STARTING OUR 2012 FALL/WINTER VEGGIE GARDENS

The seed drawers are a fantastic idea! I would have left the bottoms unpainted, though, for better aeration. I know my seeds do *much* better started in breathable wooden trays than plastic ones.

I love the colors. I, too, would not have painted the interiors.

Those look wonderful, Linda!
Practical and a neat way to brighten the garden :0)

NicoleC
The bottoms aren't painted. That's a 7 o'clock shadow! Except on the green box. I was show him how to do long strokes with the paint can. He was having trouble holding the paint can and pressing the nozzle. Then, we switched to the "two-hand" holding method! I was thinking of cutting out the bottoms and recovering with hardware cloth lined with weed block, but, that's more trouble to do...we'll drill lots of aeration holes, and some on the sides, too!

HoneyBeeNC
Only the first few inches of the insides are painted. Once the potting mix is in, the whole inside will LOOK like it's been painted!

I was about SAVING paint, for future projects! I've got planters to paint, too!

Hugs!



This message was edited Jun 25, 2012 5:05 PM

If the bottoms aren't plywood -- they look like fiberboard from here but apparently I don't see so well! -- you may have to do the bottoms in a couple of years anyway. But that's a nice quiet project for a hot day or a frosty day.

Great re-purposing idea!

Glad to help with the raised bed project and thank you for the great lunch at Los Cuco's. Betty & I went to our friends' house and lazed around in the pool after our construction and lunch afternoon. Saturday night was the best nights sleep in a long time.

thanks for the compliments, y'all. can't do that facing in all this heat. so back to making those seed lists and checking them twice, er, four times!

From a far away viewer enjoying hearing about the projects,sounds fun!!!

So, everybody has laid down the garden tools, till it cools off, huh?

Gymgirl - well, actually, we had a record low of 55F here yesterday, so I spent quite a few hours in the garden.

Going to close up the house and turn on the a/c soon, though, as it's supposed to be in the upper 90's later today, with triple digits, and perhaps, a record high on Sunday. The old record was 104F

Anyone who still doesn't think "climate change" is real, should step outside this weekend for a few hours!

The past few days we've had some very pleasant low temperatures at night, but we're heading back into lows in the mid to upper 70's for the next week or so -- and 110F highs. And no sign of rain in the forecast.

I did get out and soak the edibles and younger plants/shrubs/trees yesterday eve and this morning, even though much of it meant hauling a watering can. At least the rainwater tanks can reach *most* of the back yard and orchard -- and I'm afraid to check how much is left. They are big, but not bottomless.

On the plus side... I don't have to mow!

NicoleC,
While we're waiting on more gardening activity posts, would you mind using this opportunity to take us through your file box organization method?

Post pics of your cards, box, dividers, etc., how you log the info, etc., etc., etc.

We'll give you an interrupted block so you can post all the details together if you can't manage one long post.

Can we all agree to NOT post in-between her posts, once NicoleC starts her tutorial? Once she let's us know she's done, then the questions can follow? All Agreed?

Nicole, let us know when you can begin!

Thanks!

Linda

Linda, I'll be happy to, but I think I'll start a new thread when I'm ready so other people can add their ideas, too. It might be more coherent that way, and anyone not interested doesn't have to follow the thread.

Ok, Nicole!

Just fyi, there's a thread already started over on the beginner vegetables forum that's discussing seed organization.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1242763/

IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE!!!

Uh, IT'S STORMING (out...)

I'm gonna be drenched btt I reach my car...

It's HOT! Reached about 74 today (sorry, I had too) :)

Things are going very well this year. Only a few weeks of June Gloom. We're getting a lot of sunshine this year.

just last week we were talking about planting Nastursians in the fall garden so I have been looking for seeds any helpful hints as to where I might find some .I will be planting my usual fall garden of turnips,mustard,kale, chinese cabbage,Alaskan peas, winter radish..This and more as I go along last year the fall garden held up well into the spring planting season.. the fall gardens are a delight as there is not much to do such as insect control or watering every year my fall garden becomes more and more extensive LOVE IT

Myself I think I'm looking at winter vegies instead of fall.Temps are way to much for fall vegies,106 yesterday ,102 today, I feel like I'm living someplace I don't even know,that's a strange feeling.I've lost some of my summer seedlings(herbs and flowers).
I'll be while getting round to Brussel sprouts ,more lettuce, a few things.Some of you have most likely read this before as we have only had 3/100dreths of an inch of rain for June this is not looking good.

Regarding the fall/winter brassicas, here's my plan.

Since I usually start my seeds indoors anyways, I'm going to start 1/3 of my broccoli, cauliflowers, and cabbage seeds tomorrow in the APS 15-cells (this is an experiment to see just how early I can possibly start them and be successful). I've seen whole community gardens around Houston with almost full-size heads of cabbage by mid-September! So that means they HAD to start seeds indoors somewhere, at least by the beginning of June.

Here's my schedule from last year:
8/6 & 8/6/11: I sowed seeds for broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, Chinese cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, mustards & collard greens
9/2/11: potted them up to the drinking water bottles
9/17/11: hardening off for 9 days
9/29/11: Everything transplanted to the garden

My schedule was off several weeks because I thought it was too hot for the seedlings to be transplanted out. This season I'll make that adjustment, and get them out for hardening off at 6 weeks, and transplanted out by week 7 or 8. I have purchased floating row cover to help keep the moths off the seedlings at transplant time. It'll still be warm, and they'll still be lurking.

