with how it went.
I also try to use SSE for all of my seeds as much as possible. They sell them at our local feed & garden store.
As promised, here is a picture of our "container pumpkins" They're looking pretty sad. We've had a couple hot days recently. Not sure these are going to make it!
They don't look great, but they don't look "terrible" yet. How many plants do you have per container? Maybe you could go down to just one per if your not there already?
Switch is right, one per container and keep them fertilized. Also, if they are indoors you will more than likely have to pollinate them since there will not be the insects, mostly bees to do it for you. Just take some pollen from a male flower on your fingertip or a small brush and rub it in the female flower. Good luck and keep us posted.
Anyone have any tips for squash bugs? We've tried soapy water on them, but that didn't work. Our strategy now, is my wife goes out every night with a stick and tries to massacre any that she finds.
Anyone have any tips for squash bugs? We've tried soapy water on them, but that didn't work. Our strategy now, is my wife goes out every night with a stick and tries to massacre any that she finds.
They are hard to control. Some soaps and oils will work but mainly on the small nymphs and coverage is critical and difficult. Be sure to remove egg masses completely and destroy, just don't knock them to the ground. You can try placing some boards on the ground around your plants to let them hide under, then lift and smash the bugs as your wife is currently does. If all else fails and you are not tied to organic methods, use a pesticide. Again coverage is critical.
Anyone have any tips for squash bugs? We've tried soapy water on them, but that didn't work. Our strategy now, is my wife goes out every night with a stick and tries to massacre any that she finds.
They are hard to control. Some soaps and oils will work but mainly on the small nymphs and coverage is critical and difficult. Be sure to remove egg masses completely and destroy, just don't knock them to the ground. You can try placing some boards on the ground around your plants to let them hide under, then lift and smash the bugs as your wife is currently does. If all else fails and you are not tied to organic methods, use a pesticide. Again coverage is critical.
She rips off any leaves that have eggs on them. We don't have a ton of plants to watch thankfully (only about 15) but last year we weren't aware of them and they killed my giant pumpkin plant. After that my wife went on a rampage and was killing dozens of them every day for a week or so. This year so far we haven't suffered any losses yet thankfully.
Anyone have any tips for squash bugs? We've tried soapy water on them, but that didn't work. Our strategy now, is my wife goes out every night with a stick and tries to massacre any that she finds.
They are hard to control. Some soaps and oils will work but mainly on the small nymphs and coverage is critical and difficult. Be sure to remove egg masses completely and destroy, just don't knock them to the ground. You can try placing some boards on the ground around your plants to let them hide under, then lift and smash the bugs as your wife is currently does. If all else fails and you are not tied to organic methods, use a pesticide. Again coverage is critical.
She rips off any leaves that have eggs on them. We don't have a ton of plants to watch thankfully (only about 15) but last year we weren't aware of them and they killed my giant pumpkin plant. After that my wife went on a rampage and was killing dozens of them every day for a week or so. This year so far we haven't suffered any losses yet thankfully.
You are lucky, we had a mild winter and they have been unbelievable this year. Let me know if you want some!
Originally posted by JoshR Anyone have any tips for squash bugs? We've tried soapy water on them, but that didn't work. Our strategy now, is my wife goes out every night with a stick and tries to massacre any that she finds.
They are hard to control. Some soaps and oils will work but mainly on the small nymphs and coverage is critical and difficult. Be sure to remove egg masses completely and destroy, just don't knock them to the ground. You can try placing some boards on the ground around your plants to let them hide under, then lift and smash the bugs as your wife is currently does. If all else fails and you are not tied to organic methods, use a pesticide. Again coverage is critical.
She rips off any leaves that have eggs on them. We don't have a ton of plants to watch thankfully (only about 15) but last year we weren't aware of them and they killed my giant pumpkin plant. After that my wife went on a rampage and was killing dozens of them every day for a week or so. This year so far we haven't suffered any losses yet thankfully.
You are lucky, we had a mild winter and they have been unbelievable this year. Let me know if you want some!
In my experience there is no mild squash bug deal--the years we have them they are devastating. I used to try to fight them, but I don't anymore. If I see squash bugs, I sorta kiss squash season goodbye. They're relentless. I refuse to use poison though. So lucky for me, someone doesn't have squash bugs and I can still get to a grocery store;)
The good news at our farm is that we are in the thick of berry season. The strawberries and serviceberries have just died down, but now we have black raspberries, mulberries, blueberries, currants, and gooseberries all on. The mulberries are really good this year, though I haven't quite figured out what makes a good year or not. The blackberries look like they're going to be banner, and we should have red raspberries after that.
I've made two black raspberry pies in the last week, and have enough in the fridge for another pie. Had fresh black raspberries with heavy cream for breakfast this morning. Summer is so awesome. Will throw whatever we harvest this week into the freezer and make jam when it cools down a bit.
The peaches are getting bigger and peachier. We harvested about 50 pie cherries (not much, but first cherry harvest--yay!)
Also had fresh potatoes and onions from the garden and grilled squash in the past week. Still waiting patiently (ok, not so patiently) for my first tomato.
