2025 Garden Thread

[Stelcom66]

Didn't realize there was a gardening forum here! More of a reason to visit this time of year.

The northeast is getting a spring like we had last year. That was the first time I have ever had to deal with early tomato blight. My bad, they went out too early. I put our tomatoes out 2 weeks later this year on May 1st. They are thriving so far. Corn is up too, already 4" tall.

Yes a lot of rain. You definitely have a longer growing season than southern New England. This weekend is typically when the vegetable plants are planted. I did that a few weeks ago. Just a few tomato plants and 1 cucumber plant. In early April planted some lettuce and herb seeds in pots on the deck. Was concerned because it definitely got below freezing since then, but seem to be doing well. I'm surprised how well the lettuce is doing in a large pot.

Chives were good up until a few weeks ago, they come up on their own with some scallions.

 

[begreen]

Here's where the garden is at at the end of May this year.
Broccoli and strawberries are happy.



Tomatoes on the left, onions on the right


Moving back, melons, beans (just planted) on left and squash plus a poblano on the right and the first planting of lettuce. I just transplanted lettuce planting #3 yesterday. Not shown are the garlic and carrots, asparagus, blueberries, and raspberries.



Zucchini in front, potatoes and then strawberries and peas behind


I just took off the portable greenhouse from the eggplant and peppers.

Biscuit is guarding the catnip.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Here's where the garden is at at the end of May this year.
Broccoli and strawberries are happy.

View attachment 338965 View attachment 338966

Tomatoes on the left, onions on the right
View attachment 338967

Moving back, melons, beans (just planted) on left and squash plus a poblano on the right and the first planting of lettuce. I just transplanted lettuce planting #3 yesterday. Not shown are the garlic and carrots, asparagus, blueberries, and raspberries.

View attachment 338968

Zucchini in front, potatoes and then strawberries and peas behind
View attachment 338969

I just took off the portable greenhouse from the eggplant and peppers.
View attachment 338970
Biscuit is guarding the catnip.
View attachment 338971

You have a beautiful garden. I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. How did you build your retaining system? Did you pour concrete?

 

[begreen]

I was told that it is based on a German system. A local contractor bought the forms. They are 16"x16" Ls. The weight of the soil holds down the foot of the L.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I was told that it is based on a German system. A local contractor bought the forms. They are 16"x16" Ls. The weight of the soil holds down the foot of the L.

Oh OK that's a good idea. You are not going to be able to find those at a Home Depot for sure. I thought they looked a bit like 2x2 landscaping pavers set on edge. I could see the that the grain was not the same. He probably had to make up a wire matt to put in there too.

 

[djlew]

Gardens are looking great everyone. I need to get some updated pics. We have been getting a lot of rain and some of my fruits and veggies are displeased. Fruit trees are continuing to grow nicely. Seems like I am getting some pest issues so have been using neem more often before any long amounts of sun. My maters are also growing some bare and almost small, curling leaves. Thinking maybe tomato leaf curl (properly named for sure). No discoloration thankfully. Some of them are even starting to flower.

I am super impressed so far with my Patriot Blueberries. It looks like I will be getting a good amount this year even after some thinning.

 

[begreen]

Blueberries like a proper thinning of old wood. It looks like we are going to get a bumper crop again this year. We have 5 varieties, staged for a continuous harvest.

 

[EbS-P]

Blueberries like a proper thinning of old wood. It looks like we are going to get a bumper crop again this year. We have 5 varieties, staged for a continuous harvest.

Picked out first ones yesterday!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I haven’t even been to that corner of the yard yet, lol

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It’s not a bad thing. People are calling in asking to throw money at me. The blueberries will be there next year if I don’t get to them this year. The birds will appreciate it. Nothing goes to waste!

 

[Whitenuckler]

More pictures of my neighbors perennials. That gardener neighbor is not there anymore. I have a picture of a bush
that is flowering. Below it is the the Bleeding Hearts. Then another bush is flowering in a different spot.
I had to sneak over to take the picture. I'm thinking the first tree/bush could be a young cherry tree?
The other red one I'm not sure. I was never any good remembering all the names.

 

[djlew]

It’s not a bad thing. People are calling in asking to throw money at me. The blueberries will be there next year if I don’t get to them this year. The birds will appreciate it. Nothing goes to waste!

Not a bad thing at all! I can't wait until I have consistent abundant harvests for my fruit. I am a pretty impatient person in general, which is something I am working on, so keeping an eye on and taking care of these fruit trees and bushes has been great practice!

More pictures of my neighbors perennials. That gardener neighbor is not there anymore. I have a picture of a bush
that is flowering. Below it is the the Bleeding Hearts. Then another bush is flowering in a different spot.
I had to sneak over to take the picture. I'm thinking the first tree/bush could be a young cherry tree?
The other red one I'm not sure. I was never any good remembering all the names.

