Did anyone try something different than what they usually plant? I ususally plant nantes carrots, but this year I tried Chantenay Royal along with my Nantes. I have been eating on the Chantenay and my opinion is that I like Nantes better and will not plant Chantenay again. They are not yuckky tasting, they are just not as sweet as Nantes. They were also smaller. I will try another variety next year along with my Nantes, for another experiment.
I also tried Three different types of cucumbers. I usually just by the packages at the store for our area, and they don't usually taste very good. I ordered Muncher and Delekatesse off the internet and bought National pickling at our local store. Muncher is delicious! I will buy it again next year. I eat it with the skins on because they are so thin. Delekatesse hasn't produced yet, but I do have alot of flowers. National pickling is very, very bitter if it gets bigger than about 3". I will never buy it again.
I also tried Laxton's progress #9 pea per Shoe's recommendation. It was great and produced alot. I did not have to have a trellis since it was a bush variety. I would plant it again.
I'am also trying Kentucky Wonder pole bean. I have never grown it. I usually do my regular bush beans. My pole beans are still climbing and haven't flowered yet, so can't critique them yet.
Next spring I will try some new veggies along with the ones I already know I like. Any suggestions? DM
Experiments with different vegetable varieties
I just found a seed company, which I am eager to use. They have Country Gentlemen corn, so that tells me that they carry the best varieties. Its http://www.gourmetseed.com , if you're interested.
Hi. My name is Margo, and I'm a Seedaholic. Y'all gotta quit posting links to these companies *G*. This is known as enabling. This one wasn't too bad, only 26 bucks. And now to see if there is any way to get some planted this fall, or if I have to wait......arrrrgh......
loll Margo.. I'm just like you. I see those seeds website and I start drooling.. And I have quite a collection of seeds too. Although, I more of a seed hoarder than a seedaholic.. :) Now, if I can just plant them all instead of hoarding.. :)
Planted around 20 different varieties of pumpkins (the majority are pretty unknown here). Also growing birdhouse gourd (I've got 14 now that are anywhere from 4" to 12" long....just measured/counted them :). 60 different varieties of open pollinated tomatoes are also being grown as an experiment.........will the 90 dtm mature in time?????).
This message was edited Aug 5, 2007 9:21 PM
Icosden wrote;"Now, if I can just plant them all instead of hoarding.. :)"
Oh no, I can never plant them ALL!!. I have to keep some. Of everything. Just in case. Must be a related disorder. Figures there would be more to this...
Margo (SA, SH)
Lol.. Margo, I'm just like you. I get all these seeds and I only plant 3-5 per packets. So, I have tons of packets.. I get worried that I might not be able to find again if I use all the seeds.. LOL.. Like I can use up the seeds.. Do collect seeds from the fruits you like too?? Apparantly I do and it's in just a jar. Kinda all mixed in and have to guess what's what too.
Lilypon,
I'd like to hear more about your 60 varieties of tomatoes. I'm in a cold zone, so am always interested in what works for others in colder areas. You can do the experiment for me (SMILE).
I have never grown pumpkins but always wanted too. I usually plant too many other things then run out of room for pumpkins. I did not know they grew real well in cooler climates. I'd like to hear what varieties of pumpkins worked best for you.
You must have a big garden for all those plants. DM
LOLOL ;) I'll be happy too (there aren't many of us really low zoners here).......this year has been incredibly unusual here (cool spring right up till the last week or two of June and then heat and humidity that has broken all previous records here. We hit an all time high of 50 Celcius/122 Fahrenhiet. :(
DM have you also been getting the unreal heat and humidity that we've been receiving?
We are renting at a community garden this year......our regular rented patch was out of town and was about 2 1/2 times larger but the owner became very ill this winter and was too weak to reopen it (though he's hoping to next summer).
This is the mater patch at the community gardens (picture taken ~ end of June/beg of July). I've also got some that were hailed out in my back yard and my father is also growing some (his are fine) for an original pre-hail total of 122 (OP's and hybrids).
