|
Your ag-extension might be a good bet. When I used to run a sewer plant, I’d take soil samples into the local UK extension for out of house testing. They had dozens of pamphlets on horticulture specific to the state and region. You might even be able to find them on line, for your state.
Marsupial Ape fucked around with this message at 19:30 on Dec 30, 2023 |
#
?
Dec 30, 2023 19:02
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 29, 2024 23:27 |
|
|
Shifty Pony posted:Does anyone have a go-to guide for pruning fruit trees, specifically fig, peach, apple, and (Asian) pear? Preferably with good drawings of what needs to be done for 4-5yr old trees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DrLHqF6YmQ
|
|
#
?
Dec 30, 2023 19:19
|
|
|
Shifty Pony posted:Does anyone have a go-to guide for pruning fruit trees, specifically fig, peach, apple, and (Asian) pear? Preferably with good drawings of what needs to be done for 4-5yr old trees. And also, your local extension service probably has a million PDFs online about literally anything you could want to grow it if you don't want to go to the library. Googling 'whateveryouneedtoknow yourlocalorneighboringstate'slandgrantuniversity' will usually weed out the AI crap. If you're in the southeast, LSU Ag center, Alabama Cooperative Extension Service/Auburn and Clemson all put out really great publications on tons of stuff. Southern Living's website also has also reliably good advice. Here's a few: Peaches from ACES Figs from ACES again Pears generally from UGA And Asian Pears specifically from Clemson Apples From Virginia Tech Apples AND Pears from Clemson
|
|
#
?
Dec 31, 2023 04:08
|
|
|
Shifty Pony posted:Does anyone have a go-to guide for pruning fruit trees, specifically fig, peach, apple, and (Asian) pear? Preferably with good drawings of what needs to be done for 4-5yr old trees. these videos got me started as far as a general approach to pruning fruit trees and training branches for fruit. He sells an expensive pruning course on his website that I can't vouch for but his documentary on his orchard is interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BWKFXZDxzg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0tTc00PSEI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5vw78XRpNg Mr. Barnesworth fucked around with this message at 06:54 on Dec 31, 2023 |
|
#
?
Dec 31, 2023 05:40
|
|
|
Marsupial Ape posted:Your ag-extension might be a good bet. When I used to run a sewer plant, I’d take soil samples into the local UK extension for out of house testing. They had dozens of pamphlets on horticulture specific to the state and region. You might even be able to find them on line, for your state. As a New Yorker just moved to the 'ville, I have now just learned about the local extensions of UK and I am very much stoked. We also used the annual Barnes & Noble hardcover sale to pick up Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century for some urban gardening ideas (and also the Noma guide to Fermentation because hey, sale). It'll be a fun Spring and Summer.
|
|
#
?
Jan 3, 2024 14:56
|
|
|
I've got a young Japanese plum (ume) tree in a pot. I put it in the garage for the cold season, it gets absurdly cold outside but the heated garage stays at 40-45. Unfortunately, the tree has started blossoming. What's the right move? Keep it in place (40 degrees, minimal water, basically no light), move it inside the house, or stick it outside (it's not super, super cold) to try to trick it back into dormancy?
|
|
#
?
Jan 9, 2024 04:10
|
|
|
Once it's started blossoming, it's way too late to push it back into dormancy. If you put it outside, you will lose this year's crop but you may be able to prevent it from leafing out now. Is there a downside to leaving it where it is? E: buy a grow spotlight. They're pretty cheap now. Then water it.
|
|
#
?
Jan 9, 2024 04:48
|
|
|
Arsenic Lupin posted:Once it's started blossoming, it's way too late to push it back into dormancy. No real downside other than I have to set up another grow light in the garage. A grow light and letting it do its thing is probably for the best anyway. This poor tree had a rough season last year with being planted, dug back up when the landscapers needed to tear my yard up, and then underwatered when I was on vacation.
|
|
#
?
Jan 9, 2024 15:04
|
|
|
Just a reminder, local plant nurseries are starting to have bare root fruit trees (at least here in California)
|
|
#
?
