Gardening

[wtxbadger]

Got busy today cleaning up the garden for this years planting and a new neighbor stopped by to visit for a few minutes. He was wondering why we put so much effort into vegetable gardening when we could just go to the grocery store and buy what we wanted there. Thought on that for bit while we were visiting about things and after he left collected my thoughts on it. Maybe if he comes back by I'll get the chance to tell him my thoughts on gardening but in the meantime here are my thoughts on it.

30 plus of vegetable gardening and it never gets old, cleaning up from last years garden and the smell of freshly turned dirt. Planning on where you're going to plant everything and dreaming of picking tomatoes. Green beans, blackeyed peas or yellow squash cooking on the stove. Okra or zucchini frying in the skillet  and fresh sliced cucumbers. Watching the miracle of seeds planted in the ground coming up and growing in anticipation of what they will provide. There is something basic about gardening that reaches deep inside and can be either the most satisfying or frustrating depending on how the garden does but in the long term is completely worth it.

[Mule 11]

I’d say offer him a blt when tomatoes come in butt he’d probably raid your garden after a taste of a real tomato:)

[Bob Riebe]

There is something basic about gardening that reaches deep inside and can be either the most satisfying or frustrating depending on how the garden does but in the long term is completely worth it.

Yes there is.
Some times before planting I think , why do it do this?
You have no extended family it feeds at holidays any more,  you are the only one that really appreciates what it produces now, but then after it is all planted, or when it is heavily weeded and then after hours on your knees pulling and raking, or putting down fresh mulch, you stand back and look at the result and thank God at how great it looks, and are very pleased you did it.

At the time of year when the flowers that result in fruit are in full bloom, at times just sit in a chair and watch the  insects that do the work of pollinating, with the air space over looking like a miniature airfield.

[wtxbadger]

Mule 11 if our tomato harvest turns out good we give away the extra, no doubt our new neighbor will get a few if the plants do well. He can furnish his own bacon, lettuce and bread. 

Bob Riebe our garden was/is a place to decompress after a long day. Watering and tending to it helps in ways I can't quite explain but benefit from in years past and now. There is just something about it that is healing and restorative. As you said, being able to just sit and watch is time well spent.

[Dee]

I was gonna till up a garden  but I'm now thinking I'll build boxed in garden spots.

It'll be easier weed control, and better use of my yard space.

[Ranger99]

I need to go get some potting soil
to replace some washed away and
stop by the tree place and get a load
of their mulch they give away
I might be sol in a way
A couple of the stores I've been in
had sold a good many of their seed
inventory already, and I had no idea
they'd even gotten any in

[Ranger99]

I was gonna till up a garden  but I'm now thinking I'll build boxed in garden spots.

It'll be easier weed control, and better use of my yard space.

Get some large pots or cut up some
plastic barrels and make big pots
You can move those around as needed
and I grow tomatoes and peppers in
pots every year

[Dee]

I've used pots also, but I'm considering 2×12× treated lumber and rectangular boxes I can mow around, weed eat.

[Ranger99]

I have one 4X8 bed I put together years
back and put landscaping fabric in it
and along the sides. That's what needs
the most of the mulch and soil.
I have a horse trough with rust spots
I'm going to try this year. Need some
mulch and soil in that too

[Mule 11]

I have a rototiller... Not one of the “little fellers either”

[Dee]

I don't know if I'll line the boxes yet.

[Ranger99]

Dang
I finally found what seed I wanted
a few here and a few there,  and got
them in the dirt, and now we have
this sky ice and cold wind again.
40's right now and mid 30's in the
next day or two  :'(   :'(

I sincerely feel for the people with
knee deep snow even though
many say I'm wasting my sympathy

I want some fresh tomatoes! ! !

[Ranger99]

Finally had a few warm days to
play in the dirt some more.
Now it's in the low 60's.
Got a few okra and beans poking
up and durn if the cool didn't roll
back in. Jackets and cold west wind


I want some fresh tomatoes! ! !

[Mule 11]

Finally had a few warm days to
play in the dirt some more.
Now it's in the low 60's.
Got a few okra and beans poking
up and durn if the cool didn't roll
back in. Jackets and cold west wind


I want some fresh tomatoes! ! !

