Garden 2022

[hashbrown]

Been 6 days since I planted, I have two types of tomatoes popping and basil coming up.

 

[Amish Heart]

Finally got those snap pea seeds in the ground. Was going to do it all week and finally did. Next on my list is getting the giant kale and the beets seeded in the ground. The big garden is all tilled, I have no excuse except that I have the dentist tomorrow and I really dislike the dentist.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I'm sitting here enjoying my lunch break and I had to stop and ask myself, why am I gardening, what do I want out of my little home gardening experiment?
My answer seemed very simple, I would like to grow all the vegetables that I eat all year long. The goals and milestones that I set for myself are a little more complicated, but every little success makes me feel good. (On the flip side, I know gardening has a long learning curve and I want to be ahead of the game in a SHTF even)

I wonder, does everyone think this way or am I just and odd duck?

Why do you garden and what are your gardening goals?

 

[Double R]

Our goal is to grow enough to get us through the year as well. If we can put more than that away even better. I would like to know if we have a bad garden year or a move or an injury or …… there is enough on the shelves to get by comfortably until the next season. Other than corn (failed every year so far) lettuce, carrots, garlic, onions, potatoes and beets I think we’re managing ok. Every year I’m trying to add one new to the garden.

 

[Bacpacker]

Reasons are numerous but here are some
My mental health, I need something quite that don't require tons of thought on a constant basis
High quality food to eat and enjoy. Higher nutrition and no added BS in what I grow
To save money and to have food put back in case of SHTF like we are currently seeing play out

 

[UrbanHunter]

Today I was able to check my rain water storage system, I found 1 cracked ball valve, it is where I had a fertilizer feed port about 12" from the pump. The valve was closed over the winter and water collected above the valve, I can fix it easily enough because I have a shutoff about 6" before it that is still in good shape.

The wife had some red potatoes that were sprouting and suggested I plant them, I didn't have any good big containers, but I had one of the old really big ice chests with a missing lid, I drilled a half dozen holes in the bottom, put in a bag of my grass/leaves from last year and a small bag of potting soil on top, there is about 2 inches of head space and I assume the leaves and grass will pack down as the rain hits it.

I also started making the hanging pots for the wife's flowers, I lined them with the coconut husk mat and a little potting soil, soaked them so they will fit the pots better before I add the flowers.

I moved a few of the romaine head lettuce out to a spot in a raised bed with spinach in it, mostly to free up some space in my indoor growing station.

Speaking of the indoor growing station, I have decided to shift to a weekly planting routine, not a lot but like 2 of this or 2 of that. My thinking is that this was I can have some of each thing ready to harvest every week.

I think that things like cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and such will get planted monthly and then when they are within a month of maturity moving them outdoors.

All this will force me to use more of the small 3 1/2" starter containers, but it will let me take advantage of all of the shelves in my growing station and be able to continue harvesting throughout the year...

 

[Double R]

When I left for town I had 2 little marigold seeds sprouting. By the time I got home we had about 1/2 of our tomatoes showing their arches or leaves and 1/4 of our jalapeños and bell peppers showing their little arches. Will have to start putting them in the greenhouse during the day now.
Pretty exciting!

 

[Amish Heart]

I garden for healthy food, not sprayed with junk. And because I can. Also because it saves a bundle at the store. And anyway, there might not be a store before long.

 

[Neb]

I planted out 50 strawberry plants yesterday. The tomatoes have sprouted. They are the last of the indoor sprouts I planted. Still waiting to see the spruce trees sprout.

Ben

 

[Neb]

Here are some images from the indoor grow station.

All but 2 of the seedless grape vine clones are showing signs of life.

Look close to see an attempt 5o grow a root from the node that is trying to bud.

It turns out I was premature when declaring many of the seeds dead. Only the pepper seeds I collected in 2016 failed to germinate. I store all of my seeds in envelopes inside plastic bags sorted in alphabetical order stored in a non frost free freezer.

Ben

 

[Bacpacker]

Back to filling the new beds. I've got 2 loaded with wood and some in the 3rd. Fixin to start shoveling compost for as long as it holds out. May try and get another load Monday

 

[UrbanHunter]

The weather is on again off again, with gusty wind and rain threatening.

I dug out a 15 year old oregano plant as weeds had intermingled with it and it was getting difficult to harvest from, plus I have 3 large plants in my growing station that need a home.

