Ace of Spades HQ

April 12, 2014

Saturday Gardening Thread [Y-not and WeirdDave]
— Open Blogger

Welcome, gardening morons and moronettes! Today's thread is brought to you by unclear on the Concept:

Your co-host, WeirdDave, has returned from his tropical vacay with the lovely Gingy. I'm sure we're all very eager to find out what he has in store for us this week. Take it away, WeirdDave!
So, last year my garden was all:

But that didn't work out so well, so this year I went totally:

Which is better, but I needed one of these:

to come give me some of this:

to fill up the new beds. Only problem is that there's a muddy, slippery one of these:

Between the dirt at the bottom and the garden at the top. All I have is one of these:

And one of these:

To get the job done, so lots of work for me this weekend. When I'm done, however, I'll have a place to put these:

which are all tomatoes. Why did I plant so many?

Also, today is my birthday, so I'm including a video.

Weirddave out. PEACE! (Note to self: stop watching Phineas and Ferb)

And now, from Casa Y-not where now both Y-not and her handsome husband have been battling colds, a potpourri of gardening-related items. First off, in honor of WeirdDave's picture-heavy contribution -- as well as the theme of "Mystery" -- here's a picture of some seeds that have sprouted:

Recall, I stuck these directly into my raised beds a couple of weeks ago, just prior to being called out of town. So they were not watered, but they WERE snowed upon (twice!). I have no idea what these are because Little Debbie decided to remove the stake labels. They're either radishes or beets, I think.

Now, onto the rest of the content.

In honor of the Masters tournament this weekend, here's a hole by hole guide of Augusta National. In case you didn't know, the holes at Augusta National are named for plants.

This is a nice companion piece to that tour -- it's a map of Augusta National's biggest landmarks.

If you'd like to turn YOUR yard into a mini Augusta, you might want to check out this website. I'll take one of those magnolias, please!

In case you missed it, earlier this year one of the more iconic features of the course, the famous Eisenhower Tree, was severely damaged in a storm and had to be removed. (The tree was so-named because Eisenhower, who was a club member, had so much difficulty making shots around it that he kept lobbying to have it cut down.)

Speaking of Ike, did you know the Obamas were not the first First Family to have a garden? No, no, it's true! I'm as shocked as you are, but apparently other occupants of the White House also had gardens. I'm stunned.

This will probably also come as a surprise to you, but even those knuckle-draggers down in Texas dabble in gardens. One is even named after a former first lady!

The world never ceases to amaze me. I thought gardening began in 2008 with our current FLOTUS! I guess it's really true, "history travels not only forwards, but backwards and sideways."

This week's Blog of the Week is Mr. Brown Thumb. Just because.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:32 AM | Comments (103)
Post contains 549 words, total size 5 kb.

1 First, and STOMP!

Posted by: shredded chi at April 12, 2014 07:32 AM (5EV+l)

2 Dig in, gardeners! (See what I did there?)

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 07:33 AM (zDsvJ)

3 Lower thread to get your political hate on...

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 07:34 AM (zDsvJ)

4 I have been busy watering my new Jane Magnolia and watching it bloom. Soon I will have to start mowing again.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at April 12, 2014 07:35 AM (T2V/1)

5 Buy a shovel from a thrift store, asumming you really only have a spade. The right tool for the job.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 12, 2014 07:36 AM (u82oZ)

6 BTW Y-Not I have a cart that also combines as a wheelbarrow. Just the thing for pulling behind the lawn tractor and hauling stuff.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at April 12, 2014 07:36 AM (T2V/1)

7 And happy birthday

Posted by: Vic[/i] at April 12, 2014 07:37 AM (T2V/1)

8 Yes, happy birthday to WeirdDave!

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 07:38 AM (zDsvJ)

9 Yeah, I guess it wasn't a stomp was it? More of a "non-gardening" thread. That looks like a gardenia at the bottom - is it in the same family as Magnolia?

