2025 Garden Thread

[Stelcom66]

Raised beds are doing well. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and a squash. Going to try some homemade pickles and canning tomatoes this year. Pumpkins have been up for a few weeks and look good. Temperatures finally warmed up enough and the gourds are popping out too.

What a great setup and already quite a yield! Nice seeing the dog in the photo.

 

[walhondingnashua]

Has anyone tried the fertilizer idea with fermenting weeds in a bucket of water?

 

[djlew]

Has anyone tried the fertilizer idea with fermenting weeds in a bucket of water?

Not specifically weeds but did try the generic "compost tea" idea before to specifically target what I thought were some nutrient deficient plants. Seemed to help, but I also coupled that with some other factors like moving into a more ideal location so hard to attribute just to the compost tea. Not entirely sure how helpful it is, but I've heard some arguments that it doesn't really add a noticeable amount of nutrients but essentially creates a healthier environment for your plants to absorb the nutrients already present in the soil - since diluting the nutrients already present in the compost (at least in theory) wouldn't introduce enough nutrients to make a difference. I can confirm that in my experience on a basic vegetable garden that it at the very least didn't hurt.

 

[burning VC]

We only did one raised bed last year and had a lot of success so we are expanding our operation. I heard a quote I liked... "Plant 200 things, and even if only 50 grow you will still be known as the guy who grew 50 things."

These are trade secrets. I call for investigation.

Maybe I can get some advice here. Our hydrangeas

It might be underground fungus, ants/insect damage...before i read it moved from one side of the porch to the other i was thinking physical trauma(trampled)..

Imost 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.

I also bought FM seeds for some of this years crops, and the germinations were ridiculously delayed, if they germinated at all......squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers...

I wondered if it was due to the seeds being in store for sale at New Years Day this year.....about 6 weeks early?
My other seed companies were vigorous to sprout.

I also noticed the FM display rack was taken down by end of April....which is normally before average person plants around here....heck, i'm still starting trays of different things, lucky i bought packs then..

Has anyone tried the fertilizer idea with fermenting weeds in a bucket of water?

I also have used compost tea, not specifically in a garden but for azalea's, hydrangea's mainly...

It brought weak plants to robust health. It made healthy plants superior.

10-10-10 was stronger and more effective, but compost tea is organic and is also great on soil pH.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

Has anyone tried the fertilizer idea with fermenting weeds in a bucket of water?

I have. When we lived in Texas, we had about three acres that had been severely overgrazed, and very little vegetation remained other than invasive thistles and horehound. We cut down on the populations by a lot of pulling. The thistles in particular I did not want to put in my compost because they can apparently develop seed heads after they've been pulled or cut, but I also did not want to put such a rich source of organic matter in the trash. I therefore rotted them down in covered buckets of water or at times left them for longer periods of time in black trash bags in the sun. Both methods worked for transforming the material, and I then would dilute it and use it to water. I'm not sure that it was a some kind of super-duper fertilizer, but it made good use of the material and certainly never hurt.

 

[Pinesmoke]

We've been gone for 2weeks and got about 5"of rain. Things are going wild. Soon gonna start pulling the first round of onions.

 

[begreen]

Sweet, it won't be long before the tomatoes are red. It's nice to see what some warmth can do. We were doing well, but then the temps dropped 15º and have stayed there for the past week. Still, things are slowly growing and it will get warmer by July. Still no rain, there have been more sunny days than usual. We've had only about 12.5" of rain since January. Our lawn is mostly brown now. This is the driest spring on record for us.

That said, I've been watering regularly and the veggies are growing. Our garlic is ready to harvest and the onions are bulbing nicely. We've been getting some cucumbers, mostly from the greenhouse, but I've picked a couple from the outdoor plant too. There are several small green tomatoes and a few baby peppers showing. The strawberries have been going gangbusters with jam production is happening weekly. Corn is about 16" tall and happy and the squash is setting young starts. Lettuce is now on the third planting.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I also bought FM seeds for some of this years crops, and the germinations were ridiculously delayed, if they germinated at all......squash, zucchini, tom

That’s crazy! Well, at least it sounds like we’re not doing something wrong, lol.

I’m hoping we get some more sun and heat. It’d be nice to get the plants a bit bigger before winter comes around again.

 

[Pinesmoke]

We need sunny and minus the rain for a bit. Rain is good but things need to go back to dark green.

 

[begreen]

We need sunny and minus the rain for a bit. Rain is good but things need to go back to dark green.

Yes, rain can leach out nutrients, especially in isolated raised beds. Try some top and foliar feeding to replace lost nutrients.

