Anyone vegetable gardening this year?

[Mocha Latte]

I’ve been trying to increase my gardening skills this year. I have clay soil so it can be a challenge. I have a porch with a railing so I got several of those railing planters and I’m loving it. They are off the ground from some pests and they are easy access for watering. I also planted some bigger items in the side gardens, like squash and melons.

So far things are going ok, but it seems there is always one challenge or another with gardening. I underestimated the size of broccoli so they are overflowing their container (oops, lesson learned for next year). I also found fungus gnats (I think anyway) in the planters and had to deal with that. Plus the birds go nuts and will strip your berry plants if you let them. I learned this last year so this year I put the bird netting on the blueberry bushes early and my berries haven’t been bothered since then. Potatoes are a new adventure this year. So we’ll see how it all goes! We agreed that we are experimenting this year and will make tweaks for next year.

With all the threats of food shortages we should all do everything we can do, even if it’s a little bit (remember victory gardens). Every little bit helps.

 

[Mocha Latte]

We also have a grape tomato plant and a bigger style tomato called Mortgage Lifter along with some jalapeños and poblanos.

Hold on, there’s a tomato called the “Mortgage Lifter”?? That’s wild!

 

[RonJohnSilver]

Water is the issue here in Texas, usually is but this summer just seems more intense I guess. I think I say that every summer but it's true this summer. Anyway, I'm watering probably 5 days a week. I miss one day or two and the plants are wilting and drying. Weeds are a problem in the flower beds...I blame Adam, but I'm sure he knows that. So, my gardening buddies this year are water and Roundup. Seems odd to say this but it would be helpful to have a hurricane in the gulf...doesn't have to be huge, category 2-3 is o.k. Best if it would hit at about the border where its easy to get out of the way. That would provide rain and cooler temps for couple weeks.

 

[ChildofLight]

Water is the issue here in Texas, usually is but this summer just seems more intense I guess. I think I say that every summer but it's true this summer. Anyway, I'm watering probably 5 days a week. I miss one day or two and the plants are wilting and drying. Weeds are a problem in the flower beds...I blame Adam, but I'm sure he knows that. So, my gardening buddies this year are water and Roundup. Seems odd to say this but it would be helpful to have a hurricane in the gulf...doesn't have to be huge, category 2-3 is o.k. Best if it would hit at about the border where its easy to get out of the way. That would provide rain and cooler temps for couple weeks.

So agree

 

[Kerbluey]

It’s HOT and dry here. The ground is crispy. I’m watering the veggies daily, but we need rain. No amount of hose water can replace rain. I’ve been thinking of relocating my garden. It gets sun dawn to dusk where it’s at. The other location would get shade for a couple hours during the hottest part of the day. My mom’s tomatoes get a shade break and they look much better than mine. Or I could put some netting up to weaken the sun. Which would be ugly.

Hold on, there’s a tomato called the “Mortgage Lifter”?? That’s wild!

Yes, lol. A lot of older tomatoes have fun names. The story is this guy hybridized some tomatoes, and this one was so successful he paid off his mortgage with it. I’m sure that’s a tall tale but it’s fun anyway.

 

[Kerbluey]

Mmmm, just got back from the mom and pop veggie stand. I ate a whole giant tomato with salt, warm from the sun. Best thing I’ve had in months!!

 

[Everlasting Life]

This year I put down hay to preserve moisture for plants and its working beautifully...less watering required. The drip type of watering is also workng well.

I believe there are some garden beads that soak up water and disperse throughout the day that might be helpful.

I also found this article helpful for maximum yield for tomato plants:

https://plantinstructions.com/vegetables/how-to-prune-tomato-plants-for-maximum-yield/

 

[ChildofLight]

I should have planted some butternut squash this year. I’m using some leftover from last year for a dog’s chew toy. Lilly has a hard time getting the big ones in her mouth, but it gives her something to chew on besides my house, my rocker, my gloves, my mud boots, etc. I also know they are good for her. She can’t choke on them and they’re not made in China, but home grown.
I may have them coming up in the flower beds next year.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I should have planted some butternut squash this year. I’m using some leftover from last year for a dog’s chew toy. Lilly has a hard time getting the big ones in her mouth, but it gives her something to chew on besides my house, my rocker, my gloves, my mud boots, etc. I also know they are good for her. She can’t choke on them and they’re not made in China, but home grown.
I may have them coming up in the flower beds next year.