Carrots, Onions, Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Garlic, Peas, Cilantro, Sage, Thyme, Basil, Zucchini (first one last night), Mint and Strawberries. I think that's it. I've got some tomatoes that have to be getting close to ripening and my potatoes have to be almost done. Also my squash, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins and watermelons are starting to pop out. No peppers yet though unfortunately. My beans haven't started popping out either. I think our late frost prevented all of our fruit trees from doing anything this year.
Things are definitely coming up along up on the roof. We've been continually harvesting the lettuce and pulled our first load of sugar snaps (both of which we planted probably 2-3 weeks too late, but we're still getting something). We have our first cuke sprouting and about 15 other flowers on the plant. Tomatoes are growing like weeds...about 15-18 fruits on the Roma, 6-8 on the Better Boy, and the Bush Goliaths are flowering like crazy. Beans are doing OK, too...haven't snipped any of them yet.
And most importantly, The Black Thumbs haven't killed anything yet!!!!
Things are definitely coming up along up on the roof. We've been continually harvesting the lettuce and pulled our first load of sugar snaps (both of which we planted probably 2-3 weeks too late, but we're still getting something). We have our first cuke sprouting and about 15 other flowers on the plant. Tomatoes are growing like weeds...about 15-18 fruits on the Roma, 6-8 on the Better Boy, and the Bush Goliaths are flowering like crazy. Beans are doing OK, too...haven't snipped any of them yet.
And most importantly, The Black Thumbs haven't killed anything yet!!!!
Dude, you need to turn in your "black thumb" name badge. You're doing great. I'm actually amazed that you're doing all that up there on the roof. Really. Nicely done.
As promised, here is a picture of our "container pumpkins" They're looking pretty sad. We've had a couple hot days recently. Not sure these are going to make it!
I've got a container pumpkin this year too! I transplanted some black eyed susans into one of my patio containers and accidentally scooped up some pumpkin seeds along with it. My pumpkin plants have bloomed from last falls pumpkins which I let decompose and go to seed. I'm not sure if they will make a pumpkin or not. So far all the blooms just fall off .
As promised, here is a picture of our "container pumpkins" They're looking pretty sad. We've had a couple hot days recently. Not sure these are going to make it!
I've got a container pumpkin this year too! I transplanted some black eyed susans into one of my patio containers and accidentally scooped up some pumpkin seeds along with it. My pumpkin plants have bloomed from last falls pumpkins which I let decompose and go to seed. I'm not sure if they will make a pumpkin or not. So far all the blooms just fall off .
You may need to pollinate them. Take some pollen from the male flowers with your finger, brush or swab, and rub it all over in a female flower.
Garden has done well so far. Field peas are about done and we canned about 10 bushels and not sure how many bushels other folk got. Peppers, squash and cucumbers are going strong and we have canned or dehydrated about 4 lugs of tomatoes. In the planning stages for the fall garden and will start the ground work in a couple of weeks. It usually consists of more tomatoes, butter crunch and red lettuce, cabbage and broccoli. May plant some greens this time. Anyone else plant a fall garden?
Originally posted by NXS Garden has done well so far. Field peas are about done and we canned about 10 bushels and not sure how many bushels other folk got. Peppers, squash and cucumbers are going strong and we have canned or dehydrated about 4 lugs of tomatoes. In the planning stages for the fall garden and will start the ground work in a couple of weeks. It usually consists of more tomatoes, butter crunch and red lettuce, cabbage and broccoli. May plant some greens this time. Anyone else plant a fall garden?
We try to, with varying degrees of success depending on the year. I love having brussel sprouts from the garden at Thanksgiving, so we try to get those in nowish--thank you for the reminder :)
We'll do another round of fall lettuce, possibly some peas, kale.
I have never had a lot of success with cabbage or broccoli :/ I had one good broccoli year, and it was some of the best stuff on earth. I don't know if I'd call it my "favorite food" or anything;) but it was pretty damn good.
We plant broccoli but the florets are never as large as I like. Probably a little too warm down here.
Have you tried bundling the leaves together around the crowns when they appear? We tried that this year and actually got one broccolli crown that was almost as big as a store bought. We just take some string and pull the leaves up around it creating a bit of a shell if you will.
We will probably do another round fo Peas for the fall and maybe some other things. A lot of my plants are still in the ground so I don't really have the space to put them in in time for fall harvesting.
We plant broccoli but the florets are never as large as I like. Probably a little too warm down here.
Have you tried bundling the leaves together around the crowns when they appear? We tried that this year and actually got one broccolli crown that was almost as big as a store bought. We just take some string and pull the leaves up around it creating a bit of a shell if you will.
We will probably do another round fo Peas for the fall and maybe some other things. A lot of my plants are still in the ground so I don't really have the space to put them in in time for fall harvesting.
I do that and it does improve floret size, but still not to what I would like. Maybe i am just to picky. My kids tell me to just plant more so that yield makes up for quality.
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2013-07-03 3:15 PM
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LHOTP
Subject: RE: The BT Garden Thread
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