Gardening 2024: Zukes, Cukes, and Nuke The Flukes

[miguelito 11095]

Where are all the weeds/volunteers from last year's seeds?  Lol.  I have parsley and cilantro sprouting up everywhere, but I guess I don't mind.

 

I have some blackberries in a dedicated bed.  The first 2 years they flowered like crazy, and I got some good berries, but then the berries seemed to all dry up, almost overnight.  This is year 3 now.  The plants look healthy and are putting on lots of buds now.  This bed isn't on an irrigation system, so I need to add something, or plan on watering by hand more often this year.  Other than that, I don't know what I'm doing with them.  I used regular garden soil from the bulk material people down the road.

 

I will say that the blackberry vines spread out pretty good, so give them room and something to lean on.  And check this out: they will put down roots just about anywhere they touch the ground.  So you can propagate it pretty easily by sticking the end of a vine on top of a pot of dirt for a few weeks or so, then cut the branch and you have a new plant.

[Mrs Whiggins 13049]

Parsley and cilantro? That's some great chimichurri right there; just made some from the garden this weekend to go with the steak spouse grilled. Yum.

I'd love to grow blackberries but right now am keeping things a little ....less. Got a lot going on so sticking with the basics. Our beans have come on and the first crop will be harvested soon. We've had lots and lots of salad from the lettuce which is still going as long as the temps hold. Cukes and tomatoes have blossoms. Beets and carrots doing well. I haven't got the basil in yet though.

[Masshole Horn 759]

Lots of volunteer onions. First year at the new house. Think the previous owners had pretty much not planted for a few years.

[CoachTex 2612]

About a month in. Finally letting the plants bloom. 5 kinds of tomatoes, Jalapeños, serranos,  cilantro,  basil, and beit alpha cucumbers.  Just bone mealed the tomatoes and peppers. 

[Mrs Whiggins 13049]

Your basil looks really nice. I'm jealous but in a good way.

[USCATX 1064]

I’m on my second year of blackberries and they’re crushing it.  I planted 4 last year and another 6 this spring.  Also have a couple different blueberry varieties, one of which is producing in its second year. Also plenty of tomatoes, squash, cantaloupe, watermelon, and need to get some okra in.   

[NorthLoop 13930]

5 japs, 2 bells, 2 poblanos, 1 cucumber, and 1 cherry tomato. '24 garden officially planted.

[Tailgate 2974]

Wrong thread

Edited April 23 by Tailgate

[WhatTheBuck 28604]

I picked up my habaneros (I’ll probably only pot one but they came in threes) a couple days ago and decided to also get a ghost pepper. That will be a first. I called back to the garden center for some additional info and learned they have scorpion peppers too. I just didn’t walk far enough down the aisle to find them. I’ll go back this weekend or so to get one of those. Very excited about that.

They said they’ll be getting Carolina Reapers in. I’m not sure I want to bother with those on top of the other peppers. Maybe that’s too much to manage and my dehydrator is probably going to be working overtime as it is. But maybe I should get one anyway since the opportunity is there. I wouldn’t necessarily have to transplant it and put it outdoors. I could just maintain it and maybe flower it indoors under lights next winter. 

[USCATX 1064]

My blackberries are coming along nicely, hopefully the birds and animals don’t get to them before they ripen.  Should have some zucchini and yellow squash this week as it warms up and my okra and edamame have sprouted.  And my blueberry crop is going to be tiny, but it’s better than nothing.  

[CoachTex 2612]

New set up and bone meal has this year's garden being way more productive so far.

Roma

Serranos 

Jalapeños

Thunderbird tomato 

Sungold

Celebrity 

[texasdago 7389]

Plucked my first real two tomatoes yesterday... time for a caprese.  Have lots of hot peppers growing, too.

[Celery Man 20568]

Spoiler

On 1/2/2023 at 9:51 AM, Celery Man said:

 

 

This is now....

