It's garden time in clayThis is my favorite garden time and it is sure a lot more fun and productive than politics. I am well under way and even have red potatoes coming up. I sometimes get a little discouraged but one trip to the super market produce dept. and I am rejuvenated for a good month. One thig I don't understand is that it is getting more and more difficult to find garden supplies. Even in Starke where all the farms were the choices are getting smaller, especially this time of year. I guees the suppliers figure every body lives in the north and only plant in spring It appears to me that more people than ever are growing gardens so the market should be good. As long as I have been doing it I am still amaized at hmuch you save and how much better the stuff is. Last spring I gave away over 1000 tomatoes, and not a one had ecoli.
Submitted by jimmaxie on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:31am.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
it is small and fairly new, If you really get to wanting one, I can sell it to you, I am just scared to fill it up, so it is just taking up space and electricity. We got it at HD.
Submitted by Baxley on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 3:26pm.
I just pulled up the last of my spring tomatoes and was thinking of trying some fall stuff. You just helped motivate me to plant a few things. Such a simple thing - planting a little garden - but it does so much good for the soul. Trips down memory lane, fresh veggies from the back yard, making memories with the grandkids, fresh air and excercise, and on and on. Submitted by ex-oficio on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 4:15pm.
Now is the best time and fall crops take the least amount of room. Ray Zerba AT the ag center is a gardners best friend. He puts out a year long calender in the T U and it is a great aid on tming I am a little cautious too about up-comimg storms and may hold off a week or so on some stuf. Fortunately I haven't had to deal with nematodes (knock on wood) I have been very successfull with potatoes but this sand hill requires water every single day as the top 6 inches will dry out in 5 or 6 hours of sun. Now is the best time to grow broccoli cauliflower, all lettuce collards mustard cabbage kale green beans onions snow peas, sugar snap peas and most anything else is worth a try. we rarely get an early freeze and you can easily protect from frost. I would like to get some feed back on a co-op garden. they are becoming popular in some areas especially for people who don't have the skills or space Submitted by ex-oficio on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 4:19pm.
If you got your spring tomatoes to last this long you are definateky doing something right. I never get past july except with maybe roma's, good job. This is definately not tomatoe country.
Submitted by jimmaxie on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 5:00pm.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle count me in if and when you get a co=op going...I can't grow a garden in my yard because of afor mentioned nematodes...I would like to try to grow a "ditch" garden like the one on Baxley RD on the way to Walmart. I have a ditch, beside my house. you can also call Mr Zerba out at the ag center, he will help you, or go to their web site they have a herb garden at the ag
Submitted by CommodoreQueen on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:29pm.
We grew all kinds of Peppers from seed. We had really good luck growing them in large pots filled with potting soil and manure. I just kept them in semi shade and watered them every now and then! I have one Bannana pepper plant that is almost 3 years old and the peppers are bigger and better every year. We just move the plant into the garage when it gets really cold... We are going to try growing more stuff in pots this winter to see how it fares. Did anyone try the hay bale gardening the Master Gardner's have displayed at the fair the last couple of year's? CommodoreQueen Submitted by ex-oficio on Sat, 08/30/2008 - 9:35am.
I have seen that too, but I wouldn't eat anything from it. Those plants have to be full of unhealthy stuff from road run-off. They do look good tho'. I find most people are interested in a garden but not the work it takes. I can give stuff away if I pick and deliveer it but one year Itried to give some beans away just for coming and picking and no takers. Submitted by Sunflower on Sat, 08/30/2008 - 6:51pm.
Maxie - please send me an email and let's discuss your freezer. Ex - I'd drive and pick - no problem unless you're too far away. My email is open - just let me know when and where, and I'll be there! Judy B. Support the CTLAC: www.CTLAC.com People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Ex - THANK YOU for starting this blog. I have some questions for you as we also (attempt to) grow vegetables as well as herbs and flowers. My poor herbs weren't too fond of all the rain from Fay.
Anyway, do you grow your potatoes in the ground? If so, how do you keep the nemotodes from eating them? We had decent luck with some root vegetables using the plastic totes (carrots, beets), but not enough to save much money. My husband started everything from seed, including the peppers, kale and broccoli. We did enjoy a few meals using our own produce and I made a huge batch of soup to freeze and stretched out the usage.
We had quite a few green peppers and lots of kale - just cooked the last batch this week. We'll get our tomatoes in soon, (after Hannah and the next one) and we use earth boxes. They work well for us, and if we have a good crop this time, I'll make sauce and can it. We don't have a freezer but are considering one if we can successfully raise enough to warrant it.
We've had some luck with native plants and flower gardening, but vegetables continue to be trial and error, more error than success with some things.
Please share more of your gardening experiences with us yankees who find gardening a little more of a challenge here than in the north.
Thanks again.
Judy B.
www.CTLAC.com