Since I don't have a husband to reference to, in support my "radical" pruning of determinate tomatoes, I refer you to this young lady that prunes as I do. As she points out, a gardeners reasons for pruning may differ with climate and growing methods. Although I live in a dry climate, we still have several diseases and insects that love to destroy tomatoes. Instead of going to the trouble of supporting lower branches, I cut them off early.
I tasted the pickles this morning and they are so good... very crispy. The recipe said they'd last about 3 weeks in the refrigerator but I expect them to be gone in a couple of days since my husband really likes them. I found a recipe for refrigerator bread-and-butter pickles that I'm going to try with my next batch. I think having the cucumbers go from vine to jar within an hour or so keeps them much crisper, too. My little muncher seedlings are about 2" tall; as soon as they put out a true leaf they are going into the ground.
Good to hear! The biggest mistake people make when pre-starting cucumbers and squash is to let them get too big before moving them outside.
Hmmmm. Still no sign of life from those Bush Goliath seeds. I decided to put a few into an Aerogarden pod and see if I'll have better luck starting them in hydroponics. I might have wasted my money on those.
Many of the items planted in our garden are beginning to show. Now to make fence to keep the rabbits, and dogs out of it ! Aside from hoeing daily how can you keep the garden from being over powered with weeds?
No way now, but next year use raised beds. Weedeating between the beds is easy. Pulling any weeds that get in the bed is almost fun. Notice I said almost hahaha!
In that case make them higher and narrower. I should have said elevated raised beds lol so please excuse the poo out of me hahaha! Make them age friendly. No reason to have to bend over and take it in the shorts at weeding time, not at our age anyway.
Good evening to all- Garden is looking good so far. cut and ate the last of this spring's broccolli- delicious it all was. still getting some nice loose-leaf salad lettuce. Already making the neighbors cringe with my delivery of fresh-picked summer squash- also delicious when sauteed in better with a little fresh onion sliced into the mix. Picked the first handful of green beans this afternoon. Looks to be a very productive green bean year coming- I do love me some green beans cooked almost anyway. Potatoes have bloomed and I hope the spuds below ground are filling out. Don't get me started on our wildflower beds- gorgeous this year. Our poppies have made a tremendous show, and they are still hanging in with us along with several other wildflower types. I'm a happy gardener so far- hope it lasts. you all be safe and keep well- Ed
I started with rock hard ground and, year after year, added a lot of vegetative matter. The fluffier the soil, the easier it is to pull weeds Last year, every time daughter cleaned the rabbit room she dumped all the leavings of hay and poop around the gardens and it smothered the weeds. Rabbit and sheep manure isn't 'hot'. So, what you need is too many rabbits in cages. Or neighbors lawn clippings, leaf rakings...no, maybe not leaves. They are too acid or something here. But chopped hay/straw and grass would work.
Well, today I found that the deer had pruned my newly planted petunias. I wasn't all that sure about the color choices I had made anyway. Rabbits take care of the foliage that hangs over the edges of planters and deer do the tops. It is good that I am old and don't put out too many planters any more. Saves money. But I try to make a big show with the one at the front walk. I figure some showy flowers lets the neighbors know we are still here and alive when they pass. We are surrounded by woods here but you can see down the driveway.