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Retirement present.....Priceless!

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Crybaby
Bugster2
NormM
bethk
8 posters

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1Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Retirement present.....Priceless! Sun Dec 22, 2013 4:39 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

I went to pick up a couple 24" plastic window box size planters today. I just got done planting lettuce, red beets and sugar snap peas.

Hopefully they will be growing and ready to start to harvest when Dane gets here in February.

It's my retirement gift to him....

(yeah, I know, the last of the big spenders ~ that's me!)

2Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Sun Dec 22, 2013 8:30 pm

NormM

NormM

Beth have you ever heard of Earth Box planters?

http://r2j1cp@gmail.com

3Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:57 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

I think I've heard of them - I'm seriously looking at the hydroponic system of circulating water. You can buy a 6' tall vertical growing system for $500 but I think Dane is going to see if he can make one out of PVC piping and a circulating pump when he gets here. We just want to mess around with stuff for the fun of it, not like when we had a huge garden to tend.

4Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Sun Dec 22, 2013 11:34 pm

NormM

NormM

I have a friend in New Jersey who has a lot of them and grows both flowers and vegetables in them. She sent me one small one for Christmas. They are complete except for the seeds and you can't overwater them. They are sort of like patio or raised beds.

http://r2j1cp@gmail.com

5Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:26 pm

Bugster2

Bugster2

I think I had an earthbox a few years ago. I didn't have any success with them. The first thing that went wrong is that the tomato plants all turned yellow and then the water in the box stunk to high heavens. Like a sewer. The whole thing got tossed.

6Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Tue Dec 24, 2013 4:03 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

Oh my goodness! I'm all excited!!!!

My lettuce was planted on Sunday and it's sprouted and visible today ~ that's only 3 days.

WOW! I guess planting with the temperature in the mid 80°'s for 2 days before it dropped down to the mid 60°'s is the way to go. I just hope it's not something the squirrels will want to eat. If they do find my garden vegetables a treat I'll just have to come up with a Plan B....but for right now I'm just happy to see the green peeking out of the soil at me.

7Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:44 am

bethk

bethk
Admin

Day 5 and not only is the lettuce up and growing, but the red beets are showing and the peas have started to pop up out of the soil....

This "little bitty" gardening is so much more fun than the 1/2 acre plot that had clay clumps, rocks and weeds....

Retirement present.....Priceless! 100_2670

8Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Fri Dec 27, 2013 12:39 pm

Crybaby

Crybaby

bethk wrote:Oh my goodness!  I'm all excited!!!!

My lettuce was planted on Sunday and it's sprouted and visible today ~ that's only 3 days.

WOW!  I guess planting with the temperature in the mid 80°'s for 2 days before it dropped down to the mid 60°'s is the way to go.  I just hope it's not something the squirrels will want to eat.  If they do find my garden vegetables a treat I'll just have to come up with a Plan B....but for right now I'm just happy to see the green peeking out of the soil at me.

The squirrels have not touched our lettuce, Beth. Welcome to growing things in the South!

9Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:59 pm

UNCLE JIMMY

UNCLE JIMMY

We have so many squirrels, ( Gee, I wonder if it had anything to do with Tina Mommy feeding them ?)...That as soon as a tomato buds, bang, the squirrels get them.
Basil and oregano, they dig holes and we have to cover the plants with netting. They still get in.

Now the garden will be the supermarket.

DD said she would plant some things up on the farm next spring season, but that's a dream.

10Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:57 am

bethk

bethk
Admin

I know they say lettuce and peas are "cold weather" crops but I just didn't want to take the chance of losing my little garden before Dane gets here to eat it. So, I brought it in and let it stay in the living room overnight. I think I'll wait until tomorrow before I send it back out.....

I think it's time to thin the lettuce - hmmmm, I think a light vinegarette made with Lyn's lemon might just be the thing to add to my meal tonight!

Retirement present.....Priceless! Insidegarden

11Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:21 am

JanaAZ



How exciting. I can't wait to start planting mine, too. We've got to figure out how to keep deer and javelina out of the garden. We're going to do something with raised gardens too, but will have to put some type of fencing over it so we get to eat it....not the animals. I want to start with heirloom tomatoes. I'm tired of paying $5 or more a pound for them. We never had luck growing stuff in Phoenix so we'll wait till we're in the mountains full time.

Keep posting photos of your garden so I stay inspired.

12Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:48 am

bethk

bethk
Admin

It's funny, Judy, but gardening at home was the last thing I wanted to do. I hated the whole thing ~ the raking, the planting, the weeding, the harvesting....the canning and freezing.

But this little itty bitty "play garden" so I can surprise Dane with homegrown lettuce and his very own radishes....well, it's got me giddy! Maybe it's because I came up with a plan and actually got it going, I don't know. But it's fun and I'm having a good time keeping my crops tended.

They have some compact "patio tomato" plants down here that I think I'm going to try. I may get a grape tomato plant just because I really like them homegrown....but it's all fun when there's no real work involved.