Wow! Those are gorgeous.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

My wife wanted some kale. I don’t have any planted yet, but I’ve seen some volunteers in the old garden. As I was pointing it out, I noticed a plant that I’d forgotten about. I probably put it in a decade ago, but it never really took off. Well, it appears to have finally gotten comfortable in its spot.

I couldn’t remember the name so I went searching for perennial greens. Once I saw the name I remembered it!

Good King Henry — Edible Acres

Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus / Blitum Bonus-Henricus Good King Henry. An incredible perennial spinach analog. Leaves can be harvested and cooked like spinach and taste rich, deep and nourishing. Unlike spinach, this is a powerfully tap rooted and hardy perennial! G.K.H. comes

www.edibleacres.org

So, now I guess I need to eat some, lol

 

[walhondingnashua]

Maybe I can get some advice here. Our hydrangeas have been great for several years. Early last year, all of the plants on one side of our porch never reached full growth, had yellower leaves and even dropped off a lot of them. Some of the stalks completely died. They are smaller and are recovering this year but are far behind the plants that showed no change. Here are a few pictures. First picture is a plant showing problems and the second is the very healthy plants. The issue has moved now to the "good" side of the porch but only in 1 plant. We have had amazing success with them since we planted them. Am I looking at some kind of disease here?

 

[marty319]

Between this and last year I planted 14 haskap plants,won't be a good year for blueberries this year as we've had very little moisture.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Maybe I can get some advice here. Our hydrangeas have been great for several years. Early last year, all of the plants on one side of our porch never reached full growth, had yellower leaves and even dropped off a lot of them. Some of the stalks completely died. They are smaller and are recovering this year but are far behind the plants that showed no change. Here are a few pictures. First picture is a plant showing problems and the second is the very healthy plants. The issue has moved now to the "good" side of the porch but only in 1 plant. We have had amazing success with them since we planted them. Am I looking at some kind of disease here?

It sounds like you’re missing a nutrient. It could be that they’re stressed somehow too. Adding compost and side dressing with a natural fertilizer that has micronutrients probably would solve it, or a local coop extension could test your soil and give you a more direct answer.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I was at a customer’s house and they are getting ready to move. They’re a couple blocks from my house. I got a bunch of self seeding mustard plants and a really good size sage! I tried sage a few times and couldn’t get it to take. I’m hoping with it growing successfully a few streets over it should do well in my area, lol

 

[djlew]

Maybe I can get some advice here. Our hydrangeas have been great for several years. Early last year, all of the plants on one side of our porch never reached full growth, had yellower leaves and even dropped off a lot of them. Some of the stalks completely died. They are smaller and are recovering this year but are far behind the plants that showed no change. Here are a few pictures. First picture is a plant showing problems and the second is the very healthy plants. The issue has moved now to the "good" side of the porch but only in 1 plant. We have had amazing success with them since we planted them. Am I looking at some kind of disease here?

In addition to the other good advice given I would probably expect to see some of the more structured leaves have more damage or more obvious discoloration if something bacterial or fungal. I don't have a lot of experience with hydrangeas but I agree with trying to supplement some nutrients and try to give them the same environment as the better looking plant. Something I struggle with is not trying to introduce a lot of variables at once. Trial and error for sure. Good luck!

 

[djlew]

I'm trying to identify what is causing my tomato and pepper leaves to curl and almost look lanky. I was thinking it could be isolated to the tomatoes but seems like my bell peppers are starting to do the same thing. Pretty consistent fertilizer schedule and the cucumbers and zucchinis are doing really well. I'm starting to think it's something with my watering or too much shade. As the summer approaches, a lot of the trees in my backyard throw some shade over my beds. I moved the potted tomatoes to more sun to see if placement is the issue. If so, time to try and relocate and make more room for something else. Last year the tomatoes thrived and the zucchinis died, this year the opposite, next year full success! 😂

 

[begreen]

Tomatoes don't need a lot of water if they have a well established root system. They don't like soggy feet, so if rain if frequent, try not watering them.

 

[djlew]

We've been letting them go for a while, soil still seems moist. Haven't watered manually in a couple weeks now. My guess is maybe our watering routine when we first planted caused it and now they are trying to bounce back. Just a thought but not all hope is lost. Still a lot of lush green leaves.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

most of my new seeds are Ferry Morse this year. I have no particular preference for them, but that’s what they had when I was buying.

My germination rates are horrid! I’m hoping they just had a bad batch. My older seeds are sprouting great, new ones, not so much! If it was something more complicated than beans, peas and zucchini I’d think I was doing something wrong.

 

[begreen]

I've had good luck with Johnny's. I also get some from Territorial.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I usually order online. Didn’t do that this year. Might have to start doing that again!