that 'man knows it all' is a regional thing? Because around here, when there's a gorgeous garden around someone's home, people always - ALWAYS - go to the woman of the house. My grandpa used to get irritated just like you do. People would always be "Joyce, how do you get your gardens to look so good?" Grandpa would say, "She gets me to do it."
Still. I love when you post or link to posts of your gardens. *sigh* I'm so envious, you have no idea. I thought I was doing well my my baby's breath, 'mums, and aloe. But in fact, I'm nothing. I'm navel lint.
I guess that's what it is, but frakking hell, is it irritating.
Well, if it helps, baby's breath is an annual, so it dies every year. (And ditch the mums. They've been hybridized so many times they're not worth anyone putting effort in if they're not a commercial grower. And aloe needs to be BAKED in that sunshine! That's a native to the highlands of Mexico!)
<3 Don't give up! Just get the right plants so your heart doesn't break. :) (Check your local extension agency. They'll have an online website, most likely, that details what plants are best for your space. And they'll talk to you for free!)
This is why I do everything in my power to keep my husband waiting in the car when we go to Home Depot: he doesn't know the difference between a fender washer and a pressure treated 6X8.
Julia, in solidarity of women knowledgeable about plants, tools, and materials
Nothing upsets me more than my knowledge, limited though it may be, being disregarded. And then credit given elsewhere. <--Yes! That is pretty damned infuriating. It doesn't seem to happen too often to me, but every time it does I feel a bit like the top of my skull has just lifted off my head because there's no room in my cranium to contain all of the rage. And to have my knowledge disregarded in favor of someone who can't even be arsed to spell out simple words? Rage fireworks would result, no question.
Also: it's kind of amazing how many times "stay off FB" is the answer.
And finally: I'm glad you mentioned the extension service (which I always forget exists). I need to figure out where I went wrong with my sugar snap peas this year. The ones that grew were FANTASTIC. Unfortunately, the plants mostly just died in infancy.
How did they die? Shrivel up? Just never thrive? Wilt and die? Also, where were the ones that died planted vs. the ones that lived? (Like, trees, power lines, sidewalk, anything that would reflect or shade)
I don't have a yard so am growing a few things in containers on a deck. It gets morning to mid-afternoon sun, then is in shade. I'm in Oregon where the weather has been pretty mild this summer (mostly 80s on the "hot" days).
The peas started off quite enthusiastically, got to a point where they bore some delicious pods, then they all withered and died.
Meanwhile, the cucumbers, basil, tomatoes, lettuces, and kale are thriving. My suspicions are that it's either the sun/shade ratio or the containers though I tried to be careful with my selections so that each seed's likes and dislikes matched my growing conditions. However, I haven't performed any research yet on why the peas decided to move on to the great growing grounds in the sky.
It may have gotten too hot for your peas. Where I live, we can't grow them in the summer because they wilt and die. They're a "cool season crop." Like spinach, once the temperature hits a certain warmth, they "bolt" and die. That you got some good pods tells me they did what they were supposed to do, but planting them earlier than you have might give you a longer harvest.
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Still. I love when you post or link to posts of your gardens. *sigh* I'm so envious, you have no idea. I thought I was doing well my my baby's breath, 'mums, and aloe. But in fact, I'm nothing. I'm navel lint.
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Well, if it helps, baby's breath is an annual, so it dies every year. (And ditch the mums. They've been hybridized so many times they're not worth anyone putting effort in if they're not a commercial grower. And aloe needs to be BAKED in that sunshine! That's a native to the highlands of Mexico!)
<3 Don't give up! Just get the right plants so your heart doesn't break. :) (Check your local extension agency. They'll have an online website, most likely, that details what plants are best for your space. And they'll talk to you for free!)
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IDEK. People are stupid. You are smart. I'd listen to you every time.
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I'm choosing to look at it as someone who doesn't deserve to keep their plants alive. So there. Ha.
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(Even mr. muse who is terrified of all bugs on sight likes ladybugs. Who wants to kill ladybugs?)
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Clearly he's an idiot.
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Julia, in solidarity of women knowledgeable about plants, tools, and materials
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Also: it's kind of amazing how many times "stay off FB" is the answer.
And finally: I'm glad you mentioned the extension service (which I always forget exists). I need to figure out where I went wrong with my sugar snap peas this year. The ones that grew were FANTASTIC. Unfortunately, the plants mostly just died in infancy.
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The peas started off quite enthusiastically, got to a point where they bore some delicious pods, then they all withered and died.
Meanwhile, the cucumbers, basil, tomatoes, lettuces, and kale are thriving. My suspicions are that it's either the sun/shade ratio or the containers though I tried to be careful with my selections so that each seed's likes and dislikes matched my growing conditions. However, I haven't performed any research yet on why the peas decided to move on to the great growing grounds in the sky.
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Check your Ext. Agency for planting dates and see if that's what happened. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/
It's a good sign that you're getting sun if you have tomatoes growing. Those buggers need loads.
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