RE: How Does Your Garden Grow?

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StellaByStarlite -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 4:45:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ScooterTrash I have it easy....all I have to do is wish it, and it grows. Of course "twicehappy" has the green thumb around here and I think anything "ShiftedJewel" or I mention eventually gets planted and grows...so maybe it's not really a wish thing. I swear, she can take a twig and start a tree. I even had fresh green onions with supper tonight, that she planted a couple months ago in a pot. Projects? Hell, I can't remember all those fancy names, but I do know for a fact that the two of them have been planning some elaborate rose garden for this year.....of course for me, I still think a healthy looking hot pepper plant looks divine...lol. Oh, lucky you. =) Do they have ideas on what kind of roses they're planting? Oh, I'm sure you don't know, lol. You and my owner are of like mind... he has NO idea what I'm doing grubbing around in the dirt, he just knows he enjoys the results, haha! He has requested a tulip bed to be planted this fall.. what my baby wants, my baby gets! Tell Shifted and Twice good luck with the rose garden, and I'm trying to keep this thread active for all us gardening pervs <g> So they're always welcome here to share stories and hints! Cheers, Stella

StellaByStarlite -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 4:52:10 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SunNMoon Hi, Thank you :) Right now I have a spider plant, a jade, a plant which I have no idea what it is and I hibiscus. I also have 2 pine trees (I forgot what kind) and a Norfolk Island Pine. Everything is just making it; I have a history of plants dieing on me. I hope you have fun planting. :) Hi, SunNMoon, Houseplants need more water if the air is dry, and because they're in containers. You might also try a small bit of plant food. Unlike outside plants, they can't suck nutrients directly from the soil, so they might supplements. Jade plants... I think they might prefer a more shady area. Not all plants respond very well to full sunlight, so check the location. Are your trees doing well? Pines needs acidic soil, not alkaline. I've never grown pines in a pot before.. how cool. =) Good luck! The Poor Man's Plant Doctor

Twicehappy2x -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 5:18:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: StellaByStarlite Oh, lucky you. =) Do they have ideas on what kind of roses they're planting? So they're always welcome here to share stories and hints! Lmao....i closed my profile by my choice a few months ago due to an issue i'll not discuss here, i opened one just to answer this. We bought one each (all tea roses) of Nearly Black, Mint Julep, Blue Girl, Forty-Niner, Irish Gold and Double Delight roses in a set then ordered an extra Blue girl. Scooter bought me a Hot Cocoa rose, which is currently attempting to bloom in my room, a Shreveport which we are waiting for(both grandilflora own root stock types). We are also waiting for a lemon and lime tree, a butterfly bush, several snow on the mountains and assorted alliums. Not to mention cactuses, assorted house plants and carnivorous plants in the house. Oh and i have my own personal dwarf Blue Spruce pine in a pot in my room that i use for my Xmas tree because i MUST have a live one of my own. Jewel will tell you her best gardening tip is to let her look but not touch anything except roses. I also have 17 different herbs started, dahlias, snow bells, coleous, babys breath, sunflowers, tomatoes, 11 varieties of hot peppers, radishes, spring onions, kohlrabi, marigolds and zinnias. The biggest parts of the gardens have to wait for truly spectacular permanent plantings until we get the new cedar siding on the house.

SunNMoon -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 5:37:25 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: StellaByStarlite Hi, SunNMoon, Houseplants need more water if the air is dry, and because they're in containers. You might also try a small bit of plant food. Unlike outside plants, they can't suck nutrients directly from the soil, so they might supplements. Jade plants... I think they might prefer a more shady area. Not all plants respond very well to full sunlight, so check the location. Are your trees doing well? Pines needs acidic soil, not alkaline. I've never grown pines in a pot before.. how cool. =) Good luck! The Poor Man's Plant Doctor Good morning, Thank you so much for the advice. [:)] I think I'm going to go and pick up some plant food today. Jade plants are pretty hardy; they are able to get these pretty little white flowers. And if they get too much sun they get red edges. The pine trees are the one's I'm most worried about. The lady at the nursery said that they are very hard to grow. So far mine have new growth, so figures are crossed. Sun & Moon

Bearlee -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 8:20:09 AM)
twice!!! Awwwwwwwwww... it is so good to see you posting again! I have missed you. Dang, just the other day I looked for your nic to see if you'd just up and vanished; you had! I'm glad you're here...that all seems well; and that you are still twice happy! beverly Edited to add: PS: For those looking for hardy, easy to grow roses (that also smell GREAT and don't need constant spraying (which I refuse to do)); google "Hardy roses on own roots"...there is a plethoria of them! Tea roses are grafted and often don't do well in colder clims. Roses on their own roots (check out English roses, too...especially David Austin's)...old, antique or heritage roses are often on own roots, too. They're just hardier... And no...ya do NOT have to settle for 'landscape roses'...ugg! LOL b

pahunkboy -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 8:47:45 AM)
i used to grow canna bulbs- a tall red tropical flower. i have about $400 worth of quality seeds i bumped into for cheap. i plan to turn my yards into flagstone and ground cover- as i dont like to mow grass!!! to make to house look pretty- i put fake flowers i had gotten at a garage sale- istant beutaty- needs no watering!!!!

