P.A. Garden Diary 2009 (lots of pics!)

[splat42069]

I have 1 Squash plant.


3 Beef Tomatoes.













1 Sweet 100 cherry.





3 Green Bell Pepper plants.







 

I also have 3 kinds of Onions, Cucumber, String beans? (i think lol),Carrots and cantelope.Hope yal'l like!

[eshenry]

nice!

[splat42069]

Ok I went out to my garden today to take some pictures and found this ugly bug, I think is eating my plants... There was 2 on my squash plant and 1 on my tomato plant.Can anyone tell me what this is?

[splat42069]

I have a few questions about some of my plants...Ok in this pic I'm not quite sure what this is.. I think its a String bean?




And look at this broccoli plant. I had to cut the top off because it started to flower.. On the plant I left some of the flower left, somewhere around here I read if I cut this off side shoots will come out and continue to grow? Is this true, or is the plant ready to be pulled?





Another question I have is whats goin on with the bottom of my bell pepper plant? the bottom leaves turned yellow just in the last 24 hours. So I gave them some fertilizer hopeing that was a good choice.




.And next the pics of the tomatoe plants which are looking awesome if you ask me!











Heres my Bell pepper plants.








Heres the onions....



And last the Squash... Which is also growing like crazy!

[splat42069]

How do I make the pictures go straight down instead of allover?

[webmaster]

You have to insert a space between each image instead of pasting them right next to each other. In other words, on your keyboard, hit the ENTER (aka RETURN) button after pasting in the image.

I fixed this issue on another post. I'll fix it on this thread, too.



Best,

admin

[splat42069]

Thanks man! I thought this was HTML based or something and tried doin the </br> function. Again thanks!

Any advice on my questions I had?

[GardenerGirl]

That first pic looks more like a pea than a string bean to me, but I am fairly new to growing both, so I could easily be wrong. It just looks very similar to the sugar snap peas I have out in my front yard.

Also, I find your plants very comforting after all the southern gardeners planting harvest pictures. I'm all excited today because one of my zucchini plants has the start of a single flower bud. A male flower bud.

I am fidgeting impatiently and resisting the urge to plant more because I am anxious for the first harvests. It is hard. I keep reminding myself that it won't be long for my first fruits, at least.

[splat42069]

Thank you Garden girl.. I just looked up pea plants on google and yea they are identicle.. I planted 2 of by seed almost 2 months ago and they were the only 2 things outta 8 plants that sprouted. Back then I didnt lable anything either so I had to guess everything  I need to find out what that bug is eating my plants.. I sprayed some kinda insecticide I got at walmart earlier, hopefully it works.. First time I have seen these things. And to find 3 of them sucking on 3 different plants earlier worries me.

[!potatoes!]

the insect in those photos is a ladybug larvae - it's not eating your plants, but may eat others who have that idea. beneficial.

[splat42069]

yeah thats what they are! they are good to have!? I flicked them off my plants and couldnt find them after that.. LOL oops!

[splat42069]

Ok, I counted atleast 13 Ladybugs laying around my garden.. This is a good thing right? I shouldnt touch them?What do they eat around the garden?

[webmaster]

>>>What do they eat around the garden?

They eat insects that eat your plants.

[splat42069]

Looking good so far! Heres the Cherry 100...





Big Beef...





Heres a shot of all 4 Tomatoe plants..


Squash...



Bell Peppers...



Cucumbers...
I'm goin on vacation for a week and cant wait to see what they look like when I get back. Comments are Welcome 

[melissawho44]

I love to look at pictures on here!
This is only my second night on this site and I like what I am seeing!!!

Can't wait to post pictures of my garden!!

[splat42069]

Heres a update.. I'm back from O.C. Maryland, had a great time!

Heres some pictures after 1 week...

First is the Tomato plants















Next is Squash









Next is Green Bell Peppers









Next is Cucumbers







And last is the Onions





Comments are welcome as always!!!

