Terms Defined

When I first began my garden, and the adventure of learning that I am still on, I found that as I read and compiled info I came across terms that most sources ASSUMED I already knew the meaning. For instance, terms like "leggy", "dampening off", "hardening off" and the like I had to do extra research to figure out because lot's of my resources did not provide a definition for them.

So with that in mind I would like to put together a resource here on the forum, a sticky, that has a list of these types of terms and their definition.

So what terms did you find you struggled understanding the most?

Which terms do you suggest be in this tool?

Is there a term you still don't quite understand and would like explained?

Things I struggled with as a totally new gardener were:
-the difference between sets and transplants (onions)
-the meaning of a "slip"
-bumper crop

to name a few.

What about you guys? The more feedback to this thread the better I can make the tool handy here on the forum. If you are a lurker and don't want to post please send me a PM with your suggestions.

Middlemamma

When a package states its mature in 70-80 days, that means from transplanting date for many crops, not from the time its sown.
I didn't realize that as a beginner.

Oh Quiltbea. BUMMER! Really?

I've got to get off of here and order my seeds. I have even less time now!

Betty

This sounds dumb, I know, but I struggle with what exactly is compost? Does it have to be blended with a lot of ingredients, or would leaves or rice hulls that have been bagged all winter and become crumbly count as compost on their own?

I didn't know many of the standard forum abbreviations - most recently OP (original poster). A list of those would be nice.

I'd also like to see an explanation of Boffer's degree-day thing, as well as the USDA and Sunset growing zones.

Great idea, Jennie.

quiltbea wrote:When a package states its mature in 70-80 days, that means from transplanting date for many crops, not from the time its sown.
I didn't realize that as a beginner.

D'oh!!! That would explain a lot!

Good one quiltbea. I did not know that.

Bump

Does any one have any related garden terms and their definition? Please post any links associated with the definition you may choose.

quiltbea wrote:When a package states its mature in 70-80 days, that means from transplanting date for many crops, not from the time its sown.
I didn't realize that as a beginner.

Right on!

quiltbea wrote:When a package states its mature in 70-80 days, that means from transplanting date for many crops, not from the time its sown.
I didn't realize that as a beginner.

If I do not learn another thing from this thread, this info is golden! I never knew that and it sure explains a lot of past disappointments.

dtm is an old one that I know newbies hardly ever get first time.
that is part of reason if i ever write a garden book i will explain clearly and put
chart that explains for each dtm.

thegreatcob wrote:dtm is an old one that I know newbies hardly ever get first time.
that is part of reason if i ever write a garden book i will explain clearly and put
chart that explains for each dtm.

Please define DTM.

camprn wrote:

thegreatcob wrote:dtm is an old one that I know newbies hardly ever get first time.
that is part of reason if i ever write a garden book i will explain clearly and put
chart that explains for each dtm.

Please define DTM.

Just guessing here, but DTM - Days to Maturity?

GG

Goosegirl wrote:

camprn wrote:

thegreatcob wrote:dtm is an old one that I know newbies hardly ever get first time.
that is part of reason if i ever write a garden book i will explain clearly and put
chart that explains for each dtm.

Please define DTM.

Just guessing here, but DTM - Days to Maturity?

GG

thanks GG

Hybrids, heirlooms, open pollinated questions are common. Summer crops and cole crops, a lot of people want to start them together so that might be helpful too. Just a few ideas...

Please include any definitions to the terms posted in this thread.

OMG do I have enough birth certificate left to make a generous list of horticultural and gardening shorthand / abbreviations .. I think not.

My simple advice ( I'm simple , so I'm told by the " Lady " next door ) is to look out for loads of old gardening mags and books on the likes of the freecycles , ebay and amazon etc and buy a dozen of so that cover a wide range of gardening . Get hold of libray b oos
Then actually make time to read them several times ..suddenly your gardening vocabulary will grow like a bamboo years under ground the pop , pop ,pop & pop a shoot here there and everywhere and it all makes sense Once you drink deeply from the fountain of knowledge you'll grow in your knowledge quite unconsiously

This is especially for the plant hardiness terms as there are several different lists that have a common thread theme .. some use capital letters for the abbreviations some lowercase letters .
If you find you are stumped by an an abbreviated term PM ( send a private message ) the poster and ask or better still , knowing that there are lots of others likely to have the same question , just ask on the open thread what it means . No one will shout you down as there is no such thing as a stupid question on this site .

To give you a view of the amount of typing work here is part of the " Key" ( index ) out of one of my seed cats

S=sow

F= flower

H= harvesting period.

cm/in =height .

I =indoors .. does not always say start indoors or if it is the complete growth cycle .

O =outdoors.

ha = Hardy Annual ...some places use HA means it can be grown outside most years till first frost ha can be used to say half hardy which can be confusing as this is usually quite a narrow temperature ranged sensitive plant .

hb = Hardy Biennial ..means outside or inside sowing... planted out / thinned to individual plants at a set spacing, usually flowers or harvests in second year & is then pulled out .

hha = half hardy annual ..... old weather kills it , rarely last many months .. seed viability is often one year only.

hhp= half hardy perennial ....cold kills the bloom /crop but the plant sirvives for two or more years .. sometimes intense prolonged cold will also kill the plant .
hp= hardy perennial . ( .I like these ,you only buy one plant then increase it by making cuttings over the years ) they flower year after year for several years what ever the weather & you can often take vegetive or root cuttings to increase plant numbers ( propagate ) . Taking cutting from a young plant usually gives best results.

FYF = first year flowering ...or better FIFY = flowers in first year

AGM = self appointed terms of a company or organisation's award usually meaning " Award of Garden Merit ". Which is usually means well tested for consistantly good results and endorsed by some supposedly famous quality gardening guru. Frequently means it costs far more than other seeds / plants of the same sort ... supposedly greater cost to cover the development costs and endorsers fees etc. etc.

That's all I've got time for at present , I'm off out playing in the rain a few minutes

BUMP

And just a review
TOS

acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/TOS
Acronym Definition; TOS: Teacher Over Shoulder (chat) TOS: The Original Series (Star Trek) TOS: The Other Side: TOS: Type Of Service: TOS: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

I don't know!

Triciasgarden wrote:acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/TOS
Acronym Definition; TOS: Teacher Over Shoulder (chat) TOS: The Original Series (Star Trek) TOS: The Other Side: TOS: Type Of Service: TOS: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

I don't know!

Tricia, just click the link for the answer.

I thought that would be funny to share because as you can see abbreviations can mean so many different things.  I meant to add a "LOL" but forgot.  That's what happens when you get a brain fart.  Oops, maybe I shouldn't use that word but that's what happens sometimes when I post and if you ask my family they will say that happens when I talk also!

Triciasgarden wrote:I thought that would be funny to share because as you can see abbreviations can mean so many different things.  I meant to add a "LOL" but forgot.  That's what happens when you get a brain fart.  Oops, maybe I shouldn't use that word but that's what happens sometimes when I post and if you ask my family they will say that happens when I talk also!

LOL! I totally understand!


Page one is pretty handy for newbees too.

Thank you for helping me, I sure need it!

Does anyone know if Mel is talking about average air or soil temperatures in the germination timetables and percentages at the end of the Second Edition?

WriterCPA wrote:Does anyone know if Mel is talking about average air or soil temperatures in the germination timetables and percentages at the end of the Second Edition?

I am not sure what Mel wrote, but typically when discussing gardening and germination time, 'temperature' is in regards to the temp of the growing medium.

Click ~~~> http://tomclothier.hort.net/page11.html