OT -- Any gardeners out there?

Firemanyz

I plant to till it a few more times before I plant. 

JohnnyTarheel

@Chubbs you have got me going on new raised beds... this will be first time!

Chubbs

Firemanyz said:

 Just tilled the garden today and added some chicken manure. It's going to rain tomorrow so I wanted to let the poop seep down. 

Nice. Nice plot there. Good luck this season!

SwampBadger

Still snow on the ground here.  Usually unwise to get mine in before June 1, too many freezes.

jonnymack

It's on my bucket list. Hopefully I will be able to get a garden going. Fortunately, I live on a cattle farm and my father-in-law lets this dude grow a garden next to the barn. We have incredible tomatoes every year amongst some other fine veggies. For me right now it's time. Hopefully if this job pans out like I hope in 4 years, I will have much time to learn the craft of gardening. Great pics from all. 

Chubbs

SwampBadger said:

Still snow on the ground here.  Usually unwise to get mine in before June 1, too many freezes.

I hear you. You start indoors? My tomatoes need to get In the ground soon. They are larger than normal at this time. Got a new grow light and it is effective. Worried they will be root bound in another week or two when we are past last freeze. 

tz666

I fight weeds in our garden, I like the veggies but do too much fun stuff to have time for weeding. Im planting this weekend, give me some helpful hints on stopping weeds

Chubbs

JohnnyTarheel said:

@Chubbs you have got me going on new raised beds... this will be first time!

Nice! That is a great setup! You will love it. Are you in NC?

Chubbs

tz666 said:

I fight weeds in our garden, I like the veggies but do too much fun stuff to have time for weeding. Im planting this weekend, give me some helpful hints on stopping weeds

Do you have raised beds? A plot on the ground is more prone to weeds. Also, drip irrigation is a life saver. Water on schedule for consistent water but also only waters the root zone of the plants. The alternative is spraying with a hose or sprinkler which just waters the whole plot including weeds. 

Fred19Flintstone

I haven't planted a garden in years, but I've been thinking of a veggie garden all winter.  The problem is I messed up my back this winter and it still smarts.  I saw on the web someone made a frame out of treated wood that holds plastic tubs waist high.  The tubs are 2x3 and are what contractors use to mix concrete.  I think I'll start small with 6 tubs.  It may not make a big garden, but I'll have fun with it.

tarheelmatt

Jeremiah said:

That's great man. Can't wait to get ours going as well... I built these a couple weeks ago... Wish now I would have started inside like you did. I'll be paying top dollar at lowes for those Bonnie starters again this year. 

Nice looking raised beds @Jeremiah !  Try going to a local mom and pop greenhouse.  You can save some serious coin!  

tarheelmatt

Will be trying to get in mine this week to turn the soil, add amendments, and clean the area up to get ready.  

fishlessman

we're still doing the poor mans fertilizer trick up here,  theres still maybe 30 inches of snow melting on the raised beds. you guys are going to be eating when im planting

4Runner

@Chubbs  - I planted my tomatoes last weekend.  Never done it this early.....should I be worried?  Nice looking garden btw.  I build my raised bed last year.   Love it.  

Legume

you can always stagger your planting, we've done this as the heat here tends to drive them into a slow production phase after a while, so we either stagger planting or we buy varieties that have staggered time to fruiting

SwampBadger

Chubbs said:

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  You start indoors? My tomatoes need to get In the ground soon. They are larger than normal at this time. Got a new grow light and it is effective. Worried they will be root bound in another week or two when we are past last freeze. 

This will be my second season up north.  Started indoors last year, and it was a massive failure on my part (out of town, sporadic watering, etc.) 

My subdivision was put in on old farmland here in a valley.  I just stick the seeds in the ground in a line, and come back a couple months later to massive veggies, like these cauliflower.  No weeding, no watering.  Spoiled, for sure.  Compared to the garden I tried to grow in Florida sand, this is a cake walk.

Throwing in a couple of bee hives this year to add to the fun.

nolaegghead

....the plot thickens...

blind99

We found out we got a community garden plot, so we'll plant that, in addition to a few things in our yard.  My boxes are a whopping 4' x 4' - not a lot of space. but we'll do lettuce and herbs for quick access from the house.  beans on strings tied to the fence because my 4 year old loves to plant and eat them.  maybe a tomato or two in a container.  I did a bag of potatoes last year.  Very easy and kind of cool, but a lot of time just to get some potatoes that frankly didn't taste any different than those from the grocery.

