Under way in SC

Must. Protect. Seedlings.

Clever!! What a stunning brick patio you have, and that green grass!

Yes,  next year I'll have at least 4 more boxes out there!

OK, my favorite is the one with the lawn chairs....We GET IT! Love your patio!

Thanks all!

Rotated your pictures...can't let my wife see that patio though...

It really is a great setup!  Thanks for the rotate!

Waiting until the 10th to transplant my tomatoes, but yesterday, I got everything else started outside.

Started more peppers, corn, more radishes, more bush beans, more beets, zucchini, squash and cukes (the last 3 I lost when transplanted).  I think it's plenty warm enough now for direct sowing of all of them.

Cannot wait for corn!!!!!  If it shows in July, I'm actually hoping to get a second round!

Good for you, Kathy! You are on your way to Veggieville!

Kathy Gizzi wrote:Started more peppers, corn, more radishes, more bush beans, more beets, zucchini, squash and cukes (the last 3 I lost when transplanted).  I think it's plenty warm enough now for direct sowing of all of them.

Are you saying you are starting these from seeds or transplants? I am asking to see if I still have time to direct sow some seeds for the many of those same veggies.

Kathi, does your yard extend beyond that lovely fence?  Lovely area you have.

Yes, the yard does extend beyond the fence.  It goes to the top of the burm you can see in the background.  However, the area behind the fence is pretty wet; it would take quite a bit of fill to make it level and dry it out a bit.

With regard to direct sowing:  DISCLAIMER:  This is also my first year of SFG, so I am, by no means, any kind of reliable resource.  I've done my homework though-and so far so good.

When I transplanted my seedlings, we got a freezing cold downpour (totally unforecasted) for about 5 hours the following day.  Needless to say, all but ONE of my transplants perished.  Honestly, that guy is barely hanging on, but I refuse to give up on him because he is all I have left of my originals!  Sad, I know!

On March 2nd, I direct sowed my radishes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beets, onions, lettuces and potatoes.  On the 19th, I direct sowed my bush beans and dill.  Last week, I direct sowed (but "resowed") my cukes, zucchini and squash (because they all died during transplant and the ground is warm enough now). Yesterday, I direct sowed my corn, more radishes, peppers, more bush beans, marigolds and more beets.

I was able to harvest my first batch of radishes on March 30th; that's why I planted more. Fell in love with them-and I had never eaten a radish prior!

Here in Myrtle, we are forecast for 2 more cold nights (mid to low 40's) this week.  Other than that, the soil temp in my boxes is around 65 degrees consistently.  In my opinion....and I could be wrong......I think you're fine to direct sow just about anything at this point in Wilmington!

I still have SIX unclaimed boxes......looking for ideas!  They are next to potatoes though, so, I need something that won't get buried!

Anyone with any insight on geckos?  I have them EVERYWHERE.  They don't seem to be bothering my beds.  I'm thinking they are actually probably helpful to my gardens-maybe eating any bugs that don't belong????

I hope they are not harmful.....I'd hate to have to protect against them, as I actually love having them around!

I think lizards are basically good guys. I had one last summer (Western fence lizard).

Geckos, beneficial. And adorable.....

Corn? Carrots? What do you buy in produce? Garlic, basil is expensive....watermelon?

Sadly, once this all comes in, it'll only last about 2 weeks with my crew.  Although, I will prep and vacuum seal every last bite!  I have 2 squares of carrots...I left that off the list!

I get it. But it is better than anything you can buy at the grocery! Squash and pole beans are the gift that keeps on givin' and tomatoes and peps.

I am absolutely addicted to pickled dilly beans.  Have been for years now.  I am really hoping my 4 squares of beans will give me enough to can about 40 jars.  We shall see!!!!

I just looked up dilly beans in the archives (upper left hand if this page) and cannot figure out how I have made it this long on God's green earth and to not have heard about those!?? Yum!

Scorpio Rising wrote:I just looked up dilly beans in the archives (upper left hand if this page) and cannot figure out how I have made it this long on God's green earth and to not have heard about those!??    Yum!  

Oh lawdy!!!!!!!  I'll post my recipe tomorrow.   I think they were originally made by God himself!

Kathy Gizzi wrote:Anyone with any insight on geckos?  I have them EVERYWHERE.  They don't seem to be bothering my beds.  I'm thinking they are actually probably helpful to my gardens-maybe eating any bugs that don't belong????

I hope they are not harmful.....I'd hate to have to protect against them, as I actually love having them around!

That is not a gecko but rather an Anole...a Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) in fact.
Here are a couple of links:
Wikipedia - Carolina Anole

Galvenston's Beneficials in the Garden website
from that page: In fact, these lizards are beneficial, as they do feed on a wide variety of small insects such as crickets, cockroaches, moths, grubs, beetles, flies and grasshoppers. They do not chew their food but swallow it whole.


They really are harmless. If you pick them up by the sides of their mouths they will open their mouths wide...my girls used to hang them off their earlobes.

Funny story about Anoles...my DW was homeschooling my 2 sons when they were in middle school. They were doing the  Reptiles and Amphibians merit badge as part of their science. Well, one of the scoutmasters told my wife that if you grab an anole, hold it in the palm of your hand with it's head pointing towards your thumb while holding it down with your other thumb, cup your hands and blow in your hands, the anole will pass out for a few minutes. My wife had done this several times for the boys and they were able to flip them over, measure them, etc.
Well on this particular day, she was rather busy when they came running up with an anole for her to put to sleep so they could study it. She agreed, so she put the anole in her hand, cupped her hand, put her mouth on her hand to blow on it, but in her haste, she forgot the part about holding it down with her other thumb...when she opened her mouth to inhale, the anole made a break for it...right into her mouth. She grabbed it by the tail and was trying to pull it out of her mouth while it was clawing at her tongue trying to get away and down the hole to safety.
Ultimately she did succeed in removing the anole from her mouth, used a bottle of mouthwash and a tube of toothpaste to clean her tongue afterwards.
Mind you, while this was going on, my 2 boy scout sons did not render aid, they were too busy rolling on the floor laughing.
Now don't tell her I shared this story or old Lizard Lips will beat me.

Perf! I am taking a canning class this summer at my extension Agency. So excited! Thanks!

ADVENTURES IN BOY SCOUTS! And reptiles, of course! Hilarious, RT! Ew....glad she got the little bugger....

Kathy Gizzi wrote:With regard to direct sowing:  DISCLAIMER:  This is also my first year of SFG, so I am, by no means, any kind of reliable resource.  I've done my homework though-and so far so good.
...
Here in Myrtle, we are forecast for 2 more cold nights (mid to low 40's) this week.  Other than that, the soil temp in my boxes is around 65 degrees consistently.  In my opinion....and I could be wrong......I think you're fine to direct sow just about anything at this point in Wilmington!

Thanks Kathy. we have a couple of those cold nights this week too. after that I will move my transplants and put some seeds in the MM