Does anyone grow a vegetable garden?

[BurlSource]

I like growing a big vegetable garden. Even though it is past the main growing season I still wanted to grow stuff. This will be my first try at a fall/winter garden. I am also new at growing in Mississippi. Last year I did well with tomatoes and other summer stuff. Now we will see how I do with cold weather plants.

So far I have planted lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. In a couple weeks I will plant sweet onions. The plan is that these will be done in time for me to plant tomatoes in the spring.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Mark,
When Judy and I got married, I put a vegetable garden along the side of the creek. In Norfolk, that is seasonal, as the winter kills most annuals.
Next year I put winter crops in, like kale, spinach, cabbage.
It wasn't worth the work for the winter crops, so I built a greenhouse on the south side of the house. You look into it from the living room and dining room. That was nice. I thought it would be al I needed plant-wise.
Then I built a shop along the creek where the garden was. So, I landscaped the entire grounds extensively. Now I have 100's of ornamental plants surrounding the property, a pond, and the deck rails are covered in orchids, succulents and night blooming cactus.
Yesterday I put all the non-hardy plants in the greenhouse for the winter. It is supposed to drop to 33° tomorrow night with a chance of flurries.
Beware of what you start.

Next trip to Gulfport, Judy and I will have to drop by and say hello.

 

[DanF]

Nice looking garden there!
Hard to make a winter garden here (roughly the same growing zone as Stacy). Nothing better than fresh garden veggies, and you have the climate for it there looks like.

 

[BurlSource]

It is supposed to drop to about 30f the next couple nights. So we will see what happens. I know the lettuce will be ok. There are 2 tomato plants that I will cover.

 

[BurlSource]

Mark,
When Judy and I got married, I put a vegetable garden along the side of the creek. In Norfolk, that is seasonal, as the winter kills most annuals.
Next year I put winter crops in, like kale, spinach, cabbage.
It wasn't worth the work for the winter crops, so I built a greenhouse on the south side of the house. You look into it from the living room and dining room. That was nice. I thought it would be al I needed plant-wise.
Then I built a shop along the creek where the garden was. So, I landscaped the entire grounds extensively. Now I have 100's of ornamental plants surrounding the property, a pond, and the deck rails are covered in orchids, succulents and night blooming cactus.
Yesterday I put all the non-hardy plants in the greenhouse for the winter. It is supposed to drop to 33° tomorrow night with a chance of flurries.
Beware of what you start.

Next trip to Gulfport, Judy and I will have to drop by and say hello.

Our daughter and son in law live across the road. They built a treehouse air bnb that is really nice. They are building a second one now. On instagram they show it at @pinesnpillows.

 

[BurlSource]

My next door neighbors said they would help with fertilizer

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

"My next door neighbors said they would help with fertilizer"

Don't believe them. They're just talking bu!!$h!&

 

[BurlSource]

Last night temperature dropped to 25f. The lettuce did well. Red romaine almost as good as the lettuce. Brassicas slight wilt but should perk back up. Tried covering 2 tomatoes. They might come back. The rest of the week will be nights in the 50s.

 

[Lorien]

we have a small garden that I've been considering plowing under so I can build a little studio instead...

 

[BurlSource]

My opinion is to go whichever way will give you the most satisfaction. For me, working in the garden helps to keep me calm -ish. That is where I can forget about the things in life that I can't control.

we have a small garden that I've been considering plowing under so I can build a little studio instead...

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

We had that quick dip last night, too. Fell to 33°. Popped back up almost to 50° this afternoon, and it will be a high of close to 60° and a mid-40's low the next week.

 

[BurlSource]

The lettuce and cabbage have perked up. They seem to be ok with the cold.

 

[BurlSource]

This is a beneficial type of wasp we have here. It is bigger than normal wasps. I have watched them fly away with a grasshopper in their mouth nearly large as it was.

 

[BurlSource]

My onion starts arrived yesterday. They are the nicest ones I have ever bought. They are short day varieties that grow well in southern winters.

 

[BurlSource]

This is a first for me growing onions over the winter. They are supposed to be ready to harvest early March. Just in time to get the garden ready to grow my tomatoes.

I got them all planted (150). Now I am watering them in.

 

[bladegrinder]

That lettuce would be gone in one night from the deer I have around my place…and rabbits

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I harvest my onions year-round 8 to 10 at a time ... at Costco.

 

[BurlSource]

These guys just showed up on the cauliflower and cabbage. Someone mentioned using BT. Anyone here have experience with these guys? Looking for a solution that would not be toxic to me. I plan to try BT or a product with Spinosad.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Bt is what most use. Do it soon, or they will strip the plants.

The other treatment is hand picking. Pluck them off and drop in a bucket with vinegar water in the bottom. This is the fastest way to get them under control. The Bt will keep them down.

 

[BurlSource]

Bt is what most use. Do it soon, or they will strip the plants.

The other treatment is hand picking. Pluck them off and drop in a bucket with vinegar water in the bottom. This is the fastest way to get them under control. The Bt will keep them down.

I just finished cleaning up the plants and sprayed them with spinosad. The worms had eaten a lot just overnight. The cabbage were a PIA spraying the undersides. I dont remember the variety but they are going to have some monster size heads.

The onions are standing up now and already showing new growth. It has been perfect weather for new plants. 70s, overcast and light rain. I have been building up the soil for just over a year now. Started as sandy clay. I am constantly adding compost, leaf mold and worm castings. Getting a decent earthworm population living in the garden now. The plants really love that sh!t.

Most stores around lessened their inventory of garden stuff and put out Christmas stuff. I will probably order some bt online. I have had good luck using other bacillis strains as a soil innoculant for other reasons.