@jeremiah it's not too late to start seedlings.  it's easy and a lot of fun to see everything come up.  I've had luck with tomatoes, peppers, lots of herbs.  i've even started heads of lettuce inside.

you folks have some amazing gardens.  i hope you'll post pictures as things start to grow.

Chubbs

4Runner said:

@Chubbs  - I planted my tomatoes last weekend.  Never done it this early.....should I be worried?  Nice looking garden btw.  I build my raised bed last year.   Love it.  

Where are you? In SC? It is certainly warm enough but I think there will be another frost. Clemson University says there is a 95% chance of no frost after April 15. It drops significantly to like 50% by April 1st. I plant to plant in the next 2 weeks but will monitor the weather closely. 

JohnnyTarheel

@Chubbs I am located n Charlotte. I see your are from Columbia.  I know you like your humidity about July and August... 

jtcBoynton

Fred19Flintstone said:

I haven't planted a garden in years, but I've been thinking of a veggie garden all winter.  The problem is I messed up my back this winter and it still smarts.  I saw on the web someone made a frame out of treated wood that holds plastic tubs waist high.  The tubs are 2x3 and are what contractors use to mix concrete.  I think I'll start small with 6 tubs.  It may not make a big garden, but I'll have fun with it.

You might also consider planters attached to a fence or wall.

Spring Chicken

This is what I came up with for my Sweetie to grow stuff. It has auto-drip irrigation and some frames to cover it up with plastic if we get a cool spell.  And, yes I put in the paver stones over decomposed granite to keep her little tootsies dry. 

Spring "I Grow Sawdust" Chicken

Spring Texas USA

MaskedMarvel

I have a backyard plot and a community garden plot - both of which are going to be planted from the farmers market 
soon. Ill post pics when I get them in. 


But but for those of you having trouble with weeds - I use this at the community plot and it is VICIOUS on stuff you don't want. And accurate. And super easy. I'm ordering one for the house. 

http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-Grass-Whip-Serrated-Overall/dp/B00002N8OG

No idea what brand we have at the community garden. It's ancient. Give it a try!!

Zmokin

I used to grow multiple rows of a variety of vegetables, but then the trees grew up and most of my yard is inundated with shade.  So, for years now, I just plant a few plants in pots in my front yard, I used to try and do tomatoes, but they don't do so well, so now i stick with pepper plants.  Usually a cayenne, a jalapeno, something milder, and a Thai Hot if I can find one.

DoubleEgger

JohnnyTarheel said:

@Chubbs I am located n Charlotte. I see your are from Columbia.  I know you like your humidity about July and August... 

Lived outside Columbia for four years. It's like a freakin rain forest with the heat and humidity. Miserable. 

Jeremiah

DoubleEgger said:

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JohnnyTarheel said:

@Chubbs I am located n Charlotte. I see your are from Columbia.  I know you like your humidity about July and August... 

Lived outside Columbia for four years. It's like a freakin rain forest with the heat and humidity. Miserable. 

Miserable is right. 

4Runner

Chubbs said:

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4Runner said:

@Chubbs  - I planted my tomatoes last weekend.  Never done it this early.....should I be worried?  Nice looking garden btw.  I build my raised bed last year.   Love it.  

Where are you? In SC? It is certainly warm enough but I think there will be another frost. Clemson University says there is a 95% chance of no frost after April 15. It drops significantly to like 50% by April 1st. I plant to plant in the next 2 weeks but will monitor the weather closely. 

Columbia.  

Chubbs

4Runner said:

show previous quotes

Chubbs said:

4Runner said:

@Chubbs  - I planted my tomatoes last weekend.  Never done it this early.....should I be worried?  Nice looking garden btw.  I build my raised bed last year.   Love it.  

Where are you? In SC? It is certainly warm enough but I think there will be another frost. Clemson University says there is a 95% chance of no frost after April 15. It drops significantly to like 50% by April 1st. I plant to plant in the next 2 weeks but will monitor the weather closely. 

Columbia.  

That's right. Me too. I would just watch the weather. If it expected to get really cook at night you may want to cover the plants with something for a little protection. 

4Runner

Yes.  I'm seeing 35 this weekend.  We are planning to cover Sat night. Plants are still still small.  Testing a Parrot Flower Power too so geeking out.   Pretty cool.  

Dredger

I lived in Columbia for a couple of years due to a job transfer. I was listening to a local radio station and they asked new residents to call in and tell them what they thought of the city. A lady with a distinct northern accent called and said "The only thing separating Columbia from h*ll is a screen door." I had to agree with her, lol.