Anyone vegetable gardening this year?

[Kerbluey]

I’ve got a 3x8 raised bed of onions and another of Yukon Gold potatoes. This is my first year growing onions and my second growing potatoes. Last years’ potato crop was a sad little thing, but the potatoes I did get were yummy. We also have a grape tomato plant and a bigger style tomato called Mortgage Lifter along with some jalapeños and poblanos. I’m on a regular fertilizer and watering schedule this year in hopes of better results. I wasn’t very regular with either last year.

We hope to enlarge things next year, but we aren’t sure if we want to set up an in-ground garden or containers.

 

[JoyJoyJoy]

I had 3 tomatoes die of wilt. I will put them in a different location next year.

For the first time in years, I am growing squash and cucumbers...simply for our enjoyment.

We also have a huge grapevine. Hoping to get a lot of grapes. We like to go to the vine and just eat and enjoy.

I would love some plum trees. I live *in town* and my space is limited. Growing
plants of any kind is one of my passions.

I replant the ends of spring onions around in my beds. They get huge (inedible) and make large heads that the bees love.

If you have a good sunny area, consider an in ground garden.

 

[RonJohnSilver]

We had small production this year, mostly due to extreme heat, still ongoing. We only grow the salad tomatoes instead of the larger ones because of water needs. They did o.k. Squash produced well early then bugs hit. Berries never really took off. Preparing now for fall planting which seems to be best for Texas. We'll see.

 

[Kerbluey]

Joy, I too enjoy growing things. I also like to experiment with different types. I grew cucumbers last year that were round and yellow. I’ve never really been impressed with homegrown yields, but I love to grow things so I may as well add veggies to the list. Our soil is extremely rocky and not good for growing, but it’s expensive to add soil to containers so I’m just not sure.

Ron, it was like that in Florida as well. I found growing tomatoes actually easier down there too. Here in missouri we have to wait so late to plant due to cold and then it gets blazing hot the next week.

 

[Carl]

When it warmed up son and I planted potatoes, green beans, corn, onion sets, brussel sprouts, parsnips, beets, cucumbers, and turnips. Unfortunately it then cooled snd the soil didn't get warm enough to encourage sprouting.
Corn twice. Beans 3 times.
Oh the turkey vultures did a good job with the dead wood chuck. Cleaned up in a week!

 

[Kerbluey]

Carl, oh no! We weren’t sure if the pepper plants Hubby planted were ever going to grow. I guess our soil was still chilly.

 

[Carl]

The experts say the soil temperature should be above 50 for sprouting. Otherwise seeds will just set or rot.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I prefer container gardening because much, much easier to prevent weeds and treat for problems/prevent problems. Also because I can move everything inside/under cover in case of a hail storm, high wind, dust storm, tornado, thieves (animal, insect, or human), intense heat, freezing, etc. Hanging pots, hanging bags, Topsy-Turveys, Potato Pots, containers on a table/bench/stand, on casters, large planters like City Picker or Earth Box for many plants, smaller containers for one or a few plants, etc. I can also move plants around to take advantage of companion planting or isolate a plant with a "problem" from others, rearrange so fast-growing plants that have gotten tall aren't blocking the sun from others or use them for shading, etc. It's easier for me to protect individual plants or groups of plants from birds, etc. when close to harvest, and much easier to harvest and rotate crops into different containers to prevent/reduce pests. I can rearrange simply for aesthetics, too

Some people prefer in-ground because no cost for containers or dirt, although trellises and other supports still needed, and amendments, etc. for in-ground soil and reused planting medium/soil in containers. Raised beds need added soil, which may or may not need to be purchased, depending on how the beds are constructed and what's available on one's own property.

Casters are very important to saving one's neck, back, arms, legs, etc. and reducing potential damage/shock to plants when moving large containers (take care not to run over feet/toes). I put every large and very large container on its own casters so not lifting on and off to trade among containers. The non-draining saucer casters collect water and mosquitoes, so save these for inside plants (or put holes in them).

I only use drinking water-safe hoses and nozzles, so not adding toxins/chemicals to food or the environment (other than what's in the city water). Also water non-food plants before food plants so any water in the hoses and nozzles that was standing and might have anything growing in it, etc. doesn't end up in what we eat.

