Gardening 2022

shop deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Shop deals on ebay
Homesteading & Country Living Forum

Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
GeorgiaPeachie said:
Some years are simply hell on gardens. This is one of those years for you. Don’t give up. Try different modes of growing. A greenhouse or hoop house would solve a lot of pest problems and allow you to grow in fall and early spring.
Click to expand...
I did some research today while in town. I found a product called Onslought. You mix it with either meat or fruit juice and the yellow jackets will take it back to their nest and it kills the entire colony. In the early spring and summer the yellow jackets feed mostly on meat, late summer/fall they feed on fruit juice. Right now its on back order.
Dealing with the weather isn't a real problem, we can work around it by the methods mentioned above. It's the vermin that is more difficult to handle, with grasshoppers, yellow jackets, voles, gophers, chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits being on top of the list. Not sure if there's anything that can be done with the grasshoppers. They're about 4" long right now. I shoot, trap and poison the rodents.
Our growing season is so short that there are very few things that we can replant in case of a failure. We're supposed to be down in the lower 40's later this week, so we'll be covering the tomatoes and peppers. Next year I'll build some cold frames so we can start planting earlier in the spring. The wife has a greenhouse ($6000) on order that won't be delivered until next spring. I'll also put in an irrigation system, more raised beds and terraces to make watering easier and should save on water too. The garden is on a slope so the water tends to run off.
 
AD it’s been a tough year around here with insects. Drought has driven them up here. All relative, cause the game animals are here too.
I talked with a neighbor yesterday. He couldn’t get over how my property is such a game crossroads. He is a mile up and would be happy to see a tenth of what he sees on mine. All he sees are hogs. I don’t see hogs.
 
Arcticdude said:
I did some research today while in town. I found a product called Onslought. You mix it with either meat or fruit juice and the yellow jackets will take it back to their nest and it kills the entire colony. In the early spring and summer the yellow jackets feed mostly on meat, late summer/fall they feed on fruit juice. Right now its on back order.
Dealing with the weather isn't a real problem, we can work around it by the methods mentioned above. It's the vermin that is more difficult to handle, with grasshoppers, yellow jackets, voles, gophers, chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits being on top of the list. Not sure if there's anything that can be done with the grasshoppers. They're about 4" long right now. I shoot, trap and poison the rodents.
Our growing season is so short that there are very few things that we can replant in case of a failure. We're supposed to be down in the lower 40's later this week, so we'll be covering the tomatoes and peppers. Next year I'll build some cold frames so we can start planting earlier in the spring. The wife has a greenhouse ($6000) on order that won't be delivered until next spring. I'll also put in an irrigation system, more raised beds and terraces to make watering easier and should save on water too. The garden is on a slope so the water tends to run off.
Click to expand...

You have a solid plan to correct many issues. Don’t be too discouraged as next year will be a different time and you might just get some bumper crops! Cold frames are a fantastic option!!!
 
I always save my tomato seeds by putting in water until they ferment, etc. Just saw a video by Doug and Stacy where she sliced tomatoes and put them on top of a pot of soIL and then just put them in a crawl space for the winter. Doesn't touch them until Spring,then start to water until they sprout.

This is like when I drop one of those little yellow tomatoes and they come back the next year. Or when the chickens poop seeds and they grow. I am definitely going to try this, but am worried about mice in the crawl space. Maybe I could cover them and leave in the garage now that I can actually move around in it.
She learned this from the Amish.
 
Robinjopo1 said:
I always save my tomato seeds by putting in water until they ferment, etc. Just saw a video by Doug and Stacy where she sliced tomatoes and put them on top of a pot of soIL and then just put them in a crawl space for the winter. Doesn't touch them until Spring,then start to water until they sprout.

This is like when I drop one of those little yellow tomatoes and they come back the next year. Or when the chickens poop seeds and they grow. I am definitely going to try this, but am worried about mice in the crawl space. Maybe I could cover them and leave in the garage now that I can actually move around in it.
She learned this from the Amish.
Click to expand...

Sounds like I need to watch that video! Doug and Stacy are definitely not ones to doubt as they have supported themselves off grid for 13 years!
 
What does this forcast for Winter?
 

Attachments

  • 20220907_113231.jpg
    20220907_113231.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 0
GP I agree with you cold frames are a great option and less expensive than a greenhouse especially if you have less room.

We had a terrible problem with ground squirrels this year. We have never had this problem before. My husband put smoke bombs in their runs which seemed to work well. My husband says road flares work too.

We put out bait made up of oatmeal and plaster of paris for rodents. They eat the oatmeal/plaster mixture and it hardens in their stomachs/intestines and they die. We put it in coffee cans with the lid on turned on their sides with a hole cut in the top. If other animals or birds of prey eat on the dead mice/rats/rodents it won't kill them. Cheap and effective.
 
