# Anyone want an ongoing gardening thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442 "2010-05-14T16:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/161 "2010-06-03T04:56:26Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I started up my gardens again this weekend, but since I was lazy, I had to _buy_ plants, as I never got around to starting my seeds this year > > This garden was planted in an area that previously held a greenhouse, a greenhouse that got flattened by a freak windstorm a few months back, the soil needed to be reconditioned, so I’ve been depositing grass clippings in it, tilling them under, I also added some organic fertilizer granules, and tilled them under, _then_ I made a mistake, before getting ready to plant this garden, I watered in some Neptune’s Harvest hydrolized fish/seaweed organic fertilizer, and then planted the veggies… > > That evening, the garden was torn up by, most likely, skunks, searching for the non-existent fish, they ended up eating my watermelon seedlings and a couple potatoes I tossed in, over 50% of the plants were damaged… > > When I found the damage after coming home from work a couple days ago, I was able to save a few of the uprooted plants, but lost almost all the watermelons, only one seedling remained > Woodchucks, though, are _NOT_ welcome at either garden, I’m thinking of putting up some chickenwire fencing if I have any further losses Mac, That is awful. Overnight the buggers killed everything. When I lived in York, Maine the same thing happened to me. It was Wood Chucks and my ex would shoot them with an old shotgun. They ate everything I planted. I hope you can keep them out. I love Four O’Clocks. They are one of my favorite annuals. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/162 "2010-06-03T05:30:55Z")
I did have a woodchuck problem last year, but thankfully I was able to stop them, permanently, thanks to a high velocity lead “pill” travelling at 1400+ FPS I don’t think I’ll have any skunk issues anymore, there has been no more digging in the garden, and the Havahart trap is still empty, good, I’d rather not have to rid myself of skunks, live-and-let-live 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/163 "2010-06-03T05:58:36Z")
We finally got above 50 at night here so the tomatoes and peppers are starting to grow. I ended up staking the tomatos with some bamboo cut out of a neighbors yard, and I’ll jsut wrap twine around as it grows. I have one zucchini and one summer squash - the zucchini has grown enormously and the squash has just sat there for a month. I’m hoping the warmer weather will help. Last weekend I put in some salvia alpong the edge of our deck and one of the kitties already smashed one of the plants. Darnit all. Also mulched the veggie bed with newspaper and then an inch of finished compost. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/164 "2010-06-03T06:08:45Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > Oh, How beautiful! Which plant in the picture is the Joe Pye? You have an eye for beauty and the arrangement is warm and I could just sit and look at your garden all day. Where is Calgary? Is it above Upstate Washington? My Dad immigrated from Ottawa at 4. I have been there and to Toronto once. > \ The Joe-Pye Weed is the really tall one at the back. Calgary is north of Montana, in the foothills east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. We have a short growing season due to elevation, and chinooks in winter are a concern for evergreens (for example, cedars are hardy enough to grow here, but they often die from being desiccated by chinook winds). When I was watering this evening, I think I saw some potato plants coming up! I was out walking today, and everything is so green and flourishing after the last week’s rain and snow. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/165 "2010-06-03T12:44:17Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > …after the last week’s rain and snow. Just seeing the word “snow” makes me feel better. I know your summer’s brief but I’d gladly trade our duration for a little moderation. Do many people have greenhouses or sun rooms in Calgary? I think I’d have to as a means of keeping myself surrounded by plants. You could pretend it’s your own intimate little version of [Silent Running](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Running). ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/166 "2010-06-03T13:24:15Z")
So the tree mentioned in post 42 is not progressing well. It has not died, but it isn’t growing either. The leaves turned brown and online someone suggested that it might be due to the salt from my water softener. I repotted it and bought a gallon of spring water. The stalk is still green and it will turn towards the light (I rotate it) so it isn’t dead. But it isn’t doing much either. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/167 "2010-06-03T16:57:00Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Could it be… a **Gundy** sighting? Wow, like a vase of familiar flowers! Aw! I mostly lurk these days when I make it here but it’s nice to be remembered. And I couldn’t resist reading a gardening thread. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/168 "2010-06-03T22:41:49Z")
