Fourth Year SFG in Canada

trolleydriver wrote:
1. Does that mean I need at least two c.moschata, two luffa, two c.maxima, etc. for proper pollination?

You can use the male flowers to pollinate the female flowers of the same plant. For the bees it would give a better chance of them doing it if there were 2+ plants of the same species next to each other. That is just a matter of math, not biology. How many CC plants did you have for your nice crop last year?

Last summer I had basil and marigolds and lettuce growing under the trellised squash vines. It seems that once you get those leaves off the ground other things can live near them pretty well. Maybe the CC in the window would set fruit with a little help from you and you could have an early crop?

I have no experience with Luffas so I did a little research. They sound finicky for us because they love heat and hate transplanting. Here is an article from some one in zone 6 managing it. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/growing-luffa-sponges/

Turan wrote:

trolleydriver wrote:
1. Does that mean I need at least two c.moschata, two luffa, two c.maxima, etc. for proper pollination?

You can use the male flowers to pollinate the female flowers of the same plant.  For the bees it would give a better chance of them doing it if there were 2+ plants of the same species next to each other. That is just a matter of math, not biology.  How many CC plants did you have for your nice crop last year?  

Last summer I had basil and marigolds and lettuce growing under the trellised squash vines.  It seems that once you get those leaves off the ground other things can live near them pretty well.  Maybe the CC in the window would set fruit with a little help from you and you could have an early crop?

I have no experience with Luffas so I did a little research.  They sound finicky for us because they love heat and hate transplanting.  Here is an article from some one in zone 6 managing it.  https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/growing-luffa-sponges/

Checking my notes (not a great record keeper), it looks like I had six CC plants on the trellis plus a sakatas melon and a cucumber. The center row between trellis sections had carrots and radishes. I may just throw the Luffa in the garden somewhere (not SFG) and see what happens.  Maybe I am being too ambitious with wanting to grow a variety of squash. I got carried awy with seed exchanges!

Not sure how the current CC seedlings will react when  take hem off the heat mat. Never know unless I try.

Is it OK to plant squash in the same location as the previous year. Don't have much choice but to do that.

Got some pepper seeds sown indoors today. They are in cell packs on the heat mat. Peppers did not work well last year so I am hoping for better results this summer.
- Early California Wonder - 4 cells
- Banana - 4 cells
- Cayenne Long Red Slim - 2 cells
- Jalapeno Mild - 2 cells
- Poblano - 2 cells
- Chinese Five Color - 2 cells

.

I've got seeds for 14 different types of tomatoes. But space is limited on the heat mat, under the grow lights and in the SFG. Being greedy with seed exchanges means I will have to make some "difficult decisions".  There is no question that I need a bigger growing area.

Memories of my Mom are flooding over me.  

March 15, 2017 was her last full day on earth. She went to heaven at 11 a.m. on the 16th of March.

Aw, TD. I hope they're wonderful memories!!

My mom's birthday was yesterday. I'm grateful I got to spend some good time with her!

AtlantaMarie wrote:Aw, TD.  I hope they're wonderful memories!!

My mom's birthday was yesterday.  I'm grateful I got to spend some good time with her!  

+1

AtlantaMarie wrote:Aw, TD.  I hope they're wonderful memories!!  

+1

trolleydriver wrote:
Is it OK to plant squash in the same location as the previous year. Don't have much choice but to do that.

Squash are heavy feeders, so that is given as a reason to move their location.  But the main reason given for rotation with squash and cucumbers is powdery mildew.  That over winters in the soil.  It spreads easily, so I don't know how much help rotation is in a small garden space. Definitely don't put infected leaves in the compost though.  Your trellis growing is probably the best preventative anyways.

I tend to grow squash in the same place, or nearly the same place every year, because they need room to wander and be out of the way.  It is where I build a spring compost pile.  After it has heated a couple times and the weather is calming down I plant the squash either in or around the edge of the compost pile.  As we all know, squash love compost piles.  After they use it I spread that pile over the garden and they get a fresh pile the next spring.  Last year I saw some PM on the zucchini.  I took out some of the plants so the air could move better through there.  That seemed to halt it.

All your seed starting has me wondering if I should follow suit. You are going to have some nice sized peppers to plant out!

Turan wrote:

AtlantaMarie wrote:Aw, TD.  I hope they're wonderful memories!!  