[splat42069]

I had to redo the garden. Their are 2 Rabbits around that ate my Broccoli plants. I made the gardeb alittle bigger because the Squash and tomato plants needed more room then I thought.The Rabbits chewed threw the plastic chicken witr I had up for afence and I actually watched them a few times run right into the garden. The first time they dod I was like how the hell did he get in there. Then I checked things out and turns out they have 5-6 different holes in the fence. I rerigged it for now to keep them out til I can get to lowes for some real chicken wire. I made the garden abit bigger too, im gonna get some more plants from the local nusserie and plant some more.The tomato plants are still goin real strong, Most of the internodes on the cherry 100 were hiding under weeds and such and blocked by the old fence.. I took some sticks and propped them up off the ground to keep growing, I'm pretty sure it will help from those diseases.The green bell peppers are starting to grow now that it finally stopped raining and has a bunch of nice days. Heres some Pictures of the garden today...Pictures are pretty much self explanatory. 

[applestar]

Looking good! Sorry to hear about your broccoli/rabbit problems.
I have to say though, rabbits will stay out of a 2'H fence. I find groundHOGs worse -- they'll climb in and eat enormous amounts.

I'm afraid a groundHOG got in on Sun while we were away to MIL's house. Most of the leaves off my DD's cucumber plant -- luckily it didn't eat the first tiny cuke on the plant and didn't bite off the plant. Also, a bunch of carrot tops and two of the purple podded pole beans were cut off near ground level -- 4'H tops were wilted of course. These were in 3 different garden beds, all fenced.

I know some people on the forum have said that those bird netting/deer netting works to keep out critters for them, but I haven't had much luck -- rabbits, groundHOGs, squirrels -- they all can bite through, then the birds get in. The blueberries are starting to color up so I have to get my act in gear and build a chickenwire cage around them.

[splat42069]

That really sucks applestar! Theirs a few squirrels around but I havent seen them in the garden. And for the birds I hate them too! I have sunflowers growing in the front of the house and they keep snapping the stems. I wish I live in the country I'd shoot all of them! lol.I hope everything works out well.

I bought some more plants today. I got 3 different kids of peppers, celery, and some more cantelope. I planted cantalope 2 months ago but it didnt make it this far, so I got another plant to try again. Them damn rabbits got in my garden again so I try putting some leftover wood from my kitchen floor around the fence hopeing this will keep them out for now, until I get to lowes to get some real fencing.

I planted 1 pepper plant on the side of the house to see what the difference in the amount of sun it has. It gets sunlight from dusk til 12-1pm.

I came up with a idea for transplanting, I'm not sure if people do this or what but it seems to be doin awesome for my tomato and zucunni plant.
When I put my plants in the garden, instead of rotatiling(spelling?), I did a nice size hole and put good potting soil in it then plant. So far its been doin awesome with the maters and zuc. So we will see with these new plants if it really worked.

Ok heres the pics of the whole garden,then pepper plants then tomato plants, then the new plants.



















This one is by the house.

[splat42069]

I just scored some Sweet Corn from the kid's grandmother. Heres a picture. I spent the last 2 hours cutting limbs and digging up soil to plant these babys. I hope my hard work pays off!

[splat42069]

Everything in the garden is doin great! This is so exciting I cant wait to start picking!

Heres a shot of the whole. I'm pretty sure sure im done with it and im gonna just let it grow.



Heres a shot of the Tomato plants.







Next is the Zuccuni. How does this plant work? the pollination thing. These flowers keep popping up every other morning with 1 or 2 at a time. Are they the female flowers? And the pointy things are the males?(they are the veggie itself?)





Next are my Pepper plants. I have 5 different varietys and 2 plants of the Sweet Bell Pepper. The first 3 pics are 3 plants I picked up 5 days ago. They took right off from the start.















Now is the Cucumbers, I have 2 plants. 1 plant has a nice sized cucumber on it, is it ready to be picked? Or will it get bigger from here.







Here is Celery I picked up about 5 days ago.



Heres Sweet Corn I got 2 days ago. Looks like the roots went right into action. But the Rabbits seem to like these. I need to get a fence or something around it ASAP.



Onions... I have been stepping them down every week, I was told to do this by someone to make them bigger.



And last here is Cantelope I got 5 days ago too. Looks like the transplanting for all of these were a total success!