This message was edited Aug 6, 2007 7:07 PM
I've never had great luck growing gourds (esp the smaller decorative variety) but this year I've got the birdhouse gourds growing (purple martins love them) and today we counted 16 that have taken and are 12" long down to 2". No one that I know of has grown them so I'm going to have to take a picture and ask the experts here when do I pick the two larger ones???
Here's a baby
This message was edited Aug 6, 2007 6:46 PM
The pumpkins that I've grown here before (and have done well are)
Galeux d'Eysines
(. This flattened, round, 10 to 15-lb gruit has gorgeous, salmon/peach -coloured skin covered with large warts! The sweet orange flesh is used in France for soups and also can be baked., the flesh is so smotth, flavourful and deep orange. It's fantastic! French Heirloom.
Jarrahdale
Decorative, gray, ribbed fruits. Medium to large, avg. 6-10 lb., drum-shaped fruit with heavy, rounded ribs and slate-gray skin. Medium-sweet, thick orange flesh of good quality. Long storage. A most appealing squash for fall displays and both decorative and food use. 0
One Too Many (110 days) A wonderful decorative pumpkin. Beautiful variegated skinned fruits are adorable. One Too Many produces fruit that are 75% round with about 25% oblong fruit. Fruits weigh 20 lbs on average with large vines.
Rouge Vif D'Etamples )
The bright scarlet French pumpkin. "Rouge vif" means "vivid red." This is an attractive French variety, actually a squash, for fall display. Shaped flat, looking like a red cheese wheel, the fruits average in the 10-15 lb. range. The moderately sweet, orange flesh is suited for pumpkin or squash pie. Last year this one produced an unbelievable number of pumpkins
Valenciano ( Snow-white skin.
Clearly the whitest pumpkin; unique for doorstep decorations and painting. Medium-size, flattened, avg. 11-15" diam. x 6-8" tall, slightly ribbed, with a smooth white skin. Thick orange flesh suitable for pies.
SinceI lost the larger patch (this summer) a number my seeds were farmed out to a co-worker who was just going to grow giant pumpkins (no hope for them to ripen for her here since they weren't started early). On June 18th however I was offered some more land at the community patch so on June 21 I planted the remainder of my seeds there. EXTREMELY late start but with the high heat and humidity (and our longer daylight hours) they took off and are now throwing females (about 8 have taken so far).
No pics yet but will get some soon.
Here's the patch about 2 weeks ago........today they are well over my head and some have good beefsteak sized fruit growing (I'm pretty sure they will be changing colour soon).
Oh and the hot peppers are now about 4 feet tall (they truly love the high temps). I've never seen bell peppers looking as happy, tall and lush either (thankfully they are getting some shade from the taller tomatoes).
I've never picked red bell peppers this early (usually I get lots of green and just a few red before hard frost).
Last year Sungold and Delicious were the two tomatoes I was most pleased with......this year I'll have a larger selection that will vine ripen. Last year it was HOT and DRY in June/July (plants sat and sulked) and HOT/HUMID in August.
Lilypon,
Thanks for all the information on the pumpkins. You gave so much detail. I don't think I have seen many gourds, what do you use them for? Are they a type of squash?
I tried peppers this year in whiskey barrells, and they only got to about 2 feet. I was dissappointed about the lack of peppers. I wanted alot for salsa. Did you feed yours? Also do you feed your tomatoes?
Yes our weather has been very hot. Alot of consistant days in the 100's. It is cooling down a little. It has been in the 90's for about a week. We do not get humid weather hear.
I sure am impressed with your garden, especially in zone 3. DM
Thank you for the compliment DM (we really hauled our tired behinds to get the nutrients in it......eight trailer loads of manure was wheeled down to the patch (the steepness of the hill made that endeavor really, really interesting ;S. I didn't feed my peppers anything except well aged manure. We feed our maters bone meal, slow release fertilizer, manure and water soluble fertilizer (and lots of water to survive the extreme heat)..
