Search
Latest topics
» Strawberry Varieties?by sanderson Yesterday at 3:57 pm
» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 12/4/2023, 1:27 pm
» Jerusalem Artichoke or Sun Choke
by Scorpio Rising 12/4/2023, 7:09 am
» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 12/3/2023, 7:33 pm
» Strawberries in MM: to feed or not to feed?
by sanderson 12/3/2023, 7:30 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 11/29/2023, 5:36 am
» Senseless Banter...
by sanderson 11/28/2023, 10:31 pm
» N & C Midwest: November/December 2023
by sanderson 11/27/2023, 9:23 pm
» FREE Online SFG Class - November 28, 2023
by sanderson 11/27/2023, 9:21 pm
» Mini-Raised Beds?
by Chuck d'Argy 11/27/2023, 2:14 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by sanderson 11/26/2023, 10:58 pm
» Name the mystery (to me) seedlings! :-)
by Psdumas 11/25/2023, 12:04 am
» Happy Thanksgiving from the USA
by sanderson 11/23/2023, 1:47 pm
» Guatemalan Green Ayote Squash
by OhioGardener 11/21/2023, 8:27 am
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 11/20/2023, 2:06 pm
» Seeds 'n Such Early Order Seeds
by sanderson 11/20/2023, 1:13 pm
» USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
by OhioGardener 11/19/2023, 7:12 am
» AeroGarden for starting seeds?
by OhioGardener 11/16/2023, 12:40 pm
» Biochar?
by OhioGardener 11/16/2023, 10:31 am
» 2023 - Updated U.S. Interactive Plant Hardiness Map
by sanderson 11/15/2023, 6:18 pm
» SFG Is Intensive Gardening
by sanderson 11/14/2023, 3:26 pm
» Teaming with Microbes Kindle Sale (Mem. Day weekend 2023)
by markqz 11/10/2023, 12:42 am
» Bok Choy Hors d'oeuvres
by donnainzone5 11/9/2023, 5:58 pm
» Now is the Time to Start Preparing Next Year's Spring Garden
by OhioGardener 11/9/2023, 7:13 am
» Shocking Reality: Is Urine the Ultimate Gardening Hack or Disaster?
by dstack 11/6/2023, 5:29 pm
» Nightmare on Mel Street.
by Scorpio Rising 11/4/2023, 6:37 pm
» Aerogardening
by Scorpio Rising 11/3/2023, 10:02 am
» Sunday All Purpose Organic Garden Nutrients
by lisawallace88 11/3/2023, 9:13 am
» Mid-summer seed sowing, how do you do it?
by KiwiSFGnewbie 11/2/2023, 8:04 pm
» N&C Midwest October 2023
by OhioGardener 11/1/2023, 8:49 am
Google
Butterfly Junction
+23
CapeCoddess
AtlantaMarie
DorothyG
Roseinarosecity
donnainzone5
BlackjackWidow
Ginger Blue
farmersgranddaughter
sanderson
countrynaturals
Scorpio Rising
Avinash
Turan
Greenbeard
GWN
Mimi2
Windmere
BeetlesPerSqFt
trolleydriver
yolos
ralitaco
hammock gal
Kelejan
27 posters
Page 37 of 38
Page 37 of 38 • 1 ... 20 ... 36, 37, 38
Re: Butterfly Junction
Update: My indoor master bedroom garden was out of control, and I was in a bad place, due to Bob's health, so nothing was getting done. Now things are looking up, so I completely redid the inside plants.
First was the Brandywine tomato. Hopeless failure, but I'm not giving up. The next generation is already sprouting in the Plant Room. If we hadn't had that hard frost in November, I could now brag about having tomatoes all year long. I still have a slim chance of reaching that goal, if I can get my Sweet 100 to produce in February.

Here are a few of the Pomelos. Fingers crossed that we like them, since there are still over a dozen left on the tree.

I had lots of help redoing the inside garden. Here are 2 of the cats working on the tomato plants. One of the pots has a volunteer kale plant that now lives on the balcony.

Here's the volunteer kale. It should be much happier outside.

