Cookies Galore
Senior Associate
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,752
|
Post by Cookies Galore on Jul 19, 2022 10:15:30 GMT -5
My tomato plants are not doing well at all, or at the least are way behind in growth compared with previous years. It's too hot, it has barely rained this month, and I forgot my worm poop when my friend and I picked up our tomato plants from a local plant giveaway back in May. Sigh. BUT! My super sauce hybrid have four massive tomatoes growing, just waiting for them to start turning red so I can pick them. I have two slicer boys growing. I had a grand total of three black cherry tomatoes get to a salad plate. My banana pepper plant has one pepper growing. My cabbage will probably be ready sometime in October, lol.
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 47,341
|
Gardening
Jul 19, 2022 19:38:35 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jul 19, 2022 19:38:35 GMT -5
Something wrecked my radishes. I got four tiny barely there radishes out of it.
I'm not doing this next year if the weather remains weird and the damn bugs. It's not worth it.
I don't see how anyone could feed their family completely from a backyard farm. Self sustainable farming just isn't feasible in an urban setting.
Not thatbI was going for that but it highlights the toxic positivity around our food supply.
It looks like I'll at least get tomatoes and cucumbers. IDK what the sweet potatoes are doing underground but the leaves are green.
Maybe string beans and carrots if the damn rabbits stay out
Japanese beetles are wrecking my roses. DH and I pull them every time we see one.
The plant itself seems healthy. I'm going to try to plant stuff that reveals beetles around it next year.
|
|
CCL
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 4, 2011 19:34:47 GMT -5
Posts: 7,607
|
Post by CCL on Jul 19, 2022 20:01:26 GMT -5
Something wrecked my radishes. I got four tiny barely there radishes out of it. I'm not doing this next year if the weather remains weird and the damn bugs. It's not worth it. I don't see how anyone could feed their family completely from a backyard farm. Self sustainable farming just isn't feasible in an urban setting. Not thatbI was going for that but it highlights the toxic positivity around our food supply. It looks like I'll at least get tomatoes and cucumbers. IDK what the sweet potatoes are doing underground but the leaves are green. Maybe string beans and carrots if the damn rabbits stay out Japanese beetles are wrecking my roses. DH and I pull them every time we see one. The plant itself seems healthy. I'm going to try to plant stuff that reveals beetles around it next year. Radishes usually don't like hot weather. If you plant them in the spring I think you'll have better luck. Gardening is a lot of trial and error. It takes a while to figure out what plants will produce well in your environment. I don't think it's realistic to expect to feed a family with a backyard garden. You absolutely can grow plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, though. Even in the city. I always had gardens when I lived in the inner-city. If you can swing it, raised beds are the way to go. Hang in there. Before you know it, you'll have so many veggies, you'll be sharing them with everyone you know.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 21, 2024 12:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2022 16:09:07 GMT -5
The mistreated tomato plant that the squirrels stripped has about 5 new tomato babies. The plant that Mister said got rabies from the squirrels has a couple of new babies too. Some of the tomatoes had gotten cracks. Google says that happened because of sudden influx of water after going without. I’m not sure how I messed that up because I’ve tried to be consistent with my watering. The stalk on the tuberose is just getting taller and taller, but none of the buds have opened yet. It’s very interesting to watch how it’s growing, and I’m still anxious to smell the flowers. Here’s a picture I took a few days ago. Now I’m wondering if the others will even have time to bloom before it gets too cold.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 23, 2022 16:43:24 GMT -5
