How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?

I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
luck. I also have strawberries, grapes, cayenne peppers, basil, chives,
garlic, and oregano growing. In another area in my front yard, I
planted mint, taragon, rosemary, and thyme. These herbs are rather
ornamental (to me) and are nice alternatives to inedible shrubbery.

In the past, I've also grown cucumbers but didn't go that route this
year. I tried to grow canteloupes for two different years, but each
time those never grew more than a foot long before they succumbed to
some sort of mold or mildew. I think my "thumb" is more brown than
green!

I bought four varieties of tomatoes to grow; cherry tomatoes, beefeater,
an orange variety, and one heirloom. I'd have to go outside and look at
the 'spike labels' to remember their names. The cherry tomatoes are the
only ones doing alright. Hard to go wrong with those. But the other
varieties just don't want to produce for one reason or others!

One of the reasons, I think, are the 'furry-tailed' and 'long-eared'
"rats"!!! As Andy would say, "The BUMS!!!!" Those critters have nabbed
and pinched the tomatoes that set earlier in the season before they (the
fruits) even had a chance to tinge pink. If it were legal, I'd shoot
those buggers in a heartbeat!

Now that the tomato plants have finally grown tall enough for the
'long-ears' not to reach, they're finally setting fruit. I don't think
the 'furry-tails' like to climb tomato plants either, because I've seen
them filching low, green tomatoes, too! I doubt the 'furry-tails' climb
the tomato plants because they have that smelly, sticky stuff all over?
Just a guess.

My strawberries have also suffered due to those four-legged thieves!
And my grapes, too! The 'furry-tailed' rats scamper up the vines and
gnaw the individual grapes off at the cluster but don't eat them. The
uneaten grapes then fall to the ground where the 'long-eared' rats would
hop-to and relish the harvest they'd seldom get otherwise. I thought
I'd have to worry more about the Japanese beetles (JBs) this year like I
did last year, but that wasn't the case at all. The JBs completed
denuded my grape vines but left the grapes. Instead, I have grape vines
full of leaves, but my grapes were ruined by the 'furry-tailed' rats.

One tomato plant has grown so tall (is that the indeterminant sort?)
that I made a 'teepee' for it to help support the limbs and tomatoes.
Even the regular three-rung "tomato cage" no longer works to support the
plant. One trick I learned is to take panty-hose and cut-off the
elastic waist band. From there, cut around the top edge in a long,
downward circle to make one long, continuous 'rope' about 1/2"-wide of
stretchable, nylon (or whatever it actually is) string. Unlike cotton
(or other) string or twine, the "panythose rope/string" has enough
give-and-take so the plant isn't harmed.

Next year for my strawberries, I'll make some raised garden beds. I
intend to get two or three half-barrels to fill them with topsoil and
use those instead. I may have to cover them with some sort of screening
to keep the 'furry-tails' out of the strawberries, but they should be
safe from the 'long-eared' rats <G>!

At least that's my plan for next year, . . . . Not so sure what to
do about the grapes, tho'. What sorts of gardens do y'all have?

Sky, who's trying to make that brown thumb green

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

On Aug 6, 1:18?pm, Sky > wrote:
> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> luck. I also have strawberries, grapes, cayenne peppers, basil, chives,
> garlic, and oregano growing. In another area in my front yard, I
> planted mint, taragon, rosemary, and thyme. These herbs are rather
> ornamental (to me) and are nice alternatives to inedible shrubbery.
<snip>

Seems a mighty ambitious undertaking for one without much experience/
luck. For starters keep it small and simple; no more than 12' X
24' (a standard size for fencing materials). And first tackle one
kind of tomato before taking on a half dozen types. And attempt the
easy to grow veggies first; beans, peas, squash, lettuce, cabbage,
chard, peppers, etc. For any kind of sucess against the crittters you
need a fence or they will win every time... and with berries you need
netting (birds don't even see a fence).

Sheldon

Sky wrote:
> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> luck. I also have strawberries, grapes, cayenne peppers, basil, chives,
> garlic, and oregano growing. In another area in my front yard, I
> planted mint, taragon, rosemary, and thyme. These herbs are rather
> ornamental (to me) and are nice alternatives to inedible shrubbery.


You don't say where you're located or what zone you're in. That makes a
difference when gardening. My special trick or hint is to check with
the folks at your local garden center and follow their advice. When
getting advice online or buying mail order, go with the product that's
closest to you. Plants and advice that apply to one coast or one soil
or one temperature don't do so well in the next.


I'm a trial and error sort of gardener.

I tried zucchini several years, never won a battle with a squash vine
borer, and have strawberries in the barrel now.

I don't like tomatoes, but I'm terrific at growing them. Jim loves
them, eats them every day for lunch, and I just gave some to my
neighbors. I stack the tomato cages and put in a few extra, then drape
the tomato stalks on the cages.

Yesterday we had fresh green beans. They tasted the same as the ones I
get at the supermarket but were more fun. I planted the pole variety,
and they grew up the chain link fence and the tomato cages I provided
for them. This year I planted seeds from a seed packet, but in the
past, I've used black beans or chili beans from my cupboard. They grew
just fine.

