How many DUers started working on their veggie gardens this week?

[Elwood P Dowd]

I planted a couple of tomato plants today and will add a couple more in May. Garden is broken and ready for some beans and peas next week. Just ran out of all the frozen and canned goodies from last year, so I can't wait for some fresh, home-grown ones.

[Wickerman]

1. It's a bit early here in Minnesota

Though you wouldn't know it by the weather - no snow in March! Mother's Day is the local lore date for planting.

Enjoy!

[tnlefty]

2. Not quite yet.

It may be tilled Sat., and we'll wait a little longer before planting. :hi:

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. Another week of 70s/80s, and you should be good to go.

:toast:

[nc4bo]

3. Definitely. You should saunter on into the DU Gardening Group....

Very cool place and lots of info and pictures! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=246

Got all sorts of lettuce, India Mustard and radishes planted (got the lettuce/salad green seeds from a very nice DUer) and onion seeds.

In recycled egg and egg cartons have 3 kinds of tomatoes, some green peppers, more onions and kohlrabi seeds sprouting.

Hope we have a good gardening year!

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. I was hoping to get started this week

But my Roundup Ready seeds from Monsanto never showed up. :(

[NJCher]

73. that is absolutely, without a doubt

The funniest post I've ever seen on DU.

:rofl:

If you lived near me, I'd suggest we meet up. At The Olive GARDEN!


Cher

[awoke_in_2003]

86. you both deserve this

:spank: :hi:

[Walk away]

6. Too early to plant but I have been taking my tomato and pepper plants..

out during the day and bringing them in at night. Tomorrow my landscaper (we trade services) comes and he will turn my veggie patch soil and bring the fertilizer.

I started my Moon Flower seeds and herbs too.

[meeshrox]

7. Transplanted last weekend...

but then again, I live in Florida! (not bragging, rather unfortunate for me, really!)

All kinds of herbs, tomatoes, leeks, scallions, red onions, black beans, beets, jalapenos, bells, all kinds of lettuces, mmmmmm...

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. Flowers and bulbs here in East Texas.

Am gonna get some peat pucks and inflate 'em and plant seeds. That is a real hit or miss operation.


Anybody else call them "peat pucks"????


My Tassimo Bosch coffee machine uses "coffee pucks" that the mfr. calls "discs".

[ClayZ]

9. We are getting the raised beds

ready to plant... The weeds are not resisting. :) The herb garden is now beautiful. The greenhouse is clean and ready to receive pots.

Two dump trucks of FREE topsoil arrived at the end of our driveway at 9 a.m. this morning. Now we get to build 4 or 5 more raised beds. We have two beds full of potatoes and the sweet potatoes are already showing off pretty leaves.

We ate the last carrots from the garden a month ago. I saved a huge manila envelope of carrot seed. They are called "Little Jewels," and they are short, fat and sweet. I am anxious to try these and my radish seeds.

I am in search of just the right desk to organize my seed collections.


We are gardening fools right now, and happy as clams.

[Lorien]

35. How did you swing the free topsoil? nt

[ClayZ]

62. A friend was escavating...

a couple blocks away. Now we have a small mountain.

Now I need a couple big strong boys, to come over and man the shovels. :)

[Jakes Progress]

10. Big time in Texas.

Cleared and turned over four raised beds including mixinig in the contents of two compost bins. Tilled up another small bed to go with the 10x30 footer. (Yea. Soon no grass to mow at all.) I do the digging, tilling, building. My wife has the green thumb. She keeps the native flower beds and the vegetables. Tomatoes. Peppers. Herbs. Carrots. Squash. Peas (black eyed here in Tx) Beans, Onions, Sweet Potatoes. Asparagus. If it were up to me to grow them, I would be very hungry. My wife brings them up with a lot of bending, weeding, and sweat. I'm big on the picking and cooking. We live in a plain old ranch house neighborhood and our biggest drawback to gardening is our greatest treasure come August - Multiple red oak and live oak shade trees.