By the way, the chives are some that Dane dug up and brought from Ohio when he came for Thanksgiving. The original plant was from my grandma's garden so I consider it my "heirloom chives" and something I use a lot. If there is any thaw before he leaves in February, I may ask Dane to go dig up another clump just so I can have some planted in the ground and some in a pot.

13Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:37 pm

Imelda HL

Imelda HL

nice Beth... we still have some plants in our green house.. Dirk bought and assembled it in our backyard, so most plants are in it now.. and he bought a small portable heater.. he turned it on when the temp drops to under 40'F.. some varieties of chili pepper, herbs and some small citrus tress are in it.. we have some lettuces, rosemary, parsley shallots and garlic all over the yard, they are from last year, mostly volunteer growing or spread by birds..

14Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:08 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

I love when we have volunteer plants - it's like they invited themselves to the party and just beg to be eaten!

15Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:05 am

bethk

bethk
Admin

Dane called last night with big news...well, big for us.

I don't know that my little garden will be ready for him to eat when he retires because his boss decided he could leave a week early. I guess they want to be rid of him and his grouchy face. Or, his boss is being nice and giving him an extra week of paid vacation. OK with me. I've got work for him to do here.

16Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:04 pm

UNCLE JIMMY

UNCLE JIMMY

 
bethk wrote:Dane called last night with big news...well, big for us.

I don't know that my little garden will be ready for him to eat when he retires because his boss decided he could leave a week early.  I guess they want to be rid of him and his grouchy face.  Or, his boss is being nice and giving him an extra week of paid vacation.  OK with me.  I've got work for him to do here.

bounce Retirement present.....Priceless! 3593629538 Retirement present.....Priceless! 4137497845 

17Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:05 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

Only the lettuce will be ready to eat when Dane gets here next week - I know because I've had it three times already! But here's what my little garden looks like on Thursday, January 23, 2014 after planting it just before Christmas, on December 23rd.

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden1

The peas have had some climbing trellis bamboo thingys added....

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden4

The radishes are topping out, hopefully the radishes will start forming soon....

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden3

The lettuce is a generic mix and is super tasty....I've got another long window box I'm thinking of planting with some butter lettuce for a second crop.

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden2

18Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:33 pm

UNCLE JIMMY

UNCLE JIMMY

bethk wrote:Only the lettuce will be ready to eat when Dane gets here next week - I know because I've had it three times already!  But here's what my little garden looks like on Thursday, January 23, 2014 after planting it just before Christmas, on December 23rd.

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden1

The peas have had some climbing trellis bamboo thingys added....

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden4

The radishes are topping out, hopefully the radishes will start forming soon....

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden3

The lettuce is a generic mix and is super tasty....I've got another long window box I'm thinking of planting with some butter lettuce for a second crop.

Retirement present.....Priceless! 012314garden2

Looks so pretty Beth! .... I got a name for it!
"Beths Jungle Garden" to feed the Amazing Tarzan when he comes down from the mountains! hahaha.... Just make sure he leaves the Monkey In the mountains.
What you can do, is buy some radishes, and place them in the radish plants. This way it will look like you were SOooooo Busy Gardening, and had No Time for galavanting with friends! ...

BTW... Tina's wish is to have a root cellar. Guess I should get her a little beech pail and shovel for Vallentines day, and she could start digging!! ... Yeah!...My Grave probably!  silent 

Note: -> Remember those little TIN pail and shovel for the beach?
Back in my day, they were made of metal. Now they are made of plastic.

19Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:34 pm

Barbara101

Barbara101

you must have some green thumb. I did the same thing 2 times in fact.. I got nothing. well maybe a few green things & they disappeared.I have the same box too.I bought garden soil.Used seeds & plants.......got zip. I decided no more wasting money on tomato plants either..

Right now ,,here, we have had hard freeze a couple times & that right there would have done them in..Guess I have a black thumb..
I planted green beans,2 kinds of peas,Zucc, morning glories, zinnas, other stuff. NOTHING came up. yet that stupid basil plant went wild like a tree.. I hate basil yuck..Oh & the rose bush I cut down 10 time s & finally dug up still comes back. That thing will Not go away...... Evil or Very Mad Right now I got all weeds in my flower beds.

20Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:45 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

We've had hard freezes here, too - had actual ICE on the patio table this morning that is usually just wet with condensation.  But the peas (sugar snap), lettuce and radishes are all cold weather crops and can actually benefit from the cold weather.  The chives are some Dane dug from our garden at home and brought down in a big clump ~ came from my grandma's garden so they are super special to me.

I did use the Miracle Grow potting soil and added about 1" of Seed Starter soil to the top for the pots I planted with the lettuce & radishes....said it had some extra magic growing serum included ~ I don't remember exactly. But the Miracle Grow soil has that moisture preserve stuff that helps keep the soil moist even when you forget for a day or 2. good stuff.



Last edited by bethk on Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

21Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:48 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

UNCLE JIMMY wrote:
Looks so pretty Beth! .... I got a name for it!
"Beths Jungle Garden" to feed the Amazing Tarzan when he comes down from the mountains! hahaha.... Just make sure he leaves the Monkey In the mountains.

