Green thumbs and dirty fingers.

[haha_on_me]

that's really neat!

Thank you, I think there are so many interesting things to grow, learn, and enjoy.

 

[Wild_Honey_66]

Thank you, I think there are so many interesting things to grow, learn, and enjoy.

agreed.

 

[Kalamain]

Thank you Heather, Along with typical garden plants, I plant odd things in my garden each year. I have grown the oldest variety of sorghum, and a wheat the Spaniards brought the the Ameican southwest in the 1690s.

Did you use them or just grow them for shits and giggles?

 

[haha_on_me]

Did you use them or just grow them for shits and giggles?

I didn't grow enough cotton for anything but shits and giggles. The tobacco however, I use as a natural pesticide. Steep the leaves, and makes a tea-like liquid for the sprayer. The sorghum and wheat for seed, this year there should be enough to process the sorghum for biscuits, and wheat for flour.

 

[Kalamain]

I didn't grow enough cotton for anything but shits and giggles. The tobacco however, I use as a natural pesticide. Steep the leaves, and makes a tea-like liquid for the sprayer. The sorghum and wheat for seed, this year there should be enough to process the sorghum for biscuits, and wheat for flour.

You know nicotinoids are harmful against beneficial insects too, right?
What pests are you spraying against?

Its awesome that you can grow to crop. How much acreage do you have that you could crop that much, or will a few plants get you a good enough crop?

 

[Kalamain]

I just went to check my Mint and it's coming back to life. Must have been the root issue. Thanks for advice! I'll be back asking how to get rid of it soon, I guess.

There are ways to pen it in.

If you use something like the top of these below it will stop the roots from spreading.
yuo just have to dig it in more than about 6" or so.


http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDk3WDUwMA==/z/FwAAAOxyzpdTiFNt/$_1.JPG

 

[monoblanco]

If you have anything to say on crops please feel free to say something. I was going to do a small stint on soft fruit growing.
I am doing Raspberries, Blueberries and strawberries this year.
)

I'm so jealous! Berries don't grow well here in central Texas. It's just too hot.

When it comes to fruit, what I have had luck with are things like figs and grapes. Fending off the squirrels, however, is a different matter altogether...

This past summer, I put a net around my fig tree and got a pretty nice crop. The grapes are a different matter though since they're growing across the top of a 10 ft high pergola.

The way I look at it is, the grapes are my donation to the squirrel community as a way to keep them out of my tomatoes. So far, it's worked. Fingers crossed for next year.

 

[Kalamain]

I'm so jealous! Berries don't grow well here in central Texas. It's just too hot.

When it comes to fruit, what I have had luck with are things like figs and grapes. Fending off the squirrels, however, is a different matter altogether...

This past summer, I put a net around my fig tree and got a pretty nice crop. The grapes are a different matter though since they're growing across the top of a 10 ft high pergola.

The way I look at it is, the grapes are my donation to the squirrel community as a way to keep them out of my tomatoes. So far, it's worked. Fingers crossed for next year.

I did a little reading and others manage to grow berries in Texas.

I'm wondering how they do it and you can't.

Almost everywhere I read says that your water isn't good enough though. You need to collect rain water to feed them.

Have you thought of getting those sonic gadgets that make supersonic sounds that annoy cats and small animals but don't deter birds and the like?

Another thing to try is to get a second grape to cross pollinate.

 

[Kalamain]

So today I was messing in the garden and decided to get on with it and trim back my Heathers.

Before and After.

I really need to work out how to take photos on this new phone. This camera is totally different.

Also....
My unknown Sedum is sprouting already. Thats really early.

 

[Lilylovex64]

I have a lemon tree in my back yard and this year it gave off tons of lemons!

I am friends with all of my neighbors who are a lot older than me and have more experience in planting/gardening so they will give me tips or pointers.

I give away most of the lemons but one of my friends has an orange tree so we will trade now.

 

[Kalamain]

I have a lemon tree in my back yard and this year it gave off tons of lemons!

I am friends with all of my neighbors who are a lot older than me and have more experience in planting/gardening so they will give me tips or pointers.

I give away most of the lemons but one of my friends has an orange tree so we will trade now.

Thats awesome!

I'm growing 6 lemon plants. They don't survive outdoors here in the UK so I will have to keep them indoors.

 

[Lilylovex64]

Thats awesome!

I'm growing 6 lemon plants. They don't survive outdoors here in the UK so I will have to keep them indoors.