 

 

 

On 3/23/2023 at 8:54 PM, Celery Man said:

 

 

On 5/23/2023 at 9:17 PM, Celery Man said:

 

 

On 5/27/2023 at 8:28 AM, Celery Man said:

 

 

On 6/6/2023 at 9:53 AM, Celery Man said:

 

 

 

 

 

On 8/5/2023 at 1:10 PM, Celery Man said:

Townes has been dropping leaves, I may have overwatered him accidentally but he’s also pretty root bound

 

 

 

 

On 3/5/2024 at 9:45 AM, Celery Man said:

homeboy needs a trim, still truckin in 24

 

^^longcat spoiler, just kinda compiling my bonsai pics

[Mrs Whiggins 13049]

We've had several rounds of green beans harvested and one more batch is flowering and then that's the last of them. Tomatoes haven't ripened but are coming online soon. Lettuce is almost finished. I'm forgoing the peppers this year which is causing some regrets but after last year's heat and busy schedule I'm going to stop after the tomatoes, cukes, and zucchini are finished and hold out until fall on more veggies and just keep the flowers maintained during the worst of July/Aug.

[WhatTheBuck 28604]

I’m a little late but at my latitude not too late. I’m ready to put my habaneros outside. I’m growing a ghost pepper this year for the first time. And I found out that the garden center has scorpions now too and I just picked up one of those. I’m kind of so-so on the ghost pepper sauces I’ve tried but the (two) scorpion sauces I’ve had have been pretty good. Especially the Tabasco. That stuff is awesome.

I love habaneros so much but I’m really looking forward to the fresh scorpion experience. The ghost, too, but I’m thinking they might just be a way-station between the two. We’ll see. 

[NorthLoop 13930]

Anyone grown pinto beans? The boy planted a bunch and sure as shit they all sprouted. Was thinking of putting them in a big pot and spacing them out about 6-7 inches. I could also plop a few into my regular bed in between my peppers and cucumber. Any tips? 

[Masshole Horn 759]

Killed my first 2 tomato hornworms today. Snip snap!

[Mrs Whiggins 13049]

2 hours ago, NorthLoop said:

Anyone grown pinto beans? The boy planted a bunch and sure as shit they all sprouted. Was thinking of putting them in a big pot and spacing them out about 6-7 inches. I could also plop a few into my regular bed in between my peppers and cucumber. Any tips? 

Never grown them, only green beans but I've had success with using a pot for many of them. It does seem to keep the pests and critters off a little better. If you have rabbits visit, they love to nibble on the leaves so the ones in the ground may be vulnerable to that. That's all I've got. Oh, and beans don't usually need fertilizer for good production.

[4th and 5 4903]

got my first 4 tomatoes yesterday

[USCATX 1064]

9 hours ago, NorthLoop said:

Anyone grown pinto beans? The boy planted a bunch and sure as shit they all sprouted. Was thinking of putting them in a big pot and spacing them out about 6-7 inches. I could also plop a few into my regular bed in between my peppers and cucumber. Any tips? 

I’m growing two kinds of southern/cow peas this year for the first time along with edamame. They’re up and growing and I think they should work, but might need some shade cloth.  Not sure there’s much else to do.  Also, cherry tomatoes are ripening and I get a small handful of blueberries and a blackberry or two every day.  They’re amazing, better than desert.   The second year blackberries are about to drop the hammer and can’t hold themselves up with the weight of the berries. 

[UT_OB1 2197]

I hate deer 

 

 

[NorthLoop 13930]

Couple of volunteers that sprouted up in the bed from my compost. Not sure what they are yet. They look like tomatoes but there haven't been too many tomatoes put in the compost in a long time. They're both in good spots between my peppers so I'll let them keep going until I figure out what they are, then make a decision to keep them or not.

 

[DonnyKerabatsos 86]

gotta stay on top of the cowpeas once they start coming in. If the pods harden and become mature seed the plants will quit producing... I generally harvest them twice a day to keep up.

 

I have been gardening for 20+ years, there is nothing better from the garden then fresh peas. A great watermelon is second.

[USCATX 1064]

7 hours ago, DonnyKerabatsos said:

gotta stay on top of the cowpeas once they start coming in. If the pods harden and become mature seed the plants will quit producing... I generally harvest them twice a day to keep up.

 

I have been gardening for 20+ years, there is nothing better from the garden then fresh peas. A great watermelon is second.