Update. This is the first year of using cinder blocks. own herbs.

Basil is doing great
Oregano is great
Thyme is great
Stevia is so so. Growing but not abundant
Sage was good, but has since died back
Rosemary is not growing very well.
Chives are great and going to seed
Dill produced lots of good seeds

Definitely worth the price paid for the cinder blocks.
 
Robinjopo1 said:
Update. This is the first year of using cinder blocks. own herbs.

Basil is doing great
Oregano is great
Thyme is great
Stevia is so so. Growing but not abundant
Sage was good, but has since died back
Rosemary is not growing very well.
Chives are great and going to seed
Dill produced lots of good seeds

Definitely worth the price paid for the cinder blocks.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the typo. No idea how that autocorrected for to own
 
Robinjopo1 said:
Been trying to find the proper spot. It says they spread a lot.
Click to expand...
19-100_7725.JPG

Our elderberries are about 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 foot wide. I have 4 bushes two being commercial varieties from Stark Bros nursery and the other two from the woods. The two native are to ensure pollination. I get more elderberries than I could ever use for just us two. They do tend to put up suckers from the roots that have to be thinned regularly so as not to end up with a thicket which is their natural growth tendency. Mine are planted along a fence row. If you planted them with lawn surrounding them you could simply mow the suckers down. I use my elderberries for canned pie filling, elderberry jam and I dehydrate them for tea and tinctures. A super hardy plant for me. I thin the stalks every year taking out some of the oldest. If you want more bushes just dig up some of the sprouts and move or they root super easy just stick pieces down in dirt.
 
DirtDiva said:
View attachment 17329
Our elderberries are about 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 foot wide. I have 4 bushes two being commercial varieties from Stark Bros nursery and the other two from the woods. The two native are to ensure pollination. I get more elderberries than I could ever use for just us two. They do tend to put up suckers from the roots that have to be thinned regularly so as not to end up with a thicket which is their natural growth tendency. Mine are planted along a fence row. If you planted them with lawn surrounding them you could simply mow the suckers down. I use my elderberries for canned pie filling, elderberry jam and I dehydrate them for tea and tinctures. A super hardy plant for me. I thin the stalks every year taking out some of the oldest. If you want more bushes just dig up some of the sprouts and move or they root super easy just stick pieces down in dirt.
Click to expand...
Thanks DD. They are beautiful. How many hours sun do yours get? I read they need 8 hours. That is a lot..
 
All my tomatoes had got somewhat to size then got brown spots on them seems to a common problem around my area no spaghetti sauce this year i talked to a local vegetable stand and he said its been a common issue around here he said it was probably a disease from the seed. hope everyone here had luck with their gardens
 
My beans are about gone so I picked and broke enough for my 96 year old neighbor. He eyesight is very bad so I didn't want him to have to string them or look for black spots.

He lives alone and it is scary that he cooks, etc. I bought him a small crock pot so that he doesn't have to use an open flame on the stove.

Since mom caught a dish towel on fire, I take the burners apart before I leave the house. Mine is gas so the flame is very dangerous for her.
 
It is funny that we get excited about power tools, etc. When I got my pressure washer, I think I cried.
GeorgiaPeachie said:
We are going to be building us a garden shed close to the chicken house. Same style, stain and roofing. Still deciding exact size. Is it silly that I’m excited about it? 🤪

On another subject...has anyone grown or baked with Hard Red Wheat? Hate to admit it, but I have not. Isn’t it the flour used for strong totally wheat breads? Does anyone like to bake with it?
Click to expand...
 
ALERT - the USDA wants you to REGISTER YOUR GARDEN. Their "people's garden" program is NOT your grandma's victory garden brochure. It is—in their own words—creating a registry and map of small-scale food production.



DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES REGISTER YOUR GARDEN. No matter what benefits or enticements are offered.

—

"The USDA expanding its People’s Garden Initiative to include eligible gardens nationwide!



"School gardens, community gardens, urban farms, and small-scale agriculture projects in rural, suburban and urban areas can be recognized as a “People’s Garden” if they register on the USDA website and meet criteria including benefiting the community, working collaboratively, incorporating conservation practices and educating the public. Affiliate People’s Garden locations will be indicated on a map on the USDA website, featured in USDA communications, and provided with a People’s Garden sign.



source



IceAgeFarmer
 
Robinjopo1 said:
A couple of weeks ago I posted pictures of some mushrooms growing on stumps. What I didn't know was that they are Turkey Tail mushrooms and very healthy/medicinal.

I harvested a gallon and am going to dry and make powders to add to tea, etc.
Click to expand...

Are you going to give some to your husband to drink first? He likes tea, right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top