Right now, I only have a few containers because not in my own place and I don't know when Dad will die or go into a facility, and I really don't want to move a huge garden. A couple of pots of cherry tomatoes for Dad's salads, some herbs, some flowers, and some citronella. Having flowers greatly helps with veggie and fruit pollination, plus they're pretty

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

ROOT and forgot in the above.

Be careful about what is used for containers and raised bed liners/borders because of toxins, poisons, breakage, etc. Some of the glazes and clays, even in some strawberry pots and other containers allegedly for food are big problems because lead, other heavy metals, chemicals, etc. in some soils (clays), and some glazes aren't food-safe. Some treated wood is treated with stuff that's poisonous. Some weed liners and landscaping cloth are treated with poisons or are made from toxic materials. Some plastics are not problems until they start degrading in the heat or moisture. Other plastics are problems from the very beginning. Some stuff is specifically made for organic, hydroponic, etc. gardening

There are many, many "clean" low-cost and free options for containers available. A cheap three-pack of organic cotton produce bags make nice hanging bags, etc. Some nurseries recycle pots for the public and allow people to help themselves before the recycling truck gets there. Get familiar with which recycling symbol indicates which materials. Wash and disinfect thoroughly, preferably far away from your garden before using to avoid bringing someone else's pests, mold, blight, etc. into your plants. If possible, at least rinse thoroughly before putting in your car. Some nurseries only recycle their own pots, instead of accepting stuff from the public, so not nearly as problematic. Farmer's markets are a who-knows, but organic vendors are a better bet. Get to know the vendors before asking for cast-offs. End-of-year/season and other sales. I avoid China-made products because of their long history of poisons, toxins, etc. in food, pet food/treats, toys, etc.

If you plant food plants in your ground, test for toxins, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, plastics, etc. so they don't end up in your food.

 

[RonJohnSilver]

I use container planting to start from seeds and then transplant when seedlings are bigger. I like the control of temp, etc. as well. In this heat, I can start fall plantings from seed and keep them in the shade until it cools some, if ever.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I use container planting to start from seeds and then transplant when seedlings are bigger. I like the control of temp, etc. as well. In this heat, I can start fall plantings from seed and keep them in the shade until it cools some, if ever.

When starting from seed, I use the peat pellets in the tray-with-the-clear-plastic-cover-acts-like-a-mini-greenhouse indoors. Then transplant the seedlings (pellet and all) into the containers without shock when it gets warm enough and supposed to be no more frost or freezing. Have one of those warming mats that fit under the trays if I want to speed things up (late start, start over, or trying for a second crop). If needed, adjustable-light-band gro-light bulbs in cheapie mother=daughter lamps (were previously in Mom's nursing home room).

One of these days I'm going to get or make a (cheap) peat pellet maker thing and make my own from the growing medium I plant most things in. It's mostly peat, anyway. The pellets aren't expensive (in bulk), but I'm concerned about what might be lurking, whether from the peat farm, manufacturing, transportation, or storage.

 

[Kerbluey]

Have any of y’all tried those grow bags? I may try some next year. My raised beds are 3 feet by 8 feet so no moving them. The tomatoes and peppers are in 5-gallon buckets, so hubby could move them. There are recipes online for very cheap (compared to bought) diy potting mix. I much prefer raised beds for my old back.

I did pull an onion today to eat with cucumbers. It was about 1-1/2 inches across, which is how I like them. It was yummy.

 

[ChildofLight]

This past year I experimented planting tomato seeds and finally got it down. I started New Year’s Day and this coming season I’m going to start the seeds first of December. I live in Central Texas.

I use large styrofoam cups, actually medium Whataburger cups, and punch a hole with a large nail a half inch from bottom on all 4 sides. Fill 3/4 full of potting soil and water. It will greatly settle so keep adding soil and water until about 3/4 full. Spread about 7 or so tomato seeds in each container. Add about 1/4 to half inch soil on top and carefully water so don’t displace seeds. Be sure to write on each container the variety name. Place all containers in a plastic tub type container that can be carried. Place in an east or south window with good light. Carefully water and once they come up may need to turn the tub periodically so they don’t get leggy growing to the light. When stems get more sturdy I add a bit of potting soil gradually as they grow. When they got about 4” or so I moved out to my front porch east facing in sun and have a wind block from the north and west. Bring them in at night and move in and out depending on temperature and weather. This helped harden them off as they grew. In fact they stayed on the front porch accidentally when temperature even got down to 28 at night and it didn’t even phase them.

