67 replies to this topic

[jkaris]

Man, those carrots look AWESOME!

Here is what we pulled this morning.
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Salsa peppers, Cayenne peppers, tomatoes and a lemon cucumber.

Also, this beast (tomato horn worm)
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was chewing away on my salsa pepper leaves.
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We saw him the other day and he was 1/3 the size he was today.

This morning, I caught him munching on an actual pepper and knew he has to go.
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I'll either feed him to the mantis we have on the tomatillo plants (she's gotten big) or toss him on the tree in the front for bird fodder.

When I pulled him off, he was leaking/spitting some green liquid crap all over the container and trying to bite it. I read that their bite isn't more then a peck, but this beast wasn't having any of the relocation effort.

[doc_moore_j]

So here we are almost October, and my brocolli plants have yet to produce anything that looks like a head of brocolli.  I have a good 8-10 plants, each about waste high and nothing.  Now that its starting to frost and freeze over in Colorado I fear I'm not going to get any brocolli this year   WTF Brocolli?!?!?  So far on my list of shit im not going to try and grow next season: Brocolli.

[jkaris]

Quick update.

We've gotten one decent but small Cantaloupe, the other could that have grown died early. We do have two small new ones growing. One is the size of a tennis ball, so that is promising.

No viable watermelons yet though (most were yellow or mushy) but two are growing, One baseball sized, the other the size of a larger nerf football. Both are nice colored and firm.

Plenty of tomatoes. The larger ones have slowed down, but the cherry tomatoes are still giving a decent yield.

Peppers are going really good. Salsa, Cayenne, Jalapeno, Bell. I am going to try to overwinter them. Not sure if I should uproot and move them inside or try some sort of greenhouse type of wrap around the raised bed.

Green cumbers were kind of a bust. Only one of 3 plants remain. Gave a couple small good ones, most were small, yellowish (bitter) and curled.
The lemon cucumbers are starting to put out good though, I have another 2 to pick today.

Corn all grew to about 2 feet and died. Mini corns in the ears.

Green and yellow squash gave a decent crop. The green had really, really thick skin. Those plants are mostly crap now, but still blooming. Lots of white flies and aphids the last month on them.

4 of 6 strawberry plants lived. 1 is putting out green fruit right now.

Carrots are really bushy.

One radish plant lived, has a bunch of the radish beans on the surface. I tasted one, radish flavored edamame!. Ha ha.

The second tomatillo plant got nasty (bugs eating holes int he leaves), so I trimmed it down to the main branches and stalk, which still seem alive.

My one grape vine had green leaves which all died a couple months ago, then sprouted a ton of new leaves, which are now starting to die. No idea what to do there. I'll ground plant it, later if they are perennial.

Apple tree looks great. Nectarine tree leaves turned yellow and most fell off. Still looks good though.

Lemon tree looks great. Moved it to a larger pot until we figure out where to plant it.

Overall, very happy with the garden this year. Looking forward to this winter and next year.


BTW, I had a kabucha squash from a friend's garden recently. Very awesome!

[jkaris]

BTW, any idea what this is? I found it growing at the base of one of the tomato plants.

 bumps.jpg   299.07K   15 downloads

It's almost got a wooden texture to it.

[Peikko]

This morning, I caught him munching on an actual pepper and knew he has to go.
cat2.jpg

I'll either feed him to the mantis we have on the tomatillo plants (she's gotten big) or toss him on the tree in the front for bird fodder.

When I pulled him off, he was leaking/spitting some green liquid crap all over the container and trying to bite it. I read that their bite isn't more then a peck, but this beast wasn't having any of the relocation effort.

 

Awww, what a cute and plump one. He's probably close to his wandering phase. Have you ever seen the adult sphynx moths? They're giant, and if you hold a live one it feels a lot like holding a mouse. 

 

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BTW, any idea what this is? I found it growing at the base of one of the tomato plants.

bumps.jpg

It's almost got a wooden texture to it.

 

It looks like some kind of gall? Cut one open and see if you find a creature inside. 

[DDR]

BTW, any idea what this is? I found it growing at the base of one of the tomato plants.bumps.jpgIt's almost got a wooden texture to it.

Yup... Probably a fungus of some sort. Did it show up after a rain? Is it releasing spores (looks like dust)

Most likely digesting the roots as the fall weather comes in and shuts down the tomato.
You can get a mushroom book and key it out if super interested... Mushrooms demystified is a great reference.

Edited by DDR, 09 November 2013 - 10:38 PM.

[GRANDTHEFT]

We recently put in a pretty decent little garden. Growing nicely!

 
and I'm sure the plot way out back of the shed is for medicinal  purposes only.

[jkaris]

Well, our "Not-Winter" is just about over. It's currently 70 degrees outside.

My Dwarf Lemon and Nectarine trees are putting out their first buds.
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My orange tree is full again too, so its time to buy one of these:
http://www.homedepot...24500/100466198

Tons of clover all over the ground too. Time to get planting! All we need is some rain.

Quick question. Anyone know why the leaves on my lemon are curling like that? I took a few into the local nursery and they were clueless. No white line indicating pests. My only though was it was up until recently in a pot that may have been too small for it?

[Screamer]

Those raised flower beds are awesome! I helped my folks install one in their garden under the condition half of it was mine for a summer/early fall. I went a more medicinal route with my half but they grow all sorts of stuff in it now. They absolutely love it. Its pretty gratifying to grow your own food. 
 

 

Quick question. Anyone know why the leaves on my lemon are curling like that? I took a few into the local nursery and they were clueless. No white line indicating pests. My only though was it was up until recently in a pot that may have been too small for it?

