Garden Growers

[side_show]

I know some of you garden, so this is place to share the details.

This is my first year using the garden we built last summer to it's full potential.  It's also the first time I've planted root crops, and shortly after that it occurred to me that I have no clue what I'm doing.  How do I know when the potatoes, carrots and onions are ready to be enjoyed?  I'm getting conflicting info from different sources here.

Also, I am pretty sure I planted way too many potatoes, so I want to dig up a fair amount as small "new potatoes."  The plants are on the verge of flowering now - so how much longer do I wait?

We have a fairly short growing season locally.  June - September are the guaranteed frost-free months.  I got started early this year, as May was warm and mild, however it was cloudy and rainy almost all of June, so some sun is much needed.  I'm just about to stake my tomatoes this weekend.

Also I was especially ambitious and planted asparagus (from crowns) this spring as well.  Anyone else ever do this?  I've read different sources indicating I should wait one, two or three years before harvesting the spears.  Any insight there?

[AugustWest]

Also I was especially ambitious and planted asparagus (from crowns) this spring as well.  Anyone else ever do this?  I've read different sources indicating I should wait one, two or three years before harvesting the spears.  Any insight there?

Depends on how old the crowns were that you planted.  Theoretically you're not supposed to harvest until year 3.  So if you planted 2 year crowns last year you could harvest this year.  But you should be way past harvest time already -- our asparagus is usually done by the first of May.  Obviously your season is somewhat later, but probably not in July!

[side_show]

Oh, no I planted them this May.  The package didn't indicate how old the crowns were, but noted I could harvest next May.  Then I read things indicating 2 years was the minimum.  It's looking all healthy and fern-y these days, so I'm thinking it's going well.

[Arachno-capitalist]

Yeah you want to let those settles for at least a year. Meanwhile, ACAP grows extremely rare tulips by genetic design, and I am 2 years in to a orchid crop (orchids are redunkulous).
Whatever the hell you are gardening, just buy miracle grow, I can not express this as much.

[AugustWest]

I would harvest a little next year and let most of it grow.

Also, don't cut the plants down until after the first hard freeze.  They have to go to seed or they won't produce next year.  

[AugustWest]

Yeah you want to let those settles for at least a year. Meanwhile, ACAP grows extremely rare tulips by genetic design, and I am 2 years in to a orchid crop (orchids are redunkulous).
Whatever the hell you are gardening, just buy miracle grow, I can not express this as much.

Did not have you pegged for a gardener, A-cap.  Miracle-gro is great, but make sure you're using the acid stuff for acid loving plants (mainly azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies and magnolias).  If you've got an acid-lover that's just sort of sitting there and not doing much, hit it with some Mir-acid and watch it take off.

[side_show]

Oh man, I used to have a rad orchid.  I gave it "orchid food" which is commercially available, and it flowered like gangbusters until I basically had to kill it due to living circumstances.  I'm talking contestant flowering for 6 months +.

I will possibly munch some asparagus next spring then.  Perhaps this fall I'll mulch it?  Mulch then munch?

[Arachno-capitalist]

Oh man, I used to have a rad orchid.  I gave it "orchid food" which is commercially available, and it flowered like gangbusters until I basically had to kill it due to living circumstances.  I'm talking contestant flowering for 6 months +.

Wut? Ive read two books on orchids and mine are currently in a sterile shield growing fungus. wtf are you talking about..

[side_show]

I have read no books on orchids and basically know nothing about them.  I bought one on sale at the grocery store (standard common variety you'd see there) and put it in the south facing window of the office where I worked.  Then a few weeks later I was out at a garden centre and saw "Orchid Food" bought it and started using it as directed, and the plant flowered for the 5 months I worked there, plus another month after I left and brought it home.  Since I live in a house where the cats eat all plants, I had to keep it outside, and when fall came it died due to the cold.

I'll check out the packaging on the food when I have a moment and post more.  Also that should have read "constant" not "contestant" - my orchid was never on The Price is Right or anything.

[Carlos del Vaca]

My zucchini and potatoes died.  Completely and totally.  I am upset.

The tomatoes are OK, not great.  I am good at growing leafy green vegetables, at least.

[side_show]

All my pepper plants have adorable baby-sized peppers growing on them and the wax beans also have baby sized beans dangling too.  The potatoes, snowpeas and tomatoes are blooming, the onions are poking up and the carrots are getting bushy.  I think things are going pretty well, especially considering most folks got flooded out.  I'm very happy we built raised beds. 

I'm going to need to buy a pitch fork so I can dig up the potatoes and onions!

Sorry AC - I still haven't checked out the orchid food - I typically post when I'm out of the house.

[wombat]

My zucchini and potatoes died.  Completely and totally.  I am upset.

This is possibly because there was not a drop of rain for, like, a month? At least that's how it seemed in my yard.

[Carlos del Vaca]

I watered them regularly, either by hand from the rain barrel or from the hose & sprinkler.  Other plants in the vicinity got along fine.

Here is an extremely awesome online gardening tool I came across today.  You tell it the crop and where the damage is, and it suggests pests and diseases that may be to blame.

http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Search-PestsDiseases

Based on this, I believe the zukes had bacterial wilt, and the taters one of the other kinds of wilt, maybe fusarium wilt.  Screw you, wilt!  FUCK you!

[side_show]

I wish they had something for flowers.  Both my columbine came up early, flowered then quickly died.  Upon invesitgation, the roots were healthy and there was no sign of any pests.  I have no idea why they died.  All neighbouring flowers came up a tad late, but are doing fine. 

[wombat]

I have to say, I don't bother wondering why stuff dies. I concentrate on thinking about why stuff didn't die and trying to do more of the same.