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Taz Baby
05-21-2012, 09:36 PM
Here is something I ran across in a garden book. Use those sticky traps in the garden to catch insects. I have some that I use to catch the rodents and they work really well, so why not in the garden. Take a wood dowel or good size stick and attack a clothes pin to it, I uses a zip tie. Clip the sticky glue trap to it and set it in the ground next to your plants. Also you can use sticky fly tape traps too.

What kind of garden trick can you share?

Grumpy Old Man
05-22-2012, 04:32 PM
Dilute Louisiana hot sauce with water 20:1, put in a spray bottle and spray your plants. It'll keep the bugs at bay!

Sniper-T
05-23-2012, 01:37 PM
^
that may be, but then I'd be out there eating my raw plants

Taz Baby
10-05-2012, 09:18 PM
1 wooden clothes drying rack + 3 discarded window screens = An effective herb drying rack.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/528664_10151184696002436_1715367816_n.jpg

Taz Baby
10-05-2012, 09:23 PM
Here is an idea on what to do with your after Halloween pumpkin. Fill with dirt and plant some seeds.


https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/376597_10151145146652436_1682667011_n.jpg

Taz Baby
10-05-2012, 09:30 PM
Baby changing table turned into a vegetable holder/ripener.


https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/428921_10151087032002436_51741500_n.jpg

Taz Baby
10-05-2012, 09:38 PM
Home made Oxyclean

1 cup water
1/2 cup peroxide
1/2 cup baking soda

mix together and soak clothes for 20 min to over night

Gets the tough garden dirt out of your clothes.

Taz Baby
10-05-2012, 09:46 PM
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/255383_342544409154898_2066391407_n.jpg

Various plants (in no particular order) that you can regrow from the food you already have! Woot! Way to reuse and recycle! I constantly have green onions and celery growing. (And potatoes/sweet potatoes but that just because they decided to do that in my pantry) Do you guys regrow any of your food?

Apples- http://www.ehow.com/how_2135774_grow-apple-seeds.html

Tomatoes- http://www.ehow.com/how_5581958_grow-tomatoes-fresh-tomato-seeds.html

Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes- http://www.gardenguides.com/117543-plant-cuttings-potatoes.html

Green Onions- http://www.17apart.com/2012/02/how-to-grow-green-onions-indefinitely.html
http://tipnut.com/nifty-food-plants/

Leeks- http://www.alifeenchanted.com/2012/05/02/regrow-leeks-too/

Carrot Tops- http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/children-in-the-garden/grow-carrot-tops.htm

Pineapple- http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Pineapple/pineapple.htm

Romaine Lettuce- Same technique as celery

Cabbage- Same technique as celery

Celery- http://www.17apart.com/2012/02/growing-celery-indoors-never-buy-celery.html

Avocado - http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2009/09/09/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-from-an-avocado-pit/

Lentils- http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/02/19/how-to-grow-sprouts/

Pumpkin- http://pinterest.com/pin/98375573080950437/

Ginger- http://www.gardenswag.com/2011/12/5-foods-you-can-grow-from-kitchen-scraps/

Garlic- http://www.gardenswag.com/2011/12/5-foods-you-can-grow-from-kitchen-scraps/

Bonus: Bok Choy - http://www.17apart.com/2012/02/how-to-regrowing-bok-choy.html

Taz Baby
11-14-2012, 01:50 PM
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558177_342931725801353_1183798508_n.jpg

4suchatimeasthis
11-14-2012, 02:56 PM
^^^genius!!!

Onestep
11-14-2012, 04:08 PM
Old CD's - drill small hole, attach swivel and hang from wire near berry and tomato plants. When they swivel and flash it'll keep the birds away.
Plant in a trough, it'll hold water until the plant gets established. As it grows, add small amount of fertilizer to the dirt on each side and rake dirt up to the plant covering the fertilizer and part of the stem. Water in. Repeat again when taller.
This will feed and support the plant at the same time.
I've used old water bottles, cut in half, for plant starters. Make sure you put some holes in the bottom for drainage.

bacpacker
11-14-2012, 11:54 PM
Taz I like that stand. I think I may have to build me one of those this winter. I'm bettin that would make a great stand for some herbs and greens.

OS, I do something very similar with my maters. I'll dig a hole deep about 12" deep and bury the plant up to the top 4 leaves and place a 14" PVC pipe in the hole with the plant. When they need watering, I take a 2L coke bottle full and turn it up in the pipe. It puts the water directly to the roots and there is little to no evaporation. Makes it easy to mix up some liquid fertilizer and apply it to the roots as well.

