Zone 3-5 Gardeners Early 2010 - Page 3

[1blueheron]

Originally Posted by redveg

Last year I had horrible luck, we had so much rain my garden did not do well. This year I am turning that around.

Last year was a mess for me too. Carrots, leeks, and lettuce did ok, but we had like 8 tomatoes from a dozen plants. :/ Did you get hit by the blight?

[limette]

I need to wage a war on slugs and earwigs this year. The damage they have been causing is driving me crazy.

I started my seeds on Sunday.

I'm hoping dh can finish the retaining walls in May so I have somewhere to plant all my melons, squash and pumpkins.

It's supposed to be nice tomorrow so hopefully I can get out front to clean up the flower beds.

[MsVyky]

I'm glad we don't have slugs here. They were awful when we lived on Vancouver Island.

Aphids annihilated my lettuce though. How do you get rid of them when they're outside? Does soapy water work?

[redveg]

Originally Posted by 1blueheron

Last year was a mess for me too. Carrots, leeks, and lettuce did ok, but we had like 8 tomatoes from a dozen plants. :/ Did you get hit by the blight?

Boy did we ever. I had about 40 tomato plants in two locations and I was lucky to get a few to eat, but nothing to can. Carrots, radish, chard I did ok with but my peppers, tomatoes, beans, eggplant, the sad list goes on and on. They were a bust. Part of it, well most of it was blight and the rain. Some of it might be my lack of any gardening experience.

i am so glad to have found this thread I am looking forward to chatting with all of you. Learning from you all.

[redveg]

Originally Posted by MsVyky

Aphids annihilated my lettuce though. How do you get rid of them when they're outside? Does soapy water work?

I tried the soapy water before, it got rid of the bugs but my plants turned brown, like they were burned? Maybe it was the mixture I used? I have a book I can look this up if you want me to.

[MsVyky]

If you don't mind and it's not a hassle, sure!

Google is steering me in 800 different directions

[limette]

Originally Posted by MsVyky

I'm glad we don't have slugs here. They were awful when we lived on Vancouver Island.

Aphids annihilated my lettuce though. How do you get rid of them when they're outside? Does soapy water work?

They are supposed to be easily washed off with water from a hose but that never worked for me with my roses. Unfortunately I had to take more drastic measures (chemicals) to get rid of them. Aphids are the only bugs that bother my flower garden.

[MsVyky]

Well that's crappy.


I'm really HOPING to keep my garden completely organic, but I know that's going to be an uphill battle between the bugs, the unpredictable weather, and my inexperience.

[limette]

Try all your organic options first (I did). I consented to using chemicals on my roses because we don't use them for food.

So try the water, the soapy water, garlic, ladybugs etc. And if all else fails, plant enough for you and the bugs!

[Nillarilla]

You can try planting chives near your lettuce to keep out the aphids works for me.

I'm so excited I'm supposed to be getting a greenhouse built by my dh this month as a birthday present. It's half greenhouse half shed. Since we need a new shed anyways it seems like the most economical way to get a greenhouse.

My garden actually did quite well last year in one section. Lots of tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, zucchini and spinach. My other section with the carrots, beans, peas, and herbs and swiss chard, melons and cukes and squash did not do well so I moved it to the other side of the yard where there is more light.

My seedlings are started but already looking quite leggy. Can I get them stronger or should I start over.

[MsVyky]

duly noted, ladies! Thanks for the tips!

[redveg]

Originally Posted by MsVyky

If you don't mind and it's not a hassle, sure!

Google is steering me in 800 different directions

No problem I will look it all up this afternoon and get back to you.

[redveg]

Originally Posted by Nillarilla

You can try planting chives near your lettuce to keep out the aphids works for me.

I'm so excited I'm supposed to be getting a greenhouse built by my dh this month as a birthday present.


My seedlings are started but already looking quite leggy. Can I get them stronger or should I start over.

That's great advice with the chives, I am going to keep that in mind too. Greenhouse, I have that on my wish list. I would love a greenhouse.
The year before last my broccoli was leggy, I just used tooth pics to prop them and when I put them in the ground I buried them deep and they did fine. That was my first experience with it though, might have been beginners luck

[redveg]

Some flowers listed that might repel aphids are Marigolds, Calendula and Chamomile. A garlic brew of 4 to 6 cloves of garlic, 1 small pungent onion, 2 hot peppers or 1 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper. Place all these ingredients in a blender with 1 quart of water and blend until liquefied. Allow the brew to sit overnight, then strain it through a cloth. Add 3 drops of liquid soap to the mixture put in a spray bottle and use on pest that are eating plants.

There are also something called floating row covers. They allow the sun and water to reach the plant, but not pests.

These few suggestions come from The Gardener's Bug Book by Barbara Pleasant.

i will continue to look in my other books for more ideas.

[Owen'nZoe]

Originally Posted by redveg

A garlic brew of 4 to 6 cloves of garlic, 1 small pungent onion, 2 hot peppers or 1 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper. Place all these ingredients in a blender with 1 quart of water and blend until liquefied. Allow the brew to sit overnight, then strain it through a cloth. Add 3 drops of liquid soap to the mixture put in a spray bottle and use on pest that are eating plants.

I tried using this one year, and it turned out that my cat loves it! She ate any plant that I sprayed it on. I have a very strange cat.

[MsVyky]

I had read something like that last year while I was at war with them- though the instructions I read were a little more dumbed down

[zensven42]

1

[Stitches]

Hi can I join? I'm in zone 3. Still waiting here, can't plant out until May 24th boo. Still, I need to get some seedlings started in the house. I always go overboard and don't have enough space. Last year my bathroom looked like a greenhouse, lol. I do what I can with my veggie garden here and I love my flowers too. I can't wait to get going!!

[jildez]

Hi guys, i want to join too. I am a newbie to zone 4 and also to real gardening after ten years in apartments and moving at least every two years, often more. We have a house with three long raised beds that seem to have great soil. But we hope to be buying as early as this summer so i am trying to keep it simple (ha!).

One thing, lasst week i was going to start my tomatoes and peppers and whatever else needed it and my husband told me he had volunteered us ( with 9 mo old) to house and animal sit (3 pets) so i have nothing started. I guess i will get to it next week when we get back- later is hopefully better then never.

Someone mentioned leggy starts- my mom says to nip off the second or third set of leaves, it works sometimes for me- you get a bushier plant- but i always have some starts which don't survive my abuse. My mom on the other hand never kills her starts this way- experience!

I am looking forward to seeing what happens for everyone.

[redveg]

Originally Posted by Owen'nZoe

I tried using this one year, and it turned out that my cat loves it! She ate any plant that I sprayed it on. I have a very strange cat.

I have 5 cats so thanks for this info. I never tried this mixture before just one with soap.

Originally Posted by zensven42

I use diatomaceous earth (fossil flour) for pest control. I just grab a handful and sprinkle it on the affected plants. I sprinkle it on my brassicas/cole crops preventively before I see bugs. I reapply after it rains. This took care of all my pest problems last year.

I never heard of this. Going to check it out.

Originally Posted by Stitches

Hi can I join?

Welcome

Originally Posted by jildez

Hi guys, i want to join too. I am a newbie to zone 4 and also to real gardening (ha!).

welcome I am also new to gardening and zone 4.