I remember that scene off your property. Soy Beans and corn was it?.... . What happened to that huge Pumpkin?? .......... Jerry (in Tucson)
What's Growing in the Garden
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Yep, it was corn to the south (direction of the picture) and beans on the north. Those fields are rotated this year, so it is beans to the south and corn in the north.
The big pumpkin sat at the end of the walkway to the deck for about a month until it started to melt, then dumped it at the edge of the woods. The big ones are nice to have around, but they don't last as long as the traditional ribbed orange pumpkins.
Edit, went looking and found these pictures.
The big pumpkin sat at the end of the walkway to the deck for about a month until it started to melt, then dumped it at the edge of the woods. The big ones are nice to have around, but they don't last as long as the traditional ribbed orange pumpkins.
Edit, went looking and found these pictures.
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Nice looking flowers and garden! What do you use to collect your grass clippings? All I have is my zero turn mower and it's finely shredded when it's spit out. So fine that you would struggle to even take a small pile up.
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I've got a Husqvarna deck mower with a cheap bagger attachment. I used to have a cub cadet deck mower and I windrowed everything then raked by hand. I also let the grass grow for a couple/three weeks so I've got some good length.
They do make baggers for some models of zero turn mowers, but they are mucho denero. The Power flow unit for the nephews commercial JD zero turn was $3000, but that was 10 years ago. We've already taken the bagger off the Z930 or I'd borrow it from him.
Maybe an after market third party bagger could be adapted to your mower? What zero turn do you have?
Maybe a lawn sweeper? Don't know how well they would work on fine clippings though.
They do make baggers for some models of zero turn mowers, but they are mucho denero. The Power flow unit for the nephews commercial JD zero turn was $3000, but that was 10 years ago. We've already taken the bagger off the Z930 or I'd borrow it from him.
Maybe an after market third party bagger could be adapted to your mower? What zero turn do you have?
Maybe a lawn sweeper? Don't know how well they would work on fine clippings though.
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@Nubsnstubs
Jerry, here area couple pics of a similar view about the time you visited last summer. Slightly different angle, but a southerly view.
Jerry, here area couple pics of a similar view about the time you visited last summer. Slightly different angle, but a southerly view.
Yard sweepers work well, and for a fraction the cost. For $5-600 you can get a quality sweeper. An aftermarket hitch for a zero turn runs $25-30. Waiting an extra cycle or 2 between mowings adds length. The trick is to get the grass before the seed heads form. Loading your garden with grass seed and weed seed could make much more work. Mulching with leaves in the fall works well, but then you need to lime to offset the acidity. Using bark or wood chip mulch sucks up a lot of nitrogen. They have pros and cons.
Yep I definitely don't like using wood chips for mulch, but I have found that in my flower beds it does well for weed control. In my garden. I have toyed with the idea of using grass clippings, but I'm not setup to collect them right now. My main use for collecting clippings would be to feed my compost pile nitrogen.
I have an exmark lazer z mower and have seen a couple aftermarket bagging systems for about $500. I figure if I go the sweeper route, I'll just weld a standard receiver on my mower.
Don't got sun for them veggie things - have to be content with my shady beauties.
First of my frilly girls just emerged!
Astilbe finally blooming - it got hit hard by moles last year.
Always have lots of hydrangeas
Hostas and ferns are my FRIENDS!!!
From Big Princess WU
To my little darlings - the mini's with a few weeds mixed in. These are not the smallest - micros - ,nother part of the bed.
First of my frilly girls just emerged!
Astilbe finally blooming - it got hit hard by moles last year.
Always have lots of hydrangeas
Hostas and ferns are my FRIENDS!!!
From Big Princess WU
To my little darlings - the mini's with a few weeds mixed in. These are not the smallest - micros - ,nother part of the bed.
New adventure - Japanese Chrysanthemums - hopefully you can call me for a corsage iff'n you can get a date for the Prom - I don't have hope for some of you! - 29 varieties in their temp. pots.
First fruit - a breba from an unknown purple variety - fyi - Picked it smf ate it after picture - insipid. Usually very good tasting main crop.
Pears that I won't get - squirrel food usually.
Was hoping for a much larger crop of Jap. Persimmons - but they seem to be self thinning. These are all over - wonder if they didn't get pollenated.