Okay, the sun finally came out long enough for me to get out there with my camera, so [here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/annsy/sets/72157624198316168/) are pictures of my tiny balcony garden! I had a helper, as you can see. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![old\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@old\_joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/old_joe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/169 "2010-06-03T23:02:03Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > Oh, How beautiful! Which plant in the picture is the Joe Pye? You have an eye for beauty and the arrangement is warm and I could just sit and look at your garden all day. Where is Calgary?Life is sweet! yep its the big one. Mine gets 7 feet tall and about 7 or 8 feet wide. [Eutrochium - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrochium) for info. Nice purple flowers but takes a lot of room. My idea was that when im sitting I could see just greenery. In a good season I have a solid green wall of hops on one side, saskatoons on the other and the Joe Pye standing proud at the back. i planted the red and bi colored lily’s for my sons wedding. I had a red theme with tea roses in pots, mini roses all over and the lily’s. turned out pretty nice. My rhubarb gets at least 5 feet high every year also, at least until a storm comes and knocks it down. Then the neighbors all get some! Cat answered the calgary question but let me tell you, its tougher to garden here then in the zone 0b i was in. At least I had frackin snow cover there.. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/170 "2010-06-03T23:29:47Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > \ > Do many people have greenhouses or sun rooms in Calgary? I think I’d have to as a means of keeping myself surrounded by plants. You could pretend it’s your own intimate little version of [Silent Running](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Running). There are quite a few - I’m thinking about a sun room for our house here. We have nice, sunny winters here; just a little too cold to sit outside most of the time. Sun rooms are just lovely. A little greenhouse would be nice, too - get out and start getting your hands dirty earlier in the year. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/171 "2010-06-03T23:40:57Z")
Wood chucks? Skunks? This thread is starting to creep me out- I will stick with the magpies 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/172 "2010-06-03T23:41:37Z")
sorry for being so late to the party, but being in Northern California means you can have a garden most of the year. Our winter crop was some lettuce (red leaf) which we’ve almost finished eating. We also have some gigantic fava beans which I picked, blanched, and froze last week. For the summer, I put in some eggplants, three squash (eight ball, zucchini, and spaghetti squash) lots of tomatoes, green peppers, beans, peas, and some asparagus beans that run up the fence. We have some more lettuce for until it gets hot, and some radishes just for fun. I planted some easter egg ones, and they got nice and big but still very tasty. We’re starting to get blossoms, and I’m looking forward to BLT season. I tried my seed starter kit. I started some things in late January, fooled by really nice weather, and they grew faster than I expected, and didn’t survive the transplant. For some reason the bean seeds are bad, only one grew in the starter but it is doing fine. I have some more eggplant growing now, which is doing great. One of our friends teaches at the elementary school across the street. We lend her our truck for 49er days, and she lets us have the bale of hay they use for the games. That has turned out to be pretty good mulch. I’ve given up on jalapenos. I can grow them, but the soil is wrong and they are mediocre. Plus, I can get them for next to nothing at the Farmers’ Market, so it seems not worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/173 "2010-06-03T23:52:15Z")
Voyager, the cost factor is real (in that commercially produced vegies are normally way cheaper than growing them yourself) but I think that you get to experiment with varieties that aren’t commercially grown. Also- and please don’t take this as gospel- at one of the gardening seminars I went to, one of the speakers said that a study had recently shown that the nutritional value of some vegetables had declined by about 30% due to gardening practices- that is changes to soil etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/174 "2010-06-04T00:17:30Z")