 

[djlew]

Still consistent rain and clouds here. A critter is getting to my tomato plants, destroying the whole thing down to the roots! We are propagating some suckers to hopefully not lose out entirely. Cucumbers, peppers and zucchini still seem to be thriving as well as the raspberry and blueberry. Herbs are doing well too. This is why I like to plant a ton of things! Something I'm learning , especially when trying new gardening techniques, is to be prepared to make some adjustments. I'm keeping a notebook this year to hopefully help us out next year.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Weird things always pop up. I don’t think I’ve seen a quarter of the things I can do wrong yet!

 

[djlew]

Weird things always pop up. I don’t think I’ve seen a quarter of the things I can do wrong yet!

Cheers to that! I do enjoy documenting success rather than trouble so here are a few updates! Cukes and Zuccs in the bed, peach tree started in March from bare root, and the catnip progress from earlier in the thread!

 

[begreen]

The garden is thriving here. We've picked several cukes, mostly from the greenhouse, but we got a couple of early ones from outside too. The tomatoes are setting fruit. The longest cuke here is 14" long. Lots more on their way.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

My zucchini has rooted into the soil and 4 of the 5 plants look happy. The San Marzanos have some flowers, but don’t look very happy. I think they want more sun.

It’s coming along slowly. It’s been cold and wet.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

Begreen, your garden looks amazing, and I'm very impressed by those cucumbers. I'm getting the first few fruits on mine, so it won't be long now before we're enjoying eating some.


@djlew , thanks for sharing your photos. I think we all enjoy seeing others' success around here.

Thankfully we've been getting rain but not too much rain, and the heat is kicking in. We're forecast for high nineties this coming weekend. I think the sweet potatoes will enjoy that more than I will.

 

[djlew]

Looking good! This weekend into next week is going to be between 90F and 100F here. There's been no in between so far! Plants are getting confused!

 

[begreen]

Begreen, your garden looks amazing, and I'm very impressed by those cucumbers. I'm getting the first few fruits on mine, so it won't be long now before we're enjoying eating some.

Thanks. Poniente cukes are greenhouse lovers and quite prolific growers. We've been growing them for the past 5 yrs. in the greenhouse. The seeds are crazy expensive, but it is a prime producer. They didn't do as well for me outdoors. I think they like more heat on their roots.

I wish we could grow sweet potatoes here but our soil temperature doesn't get warm enough, soon enough, nor long enough. Maybe one year I will try, but past attempts were not successful, just top growth, with no yams. Same for okra. That said, I could try tenting a bed area just for these two crops. My cinderblock bed might work for that.

 

[begreen]

I spotted our first melon babies today. This year I'm trying out a new variety to me, Athena.

Cantaloupe vs Athena Melon - What's The Difference? - Miss Vickie

So, if you are confused about Athena melon vs cantaloupe, we have all the differences you need to know as they are mentioned below!

missvickie.com

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I hope you get some nice fertilization there!

 

[burning VC]

Garden is 8 x 28 raised bed


Front green window box- Honey Rock Cantaloupe
Round planter - Rutgers Tomatoes

In front is Bush Early Girl x3...guest starring Early Yellow Straightneck squash on the right...

(unseen) behind this front row is EYS x2 on left,
Asparagus gone to fern among x3 Marglobe x3 Rutgers Tomatoes rising.

Another x2 EYS squash on right border, and the rear cucurbits nearest the E.T. phone home station are Black Zucchini x2.
Half dozen starter EYS squash and Zucchini sprouting for round 2 under their canopies as well..

The gap behind the dish is 50ft (7x7)Mountain 1/2 runner Green Pole Beans just sprouting, and the rear section is the early Green Bean patch(50ft) with 3 weeks head start....and between the two sections are more EYS squash x2.

(couple days later)
now green window box has Butternut Winter Squash, the remaining White Wonder cucumber...
and @djlew Ferry Morse watermelons......(booooo!)...bought 2 packs of FM. This pack is JUST now sprouting. The 1st pack had runners and were put in ground 3 weeks ago...(April sprout)



15 x 15 garden#2

In rear, cantaloupes, cucumbers..
In front left to right...
Marglobe, Rutgers, Green Zucchini, Bush Early Girl, Marglobe, EYS squash, Cherry Tomato volunteers, and the plastic crate hides x2 white cucumbers, as(x4) does the black plastic corner covers by the screen wire grid....
planted at foot of wire grid is x3 White Wonder cucumbers..
x8 cantaloupes were added to rear after pic was taken..