Seatonstomb -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 1:10:51 PM)
I suggest all keen gardeners grow green manure such as comfrey. Be warned comfrey is very intrusive. If you extract its juice it makes great feed for tomatoes. Don't forget to plant Burglaris Disembowless. Pyrocantha and Hawthorne are good for this.

DomKen -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 1:24:36 PM)
I'm in an aprtment so it is window boxes and pots for me. This year I think I'm going strictly for the herbs and vegies. I've got a rosemary that someone gave me as a xmas tree and an English Ivy since no hom,e is complete without an ivy. I'm thinking basil, sage and oregano in pots and a hot chili and grape tomatoes in the window box. One thing I'm looking forward to when i finally buy a house is having real tomatoes again. BTW the koi pond photo was great I've thought about something like that but I doubt the carp would like Chicago winters very much.

sub4hire -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 2:14:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: StellaByStarlite Damn, that's a big project! How big will it be? I'll certainly envy you during the long cold January when you're eating fresh juicy melons =) We're starting with 16X20 but I'm thinking of doubling the size. My biggest concern is being able to hold dwarf orange and lemon trees. Then of course, having a heater for days when it is -25 wind chill. Yet, after living through one winter with no fresh produce and the crap they sell in the stores costing 4 dollars for a tomato, there is no way I'm going to go through that again. I never understood when people would say the vegetables had no flavor. Now I understand fully. Depending on the plans you use. You can build a greenhouse for a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

soultoshare -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 5:44:16 PM)
Actually, the koi may do okay......my sister has a pond in upstate/central NY, and it's roughly the same weather that chicago gets, well, maybe a bit more snow. As far as I know, she leaves the fish out in the pond.....I can double check with her and see...as far as I know, she's never had them in the house in the winter. I'll let you know when she gives me an answer.

Bearlee -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 5:50:53 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DomKen BTW the koi pond photo was great I've thought about something like that but I doubt the carp would like Chicago winters very much. Oh, contrare!!! (how ever THATs spelled!!!) Koi are from Japan...where they're raised in mountain lakes. My pond is in Denver, CO and the top several inches freezes solid all winter. The carp hibernate! Really... it's way cool; google it or contact me and I'll send links... And hey...a pond requires less water for maintence than a lawn! Thanks for the compliment, too. Did you know Koi like to nibble toes; great fun for a girl who likes those who like feet! <giggles> bear Edited to add: If water freezes 2.5 - 3' deep; you just need pond with a minimum depth of 5'. Really, the fish DO hibernate; don't eat or anything! All you need to do is keep a log or a basketball or something that moves/rolls to keep SOME ice open so gasses that accumulate can get out. No...the fish cannot freeze solid. <sigh>

soultoshare -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 6:01:03 PM)
Stella, actually I think hummers spend winters here....I've seen lots of them, but not close enough to identify species. One thing about hummers.....if you put feeders out, and supply a constant supply of nectar, they will return year after year to your area. My dad has had a pair that he was feeding when they put the new house up, and every year, the male and female returned, and he had a younger set of them also.....you can tell the older couple from the younger pair because the older male and female will actually sit on the feeder when you approach the window, and you can watch them, the younger ones take off as soon as they see you. It seems as if each generation that is born remembers the feeder location. And I nvever knew that hummers have a voice.....when the 2 males would fight for the feeder, they actually make a sound that sort of sounds like a scream. It's actually quite startling when they are fighting over the feeder. Especially if they shoot about 2" above your head! Surprisingly enough, there is a lot of green out here.....flowering bushes, orange trees, grapefruit trees......petunias seem to flourish here in the winter. It may be too dry here for tropical flowers, but that won't stop me from trying! I still don't understand all these folks who come out here and plant GRASS! It's the desert for heaven's sake! On a little more humorous note, I noticed folks indicating problems with deer, slugs, rabbits and other wildlife competeing for their fruits and veggies....my parents plant a pretty good sized garden each year......their biggest fruit and veggie pest is their dog! Jade seems to think that it's her own personal salad bar! Boy, does she love strawberries! Her favorite trick is to dig up an onion, eat it and then go breathe in some poor unsuspecting person's face! My mom says the deer and rabbits would eat LESS! I envy all of you who can go dig in the dirt.....toss a shovel full or two around for me, please??!! m

kiyari -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 6:09:53 PM)
Take pity upon the lowly bee! The honeybee is suffering some mysterious decimation of hives, seriously U can GOOGLE it... and my understanding (not sure if true) is that if a honeybee stings, it is at cost of it's life... so they don't (well, excepting those 'Africanized' ones) do that lightly... Bees are our FRIENDS! Public Service Rant brought to you by: ~K

Bearlee -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 6:42:33 PM)
Yup, between mites and insecticides... bees are in trouble! I wish people would just try to use less chemicals... in all ways bearlee

kiyari -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 7:13:21 PM)
Add to that.. GM crops. Think of the canary in the mines. What is killing the bees...

