Gardens 2017

[begreen]

We got off to a late and cool start but things are finally starting to catch up. Last year we were a month ahead of this year's crops for most things, though it's been a great year for cool weather crops like lettuces and spinach. It looks like our corn will just make it to the 'knee high by 4th of July stage' and some little green tomatoes are starting to show. Garlic harvest was good. Peas are coming in big daily batches now. Asparagus is through for the season.

 

[jcapler]

That is pretty BA setup there.


Woodpro WS-TS-2000

 

[begreen]

Thx. This is the geezer garden. We have two other gardens in the ground. They are a lot more work to keep weed free.

 

[Squirrely]

We're unorganized gardeners...



Mostly fruit and almond trees and grape vines.

Greg

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Mine is just starting to grow from the sun. All we've had is rain and clouds this year.

I think we'll pull out a garden, but cold weather stuff is about done for the year. The hot weather stuff will be raging in a few weeks.

I'm working on some bed expansion for next year. I want more perennials. I'm looking at 2 4 ft square strawberry beds,, 4x4 walking onion, and 2 apple trees. I want to start garlic too.

I want to move the asparagus bed to a different part of the yard and use the current spot for annuals.

 

[begreen]

We've had years like that too. No fun. Now we are in the opposite cycle, though we did have one of the rainiest winters on record.

Those plans sounds ambitious but good.

 

[Montanalocal]

I moved an asparagus bed years ago. I had to rent a backhoe to dig the big 2-3 ft. diameter root balls out, and then take an axe to them so that I could lift the 1/2 to 1/3 root balls into the back of a pickup. This was an old bed of course.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Mine didn't do too well in its current location. I never prepared the bed. A couple plants did well, but the vast majority died. It's a giant weed patch. I'm thinking of just burying it under a raised bed. If some asparagus poke through its a win, and I'll be happy to let them live with the new stuff that'll be planted there.

 

[begreen]

Maybe try lasagna gardening in that location?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I'm getting interested in it. I've been experimenting with multiple layers. Latest is growing in the area under the peach tree. I have cukes being trained up stakes and hopefully onto the branches. They are doing better than the ones in full sun! Next year I think the zuchs will be down there too. Getting the zuchs out of the raised bed will free up a massive amount of room!

I'm thinking about getting rid of the tomatoes cages for trellises too.

 

[Highbeam]

Corn was a total failure this year. We just replanted in hopes of getting some decorative stalks for Halloween! Pumpkins did very well as always but this year they all sprang up as volunteers from last year's waste. Same with potatoes, you never seem to get them all out.

Was just in Bend OR last week and really like the idea of growing hopps.

 

[begreen]

Hops grow well on both sides of the mountain. I stopped growing because of aphids. For the little I use a year I will buy. That also gives me a lot of variety to choose from.

 

[Squirrely]

Corn was a total failure this year. We just replanted in hopes of getting some decorative stalks for Halloween! Pumpkins did very well as always but this year they all sprang up as volunteers from last year's waste. Same with potatoes, you never seem to get them all out.

Was just in Bend OR last week and really like the idea of growing hopps.

Hit and miss here too. We only got a few Cherries this year, but got enough Apricots for my wife to dry them for Winter. There''ll be enough Almonds to last us till next year's harvest...



Greg

 

[Dobish]

i pulled my first pepper and my first couple of squash off! Yummy!

 

[begreen]

It's always satisfying when good garden produce starts showing up on the table. Store bought food rarely compares.

 

[Dobish]

It's always satisfying when good garden produce starts showing up on the table. Store bought food rarely compares.

sure is.
had a salad fresh from the garden last night, including our first pepper. We made zucchini - cod cakes with fresh zucchini, dill and mint from the garden... mmmmmm

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I'll be trying to extend the garden into the winter this year. I just ordered seeds to start some new perennials and self sewing annuals that'll feed us during the shoulder seasons. I'm not sure if I'll have the volume to go all winter, but I think I'll be harvesting through December, and it'll pick back up in March.

 

[Dobish]

I picked a bunch of yellow squash yesterday!



my patty pan has about 30 flowers on it right now, and in the next few days i should get some of those. our jalepenos are looking good, our thai hots are loving the heat, and the serranos are getting there.

Unforttunately my basil, dill, thyme, rosemary and oregano are not doing well in the planter boxes. I think they need a bit more shade. I also haven't killed off my mint yet, which is pretty impressive for me!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Mostly berries, leafy stuff, and beans here. The zucchini has only been putting out male flowers. Tomatoes are coming in, but are still green. Cukes are climbing like mad and will be moving up the peach tree branches soon.

 

[Montanalocal]

Raspberries
Tomatoes, beans, brocoli
Onion Bed
Beds of Beets, Turnips, Rutabagas, Carrots
Brussels Sprouts
Elephant Garlic, scapes left on for show

 

[Montanalocal]

Calling all Brussels Sprouts growers.

I have just topped my Brussels Sprouts. I do that so they will stop growing higher and higher, and start to fill out the sprouts. I have done this for years, but I usually do it toward the last of August. It has been so hot here that things are ahead of normal, so I think mine are high enough that topping them now is good.

If you get large sprouts without doing this, then ignore this, but if yours are usually smaller than you would like, try this at least on some of yours.

 

[Dobish]

i pulled a bunch of thai hots off the other day, a few banana peppers, and it looks like I will have my very first tomato this afternoon! I have pulled off about 20 yellow squash, a few zuchinii, and the patty pan is exploding! My radishes and beets were a little late, but It looks like i will get a few. Next year, I will plant more (or this fall).

My chard never came up, my mixed greens did terrible, and my onions just stopped growing after a few days.... I don't know what's happening with those, they are all in different beds.

 

[timfromohio]

Good year for some things, bad for others. First year we grew garlic and it turned out great. Tomatoes had a not so great year year, though they were off to a great start. First time I used a small greenhouse set up on deck and it has revolutionized the way I garden. Pic is old at this point, but shows some tomatoes hardening off in the greenhouse with a homebrewed British Bitter

 

[timfromohio]

Early spring shot showing 3 beds of strawberries, asparagus bed, garlic, onions, and various greens under cover.

 

[timfromohio]

We got off to a late and cool start but things are finally starting to catch up. Last year we were a month ahead of this year's crops for most things, though it's been a great year for cool weather crops like lettuces and spinach. It looks like our corn will just make it to the 'knee high by 4th of July stage' and some little green tomatoes are starting to show. Garlic harvest was good. Peas are coming in big daily batches now. Asparagus is through for the season.

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What did you construct the raised beds from? Are those paver blocks? If so, how did you fasten them? Very nice looking. My current yard is 100% flat, very clay rich, and drains very slowly. I'm using raised beds almost exclusively (though experimenting with raised rows in the big garden area with moderate success). I really like the look and height of the beds you have there!