The mistreated tomato plant that the squirrels stripped has about 5 new tomato babies. The plant that Mister said got rabies from the squirrels has a couple of new babies too. Some of the tomatoes had gotten cracks. Google says that happened because of sudden influx of water after going without. I’m not sure how I messed that up because I’ve tried to be consistent with my watering. The stalk on the tuberose is just getting taller and taller, but none of the buds have opened yet. It’s very interesting to watch how it’s growing, and I’m still anxious to smell the flowers. Here’s a picture I took a few days ago. Now I’m wondering if the others will even have time to bloom before it gets too cold. We have three plus months of hot to warm to nice growing weather to come.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 21, 2024 12:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2022 17:10:44 GMT -5
The mistreated tomato plant that the squirrels stripped has about 5 new tomato babies. The plant that Mister said got rabies from the squirrels has a couple of new babies too. Some of the tomatoes had gotten cracks. Google says that happened because of sudden influx of water after going without. I’m not sure how I messed that up because I’ve tried to be consistent with my watering. The stalk on the tuberose is just getting taller and taller, but none of the buds have opened yet. It’s very interesting to watch how it’s growing, and I’m still anxious to smell the flowers. Here’s a picture I took a few days ago. Now I’m wondering if the others will even have time to bloom before it gets too cold. We have three plus months of hot to warm to nice growing weather to come. I know, but all the others are so small, tiny even, compared to the one with the stalk growing. They need to hurry up! I think I recall that you discovered them at a wedding at the Botanic Gardens, or something like that? Does that mean you know what they smell like? If not, if the scent lives up to the hype on the Internet, I feel like I’ll HAVE to at least offer you a cutting of the flowers so you can smell them yourself. The Internet says the cut flowers can last a while indoors, and can perfume a large space indoors.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 23, 2022 17:37:34 GMT -5
We have three plus months of hot to warm to nice growing weather to come. I know, but all the others are so small, tiny even, compared to the one with the stalk growing. They need to hurry up! I think I recall that you discovered them at a wedding at the Botanic Gardens, or something like that? Does that mean you know what they smell like? If not, if the scent lives up to the hype on the Internet, I feel like I’ll HAVE to at least offer you a cutting of the flowers so you can smell them yourself. The Internet says the cut flowers can last a while indoors, and can perfume a large space indoors. The wedding was in September and the tuberose was just then in bloom. I know of tuberose and it's wonderful scent from the wedding venue. Save your blooming stalks for you. My tuberose are like your other ones. Give them time.
|
|
cooper88
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jan 21, 2022 19:24:20 GMT -5
Posts: 1,264
|
Post by cooper88 on Jul 24, 2022 10:28:47 GMT -5
I'm really just hoping my little oak tree I planted will make it through the summer. It got hot early, stayed windy for months, and there's been no real rain to speak of. I did weed out all around it last night and the mulch has really broken down, so I guess I have good soil life there! A lot of the leaves are crispy around the edges, though.
|
|
weltschmerz
Community Leader
Joined: Jul 25, 2011 13:37:39 GMT -5
Posts: 38,962
|
Post by weltschmerz on Jul 24, 2022 12:44:21 GMT -5
I think I recall that you discovered them at a wedding at the Botanic Gardens, or something like that? Does that mean you know what they smell like?
I know what they smell like. Heavenly. Known to be very fragrant, white flowers are renowned for their olfactory power. Tuberose is said to be the most fragrant plant in the plant world. And for good reason because its opulent scent continues to exhale even 48 hours after picking. And this smell is like that of other white flowers such as orange blossom or ylang-ylang, with a creamier and even “deeper” aspect. This already powerful perfume has the particularity to become even more intense once the night falls. Moreover, in Italy during the Renaissance, young girls were forbidden to walk in the gardens at night, at the risk of succumbing to this narcotic fragrance which would have given them some ideas that would not have been very chaste! www.carrementbelle.com/blog/en/2021/07/06/tuberose-perfume/It's in the cactus family.
|
|
weltschmerz
Community Leader
Joined: Jul 25, 2011 13:37:39 GMT -5
Posts: 38,962
|
Post by weltschmerz on Jul 24, 2022 12:47:52 GMT -5
To make 200 grams of tuberose extract, you need almost 3 tons of flowers. That's why it's so expensive.