Posted by: shredded chi at April 12, 2014 07:38 AM (5EV+l)

10 That looks like a gardenia at the bottom - is it in the same family as Magnolia?

Posted by: shredded chi at April 12, 2014 11:38 AM (5EV+l)

Nope that really is a magnolia.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at April 12, 2014 07:40 AM (T2V/1)

11 It's this one: http://www.waysidegardens.com/brackens-brown-beauty-magnolia/p/49252/

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 07:41 AM (zDsvJ)

12 I really do love magnolias, but I'm pretty sure they won't grow here. We had a wonderful old magnolia in the house I grew up in (as a small kid, up to age

. Loved the smell of the flowers and really great for climbing.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 07:42 AM (zDsvJ)

13 Now that the snow is finally gone, we've been able to survey the damage caused by the brutal winter. Sadly, we've lost the tree planted when my middle grandson turned one year old. Each grandchild gets a tree equal to their height when they turn one so that we can watch them grow together. Now we have to replace Middle Guy. It won't be the same but I guess it'll have to do.

Posted by: grammie winger at April 12, 2014 07:43 AM (oMKp3)

14 Sadly no garden for us this year as we are packing up the Nighthawk Nest and moving west- about 25 miles west. OK so it's not the Oregon Trail but still...

Posted by: Nighthawk at April 12, 2014 07:45 AM (hkjaf)

15 Sadly, we've lost the tree planted when my middle grandson turned one year old. Each grandchild gets a tree equal to their height when they turn one so that we can watch them grow together. -- Oh, what a wonderful tradition. Somewhere in New Hampshire there's a sugar maple that my Great Uncle John (who was a sea captain in the merchant marines -- awesome uncle) tagged for me. I wonder how big it is now.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 07:45 AM (zDsvJ)

16 What I meant was, are gardenias and magnolia "related" ?

Posted by: shredded chi at April 12, 2014 07:45 AM (5EV+l)

17 Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 11:45 AM (zDsvJ) We planted spruce trees that were the size of a Dixie cup when our own two kids were little bitty. When we sold that home 15 years later, those two trees were well over twenty feet tall.

Posted by: grammie winger at April 12, 2014 07:51 AM (oMKp3)

18 All that I am planting this year is Supersweet 100's. I figure I will be able to supply the entire neighborhood using 12 plants. The problem is putting up a trellis to support them. And here I sit....

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 07:52 AM (aDwsi)

19 Why did you plant so many tomatoes, WeirdDave? Possibility: Because there were 72 cells in the tray? Next time, try cutting cells into units of 4, 6, or 9 and making a mini-greenhouse from a clear-topped barbecued chicken container for each cultivar. Remove the ventilated top after seeds sprout. Easy to adjust the height under artificial lights to 1 or 2 inches even if cultivars have different rates of growth. Another possibility: Tomato Obsession: http://www.tomatoville.com/index.php

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 07:54 AM (qahv/)

20 We planted spruce trees that were the size of a Dixie cup when our own two kids were little bitty. When we sold that home 15 years later, those two trees were well over twenty feet tall. Posted by: grammie ------------------------------------ I planted and nursed 15 Hemlocks for almost 20 years along the curve in front of our house. Someone ( 1 person, in 20 yeras) complained that they made visibility difficult when they were walking in the street. City ordered me to cut them all down.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 07:55 AM (aDwsi)

21 Happy birthday Weidrdave!

Posted by: RWC at April 12, 2014 07:55 AM (QeH9j)

22 Ordered several hundred dollars worth of fruit trees, berry bushes and perennials. Now we have to finish removing one live oak from the front yard to have room for a crabapple tree (the type with *usable* fruit) and breaking down all the branches in the back yard so there's room to put everything else. When we're done most of the landscaping will be edible and the HOA can't even complain because I'm using 'normal' landscaping plants.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 12, 2014 07:58 AM (GDulk)

23 Weirddave - It has come to my attention that your wife seems to be spending an inordinate amount of time researching typhus. I feel compelled to alert you to that fact, in the event that you should begin to experience some mysterious illness. One never knows with gingys. Be alert...

Posted by: Bob at NSA at April 12, 2014 08:00 AM (aDwsi)

24 I planted 20+ tomatoes my first year of "garden wars" with my neighbors thinking half would die. Tomatoes up the yin Yang. Stewed. Dried. Roasted. stuffed. And thrown. Good times.

Posted by: Guido at April 12, 2014 08:01 AM (GYg/s)

25 Am I the only one who feels a little heartbreak when weeding out the weak sisters among the sprouted tomatoes?

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:02 AM (aDwsi)

26 WeirdDave - Why all the extra lumber in there this year?

Does that chicken wire keep out squirrels? They at a lot of my already spare crop last year.

