Fruits and veggies?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

...I run out of raised bed for garden every year.

Yes. This was a trial at 8' x 2' and almost immediately I thought I needed a second one. And then I thought, "How about a grid of four?".

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Ray

Yes. This was a trial at 8' x 2' and almost immediately I thought I needed a second one. And then I thought, "How about a grid of four?".

Ahem... from experience, double that four and you "might" have enough. It's like water gardens, greenhouses, shelving... just do it instead of piece-mealing it. You know you're gonna do it.

[kvet]

My first white alpine strawberry, grown from seed It did not have much taste, however, there are a couple dozen that'll be ripe it in the next few weeks, hopefully they will improve!

[WaterWitchin]

Interesting!! Let us know if flavor gets better.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Ahem... from experience, double that four and you "might" have enough. It's like water gardens, greenhouses, shelving... just do it instead of piece-mealing it. You know you're gonna do it.

I know, I know.

Judging by the number of fruits already formed, I may have to do a lot of other stuff than tomatoes!

One of my local customers is a purveyor of propagated fig trees, and he gave me an heirloom plant (Dr. Clark) that I planted yesterday.

[WaterWitchin]

Of course you will! And in your heart you already know it. It’s cheap! Boards and dirt.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kvet

My first white alpine strawberry, grown from seed It did not have much taste, however, there are a couple dozen that'll be ripe it in the next few weeks, hopefully they will improve!

Since they're white, how can you tell when they are ripe? I've never heard/seen those sort of strawberries before!


I will enjoy gardening through all of you, I've just about given up for this year. We haven't had a drop of rain in 2 months (and the Netherlands is known for it's abundant rainfall). I have an allotment garden on very sandy soil with no running water so I've been hauling water there every couple days but it's never enough. Then a bunch of plants got zapped by very late frost. I also have a rodent problem. The beds have turned into swiss cheese from all their tunneling and some plants roots hang in nothingness and then die. So I've planted a few tomato plants in pots on my balcony and some radish and lettuce in planters, trying to make the best of a bad situation! I may try a few herbs as well if I have space.

[kvet]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Since they're white, how can you tell when they are ripe? I've never heard/seen those sort of strawberries before!

I guess that's part of the fun According to the literature, they need to be plump around the seeds and soft, which this one was. However, in talking with an expert, I should've waited a bit longer, until the seeds and flesh gets a little more of a brown tint. I have over two dozen that will be ripe in 2-3 weeks, very excited to try, and will report back. Four varieties, Ivory, White Soul, Yellow Wonder, and Pineapple Crush, they were part of the "fool the birds" pack.

Alpine strawberries are different from regular strawberries: they are a lot smaller (about size of pinky finger tip), and the plants are bushy, they do not form runners. They are supposed to be much more fragrant and intense in flavor than regular berries. The white/yellow kind have the added advantage that birds and bugs will ignore them

Sorry to hear about your garden woes I've got very little in-ground space, and am doing almost everything in pots. Whatever I have in ground seems to be severely stunted. With the pots, I made my own "self watering containers". So far: strawberries, blueberries, nasturtiums, dozen tomatoes (two kinds), and a couple pepper varieties (calabrian chili and habanada). It's very different compared to what I remember growing up in the parents' garden - they just stuck stuff in dirt, drenched with a hose occasoinally, and it all worked. With containers, it's making the right potting mix, odd watering and fertilizing schedules, and the self-watering thing didn't quite work out as planned. Next year I'll try a different strategy, either a larger reservoir, do hydroponics, or forget that and just run drip from the hose. Having fun and learning I really hope for a modicum of success after putting all this effort into it!

[DirtyCoconuts]

tomatoes, peppers and basil grown super locally (side yard and front yard)
parmesan, olive oil and vinegar from Modena.

salt and pepper

thanks to the almighty

Grow your own by J Solo, on Flickr

[Roberta]

Yum... has me drooling on the keyboard.