|
|
formerroomate99
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 12, 2011 13:33:12 GMT -5
Posts: 7,381
|
Post by formerroomate99 on Jul 25, 2022 18:25:38 GMT -5
Something wrecked my radishes. I got four tiny barely there radishes out of it. I'm not doing this next year if the weather remains weird and the damn bugs. It's not worth it. I don't see how anyone could feed their family completely from a backyard farm. Self sustainable farming just isn't feasible in an urban setting. Not thatbI was going for that but it highlights the toxic positivity around our food supply. It looks like I'll at least get tomatoes and cucumbers. IDK what the sweet potatoes are doing underground but the leaves are green. Maybe string beans and carrots if the damn rabbits stay out Japanese beetles are wrecking my roses. DH and I pull them every time we see one. The plant itself seems healthy. I'm going to try to plant stuff that reveals beetles around it next year. If you eat a lot of salad, those hydroponic systems work really well. I’ve got one that takes up to square feet of space and can grow 30 heads of lettuce in 4-6 weeks. I haven’t had as much success with fruiting plants though. And I wouldn’t even try the root vegetables.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 21, 2024 12:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2022 18:14:37 GMT -5
I apologize for posting so many pictures of this, but I really am fascinated by it. I’d read enough to understand that it would be “tall”, but now that I see how it’s growing, I realize that it still has a way to go as far as height. Wow! 2 of the flowers are starting to open, I’m excited! My little lemon tree, next to the wall, looks nothing like the pitiful looking plant I brought back outside this spring. I need to move it, but I need Mister’s help.
|
|
Knee Deep in Water Chloe
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 21:04:44 GMT -5
Posts: 13,875
Mini-Profile Name Color: 1980e6
|
Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Jul 30, 2022 13:32:55 GMT -5
I bought this zebrina at the farmers market today! It was $25. I’m so excited! DH also bought me two different hydrangeas because I kept (like daily for a month) whining that our new house doesn’t have any and I left three behind at the old house. I’ll have to get pictures of those later because now I’m in the car.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 21, 2024 12:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2022 16:40:09 GMT -5
The tuberose flowers that are starting to open, have a slight scent that I can just barely smell close up. I like what I can smell, and I’m really looking forward to being able to smell them without sticking my nose in the flowers lol. I had Mister sniff them yesterday, and he liked the faint scent too. I’m wishing now that they were hardy where I live, so I could plant them in the ground and leave them. They don’t seem to be a really common flower, and I’ve always liked to have stuff that is “different”. Plus, it would be nice to have something that looks so interesting and pretty, that isn’t common and smells wonderful, somewhere along the walkway to my front door, for guests to enjoy as they approach the front door. It’s doable, but I would have to dig the bulbs up every fall and store them over the winter. I’m not sure I want to do all of that, but there’s always the chance that I’ll really want what I described and be willing to do all that extra at some point. I had got a little excited about my tomato plants again recently, when I saw new tomato babies growing. There were 7 or 8. Now there are 2. They were barely the size of golf balls, if that big, and they got eaten anyway. Now I’m back to feeling like Mister can just throw all the tomato plants away. My coworker that ate the mutant tomato bought me a bag of cucumbers today from his garden. He said he’s drowning in cucumbers right now lol. I told Mister, I am liking how this gardening thing seems to work, I share what I grow with other gardeners, and they share with me what they grow. I like the idea of being a part of something like that. I even liked the idea of sharing what I grow with people just because it was something they like to eat. It made me happy to give tomatoes to people that really like them. And now I no longer have anything to share with anybody. Anyway, I’ve been meaning to say that I am very pleasantly surprised that the crazy looking rosemary I stuck in the ground a couple months ago, has come back to life and is thriving now. Idk if it will survive winter, but I gave it the best possible chance I could, by planting it next to a brick wall. It has survived winter in a pot on the deck, but just barely. Hopefully it will do better this winter, in its new home.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 30, 2022 16:48:52 GMT -5
@pinkcshmere - a thought came to me a couple hours ago about the height of your tuberose stem. You might want to 'stake' it so it doesn't blow over and break during windy conditions. Fine to leave un-staked once to flowering is over.
