Gardening Thread 2021

[Alaskan]

I know these are small, but it is cold here. They are calling for snow Tuesday!

They look great!

I can't see them clearly enough... are those tomatoes?

Dandelion when young has only the smallest trace of bitter... at that age it is pretty good... we make it up into pesto.

For potatoes I just put the cut up pieces on the flat ground, and mound up. Less work.

 

[Rabbitsbysara]

Yes tomatoes and peppers
I planted my potatoes in pots and root pouch beds. None have come up yet though, it is cold now. I hope they don't rot.

 

[Grizzlyhackle]

Dandelion when young has only the smallest trace of bitter... at that age it is pretty good... we make it up into pesto.

For potatoes I just put the cut up pieces on the flat ground, and mound up. Less work.

I had never heard of the cultivated dandelion until couple years ago. One grocery had them and I've grown them ever since. Dummy me I never thought to eat shorter younger.

I always put taters about 4" down and hill as they grow. Biggest I had last year came out of my compost pile. I'm gonna try that again.

 

[Rabbitsbysara]

I always have butternut squash growing out my compost. Every year. I never plant them but always end up with them lol.

 

[Alaskan]

I always have butternut squash growing out my compost. Every year. I never plant them but always end up with them lol.

Awesome... but that also means your compost isn't hot enough.

 

[Alaskan]

I had never heard of the cultivated dandelion until couple years ago.

I don't think I have ever tried the cultivated dandelion.

We just eat the stuff growing in our "lawn".

 

[Grizzlyhackle]

Clio - (F1) Italian Dandelion Seed | Johnny's Selected Seeds

Tender and uniform Italian dandelion. This upright, attractive variety delivers a high marketable yields. Suitable for multiple harvests as it resists bolting ...

www.johnnyseeds.com

I have wanted to try the wild type. But I can't get passed thinking where the dog has been. I know I can wash it. Do you pick it before or after it flowers?

 

[Rabbitsbysara]

I heard some organic seed growers that used to grow seed for Johnnys, that they stopped buying seed from them. They started having their seed grown by growers from China. So I don't buy Johnnys expensive seed anymore.
My compost is very hot in some places, but the problem is I only have one pile so I run out of places to add new stuff to it. And when the sprouts sprout out I don't turn that part anymore. It is pretty hot right now, I added some horse manure to get it cooking. I have to water it a alittle more, it has been very dry here. Very dry. I turned it some yesterday, it was smoking. I don't have a soil thermometer. I always forget to buy one. I just got a bag of compost starter too. I will try to turn and water and add that. Should get nice and hot. It's mostly stuff from last year so I will spread it out before the warm season gets started. It should be okay. I still have some butternut from last year I haven't put in there yet lol. I don't eat it much and I like to can them for my dogs but it is so much work. Didn't get around to it. I still have to shell the dry beans and can them!
Northern gardeners, do you know the trick for sweet potatoes? Put your grow bags on the concrete. The sweet potatoes get huge. I had one almost as big as a 5 gallon bucket. Last year my peppers were great. I planted them in with my cabbage. Some cabbages I get early others are long season big ones. Has anyone else noticed peppers and cabbage growing good together or was it a coincidence? I haven't found anything useful about it.

 

[Grizzlyhackle]

I heard some organic seed growers that used to grow seed for Johnnys, that they stopped buying seed from them. They started having their seed grown by growers from China. So I don't buy Johnnys expensive seed anymore.

Now that's something I'll have to check out. I agree they are high priced and only get a few items.
Have you ever tried homemade compost activator using beer and ammonia? Saw it online and was thinking about it.

 

[Rabbitsbysara]

Never heard that! I usually just use pee! Lol