The main reason we are getting back into growing our own vegetables is pretty much just for taste - we can’t get anything close to a home-grown flavour in supermarkets here. The farmer’s markets are better, but I don’t have one anywhere nearby here. I’ve heard about the reduction in soil and therefore produce quality, too. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/175 "2010-06-04T02:18:32Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The main reason we are getting back into growing our own vegetables is pretty much just for taste - we can’t get anything close to a home-grown flavour in supermarkets here. The farmer’s markets are better, but I don’t have one anywhere nearby here. > > I’ve heard about the reduction in soil and therefore produce quality, too. Why is it that soil quality is so bad? Is it because they don’t rotate crops anymore or over grow in them? I remember as a kid famers rotated where they grew corn for that reason. Every other year they would grow a crop of something and till it all under? Let it rest. I visited Calgary via the web and also Perth. Very nice places to live! Perth was bigger them I thought but looks like a very clean city with nice beaches. It rained cats and dogs today but we needed it. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/176 "2010-06-04T02:50:44Z")
I understand the soil quality can be also blamed on what is put into it- such as high boost fertilisers for quick growing of crops rather than the compost and mulch that naturally occurs. Even things like sheep manure are not the same as they once were and aren’t recommended for home gardens- that goes back to what they feed the sheep and it can be quite acidic. BTW- with the sand if you want to improve the structure and water holding capacity one easy method is to add bentonite. Bentonite is found in a lot of commercial cat litters. Perciful, Perth is a nice place to live and West Australia has superb beaches. However, it is quite insular. The distance is not a real issue today with air travel but for many years going to Perth was a bit of an adventure. I like the place, but don’t get me started on getting tradesmen or the attitude of shop assistants etc 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/177 "2010-06-04T02:54:25Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > So the tree mentioned in post 42 is not progressing well. It has not died, but it isn’t growing either. The leaves turned brown and online someone suggested that it might be due to the salt from my water softener. I repotted it and bought a gallon of spring water. > > The stalk is still green and it will turn towards the light (I rotate it) so it isn’t dead. But it isn’t doing much either. Do you have someplace outside where you can keep it? It may not be getting enough light. There’s an enormous difference between the light you can get indoors and out. > [@stargazer](#): > > Okay, the sun finally came out long enough for me to get out there with my camera, so [here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/annsy/sets/72157624198316168/) are pictures of my tiny balcony garden! I had a helper, as you can see. 🙂 Nice pictures! And cute helper. I’ve been planting new plants and moving old plants. We’ve had some major downpours that have flattened a few perennials. Just when it’s looked like they’re about to be upright again it’s poured one more time. My coreopsis, yarrow and pincushion flower are all pretty much horizontal. I still have way too many plants to finish putting in. I’m hoping to finish this weekend, although the weather isn’t sounding promising. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/178 "2010-06-04T05:23:42Z")
My container garden is thriving. I have four pots of tomatoes which are exploding. I have already harvested my first batch of lettuce, and more is growing quickly. I’ve also got green peppers, beans, cantaloupe and cucumbers… I will post photos tomorrow. The tomato plants are especially amazing!! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/179 "2010-06-04T15:27:07Z")
Thanks **gardentraveler** , I’ll give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/180 "2010-06-04T23:03:44Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Voyager, the cost factor is real (in that commercially produced vegies are normally way cheaper than growing them yourself) but I think that you get to experiment with varieties that aren’t commercially grown. > > Also- and please don’t take this as gospel- at one of the gardening seminars I went to, one of the speakers said that a study had recently shown that the nutritional value of some vegetables had declined by about 30% due to gardening practices- that is changes to soil etc. The real issue is not having enough room (or time) to grow all the things I’d like to grow. I tend to cram plants too close together anyhow. So, giving up on jalapenos frees up space for more tomatoes or peppers. One plus of gardening is that you become much better at selecting veggies at the grocery or farmers market, since you’ve seen them at all levels of ripeness and quality. I hadn’t heard about the nutrition value, but I can kind of believe it on a factory farm. For me, if horse poop has vitamins, I’m all set. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442.md?page=10)