Gardening 2020

[UConnSwag11]

What's everyone planting?

Just started tilling the garden and putting in new topsoil, moss, and manure. What do you guys do for weeds and insects? Specifically Squash Beetles and Creeping Charlie.

Looking to also do some self wicking raised garden beds. Does anyone use these?

 

[UConnDad]

Put on a white tee shirt. Get a 10 to 12 foot piece of lumber like a 2 by 4. Rip the board in half with a skil saw to make it lighter to hold. Wrap a rag around the end and soak with lighter fluid. Light rag on fire, pick up wood and and push it into the tent catapiller nest to set it on fire. Don't forget to smoke a cigarette while you are doing this. Just going by what my Dad used to do.

Just keep the cigs away from the tomato plants.

 

[UCSouth]

So what’s it like in August?

100° plus ......take the good with the bad. But at least I don't have to shovel snow anymore. Traded my snowblower for a riding mower and high taxes for a slower pace. And the best part is I still get my UCONN games with my tv package.

 

[McLovin]

When I clicked the post I thought this was going to be about UConn and MSG

 

[Kembacity]

I'm going to give the herb garden another shot. Rule 1: Don't plant mint. I'm a disaster though, I killed a cactus.

Why don’t plant mint? Last 2 summers I’ve done an herb garden on my city balcony, and last year my mint was a sturdy beast while the parsley/cilantro/dill struggled at times.

many one got tips to keep squirrels from eating my stuff on a balcony? I tried the cayenne pepper on the top of the soil but didn’t seem to do anything, I’m not going to install some obstructing fencing over my plants because this is mostly just for fun anyways. Open to any other suggestions or anecdotes

 

[FriarJ]

Still looking for some tips on squash beetles. They decimated a couple of our plants last year

Put nematodes in the soil to kill any larvae before planting your squash seeds.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Why don’t plant mint? Last 2 summers I’ve done an herb garden on my city balcony, and last year my mint was a sturdy beast while the parsley/cilantro/dill struggled at times.

many one got tips to keep squirrels from eating my stuff on a balcony? I tried the cayenne pepper on the top of the soil but didn’t seem to do anything, I’m not going to install some obstructing fencing over my plants because this is mostly just for fun anyways. Open to any other suggestions or anecdotes

'Open to any other suggestions '
first, go to the supermarket. buy some parsley and dill. forget the cilantro-that stuff is nasty.
then, swing by bass pro, pick up an inexpensive pistol.
return home, tear out the herbs. replace with tomato plants. shoot the squirrels, then eat the dill and parsley-tasty.
smoke a cigarette, and smile at an afternoon well spent.

 

[storrsroars]

forget the cilantro-that stuff is nasty.

ah, you're one of those people.

Of all the blessings I've received in life, the ability to enjoy cilantro is in the top 10.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Only thing different this year, we are trying St. Pierre tomatoes from seed. They are supposedly highly flavorful. We'll see.

 

[UConnDad]

Put nematodes in the soil to kill any larvae before planting your squash seeds.

Where do you get your nematodes?

 

[Waquoit]

Why don’t plant mint? Last 2 summers I’ve done an herb garden on my city balcony, and last year my mint was a sturdy beast while the parsley/cilantro/dill struggled at times.

Mint is too sturdy, imo. It takes over my herb garden. When I was cleaning up at the end of the season a couple of years ago, I couldn't believe the spread of the roots, they went throughout the entire area. Not worth it for me considering how little I was using. My parsley/cilantro/dill stink. Basil, rosemary, thyme, chives and tarragon grow best in my garden. I love chives, even I can't kill it. It's tall enough to use today.

 

[Deepster]

Just bought a baby portabello mushroom growing kit. Heard from a co-worker you get more mushrooms than you know what to do with in 3 weeks and onward.

 

[Waquoit]

Just bought a baby portabello mushroom growing kit. Heard from a co-worker you get more mushrooms than you know what to do with in 3 weeks and onward.

Where do you plant? In a pot?

 

[Deepster]

Where do you plant? In a pot?

Nope. In the box it comes in.

www.WillowMountainMushrooms.com

Basically, there's this sort of mulch in a bag in the box. Then there's a ziploc of stuff that looks like loam or a finer soil labeled "casing". You moisten the casing, let it sit over night, spread it over the mulch and create like a tent-like top in the bag and 3-4 weeks, boom. Mushroom city.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

ah, you're one of those people.

Of all the blessings I've received in life, the ability to enjoy cilantro is in the top 10.

A+ for the link. imma big fan of education, (and dna research, and squirrel removal...)

 

[methodology]

Mint is too sturdy, imo. It takes over my herb garden. When I was cleaning up at the end of the season a couple of years ago, I couldn't believe the spread of the roots, they went throughout the entire area. Not worth it for me considering how little I was using. My parsley/cilantro/dill stink. Basil, rosemary, thyme, chives and tarragon grow best in my garden. I love chives, even I can't kill it. It's tall enough to use today.

Plant mint in a pot so it doesn't spread and overtake the garden

 

[Waquoit]

Plant mint in a pot so it doesn't spread and overtake the garden

That's crazy talk! Makes too much sense.

 

[sledog]

So is cow crap on the roses ok this time of year?? Or shouls i just hoe up the bed?

 

[Waquoit]

My thinking is that you have to hoe up the bed whenever you get the chance.

 

[Dove]

Dumb question:

I don't have a place to dispose of fire pit ash/charcoal. Is this something that can be raked into top soil?

 

[UC313]

Dumb question:

I don't have a place to dispose of fire pit ash/charcoal. Is this something that can be raked into top soil?

I works well at killing moss.

 

[Waquoit]

I works well at killing moss.

For real? I never heard that and that's news I can use.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

For real? I never heard that and that's news I can use.

Also keeps snails and slugs away from the plants in your vegetable garden.

 

[Dove]

I works well at killing moss.

Interesting...our rear lawn is turning to moss. Especially the part that gets the least sun.

 

[UC313]

Interesting...our rear lawn is turning to moss. Especially the part that gets the least sun.

It sucks the moisture out of it pretty good. Then the moss can be raked up. Effectively it boosts the ph of your soil to a point where moss doesnt like to grow.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Anyone else already have crabgrass? What the hell

 

[Walker11]

Trying out some Ginger and Turmeric this year. We'll see if it takes. Hoping I have better luck with Tomatoes and Peppers this year, blight got them last year.

Still looking for some tips on squash beetles. They decimated a couple of our plants last year

LINK this is helpful if you want to do it organically. Spinosad on nympths and pyrethrin on adults. Even though organic, pyrethrins (chrysanthemum derived insecticide) are harmful to bees so not great to use.

LINK this is a picture of squash bug eggs. Very distinctive. Unless you have row after row of squash, your best best is to regular look on the undersides of leaves and use something like duct tape to remove them.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Anyone else already have crabgrass? What the hell

I got creeping charlie and wild strawberry

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Anyone else already have crabgrass? What the hell

Yes, but my lawn is a piece of crap.

Took this pic from today. This is from the "nicer" part of our lawn, on the south side with plenty of sun. Never seen this stuff before, but it almost resembles algae from fishtanks. Anyone familiar with this?

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Yes, but my lawn is a piece of crap.

Took this pic from today. This is from the "nicer" part of our lawn, on the south side with plenty of sun. Never seen this stuff before, but it almost resembles algae from fishtanks. Anyone familiar with this?

View attachment 52803

Are there little white blossoms? On top of what looks like a scorched desert bush? I have a couple spots of that crap and noticed it popping up on a couple other lawns in the neighborhood. Never seen it be more but it’s nasty.