Gardeners in the Asylum

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

We got back from a weekend away and had some zukezillas. You really do have to pick every day.

Love that term!!!! I guess Squashzilla and Cukzillia would also apply after a couple days unpicked!!!

[jjirons69]

Found this looking around the net. What a piece of work. (It's not mine nor me)

[jjirons69]

I've got more jalapeno, serrano, cayenne, banana, New Mexico, and bell peppers than I know what to do with. It's crazy! For the past 3-4 years I have been blessed with strong, productive, disease-free plants. Tomatoes slowed but are still giving a few every other day. I picked 70 in one day a couple of weeks ago. It was maddening for about a 2-week stretch. My wife has jarred several batches so far this year. I love stewed tomatoes on rice and grits. Tried some on quinoa last week and it was good, too.

Our cold summer has kept the tomatoes and peppers back but the corn is starting to ripen and we got good broccoli. Cukes are coming in right now.

[mmblz]

blueberries

[Mr B]

Right there with ya Lance. Everything is looking a litte weak. got lots of Jalapenos but the plants are looking stunted. Tom's just starting to ripen but all of them except the Cherries are looking stunted too. Bells doing pretty good, same with the few cuc plants. Tomatillos pumpin out pretty good. My cantalope looks like it has not grown in a month.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by Mr B

My cantalope looks like it has not grown in a month.

Don't know that I'd let that sway you..... Mine stayed the same for many weeks, then went from small to big to ready in about 10 days.

Good luck with the rest!

[SvilleKid]

Picked peas today.



Then Mowed them down:



Sweet Potatoes and Butterpeas about all that 's left.



Only reason I've left the butterpeas is they have put on hundreds of blooms with the rain we've had in last two weeks. I figure I'll have a large picking available in about two weeks. Tomatoes, Peppers (only planted three bell pepper plants this year) and green beans will all be mowed down this weekend. That will leave only sweet taters and butterpeas standing, and I don't see those making it more than three or four more weeks. Then will turn the whole garden under to await next year.

[Chainsaw13]

Anyone have suggestions for fall/early winter plants? It's still hot here in Michigan, but soon it'll start to cool down. Maybe I can actually plant something this year. Definitely lettuce, not sure what else.

[jjirons69]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

Anyone have suggestions for fall/early winter plants? It's still hot here in Michigan, but soon it'll start to cool down. Maybe I can actually plant something this year. Definitely lettuce, not sure what else.

Here's my fall favorites: lettuce, collards, mustard greens, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, rutabagas, turnips, and radishes. Check the planting guide for your area and check to see when to plant seed versus transplants. Fall gardening is great.

[SvilleKid]

Spinach and broccoli both are good cold weather crops. Cabbage also. Never tried brussel sprouts, but I'd imagine they would also be good cool weather crop. Oninos probably would also work.

[Chainsaw13]

Hmm, I like broccoli and spinach, check. Might have to try onions. I'll definitely be planting more garlic. Had a bumper crop of it this year.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

Hmm, I like broccoli and spinach, check. Might have to try onions. I'll definitely be planting more garlic. Had a bumper crop of it this year.

Go for it, Bob!!!! Keep us posted!!

[SvilleKid]

All that's left.... Butterpeas on the left, sweet potatoes in the background. Turned over rest of garden to get chopped plants into ground. Plan on adding a good bit of mulch into the garden this fall and winter to lightening up soil a little, help it's water retention abilities.

Cliff, how do you turn? A big tiller?
I got two watermelons and a bushel of squash. Some cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. Strawberries sometimes. Picked some corn for dinner this weekend.
But it's still been a slow year. Better than last year. I'm already looking forward to next year.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

Cliff, how do you turn? A big tiller?
I got two watermelons and a bushel of squash. Some cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. Strawberries sometimes. Picked some corn for dinner this weekend.
But it's still been a slow year. Better than last year. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Lance.. Turn with a tractor and a 5 foot disk. So kinda like a big tiller I have a small Mantis-type tiller (made by Echo) that I use when ready to plant or weed the row areas.

[Jasonw560]

Cliff, can you grow potatoes? I tried, but too warm.

I tried the trashcan method. If I can get more eyes, I may try this fall when it's cooler.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by Jasonw560

Cliff, can you grow potatoes? I tried, but too warm.

I tried the trashcan method. If I can get more eyes, I may try this fall when it's cooler.

Jason.... Not too hot here. This is third year I've planted them. I use a mound method, and use wire cones (like used for tomatoes) mainly to get the vines off the ground and out of the way to make it easier to weed around plants and to keep the base area more visible. First year I planted them (three years ago), I let them spread, which made it necessary to weed by hand (verses a small Mantis-type tiller). Plus, being in the suburbs and lots of land around me, letting the grass grow up too much gives hiding places for field mice/rats, which burrowed down and ate half my sweet taters the first year. Haven't had same problem since using the cones.

First two years, I planted "slips" I purchased. This crop, I planted pieces of leftover yams from last year's crop. They seem to be producing fine, but it took them three times longer to start growing as the "slips" did. My MIL's husband said they always sat old yams out in wet sawdust before the season, and picked the sprouts (slips) off and planted them when the time came. Might try that next year. My mother remembers Yams being grown in south Mississippi where she grew up in the 30's and 40's in large quantities. I also know that yams are a big crop in Louisiana. so it's probably NOT heat as much as water that could be your pitfall!

They have turned out to be much easier to grow than I imagined they would be. Give them a try. Garbage can method probably holds moisture better anyway!

[AUguy]

Originally Posted by Jasonw560

Cliff, can you grow potatoes? I tried, but too warm.

I tried the trashcan method. If I can get more eyes, I may try this fall when it's cooler.

Sweet potatoes should handle the heat with no problem. They are big business in south Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. They are usually planted around late spring/ early summer.

[Jasonw560]

Originally Posted by AUguy

Sweet potatoes should handle the heat with no problem. They are big business in south Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. They are usually planted around late spring/ early summer.

I'm talking either red or russetts. They need cooler weather.