Misc Official 2011 Gardening Thread - Page 6

MOhillbilly · 11:11 AM

The times gettin close for indoor seeders & planning for early varaties.

tips, tricks, varaties you like. Where to buy. What to buy. Does & donts.

Your personal picks.

All things gardening.

What you got?

**penguinz** · 12-22-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

i have everything but the bulbs. suggestions?

I use just regular shop type florescent lights and have always had good luck. No need to get the expensive grow lights.

MOhillbilly · 12-22-2010, 10:48 AM

im gonna pull the trigger and get this.
Tomato Growers Seed Special #1064 (Assortment) $17.95
An outstanding assortment of our best early season, mid-season, beefsteak, yellow, cherry, and paste varieties chosen for their excellent flavor and superior performance. Enough seeds to grow bushels and bushels of luscious tomatoes. Includes one packet each of: Early Girl VFF Hybrid, First Prize VFFNT Hybrid, Beefmaster VFN Hybrid, Cherry VFT Hybrid, Sweet Million FNT Hybrid, Viva Italia VFFNA Hybrid.
http://www.tomatogrowers.com/collection.htm

KC_Lee · 12-22-2010, 11:33 AM

Ok here's a strange question.

My house was hit by the May floods here in Nashville. Most of my yard was under water for 6 days and my house had 4 inches of water in it.

When I was able to get into my house the floor was covered in, among other things, dead worms. All across my yards we dead worms.

So, should I be concerned about the earthworm population in my ground this year?

Like I said, strange question but one that has been on my mind.

MOhillbilly · 12-22-2010, 02:21 PM

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/96619/

anyone ever use these?

**penguinz** · 12-22-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/96619/

anyone ever use these?

I have used the peat pellet version and it worked well. No reason why these would not work.

KS Smitty · 12-22-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/96619/

anyone ever use these?

Not those specifically but I have used coir "pods" for starting seeds. They looked like they were bigger than the peat ones after soaking and germination time was maybe a day or 2 faster (compared to the previous years notes anyway) and I never had any mold on top as has occurred with peat. Also once the plants have their first true leaves I put a fan on low and keep it running 24/7, this seems to help with both mold/fungus and plants being leggy.

FWIW I have had good luck making newspaper pots and just plain old potting soil for transplanting. I like to germinate seeds in a damp paper towel in a baggie on top of the fridge and then transplant them into the pots when they have some decent roots.

Groves · 12-22-2010, 10:04 PM

This thread will be my new homepage. You guys are awesome.

MOhillbilly · 12-23-2010, 08:37 AM

anyone heard from dinny? i figured he would have chimed in by now.

MOhillbilly · 12-23-2010, 08:39 AM

MU has extensive resource guides

http://extension.missouri.edu/stclai...20Calendar.pdf

BigOlChiefsfan · 12-23-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KS Smitty

FWIW I have had good luck making newspaper pots and just plain old potting soil for transplanting. I like to germinate seeds in a damp paper towel in a baggie on top of the fridge and then transplant them into the pots when they have some decent roots.

Newspaper pots 'how-to' V1

'how to' V2

(spend any money you save on more bales of peat moss)

**cabletech94** · 12-23-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC_Lee

Ok here's a strange question.

My house was hit by the May floods here in Nashville. Most of my yard was under water for 6 days and my house had 4 inches of water in it.

When I was able to get into my house the floor was covered in, among other things, dead worms. All across my yards we dead worms.

So, should I be concerned about the earthworm population in my ground this year?

Like I said, strange question but one that has been on my mind.

you'd think if there were alot around your house (in and out), there'd still be a ton left. just thinking out loud here.

BigOlChiefsfan · 12-23-2010, 05:42 PM

I don't know enough about worm ratio to really help, but I think they're measured by the ton per acre (there's a lot of hot action goes on in the top 2 feet of soil). It couldn't hurt to add compost/peat to your soil where possible and turn loose a few containers full of local yokel worms in that enriched dirt. Put your coffee grounds/salad trimmings, etc...out in your compost pile (if you don't have one, start one) and you'll soon find worms in there. Let nature do the rest. Oh yeah, stay above water level.

