What have you done for garden prep so far?

[Brent S]

Today I finished planting the fruit trees (apple, cherry, plum), grapes, blueberries and raspberries. Couldn't find any blackberry plants for sale this season. Tomorrow I'll start planting the strawberry, asparagus and horseradish. It might still be a little early yet, but I'm going to start planting the peas, green beans, carrots, potatoes and corn.
Last week I seeded a few acres of alfalfa, clover, timothy and oats.

You could probably find blackberries on line and have them shipped to you. I love Amazon. I planted a little early too, and need to go put in a few more seeds in some thin spots. Overall though most things did fine. I already am behind in thinning and weeding!

 

[DrHenley]

Couldn't find any blackberry plants for sale this season.

For Sale???, people actually BUY blackberry plants???? ROFL!

Around here people would pay you to dig up their blackberry plants and take them.

 

[Mountain trapper]

For Sale???, people actually BUY blackberry plants???? ROFL!

Around here people would pay you to dig up their blackberry plants and take them.

Yeah I know. I never would of guessed that I'd be paying for blackberries either. But I wanted the thornless variety. Plus blackberries dont grow wild at our elevation.

 

[DrHenley]

Yeah I know. I never would of guessed that I'd be paying for blackberries either. But I wanted the thornless variety. Plus blackberries dont grow wild at our elevation.

OK...thornless...that makes sense!

 

[Brent S]

For Sale???, people actually BUY blackberry plants???? ROFL!

Around here people would pay you to dig up their blackberry plants and take them.

Lol. I have a thorny barrier of them around lots of the property here that are evil buggars. They do produce a lot of berries but they are small and aren’t the sweetest things. Now the ‘bought’ ones are a whole different animal. They are 5 times the size, way sweeter and most importantly, THORNLESS! I started with six or seven plants and in about three years now have a whole patch of probably 60 or so. It makes the best flavored wine I’ve ever had. I may waste some berries on a pie one day...

 

[Mountain trapper]

Lol. I have a thorny barrier of them around lots of the property here that are evil buggars. They do produce a lot of berries but they are small and aren’t the sweetest things. Now the ‘bought’ ones are a whole different animal. They are 5 times the size, way sweeter and most importantly, THORNLESS! I started with six or seven plants and in about three years now have a whole patch of probably 60 or so. It makes the best flavored wine I’ve ever had. I may waste some berries on a pie one day...

I only have 5 blackberry plants now, but have put in trellises for about 25 more. My garden, orchard and berries cover close to an acre now and only have room for 12 more fruit trees, added to the 15 I've already planted. I'm pulling out some pine trees now and that will give me more space. If needed I can clear an area about 400×500 feet adjacent to the orchard/garden for expansion. Just not this year. Even with the tractor it's a lot of work clearing trees and brush.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Have 20 tomatoes started, 10 peppers, and 10 cucumbers. Have the hydro tower clean and ready, and wife started the seeds in the rock wool today. Checked the choke cherry trees, they look great, a really nice spring so far, lots of sunny days mixed with rain at night, so about perfect.

Gathered a bunch of shitake mushrooms (planted plugs two years ago in a bunch of oak logs in the woods next door) and fiddle heads. Have enough to make omelets for a week or so.

Scouted out some new wild onion beds, a bit bigger than my last spot.

The seedlings we started came out so much better this year. I used the dirt from the worm farm we fed over the winter, and mixed that with potting soil, and the seedlings came up and stayed nice and short and fat, with really nice branches and leaves forming. Last year they were really stringy and too tall.

Used Robinjopo's method and started 12 jars of Kraut. We will forget about them for a while.

Heading over to the gardens in a bit, to build a section of wood fence (recycled oak pallets) and till and cover the new garden, and stare at the old garden and think about the raised beds, which I need to build soon - ish.

 

[SheilaT.]

I have a few things germinating on the windowsill to put in planters in a couple of weeks. Nothing spectacular, but I can't seem to stop growing something, anything at all! Until the move is complete I won't have any space but I'm happy messing about in pots.
It's great to hear how everyone is progressing.

 

[Dani]

This is part of my harvest today, but we had a storm move thru so had to stop while picking my greenbeans. . . And it had hail. A lot of my 6ft tall corn is leaning over but not all. It's just too wet to try to stand it back up tonight so hoping in the morning I can. They were putting on ears that should be ready in just 2-3 more weeks. It was dusk when I could get back out so will need to check the extent tomorrow, but it looks like everything else will be ok, I hope. I did get all my tomatoes prunes this morning and have a bunch of green tomatoes and blooms. Cucumbers have been producing very well so far and so have the green beans. I pulled up the first row that I planted cause they were done and replaced that row with Crenshaw melons. Planted purple hulls in a row that I had let mustard go to seed and then some Silver (something) Line. . . It's a type of melon I had never heard of so wanting to try it out. I'm just now picking yellow squash and zucchini. The patty squash are producing very well. Got to pick my first jalapeno and two banana peppers.