Curling leaves can be difficult to diagnose. Sometimes it is due to over or under watering. If you over water you can cause the roots to rot and this creates poor uptake in the plant. This waterlogging blocks oxygen uptake and essentially dries the leaves out. As you can imagine underwatering can have this same effect. It is also possible that you are putting too much fertilizer in (if you are). Fertilizer can "burn" the plant and create similar effects. It could be that the pot was too small. This would create suffication of the roots similar to overwatering. It looks like you have in the ground now so you should hopefully see some improvement. Did the roots look clear or break off easily during the transplant?

[jkaris]

It looks like you have in the ground now so you should hopefully see some improvement. Did the roots look clear or break off easily during the transplant?

Yep, I transplanted it about 2 weeks ago. The plant was/is very robust and healthy looking, aside from the leaf curl. Hopefully it was just the pot.

I am also going to try this out this year:
http://alaskagrowbuckets.com/

[Screamer]

Yep, I transplanted it about 2 weeks ago. The plant was/is very robust and healthy looking, aside from the leaf curl. Hopefully it was just the pot.

I am also going to try this out this year:
http://alaskagrowbuckets.com/

 

Hopefully it is a fruitfull year  Up here in Washington we can't grow those more "exotic" fruits that well. My friend in San Diego has a huge avaocado tree and Im super jealous. Those buckets look pretty awesome. Removes one human factor from growing. I also like the fact that it keeps everything open to change; you can move them around easier for a different look, in or out of the rain, more sunlight or less sun. Gonna give those a try once spring finally decides to roll around.

[doc_moore_j]

We did something really similar to those buckets when we lived in Denver.  Except we just had holes in the bottom of the bucket, drilling int he side like that is a good idea, it can hold more water that way.  We had quite a bit of success with our 5 gallon bucket tomatoes though, they grew all the way up to the second floor.  We have a garden space now though so it doesnt matter.  I am glad this thread got revived.  I spent the weekend prepping my garden area, Rin and I are totally excited.  This year she wants to do Tomatoes again, peppers, cucumbers, and pumpkins.  In addition to the strawberry plants we already have established.  We think we are also going to plant a couple grape vines/trees this year.  Cant wait.  It will be at least another month before we can plant all that though here in Colorado so I will update you all later

[el midgetron]

It's been a brutal winter in here Michigan....I can't wait for spring to arrive.

This winter I started sprouting. I am sure I could improve my method still but it's very easy to do and requires very little space. Not a bad way to have fresh edible greens when it's cold out.

[jkaris]

Behold, I am become death!

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This year when we planted, I put in a Bhut Jolokia (ghost pepper) plant. I was super excited because I love hot stuff and can put up with some pretty crazy heat.
SO my first batch came out and I was sorely dissappointed. They were about as hot as a really hot Jalapeno, but nowhere near what I expected (exponentially hotter than a habanero).

Well, my second batch has arrived. I cut myself a thin slice of one last night and it immediately became one of the hottest things I have ever eaten in my entire life. And a little later when that thin slice made it's way down below, it became THE #1 hottest pepper I have ever eaten. This thing was effing BRUTAL! My guts thought they were effing Cirque de Soleil or something.

Needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing how potent the chili paste will be from this batch.

After that, I am going to prune the tree, move it to a pot (so I can bring it in before it gets cold) and get it ready for the winter. I hear that peppers get hotter with each season.

[plasticfiend]

This is a GREAT thread!   Thanks for bumping it up Jkaris...

 

I've been dabbling with potted plants.  Mostly on the balcony.  Herbs have been just about the only success... I've been playing around regrowing stuff.  Pineapple.  Celery.  Roman Lettuce.  Stuff like that.  Ive started some ginger that is growing nicely.

 

Every time I try and plant the lettuce that I have regrown in whenever into soil... they never survive the transition.  Very frustrating.

 

PF

[DDR]

Jkaris... Peppers heat production (assuming water, exposure to sunlight, nutrients & vigor are equal) is most greatly influenced by weather... The hotter the weather the hotter the pepper. Was that first round produced during a cooler period? Also, there is some truth to hotter next year, because after the first year, the plant is mature and has already developed roots/fruiting structures and therefore can put all of it resources solely into producing fruit, (doesn't have to grow roots and as any leaves/branches). More nutrient & energy input into fruit = Better result.

Also, I just saw your curly leaves post... Hard to tell without being there to inspect. My best guess is PH or great weather changes... Doesn't look like leaf rollers are present, definitely not a nutrient issue, might be rot... Exposé the crown & some roots and take a look... Healthy roots are white... If they are dying back, are brown or have nodes or fungus on them you have root issues (nematodes, root rots, armerillia, etc.). Check out UC IPM (google it), there is a wealth of crop specific info there (pests, disease and care).

PF, A lot if things could be affecting the transplanting. Try direct seeding the lettuce. Plant more seeds than you need and once germinated, then thin (remove) for spacing and leave single plants in the spacing recommended on the seed packed. Harvest before they flower and get bitter. When watering allow some dry down on the soil surface (to prevent rot), but always keep the subsoil moist.

You guys can always PM me with questions anytime. I'm an agricultural consultant and will be happy to help if able.

Edited by DDR, 19 October 2014 - 09:15 AM.

[plasticfiend]

DDR,

What do you mean dry down? Add more dry soil?

And of course thank you for the tips!!

PF

[Jesse]

Wow those are awesome guys! I hope i could have atleast some sort of garden but no room really in my current house. And well its short trip here cause of our long, dark, cold winters.

My grandma used to garden she had all kinds of vegetables but the crobs were very small and you only got one per year. Still good carrots