I put in 6 parsley plants and love having a fresh supply. I just pick
what I'm going to use in the salad or dressing. That's growing well.

One year we grew a lot of basil, enough to make pesto several times and
freeze it. This year, the basil is growing but not great guns the way
it did before.

My main experiment this year is celeriac. That's a vegetable we love
but see rarely at the supermarket. It seems to be doing well, but I
haven't peeked under the soil to see how large the roots are.

We also put in 6 fingerling eggplants. We got exactly one small
eggplant per plant.


I'm not sure what to tell you about the squirrels. We have them in the
trees, but they don't bother the garden. It might be because they can
hear the dog barking at them or because they're stupid.


We put in raspberry bushes 10 years ago. They've grown like weeds.
Hard to go wrong with them except they take over.


--Lia

On Aug 6, 10:18 am, Sky > wrote:
> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
We've had backyard veggies for many years. Six or seven years ago we
put in raised beds and pretty much adopted the "square foot" gardening
techniques. That, plus the very benign climate of SoCal, has led to
very gratifying results.

We can grow a huge variety of things but experience has taught us that
producing more than we can eat is a bad approach, and there are quite
a few things that are just as good store-bought (and even frozen) as
home grown. So nowadays we tend to grow only those favorite things
that we think are clearly better when home grown, "better" in this
context including the convenience of being able to pick what we want
when we want it. A pretty good selection of herbs also falls in this
category.

We have two major seasons, too, which determine what to grow.
Lettuces and greens do really well in the cooler months so we grow a
variety of leaf and bibb lettuces and a variety of bok choy-type
greens. Bok choy is much better when you can pick it early, as
opposed to the big stalks usually carried in the markets. This is
also the season for peapods, which are also much better picked
young.. Carrots and beets do well year-round, so we fill out the beds
with them. Some years we do broccoli, one year we did Brussels
sprouts, which turned out to be remarkable mostly for the number of
insects they drew.

In the warmer months we grow tomatoes, of course. Brandywine is still
our favorite, and this past year we've enjoyed a grape tomato. Gotta
have something to snack on while we're tending the rest of the yard,
you know. Most years we start off with Early Girl. We now limit our
squash to one zucchini or yellow squash. Two people just can't keep
up with more plants than that. We grow Japanese eggplants for their
beauty and so we can pick them quite young when they are most tasty
and tender. We grow Kentucky Wonder green beans because they are our
favorite for taste. Usually those produce more than we can keep up
with but we blanch and freeze them with good results.

Tomato cages and support systems such as you describe are limited only
by one's imagination. We have wire mesh as the vertical back "wall"
of our beds and simply tie the tomato branches to it every now and
then as they grow. Usually using torn-up t-shirt strips.

The most productive "tip" I can offer based on our experience is to
find something easily available to you to use as organic mulch, and
then mulch heavily. A little mulch is better than none, but a thick
layer of mulch -- 4 inches, say, renewed often -- is a lot better than
a thin layer. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or costly, but
there is a good deal of info out there about what kinds of things work
best with what plants. Worth checking out. Also a great use for all
your household compost if you want to start a fairly major
project. -aem

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:18:04 -0500, Sky >
wrote:

>How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
>try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?

You might want to also post this to rec.gardens.edible.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

In article >,
Sky > wrote:

> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> luck.

Where are you at? It may not be you, but the weather. Beefeater
tomatoes (and any of those big juicy ones) cannot tolerate cool
evenings. They grow, but don't set fruit without some spray. I like
the cool evenings myself, but the tomatoes don't. Only early tomatoes
will do OK here. The others don't set fruit until very late, and they
are very cracked and ugly. Cherry tomatoes are generally early, so
that's why I posted this. We have good luck with Early Girls. They
produce tasty but small tomatoes for much of the season.

In article >,
Sky > wrote:

> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?

I'll bet the people at rec.gardens.edible would have good information.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com - story and
pics of Ronald McDonald House dinner posted 6-24-2007

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:41:10 -0500, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Sky > wrote:
>
>> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
>> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
>I'll bet the people at rec.gardens.edible would have good information.


Ah hell, they've been taken over by a bunch of politico-loons lately.
I can barely read the froup.

Boron

"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
...
> Sky wrote:
>> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
>> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> You don't say where you're located or what zone you're in. That makes a
> difference when gardening.

Interesting to read your postings. Wondering what zones you are both in?
Did I overlook?
Not much luck here with the tomatoes this year. DH hasn't put back the
fence -- big mistake!
Parsley didn't do well - planting more for fall. Basil pretty good (just
now made some pesto), but it is tough.

