2015 Gardens

[Catherine_Montana]

Thanks for the details on the die back. I normally see the die back as you have described once the plant has done its job of producing fruit. The fruit seems to ripen beyond the beginning of the die back of the foliage. So with a very good beginning to the season would see the early loss of the foliage in general - job accomplished.

I will say that the one heritage tomato plant in the same garden has no yellowing at all and is still in full production looking healthy as a horse as opposed to the two other contemporary varieties.


Ha! Proof that the ripening cherry tomatoes aren't evaporating into thin air either.

My porch patio ... summer morning coffee and evening relaxing place. Starting most from corms or seeds has taken an inordinate amount of time and effort, but I am glad I did it this once

Amaranth from seed, a grain ordered from Colorado - two varieties. Red is 'love lies bleeding'. I was just curious and wanted to try it.

Pole beans are planted for shade in containers set on top of a kindling box in front of shop window.
On left is ... front, sweet pea; back, pole bean 'scarlet runner'
On right (red) is Amaranthus 'early splendour' to add a touch of colour

In middle is Sasha, the gentlest, softest little girl who hunts crickets and grasshoppers full time. She hops up on the kindling box to eat the blossoms falling from the pole bean. And, surprisingly there are no beans on the lower part of the plants. Hmmmm. She did fall back down between the block wall and the kindling box, completely jammed in ... and needed help to get out. I have since blocked the ends where she jumps up.

Susan,

Great pictures again! Thank you.

Beautiful flowers, plants, vegetables and most of all your sweet dog!

Keep them coming, lady!

Cate

 

[taldesta]

Funny. You see that the pups and I surely do have a lot of laughs ... and they do keep me very active.

I have laid a lot of patio stones to stop the multi-paw assault of sand coming into the house. I use the patio plantings and watering cans to direct them away from sod I have laid twice now. I ask, why can't they pee on the aggregate where I am slaving to kill the grass? I have fenced in areas where they want to go but should not be trampling. I am often the yard drill sergeant when they (only the two sisters, Daisy and Sasha - who came as adults to me) jump the fences. Daisy is a solid stealth tank, Sasha is a sweet, fleet of foot, agile 'hopper' who chases crickets all day long. Both warm and lovable companions in the mix.

All in all, things here at 'Spaniel Crossing' go surprisingly well. Then, I catch Daisy in the veg garden with a big tomato in her mouth ... and I tell her to 'stay' while I run inside for the camera ... and she does as she is told even though she is quaking at being caught! Is there an icon for mystified, like 'shrug shoulder'? I can't explain it, I just enjoy it to no end. All on board are fun and loving and my life would be much less without them. OK - the tomato thievery has to stop.

The beans ... well, we have a fresh bean snack as part of our every summer morning ... I do the picking and we all share.

 

[LEGION 12]

Funny. You see that the pups and I surely do have a lot of laughs ... and they do keep me very active.

I have laid a lot of patio stones to stop the multi-paw assault of sand coming into the house. I use the patio plantings and watering cans to direct them away from sod I have laid twice now. I ask, why can't they pee on the aggregate where I am slaving to kill the grass? I have fenced in areas where they want to go but should not be trampling. I am often the yard drill sergeant when they (only the two sisters, Daisy and Sasha - who came as adults to me) jump the fences. Daisy is a solid stealth tank, Sasha is a sweet, fleet of foot, agile 'hopper' who chases crickets all day long. Both warm and lovable companions in the mix.

All in all, things here at 'Spaniel Crossing' go surprisingly well. Then, I catch Daisy in the veg garden with a big tomato in her mouth ... and I tell her to 'stay' while I run inside for the camera ... and she does as she is told even though she is quaking at being caught! Is there an icon for mystified, like 'shrug shoulder'? I can't explain it, I just enjoy it to no end. All on board are fun and loving and my life would be much less without them. OK - the tomato thievery has to stop.

The beans ... well, we have a fresh bean snack as part of our every summer morning ... I do the picking and we all share.

Awsome ! My tomatoes are growing like crazy.

 

[Rupestris]

Awsome ! My tomatoes are growing like crazy.

:thumbup:

I put in four plants. 1 Roma, 2 grape and one unknown, regular tomato.

This is my haul since Wednesday:

 

[taldesta]

My tomatoes are growing like crazy.

Healthy and thriving for sure! Harvest can't be far off

 

[taldesta]

:thumbup:

I put in four plants. 1 Roma, 2 grape and one unknown, regular tomato.

This is my haul since Wednesday:

Now that, sir, is art I would have on display. Envious.

 

[taldesta]

Major fail of pole bean support ... due to my neglect. I have been so busy with company that I failed to get on the ladder to harvest the beans on the upper 6 ft or so of the vines ... so sad. Weight of oversized bean pods, wind, big leaves catching the breezes. I looked out the window during a rain/wind storm today ... one minute all looked secure and the next the poles supporting the bean vines collapsed when one pole broke ... they fell on the tomato cages!

