Gardening 2024

[Saltwater60]

Almost time to start some indoor seeds and that’s on my mind today so I thought I’d start the thread.
My seeds are ordered from Hudson valley seed company partly because they are in a similar growing zone and partly because they had almost everything I wanted in one place.
Today I ordered seed trays, 48” LED light, heat mat and seed media. It will be here this coming week. I’m excited about the light since it has selectable spectrum and I can use it for indoor growing if I chose.
I’m going with all raised beds or grow bags this year because bunnies.
I’m growing tomatoes
Peppers (bell and Italian sweets)
Pickle cucumbers
Beans
Peas
Basil
Onions
Potatoes
Garlic
Broccoli
Carrots
Spinach
Endive
Lettuce
And my usual blue berries, black Barrie’s, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, apples, and plums. I’m going to toss in a few more herbs too. Thyme, rosemary, and sage.
I think that enough but I might try currants as well.

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

I am with you on the raised beds. 4 years ago I hit the peak of my gardening. I had 4 different gardens (vegetable #1, vegetable #2, herb, and pumpkin patch). Last year I was down to just a vegetable garden and pumpkins. This year I am going to build 2 4x12 garden boxes for vegetables. Sick of weeds and pests. Probably focus on peppers, cukes, peas, beans, maybe some leafy stuff. The old garden bed from last year I am going to grow 100+ stalks of corn. I am going to do bucket tomatoes. Part of the other vegetable garden bed I threw garlic in and will probably till other part for herbs. I have a 12x12 green house I use for starting seeds. This year I want to focus more growing to finish. Just have to get the irrigation fixed. Probably try the tomatoes in there. I do flowers for the wife too.

I have 50 blueberry plants that are mature. Gotta spend some time this sprng fertizilizing them. My little apple orchard is going well. Lost half my cherry trees. Ironically just one sweet cherry survived, but all my sour cherries are flourishing. Gotta cut back the raspberry bushes and plant more. My experiment on grape bushes failed miserably last year after the May frost. I think I will do some pear trees this year.

Busy year coming up. Start seeds mid March.

 

[GTN]

I’m not as adventurous as you are. I have small area in the 12x12 dog pen. We use Rubbermaid water troughs for cherry tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce and beets(not wasting my time with those again) and 5 gal buckets for potatoes.
We’ve had decent luck with tomatoes and potatoes in past years. Last year my Mom passed early May and I just didn’t feel like doing any planting. Hopefully this year I at least do cherry tomatoes and potatoes.
I know I need to get new dirt. It was all dried up last year. Dirt is not cheap

 

[Saltwater60]

I am with you on the raised beds. 4 years ago I hit the peak of my gardening. I had 4 different gardens (vegetable #1, vegetable #2, herb, and pumpkin patch). Last year I was down to just a vegetable garden and pumpkins. This year I am going to build 2 4x12 garden boxes for vegetables. Sick of weeds and pests. Probably focus on peppers, cukes, peas, beans, maybe some leafy stuff. The old garden bed from last year I am going to grow 100+ stalks of corn. I am going to do bucket tomatoes. Part of the other vegetable garden bed I threw garlic in and will probably till other part for herbs. I have a 12x12 green house I use for starting seeds. This year I want to focus more growing to finish. Just have to get the irrigation fixed. Probably try the tomatoes in there. I do flowers for the wife too.

I have 50 blueberry plants that are mature. Gotta spend some time this sprng fertizilizing them. My little apple orchard is going well. Lost half my cherry trees. Ironically just one sweet cherry survived, but all my sour cherries are flourishing. Gotta cut back the raspberry bushes and plant more. My experiment on grape bushes failed miserably last year after the May frost. I think I will do some pear trees this year.

Busy year coming up. Start seeds mid March.

5-gallon buckets for tomatoes and peppers worked out awesome for me last year and I will do it again. I only have 4-5 blueberry bushes and two apple trees. I get tons of berries, peppers, and tomatoes though. I get enough of those to last me all year and same with basil. I hope my garlic does better this year but the ground hasn’t frozen yet so I’m not sure it will.