Find a thin, straight-ish stick you can stick into the soil next to the flower stalk and then use a couple of bread 'ties' to connect the flower stem to the stick. The stick should help support it during windy weather.
|
|
ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -5
Posts: 14,117
Location: Maryland
|
Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 30, 2022 16:48:59 GMT -5
I think you are in zone 7 so you'll have to dig them up and store them.
|
|
ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -5
Posts: 14,117
Location: Maryland
|
Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 30, 2022 16:52:16 GMT -5
If you only get light freezes you can heavily mulch the bed with straw or other material and hope for the best.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 30, 2022 17:11:27 GMT -5
Here's another perennial which grows in zones 3-9: Maximillian Perennial Sunflower. I bought some bare-root cuttings and planted them this spring in a troublesome flower bed where I had a tree cut down last summer. The cut down tree's roots kept on sending up new shoots all winter and this spring making it difficult to grow anything in the flower bed. The roots finally stopped their crap and are no longer a problem but I was still unable to plant anything in the bed. But I have always been interested in Maximillian perennial sunflowers. I would occasionally see them growing in ditches along the highway when I would drive up to Jonesboro, AR. So I bought some this spring and planted them in the troublesome garden bed. They took and grew. Another plant which needs to be staked as they can grow up to ten feet tall and they do need to be staked or against something they can lean on due to their height. Not single flowering but flowers all over the place. The need all day sun and will tolerate poor soil. They will bloom from late spring until first frost. Here's a picture of what they might look like in someone's sunny property and a description of the plant. Not plugging from where I bought them but I did buy them from Michigan Bulb Company (though they are not bulbs). Description from Michigan Bulb Company: Maximilian perennial sunflowers are outstanding in borders, as cut flowers, in meadows and wild flower gardens. Butterflies will love these large yellow flowers that bloom all summer, withstanding poor soils and intense summer heat. Named after the naturalist Prince Maximilian of Germany, these perennial sunflowers are one of the most popular varieties and can grow up to 10 feet in height! Expect the flower heads to be between 2 to 3 inches across, with an abundance of bright, yellow-gold daisy-like blooms. Add these beautiful, maximillian perennial sunflowers to your garden for a pop of color and pollination habitats for all your garden bees! Zone 3-9 Height 36 - 120 inches Bloom Time Mid summer to frost. Light Requirements Full Sun Ship As NO. 1 BAREROOT
|
|
CCL
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 4, 2011 19:34:47 GMT -5
Posts: 7,607
|
Post by CCL on Jul 30, 2022 17:39:04 GMT -5
Grandbabies wanted to toss pumpkin seeds in my flowerbed a while back, so I let them. The hosta jungle has been overtaken by pumpkin vines lol. They've even spotted a pumpkin out there. They think it's great fun seeing their pumpkin as the walk up the sidewalk. I hope I can keep the squash bugs away.
|
|
Knee Deep in Water Chloe
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 21:04:44 GMT -5
Posts: 13,875
Mini-Profile Name Color: 1980e6
|
Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Jul 30, 2022 18:34:51 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 21, 2024 12:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2022 18:47:11 GMT -5
@pinkcshmere - a thought came to me a couple hours ago about the height of your tuberose stem. You might want to 'stake' it so it doesn't blow over and break during windy conditions. Fine to leave un-staked once to flowering is over. Find a thin, straight-ish stick you can stick into the soil next to the flower stalk and then use a couple of bread 'ties' to connect the flower stem to the stick. The stick should help support it during windy weather. It’s kind of in a sheltered spot on the deck, but I will stake it if I need to. Thanks!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 21, 2024 12:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2022 18:52:29 GMT -5
I bought this zebrina at the farmers market today! It was $25. I’m so excited! DH also bought me two different hydrangeas because I kept (like daily for a month) whining that our new house doesn’t have any and I left three behind at the old house. I’ll have to get pictures of those later because now I’m in the car. That's gorgeous! I have a variety of it planted in the ground on my north-facing wall, with the leaves covered in white fur, that survived 13 degrees in February 21. It dies off in the winter but comes back in the spring. You got a great price on that basket
|
|
cooper88
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jan 21, 2022 19:24:20 GMT -5
Posts: 1,264
|
Post by cooper88 on Jul 31, 2022 8:59:02 GMT -5
Tennesseer I have those sunflowers too. Whatever you do, after they are established, do not water them! They get too tall and flop over. They are beautiful and easy to maintain, and they bloom later than almost anything else in my garden.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 31, 2022 10:12:07 GMT -5
Tennesseer I have those sunflowers too. Whatever you do, after they are established, do not water them! They get too tall and flop over. They are beautiful and easy to maintain, and they bloom later than almost anything else in my garden. Having never grown them before, do you cut back the stems after frost/winter and new growth comes up in the spring? Or do you just let them be.
