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Post by ET on May 23, 2015 18:58:29 GMT -5
Today was a perfect day for putting in Tomato and Pepper plants to complete the garden planting. Sunny with temp around 60F and a light breeze. We did have a light frost last night so it was worth waiting until today to do the planting. Forecast shows nothing but a warming trend this coming week. So the starting tally is 70-regular tomato, 3-minature tomato and lucky 13-pepper plants were put into the ground. A new method we are also trying is putting a tablespoon of Epson salts in the hole first and covering the salt with a little ground so the plant roots don’t make direct contact. Supposedly this helps generate initial growth. Anyway here is the first appearance of the garden with additional pictures to follow as it developes. Note zucchini and squash plants are appearing on the mounds.  Even the cucumber plants are starting to appear in the large pots.  As for the raspberry plants after being trimmed low last fall are just growing in high gear.  Everything is really looking good with high hopes for an exceptional garden this year. The last real chore to complete in a week or two is putting stakes in for the tomatoes. After that periodic weeding and possible spraying to the days of harvest. Ed |
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Post by 03mossy on May 23, 2015 19:28:39 GMT -5
Looking good! We got our garden in today also. Although ours is about a quarter the size of yours lol.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 20:24:32 GMT -5
Looking good and the salt tip I'll be watching with interest!
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Post by rambler on May 23, 2015 20:54:50 GMT -5
There's a guy named Jerry Baker who puts out info about plants and gardening. He uses Epsom salt and liquid ammonia extensively. Feed garden every 3 weeks in morning alternating mixtures. Apply with a 20 gallon hose end sprayer: No. 1 1 can beer. 1 cup ammonia 1 tbs. liquid dish soap 3 tbs. instant tea No. 2 2 tbsp. liquid fish fertilizer 2 tbsp. whiskey 1 tbsp. instant tea 1 tbsp. liquid dish soap www.jerrybaker.com/tips-and-tonics# |
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Post by ET on May 23, 2015 21:09:31 GMT -5
03Mossy It’s not about the size of the garden but a commitment from start to finish to achieve the best results possible. And of course the rewards for your efforts. For me it’s also carrying on a legacy once shared with a deceased friend. Best of luck with your garden. 78Riverrat www.saltworks.us/gardening-with-epsom-salt.aspIn case you want to read up on it. This is a first for me and I too want to see what results can be achieved. Rambler Hey I got you into gardening again and now you’re getting even by dangling more research reading for me to follow up on, chuckle. Thanks for the additional info to look at. Ed |
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Post by rambler on May 23, 2015 21:25:23 GMT -5
This Jerry Baker guy uses a 20 gallon hose end sprayer a lot. I use a drip system with funny pipe to water and feed my garden.
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helgajones
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Post by helgajones on May 25, 2015 5:14:13 GMT -5
That is a nice way to start your very own vegetable garden. I think that it is very nice and also fun to do. I've been planning to do the same thing. I just haven't got the right time yet. Anyway, congrats on your new garden.
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Post by ET on May 25, 2015 7:13:42 GMT -5
Helgajones
Welcome aboard.
Gardening can be fun and a great stress reliever by taking your mind away from everyday life. Also I find you get to know someone better when doing this as a joint project sharing conversations on different topics. Sometimes there is even laughter shared over an unexpected event. And yes, sometimes it can be an unwanted chore if you have a busy schedule. I guess it comes down to a personal decision of where you want to invest your time.
The one thing I do enjoy is reaping the rewards at the end of the season.
Definitely more pictures to follow as the garden really comes to life.
Ed
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helgajones
Button Buck
i like to read books and i'm also a blogger
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Post by helgajones on May 25, 2015 22:26:24 GMT -5
Helgajones Welcome aboard. Gardening can be fun and a great stress reliever by taking your mind away from everyday life. Also I find you get to know someone better when doing this as a joint project sharing conversations on different topics. Sometimes there is even laughter shared over an unexpected event. And yes, sometimes it can be an unwanted chore if you have a busy schedule. I guess it comes down to a personal decision of where you want to invest your time. The one thing I do enjoy is reaping the rewards at the end of the season. Definitely more pictures to follow as the garden really comes to life. Ed Hi Ed!  Thank you for welcoming me aboard. I agree with what you said. Gardening is really a stress reliever especially after a hard day's work. It just seems to bring out the happiness and creativeness in me. |
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2015 22:35:10 GMT -5
Nice spread you got there Ed.... Looks like you and your friends will be eating good...
Zen
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Post by ET on May 26, 2015 7:10:55 GMT -5
Nice spread you got there Ed.... Looks like you and your friends will be eating good... Zen If all goes well during growing season there should be a bountiful supply to enjoy. Other than tomato blight that we had to deal with last year it still was a good harvest. Right now we are experiencing lack of rainfall and hope that changes soon. Once the rain comes it’s off to the races.  Ed |
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Post by al53 on May 27, 2015 11:29:10 GMT -5
Ed thats a great looking garden...you will have a big harvest....When I had a big garden it was a lot of work weeding..checking plants for insects...watering..but was so rewarding in the end...the best part was getting fresh produce nightly for meals...then canning every thing for winter..tons of salsa and sauce...
we are lacking rain here now also....lucky I have 2 wells...but towns near me have water bans already..thats real early...hope you dont get the blight this year....
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Post by ET on May 27, 2015 18:05:49 GMT -5
Al53 Yes there is some work maintaining the garden but weeding is not a big chore. I quickly hoe the weeds around the plants and the mini roto-tiller quickly chews up the weeds down the rows in no time. With looser surrounding ground I find the soil absorbs water better. No real insect problem yet or last year. My biggest concern is about cut-worms that got to us in previous years killing a good number of young plants. Then it’s find them and squish time. Hopefully by increasing the ph level of the soil with lime that blight will not be as big an issue this year as it was last year. Had to spray every 2-weeks with a product called “Bordo”. Using low acid tomatoes you have to make a sauce with some lemon juice and citric acid to ensure it doesn’t go bad in a few months. By making a basic sauce we simply put the sauce in warm jars right out of the dishwasher and seal them. No immersion time in boiling water required. So simply even I can do it, chuckle. Nothing tastes better than something taken fresh out of the garden. I too enjoy the fresh taste over store bought produce that’s been sitting on the shelf. Yeah this is a funny year for rain. Even the lawns are starting to go brown early this year. Last year we had rainfall almost every week so no garden watering was even required. One thing I do have to change is my mentality towards tomatoes. Last year I missed numerous suckers that once they started to form flowers I didn’t want to cut out that sucker that was turning into a fruit producer. Not this year. Hopefully the tomato plants will get established soon so I can put the stakes in. Then it’s just a little TLC once a week for care and grooming for pictures every so often. I also use pictures for referencing events as seen in the picture from last year’s garden.  Ed |
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Thank you for welcoming me aboard. I agree with what you said. Gardening is really a stress reliever especially after a hard day's work. It just seems to bring out the happiness and creativeness in me. 
