What's Growing in the Garden

Got the second batch of green beans today. Planted pole beans this year. First batch was close to the ground but they are climbing. Planted some Bush beans just in case. Purplehull peas and okra came up. Cucumbers have just been sitting there but making a few cucs. The pickling cucs aren’t doing anything but the few Japanese long cucs are making a few. Zucchini and Cushaw are up but yellow squash is just now sprouting (second planting). Tomatoes and peppers are setting fruit but none ripe yet. My grandson and I are going to dig up the potatoes in the morning. Dividing onions are dividing and trying to seed out but I keep lopping them off. Still have some cabbage, carrots and turnips in the cold storage but it is dwindling fast.

That’s about it...

Alan
 
A local nursery was selling off their stuff and I bought 2 - 40’x15’ greenhouses a 90’x15’ greenhouse… like I didn’t have enough to do… My son is going to help me break them down and set back up… He’ll take one or both of the 40’ers. I’m not sure where I’ll put mine… It’ll be an experience… but it’ll keep the houseplants from freezing and me having to move them in and out all winter AND I’ll save a ton of money on buying started seedlings (tomatoes, peppers, etc) and maybe even have some wintertime tomatoes!

Alan
 
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@Alan R McDaniel Jr

I forget how far ahead of us northerners you are in your season. I just transplanted onions today and moved my tomatoes to the cold frame. A week or so away from transplanting them. I do have radishes up and a few spinach plants.

I'm jealous of your new greenhouses. I've always wanted one, but at this point in my life, not sure I'd take one if someone gave it to me.

Be sure and take some pictures of your new houses when you get them moved.
 
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They are the hoop type and have sun screen and new plastic on them… They were just nearly given to me. I’ll have to buy heaters for them for winter but it doesn’t take much to keep it above freezing. I’ll probably space the hoops closer than they are now so it won’t be the full 90’, maybe 50’. If I run it north and south the prevailing summer winds will keep them cool in the summer, so I can leave the plastic up year round. I’ll have to move a little dirt too since my entire back yard is on a hill. We’ll see how it goes.

Alan
 
trc65 said:
That is Farmworks brand from Tractor Supply. It's definitely better than brand name Roundup because it's about 1/10th the cost. Glyphosate is glyphosate wether it's in Roundup or one of the dozens of generics available. Just make sure that the generic you buy has a surfactant already included. Different companies may change the formulation slightly in regards to percentage of glyphosate. Anywhere around 40% seems to be the sweet spot for cheapest formulation. It's not necessary to buy the concentrates that are over 50% a.i.

I buy the 2.5 gal jugs, but they also have it in gallon containers at tractor supply, although the gallons are sometimes labeled differently and in the garden section rather than farm chemical section. When I bought this jug a few years ago, think it was $40 for the 2.5 gallons.

As long as you are comfortable mixing your own, lots of money can be saved with generic chemicals.
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Continuing research on the Farmworks brand. How many ounces per gallon of water do you find is effective? Some of the reviews on Tractor Supply Web site show that the recommended 2.5 ounces per gallon of water was not strong enough. Chuck
 
It all depends on the weeds. Most annual weeds will be controlled by the 2.5 oz rate. However, the list of weeds resistant to glyphosate is increasing rapidly to include weeds such as marestail and many in the pigweed family such as water hemp, palmer amaranth, and red root pigweed. Other resistance weeds include barnyard grass, kochia, and some ragweed.

There are others, as many as 40+ worldwide.

Other than resistance, there are several reasons why it won't work. Too tall (age of plant), drought, rainfall too soon after application, trimming weeds after application, or weeds listed as not controlled.

I will go as high as 4 oz per gallon, but that is usually on larger weeds that I know will be hard to kill, or perennial weeds.

Glyphosate is still a valuable management tool, but you need to make sure weeds are actively growing and within the size ranges listed.
 
trc65 said:
@Alan R McDaniel Jr

I forget how far ahead of us northerners you are in your season. I just transplanted onions today and moved my tomatoes to the cold frame. A week or so away from transplanting them. I do have radishes up and a few spinach plants.

