good start...how far along are you?

[brandon558]

So I have already got a good start on my vegetable garden this year. This is only my second season gardening, last year I fell in love with it.

Anyway I got my onions in early, not as early as I wanted but they are doing well right now. I have romain and iceberg lettuce in the ground and both doing well. Some seed and I transplanted a few.

Pot of radish's are going crazy! first time growing them and I am experimenting with a big pot.

Planted 7 strawberry plants and plan to plant more either today or tomorrow.

Oh and also planted abunch of peas that are coming up good!


So how far along is everyone else?

[jal_ut]

Lucky you. I have 6 inches of fresh snow on my garden. It was 23° this morning. The only thing I am growing is ice.

[PunkRotten]

I got a few tomato and pepper seedlings. I also got a few flower and herbs going too. I don't have any lights so I keep them outdoors and put them in a spot that only gets morning sun. But when it is rainy or windy I have to bring them in.


I think this is causing them to grow really slow and I am thinking about going and buying a light. Today I might start another pepper and some basil. I planted 9 strawberries 2 days ago.

[SPierce]

Your year so far is sounding similar to mine! I started out rough, as a lot of my first sets of starts were really leggy and I had to start again, but I'm moving along. Slowly, but surely. I've got several banana pepper plants started and a bell pepper too. Last year I couldn't get any but 1 to start from seed, and I'm having better luck in regards to that this year!

I've also got some lettuces, brussels sprouts and some squash, a watermelon & a pumpkin I started too early that are on their first set of leaves.

I'll be starting my cucumbers, tomatoes, etc here in 2 weeks or so.

[Flatlander_MB]

I'm sitting on my stockpile of seeds, waiting anxiously to plant. That's as much of a start as I've gotten so far - except for the sunchokes that went in last October...

[gumbo2176]

So far in my garden there are now 14 tomato plants, 6 eggplant with 3 being Ichiban and 3 being white globe, 4 bell pepper, 4 Hungarian wax pepper, 4 Jalapeno pepper, a couple hundred onions, swiss chard, kale, artichoke, squash and several varieties of leaf lettuce that are growing nicely. There's also several herbs in the beds or pots that are doing very well.

I also have 12 ft. of cucumbers and 24 ft. of Asparagus Beans (Japanese Yard Longs) on trellises that have broken ground. There's also 25 ft. of a double planted row of soybean to be used for Edamame that have broken ground.

Still to go in are several more tomato plants and 8 broccoli that are still in starter pots. I'm not sure how the broccoli will do since it is getting warmer. Once the temperatures get into the 80 consistently, I'll throw in about 30 okra plants to finish things off.

I know many of you are still surrounded by cold, nasty weather but your time to plant is fast approaching. My garden will be struggling or mostly done by late July/early August with our heat.

[rainbowgardener]

You can tell the southerners!

About the only thing I'm eating out of my garden so far is spinach that over wintered from last fall, and a little bit of herbs.

I have some broccoli, chard, and a few lettuce plants that overwintered, as well as garlic and onions I planted in fall. I planted seeds of lettuce, chard, spinach, radish, onions/chives a couple weeks ago, but with the variable weather and a couple snows in there, they haven't sprouted yet.

I have this year's broccoli seedlings outside hardening off, with dill and fennel.

And I have currently 11 flats of seeds/seedlings under the lights in my basement, soon to be more as I keep spreading out and potting up.

Spring is coming!!

[brandon558]

sounds like everyone is off to a good start. Other than those burried in snow.

Heres a pic from the start of my mini garden


[img]https://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s401/brandon558/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/427558_2414243494270_1796814553_1495499_2095757657_n.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s401/brandon558/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/422719_2470937871594_1796814553_1518010_1912337357_n.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s401/brandon558/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/430603_2470938831618_1796814553_1518011_2119815954_n.jpg[/img]

[southerncomfort]

Got onions, romaine lettuce Chinese cabbage, carrots growing in my first year raised bed. So far so good. Boy those carrots seeds are little !

Two long rows of potatoes and collards spinach, turnips, red cabbage.

Second year doing seedlings and that is fun! They are doing good. Got two 4ft shop lights side-by-side to give a wide cast. Homemade 1" PVC stand with adjustable chain... on a timer ... that's it.... just keep watered.

Got seedlings for 3 different kinds of tomatoes. Bell pepper, banana peppers, egg plant. You can really save some money growing your own transplants.

Harvested my first asparagus this year. Planted last year. Gonna try to only harvest < 20% so roots can really get established.

Gardening is a blessing![/img]

[PunkRotten]

Gumbo and MarlinGardener,


How do cukes and melons handle in your area come July? And peppers?

[digitS']

Lucky you. I have 6 inches of fresh snow on my garden. It was 23° this morning. The only thing I am growing is ice.

James, it was 21° here this morning but, I think, the snow melted during the warmer weather a couple of days ago. It is still around in my neighbors yards, tho'. Some of the soil has thawed - the beds right against the south wall of the greenhouse .

It is good to know that the ice won't be in the ground forever and warmer days are in the forecast!

The only veggies coming up indoors are the leeks. There's a container with lots of snapdragon seedlings at my elbow but . . . this is the vegetable forum . . .