What you can do, is buy some radishes, and place them in the radish plants. This way it will look like you were SOooooo Busy Gardening, and had No Time for galavanting with friends! ...

Note: -> Remember those little TIN pail and shovel for the beach?
Back in my day, they were made of metal. Now they are made of plastic.

OMG, Jimmy - That's just what I'll do. They don't sell any radishes with the greens still attached that I've found...maybe I'll just drop some from a plastic bag (cut ones) on the concrete around the pot and he'll think they fell off.....

22Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:48 pm

UNCLE JIMMY

UNCLE JIMMY

bethk wrote:
UNCLE JIMMY wrote:
Looks so pretty Beth! .... I got a name for it!
"Beths Jungle Garden" to feed the Amazing Tarzan when he comes down from the mountains! hahaha.... Just make sure he leaves the Monkey In the mountains.

What you can do, is buy some radishes, and place them in the radish plants. This way it will look like you were SOooooo Busy Gardening, and had No Time for galavanting with friends! ...

Note: -> Remember those little TIN pail and shovel for the beach?
Back in my day, they were made of metal. Now they are made of plastic.

OMG, Jimmy - That's just what I'll do.  They don't sell any radishes with the greens still attached that I've found...maybe I'll just drop some from a plastic bag (cut ones) on the concrete around the pot and he'll think they fell off.....

Nope!!... I DONT Think you're gonna fool HIM.
He's a Ohio-an! Ya ain't gonna fool him; that's for sure.

It's like when we were kids in Pennsyltucky! Mom said, What do you kids think, money grows on trees? Go find me a money tree, and I'll make you a cake. hahaha
SOoooo! Brother and I were all over the neighborhood looking for a money tree like mom $aid!.... Dummmmmies we wuz!!

23Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:03 pm

Crybaby

Crybaby

Barbara101 wrote:you must have some green thumb. I did the same thing 2 times in fact.. I got nothing. well maybe a few green things & they disappeared.I have the same box too.I bought garden soil.Used seeds & plants.......got zip. I decided no more wasting money on tomato plants either..

I think in our warm climate that the mistake people make with tomato plants is that they don't plant them early enough.  Once it gets too hot, the tomatoes don't fruit.  You'll have blossoms with no fruit, as it's too hot.  We plant ours no later than March 15.  This year, I'm going to try to see if I can get them in the ground by March 1st.  If you get a cold night, they just stop growing a bit and you might lose a couple of blossoms.  But you can always cover them with, say, an upside down pot, either plastic or terracotta, if the temp goes below say 55.

There are types of tomatoes that take more heat than others, but they don't even do well down here once nighttime temps get over 75. Even the local "garden gurus" will tell you the high heat ones are a crapshoot at best.

I know people who plant tomatoes just about every year and get nothing.  But they wait until it's gorgeous outside and head to the garden center, which, of course, still have tomato plants for sale.  But it's usually mid to late April by then and it's too late for our climate.  Trust me on this one, as I did the same thing when I was younger.  

When I add soil to the garden or to pots, I always use potting soil instead of garden soil, as it's a bit looser and lighter.  

A week ago we planted some radishes and also some beets, both by seed.  Brian also planted some brussel sprouts, but I think it's too late in the season in our climate for them, so I'm not expecting a miracle.  But then it's only seed so the "investment" isn't much to lose.

Our mixed baby lettuces are still producing lots of lettuce.  It's so pretty, too, as the lettuces are different colors.  It's so much fun to go get fresh lettuce out of the garden for a nice salad.  The freezes haven't hurt the lettuce at all.  Brian insisted on covering it one night but I laughed, as I told him the first freeze didn't hurt them at all.  So that was the only time we covered them and they're still going strong.  First time we ever did lettuce, too, so it will be a regular thing for late fall for us (it's too hot here to plant them any earlier).

24Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:28 pm

bethk

bethk
Admin

Yeah, Michelle, this is too much fun! When it's not something I'm depending on to feed a family and more of a hobby, well, what can I say? I think you're right about the tomatoes. I'm thinking of getting some next week, plants from the garden center - saw some called "patio pot tomatoes" I thought I'd try and I gotta get a grape tomato plant....I just love 'em. If they don't make it, well, so I wasted $6. Won't put me in the poor house quite yet.

I do want to do another planting of lettuce but I might be getting close. I have this idea to plant in the metal rain gutters with the ends closed with the end caps. Then I can call it a "gutter garden"! lol

25Retirement present.....Priceless! Empty Re: Retirement present.....Priceless! Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:33 pm

Crybaby

Crybaby

We do four big tomato plants (usually Best Boy), usually two roma plants and two cherry plants (usually Sweet 100s).

Beth, if you've never tried making sauce with cherry tomatoes, it's to die for.  I love grape tomatoes, too, but I find cherry tomatoes are sweeter.  We do eat them like snacks, too.

If you've never planted tomatoes in pots, Beth, just make sure you get BIG pots.

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