Shenandoah Valley, VA
There are 6 zones in VA, if I am reading correctly - I am on the border of
zone 4/5.
http://www.virginiaplaces.org/climate/index.html

Thanks,
Dee Dee

"Sky" > wrote in message
...
> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> luck. I also have strawberries, grapes, cayenne peppers, basil, chives,
> garlic, and oregano growing. In another area in my front yard, I
> planted mint, taragon, rosemary, and thyme. These herbs are rather
> ornamental (to me) and are nice alternatives to inedible shrubbery.
>
> In the past, I've also grown cucumbers but didn't go that route this
> year. I tried to grow canteloupes for two different years, but each
> time those never grew more than a foot long before they succumbed to
> some sort of mold or mildew. I think my "thumb" is more brown than
> green!
>
> I bought four varieties of tomatoes to grow; cherry tomatoes, >(Clipped)

> Sky, who's trying to make that brown thumb green
>
I've been lucky with herbs mostly, incl. onions & garlic, but it takes some
experimenting with types & places, especially in the desert here. It's a
real exercise in patience to be a gardener.
It's so great to be able to go out and pick stuff fresh for meals. And to
pay a buck or two for basil seeds to get piles and piles of lovely green
stuff to make pesto with.
I've heard that tomatoes might be able to catch a virus from smokers'
hands, so if you smoke, wash up good before you handle the plants.
Edrena

Dan Abel wrote:
>
> In article >,
> Sky > wrote:
>
> > How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> > try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
> >
> > I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> > luck.
>
> Where are you at? It may not be you, but the weather. Beefeater
> tomatoes (and any of those big juicy ones) cannot tolerate cool
> evenings. They grow, but don't set fruit without some spray. I like
> the cool evenings myself, but the tomatoes don't. Only early tomatoes
> will do OK here. The others don't set fruit until very late, and they
> are very cracked and ugly. Cherry tomatoes are generally early, so
> that's why I posted this. We have good luck with Early Girls. They
> produce tasty but small tomatoes for much of the season.

Zone 5. Sorry I forgot to mention that. I'm a half-hazard (haphazered?
NWOTD <g>) as a gardener. I transplant the whatever-seedlings
willy-nilly all over the place here and there and watch them grow - or
not grow! At least I know to provide water when it's dry ;>

Glad to know the problems with my tomato aren't related to "brown thumb
syndrome." <G>. Next year, I'll look for some of those "Early Girls"
and try those out.

My 'gardens' are very informal at best. The strawberries grew on their
own after I planted about 12 of them a few years ago - they're the
ever-bearing "Tribute" variety. The thistle like their company (the
strawberries') a lot, too. I try to keep those (the thistle) in check.
There's even a large, lone batch of volunteer black-eyed susans in there
with the strawberries.

The oregano plants are leftovers from a few years ago. They keep
resurrecting in surprising places nearby the original location
Everyone once in awhile, some volunteer cilantro pops up too!

The four basils are planted in thier own little location at the SE
corner of my house. The three cayenne pepper plants have their own spot
at the SW corner. And, I'm definitely gonna have to whack the hack (er,
heck!) outta that mint because it grows faster than weeds!

I just wish the tomatoes would come in. I've had a yen for freshly
sliced tomatoes right off the vine from the garden with a dollop of mayo
on top sprinkled with some paprika! And then, perhaps some pesto with a
zing of cayenne. Store-bought stuff just isn't the same. Farmers'
markets come close, but to me it's not the same as from my back yard (or
side or front yards too <g>).

Sky, the serious gardner <------ NOT!

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

On Aug 6, 4:28?pm, "Dee Dee" > wrote:
> "Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > Sky wrote:
> >> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> >> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> > You don't say where you're located or what zone you're in. That makes a
> > difference when gardening.

So what.

With annuals (which includes most all veggies) the growing zone rarely
makes much difference... veggie seed packets all say "sow when danger
of frost is past" (for most that leaves about half the year for
growing). Growing zone matters with perennials, for severity of
winter temps. Naturally there are some exceptions, especially with
altitude, but not many plant tomatoes above the tree line of the grand
teatons.

Most all veggies found at the typical US stupidmarket produce dept.
can be grown sucessfully most anywhere in the lower 48.

Sheldon

Dee Dee wrote:
> "Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message

> Interesting to read your postings. Wondering what zones you are both in?
> Did I overlook?


I'm in zone 5.


I also forgot my biggest tip: Seedlings, not seeds. We planted the
beans from a seed packet. Everything else, tomatoes, parsley, basil,
eggplant, and celeriac, we bought as 6 packs when they were a few inches
high. We tried seeds early on, and in theory they should work, but it
wasn't much fun.


--Lia

Sheldon wrote:
>
>
>>"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message

>>>You don't say where you're located or what zone you're in. That makes a
>>>difference when gardening.
>
>
> So what.
>
> With annuals (which includes most all veggies) the growing zone rarely
> makes much difference... veggie seed packets all say "sow when danger
> of frost is past" (for most that leaves about half the year for
> growing). Growing zone matters with perennials, for severity of
> winter temps.


Your information is correct, but the original poster asked for tips with
the implication that she was having trouble growing some vegetables. It
helps to know what you're dealing with when troubleshooting. It's a
little like the posters we sometimes get who ask what's going wrong with
a recipe-- without telling us the recipe. It was possible that the
problem had to do with too much water, too little water, too hot, too
cold, etc.