Evolver
11-15-2012, 12:42 AM
One draw back to the stand thing is there won't be much room for a good root system if you make it as per shown in the photo. Maybe use more of the plastic bottle? :confused: I like the concept though.

Onestep
11-15-2012, 11:39 AM
BC, I've gone to doing it on almost all my plants, not just the maters. I've tried it without the trough/adding dirt and the results are much less. Another trick is when planting seeds, I make a long trough the desired depth, add the seeds and then instead of the existing dirt, I add topsoil/manure in place on it on top the seeds. It seems to help jump start them. I use the $1.00 bags they sell at HD & Lowes down here.

Jimmy24
12-19-2012, 11:16 PM
When transplanting, bury all the plant, except the upper leaves. And lay them horizontal. They will make more roots and easier to water and fertilize. You will have a stronger root system.

When planting your taters this late winter, save some ashes from the fireplace. A soon as you cut your eyes, store them in a paper bag with the ashes. It will help the fresh cut eye heal over and adds potash to promote rooting.

I use old newspapers as mulch. After seeds sprout or transplanting new plants, I lay a light layer of newspaper down, surrounding the plants. The newspaper rots by the next year and becomes part of the soil.

Just a few things I do, that some may already do, too.

Jimmy

Evolver
12-19-2012, 11:44 PM
I've used surfer on our seed potatoes before but I like this idea, I've read about it but never have known anyone that has done it.

bacpacker
12-19-2012, 11:55 PM
Jimmy, Good info on the wood ash. i've never heard of that before and will be trying that here in a couple months. Already have my seed taters.

For mulch I've been using grass clippings layed out in a thin layer. In a couple weeks put out another layer.

Jimmy24
12-20-2012, 12:07 AM
Jimmy, Good info on the wood ash. i've never heard of that before and will be trying that here in a couple months. Already have my seed taters.

For mulch I've been using grass clippings layed out in a thin layer. In a couple weeks put out another layer.

That's what I perfer, but I get the old papers for free. I have a very large compost pile, so that puts good stuff in the soil with the paper. I use pine straw on my 'maters...

My grandfather taught me the ash trick....old school....

Jimmy

bacpacker
12-20-2012, 12:48 AM
Old School seems to always beat new school. Here is one my grandpa used to do.

As he got older, he wasn't getting around as well and instead of planting his taters in a row, he would cut his eyes and scatter them around in a patch. he then would come behind it with old hay and layer it about 2-3" deep. They usually came up quick and by the end of the season he just pulled the hay back and picked them up off the ground.

One I tried a few years back and will be doing again this coming fall. Best I recall in late Oct/ early Nov I dug a trench maybe 6" deep and layered the bottom up about 3-4" with leaves and then put the cut eyes down the row like normal. Layed about another inch or two of leaves on them the hilled up a little dirt over that. They sat thru the winter then in March the plants came up and performed well. Tater bugs didn't hardly touch them and when we harvested the taters were totally clean. Leaves were still in there, slightly decayed. I only done it once, but will be doing another run this coming year.

Illini Warrior
12-20-2012, 01:35 AM
Taz I like that stand. I think I may have to build me one of those this winter. I'm bettin that would make a great stand for some herbs and greens.

OS, I do something very similar with my maters. I'll dig a hole deep about 12" deep and bury the plant up to the top 4 leaves and place a 14" PVC pipe in the hole with the plant. When they need watering, I take a 2L coke bottle full and turn it up in the pipe. It puts the water directly to the roots and there is little to no evaporation. Makes it easy to mix up some liquid fertilizer and apply it to the roots as well.



instead of a PVC pipe along side the plant ..... bury a 4 inch perforated poly drain tube under your lane of tomato and pepper plants .... leave one end of the poly tube open for hose filling .... it promotes the plants to deep root ...... I fill around the pipe with manure and compost to hold the moisture and give extra plant feeding ..... had beautiful tomatoes even with the draught this last year

Metrocruiser
12-20-2012, 01:37 AM
nice setup, when I get some free time, I would like to build a vertical wall of herbs. I get sick of being on my knees when gardening. and I hate pulling weeds out of the garden bed. lol
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558177_342931725801353_1183798508_n.jpg
http://www.rivotech.com/bronco/wallofherbs.jpg

bacpacker
12-20-2012, 02:26 AM
IW , do you move your location every year? I do to try and keep down disease and bugs. I may try a section or two and see how much trouble it would be to move. I could burrow it using a tater plow. Good idea the more i think about it.