I'm jealous of your new greenhouses. I've always wanted one, but at this point in my life, not sure I'd take one if someone gave it to me.

Be sure and take some pictures of your new houses when you get them moved.
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Way ahead of y'all. Picked and enjoyed my first Lemonboy tomatoes 12 days ago! Enjoyed them along with some homemade venison, jalapeño w/cheese summer sausage

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Need Some Advice

Last Spring I planted 20 Jersey Knight Asparagus plants into trenches. When only 15 came up, I back-filled with a mixture of topsoil and compost. This March, I replanted 10 Jersey Knight and 10 Jersey Supreme plants that I ordered. We had tons of dry weather and trenching wasn't too bad (3rd row). After planting, I noticed the roots of some plants seemed to migrate out of the soil. Some had dried out so I recovered. Well now we're getting inches of rain at a time and this is what's happening:
IMG_2873.JPG IMG_2872.JPG
My trenches are flooding. If I could back-fill now without the plants sprouting, that would solve the problem. Some (1st pic) have sprouted but the majority has not. Once the trenches drain (I have a clay base), I'll recover the roots that have floated to the top with even more dirt. I just wonder if they'll survive.

P.S. Yes I know, my garden is weedy. I got distracted with Spring hunting and fishing. when it dries out this week?, I weed whip and spray the weeds. I've got to contend with the volunteer locust trees that has sprouted. Last year, I cut them back and spread the fresh cuts with herbicide (can't remember which one, Stump Gone?) and retreat them.
 
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WooHoo! It's Peony time in Tennessee! or at least at the Manor House at Lil Mikey Estates - a.k.a. Troglodyte Headquarters!

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Need More Advice

I want to plant a Clematis between the posts of my mailbox.
IMG_2874.JPG IMG_2869.JPG

I plan on building a 5-1/2" high planter box around the mailbox. Originally, I was going to dig down 6" from the current soil level and put a 3" deep round tray to hold moisture. Then I was going to back-fill the hole, build the box, fill with topsoil/compost and plant the clematis. I've read that they have very deep roots and this may not be deep enough for them. Should I just throw out the water tray idea? I was trying to not have to water it as much in the Summer.

On a different note, I got my Strawberries transplanted into their new beds (Yes, I know, not the best time of the year to do it).

IMG_2879.webp
 
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djg said:
Need Some Advice

Last Spring I planted 20 Jersey Knight Asparagus plants into trenches. When only 15 came up, I back-filled with a mixture of topsoil and compost. This March, I replanted 10 Jersey Knight and 10 Jersey Supreme plants that I ordered. We had tons of dry weather and trenching wasn't too bad (3rd row). After planting, I noticed the roots of some plants seemed to migrate out of the soil. Some had dried out so I recovered. Well now we're getting inches of rain at a time and this is what's happening:
View attachment 256412View attachment 256411
My trenches are flooding. If I could back-fill now without the plants sprouting, that would solve the problem. Some (1st pic) have sprouted but the majority has not. Once the trenches drain (I have a clay base), I'll recover the roots that have floated to the top with even more dirt. I just wonder if they'll survive.

P.S. Yes I know, my garden is weedy. I got distracted with Spring hunting and fishing. when it dries out this week?, I weed whip and spray the weeds. I've got to contend with the volunteer locust trees that has sprouted. Last year, I cut them back and spread the fresh cuts with herbicide (can't remember which one, Stump Gone?) and retreat them.
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The issue of survival is directly related to the amount of time underwater. The good news is asparagus seems to be able to tolerate flooding for much longer periods than most other crops. Don't know how long they've been underwater, but I'd try to do something if it persisted for more than a few days.
 
djg said:
Need More Advice

I want to plant a Clematis between the posts of my mailbox.
View attachment 256413View attachment 256414

I plan on building a 5-1/2" high planter box around the mailbox. Originally, I was going to dig down 6" from the current soil level and put a 3" deep round tray to hold moisture. Then I was going to back-fill the hole, build the box, fill with topsoil/compost and plant the clematis. I've read that they have very deep roots and this may not be deep enough for them. Should I just throw out the water tray idea? I was trying to not have to water it as much in the Summer.