--Lia

"Sky" > wrote in message
...
> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
>
> Sky, who's trying to make that brown thumb green
>
> --
> Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
> Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

We plant each spring and sometimes in fall. I have a raised bed so the
rabbits don't get at it but the earwigs are bad this year. We planted
tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, squash, red peppers and garlic. I usually
keep parsley in the garden but the raised bed doesn't seem to support the
sage and other herbs. I get lots of voluntary tomato plants from the year
before. They are just starting to ripen now. The zucchini hasn't
produced very well. Oh and beets. We had a small crop of those and green
beans. The garlic is out and drying. Can't give you too many hints
because we just plant and water.

MoM

"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
...
> Dee Dee wrote:
>> "Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
>
>> Interesting to read your postings. Wondering what zones you are both
>> in?
>> Did I overlook?
>
>
> I'm in zone 5.
>
>
> I also forgot my biggest tip: Seedlings, not seeds. We planted the
> beans from a seed packet. Everything else, tomatoes, parsley, basil,
> eggplant, and celeriac, we bought as 6 packs when they were a few inches
> high. We tried seeds early on, and in theory they should work, but it
> wasn't much fun.
>
>
> --Lia
>
I forgot to mention that too. The beans, beets and parsley were seed.
The rest seedlings.

MoM

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> Sky wrote:
> > How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> > try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>
> I'll bet the people at rec.gardens.edible would have good information.

Most who post there not only know little about gardening they know
little.

Sheldon

In article >,
Boron Elgar > wrote:

> On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:41:10 -0500, Melba's Jammin'
> > wrote:
>
> >In article >,
> > Sky > wrote:
> >
> >> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> >> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
> >
> >I'll bet the people at rec.gardens.edible would have good information.
>
>
> Ah hell, they've been taken over by a bunch of politico-loons lately.
> I can barely read the froup.
>
> Boron

It's happening many places. Too bad. The computer places where I get
help are really good; answers are helpful, discussion/disagreement is
not ugly.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com - story and
pics of Ronald McDonald House dinner posted 6-24-2007

Julia Altshuler wrote:
>
> Sheldon wrote:
> >
> >
> >>"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
>
> >>>You don't say where you're located or what zone you're in. That makes a
> >>>difference when gardening.
> >
> >
> > So what.
> >
> > With annuals (which includes most all veggies) the growing zone rarely
> > makes much difference... veggie seed packets all say "sow when danger
> > of frost is past" (for most that leaves about half the year for
> > growing). Growing zone matters with perennials, for severity of
> > winter temps.
>
> Your information is correct, but the original poster asked for tips with
> the implication that she was having trouble growing some vegetables. It
> helps to know what you're dealing with when troubleshooting. It's a
> little like the posters we sometimes get who ask what's going wrong with
> a recipe-- without telling us the recipe. It was possible that the
> problem had to do with too much water, too little water, too hot, too
> cold, etc.
>
> --Lia

As the OP, I was inspecific on purpose. I wasn't really asking for help
with my garden (that's another newsgroup, I know), but was sharing a
description of what garden I do have. Alas, I wasn't as articulate with
my OP as I should've been. Sort of like cooking something up and only
using part of a recipe

I'm disappointed with my tomatoes, happy about the strawberries, and
will have fun with the other few edible plants and herbs I do grow
seasonally.

I can't wait for the tomatoes to come in BLTs and sliced 'maters'
will be so good when the fruit comes right off the vine. Now, if only
those 'furry-tailed' and 'long-eared' rats would quit stealing my summer
fare!

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

MOMPEAGRAM wrote:
>
> "Sky" > wrote in message
> ...
> > How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> > try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
> >
> >
> > Sky, who's trying to make that brown thumb green
> >
> > --
> > Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
> > Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice
>
> We plant each spring and sometimes in fall. I have a raised bed so the
> rabbits don't get at it but the earwigs are bad this year. We planted
> tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, squash, red peppers and garlic. I usually
> keep parsley in the garden but the raised bed doesn't seem to support the
> sage and other herbs. I get lots of voluntary tomato plants from the year
> before. They are just starting to ripen now. The zucchini hasn't
> produced very well. Oh and beets. We had a small crop of those and green
> beans. The garlic is out and drying. Can't give you too many hints
> because we just plant and water.
>
> MoM

Now that's a summer garden! I can imagine all the good things that get
cooked up with the selection of that fare One thing about raised
beds that's really nice, one doesn't have to bend down as far to
harvest. I'll make raised beds next time I do some 'serious' garden
revamping (after I win that lottery <g>).

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

One thing about raised
> beds that's really nice, one doesn't have to bend down as far to
> harvest. I'll make raised beds next time I do some 'serious' garden
> revamping (after I win that lottery <g>).
>
> Sky
>

DH does the gardening and the raised beds are about a foot + up.

