| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 06:28:35 AM
I was kindof counting on some of my plants shading out some of the weeds- it didn't happen. So now I am out there weeding and I think they are laughing at me!! I spent about 30 minutes weeding yesterday and only cleared what my hands could reach without having to move much.
I figure I will get the plants that have grown and then make a firm rule to go out and hoe every night to keep the soil too disturbed for serious plant grownth.
I also caught that nasty sneaky bindweed trying to infiltrate my corn!! Yuck! I HATE bindweed!! I consider it very evil. I just wants to destroy everything in it's path. GRRR.
But on a positive note, my grape tomatoes are producing and they should be turning red any day now. My regular tomatoes are growing and the green is starting to lighten up. I wonder if these tomatoes are more on the small side? They seem to be rushing towards maturity and are smaller than a tennis ball. That's fine with me if that is the case.
My carrots are up but still have a long way to go. I will most likely be growing carrots all winter inside since less sprouted than I had anticipated. I must have had bad seed or something.
My swiss chard is producing for me like you would not believe. I am quite impressed! I need to add in kale next year too!
My cabbages are enjoying the extended light and are starting to get down to the business of producing heads. It is so exciting to see them doing so well. I must say- cabbage is one of the most satifying garden vegetables that you will ever grow!!
My pumpkins are starting to flower and I might even have some pumpkins starting to form! YAY! They better hurry or they might not make it in time!
My bell peppers are doing okay- I have one lone pepper forming that is recognizable but I have seen some flowers come and go so I am sure they will start producing more peppers soon.
The watermelon is still working on producing flowers. It better hurry up and get with the program. I may end up having to greenhouse the end of my garden. We'll see how it goes.
The corn is almost knee high now! It was ankle high at the fourth of july but I think it got the message that it was behind and it better hurry up "or else"
The cucumbers and cantelope experiment in the container garden (an old wash basin) seem to be doing well and I see lots of flowers!!
I have only gotten TWO small mishappen strawberries from my plants this year. A watering inconsistency issue I am sure. I am hoping for more as they should be everbearing.
I think that is pretty much it. I hope everyone's garden is doing well!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tribalcime |
Posted - Jul 31 2011 : 03:46:34 AM
I think i have gave up on weeding :) They are winning no matter how much i do . All the severe heat here is really taking a toll on my garden . The beans are like leather . But at least the bugs love the bean plants and are leaving the tomatoes and pepeprs alone now !
http://www.tribalhorsedesigns.com
My webstores are http://www.1craftywoman.com and http://www.shadowsofthegoddess.etsy.com |
| Oggie |
Posted - Jul 30 2011 : 7:24:34 PM
I weed very little. In all of my gardens, except the two raised beds, I put wet newspaper around the plants when I planted and then hay on top of it so I don't have to weed. Where I planted rows of seeds like carrots or beets, I put small stakes at each end with a string tied from one end to the other and kept it open about 3 inches there so the seeds can sprout. I planted peas, beans, and black bean seeds in cement blocks that go around the area we fenced in for the chickens so there is no weeding in those small spaces. It also allows them to grow up the chicken wire. I was trying to do companion gardening this year and other than not knowing sweet corn shouldn't be with popcorn, I think I've done well.
Ginny
Farmgirl #2343
www.thedewhopinn.com
"I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with."
"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it." Both by Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart) in the Movie Harvey
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| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Jul 19 2011 : 08:46:51 AM
I weed as often as I can, even if it's just a little bit each day in either the early morning or later in the evening when it's cooler out. All this weather is really helping the garden and I know if I don't start putting more effort into the garden the weeds will over take it again. I just do the best I can, no sense in over doing it and ending up on bed rest! I have too much to do! So I just try to work it in the cooler parts of the day and as long as it gets done little by little, its better than not doing anything at all!
Once my peas are done producing I am going to till it up and plant another crop of some vegetables for a late season crop too!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
| sunshine7 |
Posted - Jul 19 2011 : 08:31:33 AM
Jenny,
I am growing baby pak choi too!! I have actually harvested it once in June and replanted and I am ready to harvest the second batch here soon.
