I didn't get a single tomato from the garden last year, even the platform on FlowerPower (my aquaponic pond) failed and the spider mites killed my heirloom tomatoes. FP is in full sun. May have to try some kind of shade myself.
Hello Everybody!! Are you still here?
All of that sounds like a great Idea, go for it!!!
One of my gardens is in an area that gets shade part of the day and it produces much higher yields then the ones that are in full sun. This is especially true for tomatoes and peppers. I haven't noticed that much of a difference for other veggies.
Yes my tomatoes are same way. They get shaded by trees until noon or so and the plants are much healthier overall.
That is very interesting to know, considering that they usually tell you 100% sun, but of course the Texas sun is another matter altogether.
I'm still here, too. I just took a break to try and get the weeds under control in some of my rose beds. Still working on that one, LOL. Too wet here right now to get the tiller going and the wild honey bees are going crazy with the little pink wild flowers I have ALL OVER my lawn. I love it! The purple martins are back in force and they seem happy, too, as we have plentiful bugs already.
We have had an American Bald Eagle sighting in our pasture. I think it was a female (quite a wing span--I believe the females are larger than the males). Anyway, it had a huge copperhead in its talons when it flew off. So happy to have my first eagle on the property and also have it carry off that snake. I am not fond of snakes as some of you may remember. I lost a nice goat to a snake the year before last.
I've also had various hawks, owls, and for the first time logger head shrikes at the ole homestead. So the weeds are driving me crazy but it has been a good season for the birds and we should have some good hay crop this year.
Can't wait to see you all's veg photos this year. I love a good tomato photo.
Have a lovely weekend.
Terri
Hello Terri, so glad to see you posting, it has been very slim reading around here.
So nice to know that special birds are gracing you with their presence, it is all wonderful.
Josephine.
I have a few extra days off do I asm trying hard to finish the weeding and mulching. Went to a couple of nurseries looking for a dwarf pomegranate and Esperanza. Guess it is too early because none in three different places. Bought a few little things like verbena and dusty Miller.
So nice to see everyone! I have been away for too long! Like everyone else I am overrun with weeds and bermuda grass. I came here today looking for a little encouragement and I feel better already. =o)
bindweed is easier to pull than bermuda grass is to dig but it is truly everywhere in my yard this year
Glad you came back
Yes weeds are amazing this year at my place too.
sorry I am so late....have been really busy with non gardening things...I am very interested in a RU so please include me & Ralph...will we be able to bring our dogs??
Gypsi, I am very much into planting to feed the bees , butterflies & hummingbirds etc. One plant you MUST include is the Lemon Queen sunflower...it attracts the bees & is best for them for food.....you can certainly plant them now.
where would I find the seeds Cindylove? I have a lot of sunflowers, including august and september blooming maximillians
Lemon queen and red velvet queens I love. 5/6' med size heads- my old sunflowers appear to have sprouted after I held them 3 yrs with no place for them. Also Cappucino Ice- fingers crossed they make it. Seed racks prob carry Lemon Queens they are so well liked- they arent the natives like you have Gypsi.
I have grown lemon queen sunflowers in the past. They are TALL and I staked mine with some really long bamboo stakes. They are so easy to grow and are so pretty. Bonus is that if you let the seed head go to seed, you'll have sunflower seeds to roast.
will check the seed rack at the feed store, thank you
This year I am trying out Suntastic Sunflower. Not for seeds but as a bedding plant. I love the look of sunflowers--especially with cannas. Weird, right? It is a dwarf and I thought I would tuck them in between the cannas and in front of roses. Wherever. I'm trying to decide if I should just go ahead and start them or wait to start them when I plant out the big sunflowers I plant in the veg bed for seeds. I don't think the dwarf sunflowers have much pollen but I think my tall verbena (another fav), vitex, roses, and the rest will keep the bees going.
I'm growing Maya sunflowers this year. They are much shorter and shouldn't require staking.
I'm around but just haven't done much gardening lately. I did mention in another thread about my perennial beds and my never ending desire to find someone to dig a new bed or 2 for me.
Someone mentioned Cedar Waxwings. I've seen them strip berries off a huge tree in a few hours. And they pass the berries to each other in such a way that is just fascinating to watch. And then they're gone. But that was in Austin. I don't have anything for them to feast on here in Dallas.
Noticed that there are going to be a lot of the native plant sales starting in early April. I'm having a hard time figuring out what 'season' it is given the strange weather we've had.
You must get yourself back into gardening ... this is the best season ever !!
so many flowers are blooming now !
This winter neither my Datura or Lantana died to the ground !!
Lots of Peonies are blooming now.
Happy spring !
I have to get my peonies in the ground, after I mow the lawn, bathe the dogs and start some laundry. They are in pots still.
Back in Texas. Wildflowers peeking out, dry ground here in Temple,
Daughter sent teasers of the stuff we planted in Feb- wish I were there already! Not sure how tomatoes got in the marigolds...
They may have volunteered Kitt - glad you are almost home.
Wonderful flowers and pictures Drthor, and yours too Kitt.
Or perhaps my dau thought I wouldnt notice if the marigolds didnt come up, but I have no idea what she thinks she's got...for a tomato
The Cedar Waxwings stripped my Possumhaw Holly tree in about 10 minutes, if that! It was so amazing to watch and the first time I've ever noticed them descend on it. I stood in my bathroom and watched them out the window.
Yes, they are amazing when they come around like that, you were lucky to be able to watch them.
Gypsi - Did you say bindweed is easy to pull? Come on over and show me how! Or maybe I should just use it as a ground cover.
Bindweed is easy if caught young, its the thousands of seeds that have a life as long as the seeds of purslane do- 40yrs. Wild morning glory is also a bindweed...
I think crown vetch is a bindweed too. I let the wild morning glory grow to feed the bees and try to get it out before it goes to seed but I pull vetch and regular bindweed
Vetch is a nitrogen fixer in poor soil. We called it poor mans alfalfa and farmers would till it in and plant their crops in it. It really isnt as bad as bindweed. A legume. The morning glory- wild - I have seen strangle everything like kudzu when unchecked.
I guess, but I pulled all the vetch out of my front flowerbed this morning, it pops seeds everywhere. I generally pull wild morning glory early, depends on where it comes up
This is one corner of my flowerbed. I wish the Salvias would look this nice all through the summer!!
Carla in Rowlett
Our sages and salvia started early this season- to the delite of the bumbles - and the basils are on their way
I have Flanders poppies blooming. I didn't sow seeds last fall so I guess they resowed themselves. Thru all the weeds I see primrose and rocket larkspur. When everything gets done blooming Ill work on the weeds.
Weeds are tough in Rowlett, I am lucky mine are in sandy loam. Some of them, tho resemble trees. Everything invasive... chinese tallow trees, chinese privet, wax myrtle, yaupons, birds have even gifted us with mulberry- female of course.