Gardening.....

[bonaire]

Are there thoughts of opening a gardening forum section here? I have questions and even after doing a 40x50' plot and some fruit trees for a few years, I could learn from others. Hopefully you guys have done backyard gardeing and planting and could offere some help.

My main planting usually is a combination of melons, corn, tomatoes and peppers. And Zuchinni (the world's easiest thing to grow besides tomatoes). But this year, I'm adding some blueberry bushes, new set of strawberries and blackberry/raspberries.

[Gungawoman]

(04-08-2011 01:54 PM)bonaire Wrote:  But this year, I'm adding some blueberry bushes, new set of strawberries and blackberry/raspberries.

I have a huge garden, or at least I will when the snow quits! Strawberries are simple and they send off runners that make new plants. After you plant your first plants, they perpetuate themselves.
For your blueberries, sprinkle used coffee grounds on them. If you don't drink coffee, Starbucks gives away grounds to whoever wants them.
Unfortunately, the gophers eat the roots to any blackberries/raspberries I've planted. Anyone know how to get rid of them????

[RN-PRN]

Here are some of the plants my husband started from seed. Few more weeks and they will go in the ground. We have been burned before by planting a week too early and all of his plants froze
   

[NWoBHM]

I must try and get a shot of my onions and Chilli`s......My Mother wants to swap one of my chilli plants for a pepper plant.....One of the nice things of veg growing is swapping with neighbours and family who have harvested different crops.

[RN-PRN]

(05-10-2011 01:50 PM)NWoBHM Wrote:  I must try and get a shot of my onions and Chilli`s......My Mother wants to swap one of my chilli plants for a pepper plant.....One of the nice things of veg growing is swapping with neighbours and family who have harvested different crops.

Yep. My husband is always swapping plants with the neighbor and his co-workers.

[Boomer]

Calling all green thumbs calling all green thumbs!

Mrs B has assigned me a couple tasks. I can do the physical labor part, but not sure about WHEN to or what to.....she loves lilacs. There are two varieties she is looking at. One is a newer variety that blooms from late spring to late summer. Another is the traditional lilac. Question is when do you actually PLANT lilacs?? The other one is roses....does anyone know when to plant roses?

[RN-PRN]

Since time of year varies in different parts of the country, I did a little search and found this about roses for you, Boomer. I hope it helps. Now for lilacs...

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/rg310.pdf

[RN-PRN]

Lilacs...

Lilacs are hardy, easy care plants, and the fragrant flowers are good for cutting and attractive to butterflies. Flower colors include blue, lavender, pink, red, purple, yellow, and white, depending on the variety. Most lilacs grows 5 to 15 feet tall and wide, depending on variety.
Special Features
Easy care/low maintenance
Fragrant-Good for cut flowers
Attracts butterflies
Site Selection-Select a site with full sun and moist, well-drained soil.

Planting Instructions
Plant in spring or fall. Space plants 5 to 15 feet apart, depending on variety. Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. If your soil is in very poor condition, amend the soil you've removed from the hole with a small amount of compost. Otherwise don't amend it at all. Carefully remove the plant from the container and set it in the hole. Fill the hole half full with soil, then water it well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Let the water drain, then fill the remainder of hole with soil and water thoroughly.

Care
Apply a layer of compost under the plant each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Prune lilacs immediately after flowering, removing dead and broken branches, then cutting back as necessary to maintain the desired size and shape. Overgrown lilacs can be pruned back by as much as one third.

I hope these help ya Boomer

[Boomer]

Goodness- thats a whole lotta love RN - THANKS!

I look and I look, but it just seems to vary from one to the other, and I finally said PHOOEY! But then I never know where to look for some of that planting stuff. And you even found some on the ISU Extension site? Well, its a start - looks like I am a little late on roses though, but maybe in the fall I can drop some lilacs in.

[nettiesaur]

I don't know Boomer...they were selling rose plants here this past weekend. They probably won't bloom this year, but you could put them in.