attention gardeners

[american spirit]

all right any vege garden people here.

i really don't have a warm sunny area to start seeds indoors this year. i usually have luck with beans and cucumber started outside mid may.

any thing else you can start outside. or other tips for starting seeds inside. it sucks to have to pay 20 bucks for a tomato plant at the local farm.

[nightfighter]

Scott,

Build a cold frame, outside. Use old window sashes, with glass intact. Acts like a terrarium, good to start stuff in. Even better in a raised bed. I'll let you know if I come across some windows at the transfer station. Check the local dump, look for local window jobs being done. Stop and ask if you can have them.

[justplugit]

In Ground-

Now-spinach, peas, carrots, swiss chard, asparagus.

Later-squash, cucumber,potatoes( need a lot of room unless you grow them under straw) Corn-needs a lot of room with at least 4 rows for pollenation.

[ProfessorM]

a heat mat and a fluorescent light will pay for it self in a year or two and you can grow the good tasting veggies which most places don't carry. Heat mat is the key IMO for good germination. I am way behind this year but will start them this weekend anyway.

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/6989/

[PaulS]

Don't forget now is the time to plant lettuce, cabbage, etc.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by the_shocker

. it sucks to have to pay 20 bucks for a tomato plant at the local farm.

Wha???! no no no.....if your gonna buy...buy the 6 packs for a couple bucks. once they take off they take off. doesnt seem to matter how big the plant was when I put them in they all fruit about the same time anyway.

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Jenn

Wha???! no no no.....if your gonna buy...buy the 6 packs for a couple bucks. once they take off they take off. doesnt seem to matter how big the plant was when I put them in they all fruit about the same time anyway.

Jenn, if you want them to mature throughout the growing season get 3 different varieties.
ex. Jetstar early, Ramapo mid season, Beefsteak late season.

Varieties will differ according to region but a good garden center will carry 3 similar varieties to the ones listed.

[Raven]

just clone your tomatoes

the side shoots that grow in the crotch of branches

can be cut and rooted....you need to find a source of

vermiculite which is just mica popped like popcorn

this holds moisture like nothing else

you dip the cutting into the root powder then
make a hole with a pencil with eraser end
and slide the cutting in the flat
of vermiculite pre soaked in water.

you cover these with more plastic like a tent
so it has plenty of moisture til rooted
much faster than planting seeds...
and you gain almost a month in grow time

[Raven]

what kind of soil do you have? red clay? or what?

[justplugit]

How could i forget Brock o Lee.

[gone fishin]

I use three flourescant lights and 2 - 4 ft. shelves. I suspend the lights under the shelves plus a single set of lights above the top shelf. This enables us to plant 4 flats per shelf = 12 flats. The lights are on a timer and are on for 8 hours per day. Lights are started about 6" above flats and raised as the plants grow. The area used is in a heated room and germination is very fast. Some plants go from flats to small pots and are transfered to outside unheated greenhouse (with plenty of drafts) in about 7 to 8 weeks. Some are left in the flats and go directly in the garden. Those in pots are hardened off and planted in garden. All end up being planted about May 15th. - 30th.

Been doing this with vegies as well as flowers with good results.

The flats have to be watered daily as they will dry out easily and croak.

Between potting stuff, seeds, soil, electricity and labor the savings are not that much, but the satisfaction overcomes the expense.

(Most Seeds are harvested from crop to crop)

[Raven]

Originally Posted by justplugit

How could i forget Brock o Lee.

the biggest head......

[american spirit]

Originally Posted by Strike_King

Where is that? Mahoney's doesn't even charge that much.I'm sure Grigg's Farm doesn't either..

last year i bought a beefsteak tomato plant that was already about 24 inches high for 18 bucks. it was at griggs.

looks like i'm more of a novice compared to some of you. sounds like some of you could grow some serious chiba. thanks for all the input. we'll see how things go this season.

[Swimmer]

Old storm doors with the long hinges work great. With regular storm windows you still have to add hinges, not so with the doors. I have two grow boxes I use for the pumpkin plants made with storm doors.

[nightfighter]

I am going to try one of those Topsy-Turvey gizmos for growing the tomatoes upside down.

[cheferson]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

I am going to try one of those Topsy-Turvey gizmos for growing the tomatoes upside down.

Save your money and make one out of a bucket

[gldnbear93]

I have 25 tomato and 6 pepper varieties sprouting in flats now. Will transplanting to newspaper pots this week then in mid may harden off and into the ground. Like the professor, I use flourenscent lamps (one regular and one grow lamp) and heat mats. The flo lamps are just shop lights ($10 plus the bulbs). Peas are in the ground now and sprouting, lettuce and spinach too. Will be planting cucumbers, cantalopes, and probably something else come May.

H depot had veggie and herb seedlings BOGO yesterday (4" peat pots) so I picked up some sage, basil, mint, stevia, parsley and cilantro. They will go into containers.

I use soakers hoses and a drip system on a timer once everything is moved outside so I don't have to worry about the watering.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by cheferson

Save your money and make one out of a bucket

I hear you...but ordered one for Mom, and it was a two for one deal!

[redneck24]

right now i have carrots, beans, and peas in the ground now. i will wait until around mothers day for the rest.

[BW from AZ]

got about one third of our garden in and up. corn 6", peas 4", beans 4", cucumbers, squashes, cantalope, onions, and tomatoes doing good. gotta hurry before they burn off in the summer heat...

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by BW from AZ

got about one third of our garden in and up. corn 6", peas 4", beans 4", cucumbers, squashes, cantalope, onions, and tomatoes doing good. gotta hurry before they burn off in the summer heat...

Rub it in BW.

[ProfessorM]

oh boy, any day now. If you haven't put these in yet get going as nutin better than home grown. The store bought isn't even in the ball park. They will produce longer than you will live probably, with minimal care once established.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

a heat mat and a fluorescent light will pay for it self in a year or two [/url]

How fast it pays for itself depends on what your growing ..

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

oh boy, any day now. If you haven't put these in yet get going as nutin better than home grown. The store bought isn't even in the ball park. They will produce longer than you will live probably, with minimal care once established.

Is that asparagus ?

[ProfessorM]

Veggies Eddie, those days are long gone for me. Ask any vegetable and the chances are they will respond


Yes it is Ed. I ate one today, because i tripped over it. Soooooo gooood.

[Jenn]

Professor M.....you have my mouth watering! There is nothing better than home grown asspagrass.......