Quarantine Vegetable Gardens

[PayrollNerd]

Harvested some Bibb lettuce and Romaine this morning. Saw lots of bugs so I shook the plants to get them to go away. I will head to Home Depot to get the Insecticide soap. I've tried to get Amazon to deliver it twice and the 1st order got "lost" and the 2nd order got "cancelled" so I give up. At sunset I'll have to water since mother nature has decided it's going to water everyone else's neighborhood, except mine. Then spray for bugs and apply the neem oil again.

I know the heat will take over and some plants are already petering out. That's ok tho, this is a test garden. I'm going to try to get as much as I can to produce.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I finally was able to get the avocado tree in the ground. I added 3 bags of organic soil, a 50 lb bag of sand and 2 bags of compost. That was in addition to the odd bags of soil I had left over from other projects and my veggie garden. The tree was really root bound in the container. I had to break up the roots so they'd spread out. I mounded dirt up around the roots and I'm letting this tropical weather settle the soil. Then I'll add pine bark nuggets as a mulch to the bed.

The blueberry bush has recovered and all new leaves have come in. It looks great, it's healthy and produced one new blueberry. I let the birds have it. I will repot it into the bigger pot. It needs 1/2 soil and 1/2 pine bark in its pot. The blueberry farm said to keep it potted for now. Maybe someday I'll have a blueberry patch!

 

[Yesiamapirate]

I finally was able to get the avocado tree in the ground. I added 3 bags of organic soil, a 50 lb bag of sand and 2 bags of compost. That was in addition to the odd bags of soil I had left over from other projects and my veggie garden. The tree was really root bound in the container. I had to break up the roots so they'd spread out. I mounded dirt up around the roots and I'm letting this tropical weather settle the soil. Then I'll add pine bark nuggets as a mulch to the bed.

The blueberry bush has recovered and all new leaves have come in. It looks great, it's healthy and produced one new blueberry. I let the birds have it. I will repot it into the bigger pot. It needs 1/2 soil and 1/2 pine bark in its pot. The blueberry farm said to keep it potted for now. Maybe someday I'll have a blueberry patch!

I love avocados! I hope you get lots to enjoy. Thanks for sharing.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I finally was able to get the avocado tree in the ground. I added 3 bags of organic soil, a 50 lb bag of sand and 2 bags of compost. That was in addition to the odd bags of soil I had left over from other projects and my veggie garden. The tree was really root bound in the container. I had to break up the roots so they'd spread out. I mounded dirt up around the roots and I'm letting this tropical weather settle the soil. Then I'll add pine bark nuggets as a mulch to the bed.

The blueberry bush has recovered and all new leaves have come in. It looks great, it's healthy and produced one new blueberry. I let the birds have it. I will repot it into the bigger pot. It needs 1/2 soil and 1/2 pine bark in its pot. The blueberry farm said to keep it potted for now. Maybe someday I'll have a blueberry patch!

Glad your avocado is in. It fascinates me how quickly your garden comes on in your climate, things tend to grow a lot slower here.

My blueberry bush is doing well, not ripe yet but plenty of berries. I will let the blackbirds have them, not enough fruit to benefit us but I love to watch them hopping up to try and grab one as they ripen. I planted it a few years back in a stone pot, because I needed to use ericaceous soil for it. The apple tree I planted last year has tiny fruit growing and the gooseberry I relocated has lots of fruit.

No signs of fruit yet on my currants, red gooseberry or boysenberry. They are looking healthy, maybe it’s just a little early.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Glad your avocado is in. It fascinates me how quickly your garden comes on in your climate, things tend to grow a lot slower here.

My blueberry bush is doing well, not ripe yet but plenty of berries. I will let the blackbirds have them, not enough fruit to benefit us but I love to watch them hopping up to try and grab one as they ripen. I planted it a few years back in a stone pot, because I needed to use ericaceous soil for it. The apple tree I planted last year has tiny fruit growing and the gooseberry I relocated has lots of fruit.

No signs of fruit yet on my currants, red gooseberry or boysenberry. They are looking healthy, maybe it’s just a little early.

Your little orchard sounds so tasty. I wish we could grow something besides citrus trees here in SWFL. I am too far south for apples and peaches which are my favorites.