 

[Brent S]

View attachment 8784 This is part of my harvest today, but we had a storm move thru so had to stop while picking my greenbeans. . . And it had hail. A lot of my 6ft tall corn is leaning over but not all. It's just too wet to try to stand it back up tonight so hoping in the morning I can. They were putting on ears that should be ready in just 2-3 more weeks. It was dusk when I could get back out so will need to check the extent tomorrow, but it looks like everything else will be ok, I hope. I did get all my tomatoes prunes this morning and have a bunch of green tomatoes and blooms. Cucumbers have been producing very well so far and so have the green beans. I pulled up the first row that I planted cause they were done and replaced that row with Crenshaw melons. Planted purple hulls in a row that I had let mustard go to seed and then some Silver (something) Line. . . It's a type of melon I had never heard of so wanting to try it out. I'm just now picking yellow squash and zucchini. The patty squash are producing very well. Got to pick my first jalapeno and two banana peppers.

Wow! You always start harvesting early. My tomatoes are just now showing their first yellow blooms. The peas and dukes are still way too small to produce. I’m still eating lots of lettuce and spinach but it’s starting to get hot here so will kill that off soon.

 

[Mountain trapper]

We went out yesterday to assess the damage from Friday nights storm. Our garden is mostly a total loss, the strawberry plants were shredded, most of the tomatoes are gone, the blossoms on the fruit trees were knocked off and much of the dirt washed away. Our road was washed out in several areas but amazingly no trees were down. There were drifts of hail over 2 feet deep in places and every wild flower for several square miles was destroyed. The bee hives were blown off their pallet but were undamaged. The good news is that we still have time to replant. I knew it was a gamble to plant before June anyway. Today the sun is out and looks like a nice day, maybe it'll dry out.

 

[Dani]

I am sorry to hear about your garden Artic. . . It's a disappointment for sure. We try to outwit Mother Nature just to have her smack us around. There is nothing that can be done about hail with an outside garden except hope and pray it doesn't come. I honestly wanted to cry after our hail storm yesterday, but what we consider one and what you ha d are totally different. Ours was mainly pea size with a few quarter size mixed in with mainly rain. I only had to clean up damage of knocked over plants, not replant thank goodness.

 

[Dani]

Wow! You always start harvesting early. My tomatoes are just now showing their first yellow blooms. The peas and dukes are still way too small to produce. I’m still eating lots of lettuce and spinach but it’s starting to get hot here so will kill that off soon.

I only get to harvest earlier because I live further south than most and because I play with Mother Nature. . . . Sometimes I win, sometimes she wins.

The corn got stood back up this morning along with 5 tomatoes. green beans got pretty hammered in spots along with 1 questionable patty squash. Only about a quarter of the corn was leaning. Letting the dew dry off before I go start picking.

 

[Brent S]

I only get to harvest earlier because I live further south than most and because I play with Mother Nature. . . . Sometimes I win, sometimes she wins.

The corn got stood back up this morning along with 5 tomatoes. green beans got pretty hammered in spots along with 1 questionable patty squash. Only about a quarter of the corn was leaning. Letting the dew dry off before I go start picking.

No doubt every season is a gamble with gardening. I will say though that the blueberries are looking really good this year. Not only are they finally getting good sized, about 4 to 5ft high, but they are covered in berries. Last year was kind of a puny harvest. Apples are loaded too. I planted 5 pear trees last fall and they all look good with the new growth but I don’t expect to see any fruit for at least a couple more years from them. Fruit trees are a slow reward kind of thing. As with all years, I can’t wait to eat the first vine ripened tomato!

 

[Brent S]

We went out yesterday to assess the damage from Friday nights storm. Our garden is mostly a total loss, the strawberry plants were shredded, most of the tomatoes are gone, the blossoms on the fruit trees were knocked off and much of the dirt washed away. Our road was washed out in several areas but amazingly no trees were down. There were drifts of hail over 2 feet deep in places and every wild flower for several square miles was destroyed. The bee hives were blown off their pallet but were undamaged. The good news is that we still have time to replant. I knew it was a gamble to plant before June anyway. Today the sun is out and looks like a nice day, maybe it'll dry out.

That really is disheartening to see all your work wiped out. At least replanting isn’t as hard as tilling and set up from scratch.

 

[DrPrepper1]

I am hoping for a tomato any day now

 

[DrHenley]

We went out yesterday to assess the damage from Friday nights storm. Our garden is mostly a total loss,

Sorry to hear that Arctic.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Arctic, that's a bummer.

Got the raised beds finished, and planted. Filled with a mix of soil, compost, and dried horse manure. Planted peppers in the raised beds, but I need to cover the soil with cocoa shell mulch. Got the potatoes planted, about twenty plants. Ended up planting thirty tomatoes. Planted some vine roses and morning glories around the garden perimeter, with a bunch of leeks mixed in. Winter squash and cucumbers are inside cages so they grow up, and don't conquer the rest of the gardens. They will anyway, lol. With the soil turned and amended with rabbit poop tea and dry horse manure, we covered all the soil with weed mat and wood chips. So there shouldn't be much weeding going on this season, fingers crossed.