Maybe not too late, especially if in containers and finish inside if it gets too cold this fall.
Or visit the farmer's market.

 

[Kerbluey]

I should have planted some butternut squash this year. I’m using some leftover from last year for a dog’s chew toy. Lilly has a hard time getting the big ones in her mouth, but it gives her something to chew on besides my house, my rocker, my gloves, my mud boots, etc. I also know they are good for her. She can’t choke on them and they’re not made in China, but home grown.
I may have them coming up in the flower beds next year.

I used to make frozen bone treats when my dog was in that stage. Any hollow bones left over from previous chews were filled with stuff like peanut butter or meat and frozen. It was a pain, but at the time I was just trying to day-to-day survive her destructive stage. Wish I’d known about your brilliant butternut squash idea.

 

[Sandra Lee]

I love to garden. I grow both flowers and veggies. Came by love of gardening naturally. My grandparent's were cotton farmers. I planted three kinds of tomatoes, Pole beans, Kohlrabi, Arulgala, variety of lettuces, three types of squash. No zucchini this year, as they are more prone to get squash bugs. I also planted cantaloup. Planted a variety of herbs as well. I have had a garden every year since I married, over 48 years ago.

 

[RonJohnSilver]

The start of summer next week although temps have been in the 80s and 90s for some time now. I'm actually beginning to prepare the raised beds for the fall plantings since they're pretty much done for the spring. Fall is supposed to be the best time for gardening in Texas but each year it seems to catch me by surprise. Not this year. We have a lot of cherry tomatoes, cauliflower/broccoli/cabbage did reasonably well, peppers a little slow but I planted them last. Fair amount of potatoes although the sweet potatoes are still in the ground. More so far than all of last year.

 

[kathymendel]

Most of our backyard consists of shrubs and flowers, but we have one section separate for herbs, and we have planted a tomato plant
that yields small, very sweet fruit. I use them for antipasto skewers and salads. Right now we have rosemary, basil, chives, sage, and also
a lemon tree. We have a drip system, but water them a bit extra with the hose when it gets really hot...............haven't seen that yet this year!!
We tried squash and cucumbers two years ago, but they didn't do well. I mean, we border on the desert, so guess we should expect some difficulties with some foods.

 

[Cloud Watcher]

I have a cherry tomato plant in a large pot out on the deck.

 

[Carl]

Since we aren't moving I'll try a few things in the garden for this year. Just not sure what yet. Bought some seeds today (not many left in stores now). Beets, green beans, cucumbers, watermelon, I have corn, and potatoes from last year. Think can get squash seed from one I saved for eating.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

IDK if/when I'll be moving, so everything that's not part of the landscaping is in containers. I prefer containers, anyway, because they can be put inside in case of tornado, locusts, dust storm, civil unrest, hail, haz mat leak, thieves, heat or cold, etc.

I have four cherry tomato plants in the table on the deck for Dad's salads. All of the plants have a lot of tomatoes and still blooming, and all outgrew their cages, so I had to add some tall stakes and soft tie the plants to them. One of the plants had bent over from the weight of the tomatoes, so I hope it's OK, now that I've stood it up and supported it better.

Also have a few herbs and some mosquito plants for the deck. Still have to put up the window box containers around the deck railing and plant the wildflower seeds in them for the pollinators.

Out front, a couple big ferns by the steps and a few large containers of annuals near the bird bath and humming bird feeders for Dad to watch from inside.

 

[Kerbluey]

I wasn’t going to garden, but Mr. Kerbluey wanted to. He bought kale and spinach too late in the season. The zucchini has what I think is powdery mildew on its leaves. The peppers aren’t growing or dying, just sitting there. The tomatoes are looking good though. I can’t eat veggies much, but I’ll endure abdominal pain for the occasional fresh tomato.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I picked the first little red cherry tomato of the season off one of the plants on the deck yesterday evening and used it to garnish Dad's lamb gyro (salad style)




JESUS!!!

 

[Bethlehem57]

Lucky to have a neighbor who I started gardening with this year. We became friends soon after we moved into our home about 3 years ago and we watch each others animals (she has horses and I have chickens) when one goes out of town. I give her eggs and a lot of times, she’ll actually fix dinner! She’s also a believer and I thank the Lord for her every day!

 

[wanderingfreeman]

Honestly, the only thing I miss about the sticks and bricks life is gardening. I love gardening and eating what I grow. I have a very green thumb and raised many plants to fruition