 

[PayrollNerd]

"Georgia" the avocado tree is all tucked in her spot. I think she's in shock from the transplant and we had quite a bit of rain this week. Avocado's don't like wet feet. Next week I will fertilize around the base to give her a little boost.

 

[PayrollNerd]

The heat is taking its toll here in SWFL. This morning I pulled up my root veggie plants. Even tho they were not successful, it helped me learn a lot. I really didn’t expect them to produce. My goal was to learn the plant leaves, how much space & water they needed, how long the seeds needed to germinate, etc.

I learned about pH and how/what to use to bring it down. Once everything is done, I can add more acidifier granules. I have a better idea on what my watering schedule should be too. I found an earthworm today. That confirms the cardboard in the bottom was the right choice. I may buy a bag of worm casings and rake them in too.

My tomatoes are getting shade so I suspect that is why they’re doing ok. I do have Romas and the other two types are blossoming. I need to pull the suckers off around the base of each plant.

The cucumbers are struggling. They blossom and begin to grow but I think something is eating them. Not surprising since they are on the edge of the bed. I will know to plant them in the center of the bed next time. The bird netting is helping.

Most of the corn just doesn’t seem healthy. I’m going to leave it for the moment. Most of the beans, yellow squash and I suspect the zucchini are not doing well. Again, I know much more about them now and will plant differently next time.

This has been a great test garden. I have really enjoyed it. My health issues threw a kink in the attention it got. But I think overall, it did well. I will redesign the layout for fall. I also plan to do seed starts in little containers. It will save time and I’ll get two whole growing seasons next year.

Today I’m trying out a soaker hose instead of the sprinkler. It should save water but it definitely has to run longer.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I've been busy in my garden but haven't posted. I did soil solarization on 2 of the 3 raised beds over the summer which is our rainy season. Took the plastic off after Hurricane Ian went thru. Raked the beds to stir the soil, let it sit for a week. Then added organic soil, black kow compost and raked that in. Due to the hurricane my planting schedule was 3 weeks behind. So I did get a few starter plants. 1 big tomato, 1 roma tomato, 4 brussel sprouts, 4 spinach, 4 romaine, 2 buttercrunch lettuce. Everything else went in as seeds on Oct 29-Oct 30. They all got a sprinkle of worm castings too.

This week, for the first time ever, I've started bare root June bearing strawberries in cups. These were recommended by the YouTube page I follow called the Wild Floridian. I ordered 20 plants but they missed sending me the second set. You put them in cups for a few days then in their "home" whether that be the ground or pots. I have "strawberry pots" that I need to assemble. I found them on Amazon. Hopefully, my lanai will get enough sun that I can grow them. If not I'll have to figure out a safe place in the yard. I have squirrels that I'd like to murder on a daily basis. But I also have glorious blue birds in the wetlands behind my property.

I'll get some photos uploaded next.

 

[PayrollNerd]

If you scroll back thru the thread, you'll see I had big grow bags in my kiddie pools. They didn't work out as well as I hoped. Not enough planting surface for my liking. I decided to cut the bags open and spread out the soil. That gives me a planting depth of 6"-8" which is sufficient for most crops. I have 4 acorn squash, 7 broccoli, 4spaghetti squash and 4 butternut squash in them. The butternut squash has a bamboo trellis but now the concern is, how do I keep squirrels out of them? I took some old plastic mesh I had used with the grow bags and hung it from the trellis. It isn't enough to go around the entire kiddie pool but I think it might be a good solution. Maybe some old screening too but I don't think I have enough. I can use the metal clips to hold it down. Particularly when there is a storm like we just had with Hurr/TS Nicole this past week.

 

[Quiet Time]

If you scroll back thru the thread, you'll see I had big grow bags in my kiddie pools. They didn't work out as well as I hoped. Not enough planting surface for my liking. I decided to cut the bags open and spread out the soil. That gives me a planting depth of 6"-8" which is sufficient for most crops. I have 4 acorn squash, 7 broccoli, 4spaghetti squash and 4 butternut squash in them. The butternut squash has a bamboo trellis but now the concern is, how do I keep squirrels out of them? I took some old plastic mesh I had used with the grow bags and hung it from the trellis. It isn't enough to go around the entire kiddie pool but I think it might be a good solution. Maybe some old screening too but I don't think I have enough. I can use the metal clips to hold it down. Particularly when there is a storm like we just had with Hurr/TS Nicole this past week.