 

[Saltwater60]

I’m not as adventurous as you are. I have small area in the 12x12 dog pen. We use Rubbermaid water troughs for cherry tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce and beets(not wasting my time with those again) and 5 gal buckets for potatoes.
We’ve had decent luck with tomatoes and potatoes in past years. Last year my Mom passed early May and I just didn’t feel like doing any planting. Hopefully this year I at least do cherry tomatoes and potatoes.
I know I need to get new dirt. It was all dried up last year. Dirt is not cheap

For dirt I make my own. Get some promix and mix it in this some compost and raised garden bed soil. The promix is cheap if you’re only doing a small area. I make my own all the time. The place across the street from me has a landscaping service come and I get the grass clippings mixed with leaves in the fall and work it in. I add my wife’s coffee grounds and rabbit litter and boom it’s great soil.

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

5-gallon buckets for tomatoes and peppers worked out awesome for me last year and I will do it again. I only have 4-5 blueberry bushes and two apple trees. I get tons of berries, peppers, and tomatoes though. I get enough of those to last me all year and same with basil. I hope my garlic does better this year but the ground hasn’t frozen yet so I’m not sure it will.

Between weeding and the pests (and now the chickens) it got to be too much. I hope buckets and raised beds will solve a lot of my problems.

I bought my blueberry bushes from a guy who has a orchard. Got em for 5 bucks a pop for 50 or more. Got em at 2yrs old, now they are 7. We get so many blueberries I have the kids sell them. I did a dozen apple trees a few years back. Last year my first tree fruited. So hopefully the rest will come along.

 

[Saltwater60]

Between weeding and the pests (and now the chickens) it got to be too much. I hope buckets and raised beds will solve a lot of my problems.

I bought my blueberry bushes from a guy who has an orchard. Got em for 5 bucks a pop for 50 or more. Got em at 2yrs old, now they are 7. We get so many blueberries I have the kids sell them. I did a dozen apple trees a few years back. Last year my first tree fruited. So hopefully the rest will come along.

Awesome. I’m worried because my hydrangeas are starting to leaf out. My trees and berry bushes buds are swelling might all get frozen out this year.
Raised beds are awesome and you won’t be sorry.

 

[togmaster]

How dare you!

Carbon footprint of homegrown food six times greater than those grown conventionally

Carbon footprint of homegrown food six times greater than those grown conventionally A new University of Michigan-led international study finds that fruits and vegetables grown in urban farms and gardens have a carbon footprint that is, on average, six times greater than conventionally grown...

nygunforum.com

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

My garden is going to be so big, I'm registering its name with the state.

 

[Saltwater60]

My garden is going to be so big, I'm registering its name with the state.

Wait, what? Do t tell the state anything.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I need more land

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

Wait, what? Do t tell the state anything.

Then how will they tax my carbon footprint?

 

[GOPerfect]

Wait, what? Do t tell the state anything.

We live in a free state. Only helps to tell Tennessee sometimes.

 

[Saltwater60]

We live in a free state. Only helps to tell Tennessee sometimes.

A lot of times that get funneled to the USDA though.

 

[GOPerfect]

A lot of times that get funneled to the USDA though.

Very true.

I have not looked into the tax breaks, I do not have enough land to qualify

 

[MilesTeg]

I know I said I was going to stay away but I can't help myself. This is a picture front last year's garden. This will be the first year we haven't doubled our size. This year we will add one raised bed. But this year will be building the green house and possibly looking to explore wheat and corn growing.
P.S. don't mind the new toy in the background.

 

[Saltwater60]

I’m very worried with the warm weather coming to my area. 40’s and even some 50’s. With a warm wi ter my buds were already cracking and all I really need is a few warm days and a cold snap to do some damage. We will see.

 

[Saltwater60]

It was so warm this morning by me I saw ants

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

I built a stand for the post hole digger today. Got that off the tractor, and the tiller mounted. Tilled around the perimeter, and half the garden area. Losing daylight

The line posts aren't in concrete and some of them settled with the heavy rain. I'll square them back up when I do the gates and fence. Waiting until I get my sales tax exemption before buying anything else, if I can avoid it.