As long as the seedlings are kept properly hydrated, they'll make it through the tail end of the heat. Once the weather starts cooling off, they'll have developed a good root system, and will take off like bullets!

And, I've heard the the Farmer's Almanac is predicting it will get cooler earlier this year, like September/October. That would be GREAT!

Linda

Linda, according to my notes, I direct seeded broccoli Sept 6th last year, and cut the first head on Nov 16th. We had a very mild winter, so I was harvesting right up till I needed the space to sow peas.

Thanks for that tip,Bee!
my broccoli took forever because of the heat. that's why I'monly starting a few early this time .

That's a good plan. Even if it get cold here this winter the brassicas will survive.

it's cloudy out, and the ground is saturated. looks like i have a small window betee between drops to go plant some more eggplant transplants and bells. moving slowly today. just finished coffee. i hear thunder....

Well wasn't trying to make this the weather thread it finally rained here also yesterday for two hours and this morning for about the same. That ends the drought here and man I'm happy!! It's still hot for gardening only at it anyway.
Be back with more greens beside the lettuce still going and me trying to keep that cool enough to stay tasty.(like September).
Myself, I enjoy the Brassicas , Including many that some do not(no such thing to me).

I guess I heard the same thunder Linda did... Finally got some rain, maybe a 10th of an inch, ground cracking again....

we got a bunch of rain most of today, and more predicted for tomorrow.

I'm jealous.

don't be.
all i wanted to do was go out, plant my flats , layer my rb #2, and pull the briar brambles before they overtake the bed (again). none of that happened. and the sun just taunted me...

so, i was forced to stay in and clean house....

This message was edited Jul 2, 2012 9:47 AM

We might get a thunder storm tonight, if not I'll have to hand-water tomorrow.

Picked the first "Jimmy Nardellos" peppers this morning. Fried one and found the taste sweet and delicious. These are the frist "frying peppers" I've ever grown/eaten.

LOL Linda!! We've had a few clouds and cooler temps today.

I am just getting ready to start on my late summer/fall planting of okra, tomatoes, and peppers. Late July I'll start with lady peas, eggplant and a few more tomatoes. My issue right now is my summer tomatoes are still producing green tomatoes. I got a late start this spring, and they are still doing great. But I need the space if I'm going to get a fall crop in. Do I just pull them out?

I have my cool weather crop seeds ordered, and will start them inside sometime in the next week or two. This will be my first cool weather garden in south Georgia, and I'm excited to see what does well.

Radish
Packman broccoli
Long island brussel sprouts
Leaf lettuce mix
Carrots
Asparagus
Garlic
Sugar snaps

happytail - I would not pull those still producing tomatoes.

Sow your seeds in small pots, and as they grow, pot them up to bigger pots. By then your current tomato plants should be done, and you can transplant the new tomatoes.

If you can; set the pots down into the ground, it will keep the roots cool.

Happy:

I would agree with Honeybee on keeping the tomatoes in the ground, so when the heat breaks a little bit, you'll still have toms. When you get ready to pull the tomatoes, have some composted manure ready to put in to amend the bed. It will be much easier to do when the roots of the tomatoes come out, and let it sit a week or 2, then do your transplants.

Would also like to hear how you do with the Long Island Brussels Sprouts. Have you done these before?? This is my first try at sprouts at all, so it's totally new to me. Gymgirl has given me a few pointers, so that's a big help.

Just my cent-and-a-half....

Kevin

Well, I don't want to pull the tomatoes, so thanks for the advice. I would be sad to lose all those good tomatoes. I planted these little oval orange tomatoes called Nugget, and they are fantastic. Like eating candy, they are so sweet. And my celebrity are just now getting to be a nice size.

I have not tried Long Island Improved, but have read good things. Brussel sprouts grow well here, so I hope to have good luck. Also planting Oliver, a more compact variety with a shorter harvest time. I can't wait to eat them fresh, instead of buying them from the grocery store.

I'm trying the Long Island Improved & Mezzo Nano from Seeds of Italy. There is another I found some seed at the grocery store display, but it's name escapes me at the moment...

With us not getting freezing temperatures until November or December, it's going to be awful hot to put these in the ground in late August or early September. That's about the biggest thing I'm worried about, it being hot during the fall & it stressing the plants. The wife & grand daughter absolutely love them, so I've got to grow them...

I think I'll start mine inside, in the a/c with a grow light, and then put them out in mid-late October. I have a Parks seed starting tray with this spongy medium that seems to work great for me. And the heat mat below helps germination.

Well,
Nothing got done in the garden this weekend, except everything got totally drenched. Which I'm definitely NOT complaining about...except the grass, maybe...

The more I think about it, the more I want the grass gone and just some paver pathways in place. Maybe one small (very small) patch of grass...

Didn't feel well, so didn't get to sow the seeds, either. Although, the okra experiment with KevCarr59's seeds has gone well. Now, I have more than enough okra plants! Will probably set them out this evening, along with the remaining bells and eggplants.

So far, have 5 okra and 6 eggplants in buckets and containers. Have half of RB #1 to fill, once I rip out those tomato plants. The bells that were in distress have greened up and are putting on blossoms and fruit! I think ya'll were right about the nitrogen deficiency!

That's it for the weekend report. What'd ya'll get done toward the fall/wtr gardens?

Linda

Quick Okra update: FINALLY, a second Zeebest Okra has sprouted about 3 weeks after the first, which is now about 2" tall. At this rate it may be October before I get to see what a Zeebest Okra looks like...The Burgundy & the seed from last year doing well also. The 4 Cowhorns are now about 5" tall and looking great...