Anybody enjoy gardening?

[OralAllOver]

Yup
I be trimming

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...ectedindex=7&itb=0&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&vt=1

 

[ronde]

Question for y'all.

What kind of netting can we use to keep the birds out without keeping the birds caught in it?

The only problems I've had have been groundhogs. They love freshly sprouted anything and will eat it off to the ground. I'm going to put up a fence this year to keep them out.

There is plastic netting for keeping birds off trees and berry bushes. Check out Amazon because there are several types. I only have a bird problem with my mulberry trees. The birds seem to leave my raspberries alone.

A solution for the bugs is a few chickens. The chickens will peck at a few of your veggies, but they'll also keep the bugs and worms off everything. Their eggs will taste batter too.

Another solution is to plant enough for both you and the birds. You'll get your veggies and you'll get to see all the birds in your area.

 

[ronde]

Indeed, indeed!! I never buy tomatoes in the super market. I wait till summer and get them from the garden. Sadly, in the last two years (see up thread), our tomatoes have been tasteless! SO disappointing.

I lived in southwest Michigan for several years and they raise a lot of tomatoes for Heinz as well as supermarkets. The reason they don't taste as good is they're picked before they're ripe and allowed to ripen during transport. The varieties also bred to have thick skins so they can stand the mechanical transport methods used.

By the way, most fruit is picked before it's ripe as well. It's picked and then the ripening process is controlled in refrigerated storage buildings. That's how you can have "fresh" apples, pears, and peaches in January.

 

[Erozetta]

Just herbs. I don't really have space for more.

 

[MajorRewrite]

A neighbor has a witch hazel shrub that blooms during this part of winter. I planted one last fall but it seems to be too small to bloom yet.

Got to love winter blooms. Snowdrops and hellebores are other things blooming this time of year.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Ohh, Ohh, Witchey bloomin....

 

[AG31]

The only problems I've had have been groundhogs. They love freshly sprouted anything and will eat it off to the ground. I'm going to put up a fence this year to keep them out.

There is plastic netting for keeping birds off trees and berry bushes. Check out Amazon because there are several types. I only have a bird problem with my mulberry trees. The birds seem to leave my raspberries alone.

A solution for the bugs is a few chickens. The chickens will peck at a few of your veggies, but they'll also keep the bugs and worms off everything. Their eggs will taste batter too.

Another solution is to plant enough for both you and the birds. You'll get your veggies and you'll get to see all the birds in your area.

Ground hogs!!!! If hubby wouldn't raise such a fuss I'd get a shot gun and sit myself down on the porch at sunrise. Instead I use bombs, pile a bunch of rocks over their entrances (I've only ever found one per visitation), and through the lit bomb in and drop the final rock in place. It seems to work.

 

[AG31]

A neighbor has a witch hazel shrub that blooms during this part of winter. I planted one last fall but it seems to be too small to bloom yet.

Got to love winter blooms. Snowdrops and hellebores are other things blooming this time of year.

Witch hazel, yup! First thing to bloom!!
Snow drops, yup! What a treat.
Hellebores, used to have them, but they disappeared.

 

[AloneTooLong]

Indeed, indeed!! I never buy tomatoes in the super market. I wait till summer and get them from the garden. Sadly, in the last two years (see up thread), our tomatoes have been tasteless! SO disappointing.

what variety are you growing that are tasteless (and which 'zone' are you in?)

 

[AG31]

what variety are you growing that are tasteless (and which 'zone' are you in?)

Same kind I've grown for decades, Early Girl and..... senior moment....
Zone 4b, the same zone I've grown for decades.

Note that these problems are only from the last 2 years.

 

[Dodola]

Same kind I've grown for decades, Early Girl and..... senior moment....
Zone 4b, the same zone I've grown for decades.

Note that these problems are only from the last 2 years.

In my experience, that can be a ph issue or too much nitrogen in the soil. Maybe try a different spot, if they're in the ground?

 

[AG31]

In my experience, that can be a ph issue or too much nitrogen in the soil. Maybe try a different spot, if they're in the ground?

Thanks. I'll test the ph in the spring before planting. Advice on what it ought to be?

 

[Dodola]

I shoot for mid to high 6's in zone 8

 

[InsideSusan]

Just herbs. I don't really have space for more.

Same. I've had a lot of luck with basil, jalapenos and cilantro. I tried ranunculus last year and failed miserably.

 

[SimonDoom]

New camellia in the garden.

 

[Erozetta]

Same. I've had a lot of luck with basil, jalapenos and cilantro. I tried ranunculus last year and failed miserably.

I've managed sage, thyme, parsley, cilantro, dill, chives, oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, tarragon, white sage peppermint.

Basically every herb I use in cooking and such.

They all did well last year. This year I'm adding lettuce, tomato, cucumber and bell peppers.

I want to do jalapenos, but I'm the only one who eats them and it would be my luck that they would be the most successful.

 

[InsideSusan]

I used a small flower pot and it grew enough for me, but I wasn't overwhelmed. I gave some to friends too.

 

[NotWise]

I want to do jalapenos, but I'm the only one who eats them and it would be my luck that they would be the most successful.

Jalapeños can be very productive. I grow three plants, and they provide enough to pickle a dozen pints. I dry the ripe ones and they make a good (slightly hotter) alternative to dried red pepper.

 

[AloneTooLong]

Grandson is finally interested in gardening; mainly 'food' but some flowers to attract pollinators. I have moved to wild-flowers, attracting pollinators/bees/birds etc and for curb appeal, daylilies---lots of them. New plants from the last couple of weeks, Texas Mountain Laurel (AKA grape Kool-Aid bush), elderberry, lots of seedlings for tomatoes and peppers. Central Texas--shorts and T-shirt today, Central Heat on Sunday night!

 

[SimonDoom]

Another camellia bush with its first flower of the season:



I think flowers are sensual. When I take pictures like this I think of the work of Georgia O'Keefe (not that my photos compare).

 

[SimonDoom]

Azaleas in bloom:

 

[AG31]

Azaleas in bloom:

View attachment 2597821

We've still got 2 ft of snow on our perennial garden!

 

[SimonDoom]

We've still got 2 ft of snow on our perennial garden!

Enjoy the snow and look forward to your garden later!

 

[SimonDoom]

Red azalea bloom today.

 

[SimonDoom]

Pink azaleas, wet from morning fog.