How much you want to bet I plant a bunch of stuff way too soon?

 

[Saltwater60]

I built a stand for the post hole digger today. Got that off the tractor, and the tiller mounted. Tilled around the perimeter, and half the garden area. Losing daylight

The line posts aren't in concrete and some of them settled with the heavy rain. I'll square them back up when I do the gates and fence. Waiting until I get my sales tax exemption before buying anything else, if I can avoid it.

How much you want to bet I plant a bunch of stuff way too soon?

View attachment 225783

Looks awesome. Glad you got the posts in and the soil tilled up.
Whats your planting plans?

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

Whats your planting plans?

I have like 1/2 a mile of vegetable rows, so I don't know, hopefully Mexicans.

 

[Saltwater60]

I have like 1/2 a mile of vegetable rows, so I don't know, hopefully Mexicans.

There’s plenty that need jobs according to Hochul.

 

[Acer-m14]

found some Celery seeds at Tractor Supply today ..

going to get them started and grow in the house and see what happens ..

All ready have Onions growing greens on the kitchen counter .. no water , no dirt .. just in the net bag they came in ..

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

Today, I have been contemplating hiring a FT employee. Too much to do, not enough time to do it all.

Maybe I can get an intern.

 

[Saltwater60]

Today, I have been contemplating hiring a FT employee. Too much to do, not enough time to do it all.

Maybe I can get an intern.

Saving that much in taxes?

 

[GOPerfect]

Saving that much in taxes?

Yes, yes indeed.

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

Saving that much in taxes?

@TEOTWAWKI inc. : Farmer :: Hunter Biden : Artist

 

[ManualF150]

I was talking to a local farmer, and he gave me his formula if I needed extra nitrogen my soil, without any extras. As for me, some of my raised bed gardens have problems keeping enough nitrogen in the soil, but keep everything else in check (the Phosphorus and Potassium).

Answer was using DEF. Diesel Exhaust Fluid.

In 1 gallon of DEF, it's right around 1.36 lbs of nitrogen. DEF is 15-0-0 for it's N-P-K number.

So to make roughly half that, just do a 50/50 mix. 1 gallon DEF to 1 gallon of water to make 7.5-0-0.

If you wanted to, you could do 0.75lb per 1000 sq-ft lawn if you want thicker grass using a sprayer.

To get cheap DEF, go to a gas station or truck stop and fill up a 5 gallon jerry can of it. I guess in a pinch, you could use the Walmart SuperTech brand of DEF, cause that is cheap too.

 

[Saltwater60]

I was talking to a local farmer, and he gave me his formula if I needed extra nitrogen my soil, without any extras. As for me, some of my raised bed gardens have problems keeping enough nitrogen in the soil, but keep everything else in check (the Phosphorus and Potassium).

Answer was using DEF. Diesel Exhaust Fluid.

In 1 gallon of DEF, it's right around 1.36 lbs of nitrogen. DEF is 15-0-0 for it's N-P-K number.

So to make roughly half that, just do a 50/50 mix. 1 gallon DEF to 1 gallon of water to make 7.5-0-0.

If you wanted to, you could do 0.75lb per 1000 sq-ft lawn if you want thicker grass using a sprayer.

To get cheap DEF, go to a gas station or truck stop and fill up a 5 gallon jerry can of it. I guess in a pinch, you could use the Walmart SuperTech brand of DEF, cause that is cheap too.

I have trouble keeping nitrogen in my raised beds too but I’m not sure I’d use def on my veggies. I’ll have to research it and what’s in def.

 

[Acer-m14]

https://www.cfindustries.com/globalassets/cf-industries/media/documents/safety-data-sheets/def---na/diesel_exhaust_fluid_sds_na_final.pdf

Use DEF (Yes, that DEF) as fertilizer?

www.thelawnforum.com

There are multiple discussions about this. Here's one to checkout: Diesel exhaust fluid

Summary, it's a great source of Urea, but buying granular Urea is still cheaper.