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Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
+12
zackshea
walshevak
landarch
Dunkinjean
AtlantaMarie
yolos
bigdogrock
Scorpio Rising
BeetlesPerSqFt
sanderson
trolleydriver
sfg4uKim
16 posters
Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Everything is soooo beautiful and healthy. CN, Do you want to go outside with me and cry??
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
So lush, Zackshea! And so far ahead of mine even though you must be in a similar climate. I'm coming to the conclusion that I probably need to water every day or at the very least every other day.
How often do you water?
CC
How often do you water?
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
VERY nice, Zach. So beautiful...
Are those sunflowers I see growing in a window box???
Are those sunflowers I see growing in a window box???
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
WAAAAAAAA! Life is sooo unfair! (Gorgeous, Zach. )sanderson wrote: Everything is soooo beautiful and healthy. CN, Do you want to go outside with me and cry??
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
I think you may be on to something, CC. My plants in planters are doing better than the garden plants -- I assumed it was more sun, but it's worth noting I water the planters every day, sometimes twice, where as the tomatoes/celeriac/cucumbers/squashes get about half that, and the rest of the garden, probably half again. Things aren't wilting, but if I could get myself to spend more time watering, maybe they'd be a little more productive.CapeCoddess wrote:So lush, Zackshea! And so far ahead of mine even though you must be in a similar climate. I'm coming to the conclusion that I probably need to water every day or at the very least every other day.
How often do you water?
CC
BeetlesPerSqFt- Posts : 1433
Join date : 2016-04-11
Location : Centre Hall, PA Zone 5b/6a LF:5/11-FF:10/10
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
I try to water everyday. Seems to make it more lush. Just my two cents, nothing to compare with though.
bigdogrock- Posts : 437
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Watering
This is also the first year that I have been watering daily when there is no rain forecast. I put a filter that supposedly filters out chloramines on my hose spigot. I think it was $20 on Amazon. I have made and used compost tea 3 times according to Teaming with Microbes recipe. I am telling you, if I had full sun and not just the 4-5 hours I get in my beds, I would have champion produce! I have pretty much the same setup at my in-laws and I am getting gigantic Brandywines, but they get about 7 hours of direct sun. This fall, I am going to cut off the tops of my large locust trees to gain about an hour of morning sun. I can't cut them now because I am afraid the large limbs will fall and crush my tomato bag row.
If I had to guess, I think the biggest factor in this years success would be the compost I had delivered from Veteran's Compost.
I used a larger ratio of compost to vermiculite and peat moss. About 1/2 compost to 1/4 each of the other ingredients. It makes me have to water more, but I think the higher available amount of nutrients in the compost in addition to the microbiome I have fostered with the tea applications really makes the difference. Also, if the filter does what it says and filters the chloramines out, that helps keep the bacteria and fungus happy.
Maybe I got lucky this year, maybe not, but I will do exactly the same for next year.
If I had to guess, I think the biggest factor in this years success would be the compost I had delivered from Veteran's Compost.
I used a larger ratio of compost to vermiculite and peat moss. About 1/2 compost to 1/4 each of the other ingredients. It makes me have to water more, but I think the higher available amount of nutrients in the compost in addition to the microbiome I have fostered with the tea applications really makes the difference. Also, if the filter does what it says and filters the chloramines out, that helps keep the bacteria and fungus happy.
Maybe I got lucky this year, maybe not, but I will do exactly the same for next year.
zackshea- Posts : 79
Join date : 2014-04-02
Age : 39
Location : SE PA Zone 7a/6b
Sunflowers
And yes, those are sunflowers in the window box and one of those pots on the wrought iron pot holder. They were supposed to be compact versions of sunflowers, but they obviously were not... I am rigging up a support to make the plants more vertical. The goldfinches LOVE these and it is so nice to sit under the gazebo and watch them sit on the tops of the flowers and peck out the seeds.