[wiggs]

11. Yep. Now have

Black Krim, Green Zebra, Early Girl, Black Plum, Sungold, and Black Trifele tomatoes planted. Been told I should try Nygous. Harvesting beets and snow peas. Holding off on planting bush and pole beans for a couple more weeks. Peppers and some squash will go in after this cold spell. Trying hale bale planting this year for my squash...an experiment. Eggplants are already in...a bit early though. Excited to see how my Tromboncino Italian Climbing Squash will do and if it will take over the neighborhood as it is advertised to do.

Exciting time of year!

[FirstLight]

12. we just got another foot of SNOW! :(

Here in the High Country, I can't plant anything till June or so.

Lucky...


*sigh*

[Blue_In_AK]

13. A little early here,

although I do plan to start some seeds in my little greenhouse in a couple of weeks.

[Rowdyboy]

14. Planted 6 tomatoes today (3 Cherokee Purple and 3 Celebrity)....

Have harvested a little over a lb of asparagus so far this week!

[NRaleighLiberal]

18. Ah, you've got my baby growing - I named Cherokee Purple back in 1990

and sent it to a few seed companies. It caught on!

[Rowdyboy]

26. Wow, thats great...Its my first time trying them and they sound wonderful!

I started 6 Brandwines from seed too but they're still way to small to transplant.

[NRaleighLiberal]

31. They are good - on my top 10 list. I've probably tried nearly 1000

different ones over the past 25 or so years (am pretty active in the Seed Savers Exchange, one of their tomato gurus) - feel free to ask any questions if you have any anytime.

[JanusAscending]

54. Do you ever come across "Oxheart" tomato seeds?

I've grown them and love them, but can't find them anywhere anymore! My son said he saw them in an Heirloom catalog. I'm in Ct., and the ground is too soggy and wet to plant or even prepare for a while yet. Because of my arthritic back, hip and knees, I am doing only container gardening. I put in some annual flowers in my raised beds to compliment my perennials as well.

[NRaleighLiberal]

55. I've got oxhearts of every conceivable color!

pink, purple, white, yellow, orange, yellow/red streaked, red....sending you a PM with my website.

the original Oxheart is a pink variety from 1925. There are green and striped ones on the way as well!

[JanusAscending]

58. It's the origional ones that I have grown with much success in Ct.

I used to live near New Haven, and there was a little Italian man who had a greenhouse nearby. I bought the small plants from him. After I moved farther North, and found out that he died, I haven't been able to find any. Even White Flower Farm in Litchfield doesn't have them. I will answer your PM tomorrow, as I'm heading to bed now. Thanks!!

[Robeysays]

79. you think i could get that link too?

I've been searching for a good seed co./ operation. and want to start growing heirlooms, help a fellow gardener out! :D

[Rowdyboy]

33. I just read the story of "Cherokee Purple" on wiki....thats really interesting...

Can you give me any advice on growing it? Hopefully it can handle our hellish summers in Mississippi.

[NRaleighLiberal]

36. Should do fine...seemed to originate in eastern TN - the fellow

that sent it to me unnamed is from Sevierville. In Raleigh, with the big time hot and humids, it thrives - one of the very few that seem to not get the dreaded Fusarium or Bacterial wilts. It is a tall plant - a bit more compact than Brandywine. Tomatoes should be in the 8-12 ounce range, up to 16 ounces, color is dark crimson tending to purple, because it has odd genetics that retains some chlorophyll as it ripens - green with red and the clear skin making nearly purple.

I will message you my website - loads of info if you are interested.