You couldn't raise them far up enough for me -- ;-))
Dee Dee

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...
>> (clipped)
>>I'll bet the people at rec.gardens.edible...
>
> Ah hell, they've been taken over by a bunch of politico-loons lately.
> I can barely read the froup.
> Boron

A new word of the Day! politicoloons! I love it.
"The politicoloons in both countries led the world to holocaust.
Edrena

"Sky" > wrote in message
...
> Dan Abel wrote:
>>
>> In article >,
>> Sky > wrote:
>>
>> > How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
>> > try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>> >
>> > I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
>> > luck.
snip
> Zone 5. Sorry I forgot to mention that. I'm a half-hazard (haphazered?
> NWOTD <g>) as a gardener. I transplant the whatever-seedlings
> willy-nilly all over the place here and there and watch them grow - or
> not grow! At least I know to provide water when it's dry ;>
>
> Glad to know the problems with my tomato aren't related to "brown thumb
> syndrome." <G>. Next year, I'll look for some of those "Early Girls"
> and try those out.
snip
> I just wish the tomatoes would come in. I've had a yen for freshly
> sliced tomatoes right off the vine from the garden with a dollop of mayo
> on top sprinkled with some paprika! And then, perhaps some pesto with a
> zing of cayenne. Store-bought stuff just isn't the same. Farmers'
> markets come close, but to me it's not the same as from my back yard (or
> side or front yards too <g>).
>
> Sky, the serious gardner <------ NOT!
>
If you're in Zone 5, you've experienced wide swings in temperatures this
spring and early summer Late June and all of July were blazing hot.
Tomatoes do not set blossoms when the nights are cool or the days are too
hot. I'm too lazy to get up to get the exact temps for you, but it's
something like day temps over 85F and night temps below -- oh, heck, I just
can't remember. I'm in Zone 5 and in order to combat this problem with
temps that we have every year, I grow really big plants from seed so that
when I put them in the ground they are ready to set a first crop before the
temps get too high. Then my tomatoes experience a lull and begin setting a
second crop as the sun shifts and the backyard gets cooler in the afternoon.
I suggest that you buy individual tomato plants that come in gallon or
larger pots for better success. My one cherry tomato plant this year is 7
feet wide and over 12 feet tall. My regular tomato plants -- Park's
Whopper -- are planted in wire tomato cages made of concrete reinforcing
wire. The cages are 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide and the cages are set down
shoulder to shoulder.. The plants grow to the top and come back down again.
I also grow cucumbers (Sweet Success) in these cages. I've tried growing
cucumbers on straight fencing of the concrete reinforcing wire, but the
cucumbers seem to prefer the security of the cage. I also have my
cantaloupe growing in these cages. The trick is to turn the baby melon to
the outside of the cage before it develops and then make a sling of panty
hose to support it. The green, yellow and Roma beans are just about done --
mostly because the acorn squash and zucchini have overrun the bean plants.
That's o.k. as I have blanched and frozen enough beans to last us all
winter. My corn (Illini X-tra Sweet) is between 11 and 12 feet high and all
stalks have two ears coming on. I wish that I had started some broccoli
plants for fall planting. The spring planting of broccoli is just done. I
had forgotten how sweet fresh, home-grown broccoli could be -- absolutely
wonderful. I have Japanese eggplant in pots on the deck in the hummingbird
corner. They are lovely plants and produce so willingly in a pot. I've got
tons of jalapeno and Anaheim peppers. I'll chop and freeze a lot of them
for winter use. Parsley will be picked and frozen for winter tomorrow. The
basil was made into a slurry and frozen over the weekend. Other pot herbs
are thyme and rosemary and they come indoors for the winter. I don't grow
cilantro as it bolts too quickly here and therefore not worth the effort.
Even though it was a small garden this year, it has given us enough to put
away, eat fresh and share with neighbors. Produce development will slow
from now on as the sun has shifted enough so that the neighbor's trees block
a lot of sunlight from the garden.
Janet

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:18:04 -0500, Sky >
wrote:

>How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
>try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?

Gardening tricks and hints are liable to change from season to season
and year to year.

Although basic ideas remain the same, organically enriched soil that
supports healthy plants, I have found that some things grow
wonderfully one year - or several years in a row and don't do well the
next. Yes, one must rotate crops, but his is beyond mere rotation and
often has to do with something quite simple - the weather.
Additionally, certain varieties will do better in some spots or soils
than others will.

>I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
>luck. I also have strawberries, grapes, cayenne peppers, basil, chives,
>garlic, and oregano growing. In another area in my front yard, I
>planted mint, taragon, rosemary, and thyme. These herbs are rather
>ornamental (to me) and are nice alternatives to inedible shrubbery.

Ok...this is what I have out the

strawberries (scarfed by critters before they could be harvested)
blueberries (not a good year)
bush beans - 5 varieties
sugar snap peas
limas
broccoli
cukes (several varieties)
yellow squash
garlic (harvested already - that did very well)
tomatoes (about 10-12 varieties, from cherries to 2 pounders)
lots of lettuce
sweet corn
bay
rosemary (3 varieties)
basil (5 varieties)
dill
cilantro
sage
tarragon
mint (2 varieties)
oregano
marjoram
savory
parsley
radishes (3 varieties - well eaten will put more in later)
chives
jalapenos
thyme
oh, more herbs, I am sure

>
>In the past, I've also grown cucumbers but didn't go that route this
>year. I tried to grow canteloupes for two different years, but each
>time those never grew more than a foot long before they succumbed to
>some sort of mold or mildew. I think my "thumb" is more brown than
>green!