Metrocruiser
12-20-2012, 07:17 AM
hi 4such,

in regards to the wall garden, I was planning to build 3 levels along a 6'x30' foot fence facing sww. just using about 60 to 70x1 gal pots 90 feet of 2"x8"s and 90* brackets and white corplast to deflect the sun shining directly on the black pots. was thinking to water with irrigation hose "T"s off the garden hose manually hooked up to the faucet. was gonna do it last year but we were pretty busy and i let the inlaws tend the garden. thinking to do it this year to increase garden size and yields. we love lettuces, bok choy, spinach, and all the root veggies for borscht soup. We have another span of fence about 90 feet facing north that is between our house and the neigbours, we were thinking to cover it up a bit and try some ginseng. There is already ferns growing there so it could be an ideal location for a challenging plant.

Id love to see some pics of the colony gardens

Sniper-T
06-15-2015, 10:59 PM
Necro-post to the extreme!

my wife is always bugging me to plant celery, and I can never seem to find heirloom seeds... and then I remembered this thread, and something Taz had posted and I forgot.

Dicing up some veggies for a soup and was just about toss the end in the composter when I remembered this thread.

Butt end of a celery bunch:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0615151728a_zpsdkj7xcts.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0615151728a_zpsdkj7xcts.jpg.html)

trim off the dead:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0615151728b_zpsegevcewm.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0615151728b_zpsegevcewm.jpg.html)

Notch it for water transfer:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0615151728c_zpsgtqmne4l.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0615151728c_zpsgtqmne4l.jpg.html)

'planted':

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0615151731a_zpsuxqd752g.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0615151731a_zpsuxqd752g.jpg.html)

And the one I started a week ago, when I had the epiphany moment, ready to plant:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0615151729a_zpsmrnzgimt.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0615151729a_zpsmrnzgimt.jpg.html)

Thanks Taz!!

Sniper-T
06-15-2015, 11:32 PM
Taz I like that stand. I think I may have to build me one of those this winter. I'm bettin that would make a great stand for some herbs and greens.

OS, I do something very similar with my maters. I'll dig a hole deep about 12" deep and bury the plant up to the top 4 leaves and place a 14" PVC pipe in the hole with the plant. When they need watering, I take a 2L coke bottle full and turn it up in the pipe. It puts the water directly to the roots and there is little to no evaporation. Makes it easy to mix up some liquid fertilizer and apply it to the roots as well.

bp... still doing this? pics?

Sniper-T
06-15-2015, 11:39 PM
We have a lot of new members... and it is garden season. I will be posting more pics of some new setups I have... let's see yours, and hear results of those gone by...

bacpacker
06-16-2015, 01:32 AM
T, I did not do the pipe trick this year. It does work, but I entended to install a drip system. Circumstances hasn't let that happen yet.
I have been working for a lady on a raised bed and have installed a drip system in it. I am very impressed with how it functions. Downside, trying to learn how much water to put to certain plants.
Never done much with raised beds before either. I am amazed at how quickly they dry out around here. It is taking quite a lot more water to keep stuff growing. Not sure I'll transition to those fully ever.

Vodin
06-16-2015, 01:22 PM
Thought I covered this subject already..

Water troughs, 5 gallon buckets and net cups used for self watering container garden?

Corn, radishes, dill and pumpkin taking off?

Ring any bells? Let me know if it does or doesn't.

Sniper-T
06-16-2015, 02:06 PM
LOL. Yeah, you're good Vodin. But we do have other new-ish members too.

Vodin
06-16-2015, 11:52 PM
Apologies,

On the serious side I literally I have minimal short term memory. If it is not of importance to me it is usually gone after 15 minutes. So this is why I made the statement. I guess banging your head after flying through the air might have that effect.. but if you ask me I will flat out deny it. :)

Thank you Sniper-T

Domeguy
06-23-2015, 03:06 PM
T, I did not do the pipe trick this year. It does work, but I entended to install a drip system. Circumstances hasn't let that happen yet.
I have been working for a lady on a raised bed and have installed a drip system in it. I am very impressed with how it functions. Downside, trying to learn how much water to put to certain plants.
Never done much with raised beds before either. I am amazed at how quickly they dry out around here. It is taking quite a lot more water to keep stuff growing. Not sure I'll transition to those fully ever.

I only have one raised bed, 4'x8' for strawberries. We had so much rain this spring I never had to water them. The only thing I can think about the ones you speak of drying out quickly, do you think it is due to moisture escaping from the sides? And if you lined the sides with plastic, do you think this would help?

bacpacker
06-23-2015, 09:38 PM
That would help I'm sure. Really the big thing is getting seeds to germination ate.