My purple basil was in desperate need of a bath. Our master bath has a "wet room" instead of a regular shower, and I never realize how handy that is for washing inside plants. The shower drain is right under the leaves. I used the hand-held shower nozzle to wash the leaves. It worked out, beautifully.

Now, here is the finished garden. On the left is the Serrano pepper plant, trimmed down, with 2 little peppers harvested. In the middle is a bunch of cuttings from the Sweet 100 tomato plant. On the right is the purple basil. Everything else is either on the balcony or in the plant room. All in all a good day's work.

First was the Brandywine tomato. Hopeless failure, but I'm not giving up. The next generation is already sprouting in the Plant Room. If we hadn't had that hard frost in November, I could now brag about having tomatoes all year long. I still have a slim chance of reaching that goal, if I can get my Sweet 100 to produce in February.


Here are a few of the Pomelos. Fingers crossed that we like them, since there are still over a dozen left on the tree.

I had lots of help redoing the inside garden. Here are 2 of the cats working on the tomato plants. One of the pots has a volunteer kale plant that now lives on the balcony.

Here's the volunteer kale. It should be much happier outside.

My purple basil was in desperate need of a bath. Our master bath has a "wet room" instead of a regular shower, and I never realize how handy that is for washing inside plants. The shower drain is right under the leaves. I used the hand-held shower nozzle to wash the leaves. It worked out, beautifully.


Now, here is the finished garden. On the left is the Serrano pepper plant, trimmed down, with 2 little peppers harvested. In the middle is a bunch of cuttings from the Sweet 100 tomato plant. On the right is the purple basil. Everything else is either on the balcony or in the plant room. All in all a good day's work.


Re: Butterfly Junction
Starting Wednesday, we have a whole week of sunshine forecast. I should be able to get everything ready for spring during that time. I won't plant out any summer crops, but I have plenty of cool weather seedlings that can go in the ground, and another batch of seeds to start.sanderson wrote:Nice day's work.![]()

Re: Butterfly Junction
I chopped the Serrano pepper back to almost nothing, yesterday. I was afraid it was too much, but this morning it already has a blossom and a tiny bud that shows signs of producing. With a little diligence, I should be able to grow hot peppers for Amanda all year round. 

Re: Butterfly Junction
I knew I wouldn't be able to harvest more than one onion this year, if we like them and want them to spread, but I did pinch off a short stem to see if Hubby likes them for chives. He loves them and wants more, but I was afraid I'd have to say no, in case harvesting the leaves stunts the plants. I didn't need to worry -- those puppies grew another inch today. I'll be able to harvest all he needs.

Re: Butterfly Junction
Well DUH!
I've been bitten so hard by the gardening bug, that I can't think of anything else. I've been agonizing over all the work involved in deer-proof fencing so I can expand what I already have and return the overcrowded Salad Bar to its former beauty.
This morning I had an AHA moment. We've been here almost 2 years and done nothing with the pool area. It's surrounded by a 6' chain link fence. Since it's mostly cement, grass, gazebo, and water, and, since we feed the deer someplace else, they never go in there. So, I started thinking about putting a few veggies back there, mixed in with the shrubbery that doesn't appeal to the deer, anyway.
As soon as the sun came up, I took the camera back there to check it out. VOILA! Here's what I found:
120' of potential raised bed/waist-high garden beds READY TO PLANT! Am I dreaming? How could I not have realized this amazing potential before?
Here is the long view:

Here is a close-up of the back part:

Not only is this perfect for old lady gardening, but there's even hose connections and sprinkler systems already in place. The best part is that it's ready to go. I could walk right out there and plant something without begging anyone in the family to do any backbreaking labor -- including me.
I've been worried about planting too many seeds -- including flowers -- with no place to put them. Now, I have almost unlimited space, just waiting for anything I want to do. I can't believe I didn't do this long before now.
Gotta go plant some more seeds, now. 