I was going to weed this morning but I think its already 90 or more.. It's been hot this week so I haven't been outside like normal.
So far I have been really keeping up with weeding too. It's been my mission this year to try companion planting and be a devoted gardener. It works well until life gets in the way sometimes!
I found companion planting to be very effective this year for combating weeds, and its easier on the watering. My garden is a jungle, the best is where I planted my three sister plot. The Native Americans did this.. it's corn, squash, and beans together in a circle. I did this but did sunflowers instead of corn it's by far the two best spots in the garden.
I think scrunching veggies all together has helped with my weeds!! I love the diversity instead of tidy rows! Good luck to all you veggie gods and goddesses! |
| sherrye |
Posted - Jul 19 2011 : 08:01:14 AM
well just call me a lazy gardener. i weed very little. i keep them back some. we use straw as a mulch super thick down rows. it makes weeding easier. when the plants are getting large enough we stop weeding. weeding to close disrupts the roots. i watched a show about a crazy organic gardener guy. he said it was better to leave some weeds. it hides the plants some. then they are harder for the bugs to find. i like the idea of less work. we are pulling pea vines and planting carrots and beets now. we are usually hot now. instead we have rain and 70 degrees. hope its a fine day for all. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 3:44:10 PM
I weed every day..my goal is always a bucket- ful each day...to help keep up..the weeds are ahead by far right now. I like to pull them by hand..my kids prefer to use a hoe. I tend to plant closely and not always in rows (creative me haha) and so I feel like I damage less plants I do want when I pull by hand. I just spent at least 2 hours pulling weeds today. Too hot for me now and I am done for the day. Not my favorite job but I sure love how the garden looks when I get a section weeded! My garden is really taking off right now..as usual July is a big growing time...you never know with June..we get alot of rain..and more than usual this year. August things really really get big and I start harvesting. So far all I am harvesting are herbs, lettuce and other salad greens and baby pak choi..which I love.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Betty J. |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 08:36:22 AM
I don't know what is happening with my tomatoes this year. I started them from seed and planted them at the right time. However, they are just sitting there, harding growing at all. I do have some tomatoes on the vines, but usually they are 4-5 ft tall by this time. They look anorexic!
Betty in Pasco |
| tribalcime |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 07:05:12 AM
I tried sprinkling some plain flour on lightly with my sifter and it seems to have stopped the aphids on my tomatoes and kale and corn ...i did it too late to save the yellow squash from the4 boreres though
http://www.tribalhorsedesigns.com
My webstores are http://www.1craftywoman.com and http://www.shadowsofthegoddess.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 07:01:17 AM
Well the weeds are winning in my garden area again right now. I have been trying to get a lot done in other areas of my life and bam! The weeds take over! LOL Oh well! I am just looking forward to some produce soon! The swiss chard is doing great and the cabbages look good. But I am going to have to get something to deal with pests or I might not have any cabbage to harvest!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| HeirloomMomma |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 06:10:25 AM
At this point in the gardens' life, I do hardly any weeding at all!! :) I have eight raised beds and when I first plant it seems that there is always ALOT of weeding. Now that the crops are grown and producing, they take over and the weeds basically die off. My garden looks the best this year that it has in several years. Between my raised beds I have large flagstones, but even with those the weeds and grass comes through, so I take a weedeater to those areas.
I must say though...I enjoy weeding, it's my peace and quiet time.
Enjoy your day!
Happy harvesting! |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 05:06:07 AM
Oh My Gosh!!! Here in Florida you weed, weed, weed. And it is Hot, Hot, Hot! We have been getting some afternoon thunder storms and that is cooling it off a bit!!So I run out while it is cloudy and do some weeding. My garden is almost finished up now. I will be starting on my fall garden about the middle of August!