[Tsiyu]

43. I wondered where you were

i have to tell you my Cherokee Purples last year were one of the few varieties that produced all summer, even when wilt decimated everything else. And they taste delicious! I've been wanting to find you and tell you that since last summer. :headbang:

As for gardening, my main workplace is putting in an organic garden as part of our efforts to be sustainable. A very kind person has donated a beautiful raised bed kit made of cedar 6x15. I stopped by and looked at our new tumbling compost drum today. So now I'm hoping I have the energy to help maintain my home garden and the work garden, but getting excited about all the fresh veggies and herbs :)

[NRaleighLiberal]

15. Well, a little - got several thousand tomato, eggplant and pepper seedlings in my driveway!

We sell heirloom seedlings at the local farmer's market each spring. We just love this time of year....right now we have spirea, forsythia, our cherry tree, red bud and some perennials all blooming at once in our yard. A treat for the eyes!

[nc4bo]

25. Wished we lived closer to where you're set up!

Yummy heirlooms are always best.

Been looking online for some Nancy Hall sweet potatoes. Ordered a catalog from the tatorman and hope to place an order in the next couple weeks.

Best sweet potato I've ever eaten and since I've never seen the sold anywhere, best to grow my own.

[NRaleighLiberal]

32. I'm actually out to give a talk on heirloom tomatoes near Fayetteville next Sat.

Am going to bring seedlings with me. let me know if you want any info.

[WhiteTara]

16. it has been bliss

I'm transferring seedlings to their next pot in anticipation of getting the garden beds up and stuffed with beautiful little plants.

This is my first real garden in the last few years...my space was so small that I could only plant in wine barrels. Now I have lots of space and I'm really in heaven.

[old mark]

17. Bought some seeds and 2 new blueberry bushes - going to try

pumpkins this year, too. Seems like the weather is at least 2 weeks warmer than it usually is this time of year - we don't often plant this early in April...Global warming....


mark

[noamnety]

19. Me!

Peas, radishes and beets are planted outside, inside my seeds are starting to germinate and I've been moving them from ziploc bags to seed trays as that happens.

Not sure that counts as "work" - but I've started the daily recon missions looking for the arrival of the asparagus. So far the parsley, rhubarb, chives, and lovage have reappeared along with one silly swiss chard that decided to tough it out through a michigan winter with no protection, it's started sending up leaves.

I still have canned stuff from last summer, I need to stop buying groceries and concentrate on eating what's left.

[Historic NY]

20. got peas in but nothing else yet north of NYC. ..some manure tomorrow.

[seabeyond]

21. i planted seed for two flower gardens. hubby does veggie and waiting two more weeks. last frost

he isnt trusting the weather. too many times, we have a freeze in april

two years ago i had a lot of potted plants die cause i planted too early

[Ilsa]

22. We are behind. The ground has been tilled once, but I haven't

added my compost yet and retilled, raked, or planted. March was all about my sister-in-law having a major stroke and dying. Obviously, we didn't get any gardening in.

But I need to get back to the garden. I need to feel connected again.

[MrMickeysMom]

23. Nothing until the end of next month for me...

You live in a warmer zone than SW PA, I take it.

[Elwood P Dowd]

27. SE Alabama. Home of a gazillion Fox News watching repukes.

But except for a few years in Washington, DC and Georgia, this has been my home for 62 years.

[MrMickeysMom]

82. Hey Elwood...

The way climate change is going, I'm told our weather in SW PA will be close to central Alabama by the year 2020!

And there are enough "conservatives" around here who respond to that with,... "hmmm..."

[Fuzz]

24. Tomorrow We plant sugar snap peas, long beans and lettuce.

[conscious evolution]

28. started mine a month or so ago.

Spent the last couple of days transplanting coldframe starts to the garden beds.
Yesterday I put in garden and snow peas.I also brought out the banana trees and replanted them.
Today I did zucchinni and cucumbers.
Also noticed my watermelons have sprouted.Will transplant them in a couple of weeks.
Peppers and carrots also need a couple of more weeks before they will be ready to transplant.

The onions,lettuce,and spinach I did in January are doing really well and look to be ready for harvest soon.