Twice a day?!   I’m going to be busy.  

[Masshole Horn 759]

Just put in 4 new 4x8 beds. Gonna get a bulk soil delivery.

Any recommendations on what to get? Straight compost, compost and loam, pre-mix, etc…

And who to buy from? I’m in Dripping Springs… Gardenville, Kinser Ranch, GeoGrowers are the options I know.

[WhatTheBuck 28604]

On 5/6/2024 at 12:31 PM, NorthLoop said:

Anyone grown pinto beans? The boy planted a bunch and sure as shit they all sprouted. Was thinking of putting them in a big pot and spacing them out about 6-7 inches. I could also plop a few into my regular bed in between my peppers and cucumber. Any tips? 

I’ve never grown them and I have no tips. But I took this picture while I was experimenting with different photos to use as wallpaper. This seems as good an excuse as any to share it.

[NorthLoop 13930]

We go through a fuckton of pinto beans in our house. I make a batch of a healthy version of refried beans once or twice a week. The boy eats a lot of bean and cheese tacos and my wife and I eat breakfast tacos almost every day. I'm curious to see how many plants it would take to sustain us.

[Spaulding Smails 1550]

9 hours ago, NorthLoop said:

We go through a fuckton of pinto beans in our house. I make a batch of a healthy version of refried beans once or twice a week. The boy eats a lot of bean and cheese tacos and my wife and I eat breakfast tacos almost every day. I'm curious to see how many plants it would take to sustain us.

I've grown them before.  Probably the only thing I won't grow again.  My default logic for gardening is:

1) What tastes significantly better than store bought

2) Frequency of use

3) Ease of growing / maintaining

4) Ease of harvest

Though pinto beans is high on the board for #2 at our house, it doesn't even register on the other three.  They're fun to try and easy to grow, but not worth the pain IMO.

[Hornbeliever 704]

3 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

I've grown them before.  Probably the only thing I won't grow again.  My default logic for gardening is:

1) What tastes significantly better than store bought

2) Frequency of use

3) Ease of growing / maintaining

4) Ease of harvest

Though pinto beans is high on the board for #2 at our house, it doesn't even register on the other three.  They're fun to try and easy to grow, but not worth the pain IMO.

Curious what items make it in #1 fire you?  I haven't found huge difference in taste for veggies versus store bought, just fruits.  

[Spaulding Smails 1550]

2 hours ago, Hornbeliever said:

Curious what items make it in #1 fire you?  I haven't found huge difference in taste for veggies versus store bought, just fruits.  

Strawberries, cantaloupe and tomatoes top that list by a wide margin for me.  I feel like store bought varieties of those three are just void of any flavor.  Others somewhat in that category would be carrots, green beans, broccoli, watermelon and cucumbers.  Better but not that huge margin like the first three.

The veggies that check the other categories for our family would be onion, lettuces, potatoes, okra, squash and zucchini.  All good in their own right, but not a discernible difference in taste compared to store bought like that first category in my eyes.

[Hornbeliever 704]

6 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

Strawberries, cantaloupe and tomatoes top that list by a wide margin for me.  I feel like store bought varieties of those three are just void of any flavor.  Others somewhat in that category would be carrots, green beans, broccoli, watermelon and cucumbers.  Better but not that huge margin like the first three.

The veggies that check the other categories for our family would be onion, lettuces, potatoes, okra, squash and zucchini.  All good in their own right, but not a discernible difference in taste compared to store bought like that first category in my eyes.

Never done cantaloupe so can’t comment and I don’t love tomatoes so strawberries will be my test.  Just planted some for the first time about a month ago so let’s hope I get some in the first year.  Stay on the edge of your seat for a few more months until I can opine!

I’ve generally been more of an herb guy because of your #3 and #4.  Mint thyme basil cilantro with a slew of peppers has been my easy thing for a few years. 

[USCATX 1064]

21 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

Strawberries, cantaloupe and tomatoes top that list by a wide margin for me.  I feel like store bought varieties of those three are just void of any flavor.  Others somewhat in that category would be carrots, green beans, broccoli, watermelon and cucumbers.  Better but not that huge margin like the first three.