On a different note, I got my Strawberries transplanted into their new beds (Yes, I know, not the best time of the year to do it).
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Not sure any deeper or anything needed for clematis, except to plant them somewhere they don't get trampled on by raccoons. Or at least here in TN. Just plant them as normal and they go at it. Some of the newer, named varieties don't seem to last as long for me - perhaps too hot and dry, as the old Jackmani, or some of the species. They like cool soil and warmth on the leaves and flowers (cold feet - warm head). A deep mulch will help. About the raccoons. I've got a couple of species clematis planted along and up one deck rail. Raccoons decided that that is the area they are going to come through the rail and have damaged the vine and they remain stubby. Trimming/pruning schedules can differ depending on variety - so need to keep that in mind.
 
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Incredible bunch of blossoms. We've got lilac blooming and some of my onions are just starting. Iris are still a week or two away as are peony.
 
djg said:
What's the name of the Clematis variety (2nd on top). Same as mine and I don't remember. My favorite.
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That's a good question! It was bought 30 or more years ago as Jackmani, but the petal shape, the number of petals (really sepals), the stamens, and the color seem to point to another. Not sure which, but my money would be on Ernest Markham,
 
trc65 said:
Incredible bunch of blossoms. We've got lilac blooming and some of my onions are just starting. Iris are still a week or two away as are peony.
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I want my lilac to bloom, but they haven't yet. Bought them (2 purple) like 35 years ago and planted them on the side of the house, because I did not have another place ready. Well, they stayed there for 30 years - in deeper and deeper shade. Never bloomed. Decided to dig them up 4 or 5 years ago, and put them in huge pots as I did not have a sunny place to plant them. I move them into the sun (really part sun - as I have nowhere with full, all-day sun, when the trees leaf out - but still no bloom. Maybe next year! Tried to grow buddleia instead, but have trouble with them also. In fact, have seen very few that grow around me. The only one that I knew of, succumbed last year. Sorta like Rhodos. Do not even see them for sale much - they and the decidious azaleas, and kalmias also. Probably too far west and too low elevation, meaning too hot and maybe not enough humus or drainage. I have seen a few flame azaleas that are of size, and an odd Rhodo (usually a P. J. M.). Somebody once said that we have a virus in our soil that affects them - I'm skeptical. Years ago, I tried 20-25 varieties to no avail, and I gave up until last year. Saw a way of planting that was supposedly successful around here. So I bought one and am gonna try. Will probably put some sort of irrigation on it also.
 
Mike Hill said:
I want my lilac to bloom, but they haven't yet. Bought them (2 purple) like 35 years ago and planted them on the side of the house, because I did not have another place ready. Well, they stayed there for 30 years - in deeper and deeper shade. Never bloomed. Decided to dig them up 4 or 5 years ago, and put them in huge pots as I did not have a sunny place to plant them. I move them into the sun (really part sun - as I have nowhere with full, all-day sun, when the trees leaf out - but still no bloom. Maybe next year! Tried to grow buddleia instead, but have trouble with them also. In fact, have seen very few that grow around me. The only one that I knew of, succumbed last year. Sorta like Rhodos. Do not even see them for sale much - they and the decidious azaleas, and kalmias also. Probably too far west and too low elevation, meaning too hot and maybe not enough humus or drainage. I have seen a few flame azaleas that are of size, and an odd Rhodo (usually a P. J. M.). Somebody once said that we have a virus in our soil that affects them - I'm skeptical. Years ago, I tried 20-25 varieties to no avail, and I gave up until last year. Saw a way of planting that was supposedly successful around here. So I bought one and am gonna try. Will probably put some sort of irrigation on it also.
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Lilacs need a male & female plant in proximity to bloom. Chuck
 
Ohhhhh - uhhhhhh - ummmmm - How do I know without flowers - just go ask them? - there's no skirt to go look under! That could be the reason!
 
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