The really cool surprise-last years compost I mixed into my beds has started sprouting some volunteers.So far looks like a couple of squash/melons of some kind and what appears to be ann eggplant.There is also some other sprouts that are too early to identify.Hope thewy ain't weeds!

[The Midway Rebel]

29. 100 row foot of 3 varieties of 'taters, little pots of lettuce, spinach, pansys.

We have been eating clippings of garlic chive and regular chive out of the garden. Tomorrow onions, carrots and more lettuce.

Can't wait for fresh picked lettuce. Can barley stand the bagged store bought stuff.

[HuckleB]

30. We have peas coming up already.

It's too early to put the tomatoes and peppers outside. I'm planting more lily bulbs, but need to wait to put in the Dahlias.

Not much longer though!

Cheers!

[OnyxCollie]

34. I've got four trays of seedlings now

with another tray waiting for me to sow.

I've got hot peppers, lots of basil, parsley, tomatillos, rosemary, oregano, tomatoes, lemon grass, garlic chives, many different kinds of lettuce, and a few sunflowers.

[kestrel91316]

37. Anybody who has extra tomatoes can mail them to ME.

[Jack Sprat]

38. I commend you, but I live in an apt

Wish I could plant some vegetables but I like apt living. I wish apts came with a plot of land for gardening. Ha.

[IDemo]

39. No tomatoes yet, but some cool weather crops

Which is good, because we have had snow the past two days. The rule of thumb is: never plant your tomatoes until the snow has melted from the local ski hill. They have some of the best snow conditions of the year up there still, two weeks before the closing date.

Got the hot frames up and planted lettuce, onions, radishes. Started seeds in peat pots for spinach, beets, kohlrabi (always wanted to try but never have), cantaloupe.

December through May is the longest 10 months of the year here. :)

[Liberty Belle]

40. Hubby planted ours here in San Diego a week or so ago.

We're growing an assortment of tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, herbs, squashes and cucumbers.

Of course, in our sunny climate we're fortunate to also have fruits year-round--oranges, tangerines and grapefruit this time of year, along with avocados.

[OhioBlue]

41. This will be my first year at attempting a real garden

We've grown some peppers and tomatoes that we purchased from the greenhouse before.. but never started veggies from seed.

I've got some seeds started - I had them in the window inside and the ones that sprouted were growing sideways. So I moved them outside today - we should have some nice weather for the next few days. I'll bring them back in on Sunday as it is supposed to storm.

I've got lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, beets and onions sprouting. It's a learning experience and I'm excited about it.

[midnight armadillo]

42. Rain, rain, everywhere

here in the new island state of Massachusetts it's still early for planting. I will be doing soil sampling for our 1st garden tomorrow to send to the UMass lab for testing. This weekend will see more yardwork with an eye towards clearing out more brush to make room for compost bins.

[K8-EEE]

44. I finished up all my winter veggies and planting spring/summer this weekend!

Here in L.A., we never stop gardening which is nice but sometimes I wish I had a break from the weeding and chores!

[alfredo]

45. Planted a few things, but mostly moved house plants out

to my deck. Top dressed them and fed them. I have a three foot (from soil to top) trumpet jade tree I fussed over. I've had it for nearly 20 years.

Got to repot my sea onion. I'll do that Friday.

[hatrack]

46. Moved 3 yards of compost last Saturday . . . gluttons for punishment or for nourishment?

Still waiting for the seed order to arrive. When it does, mostly cool-weather stuff - beets, peas, greens and such - but the asparagus is beginning to show signs of life.

Oh, and (amazingly enough) the bed of greens we left to overwinter survived beneath a row cover and about a foot of snow. The result - a full bed of crisp lettuce, endive and arugula ready to go as of last Saturday. Yum!

86 heads of garlic were, we thought, a good start, but not nearly enough for the two of us. Maybe 100 next year? A guy can dream . . .

Buds were out on one of the apple trees this evening, and the bees were keeping busy - a perfect balmy evening for a walk in the yard.

