# Gardening talk? Yes please! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883 "2011-03-08T03:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/21 "2011-03-09T04:00:42Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > We’re also hoping, after two years of rotten luck, that we can finally grow some freakin’ zucchini :eek: Where do you live that zucchinis won’t grow for you?! The usual state of affairs is trying to foist the harvest off on friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, strangers and passersby. I had one friend on a gardening list years ago that used to prowl the neighborhood at 2AM leaving bags of zucchinis on neighbors’ porches. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/22 "2011-03-09T14:59:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > :eek: > > Where do you live that zucchinis won’t grow for you?! The usual state of affairs is trying to foist the harvest off on friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, strangers and passersby. I had one friend on a gardening list years ago that used to prowl the neighborhood at 2AM leaving bags of zucchinis on neighbors’ porches. I see you know my father, who once planted a 50-foot row of zucchini and another of yellow squash. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/23 "2011-03-09T19:15:24Z")
It was a lovely sunny weekend here in England (albeit with frosty nights, down to -5C), so I made a start on the garden. I’ve planted blackcurrant and blueberry bushes, sown radish seeds (outdoors) and chilli seeds (indoors), and began with a bit of tidying up. It’s going to be a long slow process though, as I neglected the garden through the crappy weather of last autumn. I’ve also planted out the potted roses that my wife got as gifts last year, and which had sat outside all winter in tiny plastic pots that froze solid. They seem to have thrived on the cold and were bursting vigorously into life, so I’ve put them in an empty patch of border. Re azaleas, I hope they grow back from ground level, as I absent-mindedly trampled one while moving another shrub and broke off half of the branches right at the base… ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/24 "2011-03-10T18:10:49Z")
We are five weeks from the official last frost date in Athens, GA and I am nearly out of frozen peppers. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/25 "2011-03-10T18:24:36Z")
Ha. I laugh at your last frost date. Ours is traditionally Memorial Day - don’t try planting much before then that you don’t mind getting frozen. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/26 "2011-03-10T18:50:26Z")
Having spent my first six years in Toronto I absolutely luxuriate in Georgia’s growing season. The bulbs have been flowering for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/27 "2011-03-10T19:00:16Z")
> [@Kuboydal](#): > > We are five weeks from the official last frost date in Athens, GA and I am nearly out of frozen peppers. Every chart I have says you’re between 14 and 18 days away from it. I planted my garden in Atlanta 4 weeks ago. I was going to ask Argent if he’s seen any sprouts yet, and was surprised to see this thread back up to the top of the page. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/28 "2011-03-10T19:13:39Z")
LD: April 15 is the absolute, foolproof, never going to frost date. I am not much of a gambler. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/29 "2011-03-10T19:20:31Z")
My wife just bought for me the Sunset Western Garden Book of Edibles. I already had the Sunset Western Garden Book, which I consider to be the Bible of gardening books, but this one cuts out all the stuff I don’t need and focuses on edibles. I might grow artichokes again this year. They are sort-of perennial in my location and the last time I grew them they were huge but died on the 3rd year due to a long cold spell. And I think I will try asparagas again, it didn’t do well last time I tried it but I don’t think I had enough sand in the mix for drainage. I already have established blue berries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes. I plant red potatos, green beans, sugar snap peas, zuchinni, cucumbers as regulars each year. And always tomatos. Last year stunk for tomatos but I usually get a good crop. I’m a zone 5 Nw Oregon. Anybody have an already established patch of asparagas and helpful tips before planting? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/30 "2011-03-10T19:21:18Z")
> [@Kuboydal](#): > > LD: April 15 is the absolute, foolproof, never going to frost date. I am not much of a gambler. That’s the latest it’s ever been in recorded history. I wouldn’t go by that date at all. There are plenty of things you can plant now that will withstand a few frosts, or you can cover up crops that won’t. Even if it does frost late and kill all your plants, you aren’t out anything but a few seeds. Have you started your peppers indoors yet? ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/31 "2011-03-10T19:30:31Z")
I have been a professional horticulturist for the past 16 years and find April 15 to be a perfect date. Flowers and veggies that don’t mind chilly soil have already been started. There is relatively little benefit to planting peppers, tomatoes, and okra in cold soil, regardless of the frost threat. The lettuce, endives, collards, kale, spinach and chard, both in and out of the cold frame, are doing nicely, however. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/32 "2011-03-10T19:42:17Z")