Steve

[gumbo2176]

Gumbo and MarlinGardener,


How do cukes and melons handle in your area come July? And peppers?

Cucumbers and peppers, especially the hotter varieties like Jalapeno, Hungarian Wax, Habanero all handle the heat pretty well. By the time July hits, the tomatoes are done for the most part and so are most of the leafy salad vegetables due to the heat. However, to keep most things from dying, it takes a good bit of watering at least 3-4 times a week. I have found Okra to be almost indestructible. It can handle heat and drought conditions very well.

I can't address how melons would do for me personally because I don't grow them due to the space they require. I know of many folks that do grow them here and in Mississippi and they do well in the heat as long as they get sufficient water.

[j3707]

Let's see, garlic is about 6 inches high.

I've got my peas planted in my newly made 10' x 2.5' cloche box...they haven't sprouted yet. Got my artichoke seedlings outside in protected locations.

We're still getting hard frosts and some snow around here. My hope is to get the peas harvested in time to plant tomatoes in the cloche box.

[DeborahL]

Brandon, your garden rocks ! It doesn't look like a mini garden to me because all I can do is container gardening.

[PunkRotten]

Are strawberries pretty shallow rooted? Looks like you are growing them in an old broken wheelbarrow.

[rainbowgardener]

Good eye, PR. I hadn't spotted what the edging around the strawberries looks like. If it is an old wheelbarrow bed, I hope it has drainage holes!

[brandon558]

Yes its an old wheelbarrow. This is my first year planting strawberries so honestly I don't know if it will work well or not. They have done good so far. I did drill several holes in the bottom for drainage. Considering people use containers for hanging baskets and what not I figured the roots would do ok in there. Its deeper than to looks in the pic as well.

Just another experiment, we shall see.

[PunkRotten]

Well I planted 9 strawberry plants in one of those "strawberry pots". And my main concern was if it was suitable for them and would the grow stunted.

[Lianne]

this is my first time experimenting with veggies and a raised bed so I'm not sure how well I'm doing.... I set low expectations for my first attempt so I wouldn't be disappointed when I accidentally killed something

Right now, I have...
8 broccoli's growing pretty nicely; watching the little broccolis form is so fun.
4 Jalepenos, 3 growing steadily and one looks like it is struggling to hang on (may have planted too early?)
about 10 red onions, growing steadily, wanting to plant a row of sweet white onions as well.
about 10 garlics, also growing nicely, maybe about 2 or 3 inches tall now.
5 radishes (don't really like radishes, but theyre just so easy to grow, so I threw a few in there)
planted 6 cauliflower... nothing is dead yet, but it doesn't look like it's grown at all either. I don't know

things I may or may not have killed/failed at:
romaine (this was definitely my fault)
spinach (something ate it, I'm going to pin this one as "not my fault" since it got gobbled up so quickly I couldn't even do anything about it)

I would like to do more peppers, maybe something spicy and ornamental, and also tomatoes in the next several weeks. Any other suggestions for a north texan first timer?

[rkunsaw]

We have planted cabbage and broccoli plants,onion sets,radish,lettuce and carrot seeds in the garden. other vegetables and herbs are in the house peeking out the windows.

[mattie g]

I have 20 garlic plants in a nice sunny spot against my back wall - I really think it's an ideal place for an overwintering crop, as it doesn't get as much sun in the summer due to an overhang on our house. It's my first time growing garlic, so I'm pretty excited that every clove took hold.

I'll be planting about ten tomato plants of different varieties, about five or six bell peppers, and a few various hot peppers. And I'll add some basil, cilantro, and cucumbers to the parsley that's holding out nicely from last year.

[SPierce]

this is my first time experimenting with veggies and a raised bed so I'm not sure how well I'm doing.... I set low expectations for my first attempt so I wouldn't be disappointed when I accidentally killed something

Right now, I have...
8 broccoli's growing pretty nicely; watching the little broccolis form is so fun.
4 Jalepenos, 3 growing steadily and one looks like it is struggling to hang on (may have planted too early?)
about 10 red onions, growing steadily, wanting to plant a row of sweet white onions as well.
about 10 garlics, also growing nicely, maybe about 2 or 3 inches tall now.
5 radishes (don't really like radishes, but theyre just so easy to grow, so I threw a few in there)
planted 6 cauliflower... nothing is dead yet, but it doesn't look like it's grown at all either. I don't know

things I may or may not have killed/failed at:
romaine (this was definitely my fault)
spinach (something ate it, I'm going to pin this one as "not my fault" since it got gobbled up so quickly I couldn't even do anything about it)

I would like to do more peppers, maybe something spicy and ornamental, and also tomatoes in the next several weeks. Any other suggestions for a north texan first timer?

Have faith in yourself ;D The first year is always tough, then you learn from here on out! If it makes you feel any better, I killed a baby bell pepper plant. I feel terrible. But... it's a hazard of gardening

Also, I think (could be wrong) that Brocolli, Cauliflower and radishes as cooler weather crops, and do have some trouble in warmer weather. I don't think if that may be the source of your problem with the CAuliflower?