|
|
ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -5
Posts: 14,117
Location: Maryland
|
Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 31, 2022 11:05:18 GMT -5
I love the idea of a perennial sunflower that produces like that. Now should I buy a bare root plant and put it in in September or buy seeds for next Spring?
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 31, 2022 11:32:01 GMT -5
I love the idea of a perennial sunflower that produces like that. Now should I buy a bare root plant and put it in in September or buy seeds for next Spring? Ken-I found this: SEED GERMINATION INFO Indoors: Cold, moist stratification. Start at least 5 weeks before outdoor night temperatures are reliably in the 10 C (50 F) range. Mix the seed with a slightly moistened, sterile, soil-less growing mix. Put this in a labelled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator for one day. The next day place this in the freezer for one day. Repeat this for one week, alternating between the fridge and the freezer. After stratifying, plant seed 0.32 cm (1/8 inch) deep in pots. Keep moist but not soggy and very warm (21 C - 70 F). When seedlings are 5 cm (2 inches) tall or more, transplant into the garden spaced 30 cm (1 foot) apart. Outdoors: Plant seed 0.32 cm (1/8 inch) deep in a prepared seed bed in late fall so that the seed overwinters and germinates naturally in spring. Outdoors Alternative: In late fall through to mid-winter fill plastic pots with a slightly moistened, sterile, soil-less growing mix. Plant seed 0.32 cm (1/8 inch) deep in pots and label the pots. Place them outdoors in an area where they will experience the snow and cold of winter. The seed will germinate in the pots in spring as the weather warms up. Be sure to water the pots regularly in spring and once the plants are 5 cm (2 inches) tall, transplant them into your garden. Wild Flower Farm
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,627
|
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 31, 2022 11:35:53 GMT -5
Ken-regarding bare root: this site ships in early Fall and bare root can be planted them. Spring Hill Nursery
|
|
ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -5
Posts: 14,117
Location: Maryland
|
Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 31, 2022 11:39:15 GMT -5
Thanks Tennesseer . I'm fairly knowledgeable on seed germination but had horrible success this year. Part was starting outside too early when we had unusual high temps then back to the 30's in April. Next may have been due to me not watering during a dry period. But mostly due to squirrels digging up everything. Adding: I saw that site and others that said they ship bare root in September. Not sure my planting site would be ready then. I have many Sunflowers and Zinnias there now and would like to prepare the soil better for a perennial.
|
|
happyhoix
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Oct 7, 2011 7:22:42 GMT -5
Posts: 20,943
Member is Online
|
Post by happyhoix on Jul 31, 2022 17:58:37 GMT -5
Had an orgy of tomatoes but that’s slowing down. A week of rain has caused a wave of weeds to flood the raised bed area - need to vinegar the pathway to beat those back. Got three cantelopes so far, first one was nice and sweet (it’s the ambrosia variety).
If it would cool down enough I need to dig up my other two potato pots. First one was only meh. I haven’t figured out the secrete to happy potatoes.
|
|
ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -5
Posts: 14,117
Location: Maryland
|
Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 31, 2022 18:02:22 GMT -5
I'm starting to get Cherry tomatoes but the regular tomatoes are being eaten by the squirrels.
|
|