I’ve been burnt by cold weather before and would rather plant a bit late. My grandfather was exceptional at anything to do with land and water. He could outgrow, outfish, and outhunt most. Including me...

[Drilling Man]

I have a rototiller... Not one of the “little fellers either”

  You mean like mine??



  DM

[Mule 11]

I have a rototiller... Not one of the “little fellers either”

  You mean like mine??



  DM

Not so fortunate...

[Drilling Man]

Not so fortunate...

  Maybe like this one then?  It's a little smaller,



  DM

[30calflash]

 Going to this season, haven't in years. Usually put in late but this season I'm trying to get a few more different plants in.  Some root crops this time too as they will store well when the season ends.

 Most will go into the ground but I may start the peppers in the house. last frost typically mid to late may here in Ct.

 Any of you try an early then a  later planting for fall harvest?

[Mule 11]

Not so fortunate...

  Maybe like this one then?  It's a little smaller,



  DM

Like you?

[Drilling Man]

Like you?

  naaaa, I'm a little bigger, but I have a tiller smaller yet, maybe you will like it?

[/img]

  DM

[Ranger99]

. . Any of you try an early then a  later planting for fall harvest?

Yep
I always plant some as a contingency mostly, but works
out as a fall garden alongside my first planting as it's
winding down. I had a few straggler vegetables
on into December last go round.
The seed scarcity and the late cool have messed
me around, but hopefully it'll click along

[Mule 11]

Like you?

  naaaa, I'm a little bigger, but I have a tiller smaller yet, maybe you will like it?

[/img]

  DM

Nah, I’ll pass. Thanks for the pics. The one I have has two handles and will work ya. That’s some nice looking soil.

[Drilling Man]

Nah, I’ll pass. Thanks for the pics. The one I have has two handles and will work ya. That’s some nice looking soil.

  Dang you are hard to please!  lol  lol

  That garden is all compost from many years of adding hay and leaves to it, like my back garden that is mostly hay and cow poop,



  To be honest, I've really cut back on gardening, I use to do a LOT more than those two, and now I've cut back even more, a lot more.  I probably won't plant much of anything again, this year.

  DM

[wtxbadger]

Already planted tomatoes and onions, planning on yellow and butternut squash, green beans, blackeye peas and beets. Haven't tried growing beets before so it should be interesting to see how they do here.

[ulav8r]

I've used pots also, but I'm considering 2×12× treated lumber and rectangular boxes I can mow around, weed eat.

Not sure about the current treatment chemicals, but in the past there were warnings about the plants taking up the poison.  Just the other day I saw a link to a video suggesting using concrete board, Hardi Board or similar.  Did not watch it so I would recommend a little research on your part before building boxes.

[Bob Riebe]

Going to this season, haven't in years. Usually put in late but this season I'm trying to get a few more different plants in.  Some root crops this time too as they will store well when the season ends.

 Most will go into the ground but I may start the peppers in the house. last frost typically mid to late may here in Ct.

 Any of you try an early then a  later planting for fall harvest?

Never on purpose.

[SEM]

Well I guess I found where you all went, On my third planting this year. First was Barley was real disappointing venture only 4 plants showed up  I planted a spot about 20x20 to try with a fair amount of seed. I had stopped growing grass in front a year ago but noticed some new weed, One of my neighbors came over to see what I was up to, She said THATS !!!  what is growing in my yard, Hum... birds and squirrels !!! The seed was not bad.... It just walked away, I have noticed other neighbors with this new weed too decided not to tell, Spinach lettuce beets carrots chard etc second time around now but better armed BIRD NETTING on every thing first planting only about 1/10th survived the onslaught, Did find out once the peas get there second set of leaves they are left alone, Really enjoying the daily harvest, Finally a real harvest of spinach last night YUM

[Ranger99]

Everything here seems to be
moving along albeit slowly.
Not enough sunshine and warm
days to push things along

[BUGEYE]

I never plant anything until Good Friday.
And that's today.
Me and Nancy put out 4 tomato plants, 2 better boy and 2 bush type, never did those bush type before.

[Ranger99]

My granny used to insist on me having
her beds turned over and ready by
valentine's day