Jan 10, 2024 20:35
|
|
|
The seed catalogs begin again. Anyone got new plant ideas? I'm going to really scale back on peppers this year, focus on tomato and squashes I think.
|
|
#
?
Jan 12, 2024 17:28
|
|
|
Not really new, but new to me: Swiss chard. I just love beet greens so much that I figured I might as well try chard. I've got Fordhook Giant (husband's request because it has a cool name) and Ruby Red seeds on their way! "Giant" or extra large varieties of things tend not to do so well in my area's brutal summer heat, but we'll see how it goes! Also got a raised bed going this year! I'll do square foot gardening with it. It's a Birdie's tall 6-in-1, resting on the sunny part of my yard (a concrete patio), half filled with old oak wood and random yard detritus to make my wallet a little happier with how much soil it needs. Still planning on some buckets too: mint, maybe a spring round of carrots since the carrots have loved their bucket this winter.
|
|
#
?
Jan 12, 2024 17:59
|
|
|
I plan on getting some strawberry spinach seeds to try.
|
|
#
?
Jan 12, 2024 18:45
|
|
|
mischief posted:The seed catalogs begin again. Same. Four kinds of tomatoes, two kinds of jalapenos, beets. Three kinds of sunflowers, three kinds of marigolds. Lime basil and lemon balm. Couple squash, some beans on sunflowers maybe, and the established bed of asparagus/strawberry. In my mind this qualifies as "simplifying." Chad Sexington fucked around with this message at 19:22 on Jan 12, 2024 |
|
#
?
Jan 12, 2024 19:20
|
|
|
effika posted:Not really new, but new to me: Swiss chard. Fordhook is pretty hardy in both really hot and frost temperatures. I'd recommend planting pretty close together so they stay shaded on the sides. Another chard thing is, like beet greens, it's halophytic. Which normally means salt-tolerant but I also discovered if you have especially salty soil the greens will come pre salted as well
|
|
#
?
Jan 12, 2024 21:22
|
|
|
mischief posted:The seed catalogs begin again. I'm delving into Dwarf Tomato Project stuff this year. I'm container bound, otherwise I would be checking out more of the Wild Boar options (although the DTP Fred's Tie Dye appears to be a dwarf of a Wild Boar variety). I will also be grafting figs and citrus into Frankentrees  Chad Sexington posted:In my mind this qualifies as "simplifying." I too was going to make such a claim until I started typing it out, and lol lmao nvm
|
|
#
?
Jan 15, 2024 04:00
|
|
|
Discussion Quorum posted:I'm delving into Dwarf Tomato Project stuff this year. I'm container bound, otherwise I would be checking out more of the Wild Boar options (although the DTP Fred's Tie Dye appears to be a dwarf of a Wild Boar variety). same here, i bought a bunch of varieties from victory seeds on a whim one night and now have a few dozen seedlings just starting to put on their first pair of true leaves
|
|
#
?
Jan 15, 2024 04:24
|
|
|
Soul Dentist posted:Fordhook is pretty hardy in both really hot and frost temperatures. I'd recommend planting pretty close together so they stay shaded on the sides. Another chard thing is, like beet greens, it's halophytic. Which normally means salt-tolerant but I also discovered if you have especially salty soil the greens will come pre salted as well Yeah, that big temperature tolerance range is one reason why I said OK to Fordhook despite it being a bigger-leafed variety. My square foot gardening book recommends 4 per square for chard, so I'll see where that gets me.
|
|
#
?
Jan 15, 2024 15:31
|
|
|
My old standard for the chards in the garden is 'Perpetual Spinach'. Grows like a weed all summer and the texture is close to spinach, but chardy. Holds up to cooking better that spinach for stir fry's and the like. Ordered some 'Charbell' chard and 'Black Magic' kale to tryout this year. Just ordered some of those strawberry spinach seeds to try as well, that looks like an interesting plant. Could probably make a vinaigrette from the berries and strain out the seeds. Mr. Barnesworth fucked around with this message at 14:57 on Jan 16, 2024 |
|
#
?
