[Country Boy]

Just wanted to know who on the SRP planted a garden this year and what all they planted. Not exactly the finer things like a good cigar but hot sweet corn smothered in butter with a good steak comes in a close second.

[netsurfr]

Don't have a large area but I have some cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, chives, and lots of herbs for cooking: rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, oregano, sage, regular basil, thai basil, parsley, and taragon.

[Ockham]

I only wish I had the space to have my own garden... living in 34 square meters without garden nor balcony...

[chief]

Originally Posted by Ockham

I only wish I had the space to have my own garden... living in 34 square meters without garden nor balcony...

same here, luckily I have a piece of "flat roof" that I turned into a mini garen with a Japanese style Dear-chase fountain.
When I get my own house, I want a big japanese garden to it, with a koi-pond.

[Photoguy67]

Jalepeno peppers and tomatoes here.
Photoguy67

[Kees]

Red currants and gooseberries destroyed by the rain, Victoria plums eaten by wasps and some by us, one tomato plant planted too late so probably no ripe fruits this year and seakale Lilly White that unfortunately does not grow too well on our acid soil. We blanched some last year though.

[Mike7120]

I do a large garden every year for my parents. Silver queen corn, honey-sweet corn, half runner beans, pole beans, wax beans, peas, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, early girl tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, banana peppers, habenero peppers, all colors of bell peppers, cabbage, brocoli, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, and I have a pumpkin patch outside of the main garden.

My garden produced very well this year, the weather here was perfect. We are in the process of canning right now. We have so much that we have given a lot of our produce to neighbors and friends. The pumpkins are getting big, I mainly grow them for target practice

[timberrr59]

I have seen few good gardens here in the Hill Country of Texas. We have three distinctive problems: One- the dry climate with heat. Two- deer and antelope eat everything. Three-the soil is rocky and alkiline. I have a fenced area and have enjoyed sweet corn, peppers, cantaloupes, tomatoes, beans, kohlrabi, squash, turnips and mustard greens. All watered with harvested rainwater. My wife grows herbs for cooking and some xeroscape landscaping shrubs, etc. She uses a product called Liquid Fence to repel the deer. It stinks like hell. I have developed a trick for saving water when growing trees. At the planting hole (which should be 4 times the diameter of the root ball), install a 2 inch diameter pipe about a foot away from the tree on the windward side for support ties. Use a 6 foot pipe driven 2 feet into the ground. Use the pipe itself as a water tank to water the roots only. I fill the pipe every morning. It leaks down to the roots during the day. Our pecan tree is growing very fast and is healthy. Gardens are a source of great satisfaction. They instill humility. Good job having gardens in limited areas. We have outstanding Weekend Garden Programs on KTSA Radio (550 AM and streams on the Internet). Give a listen and learn much. Thank you for the good thread, Robert

[Antares]

I bought a small peachtree 2 months ago. Actually it does not look like a tree because of his young age. But perhaps in a few years, I can eat some homegrown peaches.

Eat a Peach!

[English]

I used to have a big garden, had it for many years. Sold it.

The only time I really enjoyed it was the last couple of months when I knew somebody else was going to be responsible for its upkeep.

When I owned it, all I could see was the work that needed doing. I enjoyed the work don't get me wrong, but I never really enjoyed the garden. To much of a perfectionist. I'd see the flowers that needed deadheading rather then the roses in full bloom.

Nowdays, I get to play golf and don't have to mow the lawn and trim the hedges etc.,

But I miss those sweet home grown green vegetables and tomatoes. Never got the fruit, the local deer were far to efficient.

Funnily enough, I don't miss the garden but I do enjoy other people's. It' s a bit like owning a dog.

Sorry, please excuse the mumblings of an older man.

[CactusBob]

This year I planted a garden with all raised beds. We've had tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, carrots, spinach (the horse has had them), onions. The cucumbers, watermelon, and cantalope are on the way. Some of the local animals, squirrels, rats, birds, etc are getting a haul better than ours.
Here in Tucson where its been 110 some days its been a trick, but shade cloth extended over the top has kept the heat at bay


Bob

[Mike7120]

Originally Posted by English

I used to have a big garden, had it for many years. Sold it.

The only time I really enjoyed it was the last couple of months when I knew somebody else was going to be responsible for its upkeep.

When I owned it, all I could see was the work that needed doing. I enjoyed the work don't get me wrong, but I never really enjoyed the garden. To much of a perfectionist. I'd see the flowers that needed deadheading rather then the roses in full bloom.

Nowdays, I get to play golf and don't have to mow the lawn and trim the hedges etc.,

But I miss those sweet home grown green vegetables and tomatoes. Never got the fruit, the local deer were far to efficient.

Funnily enough, I don't miss the garden but I do enjoy other people's. It' s a bit like owning a dog.

Sorry, please excuse the mumblings of an older man.

If I had to do all the work myself I wouldn't plant a garden. I'm too busy with school and work to even attempt doing it on my own. I till the soil, fertilize, and do the planting, but my parents and girlfriend do most of the upkeep, watering, and canning.

[Country Boy]

I do have a fairly large garden this year I planted sweet corn, yukon potatoes, red onions, string beans, crap ton of hot peppers, green peppers, four different typed of tomatoes, pickles(cucumbers), and pumpkins for the little ones. I also tried for the first year growing popcorn which looks like it will turn out to be a good crop. I did can the beans whats left of them after my pain in the a@@ japanese beatlles took over. Yes they are a problem not only here in the north but I found out as far as mexico these pesky little critters eat and consume. I too like timber use deer fence, a "green" solution for keeping deer and rabbits at bay. So if you guys have a problem with your forest friends this is the best cure for it. So take care and remember that weeding now will provide you with the best fruit, hopefully by the end of october. Thanks for sharing all, its great to know people still take the time to plant a seed or a plant and reap the rewards later. If you don't have a lot of room like some of our friends in europe and here is the u.s., remember that all it takes is a clay pot, a grow light or natural, and some tlc. Take care all.

[kevint]

It is a tasty idea this gardening. When I noticed my neighbors turning the soil I figured I'd wait for the overgrowth.... so no garden this year.

[Utopian]

Two words!

Humanure Handbook

[Bill S]

Originally Posted by Utopian

Two words!

Humanure Handbook

Two more words.....forget it.

[chem_fun]

I've got a 46x40 foot area and another 10x20 foot area.

The 10x20 foot area has blue flour corn (I could look up the exact name), the jury is still out, not sure if the jap. beetles got all the silks or not.

The other section was a flop this year. I've gotten about 2 quarts of dry beans to be used in soup and Chile this winter. I've yet to dig up the potatoes. The cow peas are finally producing fruit.

The peppers, sprouts, broc., cauliflower and carrots were a failure.

The tomatoes didn't produce as much fruit as I'd like, but I've gotten 7 quarts of pasta sauce so far, and a few more tomoatos yet to pick.

All plants are heirloom (except some of the potatoes). Most purchased from rareseeds.com.

[honedright]

Been getting more adventurous with container gardening since that is my only option. In addition to herbs (Rosemary, chives, parsley, thyme, sage, sweet marjoram, tarragon), Tomatoes (Champion & Celebrity), and lettuce, this year I tried melons. Not the dwarf varieties usually recommended for containers, but Burpee hybrid jumbo crenshaw melons. I've harvested two melons so far and they were delicious.

Scott