Some Early Feb Pics

TPlant: I'm trying corn this year, from Gurneys. I got three HEBs dedicated to just corn. One for "silver queen" one for Gurney's Hybrid "gotta have it" and one for RH Shumways Experimental Hybrid Variety. All my lights are taken now though with tomatoes, peppers, cukes and 3 eggplants plants. Eggplants are hard to grow aren't they? Next time, I will plant the eggplant seeds in Bob's coconut coir seed starter kit, I used the APS 6 from Garden Supply and only 3 out of 6 came up.
joy

Corn is direct sow...isn't it?

Joy Edward Smith says in his book, Incredible Vegetables From Self Watering Containers, that Eggplants LOVE self watering containers. He says while they might be a bit picky to grow in a normal garden SWC are perfect for them.

Tplant, I'm ready to go with the corn just waiting for it to warm up a bit. From the research I've seen if you plant to early you have more of a problem with stand failure so I'm going to give it a few more weeks. That sound correct to you?

Just curious about the corn....will cross-pollinating of the three different varieties that Joy intends to plant impact the taste of each variety? In other words will the flavor be the same as if each variety were grown without the chance of being cross pollinated with another variety?

Jerry

Corn will cross pollinate Baby corn for sure takes flavor away As for different sweet corns I'd think the same How much ?... I don't think it would be noticeable

Jerry, yes, corn can easily cross pollinate when planted close together. Where the importance comes into play is dependent on what genes those varieties are.

Many of the 'sweet corns', like Silver Queen, are of the SU gene, those can grow in close proximity and do just fine. (You can even have fun growing an su white near an su yellow and get an mixed kernal corn, yellow/white, and the flavor is not affected negatively.) Some of the newer varieties are considered SE (sugar enhanced) and those can also be grown with the SU types, requiring no isolation. However, a third type, SH (sometimes seen as SH2) should not be grown next to the other two or you'll end up with a very starchy flavorless corn.

I'm not familiar with the other varieties Joy purchased but I bet the catalog she got them from will state what genes they possess, possibly even recommending if they need isolation or not. (If they do, remember that their planting dates can be staggered so they don't tassel at the same time and that'll keep them from crossing.)

Shoe

Shoe: Thanks, didn't think about that one. LOL I could see it now, me producing a new type corn from 3 varieties right? LOL I know they won't be planted anywheres near my tomatoes for sure. And to be on the safe side how much distance should I put between the 3 EBS of corn? Yes, I'm direct planting them just like Ted advised me to. LOL
joy

Actually, Joy, try to find out if they are compatible based on what Shoe wrote. If they are then plant them close together for a higher rate of pollination (more kernels per ear). Be prepared to protect them from high winds because a good healthy corn plant is heavy and can act like a sail in the wind. Ask me how I know this. Nothing more disheartening than going out to see your corn laying over at a 45º angle or more.

Good Luck

Jerry

ps.. I think some folks hand pollinate their corn in small gardens so they can be assured of good pollination.

Do you know how this is done, Jerry? I know it is early but since you mentioned it, I want to know how. Do you judt brush some of the tassels on other tassels and how do you know when to do what you do? Thanks, D

For proper flavor always plant the same type. As for the cross types and how far away should they be from each other to prevent cross pollination-- -- about a half a mile or more so stay with planting several varieties at once. Lord knows their is enough variety to grow. So pick one or two that are compatible. The catalogs usually tell you what will work togeather.

well drats one of mine is a regular sweet and one a triple sweet...So now to pick the one I want to grow...Silver King or Avalon

I'm reading, Silver Queen is su, Gotta Have It says isolate 250-300 ft or 3 weeks maturity time from all se and su varieties. Can be planted with other sh2 varieities. For best germination be sure that soil is warm before planting. 200 seeds 78 days. Well, guess this year it will be the Gotta Have it and save the other two for some other year I suppose right? Now what is this hand pollination stuff? Don't I just plant the seed and the rest is science not requiring me to do anything except water and feed and look for pests?
joy

Corn is planted about six inches apart and as a result it pollinates itself and there is no need for hand pollination. I'll soon be starting mine as I was at the supermarket yesterday and they were selling for $1 an ear for the Ambrosia variety and 75cents for Silver Queen. However the peppers all three colors were great quality but price ranged from $3.99 lb to $1.99 for the green pepper so it looks like a must this season to grow all we can! So people start studying and read some books on agriculture as we will need all the info we can get for a quality crop.