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| tribalcime |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 5:09:20 PM
I have had so many weeds this year .I mulch heavily but the birds and winds spread so much also. I just put pics up of my backyard garden on my blog if anyone wants to take a peek ...I made a couple new small areas this spring . Next spring i hope to get a few chickens to help in bug control. http://www.tribalhorsedesigns.com
http://www.tribalhorsedesigns.com
My webstores are http://www.1craftywoman.com and http://www.shadowsofthegoddess.etsy.com |
| Madelena |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 11:49:23 AM
HI gang.. only have a small garden and weed as little as possible. I try to mulch over the soil and keep the weeds down.. Put the winter compost into my tomato, pepper and herb garden and interesting plants sprang up. The neighbor and I thought they were cucumbers or squash. Imagine our surprise to find a baby cantaloupe hanging down one day. The canteloupe vines are covering the soil, and very few weeds have grown there. I often let my tomatoes "free range" too and one year had tomato vines 18+ feet long -- 'hundreds' of tomatoes from a minimum number of plants. Does wonders for keeping soil covered so little weeding is required. A lot of people enjoy the look of neat rows. I give Mother Nature free rein to "let it grow naturally", and have been rewarded with some unexpected great results. Our back yard is "ground cover" which includes plants that make pretty little flowers, and works well in Texas arid droughts. So... Have Gardening!
Mary Madelena
Farmgirl #3153
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 6:51:12 PM
Alee, I usually pull weeds as I am picking beans. And when I am getting tomatoes I'll pull them out of the plants. So as I am picking I am pulling weeds. It takes twice as long to pick veggies, but I am also doing double duty. So in a little while I can just pick veggies as most of the weeds will be pulled up. I am also mowing down between the rows that are wide enough too. So that helps alot.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| RubyJunes |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 3:59:02 PM
Our garden, for the most part, consists of 4 small raised beds. We put layers of recycled papers and cut grass around our plants, and it has drastically reduced our need to weed! We're so glad we did it!
--June
Farmgirl #545
www.RubyJunes.blogspot.com
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| Alee |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 11:22:00 AM
Barbara- your garden sounds great! I think I am going to start putting in some short run things like beets here soon! :) I want to try to get as much diversity from my garden as I can. Each year I worry about our food supply more and more. I am going to freeze as much corn and such as I can. I am really excited!!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| quiltingfarmergirl |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 11:00:06 AM
I spend 20 minutes a day, usually in the evening after work, dinner and dishes. It tends to be cooler then and a great relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day.
On week ends I spend more time out there. It's been quite dry here for several weeks, so they have been ok to keep up with so far.
We've been eating lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas and just starting to have zuchini. Loads of green tomatoes, corn is thigh high for the first planting, the pumpkins and winter squash are starting to run, cabbages are starting to form heads, have a few small green pepper starting, brocoli and beets coming along nicely. The bunnies got all of the green beans..
Barb
at
Breezy Acres Farm |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 09:11:25 AM
Every day, I go out in the cool of the early morning and weed small patches at a time - just until I can't take the heat and sweat pouring down my face any longer. :) I have a small garden, but this really works well for me. Plus, I had used straw as mulch. What didn't grow into tall grass (eghads - we've had lots of rain...) has worked wonderfully for me in keeping the weeds at bay! Your garden sounds amazing, Alee! I believe you're going to have a bountiful harvest! Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| Montrose Girl |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 07:53:15 AM
Constantly. Since we put in a new area, the grass and bindweed are horrible. Took a rototiller (had someone do it for me actually since I couldn't manage the beast and Junior doesn't like the shaking) to clear out paths. I've been through everything once and it is huge, and starting round two which is not quite as bad. Things are finally getting bigger, but the grass likes the corn, sigh.
I won't get started on bindweed. I agree with you Alee.
Laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
| Ingrid |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 07:30:50 AM
I weed my garden every day throughout the day as I go by it so not sure how much time per day but once a week an entire day is spent cleaning up the garden, weeding, hoeing, raking etc. Weeds are bad this year and I think it was because of the cooler weather and the rain we have had here. I'm going to plant a winter rye this year in the garden as that is supposed to help with weeds for next year. Have fun weeding.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