BigOlChiefsfan · 12-24-2010, 08:57 AM

I know I keep talking up Sphagnum peat moss bales, but short of having a ton of compost or leaf mold, it's the best soil amendment most of us can go buy. One thing for those of you w/bad, hard soil who want to get your kids interested in a garden...build a box of cedar (I use fence slats, cut to 4' and use the cutoff as a 'stake' in each corner) I set it where it'll get good sunshine and where i can water it w/hose or bucket. Fill it w/3 or 4 bales of sphagnum peat most and a couple of bags of builders sand (reserve a coffee can or two of sand), buy as much peat as you need, you want it full. Buy a couple of sweet potatoes now and keep them dark & dry until march or so. Then stick 3 or 4 toothpicks into each sweet potato (SP) and set one end of the SP into a jar of water. You'll start having sweet potato vines grow out of the SP. I break these off the SP and set them into a couple of recycled styrofoam cups 3/4 full of your reserved builders sand. I add water to these and set them near a window or under a 'shop light' and let the vines start putting on roots. They need a lot of water at this stage, transplant into bigger containers if you need to - these are called 'sweet potato slips'. Around here the last frost is about April 15, go plant your sweet potato slips after all danger of frost. I plant my bed in a 'diamond' pattern, about every 10 inches or so apart. No bugs around here will eat sweet potatoes, no critters seem to bother 'em, frost or flood/rot is about the only problems I remember ever having. They're a tropical root, so sun/heat are their friend. Dig them up in the fall before frost, lay them on a tarp spread out on the lawn in the sun. Let your kids 'rotate' them every few hours and 'cure' them (dry the dirt, really). Brush 'em clean if you like, we always peeled ours when I was a kid but there's probably a way to wash them clean - not part of my repertoire.
I store them where air can circulate around 'em. Kids seem to really like growing these from slips, and they're pretty much guaranteed to grow if you keep them from getting cold, flooded. Water when you think about it. The vines are fairly attractive, and I know some people eat the young leaves in salad. Not me.
You won't really 'save money' because the bed costs more than buying SP the week after Thanksgiving for $.20/lb @ walmart, but it's money well spent if your kids want a success. Next year build a new box, use your old one to grow 3 pumpkin seeds, and rotate 'em after that.. When I was a kid we didn't have bales of peat, we went into the woods and found rotten logs or old leaf piles and used 'compost' mixed w/creek sand. Worked pretty well so if you have more time than money, get with it.

MOhillbilly · 12-28-2010, 10:57 AM

AHHHHH!! brain overload.....

puttin these here so i remember come ordering time.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6536-eight-ball-f1.aspx

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-7659-sunburst-f1.aspx

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5527/

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5093/

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/cab...tId=2020&trail=

KC_Lee · 12-28-2010, 09:10 PM

Anybody grown blueberry bushes? I want to put some in next to my house but I have no idea how much sun or heat they can take.

12-21-2010, 11:09 AM
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	Official 2011 Gardening Thread The times gettin close for indoor seeders & planning for early varaties. tips, tricks, varaties you like. Where to buy. What to buy. Does & donts. Your personal picks. All things gardening. What you got? Last edited by MOhillbilly; 12-21-2010 at 11:11 AM.. Reason: shit wrong year. jfc.
Posts: 23,371

12-22-2010, 10:48 AM	#77
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	im gonna pull the trigger and get this. Tomato Growers Seed Special #1064 (Assortment) $17.95 An outstanding assortment of our best early season, mid-season, beefsteak, yellow, cherry, and paste varieties chosen for their excellent flavor and superior performance. Enough seeds to grow bushels and bushels of luscious tomatoes. Includes one packet each of: Early Girl VFF Hybrid, First Prize VFFNT Hybrid, Beefmaster VFN Hybrid, Cherry VFT Hybrid, Sweet Million FNT Hybrid, Viva Italia VFFNA Hybrid. http://www.tomatogrowers.com/collection.htm __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

12-22-2010, 11:33 AM	#78
KC_Lee You're CARICATURES, ALL of you Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $1590960	Ok here's a strange question. My house was hit by the May floods here in Nashville. Most of my yard was under water for 6 days and my house had 4 inches of water in it. When I was able to get into my house the floor was covered in, among other things, dead worms. All across my yards we dead worms. So, should I be concerned about the earthworm population in my ground this year? Like I said, strange question but one that has been on my mind.
Posts: 9,517