Very cool. I like the idea of using the baby pools. Good to know they're deep enough to accommodate the roots of the plants. Those dividers are a great addition too.

Did you think of those dividers all by yourself, or see it somewhere and copy?

 

[PayrollNerd]

Very cool. I like the idea of using the baby pools. Good to know they're deep enough to accommodate the roots of the plants. Those dividers are a great addition too.

Did you think of those dividers all by yourself, or see it somewhere and copy?

Those pieces are old bifold door slats. I do square foot gardening. I needed each section separated when I planted. Once the plants germinate and are good sized, I toss them back in my shed.

I’m entirely too cheap, frugal, broke to buy something and too lazy to set up a string grid. LOL!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I harvested another salad today. Greek Salad for lunch today.

The green peppers didn't seem to be germinating so I got them some competition. Maybe the green ones will come in around the red & yellow ones. Supposedly they all start out as green peppers but we shall see.

My strawberries are not doing well. I've been in contact with the nursery that they came from. They still haven't responded that I was supposed to get 2 sets. If they don't get it resolved, I'll ask Amazon for my money back.

Everything survived Tropical Storm Nicole. Lot of growth and this cold spell will be great for the crops. I had to spray Neem Oil to get rid of the bugs. I lightly watered today since it all finally dried out.

 

[PayrollNerd]

It’s in the low 50s here in Sarasota which is cold for Nov. My crops are loving it, perked right up and had a good drink from the hose. This week I sprayed Neem Oil, waited a few days and sprayed insecticidal soap for pests.

I’ve never grown brussel sprouts, sugar snap peas or regular peas before so I’m excited to see them all do well. Tomorrow I should have enough lettuces to harvest another salad. The Bibb lettuce is barely up but at least it germinated.

There’s a few broccoli that I hope take off as something ate the leaves off one plant. I’ll need to thin one little clump. The squash trellises are up and the plants are wanting to climb. The peas & sugar snap peas I stuck little wood slats in their area. They may need more support eventually but I’m going to see how they do.

The Roma tomato has a few flowers. The mini cucumbers are doing good but something did eat a few leaves.

I still have an empty bin and few pots. You know, I feel like I should put something, anything in them. LOL!!!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I have tiny veggies! The broccoli had something digging in it and whatever it was, took an entire plant! I thinned the plants and replanted some. I put mesh around the pool. It seems to have warded off whatever came to visit.

I’m tying up the squash but I may do mesh around them too. I haven’t noticed anything getting in the pools. The plant is prickly tho.

The peas I’m not sure about. I may need to put them up on something. Maybe cinder blocks & a plank. I’m guessing they’re low enough for bunnies to nibble. Not to mention squirrels.

Most everything else is doing well. The beets didn’t germinate as well as I expected. I will put some more seeds in. The brussel sprouts are very interesting and I hope they produce well. The sugar snap peas cling to themselves, not the flat sticks. I’ll have to get them some tiny sticks.

Today I watered, added worm poop and watered again. My spinach is a tad yellow. I’m thinking it needed food.

 

[IceIce9]

My garden is at peak right now and we are enjoying meals from the garden daily. A dozen varieties of tomatoes, several types of peppers, eggplant, squash, and zucchini are doing especially well.

I tried a new variety of cherry tomatoes this year that I discovered at the Master Gardener sale early in the spring. They are called “Tumbling Tomatoes” and you plant them in hanging baskets. They grow vine-like over the sides of the pot. They produce a huge amount of very flavorful cherry tomatoes. I guess I didn’t hang the baskets high enough because they have reached all the way to the ground. Next year I will hang them higher.

 

[mickey2942]

Gardening in Montana is hit or miss. 2020, our garden was amazing, even though it was just a patch in front of our apartment.

2021, was bountiful, with peppers and tomatoes galore by this time.

2022, bust, it was just too cold until July, then, it was blistering hot. And the 2 hail storms didn't help much.

2023, we have some tomatoes, and peppers growing, but not as great as 2020 and 2021.

 

[sassyblue]

This year has been brutal for my tomatoes and peppers. I'm in southwest Idaho and spring was odd to say the least. Plants are just now loaded with green fruit. So I have hopes we'll have a long warm fall so everything ripens.