@djlew Here are the Bush Early Girls.....
The plant is a Bush for sure, 3.5 feet tall and wide..(see first pic)

The larger at bottom are 3x2", and most are 2" round...
they said 50 days harvest....it's day 55...nothing pink..

picked 4 or 5 EYS, 1 Zucchini, and the flood of picking green beans began today....
Watermelons, Winter Squash not pictured.

Green cucumbers, hot peppers, EYS round 2, Black Zuke round 2, White cucumbers round2....in starter trays..

 

[djlew]

Garden is 8 x 28 raised bed

View attachment 339209
Front green window box- Honey Rock Cantaloupe
Round planter - Rutgers Tomatoes

In front is Bush Early Girl x3...guest starring Early Yellow Straightneck squash on the right...

(unseen) behind this front row is EYS x2 on left,
Asparagus gone to fern among x3 Marglobe x3 Rutgers Tomatoes rising.

Another x2 EYS squash on right border, and the rear cucurbits nearest the E.T. phone home station are Black Zucchini x2.
Half dozen starter EYS squash and Zucchini sprouting for round 2 under their canopies as well..

The gap behind the dish is 50ft (7x7)Mountain 1/2 runner Green Pole Beans just sprouting, and the rear section is the early Green Bean patch(50ft) with 3 weeks head start....and between the two sections are more EYS squash x2.

View attachment 339210(couple days later)
now green window box has Butternut Winter Squash, the remaining White Wonder cucumber...
and @djlew Ferry Morse watermelons......(booooo!)...bought 2 packs of FM. This pack is JUST now sprouting. The 1st pack had runners and were put in ground 3 weeks ago...(April sprout)



15 x 15 garden#2
View attachment 339211
In rear, cantaloupes, cucumbers..
In front left to right...
Marglobe, Rutgers, Green Zucchini, Bush Early Girl, Marglobe, EYS squash, Cherry Tomato volunteers, and the plastic crate hides x2 white cucumbers, as(x4) does the black plastic corner covers by the screen wire grid....
planted at foot of wire grid is x3 White Wonder cucumbers..
x8 cantaloupes were added to rear after pic was taken..


@djlew Here are the Bush Early Girls.....View attachment 339212
The plant is a Bush for sure, 3.5 feet tall and wide..(see first pic)

The larger at bottom are 3x2", and most are 2" round...
they said 50 days harvest....it's day 55...nothing pink..

picked 4 or 5 EYS, 1 Zucchini, and the flood of picking green beans began today....
Watermelons, Winter Squash not pictured.

Green cucumbers, hot peppers, EYS round 2, Black Zuke round 2, White cucumbers round2....in starter trays..

Awesome! Looks great! I think my maters are goners this year. Pests are getting to the rest and trying to salvage and move the remaining plants.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

I had my first tomato harvest this morning. They're smaller plants that are early and abundant producers. The egg-sized fruit is called Taste Patio, and the elongated cherries are Maglia Rosa. They've become some of our favorite tomatoes. I'm going to chop them up with cucumbers and basil as a side to our supper tonight.



The pickling cucumber with the bumps and stripes is the Sumter variety. The two slicers are small Southern Delight Hybrids. I picked them early because they were on the ground, and we're having a heat wave this week.

Earlier this spring I seeded buckwheat around some of my plantings to act as a cover/smother crop or living mulch. It has just taken off in the past couple of weeks, so much so that I chopped a good amount of it down today and spread it as mulch around my okra and used it to hold down paper mulch over top of bermuda grass that has been invading my beds from underneath. I didn't realize that there was bermuda in the lawn I covered with cardboard this winter, but it has just laughed at my attempts to keep it out of my beds. When it first started coming up, I made this mistake of pulling it, and that tore my cardboard underneath my compost, and that gave it even more opportunity to invade. I'm trimming it and using moving paper to hinder it, and the buckwheat helps hold the paper in place.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Sweet! I can’t wait until we get something! I went away on Tuesday and the heat hit. My plants all doubled in size! Hopefully they do something soon! Lol

 

[djlew]

First cucumbers and zucchini are coming in! Really want to snap a pic while the pollinators are at work... makes the tomato troubles a little easier to swallow. Bell peppers are struggling like the tomatoes. Saw some people mention with leaf curl and no discoloration to try and plant deeper. I thought I planted pretty deep but who knows. Picked a few blueberries off of the bush as well. Super small, probably should have thinned a bit more but didn't expect anything this year! Topped out at 102F here this week so hoping for the best! Sidenote... not a fun week to have broken AC and a full system replacement needed!!