I got an open topped raised bed weeded and ready to plant.

So far nothing that was direct sowed has come up, but it has only been a week or so.

The wife ordered some Hosta's, but now she want's me to grow them in the growing station this year and them move them outdoors next season... all I need is to find space for 5 more plants.

My broccoli has mini crowns showing now and I am trying to decide if I would be better off using the white insect netting or the black bird netting with the 1/2" squares to protect them from the white butterfly's. The white would be a better shield, but the black is almost transparent and the wife would enjoy the plants more. Any suggestions?

 

[Neb]

The weather is on again off again, with gusty wind and rain threatening.

I dug out a 15 year old oregano plant as weeds had intermingled with it and it was getting difficult to harvest from, plus I have 3 large plants in my growing station that need a home.

I got an open topped raised bed weeded and ready to plant.

So far nothing that was direct sowed has come up, but it has only been a week or so.

The wife ordered some Hosta's, but now she want's me to grow them in the growing station this year and them move them outdoors next season... all I need is to find space for 5 more plants.

My broccoli has mini crowns showing now and I am trying to decide if I would be better off using the white insect netting or the black bird netting with the 1/2" squares to protect them from the white butterfly's. The white would be a better shield, but the black is almost transparent and the wife would enjoy the plants more. Any suggestions?

Do you want to look at them or eat them ?

I have seen the effectiveness of the white but would be taking a chance with deer netting. I have read the little white butterflies that produce cabbage worms do not fly very high and a 3' mesh fence is enough to keep them out.

May be wrong...

Ben

 

[WVDragonlady]

I've seen them flying over my greenhouse so yea they fly higher than a 3 foot fence lol

 

[UrbanHunter]

I ended up getting the new oregano planted and I was able to transplant some parsley. As I was getting ready to come in and rest a bit I saw one of those white butterfly's fly over the shed and down by where I was working. I grabbed some of the deer netting and killed it. I think if the netting is 6" off the plants it should work okay... I'll sleep on it, cause I'm pooped....

 

[Peanut]

In dec of '20 I took a chainsaw to half my elderberry bushes, pruned them good. This new year I pruned the other half with the saw. Today I took the loppers and cut out all the honeysuckle and saw briers that were trying to cover them.

All of last summers new sprouts and limbs look good, leafing out nicely. Should be able to make a quart or 2 of bloom tincture this June.

 

[Bacpacker]

Very nice new growth on that one Peanut.
I ordered 4 different elderberries this week. Also ordered 5 Horseradish roots.

 

[LadyLocust]

The weather is on again off again, with gusty wind and rain threatening.

I dug out a 15 year old oregano plant as weeds had intermingled with it and it was getting difficult to harvest from, plus I have 3 large plants in my growing station that need a home.

I got an open topped raised bed weeded and ready to plant.

So far nothing that was direct sowed has come up, but it has only been a week or so.

The wife ordered some Hosta's, but now she want's me to grow them in the growing station this year and them move them outdoors next season... all I need is to find space for 5 more plants.

My broccoli has mini crowns showing now and I am trying to decide if I would be better off using the white insect netting or the black bird netting with the 1/2" squares to protect them from the white butterfly's. The white would be a better shield, but the black is almost transparent and the wife would enjoy the plants more. Any suggestions?

I would ask Mrs. what she would prefer.
I like to grow enough to eat and can/preserve & if extra, share. Also, I don't like to be dependent on others for necessities. If there's something I can do to prevent that situation, I will do so. And then there is the knowledge and experiments and health benefits of both eating non-contaminated food and working out in the fresh air in the earth etc.

 

[Peanut]

My elderberry is wild stock. I cleaned off an old fence corner at this spot and found 2 elderberry bushes already there. I transplanted a dozen more wild plants. It's tough stuff, (thats why I didn't hesitate to use a chain saw on it.) In fact its a very aggressive shrub.

At the start... I'd cleaned out all the other brush and started transplanting more. I also brought over a few tons of cow & horse manure from the hay rings and added 40lbs of crushed volcanic rock. There was an elderberry explosion!

After 2 years it looked like this... before the chainsaw...

 

[Bacpacker]

Wow, that stuff does get BIG

 

[Peanut]

It got another 5ft taller over the next couple of years . I had to use a step ladder to harvest blooms. That's why I started pruning it.