I rigged an extendable tent pole and wired it to the broken pole to right the whole stand. Some vines were crushed ... how much I will see by the morning wilt. If I am lucky, the vines will continue to thrive. Sorry, no time for pics of fail. But I have them and will post asap. Tomatoes are looking a little re-arranged ... but time will tell.

 

[22-rimfire]

This year I staked my tomato cages down sooner as these summer thunderstorms have a fair amount of wind and frequently would blow a couple down damaging the plants. Beat Mother Nature to the punch this year and all is good. Tomatoes are still producing, mostly just ripening fruit now and a few on the upper levels of the plants that are green. My two tomato plants I potted have little ones on them now and the plants are healthy.

Too bad about the bean supports. What is worse is that they blew down on the maters.

 

[LEGION 12]

My landlord massacred the Bush while I was gone so I had to stake everything down nothing blocking the wind anymore. But everything is getting more Sun now my tomatoes are all splitting while there still green to much water ? Not enough ? We will just have to fry some up.

 

[22-rimfire]

The splitting is usually do to too much water. Cut back a bit. Last year was really wet during the growing season and I had a huge spitting problem. This year it has been much better. We got a lot of rain this week. I have emptied my rain gauges a couple times with over an inch each day. Last night and this morning we got another big thunderstorm and I have over 3" in my rain gauge. Things are greening up a bit now however (fescue lawn and so forth) as the heat and infrequent rains were putting the hurt on it. Not uncommon for this time of the year. I won't water my yard unless there is zero rain for a couple weeks.

 

[Sir Joe]

I am also a new gardener. Finished my studies and now at my first real job, meant to improve my skills and knowledge in order to prepare myself to study Garden Design.

I am a bit geek with tools and kind of obsessed with comparisons, so i generally investigate a LOT before buying something and when I can I buy many different of something (like, many pruners, many saws, etc) I test, compare, and decide.
Lately I cannot do it much because of lack of 1 time 2 money 3 number of returns which I can do in Amazon without my account to be closed

I have no garden. But I have a very very little balcony which I am filling with plants which I am saving when I work. Will try to make a decent picture tomorrow or so.

Good that there is this thread. So people can give me suggestions about tools
Dunno why but I started writing in this forum even if not specific for gardeners and now I am here.

 

[22-rimfire]

Generally speaking after some basic knowledge, you learn by doing.

 

[vic2367]

Here is my garden as of today. I have rosemary, thyme, strawberries, basil, chives, tomatoes, peppers and clemitis(a flower that grows like a vine, but sounds like a disease) so far. Though my space is limited, I can fit quite a bit more, and will finish up in the next few weeks. Can't wait for it to fill in!

Oh yeah, and of course there were a few cutting tasks...

anyone know which spyderco this is ?

 

[Rupestris]

anyone know which spyderco this is ?

Hmmm... Good question. Looks like a delica that has been clipped.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

anyone know which spyderco this is ?

Kahr arms delica.

 

[Catherine_Montana]

I am also a new gardener. Finished my studies and now at my first real job, meant to improve my skills and knowledge in order to prepare myself to study Garden Design.

I am a bit geek with tools and kind of obsessed with comparisons, so i generally investigate a LOT before buying something and when I can I buy many different of something (like, many pruners, many saws, etc) I test, compare, and decide.
Lately I cannot do it much because of lack of 1 time 2 money 3 number of returns which I can do in Amazon without my account to be closed

I have no garden. But I have a very very little balcony which I am filling with plants which I am saving when I work. Will try to make a decent picture tomorrow or so.

Good that there is this thread. So people can give me suggestions about tools
Dunno why but I started writing in this forum even if not specific for gardeners and now I am here.

Welcome!

Cate

 

[Catherine_Montana]

Generally speaking after some basic knowledge, you learn by doing.

^^^

What he said.

Thank you.

Cate

 

[Catherine_Montana]

:thumbup:

I put in four plants. 1 Roma, 2 grape and one unknown, regular tomato.

This is my haul since Wednesday:

Beautiful picture!

Enjoy your bounty.

Cate

 

[vic2367]

thanks for the info guys

 

[taldesta]

This year I staked my tomato cages down sooner as these summer thunderstorms have a fair amount of wind and frequently would blow a couple down damaging the plants. Beat Mother Nature to the punch this year and all is good. Tomatoes are still producing, mostly just ripening fruit now and a few on the upper levels of the plants that are green. My two tomato plants I potted have little ones on them now and the plants are healthy.

Too bad about the bean supports. What is worse is that they blew down on the maters.

Well, nature sure teaches us some good lessons! My next tomato garden will have taller cages for sure as the varieties this year towered over my head and needed support way over top of the regular cages. I am unsure if it was the varieties, the compost, the ideal balance of sun and rain ... but the plants were mighty.

I know I planted them too close for good air flow and had what I think was moisture problems on the lower leaves ... appearance not unlike the earlier post requesting help. Clearing a lot of the lower foliage seemed to help a lot. The Jelly Bean tomatoes are delicious! The large ones are ripening now as well.

The bean poles falling on the cages didn't do any damage, just lowered the tomato plants a little


It's down




It's shored up




We are enjoying the harvest, beans and tomatoes.