Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Hit the garden last night for a picking. Managed to pick 70ish Jalepenos, 1 habanero, 8 Italian burners, 6 cherry bombs, a sh-load of tomatoes, and a handful of cukes and zuccini.

Hit the store yesterday and picked up a 12 pack of quart sized jars. Managed to fill 8 of them with just hot peppers. :dr :pn

Everything is starting to peter out except the gourds and squash plants.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Some late arrivals.

The tobacco plants continue to seed themselves into other containers. I recently plucked another out and placed it into it's own container.

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12517341220001

Here are two more that may or may not make a complete cycle this year but they certainly demonstrate the plants tenacity to carry on.

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12517341400001

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12517341300001

This years harvest while very limited continues to teach me about drying and curing.

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12517355850001

For those that are interested in my adventures in making compost tea here is a photo of the new brewer I completed last week along with a link to a gallery of photos showing off it's new air injector design and functionality.

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100687/...12516891410001

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi#100687

It is great feeling to see everyones harvest, good job.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

You have the coolest setup and I get the feeling that you are like a mad scientist when it comes to making that "tea"!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I have an earthworm composter that is going full speed now. Many thousands of earthworms eating kitchen waste and paper turning it into rich castings. At the bottom of the composter is a drain for the liquor that is like tea but probably not as rich as the aerated stuff Richard makes.

The gopher ate almost all of my potatoes. I still have peppers, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, all that squash and carrots producing. Onions aren't done 'till the end. The corn is finished and the cukes are not doing much any more. The birds eat the grapes as fast as they ripen.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I use vermi-compost in my AACT brewers, about 4 cups per 5 gallons. The leachate you get from the drain on your vermiculture bin(s) is very similar. The brewer simply takes the good microbes from the vermi-compost and creates a "party scene" with plenty of food (molasses, kelp. etc.), water & oxygen. This multiplies their numbers into the billions before they are distributed on the plants & soil. A brew usually takes 24-36 hours.

Man those worms must love this time of year when they get to chow down on garden harvest waste from pulled plants, etc. :tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Hal, Walmart had a good supply of all sizes. Around $6 for a dozen.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Richard, very cool set up you have there.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

:tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Our potting adventures didn't turn out well, except for the cherry tomatoes. Billions of the little buggers. The cucumber produced a mediocre amount of cucs, about 7, and then got powdery mildew. The squash also got it and died before anything produced.

The only successes we had were the string beans, basil, mint, and cherry peppers. The CP plant is on its way out though, I didn't realize it didn't have any drain holes and it filled up with water from a storm. Various flowers did well, namely the Celosia jumping up to over 3 feet tall. I was hoping for more color variety though, only the red seemed to make it. The hummingbirds love it though.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Still getting lots of peppers out of the garden. Picked up another flat of quart sized jars to fill. This is what I canned yesterday-

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...Picture481.jpg

I also did two dozen jalepenos on the smoker yesterday. The method of stuffing them with cream cheese and wrapping them in bacon is #1 so far. :dr

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I might have told you about this already, Richard, but my neighbor used to keep a 55 gallon drum of moo juice between our gardens when I was a kid.
You just fill the drum with cow poop, add water, and enjoy. :)
It takes the mad scientist aspect out of it, but still cool. :tu

I just took an updated garden video. Gonna upload it now and post the link when it's done.
It's in HD, so it'll take awhile.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Here's a link to see my garden the way she is today.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Nice video Scott, and lookin good bro.:tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Great video Scott! :tu That fungus you spoke of wiped out my tomato plants in no time flat.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I jumped on it early and saved half of my plants. I just picked two heaping five gallon buckets tonight, and not a soul in town has tomatoes. Literally.
If I continue to take care of them, and we get a week of heat, I should be able to get at least two more batches of spaghetti sauce.
I was trying to figure out what to have for dinner tonight, and with two big buckets of tomatoes in the kitchen, it wasn't too hard to figure out I was having tomato sammiches. :D

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Another frikken gopher struck. This time it was starting on the carrots. Harvested them, about ten pounds. Traps are set. Die, gopher, die! No mercy.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

