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N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
+6
sanderson
yolos
BeetlesPerSqFt
farmersgranddaughter
DorothyG
countrynaturals
10 posters
Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Yum...Fresh spinach is so good. Never grown it myself, on my list of things to try though. I can see how you could have a love affair with leaves sweet banana are so fun to grow I love them! My fave pepper. Going to try a couple new varieties (new to me) this year. Jimmy nardello and Aurora. I didn't have luck with lettuce last year but going to try again this year woohoo
aliceingardenland- Posts : 48
Join date : 2018-02-06
Age : 40
Location : Arkansas zone 7
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
I will be honest; the last 2 springs, I have started spinach seeds indoors and transplanted. They literally bolted before anything came of them. This year, I am going to direct seed outside as soon as I can. Maybe this cold period will prevent the sudden boltage? I will test my theory! And this year I am going to be more diligent about getting a fall crop going of some things; Spinach, mache, radish, to name a few...aliceingardenland wrote:Yum...Fresh spinach is so good. Never grown it myself, on my list of things to try though. I can see how you could have a love affair with leaves sweet banana are so fun to grow I love them! My fave pepper. Going to try a couple new varieties (new to me) this year. Jimmy nardello and Aurora. I didn't have luck with lettuce last year but going to try again this year woohoo
Trying mustard leaves for the first time this year, and kohlrabi. I really like the salad turnips, and I think kohlrabi might be similar crunch and texture wise!
Those Jimmy Narrdello are beautiful! I will be interested to see what they look and taste like!
Last edited by Scorpio Rising on 2/17/2018, 11:41 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : added “spinach”)
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Ooh kohlrabi, never had it but curious about it are you trying the white one? Purple? Have you eaten it before? Someone told me it tastes like a cross between corn and potato. I may try rainbow Swiss chard too this year. I hope you have lots of tasty spinach! I've tried growing cabbages without success
aliceingardenland- Posts : 48
Join date : 2018-02-06
Age : 40
Location : Arkansas zone 7
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018!
I hope you don't mind me hanging out with the N&C Midwest crowd. It seems that no one has visited Upper South in a while. I'm in Northwest Arkansas... just a hop, skip, and a jump from Missouri.
I've received my seed orders and started bell, jalapeno, and banana peppers indoors last week. My new 4'x4' boxes are assembled. So far, I have acquired vermiculite, worm castings, and composted chicken manure. Does anyone have experience with Black Kow manure? I've read great reviews but also saw a few reports about fillers such as rocks and bark having been added.
I manage a small rural library and am thinking of hosting a seed exchange. I've never been to one but it sounds like something that fits our community. If anyone has suggestions for a newbie, I'm all ears.
It's only 31 days to spring!
I've received my seed orders and started bell, jalapeno, and banana peppers indoors last week. My new 4'x4' boxes are assembled. So far, I have acquired vermiculite, worm castings, and composted chicken manure. Does anyone have experience with Black Kow manure? I've read great reviews but also saw a few reports about fillers such as rocks and bark having been added.
I manage a small rural library and am thinking of hosting a seed exchange. I've never been to one but it sounds like something that fits our community. If anyone has suggestions for a newbie, I'm all ears.
It's only 31 days to spring!
farmersgranddaughter- Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Have you ever had the "core" of a cabbage? Yes, the part you generally get told to cut out andaliceingardenland wrote:Ooh kohlrabi, never had it but curious about it are you trying the white one? Purple? Have you eaten it before? Someone told me it tastes like a cross between corn and potato. I may try rainbow Swiss chard too this year. I hope you have lots of tasty spinach! I've tried growing cabbages without success
What went wrong with your cabbage?
BeetlesPerSqFt- Posts : 1433
Join date : 2016-04-11
Location : Centre Hall, PA Zone 5b/6a LF:5/11-FF:10/10
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Black Kow manure is my favorite purchased/bagged composts. I love the texture (I have no idea if the NPK is adequate). I think it has changed a little over the years and I don't know if it is all manufactured in one location or spread out through out the country. So there is the possibility that it may differ depending on where it is manufactured. I have found a few (very few) pieces of bark in the bag but they are easy to spot and just picked out of the mix.farmersgranddaughter wrote: Does anyone have experience with Black Kow manure? I've read great reviews but also saw a few reports about fillers such as rocks and bark having been added.
It's only 31 days to spring!
I make most of my own compost but there is never enough so each spring I buy a couple bags of bagged compost and mix it up in a large garbage can next to the garden. Black Kow is the first thing I look for in the spring to load up my garbage can.