Future smell purdies!
Bear's Breeches (acanthus) throwing up a stalk!
Butterfly Weed
And first caladium - damaged leaf and all. This one came up unusually - flower stalk same time as the leaf.
First fruit - a breba from an unknown purple variety - fyi - Picked it smf ate it after picture - insipid. Usually very good tasting main crop.
Pears that I won't get - squirrel food usually.
Was hoping for a much larger crop of Jap. Persimmons - but they seem to be self thinning. These are all over - wonder if they didn't get pollenated.
Future smell purdies!
Bear's Breeches (acanthus) throwing up a stalk!
Butterfly Weed
And first caladium - damaged leaf and all. This one came up unusually - flower stalk same time as the leaf.
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Now for the $64,000 question! Does anyone know how to train these to just eat weeds? Let's team up and we can be gazillionaires! Luckily my cat likes to munch on the tender ones! This one appears to be going to finish off the sweet peas they started on for the last few days along with 4 tomato plants and 2 pepper plants. He'll leave the horseradish alone - at least to date he has.
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Snares help a lot...
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@Mike Hill
What a great variety of plants you have! I'm jealous of your hosta and fern collections. Everytime I see a different hosta I want it. Problem is I have plenty of shade space, but no time to convert from lawn into ornamental beds.
Keep us updated on your Japanese chrysanthemums, I've not done much with mum's other than pick up a few pots of them every September when everything else has faded for the year.
What a great variety of plants you have! I'm jealous of your hosta and fern collections. Everytime I see a different hosta I want it. Problem is I have plenty of shade space, but no time to convert from lawn into ornamental beds.
Keep us updated on your Japanese chrysanthemums, I've not done much with mum's other than pick up a few pots of them every September when everything else has faded for the year.
Heck - I guess it is all about Point of View - I'm jealous of all your veggies! When life has given you shade - you make the best of it. Probably about 10 varieties of fern and over 100 varieties of hosta - I lost count long time ago. And I haven't even looked at a hosta catalogue in 5 years. I probably have another 50 pots of hostas to plant out.
Yeh, wanted to do the Jap Mums for a few years and was gonna pull the trigger the last two, but the suppliers had all been sold out. So joined a Chrysanthemum Society so I could get in on their group order. Been boning up on the staking, disbudding, fertilizing schedule, etc.... Looking forward to seeing what becomes of them. The last couple of years, been disappointed with the dahlias. An extra gift the mum people sent were rooted cuttings of 3 yellow and 3 red "pot" mums - I really have no place for them - do you want them? Also have some saved dahlia tubers I could send also.
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Thanks for the offer Mike!
Much as I've never been one to turn down plants, I have to turn down your offer. I've got every pot filled and no space left in the ground. Having a heck of a time trying to get everything done this year, and any more would about kill me.
Much as I've never been one to turn down plants, I have to turn down your offer. I've got every pot filled and no space left in the ground. Having a heck of a time trying to get everything done this year, and any more would about kill me.
Ain't that the truth - Ain't that the truth! With going to Texas twice in prime garden prep time, and a couple of things my wife insisted I do, AND the unprecendented amount of weeds this year (no idea why even in mulched areas - well I do have an idea, but cannot express it or I would be looked at with an evil eye) I was pretty much 3 weeks behind and working it off.
Peas are coming along nicely. They have more than doubled in the past week. I would expect to see a few blossoms in another week. It's always a goal to have peas and baby potatoes for the 4 the of July. Strawberry shortcake for dessert goes well.
Saw Stella (the cat) stalking it Sunday. Maybe she put the fear in him - haven't seen him since. Her services are cheaper - just a can of tuna!
Awesome garden there Dave!!!! I'm jealous of the peas - I struggle with them. Plant em when I can and it gets too hot for them to bear very good. Edible pods are better but now don't have enough space to grow enough for a mess!
They definitely don't like hot weather. Around here mid April is about the rite time to plant them, I till early to help the soil warm a little faster. These are Alderman peas and can grow to over 6' if conditions are right. I like them because they yield pretty good and are easy to pick, they will start blossoming when they get a couple feet high and keep blossoming as they grow to full height. Eventually the weather gets too hot and they die. I leave some to dry on the vine for next years seed and if we have enough a little whole pea soup.