Joy, you shouldn't need to hand pollinate corn. Oftentimes that is when people want to purposefully cross two varieties or to save pure seed from a particular kind. If your plants are overly-crowded the pollen should drift onto the silks easily.

As for your varieties, you can still grow all three, just start your Silver Queen 3 weeks to a month later than the other two. This will also allow you to get a later harvest rather than have all your corn come in at the same time.

Tplant, yes, aren't those pepper prices outrageous! I've gotten so I won't buy certain produce items in theWinter (peppers, tomatoes), I'll just wait and eat them in season.

A pic of a glorious bounty of peppers (just for encouragement!) :

Shoe and Farmerdill ----- I don't have any problems growing all peppers except Bells. They just don't get to size. What fertilizer do you use? Last year I used 8-8-8 for low nitrogen. This season I may even go 6-6-6. What do you and Farmerdill think???

Tplant, I've been a believer for many years that peppers definitely like a "breakfast, lunch, dinner" menu. In other words they like to be fed but prefer to eat in stages rather than once or twice. (Actually we call "dinner" supper here!)

Breakfast is feeding them a little bit when they are set out. It gets them off to a great start, reduces transplant shock (if any) and makes both of you feel really good! This can be something as simple as watering them in w/ a fish emulsion solution, compost tea, or even MG (but I'm not familiar w/using MG so can't speak from experience on that one).

Lunch is a blessing for them when you see flowers beginning to come on. A side dressing of compost or a drench of compost tea, or fish emulsion, combined with a foliar feed of the same works well. (I make up a batch, spray it on the foliage, then dump the remainder around the root system.) You could also add balanced granular fertilizer at that time. With an EB I'm not sure how you could add the granular but if you are using grow bags that could be accomplished pretty easily just by scratching it into the top of your growing media.

Dinner! (Yummy!) Often-times you'll see the fruit gaining size but you'll also see more flowers coming on as well. This can happen 3-4 weeks after "lunch", sometimes sooner. Also at this time the plants have been in the ground/growing for quite some time, be of good size, and can benefit from the added "booster shot" of Dinner. Feel free to side-dress again w/your granular food or compost, or compost tea/fish emulsion.

*Note: I tend to use fish emulsion and/or compost tea as often as I choose, not restricting it to the "3 meals" plan, playing it by ear according to the growth pattern, color of the plants, stage of growth, etc.

I think you'd do well using a CRF in your grow bags and also using the liquid feeding. It may sound like more care than is necessary but think about it, YOU are of the type that likes to interact w/your plants so it's right down your ally! 'Tis just one of the things why we like to garden so much, eh?

Shoe

BocaBobs gro bags will be just for my bells so I can pamper them! Thanks...

wonder how you customize that to an EB...although our peppers did pretty well last year...

Shoe: Those are beautiful bell peppers, they are expensive here too, and I miss eating them, I used to put them in everything, that is why I decide to plant about 43 of them and have. Funny, I use Sea Magic and have some compost tea also. I usually put the Sea Magic in right with the fertilizer but have been weakening it for now since they are just starters. I don't think it would hurt to spray some compost tea on them when you first put them in the EB would it? And you could always add them to the reservoir later on?
joy

This yellow bell is almost ready. How much are yellow bells in the grocery store?

BocaBob

Some new pics today

Tomatoes in 1 gallon grow bags that I'm going to sell at a green market this Saturday and some onions in 5 gallon grow bags

2nd crop Starting to ripen

Black beauty

Bob, why don't you have any bugs eating any of your plants?

Are you using Stylet Oil?