I'm building a new raised bed this year. My old garden is in constant shade now due to the growth of neighbor's trees over the years. I tried big containers the last few years, but did not get good results.

I've decided to do two things differently for my tomatoes..

First, I will use the "florida weave" method for trellising:

http://tinyurl.com/l5sj2yg

Second, I am going to use the PVC pipe method for watering/feeding:

http://tinyurl.com/lxuemod

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 12, 2014 08:03 AM (b/lt+)

27 Way to stick it to the man, Polliwog! Did you get any satsuma trees?

Posted by: no good deed at April 12, 2014 08:03 AM (ILBCY)

28 Nature. It's a bitch. Strong live weak get weeded.

Posted by: Guido at April 12, 2014 08:05 AM (GYg/s)

29 First, I will use the "florida weave" method for trellising: http://tinyurl.com/l5sj2yg --------- Heh. The pug looks grumpy

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:05 AM (aDwsi)

30 Used to have a cozy patio container garden, mostly shade & ornamental (is that racist?) with hot peppers and hibiscus for a parrot. After he got that incurable adenovirus I just kinda stopped watering and it all died too. Only "Garden" these days is the flowerpot he is buried in where even the first cactus died too. Ray of sunshine this morning or what?

Posted by: OK, thanks, bye at April 12, 2014 08:05 AM (uopHF)

31 Looks like gardenias and magnolias are not from the same genus: http://www.neworleansbar.org/uploads/files/GardeniasMagnoliasOleanders.9-15.pdf

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:05 AM (zDsvJ)

32 Sub-zero temperatures appear to killed our only gardenia. Should have covered it, but it has weathered winters for 10 years or so, so I didn't think about it. I'll leave it alone, and see if perhaps it comes back.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:07 AM (aDwsi)

33 My mom was a talented amateur painter. At her uncle's home she wanted a magnolia bloom to use to study for a painting. Native magnolias surrounded the house but the blooms were too high to reach. So my great uncle went in the house and came out with a rifle. He shot two blooms down out of the trees standing on the front porch. This is one of my favorite childhood memories.

Posted by: Lester at April 12, 2014 08:09 AM (2UPXV)

34 Posted by: no good deed at April 12, 2014 12:03 PM (ILBCY) Not yet, but those are on the list. Trying to figure out exactly which citrus to get. Our yard is only .16 acres so there isn't going to be much grass left.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 12, 2014 08:10 AM (GDulk)

35 Might be able to figure out how related they are by poking around at the Tree of Life website. http://tolweb.org/Angiosperms/20646

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:12 AM (zDsvJ)

36 Posted by: Lester at April 12, 2014 12:09 PM (2UPXV) Wow, very cool. I wonder how many people can make a shot like that.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 12, 2014 08:13 AM (GDulk)

37 He shot two blooms down out of the trees standing on the front porch. This is one of my favorite childhood memories. Posted by: Lester ---------------------------- That was the standard method for collecting mistletoe when I was a kid. It was a Christmas tradition to go collect the stuff. We would make note of good examples while squirrel hunting during the Fall, then go in the woods in early/mid December to collect the stuff.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:14 AM (aDwsi)

38 37?
Mike?
Thanks for reviving old memories- I had forgotten about shooting the mistletoe...

Posted by: backhoe at April 12, 2014 08:16 AM (ULH4o)

39 Our yard is only .16 acres so there isn't going to be much grass left. Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 12, 2014 12:10 PM (GDulk) Realized that sounded like a non-sequiter (maybe *that's* where Middlest Kidlet get it) But my thought process was that I'm down to the last few spaces for trees and will have to choose carefully.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 12, 2014 08:16 AM (GDulk)

40 I should do a thread on plant phylogeny/relatedness some time. Evolutionary biology and genetics are not my specialty, though, so I'd have to do some reading first.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:16 AM (zDsvJ)

41 We had some seed delivered about a month ago. The box of seeds has gone missing. Wife thinks I'm responsible. Fight #693 for the year.

Going fishing. Fk this.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:21 AM (x3YFz)

42 Mike? Thanks for reviving old memories- I had forgotten about shooting the mistletoe... Posted by: backhoe ---------------- When I have the occasion (rare now) to drive down I-16 from Macon to Savannah, I note the trees with large mistletoe growths, and *long* to be in the woods there at Christmas time.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:21 AM (aDwsi)

43 5 Buy a shovel from a thrift store, asumming you really only have a spade. That's RAAAAACIST!