I've been bitten so hard by the gardening bug, that I can't think of anything else. I've been agonizing over all the work involved in deer-proof fencing so I can expand what I already have and return the overcrowded Salad Bar to its former beauty.
This morning I had an AHA moment. We've been here almost 2 years and done nothing with the pool area. It's surrounded by a 6' chain link fence. Since it's mostly cement, grass, gazebo, and water, and, since we feed the deer someplace else, they never go in there. So, I started thinking about putting a few veggies back there, mixed in with the shrubbery that doesn't appeal to the deer, anyway.
As soon as the sun came up, I took the camera back there to check it out. VOILA! Here's what I found:
120' of potential raised bed/waist-high garden beds READY TO PLANT! Am I dreaming? How could I not have realized this amazing potential before?

Here is the long view:

Here is a close-up of the back part:

Not only is this perfect for old lady gardening, but there's even hose connections and sprinkler systems already in place. The best part is that it's ready to go. I could walk right out there and plant something without begging anyone in the family to do any backbreaking labor -- including me.
I've been worried about planting too many seeds -- including flowers -- with no place to put them. Now, I have almost unlimited space, just waiting for anything I want to do. I can't believe I didn't do this long before now.


Re: Butterfly Junction
I look forward to seeing your progress.
ralitaco-
Posts : 1312
Join date : 2010-04-04
Location : Hampstead, NC
Re: Butterfly Junction
I am absolutely giddy about this project. My biggest challenge will be to camouflage anything the deer might like, and plant their favorites somewhere else.ralitaco wrote:I look forward to seeing your progress.

Re: Butterfly Junction
Compared to last year, I'm doing great, but that was coming off the move and the fire.countrynaturals wrote:2018
My next surprise was an ugly old snow white cherry tomato, still hanging from last fall. I took a bite, just for grins, and it was awesome! Then I went looking for more and found these. Can you believe I'm having tomatoes from the garden in January/February?![]()
Sugar Snap peas are doing great -- in and out of their jars. One plant has at least 4 peas on it, but they don't get nearly as plump as the later ones. Still delicious, though.
Carrots, Daikons, and kale are all doing great.
Compared to 2018 -- not so much. My Daikons failed. I just replanted them, yesterday. No tomatoes, but that's due to a hard frost in November, so it was out of my control. Kale is fine. Sugar snap peas never bloomed, but they're still healthy -- planting more, today. Ate a kohlrabi, yesterday -- delicious. Getting a few 18 Day radishes. Harvesting potato onion tops for chives. Carrots are okay, but nothing exciting.
Re: Butterfly Junction
My indoor garden is doing better than 2017, but the Salad Bar is not. I lost control of my brassicas and don't even know what I have. Only the kohlrabi is producing, and it's slooooow.countrynaturals wrote:2017
Harvested a huge mess of kale and wanted to try broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower leaves to see if we like them. So, look what I found!The cauliflower is about the size of a quarter and the broccoli is about the size of a nickel but I AM THRILLED!
I've never grown either one, before. Looks like winter veggies are my strong suit.
![]()
Re: Butterfly Junction
YEE-HAH! 2 little baby Super Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, on the cuttings from last year's plant, inside, on the shelving unit in front of the slider, under lights.

The Serrano pepper plant, right next to it, is loaded with buds. The purple basil, also brought inside last year, is still happily blooming. So are the dwarf zucchini. Tomato and pepper transplants are doing great. Next batch of seeds in the plant room are coming along, slowly, and so are the outdoor plants. Except for the lack of rain, 2020 is starting out to be my best gardening year, yet. I guess 5's a charm.


The Serrano pepper plant, right next to it, is loaded with buds. The purple basil, also brought inside last year, is still happily blooming. So are the dwarf zucchini. Tomato and pepper transplants are doing great. Next batch of seeds in the plant room are coming along, slowly, and so are the outdoor plants. Except for the lack of rain, 2020 is starting out to be my best gardening year, yet. I guess 5's a charm.