The hydro tower is set up, filled, pump tested, plants ready to go in.

Good day today. I'm sunburned.

 

[Mountain trapper]

We finially finished replanting the garden today right before dark. Our garden slopes down toward the corral and a lot of the garden soil had washed into the corral from Friday nights storm, taking much of the seeds that we planted with it.
About an hour after we finished planting the garden another fast moving storm blew in from over the mountain. We'll see in the morning if we need to replant again. Right now we're getting high wind and rain.

 

[Mountain trapper]

.

 

[DrPrepper1]

We finially finished replanting the garden today right before dark. Our garden slopes down toward the corral and a lot of the garden soil had washed into the corral from Friday nights storm, taking much of the seeds that we planted with it.
About an hour after we finished planting the garden another fast moving storm blew in from over the mountain. We'll see in the morning if we need to replant again. Right now we're getting high wind and rain.

If you have to replant again, I would be ready for a fist fight with Mother Nature. I hope it works out.

 

[SheilaT.]

We finially finished replanting the garden today right before dark. Our garden slopes down toward the corral and a lot of the garden soil had washed into the corral from Friday nights storm, taking much of the seeds that we planted with it.
About an hour after we finished planting the garden another fast moving storm blew in from over the mountain. We'll see in the morning if we need to replant again. Right now we're getting high wind and rain.

I hope it's not another washout AD. Would you consider terracing the garden in the future? it might stop erosion of the garden in a storm.

 

[Dani]

It's gotten really hot (w/ humidity 101) around here with no rain in sight this week for us. This morning I need to get out to harvest some more cucumbers and green beans along with a few squash. Tomatoes are loaded but the only ones that have turned red are a few cherries. Probably need to prune back the suckers too. Also need to replant the yellow squash that was split by Saturday's storm. After standing back up all the corn that got blown over they are looking ok so not a loss thankfully. The contenders are not liking the hot humid weather so I replaced with the Roma variety. They tend to do better, just not as prolific. After they get done, I'll start putting in the dry beans this year. Seems like all the melons are living this type of weather though.

 

[brandx]

I should plant a flower someday, but so far have only played with things I can eat! Even in a small space you can produce alot more than most people think.

you could plant nasturtiums and eat them.

 

[Brent S]

you could plant nasturtiums and eat them.

I don’t know what those are, but I’ve read many flowers are edible. I haven’t mowed as much as I should be keeping up with and have enough dandelions to feed a small city! I just saw a documentary that said a cauliflower plant is wholly edible, yet we only eat the head, about 25% of what’s edible.

 

[brandx]

I don’t know what those are, but I’ve read many flowers are edible. I haven’t mowed as much as I should be keeping up with and have enough dandelions to feed a small city! I just saw a documentary that said a cauliflower plant is wholly edible, yet we only eat the head, about 25% of what’s edible.

Dandelions taste good too, I haven't had the greens but the flowers, just dip in batter and fry.

 

[Mountain trapper]

We had another storm move in last night. It rained all night and it's still raining this morning. But at least we're not getting the high winds and hail like last week's storm. The garden is still where it's supposed to be.
A woman in town has an excess of tomato plants from her greenhouse. She said we can have as many plants as we want. We still have room in the garden for more tomato and pepper plants.
Most of the peas, corn and cucumber seeds washed away in last weeks storm, so I'll plant some more when the weather clears and it warms up. It's in the low 40's today.

 

[Maverick]

Weather not being overly friendly, since Thursday we have had rain, hail, snow, rain, high winds, lightening strikes and rain again, today it is blue sky's and sunny.

 

[Dani]

The garden was drying out finally where I was beginning to get to harvest my different squashes with out them turning mushy. Patty was coming out totally soft and zucchini and yellow on the one end so most could be salvaged. Picked some yesterday and canned them up for frying later. It was a recipe I ran across on Deep South Homestead YouTube that I wanted to give it a try. it is a very easy process that doesn't require a lot of time. I don't normally watch you tube but I find I enjoy this couple and he is pretty good explaining some of the challenges we face in the South trying to grow with out chemicals. @Gazrok I thought of you when I heard of this recipe since you had said you were wanting to have some canned veggies for stir fry at one time. I am waiting a few weeks before I open a jar to try out.

This morning I woke up to rain. . . Last night on the news they said we could get up to 6-8 inches. I may not be getting as many squash after this but my eggplant, melons and tomatoes will love it. I am still struggling with most of my peppers and just getting a handful of each variety a day. Habenero and Tabasco are doing great though. Did get to harvest my first sunflower head yesterday. Seeds were taken off and will be saving a few for next time. I meant to start soaking them in salted water but that totally slipped my mind when I got in last night. So this morning that will happen and then roasting them.

 

[DrPrepper1]

I have an announcement to make....... I have a tomato from my garden . The first one. I picked it while it was green. There were about 4 more, but something was enjoying them. I don’t think bugs are eating them. I looks like someone took a knife and sliced about 1/5 of the edges off.