Posted by: Insomniac at April 12, 2014 08:21 AM (mx5oN)

44 Wife thinks I'm responsible. ---------------- A familiar scenario in the Hammer household.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:22 AM (aDwsi)

45 Yeah my great uncle was a very cool guy. Math teacher, surveyor, hunter, fisherman, and the best horseman I have ever known. He knew more dirty jokes than anyone else. He took us camping and made us roll in the dirt before we left for the woods. He refused to live in "town".

Posted by: Lester at April 12, 2014 08:22 AM (2UPXV)

46 You want a shovel You'll settle for a spade You get tagged a racist.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:23 AM (aDwsi)

47 >>41 We had some seed delivered about a month ago. The box of seeds has gone missing. Wife thinks I'm responsible. Sounds like she thinks you're IRresponsible, tangonine! :-)

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:23 AM (zDsvJ)

48 T9 - Tell her to 'calm down'

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:24 AM (aDwsi)

49 T9 - Tell her to 'calm down'

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 12:24 PM (aDwsi)

Not wearing body armor today, so please forgive me for not taking that advice.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:26 AM (x3YFz)

50 Out here in the Central Valley of California, I have planted out 28 tomatoes and am potting up an additional 50 or so plants in quart-sized styrofoam food service containers or larger yogurt cartons (drainage added). Until I can finish preparing spots for them or giving them away. So, you're not alone, WeirdDave.

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 08:27 AM (qahv/)

51 I could ask her if it's that time of the month, but I just can't run like I used to.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:27 AM (x3YFz)

52 Where do you live, tango? I want to make sure to scan the obituaries.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:28 AM (zDsvJ)

53 Where do you live, tango? I want to make sure to scan the obituaries.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 12:28 PM (zDsvJ)

Currently? Hell. Left corner.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:29 AM (x3YFz)

54 'calm down' - Micro-aggression, or, Trigger?

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 12, 2014 08:30 AM (aDwsi)

55 I have no intention of infecting Dave with Typhus. We are at a birthday party most of the day, aside from the interlude in which he will build me an M-4. I think we're all aware of how Dave will expire.

Posted by: Weirddave's lovely wife at April 12, 2014 08:33 AM (4mUjT)

56 We did get a bunch of goodies planted in the greenhouse.

strawberries, beans, herbs. I'll get some pics and post them this week.

It's so dry here we have to have 300 gallons of water to keep the humidity up in the greenhouse.

But. LIFE!
love growing stuff. It's very very cool.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:33 AM (x3YFz)

57 It would be so cool to have a greenhouse. I don't think it's in the cards here at Casa Y-not any time soon.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:35 AM (zDsvJ)

58 It would be so cool to have a greenhouse.

I don't think it's in the cards here at Casa Y-not any time soon.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 12:35 PM (zDsvJ)

It aint huge. Here's the pic: http://greyttimes.com/?p=809

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:36 AM (x3YFz)

59 Why did you plant so many tomatoes, WeirdDave? Possibility: Because there were 72 cells in the tray? Actually, it because that's how many seeds I had. I seeded two of the heirloom tomatoes that I like last year and that's what I planted. I give the extra plants away after they're hardened. WeirdDave - Why all the extra lumber in there this year? The old garden had lousy soil, so I broke it up into 3 4X8 raised beads. The lumber is the walls of the raised beds.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 12, 2014 08:39 AM (4mUjT)

60 Neat, tango. How tall is it? Can you stand up in it?

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 08:40 AM (zDsvJ)

61 We're having to put off some things until the fall, but:

Strawberries
Carrots
Cucumbers
various herbs
various beans
various melons
tomatoes
3 kinds of peppers

Most should be ready by june. We have loaded Outlook with timers on when stuff is due. We're nerds like that.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:41 AM (x3YFz)

62 Neat, tango.

How tall is it? Can you stand up in it?

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 12:40 PM (zDsvJ)

Oh yeah... it's about 10 feet tall. Lots of room. You can gauge it from the garage door.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 08:43 AM (x3YFz)

63 Happy Birthday, Weirddave. May your liver remain ever pliable. Not like mine.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b][/u] at April 12, 2014 08:54 AM (0HooB)

64 Many Happy Returns Weirddave!

We still have chunks of snow melting in the yard so no gardening quite yet, the grass is way too wet to walk on. I may start a few seeds though. I know it gets made fun of, but I love arugula. It's great to start now in the cool weather.

