Gardens

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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:42 pm

Is it too early to discuss them? I'm planting potatoes on the 17th.

Yukon Gold and Red Pontiac. Five different tomatoes, at least five chiles, squash, cucumbers..pickling and fresh ( a Mexican sour cuke that I can't wait to try), beets, okra, watermelons.

A melon called the Prescott Fond Blanc that is supposed to be the tops, but rare here in the US.

Beans, sweetcorn and greens OH MY!

Oh yeah..and this little beauty that I hope will not get me into trouble.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 8:35 pm

I have a part time job as a gardener and this is the first year I have ever worked right through the winter.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Justcold wrote:

Is it too early to discuss them?

Yes.

Current view of one of my flower gardens. (those are 2.5 foot tall sedum plants) Picture taken with a potato.

Edit: If there are any clematis experts out there I'd love to hear from you. I have the hardest time growing the damn things.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 10:42 pm

I got some peat pots and seeds and planted 33 seeds in pots. I also started turning the land. I'm going to grow tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, bok choy (or "pak choi" as it's spelled on the envelope), leeks, quinoa, and acmella. Tomorrow, if the weather is good, I'm going to spend a few more hours turning the land.

I told one lad I'd get back to him in a few days, forgot to tell another lad, and got an email asking if I got his email.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 10:50 pm

Quote:

leeks

I've thought about growing them..but I just don't think I have the right growing zone.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:09 pm

Not too early at all-I am a rose fanatic-where the bodies are buried! Alas, at least 30 days before I start tomatoes-I have a south facing brick wall with a dryer vent that lets me plant at least two weeks early on the tomatoes and peppers.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:26 pm

^Brilliant.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

I'm getting cabin fever with all this garden talk. Here is the pictured frozen flower garden last fall, just to give context as to how horrible this place can be. The vegetable garden is in the background, upper right hand corner.

Edit: one word.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:50 pm

Very nice PF. I have a half acre that I will be planting..enough for three families.

ETA: Now about those chickens... Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^ The chicken thing is on hold. The bride is somewhat opposed.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:56 pm

My pullets have now started to lay in the last week. Smaller eggs as new hens lay..but I'm very excited to see them mature into young ladies. Very Happy

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:28 am

I have Wild Leeks growing all over the place. Essentially they are the first Greenery one will see in Spring. Sadly that may be somewhat delayed:

I also know of a couple Ginseng patches that I tell no one about....

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:33 am

Quote:

a couple Ginseng patches that I tell no one about

As I have a few morel hunting grounds that will take some torture to get out of me.. Wink

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:41 am

I have a corn plant that is green in my living room (6 feet tall). Not field corn mind you, it looks like a palm type plant. My Corpse plant has bloomed and died out again and is ready to plant for the summer growing season. I don't plant a veggie garden anymore as the Deer ate more of the last one than I did.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Big Al wrote:

Deer

Bastards! Rats with hooves.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:02 am

http://www.wirelessdeerfence.com/
Have not tried it but am planning to. I got some rabbit fencing, which I should be able to step over.

Have you ever seen a rabbit fence? Have you seen a rabbit box?

There's a video on the site of a deer boxing a dog. The dog had to be taken to a hospital. I understand why the deer attacked the cat, but not the dog.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:05 am

Quote:

Deer

In my freezer and problem solved. Next up are these corn stealing bastards..

Great in a roast..

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

vonpaso xlura wrote:

Have you ever seen a rabbit fence?

Yup.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 2:42 am

The only sure way to keep Critters from eating your stuff is to make them understand that there is no Food to be had and then to encourage them to go elsewhere.

Shooting a Deer only makes room for the next one or twenty to dine upon your Bounty. Animal resistant plants (the shit they don't like) work to a certain extent but animals that Browse will destroy your stuff and simply move on while the next animal will do the same. One of the best strategies I've found is to put Bricks at the corners of my Beds and give them a coating of used Beer (Read Piss).

Raccoons are a real pain if you are growing something they want because they will get it about an hour before you are going to Harvest it. Shoot all you want but you will never get your Corn back nor will you dent the Population.

**Next Week we will learn how to Cull Coyotes and why you should save your Ammunition and Traps for something worthwhile so stay tuned**

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^ I've had good luck with hair, human hair.

When I go to the barber I bring a paper bag. The barber happily donates the clippings he sweeps off the floor. I scatter the hair around things I want to keep critter free. Seems to work well and it's a nice organic solution, save for some Aqua Velva residue. (You may have to be 50+ to get that reference)

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:32 am

^We used to buy that stuff before we could (Legally) go to the Liquor stores. Kidding but it was abused for such by many....

Thanx for the tip I'll spread some Pubes around the Garden just to see who enjoys Grazing upon the 'Fruit' of my toils.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGnm-kYuWHI

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:36 am

Quote:

about an hour before you are going to Harvest it

They do have that talent...but I have the remedy. Traps, traps and more traps. Live traps that is..I have chickens.

Raccoons WILL stop if you capture enough of them.

Just a short walk out to the back forty...and it's all over.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:39 am

To get rid of your squirrels, I'll send you guys over a couple of big Aussie wombats. Of course, you'll still need the Pastor's rifle to eradicate the bloody wombats, but it's going be a whole lot of fun watching the bloodsport critter wars while waiting for the snow to melt.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:42 am

^I have no problems with squirrels. Except that they are so damn tasty with gravy.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:58 pm

I saw fourteen butterflies while out walking the dogs today,although I spose ir could have been the same one fourteen times.