I have a problem with my greenhouse where I start the plants too. High winds tore it apart late in 2021 so we rebuilt it using clear panels and the seedlings didn't do well in 2022 nor this year either. I asked several nurseries with greenhouses what the problem could be and they all shrugged and said Google it. Guess I should do that before next spring.

My husband built me a hoop house this summer and I have the tomatoes in grow bags inside it so maybe that will keep an early frost off them this year. I'm hoping!

 

[neesaki]

I have tiny veggies! The broccoli had something digging in it and whatever it was, took an entire plant! I thinned the plants and replanted some. I put mesh around the pool. It seems to have warded off whatever came to visit.

I’m tying up the squash but I may do mesh around them too. I haven’t noticed anything getting in the pools. The plant is prickly tho.

The peas I’m not sure about. I may need to put them up on something. Maybe cinder blocks & a plank. I’m guessing they’re low enough for bunnies to nibble. Not to mention squirrels.

Most everything else is doing well. The beets didn’t germinate as well as I expected. I will put some more seeds in. The brussel sprouts are very interesting and I hope they produce well. The sugar snap peas cling to themselves, not the flat sticks. I’ll have to get them some tiny sticks.

Today I watered, added worm poop and watered again. My spinach is a tad yellow. I’m thinking it needed food.

Enjoyed reading about your garden project, @PayrollNerd . How’s your garden doing this year? I don’t have a veggie garden, but as long as this three digit heat wave is lasting, I can’t imagine anyone here having anything in their garden surviving it.

My little local farmers market has had a good supply of Pecos cantelope and the most delicious Tennessee tomatoes. My region of Texas grows good tomatoes , but I like the Tennessee ones even better.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I had a great time gardening this past winter. I struggled getting the insects under control in the spring. So many of my plants grew really well but didn't produce as much, or the plant died too quickly. I'm emptying one kiddie pool that gets too much shade. I'll move it to a sunnier location.

I believe one issue was not enough pollinators. So this year, I'm growing sunflowers, adding a butterfly garden and had 2 trees (crape myrtle & silver buttonwood) planted. I've covered most of the grass with cardboard, pinned down commercial grade landscape fabric and then added Cypress Blend No Float mulch. I need to go get a little more mulch tonight.

Today I bought 10 milkweed plants. 4 large 3 gallon sized with solid green leaves and 6 small 1 gallon sized variegated leaves. They are the native to Florida type. I kept the sprinkler on them for 90 minutes after I sat them in the beds to prevent shock. I'll plant them at sunset.

You are right, the heat has been unbearable and even the things that do grow in the summer in SWFL, died. I am working in the yard at sunrise and sunset.

As soon as I finish the front yard, then I can work in getting my garden ready for our season (Oct-Apr). We haven't the normal summer rains. I guess all the hurricanes are waiting to bombard us at once?

 

[neesaki]

I had a great time gardening this past winter. I struggled getting the insects under control in the spring. So many of my plants grew really well but didn't produce as much, or the plant died too quickly. I'm emptying one kiddie pool that gets too much shade. I'll move it to a sunnier location.

I believe one issue was not enough pollinators. So this year, I'm growing sunflowers, adding a butterfly garden and had 2 trees (crape myrtle & silver buttonwood) planted. I've covered most of the grass with cardboard, pinned down commercial grade landscape fabric and then added Cypress Blend No Float mulch. I need to go get a little more mulch tonight.

Today I bought 10 milkweed plants. 4 large 3 gallon sized with solid green leaves and 6 small 1 gallon sized variegated leaves. They are the native to Florida type. I kept the sprinkler on them for 90 minutes after I sat them in the beds to prevent shock. I'll plant them at sunset.

You are right, the heat has been unbearable and even the things that do grow in the summer in SWFL, died. I am working in the yard at sunrise and sunset.

As soon as I finish the front yard, then I can work in getting my garden ready for our season (Oct-Apr). We haven't the normal summer rains. I guess all the hurricanes are waiting to bombard us at once?

What a lot of work you’ve been doing! So you’re going to plant the butterfly garden in the new mulched area of your yard? I don’t think I’m familiar with milk weed plants. I’m assuming they attract butterflies. They’re very pretty too.