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 12, 2014 09:01 AM (NqhG2)

65 I'm glad everyone is out gardening or doing yard work!

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 12, 2014 09:04 AM (NqhG2)

66 Dug out two flower beds and put in ten bags of chicken manure and ten of potting soil. Mixed it all up, garden raked it and smoothed it out for Bride. Mowed three acres. I think I'm done for the day.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at April 12, 2014 09:05 AM (UFwiA)

67 I think I'm done for the day.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at April 12, 2014 01:05 PM (UFwiA)

hah. Silly bear. If your shieldmaiden is anything like mine, you just got started.

Posted by: tangonine at April 12, 2014 09:07 AM (x3YFz)

68 Everything is growing like crazy. The 3 inches of rain last week might have helped. I planted some flowers. You may place your bets on how long it takes them all to die. All the little potato plants are now over the top of their bags. I have two more bags on order because I found some blue/purple ones at Lowes and couldn't resist! Husband and son planted cucumbers and other stuff this morning.

Posted by: Mama AJ at April 12, 2014 09:07 AM (SUKHu)

69 That's plenty for one day Mr.Dave! You deserve an adult beverage for your efforts.

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 12, 2014 09:07 AM (NqhG2)

70 First time on the garden thread . Thanks Ynot and Weird Dave . My lovely bride does the spring vegetable garden since I became a turkey hunting addict . I did build the permanent beds she grows in , though . Four of 'em , 4' wide and 48' long . When the season is over I help with the weeding and harvesting . She has radish, potatoes , pinto beans , tomato , banana peppers, crowder peas , spinach , garlic , various herbs , asparagus , and squash going . Strawberries are looking good too . Turkey season also gives me the opportunity to bring my wife some wild magnolia and swamp azalea blooms that I run across when hunting . The azalea has a delicate scent and the wild magnolia has an intense one .Occasionally I also find these really cool bright purple wild iris blooms . Life here on the swamps edge can be harsh sometimes but it can be pretty sweet as well . That yin yang thing with a lowcountry flavor . I've been in maybe forty states and several foreign countries but this swamp is where I'm gonna be buried , god willing . It's where I belong . I hope every moron and ette can find their sense of place .

Posted by: awkward davies at April 12, 2014 09:08 AM (whqez)

71 I didn't mention Bride is out all day getting a massage, having lunch with friends and running errands. She has me on auto pilot though. Tito's vodka and Sunny Delight looks refreshing. I'm gone tonight playing music so it all evens up.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at April 12, 2014 09:11 AM (UFwiA)

72 Welcome aboard, awkward davies!

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 09:11 AM (zDsvJ)

73 >>Now that the snow is finally gone, we've been able to survey the damage caused by the brutal winter. I was wondering if we should start collecting news stories about the effects of the bad winter. I found a couple this week, but they were more "wondering about how bad things would seem in the spring" like this one: http://tinyurl.com/kqa87sp All the predictions about global warming and what we really have... There's a lime shortage, but it seems to be because of weather (cold and drought) and cartels.

Posted by: Mama AJ at April 12, 2014 09:14 AM (SUKHu)

74 Ynot I'm glad you and the Mr. are on the mend from your nasty colds. Thanks for putting this thread together! You too Weirddave!

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 12, 2014 09:15 AM (NqhG2)

75 Thanks, SnowyBits. Looks like I got the two-week version and he got the one-week version, so we're on track to be "better" by Monday! Great timing. /sarc

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 09:21 AM (zDsvJ)

76 So Bundy won growing cows. Sort of. Need more cow seeds. drudge (sorry to go ot, no political thread/open thread)

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 12, 2014 09:23 AM (IXrOn)

77 oh, nm! Sorry, I see the open thread below. bye!

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 12, 2014 09:24 AM (IXrOn)

78 Snowing in Montana. I'm gonna work in the garage. Also, sprouting trays and grow lamps... for veggies, not MJ McGyver, out

Posted by: McGyver at April 12, 2014 09:30 AM (b6C60)

79 >>(sorry to go ot, no political thread/open thread) It's the one below.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 09:33 AM (zDsvJ)

80 Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy your glaucoma medicine in Colorado?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 12, 2014 09:38 AM (bitz6)

81 What happened to the Beer Thread?!

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 09:45 AM (zDsvJ)

82 For some reason DiT's animal thread didn't show up when I refreshed. I don't want to stomp him (he's bigger than I am, and really mean).