DomKen -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 7:21:54 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kiyari Add to that.. GM crops. Think of the canary in the mines. What is killing the bees... Is a parasitic mite not GM crops. BTW thanks for the info on koi. I'm going to be house shopping this spring so a back yard sufficient for a pond and a veggie patch will be on the list of ammenities. Further BTW it's 'au contraire' from the french.

luckydog1 -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 7:24:56 PM)
This will be my 6th summer( out of the past 7) that I am doing a garden. I really only grow stuff that I can eat though. Here in Alaska I get great Peas, Celery, and Carrots. My kale and Chard grows like Bushes. I did sunflowers last year, but never got any seeds, they bloomed late due to a very wet and cloudy summer. I also have raspeberries, spearmint, and Rhubarb( but they just grow semi wild in my yard, and I do not tend them. I do some cilantro, Oregano, basil( but it never does well),. And I try several other things every year. I even got some corn to grow up here. A few killer zuchinis. I find that gardening tickles my Dom bone. Something about controlling it all. Going through the rows, deciding who lives and who dies. who to prune, who to tie back, who to give more space. Looking over a freshly weeded, productive garden makes me feel very in controll. edited to add, it is 100% organic, I compost and use a little bit of Salmon based fertiliser, and birch ash from my firepit. I catch ladybugs when ever I can, and use a copper tape to keep out slugs. I use all my lawn clippings as mulch durring the season, it keeps down weeds, prevents weed germination, and holds in moisture, plus it looks really nice, and just turns into soil over the winter.

kiyari -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/27/2007 7:27:47 PM)
The mite is Yesterdays News... there is a new phenomenon... sudden death of hives There are no dead bees in -or- around the hives... it is still a Mystery Opportunistic raiders avoid these 'dead' hives for a while It is something recent... it is not the mites It is verrry serious, threatening agriculture which heretofore has been relying on bees that are transported to sites requiring pollination

StellaByStarlite -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/28/2007 7:03:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Twicehappy2x Lmao....i closed my profile by my choice a few months ago due to an issue i'll not discuss here, i opened one just to answer this. Well, welcome back then! Don't go away again.. post in this thread, with us! We bought one each (all tea roses) of Nearly Black, Mint Julep, Blue Girl, Forty-Niner, Irish Gold and Double Delight roses in a set then ordered an extra Blue girl. Scooter bought me a Hot Cocoa rose, which is currently attempting to bloom in my room, a Shreveport which we are waiting for(both grandilflora own root stock types). We are also waiting for a lemon and lime tree, a butterfly bush, several snow on the mountains and assorted alliums. Not to mention cactuses, assorted house plants and carnivorous plants in the house. Oh and i have my own personal dwarf Blue Spruce pine in a pot in my room that i use for my Xmas tree because i MUST have a live one of my own. Okay, I have a question.. which hybrid rose would you recommend the most for fragrance? Jewel will tell you her best gardening tip is to let her look but not touch anything except roses. I also have 17 different herbs started, dahlias, snow bells, coleous, babys breath, sunflowers, tomatoes, 11 varieties of hot peppers, radishes, spring onions, kohlrabi, marigolds and zinnias. The herbs and the veggies will have to wait until we get our backyard straightened around. We have a huge back area with a ton of sunlight.. we also have a dawg and lots of rugrats who congregate there in the summer. It's just a matter of fencing some area off.. but not so much that there's no room for anybody else. The biggest parts of the gardens have to wait for truly spectacular permanent plantings until we get the new cedar siding on the house. We're getting siding as well, eventually. that's why I'm only planting annuals and perennials right now.. so I can move things around without worrying too much. Do you like peonies? Some varieties can get large enough so they offer a very good "foundation" look, and you can always move them later on. Plus.... they smell heavenly. =) I edited this because I peaked at Scooter's avatar and saw you lived in indiana. =) "The lemon and lime tree" threw me, lol.

StellaByStarlite -> RE: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3/28/2007 7:06:05 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Bearlee twice!!! Awwwwwwwwww... it is so good to see you posting again! I have missed you. Dang, just the other day I looked for your nic to see if you'd just up and vanished; you had! I'm glad you're here...that all seems well; and that you are still twice happy! beverly Edited to add: PS: For those looking for hardy, easy to grow roses (that also smell GREAT and don't need constant spraying (which I refuse to do)); google "Hardy roses on own roots"...there is a plethoria of them! Tea roses are grafted and often don't do well in colder clims. Roses on their own roots (check out English roses, too...especially David Austin's)...old, antique or heritage roses are often on own roots, too. They're just hardier... And no...ya do NOT have to settle for 'landscape roses'...ugg! LOL b Rugosas are great, too... hardy and with a ton of varieties. I'm holding out for the heirlooms, myself. =) I love the history behind them, and they just smell soooo divine!

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