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Anyone into gardening?

Rod

Rod

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 4, 2001
Messages
10,595
Location
Upland, CA
First Name
Todd
I love growing plants, especially fruits and vegetables. I'm getting ready for Spring. I grow virtually everything from seed. Just transplanted my Roma and San Marzano tomato sprouts into 3 gallon pots. I have two huge Birdies planter beds coming in from Australia this week, which I'll be growing lots of vegetables in. I recently got rid of my greenhouse and will be using that space for the new beds. Who needs a greenhouse in So Cal anyways?

Also have several Moringa trees I'm growing from seed. One of the coolest trees around, as the entire tree is edible and full of nutrients. It's called the tree of life in some parts of the world, as you can literally live off of it. It will grow 40+ feet per year; most people chop them down each year and they grow to be full size again really fast. Also planted a bunch of pok choi - great for pho! Currently have a 5 gallon bucket garden going as well where I have Napa Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Romaine, etc.

I'll post pictures once I get the backyard cleaned up. I'm doing a complete overhaul of the yard. Stay tuned.

Who else likes to garden? The season is about to get started in most parts of the country.
 
I enjoy putting my hands in the dirt. My gardening knowledge is minimal. I have a very modest raised bed and I’ll use planters as well. I do a variety of peppers, they have to be my favorite sweet and hot. I’ll also do some basics : tomatoes, string beans, zucchini, cucumbers, herbs . I did sweet potatoes one year came out great, have to get some in the ground this year.I actually have have to get some seedlings going soon. A good majority of what I grow I end up giving away, too much to store/eat, but I enjoy it. Sounds like your into stuff so I know where I can direct all my dumb gardening questions. Looking forward to some pics.
 
Does anyone do any out of earth gardening? Hanging vegetables, no soil beds, anything out of ground indoor mini greenhouse, etc. The problem out here is I’m wanting to grow some, not a lot. Also, the beds get tore to hell with our weather swings.
 
Thoughts said:
Does anyone do any out of earth gardening? Hanging vegetables, no soil beds, anything out of ground indoor mini greenhouse, etc. The problem out here is I’m wanting to grow some, not a lot. Also, the beds get tore to hell with our weather swings.
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I do some indoor gardening too. Also done hydroponics as well, primarily using DWC (deep water culture). I have a couple of indoor grow tents. One of my tents is full of cascabella peppers, which I can harvest a ton from non-stop. Best thing about indoor gardening is there are no pests to deal with (assuming you use quality soil like Fox Farm), and you can control the environment for constant harvests. Cascabella peppers are those really good/hot peppers you find at fast food restaurants like In N Out. :) For some reason the seeds are rare and hard to get. I grow and can my own, as I don't like that store bought ones as they use yellow coloring - causes headaches.

I winterized my pepper garden, so they are beginning to take off again. I have Jalapeno M, Early Jalapeno, Pablanos, Habanero, Cayenne, Bell Peppers, Ghost, Sweet Banana and Serrano's. I'm going to be adding Tabasco, Ancho Grande and Italian Pepperoncini's this season.

If we get enough interest, I'll create a Gardening sub-forum under General. With everything going on in the world lately, it's a good idea to start growing your own food...
 
Thoughts said:
Does anyone do any out of earth gardening? Hanging vegetables, no soil beds, anything out of ground indoor mini greenhouse, etc. The problem out here is I’m wanting to grow some, not a lot. Also, the beds get tore to hell with our weather swings.
Click to expand...

Is out of Earth gardening something like an out-of-body experience?

Probably is for the vegetables :cool:
 
Yes, love vegetable gardening. I need to start earlier this year with my spring garden. Going to try and get brussel sprouts, broccoli, carrots, cabbabe started in the next few weeks.
 
We "urban garden" now. Just tomatoes, cucumbers, some peppers, kale and herbs. It's nice to be able to walk outside and grab fresh ingredients.

We used to help maintain a pretty good sized garden at my in-laws with zucchini/squash, Brussel sprouts, egg plant, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, beans, corn etc. Even planted pumpkins one year... Got one up over 100lbs.
 
Me! I actually do it for a living too. I manage the landscape/grounds and culinary gardens at a winery here. I get to have some fun and order all kinds of unique and cool varieties. I love ordering from Baker Creek since they have rare heirloom varieties. Check them out if you haven’t already!

I don’t have a greenhouse, but I have an indoor lighting system at work and have all of my starts in there for spring. My starts are mostly nightshades and herbs since I direct seed beans/cucurbits family plants. I will be transplanting the starts into larger containers soon!

