A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs What Did You Do in the Garden Today #9

From the last one re: vinegar,


Good luck, Bobbi!

I haven't done anything today.. it's raining here.. finally. I hope we get plenty. Our ground is so dry it's cracking. Boo!

Last evening we planted a Day lily I got at WalMart and 9 other Day lily roots I had bought from a mail order catalog. They were already starting to grow in the bag! I wish I would have gotten a picture of that. I just hope they do well. I put them out on a bank behind the house. I will get pictures soon.

I fought with grubs...they are cutting off my pepper plants.

Darn bugs anyway....Didn't do anything in the garden today. Haven't planted the Lupines yet....we had some chilly, windy weather and decided to wait till the weather turned a little better....tomorrow I think. Have lots of flowers on my tomato plants...can't wait to see those get ripe!! Picked a few more cucumbers, yum yum, Have a good night all

What size pots are the lupines in? I planted 3 pink ones this year.

I love Lupines--pictures please....

Hope you don't want pics of mine..they are only 4 inches high.

Today I weeded the veggie gardens and flower beds. Re-edged all the beds(that half moon edger is the best tool ever) and then moved around two shrubs..I have a bad habit of planting things before planning it out.

i watered the garden and cut off all the growing top of my Tomato bush. HAHAH.
so it can be MORE of a bush. sprayed the lawn with those mosquitoes spray thing. i always get mobbed by mosquitoes when i'm out in the yard. hopefully that will help

Then i cut down my rose bush. and left one stem... i am attempting to grow a small rose tree... lets see how that goes.

OK then--wait until they are a bit taller--THEN show us pictures---

According to my rain gauge we got 3-1/2 inches yesterday so today the garden is muddy. I ventured out in my foots and brought in a tomato, a few cukes, and some squash. Way to wet to work on the weeds.

I'm jealous, Sheri, I have flowers, but not even a sign of a green tomato! I did work a little in the green house, weeded here and there and snipped off all the suckers from my tomatos. Never heard of chopping them off so they will bush out more, JoLu. Does it make the tomatoes come on faster? Last year I didn't know about snipping off the suckers, and my plants were way too big. But this year I've been diligent and my plants seem healthier with a thicker base. Now if I were to get some fruit!

I snip the top only after the green tomatoes start. That way the energy is spent on what's already there instead of new growth.

I've never snipped anything on my tomatoes. Where should I snip?

I brought in a few more cukes today and murdered 1 squash bug. I hate those things.

The most expert people are divided on tomato trimming. Some say take off all suckers. Some say only top them. Some say leave them alone. I've always left them alone except take off anyhing so heavy that they were breaking, etc. I've had to make a shade cloth covering over them during our hottest seasons.

We only snip here because our growing season is so short. That way we get a few larger tomatoes instead of many smaller ones.

Mowed grass and 'weed wacked' for most of the day.

Well the other day I bought a no-name species of blueberry for 50% off. Today I amended the soil planted it with the other two and watered it in well. Hopefully it will be a veriety that blooms at the same time as my other two. But even if it doesn't I really won't mind. I know crazy right? There is so much to do out there and I have been so lazy.

Weeded, fertilized and hoed up the veggie garden today.

Sprayed Neem Oil on the squash after the torrential rain we've had. Brought in some cherry tomatoes. Good!

...lossing the war of the lawn. Today I cut 1/3 of the grass in the back and I already need to start on the first part again. Then I went after the blackberry canes that are growing along the side of the shed. Yes I put them there - dummest thing I ever did. We maybe not but not one of the smartest things I ever did either.

I got half of them cleared out but still have 1/2 to go and those will be the hard ones because they are interspersed with the horseradish and the egyptian onions.

I already lost that battle... I gave up when my Deere died........

Did nothing in the garden.I dont have one..LOL

You have a paradise at your place Bill. Me I've got a weed factory at mine.

While I was off taking my unscheduled vacations, the weeds took over my gardens. Nothing was cared for for over two years and now I have a giant mess to try and restore.
Wet snow collapsed the roof of Hummingbird House (and part of my house) last winter. I haven't even begun to think about fixing those problems.
The only way to save most of my lost perennials was to dig and transplant them to a new garden area that I've been working on. The weather hasn't been cooperating either, which is why I haven't had much to say about what I've been doing in my gardens this year...