[applestar]

Everything looks GREAT! It make me smile just to "hear" the excitement in your words.

That cuke is definitely ready to pick. Typically, cukes start to "fatten" from the stem down. My rule is when the cuke diameter is even thickness all the way down, I better pick NOW. The seeds start to get tougher after that. You can also pick while the tip is thinner. The cuke can develop from one stage to the other in one day, then by the next day, it could be "bottom-heavy".

Cuke/Squash/Zucchini/Pumpkin/Melon -- all have similar fruiting schedule. Usuallly, first 15 or so flowers are male and will flower and die each day. The female flowers will start to appear after that -- you'll know right away as there is an obvious "baby" fruit (cuke, melon, etc.) at the base of the flower. If the flower is pollinated, the baby will develop into fruit.

To be honest, the corn looks a little close together, and I never heard of transplanting corn as developed as the ones you have. But that doesn't mean it won't work. It's a domesticated grass after all. I do think you need to pile a bit more soil around each. I've heard that you want to hill them as they grow until all the purple part at the base of each stalk is covered. The corn will grow additional roots that brace/supports it better in the wind, etc. -- the leaves act like sails. When grown in rows, you're supposed to hoe up the soil from between the rows, but I always plant in a diamond pattern and I never have enough bare patch of ground in the garden anyway, so I end up hillling with compost (which feeds the plants at the right time anyway)

[splat42069]

Ok thank you so much applestar. I have never grown corn before and was wanting to get it along time ago but never got the chance. I wasnt sure how far to plant them either so i guess ill till some of the dirt over the purple part.

ok lets go pick that Cucumber hehe

[Haesuse]

edited:

i see you used a lighter as a point of reference on size in your pics. you aren't a cigarette smoker are you? if so, wash your hands well before playing with your plants. the pic you posted of a pepper plant that has leaf trouble looked a little like tobacco mosaic virus. which can easily be transmitted from a smoker's hand to a plant in the solacaneae family...

[splat42069]

Heres some updated pictures of my garden. Got lots of veggies coming out now. Rabbits ate alot of it but I think I finally got something to keep them out. So far Its been working for a day, so we will see how it goes.

Whole garden shot..



Pepper Plants..





A Rabbit got this one












Tomato Plants..












Zuccuini Plant..





Cucumber Plants..



Cantelope plants..



Celery was eaten by the rabbits but its starting to grow back, hopefully it will work.

And my Corn doesnt look to good. It got hit the hardest by rabbits. Im gonna let it go and see if it will perk up.

[wolfie]

do you have a dog? let the dog out and the rabbits will stay away, i used to have rabbit problems, but they don't come around anymore since their family keeps not coming home LOL

[splat42069]

LOL No, Wolfie I have a cat and shes only indoors

I found this stuff at Walmart thats working so far to keep the rabbits away. Its been a week and i'v been rabbit free. Lets hope it lasts!

[applestar]

Finally had the chance to look at your latest photos - the Zukes look like they have powdery mildew. Time for the milk spray!

[splat42069]

Apple I was thinking them leaves looked alot different from the silvering veins.. How do I mix that spray up? And are the zukes ok to eat? The ones I just picked?

[splat42069]

Heres Some updated pictures after a week.

Heres my 6 pepper plants...













Next is my Sweet Corn...Its been 2 1/2 weeks since I transplanted these and I think they are perking back up. The leaves are turning a darker green.

Heres the first day I transplanted these,



And heres now.. They had a tough week with rabbits but I think thats over.



Next is the Tomato plants. First Sweet Cherry 100, Then the Big Beef..





Big Beef. And a 5ft garden shovel for size comparison. And 1 picture is what happens when a branch is snapped.. It regrows 2x as big, but fruiting is delayed abit because of the stress.







Next is Zuchuini. What are these vine like things coming out of the bottom? Look close on the zoomed picture and you can see it.





Next is Cucumbers, and Cantelope..







And last is the Celery the rabbits got 2. They are all growing back strong. The rabbits pretty much ate these all the way to the ground. I cant believe it started to grow again.