Socalman
08-03-2015, 04:06 PM
The drought here in Calif. has forced us to do some things differently this season. We are under water use restrictions so that has had an effect on both what we planted and how we irrigate. I have taken some 5 gallon buckets and put about 2 inches of steer manure at the bottom and then fill with water. I allow it to "brew" overnight and then pour the water onto the tomatoes and peppers. So far it seems to be working, I am not overwatering and the crops are getting fed.

realist
08-06-2015, 01:15 PM
The drought sure has changed stuff however I will let the lawns go before I will ever change anything in the garden........its nice being on a well. I put in over 350 square feet of raised beds this year all with great soil. This goes with the two hundred square feet we had before. The garden is all on drip irrigation. Corn, beets, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, Kale, romaine, small potatoes, artichokes,lemon cucumber and some sort of star squash. My wife says she planted some melons but I have yet to find them I think she just planted more squash. Does anyone want some squash?????????

One thing having a garden really shows you it is important to practice and see what works. I would hate to have SHTF, with no experience and have to depend upon a canned garden I knew nothing about. People need to understand it is not just throwing some seed out and you have a garden in three weeks. It all takes a lot of work.

The one thing I am lacking is a good compost system, so that is what I am going to work on. I used to have a tractor I used to turn the pile but it died years ago. When I say a pile I mean 10 to 15 yards of material, it was wonderful. The wife has small ones but she does not turn or water them often enough.

mitunnelrat
08-08-2015, 01:16 AM
Gardening without experience would be horrible. Even a few years in now I struggle with some things. Not drought here, but too much water due to rain., I've slept through two tornado warnings in the past month. I can't remember the last time we had even one.

Drip irrigation is coming next year. I can't wait. Between this and other projects Ive been way more busy than I want to be. Its time.

bacpacker
08-08-2015, 01:28 AM
Gardening is extremely time consuming and very dependent on the weather. This year, spring started normally temps and rainfall, late May/June was very dry. Enough so I had to water a few times to keep plants alive, but little to no growth. July, it got hot, 90's plus most every day and an excess amount of rain. So much the tomatos were splitting open sometimes before they ripen. On top of that the weeds grew so fast I lost control of them. I am now trying to locate my onions to harvest what remains (we had already harvested about 1/4+ of them. And for the life of me I can't figure out my peppers. The Serranos have done great and are still putting out. But the jalapenos, cayenne, and bells had little to nothing on them. Most plants look decent, but they just aren't blooming.

Anyone who thinks they will just pick up growing their food WSHTF are gonna starve. There is no doubt in my mind. I have been gardening since I was a kid and growing a lot for the last 15-20 years at my own place and I still feel like a newbie at times. I couldn't imagine just starting out.

Socalman
08-08-2015, 02:33 AM
Most people have no idea just how time intensive it can be, even for a small garden. You understand the saying that for a farmer "...there are no days off."

Backpacker, I know what you are saying. Some years certain things do exceptionally well and in other years it is not very good. This year my zuchinni is doing well and is very tasty. My yellow crook-neck that is usually very good is not doing well. For the first time ever I planted some butternut squash and it seems to be doing well. I noticed earlier this week that the plants have set several small squash. I just hope I can see them get to maturity which should be in Oct. & Nov.

helomech
08-08-2015, 02:46 AM
Without supplemental water my garden would never make it. I want to do a rain water collection with irrigation under the soil.

Vodin
08-10-2015, 12:50 AM
This year was a testing period. I built a PVC Greenhouse, used 5 gal buckets and set the buckets up to wick water from a water trough. Got a lot of varying results but knowledge is key. With the buckets and water troughs I didn't have to weed, watering entailed filling the troughs up a few times a week and the corn trough needed water 2 times a day. I had some mold issues don't know if that is due to the buckets, coffee grounds or the soil. And again the weather threw a curve ball so I don't know if that had any bearing on the issues. Overall I have learned and hopefully will be able to apply corrections next year.

Sniper-T
08-10-2015, 11:50 AM
Every day of every year is a learning experience. And just when you think you got it figured out... you'll learn that you don't. you really really don't.

sigh!

bacpacker
08-10-2015, 11:56 AM
If you ain't learning something, you ain't tryin very hard.

realist
08-10-2015, 03:47 PM
I just go back from hunting over the weekend, don't worry Bambi is still safe.............for now. One of the guys brought Armenian cucumbers and tomatoes which were huge. Our tomatoes are just starting but they are small, his were ready and tastes. We live just 12 miles away from each other. With so many micro climates around I need to start experimenting up at our property as to just what and how fast times will grow.

Isn't is amazing how much you learn and seem to understand more as you get older but at the same time realize there is so much more to lean.