I’d love to see pics of everyone’s gardens!
 
Bringing this up from the dead. I planted 3 tomato plants and 3 peppers (2 jalapeño and 1 Carolina reaper) over the weekend. It’s been raining ever since, free water! Thinking about maybe a cucumber plant, but I can never find the right variety that get green when smaller. The ones I’ve tried over the years, grow huge then turn white and are shut at that point. Also, going to put a couple yellow squash in the ground, hopefully when it stops raining.

Anyone have any tried/true ways to keep the squash bugs, from decimating my squash plants? I always rotate where I plant them, but some years are just better than others.

Also, really thinking about harvesting rain water. I’ve contemplated it for years, but just have never done it.

What is everyone else planting or have planted so far?
 
bfreebern said:
Anyone have any tried/true ways to keep the squash bugs, from decimating my squash plants? I always rotate where I plant them, but some years are just better than others.

Also, really thinking about harvesting rain water. I’ve contemplated it for years, but just have never done it.
Click to expand...

Make sure you keep your squash bed(s) clean of old plant waste and old mulch, to avoid last season's squash bugs that have overwintered. Till bed(s) very well. I keep my squash beds "dry" , with very focused mulching and watering at the base of the plant only. Avoid wet beds. Inspect the plants leaves underside frequently in the first half of the season for eggs clusters.

Harvesting rain water is great - but avoid pulling it off your asphalt roof, if possible.
 
bfreebern said:
Bringing this up from the dead. I planted 3 tomato plants and 3 peppers (2 jalapeño and 1 Carolina reaper) over the weekend. It’s been raining ever since, free water! Thinking about maybe a cucumber plant, but I can never find the right variety that get green when smaller. The ones I’ve tried over the years, grow huge then turn white and are shut at that point. Also, going to put a couple yellow squash in the ground, hopefully when it stops raining.

Anyone have any tried/true ways to keep the squash bugs, from decimating my squash plants? I always rotate where I plant them, but some years are just better than others.

Also, really thinking about harvesting rain water. I’ve contemplated it for years, but just have never done it.

What is everyone else planting or have planted so far?
Click to expand...
A pellet pistol?
 
I plan on a beefsteak tomato plant and a couple Hungarian pepper plants. That's about it.

Maybe a thyme plant and a grape tomato plant for cooking.
 
We do mostly flowering perennials now a days. We have beds around the house in addition to two large non attached beds. When the children and trees to the east were much smaller we also had a good sized vegetable garden but now we only have a herb garden close to the house that will have some beefsteak tomato's in it along with rosemary, oregano, sage and chives. Have some Jalapeno in an old 3' soapstone sink on the south side of the house and basil in planters on the deck. Love the pesto we get from the basil! We just finished mulching (80 bags every other year) the beds this past weekend. I'll try to get some photos tonight and post them so they can be compared to what we end up with in August. Below are some photos from years past including our1.jpg2.jpg3.jpg nieces wedding in 2020.
 
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We're a few weeks away from being able to direct sow because the frost risk lingers around here. I've been lazy about getting anything started inside, but have some ideas about what we'll try in our somewhat eclectic garden this year. We always do a bit of swiss chard and butterhead lettuce. The lettuce gets bitter before it goes to seed in mid-summer, so when that happens I am going to dig up the lettuce and try brussels sprouts for the first time, to be harvested in the fall. I also have some tatsoi seeds to try again - they did poorly last year but were planted in an area that had been previously used for garlic so I will give them a try somewhere else. Finally, ground cherries, which if you're unfamiliar grow like mini tomatillos and have a somewhat sweet, vanilla like flavor. I only grow these because my daughters love to pick them and eat them straight out of the garden. I'm not sure what else to do with them. We had very successful butternut squash harvests the last two years but I'm taking a break from that since it tends to take over and get unruly.

I have a few raised planters on my deck and might try some plants that would deter bugs near where we sit. Still more last minute planning to be done . . .
 
Wife’s been away this week so I’ve been watering plants. I got home on Tuesday to find the cucumber plant looking like it was on its last leg. I figured I better water it all wee anyway. So I gave it the water it was prescribed and after a 90 min cigar I couldn’t believe my eyes. A672EF2C-4065-42DE-9CB0-BF263C8B8BFB.jpeg
3D328478-755B-4882-99A0-CEF5B91A369F.jpeg
 
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