Buy a sack of potting soil, cut a few holes in it & put the cuke
seedlings in there. Stand back and watch them grow. Curcubits are
susceptible to fungal wilts (as are tomatoes, which is why it is nice
to move them around, too, or grow those that are bred for resistance)
>
>I bought four varieties of tomatoes to grow; cherry tomatoes, beefeater,
>an orange variety, and one heirloom. I'd have to go outside and look at
>the 'spike labels' to remember their names. The cherry tomatoes are the
>only ones doing alright. Hard to go wrong with those. But the other
>varieties just don't want to produce for one reason or others!

Some varieties set later than others. When you buy seedlings, check
that on the label. Or grow your seedlings yourself. They don't set
easily in high temp, either.
>
>One of the reasons, I think, are the 'furry-tailed' and 'long-eared'
>"rats"!!! As Andy would say, "The BUMS!!!!" Those critters have nabbed
>and pinched the tomatoes that set earlier in the season before they (the
>fruits) even had a chance to tinge pink. If it were legal, I'd shoot
>those buggers in a heartbeat!

Yes...between the squirrels, the chipmunks and the very destructive
groundhogs, we lose a lot. We also keep a have-a-heart trap out there
& relocate the groundhogs.
>
snip
>My strawberries have also suffered due to those four-legged thieves!
>And my grapes, too! The 'furry-tailed' rats scamper up the vines and
>gnaw the individual grapes off at the cluster but don't eat them. The
>uneaten grapes then fall to the ground where the 'long-eared' rats would
>hop-to and relish the harvest they'd seldom get otherwise. I thought
>I'd have to worry more about the Japanese beetles (JBs) this year like I
>did last year, but that wasn't the case at all. The JBs completed
>denuded my grape vines but left the grapes. Instead, I have grape vines
>full of leaves, but my grapes were ruined by the 'furry-tailed' rats.

I pulled the grapes up last year. Too much effort for too little
fruit. I have roses there now.
>
And that is my garden so far, not counting all the flowers.

Boron

Janet B. wrote:
>
> "Sky" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Dan Abel wrote:
> >>
> >> In article >,
> >> Sky > wrote:
> >>
> >> > How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> >> > try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
> >> >
> >> > I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> >> > luck.
> snip
> > Zone 5. Sorry I forgot to mention that. I'm a half-hazard (haphazered?
> > NWOTD <g>) as a gardener. I transplant the whatever-seedlings
> > willy-nilly all over the place here and there and watch them grow - or
> > not grow! At least I know to provide water when it's dry ;>
> >
> > Glad to know the problems with my tomato aren't related to "brown thumb
> > syndrome." <G>. Next year, I'll look for some of those "Early Girls"
> > and try those out.
> snip
> > I just wish the tomatoes would come in. I've had a yen for freshly
> > sliced tomatoes right off the vine from the garden with a dollop of mayo
> > on top sprinkled with some paprika! And then, perhaps some pesto with a
> > zing of cayenne. Store-bought stuff just isn't the same. Farmers'
> > markets come close, but to me it's not the same as from my back yard (or
> > side or front yards too <g>).
> >
> > Sky, the serious gardner <------ NOT!
> >
> If you're in Zone 5, you've experienced wide swings in temperatures this
> spring and early summer Late June and all of July were blazing hot.
> Tomatoes do not set blossoms when the nights are cool or the days are too
> hot. I'm too lazy to get up to get the exact temps for you, but it's
> something like day temps over 85F and night temps below -- oh, heck, I just
> can't remember. I'm in Zone 5 and in order to combat this problem with
> temps that we have every year, I grow really big plants from seed so that
> when I put them in the ground they are ready to set a first crop before the
> temps get too high. Then my tomatoes experience a lull and begin setting a
> second crop as the sun shifts and the backyard gets cooler in the afternoon.
> I suggest that you buy individual tomato plants that come in gallon or
> larger pots for better success. My one cherry tomato plant this year is 7
> feet wide and over 12 feet tall. My regular tomato plants -- Park's
> Whopper -- are planted in wire tomato cages made of concrete reinforcing
> wire. The cages are 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide and the cages are set down
> shoulder to shoulder.. The plants grow to the top and come back down again.
> I also grow cucumbers (Sweet Success) in these cages. I've tried growing
> cucumbers on straight fencing of the concrete reinforcing wire, but the
> cucumbers seem to prefer the security of the cage. I also have my
> cantaloupe growing in these cages. The trick is to turn the baby melon to
> the outside of the cage before it develops and then make a sling of panty
> hose to support it. The green, yellow and Roma beans are just about done --
> mostly because the acorn squash and zucchini have overrun the bean plants.
> That's o.k. as I have blanched and frozen enough beans to last us all
> winter. My corn (Illini X-tra Sweet) is between 11 and 12 feet high and all
> stalks have two ears coming on. I wish that I had started some broccoli
> plants for fall planting. The spring planting of broccoli is just done. I
> had forgotten how sweet fresh, home-grown broccoli could be -- absolutely
> wonderful. I have Japanese eggplant in pots on the deck in the hummingbird
> corner. They are lovely plants and produce so willingly in a pot. I've got
> tons of jalapeno and Anaheim peppers. I'll chop and freeze a lot of them
> for winter use. Parsley will be picked and frozen for winter tomorrow. The
> basil was made into a slurry and frozen over the weekend. Other pot herbs
> are thyme and rosemary and they come indoors for the winter. I don't grow
> cilantro as it bolts too quickly here and therefore not worth the effort.
> Even though it was a small garden this year, it has given us enough to put
> away, eat fresh and share with neighbors. Produce development will slow
> from now on as the sun has shifted enough so that the neighbor's trees block
> a lot of sunlight from the garden.
> Janet