The veggies that check the other categories for our family would be onion, lettuces, potatoes, okra, squash and zucchini.  All good in their own right, but not a discernible difference in taste compared to store bought like that first category in my eyes.

Tomatoes are definitely top on the list of tasting better from the garden.  Zucchini are probably at the bottom in terms of tasting exactly like store bought.  All berries are phenomenal upgrades over store bought.  

[CoachTex 2612]

Rain is doing wonders for my garden. 

Cucumbers finally have female flowers.

Roma's are loaded

Serranos 

Cherry tomatoes have out grown cattle pen.

Looking forward to trying Thunderbird tomatoes.

[USCATX 1064]

Had a few tomatoes ripen today, they were all superb except the Roma was mealy trash.  It’s been so damn wet that I have mushrooms sprouting so maybe that’s the issue.  

[NorthLoop 13930]

Damn now I'm mad at how late I got started this year. Hoping the blastfurnace doesn't just come out of nowhere in the next few weeks. 

[texasdago 7389]

On 5/11/2024 at 12:15 PM, Masshole Horn said:

Just put in 4 new 4x8 beds. Gonna get a bulk soil delivery.

Any recommendations on what to get? Straight compost, compost and loam, pre-mix, etc…

And who to buy from? I’m in Dripping Springs… Gardenville, Kinser Ranch, GeoGrowers are the options I know.

I like Kinser.  They feel a bit grumpy but prices are fair.  I also like picking up on their property (firewood)

[Spaulding Smails 1550]

On 5/11/2024 at 12:15 PM, Masshole Horn said:

Just put in 4 new 4x8 beds. Gonna get a bulk soil delivery.

Any recommendations on what to get? Straight compost, compost and loam, pre-mix, etc…

And who to buy from? I’m in Dripping Springs… Gardenville, Kinser Ranch, GeoGrowers are the options I know.

GeoGrowers have awesome product and are right there in DS.  But, damn.  Their prices have skyrocketed.  Their Thunder Garden product is pretty awesome.  I used it at my last house and had phenomenal results.  

[texasdago 7389]

[miguelito 11095]

Pulled up my onions today.

 

[4th and 5 4903]

We have bush

 

[miguelito 11095]

Do those get afternoon shade? 

Mine will be begging for that soon enough.

[NorthLoop 13930]

Peppers coming in. Poblanos taking the early lead this year. Mystery volunteer looking like a tomato which is odd being that I've barely has any tomatoes in my compost. 

[4th and 5 4903]

15 hours ago, miguelito said:

Do those get afternoon shade? 

Mine will be begging for that soon enough.

yes, plenty

[CoachTex 2612]

First harvest.  Probably got 30 plus green tomatoes waiting to ripen.

[swraith 324]

Harvested some of my yellow potatoes. 
 

[NorthLoop 13930]

1st pull 

 

 

[Hornbeliever 704]

12 hours ago, swraith said:

Harvested some of my yellow potatoes. 
 

Nice.  I planted potatoes this year for first time an led have not dove in to check them.  How did you know time to harvest?

[CoachTex 2612]

I have a squirrel problem.  Noticed a few tomatoes on the ground.  Upon further study squirrels have darn near picked one of my tomatoe plants clean. I have a dog so don't want to poison.  Would y'all suggest netting, owl decoy?  Looking for the easiest solution that is least invasive. 

Garden box is 5 x 10. They are getting at the the one on the far right side.

[NorthLoop 13930]

12 minutes ago, CoachTex said:

I have a squirrel problem.  Noticed a few tomatoes on the ground.  Upon further study squirrels have darn near picked one of my tomatoe plants clean. I have a dog so don't want to poison.  Would y'all suggest netting, owl decoy?  Looking for the easiest solution that is least invasive. 

Garden box is 5 x 10. They are getting at the the one on the far right side.

I have a fake owl. Dunno if it deters the squirrels but I do have them in my yard and they've never gotten in the garden. It keeps the mockingbirds from eating my cherry tomatoes. I enjoy watching them freak out when they see it. 

[USCATX 1064]

Blackberries produced about 2 cups over the weekend, also some weird cukes and tomatoes like crazy.