I also got my father started on square foot gardening. He lives in Orleans on Cape Cod and he is able to get free seaweed compost. Lucky guy. He has always been a traditional row gardeners, but I sent him the book and he built boxes the next day! He thanks me for saving his back since he doesn't have to weed anymore!
I made a delicious salsa yesterday for a party, all from the garden. Amish paste tomatoes, california bell peppers, hungarian wax peppers, jumbo jalapenos, walla walla onions, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, and dried pepper flakes that I made last fall with cayenne, jalapeno, serrano, and ghost pepper.
I also got my father started on square foot gardening. He lives in Orleans on Cape Cod and he is able to get free seaweed compost. Lucky guy. He has always been a traditional row gardeners, but I sent him the book and he built boxes the next day! He thanks me for saving his back since he doesn't have to weed anymore!
I made a delicious salsa yesterday for a party, all from the garden. Amish paste tomatoes, california bell peppers, hungarian wax peppers, jumbo jalapenos, walla walla onions, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, and dried pepper flakes that I made last fall with cayenne, jalapeno, serrano, and ghost pepper.
zackshea- Posts : 79
Join date : 2014-04-02
Age : 39
Location : SE PA Zone 7a/6b
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Wonderful!zackshea wrote:I also got my father started on square foot gardening. He lives in Orleans on Cape Cod and he is able to get free seaweed compost. Lucky guy. He has always been a traditional row gardeners, but I sent him the book and he built boxes the next day! He thanks me for saving his back since he doesn't have to weed anymore!
How do you make dried pepper flakes? Seriously. I end up making powders with a coffee bean grinder. Flakes may be an interesting alternative.I made a delicious salsa yesterday for a party, all from the garden. Amish paste tomatoes, california bell peppers, hungarian wax peppers, jumbo jalapenos, walla walla onions, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, and dried pepper flakes that I made last fall with cayenne, jalapeno, serrano, and ghost pepper.
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
PLEASE ZACH, post the recipe for the dried pepper flakes! It sounds terrific.
bigdogrock- Posts : 437
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Pepper flakes
Pepper flakes - I have my neighbor dry fresh picked jalapeno, Serrano, and cayenne peppers in his dehydrator. Then I just put a handful or two in the vitamix and pulse until they look like the red pepper flakes you see at pizza joints or that you buy at the store. The more Serrano, the spicier.
Also, I use peppers at both the red ripened stage and the earlier green stage of the Serrano. The more dry looking striations in the pepper, the spicier so I have been told.
I make about a quart size Mason jar that lasts all year. I give a lot away and people always ask for more. Great on eggs, pizza, pasta, and recipes that call for red pepper flakes. Very good in dill pickle recipes for a spicier pickle.
Also, I use peppers at both the red ripened stage and the earlier green stage of the Serrano. The more dry looking striations in the pepper, the spicier so I have been told.
I make about a quart size Mason jar that lasts all year. I give a lot away and people always ask for more. Great on eggs, pizza, pasta, and recipes that call for red pepper flakes. Very good in dill pickle recipes for a spicier pickle.
zackshea- Posts : 79
Join date : 2014-04-02
Age : 39
Location : SE PA Zone 7a/6b
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Thanks! (Don't forget to put the recipe in the recipe section )
bigdogrock- Posts : 437
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Ooooo, yeah! I would love what you do to get red pepper flakes, Zack!
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8834
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
UPDATE
Well the tomato plants still aren't (weren't) looking too great. I got a few nice fruits from them, but not too many. So I took the nicest and collected seeds from them.
Our young dogs have been climbing the chain link fencing so we're having new wooden fencing installed tomorrow. Yesterday I took the rest of the fruits off the plants and pulled them. I transplanted what I could into containers and harvested the young cabbages.
I bagged the Mel's Mix into contractor bags and have decided to set them out to "solarize" the rest of the summer. Yes, I know that clear plastic is better, but it is what it is. We had a lot of wind and thus more weeds than usual this year. I also let the mustard seed pods go too long and a TON of seeds fell into the beds.
Anyway now that the MM has been bagged and the 2' x 23' raised bed has been moved I hope to get a fresh start next year.