[depakid]

50. We call arugula "rocket"

Wasn't sure why until I planted some this year. That stuff just rockets up!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

56. Garlic! Yum! Does it keep the vampire problem down???

:rofl:

I see a lot of women around here in Redneckistan with gold or silver purses with a big 8 inch tall cross on the side of their purse, picked out in big tacky rhinestones.

Everytime I see one I think, "Gee, that lady has a serious vampire problem". :rofl:

[havocmom]

47. Last week, actually, Mr. Dowd. For the cool weather veggies anyway

The tomatoes, eggplant, cukes, and herbs will wait until third week of May. It can frost quite late here. But the peas, spinach, and lettuce all go in early so they can get their growing done before the heat strikes.

Lovely to play in the dirt again. A difficult winter. Glad for spring.

Saw the rabbits outside the kitchen window yesterday. They were having a grand afternoon.

[ShrimpScampi]

48. Tilling

I'm making a second garden plot, approx. 45' x 20 '. Busting the ground by hand and then with my Mantis. Yes, my muscles are tired!

[depakid]

49. Been working on it for about six weeks

getting all the autumn plants going in three week successions:

Fractal broccoli, golden beets, carrots, spinach, lettuce, rocket.

The broccoli should be pretty cool if it gets past the bugs & bats:

[laughingliberal]

51. Have to wait for the snow to melt. nt

[John Q. Citizen]

52. Strawberries are greening up and raspberries are putting out root shoots.

I took some peppermint roots indoors and have some happy mint on the window sill.

[Canuckistanian]

53. In our region , we were warned NOT to start garden work

Because despite the extremely warm weather (several records are expected to be broken), NORMAL temperatures COULD return.

Normally in our area, Mid-May is the time to plant.

[JoeyT]

57. Just broke up a field today.

And planted tomatoes and a few different kinds of peppers. Still got a lot left to do.

I try to keep several fields all my hippie friends can grab organic veggies out of whenever they want since there isn't anything that carries certified organic food for a hundred miles or so.

[flyarm]

59. I just can't...I don't have any $1,050.00 Jimmy Choo boots to garden in!!

If you can't do it in style like ..Michelle..why bother??

And I usually garden with gloves..now I see by Michelle's fashion and style of gardening.. gloves are pas à la mode...

I think I will go shopping in Paris instead!!

Who knows, perhaps I will find a really elegant pair of boots to purchase, for Planting a veggie garden.. when I return?

Then I can throw my garden crocs away and be in Michelle fashion and style.... and have veggies!!

[Lugnut]

60. It's too early here.

We had a few inches of snow on Tuesday but that may have been just onion snow. Around here one never knows. We don't get serious with the garden until late April or early May.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

61. Our son inspired us and we now have peppers,herbs, tomatoes, eggplant,

lettuce, artichoke, brussel sprouts and more!!

[Fly by night]

63. Started planting (potatoes and onions) a month ago.

Now have broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and snow peas out, with tomatoes, peppers and basil in gallon pots waiting for the passing of the last frost (still two weeks away.)

For pictures of my Garden in full-production in the past, visit this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3624105#3629206

The pictures are at post #58.

"When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the Garden." Minnie Aumonier

[hobbit709]

64. Garden? What's that?

I can't do stoop labor. But I have plenty of friends with gardens who will trade veggies for computer help.

[Peacetrain]

65. Potatoes and peas are planted.. Western Iowa here

[caitxrawks]

66. i don't have any space for a garden :(

But I DO have three herb plants in my windowsill! Sweet basil, cilantro, and parsley. Best decision ever! I did have marjoram and dill, but they dove off the windowsill and committed suicide. It was a sad day.

I've considered container gardening with bigger pots (I have a ton of potting soil and plant food that needs to be used), but I'm nervous about what to do when the plants get too big. We live in an apartment, so there's no space for me to plant anything outside. Could I theoretically grow some sort of veggie in a regular old pot? Or does it HAVE to be in the ground?

