What's Growing In Your Garden? Horticultural Science

[palmtreepathos]

I just got in from checking the new greenhouse as the temps are dropping fast here in Georgia(US), so fast that it started to snow as I did some last minute taping of seams. For now my moringa trees are double wrapped and greenhouse protected. Hopefully they will not die-back to the ground as is common where it freezes.
I was in Florida last week and picked up some Dollarweed : Hydrocotyle bonariensis. It is a very common weed there but when I learned it was edible I had to give it a try and it was very good! It loves a wet setting so I hand dug some to put around my pond and in the biofilter. I went out to refresh my taste of it to describe it to y'all but alas my dog "chewy"(very appropriate name ) had mowed them all down, chewing every sizable leaf off. Hopefully they will recover after replanting all the little roots... awwww

Yes it is a pernicious weed but my pond is so isolated, it being wrapped by a concrete patio and path, that I feel pretty confident in the control factor here. And of course there is Chewy to contend with....duh!

[palmtreepathos]

Not much to do in the winter garden. I picked a few kohlrabi and perennial leeks for a soup. Mixed about a wheelbarrow of coffee grounds in a pile of leaves... caught an unusual sight for Georgia the waterfall in ICE mode.... can anyone ID the artifact in the picture?
That's it for me, What's Growing In Your Garden?

kohlrabi, leeks and artifact from the woods ...
Picture by patsapeachygal - AOL Pictures
and "Chewy" the greens eating dog...
UnCut Video - Now Playing "freezing waterfall"

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by palmtreepathos

Not much to do in the winter garden. I picked a few kohlrabi and perennial leeks for a soup. Mixed about a wheelbarrow of coffee grounds in a pile of leaves... caught an unusual sight for Georgia the waterfall in ICE mode.... can anyone ID the artifact in the picture?
That's it for me, What's Growing In Your Garden?

kohlrabi, leeks and artifact from the woods ...
Picture by patsapeachygal - AOL Pictures
and "Chewy" the greens eating dog...
UnCut Video - Now Playing "freezing waterfall"

I hear ya; I miss the gardening. Hard to tell about the artifact without seeing the openings; fuel or water can?

I have wheat and garlic growing nice & green but staying small and low to the ground. I've done a little weeding and need to get to my compost piles as well. That's a wrap.

[palmtreepathos]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Hard to tell about the artifact without seeing the openings; fuel or water can?

OOPS! it is open on the bottom with 3 evenly spaced small screw holes for tightening it over something.... A large pipe maybe? It's about 10 1/2 inches diameter and 18 inches in height, well made, with the little handle at the top. It has been out in the woods for 14 years so thought I would give it a home. And maybe a paint job.

Originally Posted by Turtle

I have wheat and garlic growing nice & green but staying small and low to the ground.

I noticed that my rye is quite "low to the ground" as well, It should be 8-10 inches instead of 3 inches, and the blades have blunted tops, I suspect rabbits. Though I have not seen any *smart pills* yet...

I am doing winter dreaming and may start soon on a different type of cistern, one you can swim in! It's either a couple thousand on a nice PVC tank or a couple thousand on one of these....hmmmm here's a link
Natural Swimming Pools

[Turtle]

Well I looked out yesterday & saw buds on the trees starting to open, so today I got started in the garden. The wheat & garlic are showing new growth; most of the wheat is going to have to go to make space, so I ate a couple plants just to get things started.

I moved a pile of soil to add some new acreage, and turned & harvested soil from my compost piles. I planted some roma tomato seeds in indoor pots, and put in 3 short rows of red radishes outside.

Touch wood, but we haven't renewed our rental agreement yet and I hope I don't do this work only to get the boot. I also buried a whole pumpkin last Fall and expect before long a bumper crop. I think I'll try some Indian corn this year.

What's growing in your garden?

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Well I looked out yesterday & saw buds on the trees starting to open, so today I got started in the garden. The wheat & garlic are showing new growth; most of the wheat is going to have to go to make space, so I ate a couple plants just to get things started.

I moved a pile of soil to add some new acreage, and turned & harvested soil from my compost piles. I planted some roma tomato seeds in indoor pots, and put in 3 short rows of red radishes outside.

Touch wood, but we haven't renewed our rental agreement yet and I hope I don't do this work only to get the boot. I also buried a whole pumpkin last Fall and expect before long a bumper crop. I think I'll try some Indian corn this year.

What's growing in your garden?

Nothing yet, but I plan on doing some char experiments. I want to have the following experimental plots (ie plastic cups I've collected) going:
1) 20% char
2) 15% char
3) 10% char
4) 5% char
5) control

I also plan to do repetitions on this with groups having lime added to reduce pH to neutral as well as some with pH below 7. I also want to experiment with nutrient input (different types, amounts, etc.).
It's probably too ambitious with the amount of cups I have, so I'll probably start with some combination of the above for the first go. (suggestions welcome!)

Of course, the point of all this is to figure out how to make my soil optimal for this environment so I can plant some stuff in the ground and reap maximum benefit.

As far as your comment of the trees budding Turtle, you should have a look at this site. It might be something you are interested in.

Project BudBurst

[Ganoderma]

Originally Posted by freeztar

I want to have the following experimental plots (ie plastic cups I've collected) going:
1) 20% char
2) 15% char
3) 10% char
4) 5% char
5) control

that hit my funny bone.



my pop bottle garden is growing very well and many things are flowering right now

[Turtle]

Despite the chill & rain, Spring vegetable gardening goes on. I have a few red radishes up outside; will see if they make it. Planted carrots today (Danvers 126), and a new veggie for me, white icicle radishes. Also Indian corn seed is in and pumpkin.

Inside, I have 3 varieties of tomato sprouted, & some cucumbers seeds waiting to sprout, oh, and a single Indian corn sprout I threw in to see if the seed was viable.

Squash still to come & sunflowers...

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Last fall, I gave away the next to last Bonsai tree I had; my remaining tree I kept by someone's request. It is a 7 year old varigated cypress which I started from a cutting. I'll try to get a picture for you soon.
My obsession for Bonsai lasted about 8 years, during which time I collected over 120 trees with more than 60 varieties. I collected from the wild, collected & planted seeds, & started some from cuttings. I did not strictly adhear to Japanese traditions, either in my selection of species or manner of display.
It was good therapy for a few years, but then became a burdensome entanglement. Twice a day, everyday, they had to be watered... Anyway, I have just the one now, & an uncomprable connection to trees still.

You should try Bald Cypress or Water Tupelo for Bonsai, all you have to do is root the tree in wet soil and then put the pot in a large bowl with just the trunk sticking out of the water. Plant Azzola in the water and it will grow into a thick green tinged with red carpet. Just keep the bowl full. No watering twice a day and the Azzola minimizes evaporation and stops mosquitos!

[maikeru]

Not much at the moment. However, I have some ideas. This spring, I'm thinking of putting some apple, cherry, and maybe plum trees out in the front and back yards. These will be given a boost by my own homemade terra preta and I'll use spent coffee grounds to fertilize them. Also, the girl I'm seeing asked me to grow some herbs for her, so I'll probably get a few small pots and some terra preta in them started with seeds. She's not much of a gardener, but I'll try to setup something that makes her think she has the greenest of thumbs and requires little upkeep.

Can't really get a good garden going because I'll be absent for part of the summer vacationing, and no one will take care of my plants. I will probably have to wait until the fall. In fall, I'd like to start a new garden growing spinach, carrots, herbs, and weird stuff like coffee and tea bushes indoors in my garden room.