This is just not been a fun year.
Our young dogs have been climbing the chain link fencing so we're having new wooden fencing installed tomorrow. Yesterday I took the rest of the fruits off the plants and pulled them. I transplanted what I could into containers and harvested the young cabbages.
I bagged the Mel's Mix into contractor bags and have decided to set them out to "solarize" the rest of the summer. Yes, I know that clear plastic is better, but it is what it is. We had a lot of wind and thus more weeds than usual this year. I also let the mustard seed pods go too long and a TON of seeds fell into the beds.
Anyway now that the MM has been bagged and the 2' x 23' raised bed has been moved I hope to get a fresh start next year.
This is just not been a fun year.
I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January - Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
sfg4u.com
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
sfg4uKim wrote: I hope to get a fresh start next year.
This is just not been a fun year.
++++1
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4370
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 81
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
zackshea- Posts : 79
Join date : 2014-04-02
Age : 39
Location : SE PA Zone 7a/6b
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Ain't that the truth!walshevak wrote:sfg4uKim wrote: I hope to get a fresh start next year.
This is just not been a fun year.
++++1
Kay
The start of my new teaching garden
It only took the crew 8 hours to complete the fence. In addition to fencing the back yard, I now have a 25' x 35' fenced-in space that will be my teaching/demonstration garden.
If my dogs couldn't jump it, I would rather have had a 3' fence. But oh well. I chose a slat fence for air circulation.
If my dogs couldn't jump it, I would rather have had a 3' fence. But oh well. I chose a slat fence for air circulation.
I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January - Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
sfg4u.com
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Kim,
I love the new fence, so pretty!
We currently have a chain link fence around our back yard due to pool regulations.
Once the pool is gone I want to replace the pool with the garden and have a pretty fence just like you.....
I love the new fence, so pretty!
We currently have a chain link fence around our back yard due to pool regulations.
Once the pool is gone I want to replace the pool with the garden and have a pretty fence just like you.....
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
Kim, love the fence! Very pretty! And functional!
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8834
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
+1Scorpio Rising wrote:Kim, love the fence! Very pretty! And functional!
Re: Mid-Atl - Jul 2016 - Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!
It was a necessity. When our two elder Beagles passed away we got two puppies. Jake & Carly learned they could jump the neighbors' existing 3' chain link by using garden containers as a step stool.
When I moved the containers, they found they could get onto the patio table on the deck and jump into, and get stuck, in my neighbor's yard -- it's an 8' drop through her Rose of Sharon! I moved the table and Jake learned to climb the chain link fence. I put bamboo poles and attached deer netting to create added height to the fence. Jake became known as Houdini -- we had NO IDEA how he was getting out of the yard.
THAT'S the reason we needed the 5' fence with vertical slats (and a 6' privacy fence where the deck is). They were unable to put fence up between the neighbor's existing fence and our deck, but we've come up with an idea to resolve that problem in the near future.
I would have preferred that the fence surrounding the garden only be 3' high, but don't want the dogs jumping in there.
Now to get more weed cloth and get my SFG ready after I let the Mel's Mix solarize awhile.
When I moved the containers, they found they could get onto the patio table on the deck and jump into, and get stuck, in my neighbor's yard -- it's an 8' drop through her Rose of Sharon! I moved the table and Jake learned to climb the chain link fence. I put bamboo poles and attached deer netting to create added height to the fence. Jake became known as Houdini -- we had NO IDEA how he was getting out of the yard.
THAT'S the reason we needed the 5' fence with vertical slats (and a 6' privacy fence where the deck is). They were unable to put fence up between the neighbor's existing fence and our deck, but we've come up with an idea to resolve that problem in the near future.
I would have preferred that the fence surrounding the garden only be 3' high, but don't want the dogs jumping in there.
Now to get more weed cloth and get my SFG ready after I let the Mel's Mix solarize awhile.
Last edited by sfg4uKim on 8/5/2016, 8:54 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : added info)
I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January - Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
sfg4u.com
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
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