Another one I like (because of the texture) is a Lowes product. It is Compost and Manure. Evergreen brand.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Evergreen-1-cu-ft-Compost-and-Manure/3693246
yolos- Posts : 4139
Join date : 2011-11-20
Age : 74
Location : Brooks, Ga Zone 7B/8A
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Welcome farmer's granddaughter!! Yes yes yes seed exchange is a wonderful idea! I'm in the River valley Arkansas myself, I can be in Fayetteville in about an hour give or take. I would love to come to your seed exchange never been to one in person. Scorpio, cabbage worms and/or something else always attack my cabbages. Yes, I have ate the core actually, not the whole thing but when I chop it up I use almost the whole cabbage so yum I would probably like kohlrabi
aliceingardenland- Posts : 48
Join date : 2018-02-06
Age : 40
Location : Arkansas zone 7
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Beetles I meant not Scorpio. Teehee
aliceingardenland- Posts : 48
Join date : 2018-02-06
Age : 40
Location : Arkansas zone 7
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018!
Alice, it looks like we may have one or two Benton County Master Gardeners at the Seed Swap to answer questions, set up a display, and/or give a presentation. I'm going to use Sonic sundae containers for the children to plant seeds in (my husband once used sundae containers to start seeds for catalpa trees).
I've never been to a Seed Swap before so this is all new to me. We'll provide envelopes and ink pens and set up stations for the various plant families (Nightshades, Brassicas, etc.).
Many people here garden in rows so I thought it would be fun to introduce Square Foot Gardening. I don't know of any certified Square Foot Gardening instructors in our area so I'll set up a Square Foot Gardening display to include Mel's books, information about Mel's Mix and samples of the ingredients, and charts showing the spacing for various vegetables and flowers.
I'll send you information as details are finalized.
I've never been to a Seed Swap before so this is all new to me. We'll provide envelopes and ink pens and set up stations for the various plant families (Nightshades, Brassicas, etc.).
Many people here garden in rows so I thought it would be fun to introduce Square Foot Gardening. I don't know of any certified Square Foot Gardening instructors in our area so I'll set up a Square Foot Gardening display to include Mel's books, information about Mel's Mix and samples of the ingredients, and charts showing the spacing for various vegetables and flowers.
I'll send you information as details are finalized.
farmersgranddaughter- Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Welcome, Farmersgrandaughter, you are an official honorary Midwesterner anyways! Glad you jumped on!farmersgranddaughter wrote:I hope you don't mind me hanging out with the N&C Midwest crowd. It seems that no one has visited Upper South in a while. I'm in Northwest Arkansas... just a hop, skip, and a jump from Missouri.
I've received my seed orders and started bell, jalapeno, and banana peppers indoors last week. My new 4'x4' boxes are assembled. So far, I have acquired vermiculite, worm castings, and composted chicken manure. Does anyone have experience with Black Kow manure? I've read great reviews but also saw a few reports about fillers such as rocks and bark having been added.
I manage a small rural library and am thinking of hosting a seed exchange. I've never been to one but it sounds like something that fits our community. If anyone has suggestions for a newbie, I'm all ears.
It's only 31 days to spring!
I have Spring fever sooooo bad!
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
I am trying a purple one (I didn’t even know they came in purple) just for fun! I really like the Asian Early turnips, very light and crunchy...so I think I will like kohlrabi!aliceingardenland wrote:Ooh kohlrabi, never had it but curious about it are you trying the white one? Purple? Have you eaten it before? Someone told me it tastes like a cross between corn and potato. I may try rainbow Swiss chard too this year. I hope you have lots of tasty spinach! I've tried growing cabbages without success
Bright Lights Swiss chard is a beautiful plant, and really tasty. I like it way better than kale (don’t like it at all). In a nice stir fry, garlic, add some pasta or taters...other veggies—winner!
I am hopeful about direct seeding the spinach.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
That sounds great, farmer's granddaughter! I like trying purple veggies tried purple sprouting broccoli last year It was pretty good. Tasted like broccoli lol very pretty. Ok you two twisted my arm I'm going to for sure try the Swiss chard.
aliceingardenland- Posts : 48
Join date : 2018-02-06
Age : 40
Location : Arkansas zone 7
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
You won’t regret it! And very easy to get seeds, anywhere really.aliceingardenland wrote:That sounds great, farmer's granddaughter! I like trying purple veggies tried purple sprouting broccoli last year It was pretty good. Tasted like broccoli lol very pretty. Ok you two twisted my arm I'm going to for sure try the Swiss chard.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Funny how i got started on the purple thing; so my first year here doing all new SFG, I planted my usual pole beans, Kentucky Wonder. They did great (and the Japanese beetles loved them, grrrr) but they were so camouflaged, that some of them got HUGE! So hard to find them all! And when that happens, it “turns off” the productivity of the plant, thinking it just needs to set seed to survive...aliceingardenland wrote:That sounds great, farmer's granddaughter! I like trying purple veggies tried purple sprouting broccoli last year It was pretty good. Tasted like broccoli lol very pretty. Ok you two twisted my arm I'm going to for sure try the Swiss chard.
Enter Baker Seeds Blauhilde pole bean! The next year, those purple babies were much easier to find, and pick at a smaller size, too. More tender. They cook up green. Added bonus: The blooms? Purple! And seem less attractive to the JBs...