Jan 16, 2024 14:27
|
|
|
Wrong thread/right thread to ask about preferred greenhouse DIY construction info/resources? Beginning to plan a build to start maybe late this year or early next year for a backyard greenhouse. Likely cinder block foundation/lower wall, gas heat, irrigation, etc, meant to keep warm through winter in zone 8b. Looking for ideas, info on materials, framing, pitfalls etc. Like, if wood frame, does it absolutely need to be treated lumber? Double wall vs quad wall polycarbonate glazing, is it overkill? How to figure out BTU needs for heating, down into the 20s or teens, as well as appropriate ventilation for temps approaching 100F on hottest days? Benefits of foundation choice? Irrigation system recommendations, especially if they allow for in-line fertilization or other additives as well as hookup to rain barrels? And so on. skylined! fucked around with this message at 18:57 on Jan 25, 2024 |
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2024 17:07
|
|
|
skylined! posted:Wrong thread/right thread to ask about preferred greenhouse DIY construction info/resources? Beginning to plan a build to start maybe late this year or early next year for a backyard greenhouse. Likely cinder block foundation/lower wall, gas heat, irrigation, etc, meant to keep warm through winter in zone 8b. Looking for ideas, info on materials, framing, pitfalls etc. I'm interested in this info as well, if anyone has recommendations! More like 5b/6a for me though.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2024 18:13
|
|
|
skylined! posted:Wrong thread/right thread to ask about preferred greenhouse DIY construction info/resources? Beginning to plan a build to start maybe late this year or early next year for a backyard greenhouse. Likely cinder block foundation/lower wall, gas heat, irrigation, etc, meant to keep warm through winter in zone 8b. Looking for ideas, info on materials, framing, pitfalls etc. Greenhouse Management Online from the University of Arkansas seems to cover a lot of that! It's a bit dated but the text should be sound. And by dated, I mean: quote:This site is best experienced in the most recent versions of Internet Explorer or Firefox on Windows. Apple Quicktime, Windows Media Player, and Adobe Flash Player are required for video. Please disable your pop-up blocker or you will not be able to view the images.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2024 20:09
|
|
|
There aren't any RealPlayer embeds so you know they're idiots. Sheesh. I am very interested in greenhouse chat, jokes aside. I've always wanted a nice greenhouse and we've always just settled for high tunnels or other way less cool solutions. I want a greenhouse where I can grow obscure jungle plants that may or may not try to eat my pets. And weed. Maybe a weeds.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2024 20:22
|
|
|
I am mostly tired of giving up like 150 sq ft in my house for grow tents for finnicky plants that don't like to stray outside of a narrow temp/humidity range and watering everything weekly. I am pretty sure I can dig a trench, lay cinder block and build a wood frame, also seems reasonably cheap compared to hiring someone to do it/paying for a flimsy kit every few years. Thanks for the link!
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2024 20:29
|
|
|
Is this the place to ask questions about gardening in an apartment/flat? I've got a little bit of south facing balcony I want to fill with pots and do something with, but I've got little experience in the matter.
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 19:34
|
|
|
Container gardening is gardening. I started with herbs in small pots and still have them outside my back door. Which herbs you should grow depends on what you like to cook and what your climate is.
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 19:48
|
|
|
Start with some kind of mint- they’re pretty hard to kill and a first success goes a long way towards trying something cooler.
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 20:14
|
|
|
emphasis on container though ; mint will happily annex any space it has access to
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 20:26
|
|
|
basil, rosemary, and thyme are also very easy to grow and very nice to have if you enjoy cooking i've also had success with kale and chard in my lil porch garden, likewise cherry tomatoes and peppers though those are going to be more temperature / location dependent fabric pots are cheap and work well in my experience and make it easy to move plants around
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 20:41
|
|
|
i have a huge balcony garden its great. you can grow most things in containers really
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 21:03
|
|
|
i dont know how big of a shot in the dark this might be but might as well ask, i've recently been getting an interest in growing a citrus tree eventually and landed on satsuma because i remember i love eating the ones from these boxes. i don't know who else might even know this brand but the blue jay satsuma mandarins:   the issue is that i learned that even a family such as satsuma has a ton of varieties like owari and brown hat or whatever. would anyone just know offhand what type of satsuma these ones would be?
