More freezing temps??? I didn't see that here I'll have to check again. I noticed the night time temps were pretty low so the ground temps will be cool too.
When to plant
We havent frozen all winter- gonna drown or turn into bogs for Spring. What I can do, is going out this weekend, or it wont get out.
Gypsi
I just placed an order for a package of 1000 Red Noodle Long Bean seeds from Johnny's
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6802-red-noodle.aspx
Great price and better germination.
I planted some peas today. They'll survive almost freezing temps. Did a lot of weeding.
Gypsi, if you're looking for seed sources, Marshall Grain downtown on E. Lancaster has a good selection and most are proven to do well in our area. They also sell them in bulk.
I seeded a 4x8' bed with "Space," "Contender," and "Blue Lake" bush beans. Covered with the solid plastic, which will solarize the bed. Nice and toasty under there.
At some point, will switch out to the perforated plastic or the shade cloth.
Gymgirl, you don't need to warm your bed this time of the year. I planted rattlesnake bean last week in my raised bed and already sprouted 2 leaves. If you want greenbean all summer long that can take our heat you should try this bean. Very delicious and tender with hint nutty. I've been growing this type for three years now and it's my absolute favorite.
Phamtex8b,
We need to stay in touch! Thanks for the recommendation on the Rattlesnakes. I'll Google them to see what they look like. I believe I may already have a couple of these beans in my arsenal.
The reference to solarizing my soil was sort of a sideways comment to how toasty it was under the plastic sheeting. I have to keep covers on all my raised beds or the squirrels will wreak havoc in all that lovely, smooth garden soil.
Last night, I finally tackled the Mittleider "in the garden greenhouse." I ran the parallel overhead and ground wires. That upper wire (at 9 gauge) was a booger bear to bend around the eyebolt, but, I managed to hang it reasonably well. "It ain't fallin' down anytime soon!" That's for sure.
Then, since I had some God-given energy (cause I sure didn't have any of my own after being up all night Monday with leg cramps...), I went ahead and worked a couple bags of Black Kow and other stuff into the 3x10' RB #3, and planted 9 tall tomato plants into deep trenches, up to their heads. I peeped this morning, and those heads were lifted up! Praise God! cause, these tomato plants have been serious dogged up since December 20th. LONG overdue for planting.
Last thing I did was secured the bed with the perforated plastic sheeting. The squirrels can salivate from the fence...
I'll let ya'll know what I end up with at the end of the season. Hopefully, one tomato, LOL!
Wow that's a lot of work. My back ache just by reading this, lol! Then again, it's not work if you love gardening. I tend to do too much when weather was nice like last Sunday. My family know not to bother me when it's nice out.
It is late to plant wildflowers but i got the last of them in Sunday or monday. The wildflower seed i put out in October just germinated about a week ago so there won't be a big difference if these do germinate. Rain is the magic. i plant a pollinator's mix. Rarely see a bluebonnet bloom, although I've seen the plants get started, I don't think I water enough. But the daisies and echinacea and mexican hats and scarlet something all do well and the poppies, lots of poppies. I keep bees. Any flower is a good flower. watering grass seed and beneficial nematodes out back right now
If it works for you that's all that counts. I have Bluebonnet plants from seed that was sown last fall they will be blooming soon. Some plants are more particular as to when their seeds are sown. I luv poppies too.
Yesterday, I sifted compost and put a 2" layer around the tomato plants. Then, since I only planted straight down the middle 1/3 of that bed, I thought there ought to be something I could flank the tomato seedlings with.
So, I ran inside, grabbed some basil and marigold seeds and sprinkled them into the bed in front and behind the tomatoes. If all else fails, and only a few come up, or the tomatoes crowd them out (which they eventually will do if I don't keep them pruned to one stem), I'll transplant what comes up to other locations, and consider the experiment a good use of some seed starting space in a bed, LOL!
Have no clue whether the basil and marigold will come up...
But, I am sooooooooooooooooo ready for these monster tomato plants! I have 175 lb. baler twine to lead them up to the 9-gauge overhead wire. So, fully loaded with fruit, I'd say each plant could weigh as much as 50-75 lbs., easy. There will be no sprawling or snapped tomato vines on my watch --- not this season, LOL!
They'll have 7' of climbing space, then I can gently lower the line into a curve, so they can continue growing without danger of breaking.
"Let the Hungry Games" begin!!!
P.S. I've decided to grow purple hull peas in the sunny grass in the dead man's island on my side yard. Yep. Right there in the middle of all that sunny grass, between my neighbor's page fence and the sidewalk next to the garage.
It's called "no till peas!"
Hugs!
What kind of large tomatoes are you growing? Seemed like you've had success with them. I've only grown cherry type. Anyone have advice on controlling stink bugs? Just saw a whole bunch today. They're full grown, must be from last year. We didn't have much of a winter this year. Not cold enough to rid bugs, even mosquitoes are biting already. Oh, saw first hummingbird at feeder today. He was a beauty. Made my day. All my frustrations from work just melt away.
hummingbird already ? wow !
I have tons of birds here. The Red Cardinals are mating and making a nest.
I heard the Purple Martins flying around ..and I hope they will come to my garden soon.
I transplanted everything at the beginning of this week and they are doing all great ... even if the wind is blowing so hard.
Tons of little tomatoes are forming already ... squash plants already under Agribon row covers ...
Phamtex8b,
I grow long-season, heirloom beefsteaks, mostly.
This year:
Sweet Ozark Orange (an F1 trial tomato -gorgeous color, like a flaming sun when ripe!),
Sioux (medium red, LOVES the heat),
Kellogg's Breakfast (large orange),
Mortgage Lifter (prolific),
Momotaro (stingy, but, worth the wait!)