Sorry of all the bad luck Mr. Bill.. I sure know the feeling...Just remember , theres always 2maro.. I lost many to weeds an wet an cold.
Now even ones I buy are dying???????????odd mom nature.
Good luck Mr Bill Happy fathers day to you.

Dodge

We appreciate you an the site.

Yea Bill, Dodge is right in everything that she says...

It is hard to recover from the havoc that long term health issues have caused. I have gotten on top of the weed and massive litter issues outdoors From John's long illness. But have lost many lovely plants and shrubs to damaged water systems. And I am attempting to maintain the house too. Tough stuff. But it is coming along.

Oh my Bill, was there much damage to your house?

I agree Tina..health issues seem to take a toll on everything. It's so easy to get behind and get discouraged.

Is there no one to give you a hand Bill?

~~~

I weeded part of my mom's garden yesterday evening.. wan't mine but it still counts.

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Hummingbird House is definitely one of the favorite places for me in your gardens. Did you insurance at least pay for the repair of your house?

I definitely understand about lost plants. I've bought and placed all the plants I wanted to have in my garden at least once. Many have died. I don't know exactly why. They were placed in the right conditions and it's the right zone. But that's the way it goes I guess.

Right now I'm fighting the grass seeds that someone put in an (other-website) seed exchange. I've got to wonder why a person would want to destroy a seed exchange. It just doesn't make sense to me. The grass has now completely covered the new birdbath flower garden. I'm to angry to even get out there and dig it up. But I'll get there sooner or later.

Right now I'm working on getting the arm strength to be able to cut enough lawn per day to stay ahead of just that. The other little things I get done are pure luck.

The house damage is fairly minor, but I will have to redo a big section of roofing. I don't have insurance...
My biggest barrier right now in the non-stop rain. It is supposed to start drying out later this week. I HOPE!

wow, I don't know what I'd do in that situation. I have everything insured except my library. I got a quote on that and they wanted a monthy payment equal to 1/10th of the FMV of the collection. No way could I afford that. So I just have to hope the house doesn't burn down.

Do you have someone who can do it for you? I'm afraid of heights and hate to hear about people having to get on the roof.

On a different note - I've been out in my yard cutting grass. I got about 1/3 of the front yard cut which is good progress. Then I tied up the new blueberry bush. The compost pile got banana peels added to it. that's about it. Hopefully between the rain showers I'll be able to manage some other quick chores. Like rescuing the black berry lily that is trying to grow in the sidewalk sand. It's actually doing very well but I want to move it before I step on it.

I built my house. I can rebuild it if need be. They want lots of $ for insurance in a forest... and they would only cover it for 7K + contents, so

I pulled lots of weeds today, but it was muddy and very slow going....

P.S. the was for the ins. companies, not you!

Yes, only the contents of mine are insured. Too close to Nat'l forest. If it burns, it is gone forever. I do need to update my list of contents though.

I have no insurance either..they won't insure for anyone with a wood stove here and I can't afford an oil furnace or electric heat.

I weeded and watered last night.

That is why I have no wood heat here...when we first moved & I complained about the "cold heat" Rod spoke about putting a wood stove in the basement for me, but he was afraid of what the insurance would be if they would even cover us. My homeowners insurance is killing me though---about $70.00 a month. (payable once a year)

Carol that isnt a whole lot. I pay more than that for my Health insurance a month.
Have to pay it..............

However the newer the homes, more the insurance an taxes around here.
Maybe we can go to the jungle

I brought in some cucumbers and tomatoes and pulled up another squash plant. I'm not having the best luck with squash this year.

dodge, you didn't plant anything at all?

no garden here
just stuck tomato an lettuce an onion in the flower bed.
Gives me more goof off time

yes our health insurance is VERY high as well, VERY high, and that is with a $3000.00 a year deductable (for each of us)
This was just the insurance on our house, & while this house is only 8 years old, it is just a plain-jane house with white siding.

My garden has not yielded anything as of yet---well my herbs are big enough to be harvested---but I only have very small zuchinni so far & small green tomatoes on my larger tomatoe plants---on my cherry tomato plant I should be able to harvest a few toms tonight though.

