Too bad we can't eat weeds... I'd never starve.

[Kittycat]

Those are the words of my husband, who just returned from our yard.

We didn't spend the extra money this year to mulch in the beds after last year (we had a lot of thinning, and wash out). I'm really regretting that now. Live and learn.

On to better news... My tomatoes and peppers are coming along great. I have 11 plants of each, and the tomatoes are already up to the windows outside (grape, roma & heirloom). We're in the Chicago burbs, so it will be 2-3more weeks before we start harvesting, but seeing those little green babies grow, puts a smile on my face.

We're at the end of lettuce now. I was thinking of planting another crop, but I'm afraid it's too hot now. If anyone in the area has experience with 2nd harvest lettuces, let me know. I typically plant bib & a mix. I'd like to do an arugala, frise & bib if I can.

Carrots are coming along nicely. We pulled two out last week, and they were still a little green in the middle and light orange outside. I'll try another next week. The peas are about done for the season, and the green beans are doing great (filled 1.5 qt bag on the first harvest).

For some reason my basil did horrible this year. All the prior years it was fantastic, it must have been the location - I might replant that this weekend. We'll see. The Dill is done. It went crazy early on, then puttered out to seed, so we'll wait for more next year. All the other herbs are doing wonderful.

On the flower front... Everything is doing great, just a little late to flower. Our smoke bush was fantastic until a week ago, not enough water - now 1/2 of it is dormant. Too bad, I love that thing. Maybe it will come back, we'll see.

That's it from our yard. I'll try to post some pictures after the weekend. You have to see my sweet pea vines... God they're beautiful!

[Blue Gardener]

1. You can eat dandelions!

Or make wine from them. I cuss the little mulberry trees I constantly pull out of my flower beds, but if I would let one grow in the back yard, I would have delicious mulberries. Not all weeds are useless!

[Raven]

2. I'd like to know why my weeds grow faster than my veggies! n/t

[hippywife]

3. Now remember...

a weed is only another plant, just in a place you don't want it. LOL

I didn't look to see where you live but we're gonna give this a shot in our area. May be info out there for where you live, too:

http://www.okwildcrafting.com/

[MuseRider]

4. I have just discovered

that you can eat the Lambs Quarters that are growing in my wildflower garden. Mmmmmm. Weeds are just someone elses flowers ya know? Check what you have and see if they can be eaten or if left alone they flower, collect the seeds and next year put them where you want them.

[CC]

5. My SO likes Lambs Quarter

but I don't, specially in my flower beds or my vegetable beds.
If you want some there is tons of it here. Come and get it.:)

[MuseRider]

6. : )

Thanks but I have plenty! :)

[NJCher]

7. I'm an expert on summer lettuce

Boy do I love my salads, so I have to be.

We're at the end of lettuce now. I was thinking of planting another crop, but I'm afraid it's too hot now. If anyone in the area has experience with 2nd harvest lettuces, let me know. I typically plant bib & a mix. I'd like to do an arugala, frise & bib if I can.



The reason summer lettuce doesn't do well is because the intense sun kills the little seedlings as they emerge. You actually do need to plant it now because if you plant later, the daylight hour will not be enough to sustain it and get it going.

So if you plant it outside on the site where you want it, you'll have to build a screen for it until it's big enough to survive on its own. The other thing you can do is sprinkle the seed in flats, then put out cells of it here and there after the plants are bigger.

FWIW, I learned this tip from a nurseryman who had been in the business all his life. I'd been gardening a good 20 years when I got that tip. Think of all those lost salads!



Cher

[NJCher]

8. oh and here's a mulch tip

For inexpensive mulch to keep the weeds down in the garden, collect corrugated cardboard. After a rain, it's especially pliable. You can tear it to fit the space required. Then heap chopped leaves or even old weeds on top of it. You don't even have to pull the weeds that are already there because the corrugated cardboard is tough enough to kill them--yet over time, it will break down and become mulch.

It's a terrific labor saver!



Cher

[asdjrocky]

9. What a great idea. Thanks!