 

[Terri9630]

I got the strawberries divided and replanted, some blueberry bushes, 2 apple trees and 2 more concord grapes potted up. I need to re-pot the apple tree hubby bought last year. I think half of our onions survived the last freeze but we'll have to wait and see. I already have more ordered so if they don't make it we'll still have some. I had no idea how many onions it took to make a little bottle of onion powder!

 

[Double R]

I hope to have an elderberry when we move. Want to learn how to make elderberry syrup.

@Terri9630 What kind of apple tree did he get you? That’s another tree I hope to eventually have. Apple and oranges.

 

[Terri9630]

I hope to have an elderberry when we move. Want to learn how to make elderberry syrup.

@Terri9630 What kind of apple tree did he get you? That’s another tree I hope to eventually have. Apple and oranges.

Fuji and Golden Delicious. They are both supposed to grow here and have low chill hour requirements.

 

[Double R]

Fuji and Golden Delicious. They are both supposed to grow here and have low chill hour requirements.

That’s what I want!!! My 2 favorite apples. So jealous! Hope they do well for you!

 

[UrbanHunter]

I put the bird netting over the broccoli and cabbage, I have supports so it does not touch the plants.

I see the first signs of the beets I direct sowed on the south side of the house this year, wife will love that.

I worked at the indoor growing station, I transplanted 3 dozen tiny broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plants. I re-potted 2 bell-pepper plants grown from seeds harvested from the fruit of a store bought red bell pepper plant from last year. Both of the bell pepper plants have blossoms on them. The growing station is a little congested at this time of year.

 

[Neb]

I put the bird netting over the broccoli and cabbage, I have supports so it does not touch the plants.
View attachment 82788
I see the first signs of the beets I direct sowed on the south side of the house this year, wife will love that.

I worked at the indoor growing station, I transplanted 3 dozen tiny broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plants. I re-potted 2 bell-pepper plants grown from seeds harvested from the fruit of a store bought red bell pepper plant from last year. Both of the bell pepper plants have blossoms on them. The growing station is a little congested at this time of year.
View attachment 82789

Wow!

You have 4 times my capacity going there and 8 times what I have active now.

How many seed starting heat mats do you use?

Are you using florescent bulbs or LED ?

I want to upgrade to LED because the florescent give off too much heat to be used during the summer.

Thanks for the images! They serve as inspiration of what is possible.

You go guy!

Ben

 

[Bacpacker]

Fantastic pics Urban. That is a lot of food to come

 

[UrbanHunter]

Wow!
You have 4 times my capacity going there and 8 times what I have active now.
How many seed starting heat mats do you use?
Are you using florescent bulbs or LED ?
I want to upgrade to LED because the florescent give off too much heat to be used during the summer.
Thanks for the images! They serve as inspiration of what is possible.
You go guy!

Ben

I only use 1 heating mat, I am starting all my seeds in a single tray (as many as 15 seeds in a cup, depending on the plant). As soon as they spout I re-pot them into individual cups, and then again as they outgrow the cups.

I switched to LEDS over the last 2 years, the setup as you see it draws 840 Watts, right now it is powered for 3 hours off the solar panels and 6 hours off the grid. Once I get my array increased to 800 watts I will switch it to having the solar panels power it for 6 hours and the grid powering it for 3.

The red and green leaves sticking out at the bottom left are beets and turnips, the turnips are a couple of weeks from harvesting. I am harvesting beet leaves, onions, lettuce, radishes, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, and bay leaves from the indoor growing station. I have moved the mature bucket carrots outside between the larger broccoli and the cabbages.

My goal is to have a year round garden even when we get this kind of stuff.



EDIT: FYI my main back up plan is to dig in come SHTF, if that fails I going to "borrow" a semi and come to Ben's house.

 

[joel]

I put the bird netting over the broccoli and cabbage, I have supports so it does not touch the plants.
View attachment 82788
I see the first signs of the beets I direct sowed on the south side of the house this year, wife will love that.

I worked at the indoor growing station, I transplanted 3 dozen tiny broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plants. I re-potted 2 bell-pepper plants grown from seeds harvested from the fruit of a store bought red bell pepper plant from last year. Both of the bell pepper plants have blossoms on them. The growing station is a little congested at this time of year.
View attachment 82789

great Job, I do not start many seeds, mostly direct sow.