I enjoyed reading back over this topic,,,my favorite!

The "suckers" I snip off of tomatos: Look at your hand and the space between your thumb and finger, if a branch starts to grow in that type of area on my tomato plant I snip it off. But it might not work for all types of tomatos! Last year I did not do this and my plants were over 7 ft tall and very spindly. So this year I began snipping early and my plants are still very big, but "heftier". I do have mini green tomatoes, but it will be a while yet before I get ripe tomatoes!

Sorry about your snow issues, Bill. If we were closer my DH would help. He is a builder and a fixer, I am lucky to have him to take care of all the house issues that always occur for a home owner.

I did get my lupines planted and took a picture with my new phone, but my lap top does not want to read my phone, so not sure how to get the pictures off! I may have to put them on a card and then to my computer. Don't have the time to figure that one out right now! Some of my larkspur have begun to bloom, boy I like those flowers!

Not too much to do in the garden right now, but did get some carrot and beet seeds in the ground where I took out the broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage plants. Picked my first green beans yesterday, they were yummy. And I think I weed almost every day!

My compost is doing great, a friend brought over some sawdust which I am hoping will help.. I think I have too much "green" and not enough "brown". I've started a new compost pile, letting the other one work down to a usable compost.

Happy grwoing

yep I do that too (well some years I do) I was thinking last night as I watered, that it was time to tie my plants up again & to get rid of some of the suckers.
---I did remove a few larger "suckers" last night though---
I think tonight instead of watering, I will do all of that.

I like this topic too. I'm not doing anything in the garden today but I am sitting here printing cutting out seed packets for future use. I used up the last of my supply last night packaging up my bell pepper seeds. I should have a couple of different seeds this comming year. Now huge but a few anyway. I still have about 1/3 of the yard to cut. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get it done.

So, a couple weeks ago I bought a new soaker hose, could not find any like I already had, that would have been too easy. The new soaker hose screwed into another soaker hose. So the other day I notice, while it was watering that the second hose was not putting out near enough water, the new hose spewing out too strongly and not letting water go through. So I thought to hook the second hose up direct....that was when the trouble started....to make a long story short, 2 hours later and several different splitters and one 5 hose end manifold later, all my beds are getting enough water! So had to come in and take a shower to get the dirt and sand off so I can get to work! My DH is gone and he is the mechanical one, so I'm pretty happy I got it all to work without water flooding the paths instead of getting into the beds!

I am constantly repairing and redoing water systems and hoses. I use the soaker hoses and the critters come along and chew holes for a drink. So new ones every year. I use a lot of micro-sprinklers. Those water hillsides and cliffs better than other types without washing them away. Critters like those too. Plus just the contrasting heat and cold that messes with them. Most of my pipes are PVC. I can also repair those. It sure keeps life interesting.

I walked around an took photos today.. Suprised by Lilys opening so pretty.


lilys





petunia from seeds I grew

Lemon flufff.








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beas me?
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touche up

beautiful, Dodge, just beautiful!

Thanks fabrictodiefor,

Thanks alot for looking in .. An all the fine comments.This is a beautiful time of the year.
At last.

;o)

dodge

dodge, your flowers are beautiful!

Yes dodge, they are beautiful..

Today was a busy morning. I managed to cut the rest of the front lawn. And I cut the south side lawn. I transplanted the zinnia that were crowding the peach miniature rose. And I weeded the sidewalk flower bed. So I'm feeling pretty good about it all. I also planted seeds for Red Salvia Coccinea and African Daisy. We'll see how those go. I haven't had much luck with seeds this year but then they are a couple of years old. I just have had a hard time keeping up with everything since moving here.

Yikes and was that all before breakfast???