Re: Butterfly Junction
YEE-HAH! 1st asparagus sprout is up! 
History:

History:
Me wrote:April 9, 2019
My first asparagus spear poked its head up about a half inch, today. I was starting to think the bed had died. Last year I had 6" spears by Feb. 2. Could this be a nutrition deficiency or just a cold, wet spring? (Today was also the first nice day we've had in weeks.)
Found my answer:The Spruce wrote:In the spring it will begin to grow shoots when the soil temperature reaches 50 degrees.
Re: Butterfly Junction
YEE-HAH!!! I hope 2020 continues to be great
ralitaco-
Posts : 1312
Join date : 2010-04-04
Location : Hampstead, NC
Re: Butterfly Junction
Thanks, Ralitaco. Dry years usually are, since we get so much sun. The trade-off is fear of drought, heatwave, and brush fires.ralitaco wrote:YEE-HAH!!! I hope 2020 continues to be great

This week's surprise is our volunteer cherry tree. We just discovered it last year, growing right in the middle of the juniper bushes, in an inconvenient spot next to the gate. It only had 2 little cherries on it -- both went to the birds, so we have no idea how good the cherries will be.
Here it is this year, loaded blossoms. (This is just one branch.) Can't wait to see what it produces.

Re: Butterfly Junction
If the cherry tree only produced 2 fruit last year, I'm wondering if it needs a second tree of a different variety for pollination?
Re: Butterfly Junction
I hope not. It will break my heart if we don't get any cherries this year. OTOH, we do have another struggling cherry tree, that was donated to us a few years ago. It's about 50' away from this one. No idea what either variety might be. Maybe they can help each other out.sanderson wrote:If the cherry tree only produced 2 fruit last year, I'm wondering if it needs a second tree of a different variety for pollination?

Re: Butterfly Junction
I have a self-pollinating dwarf black cherry tree. It took about three years, but last year, it produced a good crop. To my knowledge, there's no pollinator nearby.
Re: Butterfly Junction
The blossoms are fading on ours, so we'll know soon enough if we'll be getting any fruit this year. Fingers crossed.donnainzone5 wrote:I have a self-pollinating dwarf black cherry tree. It took about three years, but last year, it produced a good crop. To my knowledge, there's no pollinator nearby.

Can't sleep. Woke up at 3:52, so here I am, prowling the forum at 4:15am. I'll try to be quiet and not wake anybody else.

Re: Butterfly Junction
Thanks to our own Brilliant Yolos, my tomatoes and hot peppers are about to get their own RV. It's a perfect fit for 8 5-gal grow bags (birthday present from granddaughter).

Unfortunately, it didn't work for the garage or the plant room, so it will have to go in and out the front door, and it's a very tight fit, but it should work. Fingers crossed.
I have potting mix on order, so, hopefully, I can get some stuff in there, today, and try this puppy out, tonight.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for the garage or the plant room, so it will have to go in and out the front door, and it's a very tight fit, but it should work. Fingers crossed.

I have potting mix on order, so, hopefully, I can get some stuff in there, today, and try this puppy out, tonight.

Re: Butterfly Junction
countrynaturals wrote:. . . Can't sleep. Woke up at 3:52, so here I am, prowling the forum at 4:15am. I'll try to be quiet and not wake anybody else.

Re: Butterfly Junction
Done! The back left is my Serrano Pepper. Next to that are all Super Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes. The little ones in the front row are a variety of hot peppers, plus a couple of zucchini, cuke, and spaghetti squash.countrynaturals wrote:Thanks to our own Brilliant Yolos, my tomatoes and hot peppers are about to get their own RV. It's a perfect fit for 8 5-gal grow bags (birthday present from granddaughter).
Unfortunately, it didn't work for the garage or the plant room, so it will have to go in and out the front door, and it's a very tight fit, but it should work. Fingers crossed.
I have potting mix on order, so, hopefully, I can get some stuff in there, today, and try this puppy out, tonight.

I have never had anything close to this good a start on a gardening season and it's not even the middle of March, yet. We even had a nice rain, with a little more in the forecast for this weekend. I am a happy camper.

Page 37 of 38 • 1 ... 20 ... 36, 37, 38

» Mark's first SFG
» Black Swallowtail caterpillar
» almost a butterfly
» Monarch Butterflies
» My Butterfly Karma
» Black Swallowtail caterpillar
» almost a butterfly
» Monarch Butterflies
» My Butterfly Karma
Page 37 of 38
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|