Garden Update

[kaesha_nikovana]

After my back-breaking first day of stump removal, I decided taking it slow was the best course.  I also had a little luck on my side, seeing many of the remaining stumps were significantly smaller (and less rooty) than the first few.  I've still got a few more big ones to get out, but they're lower on the priority list because they're in a shadier

Comments

[joysdaughter]

Please may I ask - I'm fascinated by your "wire basket" type things. I have not seen anything like them in the U.K. and would love to know what you are growing there. I am redesigning my tiny back yard (concrete, with tubs/pots/sinks etc., and and always looking for new ideas.

[kaesha_nikovana]

I'm always happy to talk gardening! :) Those are wire cages that will support the growing tomato plants. Since they vine out so much and get very top heavy, it's important to keep them contained and raised off the soil. I got mine at Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gilbert-Bennett-54-in-Tomato-Cage-901592A/202295650 These are uncoated galvanized steel, but I've seen them coated with a brightly colored rubber or vinyl that would be better if you're growing something pretty in them. Each cage you see in my picture has a tomato planted inside and there is a marigold planted between each cage. I've read they keep away some of the predator insects and attract beneficial ones.

[joysdaughter]

Thank you - we don't have Home Depot in England, but I'm thinking a shape like that would support my new clematis. I have an inner city yard which doesn't grow vegetables as it is mostly shady, but shrubs and climbers do well.

[virginiadear]

Hello!
(And I must send a separate greeting to kaesha_nikovana, since this is her journal and I've never visited before. I'll do that, directly I post this comment

[jenthompson]

Wow! You've been busy with the garden! Once of these days I'm going to grow tomatoes. I love them so much but can't seem to get off my lazy butt to plant them.

Good luck with the dress for this weekend. I keep daydreaming about an easy GoT dress, but I'm trying to force myself to stay focused on the bustle outfit so I don't sabotage my chances with that one. *snort*

[kaesha_nikovana]

LOL All my time has gone to this lately, and that's left no time for sewing. I very seriously considered wearing the same thing I wore last year, but darn it- I want something new! I'm thinking the crazy winged fairy idea is winning at the moment...

I have a LOT of extra tomato plants if you decide you want some. Lots of varieties and colors, all grown from seed. I'll even come plant them for you if you've got a space or big pots ready. :)

[virginiadear]

Could you talk a bit more about your irrigation system and how you'll be tweaking it? Usually, we have sufficient rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year that a lot of watering and/or irrigating of vegetable or flower gardens isn't necessary, but if the Old Farmers Almanac (or other almanacs and gardening guides) are correct, we're only a few weeks away from unusually early unusually hot and unusually dry summer weather. I could use a good system for delivering water to my vegetables!

Ooh: having mentioned vegetables, I'm curious about yours: what in addition to tomatoes are you growing?

[kaesha_nikovana]

I'd be happy to talk more about it! Here in Texas, every summer is very hot, and we're in a perpetual state of drought or near-drought. Luckily we're allowed to hand-water or use drip irrigation systems even when there are water restrictions in place. The first year I gardened here I watered my veggies by hand every morning, but that was less than ideal for a variety of reasons

[virginiadear]

That drip irrigation system looks splendid

[kaesha_nikovana]

This will be my first time growing melons. My soil may not have enough nutrients to support the watermelons, but I'd still like to try. I'm not much of a melon person myself, but my husband likes them and my chickens go crazy for them. One way or another, they'll get eaten!

I don't think I've tried any Uzbekstani tomato varieties, but I had trouble tracking down what's bred to grow there. I've been utilizing the Texas Agriculture website quite a bit, and they have a list of recommended varieties of veggies for my area. I'm not following it to the letter though - I tend to do things the hard way. :)

This will be my first year of harvesting the garlic, so I can't say anything about my preferred types. I have three separate bunches that were planted by the landlord's then-girlfriend 4 or 5 years ago and have grown unchecked ever since. I honestly thought they were some type of native or tropical plant until a neighbor pointed them out to me as garlic. They may be all the same type, or all different types. I'm excited to find

[joysdaughter]

Wow, so much vegetable gardening! Well done! I'm reorganising my yard, and should be able to find space next year for a few odds and ends. We thought we were going to move a few years ago, then I was ill, so we went through a stage of neglect. Now I want pretty, but next year, thanks to some suggestions from virginiadear I have veggie plans.

[kaesha_nikovana]

Thank you! This is the most I've ever grown. I'm fortunate to have more time on my hands than previous years, so it's allowed me to expand the vegetable garden and put in some small decorative flowerbeds. My in-laws will be visiting later this year and I'd like to have the place looking its best. We're renters here so beautification has been low on the priority list until now. I'm enjoying the transformation, and the neighbors keep complimenting the yard!

[virginiadear]

I'm reckoning you can have pretty and vegetables.

Please hop on over to my journal; we can get into detail there without hijacking kaesha_nikovana's journal. One thing I do want to mention here is that you don't have to rely on the surrounding buildings for reflected light: you can set up your own reflective surfaces, the shinier, lighter, brighter, whiter or metallic, and every little bit helps.

[joysdaughter]

I'd love to talk on your journal, but I've been trying for some time and my computer simply shows a tan coloured blank page. Please send me a link.

[virginiadear]

"Tan colored blank page"---this comment's for me? I almost didn't see it, but my "Friends" page finally loaded and I noticed that there seemed to be more comments here on this entry in kaesha_nikovana's journal and I popped by to read them

[joysdaughter]

It appears that now I can comment, but not read my messages, or my own journal!

[virginiadear]

http://gardening.livejournal.com/
http://livejardin.livejournal.com/
http://patio-gardens.livejournal.com/
http://plants.livejournal.com/
http://succulents.livejournal.com/
http://unusual-plants.livejournal.com/
http://organic-garden.livejournal.com/

It is a gardening comm link you were wanting? I hope something here is helpful! :^) To the best of my knowledge, the community listed first is the most active one.