You call that a small garden!?! Your garden sounds very lovely and
plentiful. I can imagine all the recipes that could used for the
scrumptious fare. Summer season is so nice . . . and flavorful

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

"Sky" > wrote in message
...
> Janet B. wrote:
>>
>> "Sky" > wrote in message
snip
> You call that a small garden!?! Your garden sounds very lovely and
> plentiful. I can imagine all the recipes that could used for the
> scrumptious fare. Summer season is so nice . . . and flavorful
>
> Sky
>
Summer cooking is the ultimate fun -- everything at your fingertips and all
fresh, ready for the cook to use inventively.
Janet

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:18:04 -0500, Sky >
> wrote:
>
snip>
> Although basic ideas remain the same, organically enriched soil that
> supports healthy plants, I have found that some things grow
> wonderfully one year - or several years in a row and don't do well the
> next. Yes, one must rotate crops, but his is beyond mere rotation and
> often has to do with something quite simple - the weather.
> Additionally, certain varieties will do better in some spots or soils
> than others will.

Amen!!! From year to year, even though the variety is the same, the success
will vary, the taste will vary. All the gardener can do is get them off to
a good start and then the rest is up to weather, insects and varmits.
Janet
>
snip
> Boron

> "Sky" > wrote in message
> ...
>> How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
>> try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
>>
>>
>> Sky, who's trying to make that brown thumb green
>>
>> --
>> Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
>> Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice
>
> We plant each spring and sometimes in fall. I have a raised bed so the
> rabbits don't get at it but the earwigs are bad this year. We planted
> tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, squash, red peppers and garlic. I usually
> keep parsley in the garden but the raised bed doesn't seem to support the
> sage and other herbs. I get lots of voluntary tomato plants from the year
> before. They are just starting to ripen now. The zucchini hasn't
> produced very well. Oh and beets. We had a small crop of those and green
> beans. The garlic is out and drying. Can't give you too many hints
> because we just plant and water.
>
> MoM

Having been away for a few days I was delighted to see 4 almost ripe
tomatoes today. I planted 8 plants and they all appear to be thriving.

No problem with the usual herbs in my zone 6. - parsley, thyme, basil,
marjoram; rosemary.

elaine

On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 17:42:32 -0600, "Janet B." >
wrote:

>
>"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:18:04 -0500, Sky >
>> wrote:
>>
>snip>
>> Although basic ideas remain the same, organically enriched soil that
>> supports healthy plants, I have found that some things grow
>> wonderfully one year - or several years in a row and don't do well the
>> next. Yes, one must rotate crops, but his is beyond mere rotation and
>> often has to do with something quite simple - the weather.
>> Additionally, certain varieties will do better in some spots or soils
>> than others will.
>
>Amen!!! From year to year, even though the variety is the same, the success
>will vary, the taste will vary. All the gardener can do is get them off to
>a good start and then the rest is up to weather, insects and varmits.
>Janet
>>
>snip
>> Boron
>


Janet, it is *so* nice to see you posting with regularity.

Boron

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 17:42:32 -0600, "Janet B." >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:18:04 -0500, Sky >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>snip>
>>> Although basic ideas remain the same, organically enriched soil that
>>> supports healthy plants, I have found that some things grow
>>> wonderfully one year - or several years in a row and don't do well the
>>> next. Yes, one must rotate crops, but his is beyond mere rotation and
>>> often has to do with something quite simple - the weather.
>>> Additionally, certain varieties will do better in some spots or soils
>>> than others will.
>>
>>Amen!!! From year to year, even though the variety is the same, the
>>success
>>will vary, the taste will vary. All the gardener can do is get them off
>>to
>>a good start and then the rest is up to weather, insects and varmits.
>>Janet
>>>
>>snip
>>> Boron
>>
>
>
> Janet, it is *so* nice to see you posting with regularity.
>
> Boron
Thank you. I'm feeling fairly good generally these days. Still haven't
gotten into the bread baking thing again but I'm planning on taking it up
again.
Janet

On Aug 6, 5:03?pm, Julia Altshuler > wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
>
> >>"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
> >>>You don't say where you're located or what zone you're in. That makes a
> >>>difference when gardening.
>
> > So what.
>
> > With annuals (which includes most all veggies) the growing zone rarely
> > makes much difference... veggie seed packets all say "sow when danger
> > of frost is past" (for most that leaves about half the year for
> > growing). Growing zone matters with perennials, for severity of
> > winter temps.
>
> Your information is correct,

Shoulda stopped right there, that's all that matters.