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
I tried bush green beans in a low bed last summer and had a heck of a time seeing them. I'll plant the Dragon Tongues in that bed this year and plant the green beans in a table top. Adding colorful veggies just makes the garden, well, more colorful.
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Scorpio, I just had to order Baker Seeds Blauhilde pole bean after reading your comment.
I have a question about Southern cowpeas. Most that I look at appear to be more like black-eyed peas. I'm looking for crowder seeds. Are crowders a form of cowpea?
I have a question about Southern cowpeas. Most that I look at appear to be more like black-eyed peas. I'm looking for crowder seeds. Are crowders a form of cowpea?
farmersgranddaughter- Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
You will love them, and they really produce! All season, unlike bush beans.
Here is a good read from our archive: Hope it helps!
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7159-friday-s-rookie-topic-v-southern-peas-aka-cowpeas-or-field-peas?highlight=Cowpeas
Here is a good read from our archive: Hope it helps!
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7159-friday-s-rookie-topic-v-southern-peas-aka-cowpeas-or-field-peas?highlight=Cowpeas
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
LOL! Yes, they do!sanderson wrote:I tried bush green beans in a low bed last summer and had a heck of a time seeing them. I'll plant the Dragon Tongues in that bed this year and plant the green beans in a table top. Adding colorful veggies just makes the garden, well, more colorful.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
I am expanding my South Annex; just got 3 more containers from Walmart....need to drill holes in the bottoms...but still, they match my original 4 containers. A little smaller, but still good. That is where I have put the melons. They like the heat. Red brick wall to help.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Hi all, I usually pop up on the forums in the spring and disappear as I get busier. Im starting over this year. 2 years ago, the stream in my yard flooded so badly it took all my mels mix with it. Pretty devastating. Last year, I worked too much to have time to rebuild. It was a depressing year without a garden!
So this year, Im raising the boxes height to a foot, but will keep my mix at 0.5" high. Also, will stake them down in the corners as the flooding pushed my boxes out of place.
The only thing that survived was my asparagus! First step is clearing the weeds. Step two, building up & staking down the boxes. Step 3, add mels mix. I have 3- 4x8 beds, 2- 4x12 beds, & 2- 3x3 beds.
New this year, other than almost everything, I just ordered a few more fruit trees, a self pollinating almond tree, & bareroot strawberries from stark bros. My fruit trees, canes, & grape vines are doing ok. They're 2 or 3 yrs old this year. My bees are doing ok, 3 out of 5 hives survived.
Today, Im starting seeds indoors. About to order a few more seeds. Seed addict right here! I need to finish my plans, where im putting everything, etc.
So this year, Im raising the boxes height to a foot, but will keep my mix at 0.5" high. Also, will stake them down in the corners as the flooding pushed my boxes out of place.
The only thing that survived was my asparagus! First step is clearing the weeds. Step two, building up & staking down the boxes. Step 3, add mels mix. I have 3- 4x8 beds, 2- 4x12 beds, & 2- 3x3 beds.
New this year, other than almost everything, I just ordered a few more fruit trees, a self pollinating almond tree, & bareroot strawberries from stark bros. My fruit trees, canes, & grape vines are doing ok. They're 2 or 3 yrs old this year. My bees are doing ok, 3 out of 5 hives survived.
Today, Im starting seeds indoors. About to order a few more seeds. Seed addict right here! I need to finish my plans, where im putting everything, etc.
R&R 1011- Posts : 292
Join date : 2013-02-22
Age : 41
Location : London, OH -Zone 5B/ 6A
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Hey, R&R!!! Glad you are back! Yes, I remember that when your beds got rinsed away...you have quite a few squares! Can’t wait to hear what you are planning to grow!R&R 1011 wrote:Hi all, I usually pop up on the forums in the spring and disappear as I get busier. Im starting over this year. 2 years ago, the stream in my yard flooded so badly it took all my mels mix with it. Pretty devastating. Last year, I worked too much to have time to rebuild. It was a depressing year without a garden!
So this year, Im raising the boxes height to a foot, but will keep my mix at 0.5" high. Also, will stake them down in the corners as the flooding pushed my boxes out of place.
The only thing that survived was my asparagus! First step is clearing the weeds. Step two, building up & staking down the boxes. Step 3, add mels mix. I have 3- 4x8 beds, 2- 4x12 beds, & 2- 3x3 beds.
New this year, other than almost everything, I just ordered a few more fruit trees, a self pollinating almond tree, & bareroot strawberries from stark bros. My fruit trees, canes, & grape vines are doing ok. They're 2 or 3 yrs old this year. My bees are doing ok, 3 out of 5 hives survived.
Today, Im starting seeds indoors. About to order a few more seeds. Seed addict right here! I need to finish my plans, where im putting everything, etc.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: N&C Midwest: February 2018 !
Yep: got 4 more of these babies, at Walmart!sanderson wrote:Photo of your new containers?
https://i.servimg.com/u/f62/19/25/77/83/7419bf10.jpg
They are 24” diameter, pretty large. Z is 40”, they come up to my knee. I am excited!
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8833
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
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