I'm going to be using that on mine once they're out there, as per your recommendation, starting immediately before I get infested and once a week religiously.

that's why

granex onions in lay flat bags

I figured that. I bought a sprayer the other day, I am not fooling around with those varmints this go round.

romaine in 5 gallon grow bags

Boca Bob and Pugzley: What varmints you talking about the horned catepillars or some other varmint?

Can anyone explain this stylit oil stuff to me?
joy

Hey Bob! Where is this green market??? Is it in Deerfield? I'd like to join you!

This one is in Lake Worth right on the Ocean. It's beautiful. You are more than welcome to come. It runs Saturday from
8 to 12

It all looks wonderful...I might have to try some grow bags. Bob how do those eggplant taste? I have seeds for that variety but didn't start them this year. Might try it for fall...

Tplant if you go to the market please take bunches of pictures, I love farmers markets etc but we just don't have a great one here...

Those eggplants made into Eggplant parm is the BEST

araness -I am going to try my best to go up there Saturday as I would like to see the new products and will bring my camera and to answer your question about the eggplants in the large gro bags -- they grow perfectly! I'll be eating some of mine this evening.
As a matter of fact I think I definetly will go up. I can use the time away plus the fresh air and I do have a portable chair to bring along. As long as I can find a Starbucks, OOOOps, I mean Offerdahl's! LOL

Bob: Those vegetables are simply beautiful. Gold peppers up here at the grocery are outrageous in price. I'm glad I'm growing all mine this year. Love that eggplant also.
joy

Joy, the Stylet OIl is organic and mineral oil based. It prevents spider mites, those were the worst things I had to deal with last year. It kills lots of other pests, too, even claims to kill leafminers. It won't work on horned worms. :( It's a miticide, fungicide all in one. Supposed to not harm the beneficials and if it does, the harm is negligible.

Spider mites basically did me in last year, I hate those little devils!

Edited to say: I am not waiting for them to come this time. Once you see them there are zillions of them and they multiply so fast, so I am taking pre-emptive measures with the Stylet Oil. Can't wait to use my new sprayer. :)



This message was edited Feb 12, 2009 1:06 PM

Pugzley: Wow, thanks, I could always use that on my canna lily leafs does it help with leaf rollers too? I hate those things and they are so hard to control.

My Parks dome sets finally came in, minus the heating mats; but have the thermostat and of course, have a nice heating mat that a very special friend made sure I had of course. Anyways I can plant 120 more seeds if I like.

Here is what I have left: more cucumbers, okra, peas, lima beans, pumpkin, melons, watermelon, lettuce, spinach and cabbage. I believe though, that I read somewhere that peas and limas only take a few days or so to come up and corn gets planted directly so that's out and isn't it too late for cabbage? So, when do people usually start spinach and lettuce? I believe it's probably too early for the pumpkins, melons and watermelons isn't it? As pumpkins are to be ready in November I believe and melons and watermelons in July? Hmmm, okra maybe? more cucumbers maybe? Can't plant outside though til March 17th, 43 tomatoes is way too many and I sure don't think I should plant more of those.
joy

Um, it looks like all four of my cauliflower grew overnight, and I didn't tie up any leaves. What happens to them other than they don't stay white? Mine are sort of light butter yellow...can I still eat em? I've waited sooooooooooooooo long for them...

Gymgirl: I love fresh cauliflower with ranch dip, it's the greatest isn't it? You go girl.
joy

I'm going to try it on my cannas, I have those nasty leaf rollers and Mexican beetles. They really ate holes all in my cannas last year. :( I am going to use it on every single thing in the yard, roses, too and the mandarin orange trees. Those mandarin trees have leaf miners and they are right by where my garden plants are going to be located.

Lettuce and spinach are cool weather crops. I've got some and some Collard greens growing right now. I'll be planting bok choy soon if the seeds ever get here. tapping foot...

Melons love hot weather, I'm not sure how early you can plant those. It's too early here where I am, I'm in zone 9a or9b.