The plastic is earth fabric called Dewitt Sunbelt. It lets water through and it lets air through, but it holds weeds down, holds moisture, and heats the garden. Last for years and years and years. I've never worn a piece out yet. It's easy to roll out and pin down. Almost effortless.
In the Spring I pressure wash it and the black cooks any soil-borne disease out of the dirt.
I've been using it for about 15 years. I have been no-till gardening for that long. I do a hybrid of square foot gardening/shilala gardening.
I use lots of compost, super absorbent polymer, and common sense.
You can't beat good dirt, though.
The dirt in my yard here in town (creek bottom flood zone) is incredible compared to the dirt on the hill where I used to live.

I've always wondered what the Indians thought when they watched the crazy Europeans building their settlements (that turned into cities) on the best farmland in the world.
Then we go cut down trees and grow food on mountaintops at twice the effort in lousy soil.
There's no substitute for stupidity. :)

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

My partner here at work grew some of the best tomatos last summer that I have ever had. I bet we ate 1000 tomato sammiches.:dr

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Got it! Dead, gopher, dead! I had mercy. It was still alive so I put it out of it's misery.

Next year I want to put down a weed block like Scott's but I worry about the gophers setting up camp under it.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

You can shoot right through it. :tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Nice video, Scott!

Nice jars of peppers, Hal!

You guys give me a smile all the time. I have a lot of BOTL (leaf) and BOTS (soil).

Scott, the blight, fungus, anthracnose, or other horrid disease almost made me not want to plant tomatoes this year. Had you ask me in December, I would have given a definitive 'no'. The past couple of years it's been horrible. I use Daconil and I sprayed them every 3-4 days in years past, but never could keep up with the eventual onslaught. I've had up to 24 plants in the past and suffered big losses. I use soaker hoses, no smoking near the garden, etc. But, as always, the spring bug bit me and I planted 4 this year. A couple of them got a little brown a month or so in, but I battled back. All in all, everything turned out pretty good. The 4 plants did well. I know you're suppose to rotate tomtoes, as well as most plants, to get away from the stuff, but my garden isn't that big. I'll get a shot of my peppers this weekend. Never had such robust and huge plants. They usually get some type of yellow leaf or leaf roll, but it's been gangbusters this year.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Went out of town for about a week and the garden was busy growing while I was gone. Looks like we didn't get any rain cause the leaves on everything were wilted and the lawn was brown. :(

Fired up the sprinklers in the yard and the garden yesterday evening when I got home. Not much to do since I'm home with some kind of virus.... may as well pick some peppers and work on doing some canning.

This was todays haul out of the garden-

Lots of jalepenos, hungarian wax, sweet banana, cherry bombs, and burners
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...Picture484.jpg

Starting to get loaded down with more habaneros than I will ever eat
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...Picture485.jpg

Here are a few zuccini that are probably only good for making bread with. The one on the far right weighed in at 4 lbs. 6 oz.! It's a beast!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...Picture487.jpg

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Different angle to show the diameter.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...Picture488.jpg

I guess as long as the garden is putting out I will keep on posting. :D

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Sorry you're under the weather, Hal--but those vegetables look awesome! Let me know if you want a recipe for making hot sauce out of those habaneros. I'm jealous, my plants have never put out that many peppers!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Chit, Hal! Those Habs could kill any virus you run across! Very nice. I eat pickled peppers at every meal. I have a jar on my desk at work. People think I'm an stupid.

Here's my fall/winter garden so far. The collards are growing well. The crooked neck squash are ready to flower. The peppers are still unbelievable. For reference, the rabbit fence is 18". The flowers are cosmos and nasturtiums that my daughter wanted to plant.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...ns69/fall1.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...ns69/fall2.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...ns69/fall3.jpg

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Dude those Jalepenos plants are HUGE!!!!!!