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 22:36
|
|
|
Futaba Anzu posted:i dont know how big of a shot in the dark this might be but might as well ask, I wouldn’t worry about it too much tbh Blue Jay probably uses whatever the most commercially common varietal is if they don’t have their own in-house strains. Depends on what their production/sourcing looks like and where in the world it is. don’t grow a citrus from seed or whatever. If you want fruit just spend the $100-300 and get a potted grafted tree of a decent size. It will want to live outdoors over the spring and summer but it should live inside over the fall and winter (unless you live at the equator) where it will make your house smell lovely. Make sure it stays well hydrated or the leaves will fall off. The <3 feet ones will grow a fruit or three in a season but they’ll really struggle with them. You’ll be waiting and fretting over them for a few years until they get big enough to reliably bear fruit for you. A seedling or a tiny <1 gal pot will have you waiting a decade+.
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 22:58
|
|
|
trilobite terror posted:I wouldn’t worry about it too much tbh yeah i'm not like that one guy a couple months ago that insisted on growing from seed, i was going to buy potted one from a nearby nursery (although most I see are around $50-60 and come in a 1gal pot size so idk what's up with that compared to the prices you listed). I also wanted to further ask then would a satsuma be alright in a 5 gallon pot? what would be the projected harvest from that over how many years of catch up growth?
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 23:23
|
|
|
OscarDiggs posted:Is this the place to ask questions about gardening in an apartment/flat? I would recommend looking into self-wicking buckets for balcony gardening. You can build some really easy or buy a pre-built kit like an earthbox. I had great success last year with hot peppers in a small 8x5ish spot of full sun.
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 23:30
|
|
|
Futaba Anzu posted:yeah i'm not like that one guy a couple months ago that insisted on growing from seed, i was going to buy potted one from a nearby nursery (although most I see are around $50-60 and come in a 1gal pot size so idk what's up with that compared to the prices you listed). I also wanted to further ask then would a satsuma be alright in a 5 gallon pot? what would be the projected harvest from that over how many years of catch up growth? You want like a 4-6 foot tree to start with. Really the bigger the better, but that’s gonna be up to the space you’re planning to overwinter it in
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 23:49
|
|
|
Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme are must-haves but don't sleep on chives. No more buying a packet for $3-$4 and only using half of the limp watery stuff in the packet before it goes yellow and brown. Want chives on your scrambled eggs? Snip, snip, yum. On your potatoes? Snip, snip, yum. Mushrooms? Chicken breast? Bagel with cream cheese? Turkey sandwich? Mac and cheese? Go nuts because the more you eat, the more they grow.
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 23:55
|
|
|
Discussion Quorum posted:Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme are must-haves but don't sleep on chives. No more buying a packet for $3-$4 and only using half of the limp watery stuff in the packet before it goes yellow and brown. your neighbors are gonna hate you if you grow a bunch of chives and let it go to seed poo poo spreads like crazy
|
|
#
?
Feb 4, 2024 23:57
|
|
|
that's just free chives though
|
|
#
?
Feb 5, 2024 00:30
|
|
|
Good news, chive flowers are edible and make your salad feel 300% fancier
|
|
#
?
Feb 5, 2024 00:40
|
|
|
trilobite terror posted:You want like a 4-6 foot tree to start with. Really the bigger the better, but that’s gonna be up to the space you’re planning to overwinter it in the current place i live at, i don't think i can reasonably keep something that is full bushed out at 5-6 feet high, it'd basically cover my entire entrance way lol. i guess this would just be a consideration i make whenever/if i confirm moving somewhere else then..
|
|
#
?
Feb 5, 2024 01:03
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 29, 2024 23:27 |
|
|
Even dwarf citrus get pretty big (by patio/container standards), they just do it more slowly. My MIL's are each in a half whiskey barrel. If you need something that can be kept truly compact, consider a dwarf fig variety like Little Miss Figgy or Petite Negri. Even a regular fig can be kept pretty compact for a while if you learn how to prune effectively. Strawberries and alpine strawberries in balcony containers are very much a thing. If your balcony is high enough you don't get squirrels, you may even get to eat a few.
|
|
#
?
Feb 5, 2024 01:36
|
|