Take care guys

[applestar]

This is my first time growing zucchini this year too, but those are definitely tendrils growing from the base -- just like cucumber. I hope mine grows some too because one of them keep flopping over! I've finally pushed a long bent wire in an upsidedown U to hold it in place and piled extra soil over the basal area in the hopes that it will grow some supportive roots!

My zuke opened its first female flower this morning, but unfortunately no male. The yellow crookneck had a couple of male flowers and I'm pretty sure they will cross pollinate, but just to be sure, I took a cotton swab, slit open a closed male zuke flower from yesterday and dabbed some pollen on the female. This evening, the baby zuke is already looking promising. I guess I'll be harvesting it in the next couple of days.

[splat42069]

Apple are those tendrils a good thing? And do you kno the purpose of them? Their are atleast 7 of them coming out of the base of the plant. And that powdery mildew leave has seemed to stop without me even doin anything. The new growth is a lush dark green. That storm we got the othernight has done wonders so far from I can see.

[applestar]

Tendrils are for holding on. Like I said, mine keeps flopping over. The leaves act like sails and no doubt once the plant starts producing, the weight of the zuke will affect it too. I would put some sticks for the tendrils to hold onto around the plant.

That's great that the mildew went away. But watch out for humid weather. I'm going to keep up the milk spray as preventive, cuz you know that hot and sticky days are coming, even if the weather's been kind of weird this year.

[splat42069]

Apple when do I kno to pick the zukes? I'v been noticing that when the flower falls off the zuke starts to rot at that end. and when the flower stays on the zuke just keeps growing. I have 1 on the plant now that is prolly atleast 8 inches long and 2 inches wide with the flower still on it.

And heres something funny, I have tons of trees right next to my garden and it looks like a bunch of birds have just hatched in them. Well I was looking out the window in the garden and the birds are just sitting on the zukes leaves hanging out and playing in the garden. I havent seen them do anything harmful so far so I don't mind them using it as a playground. I'm sure the plants like the play they are getting, just like if the wind was blowing.

I'm in the process of starting some cuttings from my big beef maters for this winter indoor garden. Heres a link http://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/v ... hp?t=17135

[applestar]

Most seed catalogs say to pick zukes at 6~8" so yours is probably ready to pick. My first one's about 4~5" now. The ones that flowers fall off are probably not getting pollinated (time to get out those cotton swabs! ) With pumpkins (winter squash) it's a good idea to remove the flower once they shrivel since they can rot and create entry for mold and mildew, but with zukes, it seems like they'll be ready to pick in a few days so it probably doesn't matter.

Do you know what kind of birds they are? Maybe they're finding tasty bugs to eat.

I wouldn't know where to keep a Beefsteak tomato plant indoors I've started cuttings of Indeterminate variety grape tomatoes for the same purpose. I'll check out your other thread.

[splat42069]

I went pick happy tonight. I figured these are taking forever to ripe so why not get them out and get new ones goin on the plants. Heres some pics of the harvest so far. I have like 5-6 zukes, 1 cucumber(alrdy picked 1 about a week ago) some cherry tom. 4 bell peppers that have been there for atleast 3 weeks, and some maters.

[splat42069]

Tonight I got about 15 more tomato plants from my step daughters grandmother and I planted 7 of them all around the house in dif. locations to see how they do.

When I was transplating some of them in the front of the house I noticed the soil was like sand, very heavy and muddy. So I dug a good 2ft hole for each one and dug up some dirt from the back yard and filled the whole with that hopeing its makes a difference.

I also got some very healthy morning glorys, moonlight plants, and I think she said chicken/hen plants.

Ill get pictures tomorrow.

[number3]

Looking good so far!
I'm goin on vacation for a week and cant wait to see what they look like when I get back. Comments are Welcome 

What are u using to prep the soil...??

[splat42069]

I didnt rototil my garden. I Dug a good 2ft hole where I was planting and added good soil mix to it.

[number3]

I didnt rototil my garden. I Dug a good 2ft hole where I was planting and added good soil mix to it.

Can u please define GOOD SOIL MIX... There's sooo MANY @ home depot i don't know what to add / mix / etc to get the right mixture..

thanks...

Paul