We used to be dry as dust too but are now getting humidity that is being pulled up from Texas (Gulf of Mexico). I'm guessing if you don't get it then North Dakota is (I'll have to ask Joan J).
Small gourds are usually very colourful or warty. Often used for early fall/Thanksgiving decorations (I have mine spilling out of a Horn of Plenty......along with the small decorative corn ie Strawberry and the multi coloured miniature cobs).
I"m also growing Horseshoe's (Shoe's) fave Zucchino Rampicante : http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/410641/ this year ( I see Shoe has it entered as Climbing Zucchini,Tromboncino, Trombocino, Zucchetta Rampicante, Italian Trombone Squash 'Tromba d'Albenga'). Farmer Dill told me it's a type of Butternut (I hope I'm remembering what he said correctly.......if I'm wrong it's my error not his). The Zucchino can be cooked like a zucchini (up to 2 1/2 / 3 Feet) Any longer than that it is more like a gourd and can be grown to maturity for decorative purposes (and for seeds). I've been told (and read) it's more flavourful than zucchini. Mine is growing like crazy too and if Zucchini scares you this one has it beat for throwing fruit). High prairie winds did break a few of the early large ones (the Jet Stream went over us......that's when the weather changed :)))).
This message was edited Aug 6, 2007 9:14 PM
Didn't mention this above but the last few days have been much cooler here too (in the 80's :^))) with, and I'm ever, ever so grateful, COOLER nights) and today it rained nicely (not hard) for about 7 hours. I'm guessing we received about an inch. Our crops won't improve but a least they won't get any worse (baring hail). Temps are supposed to rise again but not to the ugliness they were at in July.
I tried many new things this year. I am addicted to seeds and to growing new things :)
Our weather was unique for us this year. A very dry, drought spring, some mid-summer water and now again drought and extremely high temps. So it has been a growing experiment all season long. Going to our community farmers market has been interesting, with everyone comparing notes.
This year I grew: many different tomatoes including Matt's Wild Cherry and Sungold - both of which will take me through fall and this drought. The large heirlooms are struggling but are providing huge and few fruit.
I love beans, and this year I switched from regular "yard long" beans to red yard longs. OHHH, these keep their color when cooked! They adore humidity and laugh at heat, and so do the heirloom black seeded climbing lima beans I am growing this year. The beans which surprised me the most though are the yellow romano. They handle any growing condition thrown at them with ease and are delicious.
Two of the biggest experiments have been growing hot weather lettuces: for which asian pointed lettuces have done the best, and melons. I am growing a whole little bed of Asian melons - all small fruiting...except for one melon called Paradise. It was developed in South Carolina and is supposed to do well in any weather. So far I've not eaten any melons, but they are looking really good and should be tasty!!
girlgroupgirl
Lily,
you said you use slow release fertilizer and liquid. What kind and how much and how often do you use it? I've never used slow release. I'm afraid I will burn the plants.
Wow 7 hours of rain would be nice for me. Thanks for all your input Lily.
DM I put about 1 TBSP, of the slow release, in each hole that was deeply dug. Once I find the container I'll double check the numbers. The liquid feed I use is Miracle Grow for tomatoes (I only applied that twice). I know there are many methods here of growing tomatoes but we use what gives ours the biggest boost for what can be an extremely short growing season. I also applied the general Miracle Grow twice in the beginning , with a couple of weeks between applications, after the hardened off tomatoes were planted.
This message was edited Aug 9, 2007 12:35 AM
DigMontana here's a thread on my veggie patch and the community garden it's at. Since my tomatoes are planted on a hill, and the peppers are further down (and between four rows of tomatoes) I would guess that they are getting some nutrient run-off from the tomatoes. I know the patch below us has been totally neglected since it was planted but it too is getting some run off from ours (the corn is 7' tall where water runs from our patch and 1 to 2' tall where it only received water that has fallen from the sky).
Oooooooops lost my edits :S but here's the thread: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/758131/