Beer will go up in about 45 minutes.

Posted by: William T. Sherman at April 12, 2014 09:46 AM (QFxY5)

83 What kind of name Tecumseh?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 12, 2014 09:48 AM (bitz6)

84 80 Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy your glaucoma medicine in Colorado? Can get it here, too... but that would really screw up my clearance and hence the whole "provide for the family" thing McGyver, out

Posted by: McGyver at April 12, 2014 09:50 AM (b6C60)

85 Planted my pea plants yesterday. Had to convince hubby that peas like frost.

Posted by: katya the designated driver at April 12, 2014 10:26 AM (4Chvm)

86 Okay, so I ordered a pampas plant. Then I started reading how and where to best plant and all the sites I checked warned about avoiding cold climates unless you want to bring them in for Winter (which I don't). I live in North Iowa. But I swear I have seen a dozens of pampas plants in this county. Is it possible there is a similar plant I've confused it with?

Posted by: katya the designated driver at April 12, 2014 10:29 AM (4Chvm)

87 WeirdDave: I have a friend who plants all the seeds he has, too. I usually try to save a few back, particularly of good heirlooms. Actually, I planted A LOT of different cultivars this year, some from seeds almost 15 years old. Which heirlooms are you going with? Dr. Lyle was my best last year. I know someone who grew it in Utah. High hopes for Neves Azorean Red and some others this year. My seed for NAR came from Utah.

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 10:33 AM (qahv/)

88 It's beautiful here today! Sunny and high 60s--deceptively mild during the day, but still 30s & 40s at night. Tomatoes get moved in at night, at least until the "greenhouse" is assembled. We bought one of those cheapo-tinkertoy hothouses for half-price at the end of last season, along with one replacement cover (also halfprice!) spent about $70 total, I think. Anyway, it's kinda flimsy, so didn't want to put it up too early lest the wild windy weather destroy it....There's one a lot like it at amazon: http://preview.tinyurl.com/l9kzyz5 It'll do until the main garden is ready and the frosts subside. Should've started various peppers, too, but just not enough room in the windowsills! (Will buy little plants, pot them up and keep them in the greenhouse until planting-out is safe.) All I want this year is a good salsa garden and *tasty* tomatoes for burgers salads and sammies.

Posted by: JeanQ at April 12, 2014 10:36 AM (82lr7)

89 Chi-Town Jerry: The drainage pipe method of watering which you linked is also being used by landscapers to help trees grow faster, especially in heavy soil. Sometimes the pipes are filled with light mulch. Gets air, as well as water, to the roots. One guy in Northern California rigs up smaller horizontal aeration pipes under his trees, too. The Mother Earth "indestructible" triangular tomato cage (linked below) could be modified to incorporate a similar watering method by adding more holes to the parts of the PVC pipes below ground. Though Florida Weave or the "Suspension Bridge Support" methods are more practical for a large number of plants in a row. http://tinyurl.com/n8jy7mc

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 10:39 AM (qahv/)

90 Ahhh, just in for some sweet tea and a brief respite from that great big yellow hot thing in the sky and the 80+ degree temps. This year's experiment has Plastic window box liners filled with 3 strawberry plants per hung on the chainlink fence. Look Ma, no weeds! Well, I did stick a sprig of mint in two of the six I hung, we shall see if it spreads as fast in them as it does on the ground.

Posted by: Gmac-Pondering the coming implosion, and hoping its 404care at April 12, 2014 11:05 AM (baiNQ)

91 ║"It would be so cool to have a greenhouse." ║

I don't think it's in the cards here at Casa Y-not any time soon.

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 12:35 PM (zDsvJ)

Experimenting with a format to indicate a quote within a quote there.

Anyway, Harbor Freight has some very inexpensive greenhouses, around $300 for a 6' x 8' and $700 for a 10' x 12', IIRC.

Posted by: CQD at April 12, 2014 11:15 AM (4iOIE)

92 Those are not beet seedlings. They are the cloven-leafed seedlings typical of a cole crop. So, probably radishes (or some other cabbage-family relative).