Bu no, you gotta make an ASSHOLE of yourself, a complete asshole, like
I didn't already know you're an ignoranus ASSHOLE... they don't come
any dumber than you.


but the original poster asked for tips with
> the implication that she was having trouble growing some vegetables. It
> helps to know what you're dealing with when troubleshooting. It's a
> little like the posters we sometimes get who ask what's going wrong with
> a recipe-- without telling us the recipe. It was possible that the
> problem had to do with too much water, too little water, too hot, too
> cold, etc.
>
> --Lia

Blah, blah, blah... red herring city. STFU!

One thing for absolute certain... had not a whit to do with growing
zones, not even one teeny little iota. What could be the problem,
just off hand I can think of at least forty thousand pertinent
possibilities... but not anything to do with growing zone, not
anything whatsoever, NADA!

That's why people have problems, they haven't a clue, not even a hint
of a clue, but they like to toss out BS, like zones,
****ing z o n e s... sounds important, eh... tells me yer a no IQ
asshole. I got yer ****ing zones.

Moroon!

Sheldon

Sheldon wrote:

> Bu no, you gotta make an ASSHOLE of yourself, a complete asshole, like
> I didn't already know you're an ignoranus ASSHOLE... they don't come
> any dumber than you.

> Blah, blah, blah... red herring city. STFU!
>
> One thing for absolute certain... had not a whit to do with growing
> zones, not even one teeny little iota. What could be the problem,
> just off hand I can think of at least forty thousand pertinent
> possibilities... but not anything to do with growing zone, not
> anything whatsoever, NADA!
>
> That's why people have problems, they haven't a clue, not even a hint
> of a clue, but they like to toss out BS, like zones,
> ****ing z o n e s... sounds important, eh... tells me yer a no IQ
> asshole. I got yer ****ing zones.
>
> Moroon!


Smooches. I love you, too.
--Lia

On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 19:41:14 -0600, "Janet B." >
wrote:

>
>"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message

>> Janet, it is *so* nice to see you posting with regularity.
>>
>> Boron
>Thank you. I'm feeling fairly good generally these days. Still haven't
>gotten into the bread baking thing again but I'm planning on taking it up
>again.
>Janet
>

Too damn hot anyway. I think all my cultures had croaked & molded
over. I'll have to resuscitate in the fall. My kitchen is no air
conditioned., It I proofed anything it'll blow up like a balloon in 15
minutes.

We have a store that makes killer onion rolls and bialys, We patronize
a lot.

I am happy you;re feeling better, too. That is the sweetest part.

Boron

In article
>,
Dan Abel > wrote:

> In article >,
> Sky > wrote:
>
> > How many RFCers grow seasonal gardens for fresh produce? What do you
> > try to grow? Any special tricks or hints (for whatevers)?
> >
> > I'm trying to grow tomatoes this year again, but alas have not had much
> > luck.
>
> Where are you at? It may not be you, but the weather. Beefeater
> tomatoes (and any of those big juicy ones) cannot tolerate cool
> evenings. They grow, but don't set fruit without some spray. I like
> the cool evenings myself, but the tomatoes don't. Only early tomatoes
> will do OK here. The others don't set fruit until very late, and they
> are very cracked and ugly. Cherry tomatoes are generally early, so
> that's why I posted this. We have good luck with Early Girls. They
> produce tasty but small tomatoes for much of the season.

I've got plenty of fruit on my Early Girl and cherry tomato plants, but
they won't ripen, dammit! The herbs are doing nicely.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

Cindy Fuller wrote:

> I've got plenty of fruit on my Early Girl and cherry tomato plants, but
> they won't ripen, dammit! The herbs are doing nicely.
>
> Cindy

My tomatoes are very fine, but once I cut and used my cilantro and flat
leaf parsley it didn't grow any more...

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
...
> Cindy Fuller wrote:
>
>> I've got plenty of fruit on my Early Girl and cherry tomato plants, but
>> they won't ripen, dammit! The herbs are doing nicely.
>>
>> Cindy
>
> My tomatoes are very fine, but once I cut and used my cilantro and flat
> leaf parsley it didn't grow any more...
>
The cilantro is no surprise, that's pretty much the way it works. The
parsley should have continued to produce -- did you cut just from the
outside of the plant? If you cut out the center, the growing area of the
parsley, the plant can't continue. Parsley grows from the center outward.
Janet

"Janet B." > wrote in message
...
>
The
> parsley should have continued to produce -- did you cut just from the
> outside of the plant? If you cut out the center, the growing area of the
> parsley, the plant can't continue. Parsley grows from the center outward.
> Janet
Good tip, Janet. Showed DH and saved.
Dee Dee

Janet B. wrote:

>> My tomatoes are very fine, but once I cut and used my cilantro and flat
>> leaf parsley it didn't grow any more...
>>
> The cilantro is no surprise, that's pretty much the way it works. The
> parsley should have continued to produce -- did you cut just from the
> outside of the plant? If you cut out the center, the growing area of the
> parsley, the plant can't continue. Parsley grows from the center outward.
> Janet
>

Ooops? Perhaps that was the problem? I dunno...? I need to start again.
My mother always kept a large bed of parsley going and I never paid any
attention to it other than to go out and cut some? I was growing it in a
large deck sized pot and hoped to keep it going much longer than I did.
Next time I'll remember your words when cutting. Thanks.