What's New in this Club

Thank you, hppygr8ful! I will do as you say. I am creating a spot for pumpkins next year to harvest by Halloween! 🙂

I,ve grown some pretty nice pumpkins over the years though I had a crop failure for all my melons this year. Had two small pie pumpkins which I will make into a holiday pie. We grew Dill's Atlantic Giant pumpkins one year! the trick is to selectively cull the pumpkins to leave 1 to 3 on different vines. Then it's all about water, pest control and growing conditions. I have attached a stock picture !

Here's what it looks like all grown up

Something has been eating all my tomato plants but I couldn't figure out the culprit. The California Agricultural Extension prompted me to carefully examine all leaves and branches and look what I found! I plucked it off and immersed in to warm soapy water as catch and release is not recomended. The females can lay 300-500 eggs a day during their 14 day life span!

Someone has to be growing these things other than actual famers? Otherwise, why sell small seed packets or their seedlings at local hardware stores? Also, who are the people and kids competing in yearly pumpkin competitions? 🙂

Brought my Raspberry vinaigrette with me and shhhhh precooked bacon( as kosher meals served here) so will have for lunch with tuna. Had campers coming in at meal time last night so missed their delish fried chicken and challah bread last night--well not on diet anyway.

If they have already bolted you can recover the leaves which turn tough and bitter by tearing large bunches into a bowl and dressing with red wine vinegar and rendered bacon fat. Sort of negates the healthy aspects of leafy greens but oh so very tasty

Nope, only lettuce, tomato and Herb farmer. 🙂

I've got my Spring Mix Lettuces planted in styrafoam coolers so I could bring to camp with me --sitting on porch outside infirmary door. Been harvesting them past month, going to seed past 3 days due to 100 degree heatwave.

So I ordered seeds for fall planting: broccoli, cauliflower, beets, black radish, late season pole beans and cabbage .

I am growing potatoes in bags for the 2nd year. You need to get the big bags 20 gallons or larger I am looking forward to a nice harvest this year. I like growing in bags because I am getting a bit old for breaking ground. hppy

Has anyone tried to grow pumpkins, other large squash, melons and/or sunflowers with any success? If so, tell us about your experience. I am trying to layout another area of my backyard dedicated to growing these big ones and wild sunflower counterparts.... All of this will happen next year, but I can have everything prepared this Summer with some of ideas. 🙂

I am glad to see your garden growing and you are starting new seedlings. I am having trouble with my cucumbers for the first time I have grown from seeds! I purchased some seeds and only one seedling grew. I suspect that they were roasted in the hot sun at the local hardware store. In any case, I purchased another batch from another store that kept their seeds out of the sun. I am hoping they grow. So, my pickles will be very late this year! I might start carrots and onions soon too. I plan to grow those in a bag for the first time. If I am successful at growing potatoes in a bag growing is successful, I will try my hand at potatoes. 🙂

Thought you all might like to see what I have been working on this weekend! I installed the Misters and did some planting and cleaning! Now to the Father's day dinner preparations. Hppy

So spent time this am workin in the greenhouse fixing the misting sytem and transplanting some seedlings to a larger area. The old dog has now taken up residence in there because the mister makes it cooler. I need to go to the garden store though for more dirt! My husband thinks it's funny that I buy dirt! He doesn't understand the concept of soil needing to be fed to gain nutritional value for plants, The next box I am planting will have salad greens and carrots and other nice things to pop into a salad. Gotta get my melon's in to. Lucky for me California has a long growing season, Hppy

So I was sorting through the wood for my smoker when I found the lovely piece if peach wood that just screams for an Orchid Mount. Also pics of my Glads.

I am still outdoors. I have a few construction projects going on in the back yard that I need to get completed before I can move to building my green house. On the other hand, I purchased a small outdoor green-house like box that is holding my seedlings, but I cannot wait to have more room to grow and plant my mini farm. Also, I think it is great you are finding wild plants to cultivate. I don't understand the strange looks. I think it beats you going into your neighbor's yards and taking clippings without asking (some neighbors may do this from time to time). Besides, who has not picked a few wild flowers and plants on their way to school growing up? 😄 I personally, don't know herbs well enough to chime in on your mushroom project, but I am interested in reading further. So please post and let us know how it is going. I grow herbs for seasoning and spices. I am thinking of growing tea leaves eventually.

Well since the sun has come out in force I am adding shade cloth to cover the greenhouse. My orchids prefer indirect light and their leaves are burning. Plus I am going to mount some of my new babies on a rustic branch I found while out walking. I got some pretty odd looks carrying it home but so what. Also been foraging for wild lettuce which has anagesic properties when dried and used as a tea. Once I get the right shade in the greenhouse I will start my mushroom project. Hppy

My contribution to the art of gardening!

The wire cage only helps plants to grow up. With trees, they work better with room to grow (like being planted in the ground) and a brace if they are very young. On the other hand, possibly using netting once they start to bud might help! So, thank you. 🙂

Could you somehow enclose it in some type of wire 'cage' thingey?

I have a lemon dwarf that does not produce anything because birds are eating the buds. I am going to remove it and plant a older taller lemon tree that might survive a bird attack.

Me too for a lemon tree! Potted. You can leave it outside in the good weather and bring it inside when the weather turns.

Update on my garden... So, I planted veggies late. The ones growing well (not bearing fruit yet) are the Squash, Zucchini, and Peppers (multiple kinds), tomatoes (multiple kinds). I need to repot my succulents, I changed up the flower bed a bit, my roses are growing well, and fruit and nut trees are on track (will need to re-fertilize them soon). I need to add cucumbers for salads and my pickling cucumbers. I will plant those from seeds today. Also, I have herbal seedlings to repot and oregano I will plant from seed today. For some reason, everyone is out of oregano this year. I cannot find them as seedlings anywhere. Anyone else experiencing this?