It has been so cold here lately I feel like a crazy plant lady bringing them all inside or making sure they are covered outside, they are all over my living room in the winter time lol

 

[Kalamain]

It has been so cold here lately I feel like a crazy plant lady bringing them all inside or making sure they are covered outside, they are all over my living room in the winter time lol

Seeing as it's Texas.... What are we calling 'cold'?

Is your idea of cold my idea of cold?

Have you considered fleecing them?

 

[Lilylovex64]

Seeing as it's Texas.... What are we calling 'cold'?

Is your idea of cold my idea of cold?

Have you considered fleecing them?

Lol my idea of cold is probably nothing compared to yours, I only bring them in on nights that it's going to freeze or just cover them with a sheet.

 

[Kalamain]

Lol my idea of cold is probably nothing compared to yours, I only bring them in on nights that it's going to freeze or just cover them with a sheet.

Thats the same as fleecing really.

These are mine.
Tiny at the mo... With luck they will come on next year.

 

[Twlightdreamer]

Roses are my passion but I've a love for every plant. Here are a few pics from my yard from the last few years.

I have a full grown Rheingold Arborvitae in my front yard. He's called Shrubbe- yes, I named him . Roses along the side of my house- hybrid teas, grandifloras, and knockouts. There's also a smoke bush, wheeping cherry, and caryopteris.

 

[Twlightdreamer]

And my last spam post- here's the result from my square foot garden in the heart of the city. I had tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries before anyone else. . Sorry for the size- Lit was a pain with the size.

 

[simplegirl]

Twilight, is that a melon sitting on top of the pot on your first pic? Your roses are divine! And your square foot garden looks fantastic! It really looks like you've made the most of it. Wow!

 

[Kalamain]

Thanks for posting TD!

Those look amazing.
I like your raised bed idea. You really packed a lot in there!

I really love Smoke bushes! That effect when the flowers have finished is amazing!

 

[Twlightdreamer]

Twilight, is that a melon sitting on top of the pot on your first pic? Your roses are divine! And your square foot garden looks fantastic! It really looks like you've made the most of it. Wow!

Yes, a Sugarbaby watermelon took root and I didn't have the heart to rip it up. Thanks.

Thanks for posting TD!

Those look amazing.
I like your raised bed idea. You really packed a lot in there!

I really love Smoke bushes! That effect when the flowers have finished is amazing!

I picked up a book called "Gardening by the square foot" and based the raised garden around it. The only trouble I had was the corn- we had some bad windstorms last summer and I ended up tying it up. The tomatoes did very well- the Habanero plant ended up producing WAY too many peppers. Lol

 

[Kalamain]

I picked up a book called "Gardening by the square foot" and based the raised garden around it. The only trouble I had was the corn- we had some bad windstorms last summer and I ended up tying it up. The tomatoes did very well- the Habanero plant ended up producing WAY too many peppers. Lol

Our summer isn't warm enough for chillies outside. We have to put them in a greenhouse.

When I did corn a couple of years ago it was an utter disaster... I tried planting around them and it all died... The corn was just leeching the water from all around it!
I guess some plants can't be grown that way!

 

[Twlightdreamer]

Our summer isn't warm enough for chillies outside. We have to put them in a greenhouse.

When I did corn a couple of years ago it was an utter disaster... I tried planting around them and it all died... The corn was just leeching the water from all around it!
I guess some plants can't be grown that way!

Corn is not a friendly neighbor- neither are vining tomatoes! They steal nutrients and climb all over the place... I ended up having yellow grape tomatoes vines get run over by the pushmower.. every time we mowed.

 

[dmejo]

hi...
like your garden pic!! i'm a square foot gardener in minnesota... i've been gardening that way the past 15 years or so...
where do you live? i've got at least 5 months before i can get in the garden again...
congrats on your gardening success!!

 

[Twlightdreamer]

hi...
like your garden pic!! i'm a square foot gardener in minnesota... i've been gardening that way the past 15 years or so...
where do you live? i've got at least 5 months before i can get in the garden again...
congrats on your gardening success!!

Thanks. I live in the southern US.

 

[Kalamain]

Corn is not a friendly neighbor- neither are vining tomatoes! They steal nutrients and climb all over the place... I ended up having yellow grape tomatoes vines get run over by the pushmower.. every time we mowed.

I learned early on to NOT do vine tomatoes... Or if I do to pin them up.

My first tomato was bought with no clue... I just grabbed 3 and planted them... It was a disaster!

Corn looked great (I actually did like the look and smell of it!) but it was a bugger!

My garden isn't suited to crops now... I think I will stick to just soft fruit and flowers!