+1

+2 The first anniversary can be hard.

I plant the winter squash in the same bed, and yes, they get powdery mildew. I spray primarily with non-fat milk for control and neem oil if they are really struggling. They are going in the cantaloupe box this summer, all of 6' away.

sanderson wrote:

Turan wrote:

AtlantaMarie wrote:Aw, TD.  I hope they're wonderful memories!!  

+1

+2  The first anniversary can be hard.

It was a difficult day. In addition to the first anniversary, my wife was at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for a heart procedure. She was in for an ablation but they were unable to complete the procedure due to the location of the problem. Anyway it was stressful.

Oh, dear! Is she doing okay?

AtlantaMarie wrote:Oh, dear!  Is she doing okay?

She has had the heart condition for many years. The docs said it is not life threatening. But the procedure itself was not without risk which made for some stress.

trolleydriver wrote:

AtlantaMarie wrote:Oh, dear!  Is she doing okay?

She has had the heart condition for many years. The docs said it is not life threatening. But the procedure itself was not without risk which made for some stress.

Good thoughts and prayers to you and Mrs. TD.

The Farmer's Almanac says I can:


"Sow under cover or indoors:
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage (Summer)
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Leek
Lettuce (Leaf)
Onion
Peas
Pepper
Tomato (Large)

There are no plants which need to be sown outdoors or planted out at the moment."

Well my dear SFG friends, I am totally bummed out today.  Yesterday while coming up the steps on our front porch something happened to my left knee.  There is no swelling. When I am sitting I do not have any pain and I can bend and twist the knee.  But when I walk a few steps it suddenly feels like I have been stabbed in the knee and the joint feels unstable. I want to be in my workshop doing Winter Sowing and Indoor Sowing. But I ain't doin' it.

Oh no TD.  Hope you find out what is causing it and it doesn't take major rehabilitation/surgery to clear up the problem.

yolos wrote:Oh no TD.  Hope you find out what is causing it and it doesn't take major rehabilitation/surgery to clear up the problem.

I am hoping for a good outcome but right now it's not feeling good. If this is a long term problem the consequences for our garden are not going to be good. Can't figure out what caused the problem. I've been walking every day in thenaighbourhood, doing exercises, etc. all with no problems.  And then boom ... I take step up and yikes!!!  Not a happy gardener right now.

Oh, no! When will you be able to see an orthopedic doctor? Will a knee brace help?

sanderson wrote:  Oh, no!  When will you be able to see an orthopedic doctor?  Will a knee brace help?

I'm wearing some kind of elastic bandage on my knee area. Given our public medical system it will probably take months to see an orthopedic doctor. Mrs TD had a really good orthopedic doctor/surgeon for her two knee replacement operations.  I expect I will need to be referred to an orthopedic specialist by a general practitioner.  Keeping my fingers crossed that what I have is temporary and will not require surgery.

Oh, dear..... Sending healing thoughts!

trolleydriver wrote:Well my dear SFG friends, I am totally bummed out today.  Yesterday while coming up the steps on our front porch something happened to my left knee.  There is no swelling. When I am sitting I do not have any pain and I can bend and twist the knee.  But when I walk a few steps it suddenly feels like I have been stabbed in the knee and the joint feels unstable. I want to be in my workshop doing Winter Sowing and Indoor Sowing. But I ain't doin' it.

Crud, it's always something, right?  Months for an appt?  Can you go to your emergency room or even to the states and have someone there xray and look at it?

CapeCoddess wrote:

trolleydriver wrote:Well my dear SFG friends, I am totally bummed out today.  Yesterday while coming up the steps on our front porch something happened to my left knee.  There is no swelling. When I am sitting I do not have any pain and I can bend and twist the knee.  But when I walk a few steps it suddenly feels like I have been stabbed in the knee and the joint feels unstable. I want to be in my workshop doing Winter Sowing and Indoor Sowing. But I ain't doin' it.

Crud, it's always something, right?  Months for an appt?  Can you go to your emergency room or even to the states and have someone there xray and look at it?

"Always something" ... Seems that way.  I may go to a walk-in doctor clinic or directly to a physiotherapy (= physical therapy in USA) clinic. I already have an appointment with my general practitioner scheduled for next Tuesday but not sure I should wait that long.