I have plenty more Habaneros to pick before the season ends! :dr:dr

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I should go shoot one more video before it's too dark out.
I told the ex she could have all my tomatoes. If she doesn't come get them tomorrow, I'll make sauce Monday.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Please do shoot another video cause I like to watch them and I enjoy seeing your garden Scooter! :tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

unfortunately the growing conditions on my balcony are less that ideal. I still got more than enough . I have to grow more medium hot peppers next year and probably a couple of tomatos.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...d/ST830378.jpg

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

My year of production is about over. Everything that hasn't died off is slowing down. As the weather is still good I think either the soil is depleted or the daylight hours are affecting the plants. No matter. It was a good year except the gopher attack on the potatoes and the late tomatoes.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Very small garden for us this year; just tomatoes and peppers. Tiller was down all spring and I set plants late. That ended up okay, as it was a wet. cold spring, and lots of folks early stuff did not do well. Our stuff is about done now.

One surprise; I had a volunteer tobacco plant in a flower garden. Some seedlings I started way too late last year did not make it, and I dumped everything in the flower bed. Had not noticed anything until we returned home from our Yellowstone trip over Labor Day weekend; there it was, getting ready to bloom!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Great Gardens gentlemen!!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I got it done, Hal.
I just gotta upload it to youtube. I was just working on pics I took at the zoo today, just got home. If I don't pass out, I'll get her started uploading. :tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

I'll be waiting. :tu

I hit the garden today for a picking. I managed to pick and pickle another quart of Habaneros (what am I going to do with all these freakin hot things?). I also picked a shload of Jalepenos, hungarian wax peppers and a few sweet banana peppers. Ever since my tomatoes croaked my two poblano pepper plants have been really working hard. I think by sometime next week I will have about 12 of those to pick and stuff. :dr

Also picked 2 cukes. I found a guy at work who loves butternut squash so I was able to unload about 9 of those on him.

Have a few gourds growing but the plants appear to be really struggling.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Still waiting for your video Shilala..... :su

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Here's the video, finally.
It took three tries to get it uploaded. I sure hope it works now. :)

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Another great video Scott :tu Looks like your garden is still producing lots of nice looking peppers! I cannot believe all of those damn tomatoes! :dr

I picked 16 bell peppers last night and stuffed them with rice and hamburger. I finished by topping them off with tomato puree. They turned out really well and I ate a few with tomales for dinner!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Picked jalapenos from my 4 bushes yesterday. Final count, 182!!!! OMG! I gave some to both neighbors and will bring some to work. I can't pickle many more, running out of jars and room! Also harvested 23 bell peppers. Gave most of them away, too, as I still have half a dozen in the fridge.

Collards and squash doing very well, too!!!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Frost is starting here already. Central coast CA it's suddenly unseasonably cold. I have shut the water off to the veggies now. The roses and lawn still get watered. It's about time to turn the garden under and get the green mulch going.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

This weeks haul, might have a couple more yields, summer is definitely over here!

http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/DSCF0763.jpg

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Hey Scott, how is the Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) doing?

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12551140340001

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12551140300001

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12551140260001

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100667/...12551141530001

Pineapple sage is extensively used in Mexican traditional medicine, especially for the treatment of anxiety. Although scientific information about these medicinal properties is scarce, a preliminary study on mice found support for the plant potentially having antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Beautiful pictures. I like sage a lot. I used to pick the flowers and suck the nectar out like honeysuckle when I was a kid.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Awesome pics Richard

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Protectors of the Veggies.
We captured a few spiders from the park near our house a few months back and brought them home. At the time the leg-span was about the size of a dime. They have since set up shop between my tomatoes and the bushes over my neighbors fence.
The leg-span is about the size of a silver dollar now. They take down full sized Yellow Jackets as seen in 1 pic. They have an awesome color pattern on both sides.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9...D720/ry%3D480/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9...D720/ry%3D480/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9...D720/ry%3D480/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9...D720/ry%3D480/

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

It's time to start a 2010 garden thread!

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Not here, I've still got a few small piles of snow in the yard!

Starting to think about what I'm gonna plant this year though.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

OK! I started the '10 thread. Let's get going.

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens
 

Link it up, brother!!! :tu

Re: Let's see those '09 gardens