Pruden's Purple (my favorite, pink, meaty)
Dwarf Wild Fred (full size tomatoes on a 4' plant - in a large planter)
Black Cherry (only cherry I grow...)
I built the Mittleider T-Frame that converts to an "in the bed greenhouse".
After the tomatoes, I can do melons, squash, cukes, or watermelons on the lines.
Pics #1 & 2 are of mine when under construction.
Pic #3 is ldsprepper's full operational.
Mittleider Gardening: How To Build T-Frames for Vertical Gardening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CLWdctgzOA
Vertical Gardening: Lowering Tomatoes To Raise Production
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcCJd6N_FdQ
I have a policy: if it takes frequent watering during my busy season it will probably die. Unless it rains. Haven't seen a bluebonnet bloom in 5 years whether seed want in in fall or spring, I just don't water enough or the areas I do water enough are too shady for them. I don't care much what I get to go as long as it looks nice preferably smells nice, the grasshoppers don't eat it (if any dahlias come up they will be rehomed to a friend) and it feeds bees.
bluebonnets and indian paintbrush have both failed me here, do not even buy the darned seed, it comes in my mix and fails that way. My most successful early spring beefeeder: broccoli. I quit harvesting the heads, just let the bees have their way with them.
This message was edited Mar 26, 2015 10:39 AM
Gypsi- what area of FW are you?
down by Crowley. surrounded by dry cattle-land. and a bit of light industry, sign shops, auto shops, but mostly prairie. My back yard has the texture of concrete again today, even though it rained half an inch last night.
I planted peas a few days ago, in the mud, and they're sprouting today! Yippee!!
I plan to plant out my tomatoes and peppers the end of next week. I also will plant some other stuff, just not sure where or what. LOL
To control the squash bugs, you can use a long nosed lighter to burn their hineys or sweep them up with a shop vac.
Burning their hineys sounds like fun. A good way to get the kiddos involve. My boys would definitely love to help out and I wouldn't have to pay them. I usually come out early morning and knock them in jar with water and close lid. Next day same bugs on same plants! Arrrg!! Will definitely think about shop vac idea. Hubby already thinks I'm nuts anyway.
GYMGIRL, I've never grown any of your tomato varieties except black cherries,also my very favorite. I will check them out.
Gypsi-I don't water my wildflowers. The bluebonnets will be gone by the time it gets hot. They bloom in the spring. I drove into Austin yesterday and they were just starting to bloom along the highway, I know they don't water them there. Lol They might last longer if they are watered but mine bloom, at least for a while, with out my help.
I got bluebonnet blooms once, in my garden in Arlington. that was nearly 20 years ago. No time to worry about them now. I scored and scarified back then. I have had them sprout here, maybe I watered once at the wrong moment or they were too crowded by wild daisies and poppies etc. Not a worry.
Bluebonnets bloom best in limestone and poor sand and dirt, Burleson area is prob more black gumbo from old plowed fields. Great for veggies tho.
I buy the seeds already scarified too lazy to do that myself. I toss them...but if you are getting the plants you want that's what counts. Got to have those poppies!
bees love the wildflowers I do get. I have some dry sand limestone areas but most of my garden is rich topsoil with clay. I tossed seed in one of the dryer areas, will see.
Now on these chinese red noodle beans Drthor, when do they go in?
Plants the Chinese red noodle beans on full sun. They will need to climb up a pole or something.
I will direct seed them at the end of June, under my tomatoes. The tomatoes leaves will help to shade them while they are small ... then no problem with the sun. Good luck !
You will need to harvest when they are about 1/4" thick ... you don't need to eat the bean, just the pods.
Drthor, what are long beans like? And the red okra? Do they taste different from green beans and green okra?
sybram I am out of town right now.
send me a dmail and I will send you pictures as soon as I will coming home.
The long beans don't taste like okra, they are sweet and tender (if you will harvest at the right time) ... and they taste like ice ream for me .... so good !
happy gardening
I'm not Drthor but i grow long beans and regular green beans. The long beans do taste different but not much they are really good and they grow fantastic in our Texas summer heat and they don't seem to be bothered by Spider Mites,like regular green beans can be.
Ive also grown red and green okra and they taste the same, to me. But I pickle them....I don't like okra cooked.
Thank you both. Ahhhh, so much to learn about this gardening. s
Sybil, I'm growing Burgundy okra for the first time this year. A couple of years ago, I grew Hill Country Red and that was deeee-lish! Hubby wanted skinnier okra this year, so I went with the red as well as some leftover Emerald okra (green).
Stephanie how do you cook okra?
Lisa,
Fried okra, stewed okra & tomatoes (with shrimp and ham), dehydrated okra, okra chips, pickled okra, okra gumbo...
Got these ideas from the "Bubba Gump Company," LOL!
My favorite way is to just boil it. Season the water with salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic. Drain when okra is tender and add butter. Toss the okra back in, swish it around in the butter and eat.
That sounds good but, how do I say this??? Does that make the texture kind of sticky? Lol Trying to be politically correct.
No they are very tender and slimy. If you pick them small enough, you don't even have to chew. LOL
Ok slimy was the word I was looking for. I simple cannot eat them....I've eaten them raw right off the plant or pickled but slimy reminds me of something else....but as long as you, and others, like them that is all that counts.
Chuckl. Pick the okra small. The smaller and younger you pick it, the less slimy it is. Will taste like a raw green bean if eaten raw. Love em, and I mean maybe 2" small.
I have a recipe for grilled okra and one for okra salad that I might try this year also.
Those sound good too, it's the slime I can't handle.
I eat the deep fried occasionally but since I gave up fried foods there went my okra...