The plants rivaled any of the plants in the stores when it came planting time.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Have any of y’all tried those grow bags? I may try some next year. My raised beds are 3 feet by 8 feet so no moving them. The tomatoes and peppers are in 5-gallon buckets, so hubby could move them. There are recipes online for very cheap (compared to bought) diy potting mix. I much prefer raised beds for my old back.

I did pull an onion today to eat with cucumbers. It was about 1-1/2 inches across, which is how I like them. It was yummy.

Which ones? I saw some multipocket plastic ones at the nursery and the flowering annuals in them seemed kind of small for how late in the season it was. The plants in the bigger cloth bags and single plastic bags were much larger. I think the multipocket ones might be good for strawberries, some kinds of herbs, and some kinds of flowers, but maybe not veggies, except maybe some kinds of hot peppers (the same ones that do well in regular strawberry pots).

I have no idea if those particular bags were safe for food crops.

Note that root rot can happen in a bag with no drainage, and having other plants under porous bags or bags with drainage saves a lot of water. Watch that water from non-food-safe bags, medicinal herbs, or poisonous flowers, etc. doesn't end up on food crops.

People all over the world grow stuff in hanging bags. A lot of times because of space or convenience, but sometimes because sanitation, flood residue, war-related contamination, vermin, etc. are bad enough that it is necessary to grow things well off the ground if at all possible. Also nice because no bending over and can be hung at a convenient/comfortable height or on adjustable hangers/ropes.

 

[Kerbluey]

I’ve never seen any multi pocket ones. The ones I’ve seen online are about 5 gallons or larger and are porous, so they do drain. Honestly, I think they’re weed block, the porous kind, made into bags. That’s how you sew the diy versions. There are also potato versions with flap openings at the bottom for no potato digging. Through some mechanism I don’t understand they supposedly cause your plants to produce more.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I’ve never seen any multi pocket ones. The ones I’ve seen online are about 5 gallons or larger and are porous, so they do drain. Honestly, I think they’re weed block, the porous kind, made into bags. That’s how you sew the diy versions. There are also potato versions with flap openings at the bottom for no potato digging. Through some mechanism I don’t understand they supposedly cause your plants to produce more.

Picking potatoes without harvesting the whole plant or disturbing it very much gives the plant an opportunity to grow more
There are specially designed potato pots that are really two pots, one sitting inside the other. The inside one has big cut-outs so one can access the potatoes The outside pot holds the water and dirt in, and provides support that the weakened sides of the inner pot cannot.

 

[Kerbluey]

I watched a video last night of a lady who grew potatoes in pots. When it was harvest time she just tipped them over in a wheelbarrow. No digging required. I’ll try this next year.

I missed ONE day of looking over the garden. One day! The next morning I found fully half of a tomato plant eaten by one of those gross tomato hornworms. I killed him and the next day 2 of his buddies. Ugh.

 

[ChildofLight]

I missed ONE day of looking over the garden. One day! The next morning I found fully half of a tomato plant eaten by one of those gross tomato hornworms. I killed him and the next day 2 of his buddies. Ugh.

I have had a bad time with those tomato hornworms. I was constantly plucking them last year and they still denuded my plants of leaves. This year I separated my 6 tomato plants again over the garden but spread some alfalfa hay out from around them and didn’t have any worms. I don’t know if the hay made a difference or what.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I have had a bad time with those tomato hornworms. I was constantly plucking them last year and they still denuded my plants of leaves. This year I separated my 6 tomato plants again over the garden but spread some alfalfa hay out from around them and didn’t have any worms. I don’t know if the hay made a difference or what.

I've been told not to plant tomatoes in the same place/same dirt two years in a row to avoid pests and other problems. Container gardening makes this pretty easy (rotate which containers are used for which type plants)

 

[Kerbluey]

Child, that’s really interesting. If I find anything out about alfalfa I’ll be sure to share. I read that if you put weed cloth down it prevents them from climbing out of the dirt. Ugh, they’re so gross.