Posted by: lauraw at April 12, 2014 11:43 AM (yGblt)

93 It's a Klein can.

Posted by: cheshirecat at April 12, 2014 11:54 AM (YUl52)

94 Katya, did you order a Pampas GRASS plant? Some grasses in that family are horribly invasive in certain climates, and tough to get rid of even if not invasive in other climates. Some are tender to cold weather. I would plant it in a container and cut off the feathers before they ripen if I weren't sure which one I had.

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 11:54 AM (qahv/)

95 KT, yes I meant pampas grass. And I know about the invasive nature of it. I was mostly concerned about the cold climate. I'm a lazy gardener and wouldn't have thought about it except that I've seen it growing all over this county and pretty spread out so I'm confident it wasn't in containers. Since I've already received it, I'll give it a go.

Posted by: katya the designated driver at April 12, 2014 12:00 PM (4Chvm)

96 Katya, I mentioned the containers in case you decided you wanted to get rid of it after a season. Pretty, but nasty to work around. Don't put it by a walkway where it could slice people.

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 12:43 PM (qahv/)

97 Which heirlooms are you going with? Dr. Lyle was my best last year. I know someone who grew it in Utah. High hopes for Neves Azorean Red and some others this year. My seed for NAR came from Utah. I dunno. My aunt had a Campari tomato that sprouted, so she planted it and then planted seeds from the first year etc. I'm told these make my tomato plants "heirlooms". Do I get to name them now?

Posted by: Weirddave at April 12, 2014 12:54 PM (4mUjT)

98 It's not an heirloom, unless you are an heirloom, Dave. It's open-pollinated. You can name it after it's been stable for 7 years, though convention would be to call it an open-pollinated version of "Campari" if it is very similar. If there are other tomatoes in the area where you grow them and if you want the plants to be the same every year, "bag" some blossoms before they open (with something as simple as a facial tissue and a twist tie), label and save those tomatoes for seed. Those flowers will self-pollinate if you jiggle them a little when they open. Bees won't have access to bring in pollen from another cultivar. Don't use all your seeds in any one year in case something goes wrong. Favorite hybrids among my Utah relatives, including distant in-laws, are the old, once-lost Moreton Hybrid (soft and lush) and Sungold cherry. Fourth of July for early fruit, though it has tough skin. Carolyn Male, who wrote the book on heirloom tomatoes, suggests Moravsky Div for earliest fruit. It's a commercial open-pollinated tomato from Moravia. Available at Victory Seeds. The name means Wonder of Moravia or something. Similar to Stupice but tastes better, they say. Eastern European tomato names are fun. I'm growing "Bulgarian Triumph" this year. It's a little tomato that doesn't seem too triumphant from the description. Pink Berkeley Tie-dye is another I would recommend for a trial on the Wasatch Front. From Wild Boar Farms. Bred by a guy who raises wild boars.

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 01:39 PM (qahv/)

99 92 Those are not beet seedlings. They are the cloven-leafed seedlings typical of a cole crop. So, probably radishes --- Thanks lauraw!

Posted by: Y-not at April 12, 2014 01:46 PM (zDsvJ)

100 KT - Thanks for the info and the link!

Wow.. it got up to 80 here this afternoon.. got a lot of yard cleanup done.

I also took a chance and planted some seeds for herbs and some radishes in containers. I figure with only a couple weeks until May when these will germinate, I may get lucky.. we'll see!

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 12, 2014 02:58 PM (b/lt+)

101 Wow.. it got up to 80 here this afternoon.. got a lot of yard cleanup done. I also took a chance and planted some seeds for herbs and some radishes in containers... Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry Hey Jerry, I'm west of you in Dixon, it was 81 here today. I took off work early to work in the yard and garden. A glorious day, but others told me it's turning cold and may snow. I'm not looking, I'll just keep on holding onto this great day. T

Posted by: The Farmer at April 12, 2014 04:39 PM (eBupg)

102 Jerry, your radishes should sprout in less than two weeks. You and Y-not could harvest the thinnings as "Micro-greens". They're the new thing. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-48-micro-greens.aspx Herbs, whether or not you're lucky will depend partly on which ones they are.

Posted by: KT at April 12, 2014 04:43 PM (qahv/)

103 Welp, we had a lot of hail and wind last night. It'll be interesting to see if my sprouts survive.

Posted by: Y-not at April 13, 2014 07:30 AM (zDsvJ)

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