12-22-2010, 02:21 PM	#79
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/96619/ anyone ever use these? __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

12-22-2010, 10:04 PM	#82
Groves Turning the Corner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, Missouri Casino cash: $2038541	This thread will be my new homepage. You guys are awesome.
Posts: 2,381

12-23-2010, 08:37 AM	#83
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	anyone heard from dinny? i figured he would have chimed in by now. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

12-23-2010, 08:39 AM	#84
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	MU has extensive resource guides http://extension.missouri.edu/stclai...20Calendar.pdf __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

12-23-2010, 05:42 PM	#87
BigOlChiefsfan Certified Bourbon taster Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Shawnee KS Casino cash: $7160157	I don't know enough about worm ratio to really help, but I think they're measured by the ton per acre (there's a lot of hot action goes on in the top 2 feet of soil). It couldn't hurt to add compost/peat to your soil where possible and turn loose a few containers full of local yokel worms in that enriched dirt. Put your coffee grounds/salad trimmings, etc...out in your compost pile (if you don't have one, start one) and you'll soon find worms in there. Let nature do the rest. Oh yeah, stay above water level. __________________ A man can never own too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition. -- R. Kipling
Posts: 5,050

12-24-2010, 08:57 AM	#88
BigOlChiefsfan Certified Bourbon taster Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Shawnee KS Casino cash: $7160157	I know I keep talking up Sphagnum peat moss bales, but short of having a ton of compost or leaf mold, it's the best soil amendment most of us can go buy. One thing for those of you w/bad, hard soil who want to get your kids interested in a garden...build a box of cedar (I use fence slats, cut to 4' and use the cutoff as a 'stake' in each corner) I set it where it'll get good sunshine and where i can water it w/hose or bucket. Fill it w/3 or 4 bales of sphagnum peat most and a couple of bags of builders sand (reserve a coffee can or two of sand), buy as much peat as you need, you want it full. Buy a couple of sweet potatoes now and keep them dark & dry until march or so. Then stick 3 or 4 toothpicks into each sweet potato (SP) and set one end of the SP into a jar of water. You'll start having sweet potato vines grow out of the SP. I break these off the SP and set them into a couple of recycled styrofoam cups 3/4 full of your reserved builders sand. I add water to these and set them near a window or under a 'shop light' and let the vines start putting on roots. They need a lot of water at this stage, transplant into bigger containers if you need to - these are called 'sweet potato slips'. Around here the last frost is about April 15, go plant your sweet potato slips after all danger of frost. I plant my bed in a 'diamond' pattern, about every 10 inches or so apart. No bugs around here will eat sweet potatoes, no critters seem to bother 'em, frost or flood/rot is about the only problems I remember ever having. They're a tropical root, so sun/heat are their friend. Dig them up in the fall before frost, lay them on a tarp spread out on the lawn in the sun. Let your kids 'rotate' them every few hours and 'cure' them (dry the dirt, really). Brush 'em clean if you like, we always peeled ours when I was a kid but there's probably a way to wash them clean - not part of my repertoire. I store them where air can circulate around 'em. Kids seem to really like growing these from slips, and they're pretty much guaranteed to grow if you keep them from getting cold, flooded. Water when you think about it. The vines are fairly attractive, and I know some people eat the young leaves in salad. Not me. You won't really 'save money' because the bed costs more than buying SP the week after Thanksgiving for $.20/lb @ walmart, but it's money well spent if your kids want a success. Next year build a new box, use your old one to grow 3 pumpkin seeds, and rotate 'em after that.. When I was a kid we didn't have bales of peat, we went into the woods and found rotten logs or old leaf piles and used 'compost' mixed w/creek sand. Worked pretty well so if you have more time than money, get with it. __________________ A man can never own too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition. -- R. Kipling
Posts: 5,050

12-28-2010, 10:57 AM	#89
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	AHHHHH!! brain overload..... puttin these here so i remember come ordering time. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6536-eight-ball-f1.aspx http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-7659-sunburst-f1.aspx http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5527/ http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5093/ http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/cab...tId=2020&trail= __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

12-28-2010, 09:10 PM	#90
KC_Lee You're CARICATURES, ALL of you Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $1590960	Anybody grown blueberry bushes? I want to put some in next to my house but I have no idea how much sun or heat they can take.
Posts: 9,517