I'm so confused o.o There doesn't seem to be very much beginner gardening stuff available online.

[noamnety]

72. You can definitely grow veggies in a regular pot

Just pick ones that are naturally smaller. Pumpkins - not the best choice. :)

Lettuce or other leafy greens like swiss chard, bush peas or beans (but not pole beans), cherry tomatoes that you keep topped off if they get too tall, ground cherries, maybe beets or even carrots if the pot is deep and wide (a trough?). I'd just make sure they get enough light (and take care not to overwater them). Trim as needed if they start to get unruly.

I don't know your apartment setup, but you might even be able to use a decorative room divider to let climbing plants grow on.

[BronxBoy]

67. Garlic, Onions. Potatoes in....

Starting to harden off the first of my 1,000 seedlings. This will be our 1st full season running our CSA. Usually sell a lot of plants but this year we are planting EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!

[spinbaby]

68. I've given up on vegetable gardens

I'm tired of providing a buffet for the wildlife and we have a perfectly good farmers' market.

[era veteran]

69. Today, will spread compost, turn piles, mow, then late today, when driest, till.

Or go to opening day at the track. It's a beautiful Kentucky Spring.

[Delphinus]

70. Indiana here ...

even with Global Climate Change, I think it's a mite bit early for planting my garden (at least, what *I* plan on growing).

[stuntcat]

71. me me me :)))))))))))))

I haven't put in anything new yet but I've cleaned up my veggie/herb areas to get them ready. Most of my herbs are coming back and looking healthy :D

[asdjrocky]

74. In California gardening is kind of a year round thing for some of us.

:smoke:

My veggie garden was started, mostly, last month. Good luck on your garden!

[phatkatt]

75. Started last month!

Live in Alabama. Long growing season here.

[PufPuf23]

76. I would have. Just bought a new rototiller last week.

Instead there has been heavy rain and even snow Tuesday AM (and I am at 500 ft elevation and less than 30 miles from the Pacific).

My fruit trees are now in soggy bloom.

Nature had an early spring and last week days were in the 70s.

[Tailormyst]

77. We planted snap peas on solstice eve.

And nothing since because we got to busy building an Ark and collecting pairs of animals..

[tjwash]

78. So-CAL...We can get them started early here. Here's some pics...

Back Breaker



Adding the gopher frustrater


I do love me some good dirt



Add a little drip irrigation


It's a start...Green-beans, strawberries, pickling cukes, corn, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, and chokes. Got the herb garden started on the side.

[NeedleCast]

80. I've had mine going inside for about two months

Really enjoyed using Jiffy mini-green houses to start from seeds inside. Just translated last Wednesday and spent most of the morning messing around out back.

[lumberjack_jeff]

81. Snowing here. Crap. n/t

[blueamy66]

83. Okay...I have an artichoke growing

when is it ready to be picked and what do I do with it???

[ThomWV]

84. Planted potatoes two weeks ago, peas last week.

The fall planted garlic is up, put one nice Rosemary plant in the ground.

[951-Riverside]

85. I'm not rich enough to have land to plant a garden n/t

[Xithras]

87. A garden does not require land, only sun and water.

Some of the most productive gardens I've ever seen were growing in window boxes, or in buckets on the patios of apartments. If you use Square Foot Gardening techniques, you can grow a very large amount of food in a fairly small amount of space.

[KittyWampus]

88. Got my seeds today. If I get enough sleep, I'll start tomorrow.

[JuniperLea]

89. Flowers are in, hope to do veggies this weekend...

I wanted to last weekend... we're having good spring weather in Los Angeles!

[Neecy]

90. Me!

It's been in the 80's all week and I've been sweatin' in the garden. I have in garlic, onions, shallots, horseradish, strawberries, sugar peas and artichokes. Roma tomatoes, eggplant and cucumbers will make an appearance in the garden next week. I love this time of year.