The average last frost date for my locale is May 15th. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/33 "2011-03-10T20:06:33Z")
> [@Kuboydal](#): > > I have been a professional horticulturist for the past 16 years and find April 15 to be a perfect date. Flowers and veggies that don’t mind chilly soil have already been started. There is relatively little benefit to planting peppers, tomatoes, and okra in cold soil, regardless of the frost threat. The lettuce, endives, collards, kale, spinach and chard, both in and out of the cold frame, are doing nicely, however. I was under the impression that you wouldn’t plant anything before April 15. I don’t have any tomatoes, okra, peppers, cukes, etc. in my garden either. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/34 "2011-03-10T20:46:15Z")
My mistake, I should have specified tender annuals. The winter garden was planted in October. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/35 "2011-03-10T21:05:09Z")
I finally found some little green points coming up in one of the flower gardens… I think it’s the chionodoxa. I planted so many bulbs last fall, I can’t quite remember. Makes me feel better. Everything is so gray and wet and cold right now… it’s hard to believe spring will ever come. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/36 "2011-03-10T23:39:06Z")
If you never plant out anything prior to the absolutely-positively-double-guaranteed-beyond-the-last-frost date, you’re missing out on a substantial part of the growing season. Much better to get some tender stuff in the ground a little past the average last frost date, assuming you’ve checked the forecast and nothing nasty is on the horizon, your soil has dried out enough to plant, and you’ve got some lightweight frost cloth or straw to throw over plants if an unexpected frost materializes. I typically get cannas planted here (central Ohio) sometime in late April. If there’s a frost nip when shoots have begun to emerge, it’s easy enough to cover them for protection. I have bulbs coming up, but beyond that I am paying no attention to the outdoors right now, seeing that we have damp cold soggy ground from all the rain in the last couple of weeks, plus 1-3 inches of snow expected overnight. March is not the most clement of months around here. Indoors I have perennial seed sprouting, and various gesneriads, abutilon, geraniums etc. have been flowering for months under lights. > [@Argent Towers](#): > > Should I set up a light to shine on the pots, to help them along? Seedlings quickly get leggy if the light is poor. Having a cheap two-tube fluorescent shoplight positioned a few inches above emerging seedlings helps keep them stocky, and supplements window sunlight (the lamps are easily adjusted with a hanging chain). By late June the northern gardeners will be enjoying bountiful gardening, while the deep South gardeners who got the early jump will be suffering through extreme heat, humidity and plagues of fire ants and other bugs. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/37 "2011-03-10T23:56:11Z")
It’s been an incredibly wet summer here, and two of my beautiful, well established grevillias got sick of having wet feet and died on me. Ungrateful bastards. You’d have thought after all those years of drought that they’d appreciate a nice long drink, but ohhhh _nooooo_, they chose to be contrary. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/38 "2011-03-11T00:10:55Z")
Dallas area here. We had one of the hardest winters I can remember in a while (lows to 10F and possibly even less - I think the winter before we had one (one!) night down to 15) so I took an inventory of things that survived the winter with little/no protection other than the fluffy snowfall. Looks like in the future, I won’t need to cover or worry about: - reed horsetails - native (pink-blooming) oxalis - Italian red-ribbed dandelion - Swiss chard (ok, a few succumbed, but most are fine) - centauria (sorry, lost the species name, but it’s blue-flowering with white leaves like dusty miller - halp?) I’m also seeing crossvine and passionflower vine coming up from the roots, and the bridal wreath bush is covered in buds. I’m going to be _so jealous_ of you northerners with your lettuce in July :eek: in no time! But for now … hahaha we get pretty blooms and green buds and you don’t! _Ppppbbbbbbtttthhh!_ ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/39 "2011-03-11T00:14:43Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Every chart I have says you’re between 14 and 18 days away from it. I planted my garden in Atlanta 4 weeks ago. > > I was going to ask Argent if he’s seen any sprouts yet, and was surprised to see this thread back up to the top of the page. Yes, indeed, there are sprouts. Several of the plants have sprouted small seedlings. Actually, they may be small, but they are surprisingly tall. I was astonished by how fast they grew, actually, because one day, they were tiny nubs just barely poking out of the soil and then the next day they were quite tall and even had small leaves! [Here’s a photo.](http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/334/seedling.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883/40 "2011-03-11T00:16:34Z")
Make sure they have sufficient light. That’s really important right now, or else they’ll get leggy and weak and pale before they even get close to transplanting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardening-talk-yes-please/573883.md?page=3)