I too had a busy morning. I decided I needed to put the shade cloth up in the greenhouse. so got that done and since my DH is visiting his family in TX, I managed to get it clamped up there by myself Then I noticed those awful spider mites that I had last year invade my peas. Well they are at it again. So mixed up the neem oil spray and saturated those plants. Now I know what I am going to be doing first thing in the morning for the next week. I've been checking every day, so hopefully this year I'll be able to stay on top of those pesky things! Also had to pull 3 of my leaf lettuce plants, it looked like they were thinking of bolting. I can't complain, I've been pulling leaves off of those plants for at least a month.

Have a great Sunday

Well I'm up early this morning and after my coffee I plan to head out into the garden. So the only thing I've done this morning is plant some more bunching onions in the container. Hopefully at some point I'll be able to get those going.

Ok I dug out the weeds in the foundation bed on the left of the door. It's a small bed but I accidently brought deadneedle home in a flower I bought and I've been fighting it spreading every since. Then I staked the gladiolus that i didn't know i had. Two broke before I could get to them and they are now adorning my dinningroom table. Nice deep red ones. I wanted to move the grass from the birdbath flowerbed too but I ran out of steam. Maybe tomorrow.

It was such a nice morning, I decided to work outside for a change. We only hit about 90, rather than in the hundreds. Was able to get the last of my flower seedlings planted and completely turned over my compost. Sprayed the neem oil, the peas seem to be doing ok with the spider mites, but now my broccoli, outside, has aphids. Found that a few day ago, and been spraying twice a day, and they have definately dwindled, but still saw a few today. Thinned my carrots, and ate those yummy baby ones at lunch. Also pulled a cauliflower and even though some the pea plants look a little yellowed, they are still producing lots of peas! And before I knew it, it was noon and getting hot outside! But it was sure nice while it lasted.

My lettuce has been long gone. Just too hot.

Today I brought in some great looking big tomatoes, some cukes, squash, and a few cherry tomatoes.

Is it too hot in NC to plant cauliflower?

tonight (after 8pm, I watered (a lot). Plus, I built up my moats for the tomatoes so I could water them better, and I waterd the rest of the veggie garden. Then I watered my potted plants and I watered my flower garden. Then, I deadheaded some flowers.

plus I found out that Japanese Beetles like Echinacea but do not like Galliardia...
so I killed me seversal J. Beetles

I'm jealous about the tomatoes, I only have green ones, but at least they are starting to come on! I am not sure what your temps are like in NC, but I would think cauliflower might be a winter crop there, maybe not dead of winter, but you might be able to start in like Sept? I have some broccoli and cauliflower outside yet, and I think they are still growing, if slowly, but we don't normally have 100+ temperatures in June. All cabbage family like it to be cool. In the spring I would plant when you plant your lettuce and peas. Last year we had a late freeze and it got down to 20 in my greenhouse, I had broccoli and cauliflower plants that were probably 12" hight and it didn't seem to bother them! I was surprised and very pleased. This year I plan on starting some seeds in my seedling room July 15 in hopes of planting good starter plants around Sept 1 and maybe get sa crop Oct 15-30. It will be an interesting experiment.

dug out a few potatoes yesterday!!

I'm already tired of bugs! But mine are are the little pesky type, mites and aphids

Happy gardening

Well the tornado last night went through the garden. It's not looking so good at the moment. I was able to stand up the tomato cages and they are all still rooted but they look sort of pitiful.

I am very glad that you still have a house, Sheri. A garden can be fixed. Did it mess with your greenhouse?

OM Goodness.
So glad that you and yours are ok, Sheri---"things" can be replaced----so glad that your people are ok---

Sheri...so discouraging.

I spent the day yesterday weeding everything, mowing the lawn and hoeing up the garden. We finally got one day without rain. The rain has caused a lot of grubs to gather..my poor bean pod plants were hit hard. I replanted some more.

Sheri, so glad you are ok, but I can't imagine how discourage you must feel about your garden.

I harvested my potatos the other day, about 35 lbs. It was early, but I have bigger potatoes than I did last year. I've decided to try another crop of potatoes!?! I still have 3 months in the green house. they should make in that time??

I made pickled cabbage yesterday as I had 3 heads of purple cabbage that were ready all at the same time, even though they were planted weeks apart. I've never made pickled cabbage before, I'll find out today if I like it! Had to pull my sugar snap peas as the spider mites were winning and I am hoping to keep them off my beans. It is so hot and dry here I have gone to watering every day!