[Avonnow]

Well it has been a mild winter in Florida, I have about 40 tomato plants going, peas, beans, peppers, onions ( that will be a joke) and lots of chard and lettuce. I am very proud of tomatoes, they all look great so far and are loaded. These pictures were about 3 weeks ago, they are much bigger. Oh you can tell by supports I am trying various methods out this year. This doesn't include my front yard, the HOA is loving me right aout now. have 15 that look better up there, they get sun all day. These get about 7-8 hours, hoping that improves with time change and longer days.


[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/5a78ca00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/ae3ee6da.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/b590b7a9.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/156f4663.jpg[/img]

[Allegre Nee]

I'm just getting started - right now I've got several tomato plants starting to flower and a gorgeous ruby chard which I planted last year. My herbs continue to do well but I haven't seen any growth on the new seeds I planted last week yet.
I also have a mystery plant. I thought it was Brussels sprouts but now I'm starting to wonder if it's just a cabbage. I need to go back and check my gardening diary because I don't think I planted "just" cabbage. If it IS a Brussels sprout plant....there are no sprouts yet!
I planted cucumbers, tarragon, zucchini and yellow squash. It's COLD here this weekend, unexpectedly, so I am going to wait one more week before I put in my cantaloupe seeds.

[btrowe1]

Question for the southern growers, with your tomatoes already growing and I read that they usually end about July, Do you replant and get a 2nd crop?? does that work for other vegetables as well, makes us northerners a bit jealous at least me.. or is it alot of work replanting like that.. I'm just getting ready to start my seed indoors..

[Allegre Nee]

I'm going to plant a second crop of tomatoes.
I planted too late last year - my dogs dug up my March planting, I re-planted in mid-May which is already often 100 degrees here. I did get growth, good vines, and then ultimately a few tomatoes. Then, alas, I had some problems with tree sap (or aphid honeydew, now sure which).
What I will do this year is put in a second planting in late early September.

[Yellowsnow]

Planted Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts today with my 3yo daughter. potatoes, carrots, and Spinach should be in by the end of the week.

[jal_ut]

WOW! I finally got a break. 60° today and breezy. Warmest day yet. The breeze dried the ground out enough that I could get on it. Planted some spinach, garlic, onions, peas and lettuce. I will likely wait until April to plant more. It is still early for this country.

I had planted garlic in the fall, but had some that was sprouting, so it may as well grow. It will make something.

The onions I planted were Egyptian onion bulbils. They will make some early green onions.

I have a notebook I keep records in and make notes. I always check supermarket prices during harvest season and record them. Looking through those price lists just now and was reminded why I grow a garden.

[Yellowsnow]

WOW! I finally got a break. 60° today and breezy. Warmest day yet. The breeze dried the ground out enough that I could get on it. Planted some spinach, garlic, onions, peas and lettuce. I will likely wait until April to plant more. It is still early for this country.

I had planted garlic in the fall, but had some that was sprouting, so it may as well grow. It will make something.

The onions I planted were Egyptian onion bulbils. They will make some early green onions.

I have a notebook I keep records in and make notes. I always check supermarket prices during harvest season and record them. Looking through those price lists just now and was reminded why I grow a garden.

Seems we are a month early in this part of the country as well. I have always waited until Easter to plant my early stuff. I planted today knowing full well a Blizzard could happen (no matter how unlikely) before March is over. 10 day forecast is over 70's for highs; lows in the 50's with no sign of letting up. This is late May, Early June temps.

The prices at the Grocery Store is Outrageous. $2/lb for apples, $3.50/lb for ground beef. I don't even look at veggies in the fresh produce and buy frozen if I need them. Half a cart full of healthy stuff is over $150 these days. I am thankful for having a garden and Angus cattle for beef. Last year our garden didn't do much and we felt it. I really need it to work this year. Grocery prices are not going to get any better anytime soon.

[brandon558]

Well I'm glad alot of you are able to get some stuff in the ground abit earlier than usual. My onions, lettuce,radish, and peas are doing well along the strawberries.

Built a raised bed yesterday and am in the process of filling it in with dirt, along with finishing my fence for the hungry deer.

Did plant a couple rows of beans today...taking the chance. Although the weather looks to be fine for the next ten days.

We shall see!

[HannahGrace]

I've got most of my stuff started (herbs, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant) and today I put some of the stuff out. With the weather like it is, might as well get an earlier start than usual. I'm about to go put in my eggplant.

[paigej]

I have 2 varieties of tomato, 2 varieties of cherry tomato, bell pepper, lettuce, and eggplant seedlings going indoors. They all range from 1 day - 1 week old. I filled my two 4'x6' raised beds with dirt a couple days ago and am expecting seeds to come in the mail this Tuesday or Wednesday so I can start direct seeding some stuff. This is my first year really researching gardening.

[PunkRotten]

I had to bring in all my seedlings cause of a thunderstorm and wind. What a pain in the butt. Most are hardened off already but rain and wind like this would destroy them.

I was planning to up pot some seedlings over the weekend but the rain and wind canceled my plans. But other than this everything is going ok. Most of the stuff I want to grow this year is sprouted.