So I planted potatoes yesterday, we'll see if they make! Pulled a head of broccoli and one of cauliflower. I'm kind of surprised they are still alive with all the heat we have had! Also put in some beet seeds where I pulled the sugar snap peas. I have green tomatoes, I sure wish they would ripen!

It is funny to read what you are growing and harvesting there. My seasons would be all twisted from yours. I would be planting broccoli, peas and other cool weather crops in the fall or midwinter. They would all bolt by the end of spring here. And simply fry or not grow in summer. If I grow tomatoes, I have to shade them.

I pulled lots and lots of weeds today, and pressure washed Cindy's BIG blue rock.

I had to water today for the first time this year....

Thousands of Foxglove plants grow at Cedar Hill every year, but I have never grown one that achieved this size (or even saw one).

Foxgloves are biennial plants, but this lady is 3 years old.
Her tallest spike (of her 59 flower spikes) is 8½ feet tall!

I wonder what the record is

Maybe mine will still get taller, but she is getting tired...

Very cool Mr Bill

We can see its taller than the 6 ft fence there. All looks good there.

Thanks for sharing the photo. Hope Cindy sees a clean rock

Wonderful!

Beautiful, Bill !!!

Personally, I don't really want to see my water bill this month.

I'm using swimming pool water for the garden. The well for the house is spring fed, so no water bills here, but sometimes I run out!

Thats good Mr Bill

I have my own well with a submersible pump at the bottom.. Hope not to run out.

I use all I want

when we lived at "The farm" we had several wells.

one was hooked up to the house & 2 were not. One of the 2 I used for the garden (my DH had made me a pump to use a hose with)--it wasn't good for much else as Rod's great Uncle had put in the septic tank really close to the old well.

I dont like that about living in town---free water was nice---and the well was so deep that we never ran out

Sounds like you misss country??
i am still on mine. Leased the land to a honest friend he is farming it .. I am loving it .

Just enjoy the yard a garden an I take the tractor an mow the pasture.. I pretend I am HD .
Neighbors get a chuckle of it. My brothers an nephews an sister do come by an we have fun an they help me solve problems.
Not the same, but I cant go back, just forward.
Peaceful up here on the hill
dodge

Beautiful foxgloves, Bill. That is another flower on my wish list. I got my lupines this year, maybe next year.

I am going to hate my water bill But I don't pamper my self in other ways, I don't go have my nails done, I cut my own hair, I don't do "spas" and I hate to shop. So I may get a hitch in my breath when I see the water bill, but I love flowers and vegies so I try not to complain too much!



This summer has been a challenge though. I plan my cabbage family to be done by the end of June, that is usually before we get very hot, but we were in triple didgets for a week! I did cover my broccoli and cauliflower plants during the heat of the day. I wasn't sure they were going to make it! I also have a shade cloth for my green house that went up a lot earlier this year. I love broccoli and cauliflower so I was going to start some seeds the middle of July so as to plant them in the greenhouse in September. Not sure if that will work, but I thought I would give it a try! We are a zone 3 here. And there have been winters that we have gone days, and days and not gotten above 0!

I used to have foxglove. I need to try it again. It's so beautiful.

Another tornado hit us and messed up what I had cleaned up in the garden. The tomato plants are still producing and the potatoes are still underground but the rest of the stuff has blown away with the wind.

My sweet little dogwood tree is a goner now too.

One tornado on Sunday and one on Thursday. I hope we've had our share for a while.

I am sorry, Sheri. hope they are done with you also.

ditto, Sheri,

Bill, that is amazing...so sorry Sheri

It rains here everyday so nothing is getting done garden wise

Last year was my first year for my green house. I had some problems, but this year is really kicking me in the &^%! I have had good results with some things, but now I think my tomatoes have Septoria leaf spot. I looked at all kinds of pictures and I'm pretty sure this is it. So, I cut off all the branches that had leaves that had the spots, bought a fungucide that said it got rid of Septoria and now I am hoping for the best. I immediately put my clothes and gloves in the washer, and washed my sissors with bleach...any thing else I should be doing? Can this transfer to my pole beans which are next to my tomatoes? I feel like I am running around in circles this year. I am glad CO is getting rain, but I wish we would get some too!

We get a blight on our tomatoes here with the leaf bit.. Last couple years.

Or fungus?????Spray didnt help.
Like what comes around goes around.

So if the spray didn't help did the plants just die?

yep