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Post by mommabakes on Apr 8, 2018 9:38:35 GMT -6
It's still freezing here, but I'm hoping to get out to prep my garden beds this week. I want to plant snap peas and lettuce of some kind, which needs to be done in the next few weeks. I've gotten my garden beds all cleaned up, and lots of bulbs are coming up. I am trying to plan out what I'm going to plant this year. Any recommendations for plants that do well in full shade? I've tried astilbe twice with no success, although I may try it again this year because I love it.
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Post by yoginikiki on Apr 8, 2018 18:50:41 GMT -6
It's still freezing here, but I'm hoping to get out to prep my garden beds this week. I want to plant snap peas and lettuce of some kind, which needs to be done in the next few weeks. I've gotten my garden beds all cleaned up, and lots of bulbs are coming up. I am trying to plan out what I'm going to plant this year. Any recommendations for plants that do well in full shade? I've tried astilbe twice with no success, although I may try it again this year because I love it. I really like this website and they have an article about this! www.thespruce.com/plants-that-grow-in-full-shade-4125579
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 8, 2018 22:08:06 GMT -6
It's still freezing here, but I'm hoping to get out to prep my garden beds this week. I want to plant snap peas and lettuce of some kind, which needs to be done in the next few weeks. I've gotten my garden beds all cleaned up, and lots of bulbs are coming up. I am trying to plan out what I'm going to plant this year. Any recommendations for plants that do well in full shade? I've tried astilbe twice with no success, although I may try it again this year because I love it. Hostas! Periwinkle, ivy, and Lily of the valley do very well, but they can take over everything so you need to be careful.
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Post by yoginikiki on Apr 9, 2018 6:19:02 GMT -6
DH finished our compost bin yesterday!!! Huzzah!!
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Post by queenofwildthings on Apr 9, 2018 20:45:43 GMT -6
It's still freezing here, but I'm hoping to get out to prep my garden beds this week. I want to plant snap peas and lettuce of some kind, which needs to be done in the next few weeks. I've gotten my garden beds all cleaned up, and lots of bulbs are coming up. I am trying to plan out what I'm going to plant this year. Any recommendations for plants that do well in full shade? I've tried astilbe twice with no success, although I may try it again this year because I love it. Hostas! Periwinkle, ivy, and Lily of the valley do very well, but they can take over everything so you need to be careful. Be cautious with Lily of the valley and small kids, or pets as it's poisonous if ingested.
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 10, 2018 17:19:27 GMT -6
My babies. Peas, beans, kale, and lettuce.
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Post by Emmentaler on Apr 11, 2018 9:29:51 GMT -6
My tulips have been ravaged by rabbits- probably due to the harsh start to Spring. I haven't tried it yet, but I've made it and plan on putting it on today. Will report back.
DIY Rabbit Repellent Recipe Items needed:
empty milk jug, water 5 garlic cloves 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers 1-gallon water 1 tablespoon dish soap Directions:
To make the repellent fill an old milk jug with water, add 5 crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoon of crushed red peppers (you can save a packet from the pizza delivery for this) and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Shake well; then let it sit in the sun for a day or two to make sure the water is saturated with the flavors and smells. Shake well, then spray or pour on the plants that you don't want the rabbits to eat. I had to reapply the rabbit repellent once a week for a couple of weeks to convince the rabbits that my tulips were never going to taste good again. With my other bulbs, I sprayed them with the natural rabbit repellent as soon as they started to poke through the ground and then reapplied the repellent once a week and after it rains.
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melohdy
Platinum
Posts: 2,376 Likes: 13,188
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Post by melohdy on Apr 11, 2018 12:00:15 GMT -6
Strawberries and snap peas are doing well. I think I saw squash poking through. Tomatoes are still inside and are doing swimmingly; I have just been too lazy to buy more soil. H planted red onions that are going gangbusters.
I needed to get another mint plant because I am apparently the only person in the world that can kill mint.
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Foxy
Platinum
Like in life... IDK what I am doing
Posts: 2,131 Likes: 8,765
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Post by Foxy on Apr 11, 2018 16:38:58 GMT -6
Can I play too? I'm a newbie to HIH but i just spent a ton of time working on our garden and I'd love to talk garden and learn more. We just moved into a new house and went to the local nursery and picked out a bunch plants. We got a coral bark maple that is so pretty and starting to grow leaves. We planted hydrangeas calilys, rhodies, a gardenia double mint and a bunch of other cool plants. my peonies I transplanted died which I'm pretty upset about. It was doing so well in our house, my MIL gave it to me from her garden. I love getting/sharing plants from loved ones. Does anyone else have anything sentimental growing in their garden?
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regal
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Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 11, 2018 23:11:01 GMT -6
I had a small rose bush at our old house that bloomed for the first time the day that DD was born. Unfortunately there was a terrible invasive weed in my lawn there so I had to leave it behind when we moved. I had also planted all the tulip bulbs from the plants my kids and students have bright mine over the years, but had to leave those too.
Starting fresh at the new house though.
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Post by yoginikiki on Apr 13, 2018 6:08:24 GMT -6
It is going to be warm today! It snowed here on Monday and I truly thought I was going to lose my mind. My seedlings are doing well and I will start the hardening off process in two weeks. I don't trust this winter so I am holding off until Mother's Day to put anything in the ground. Looking to rent a sod cutter to make beds as my solarization was a wicked fail.
I explored our property a bit and cleared out an overgrown bed on the East side of the house...I found loads of peony's coming up! I AM SO EXCITED!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 23:31:36 GMT -6
I have daffodils and narcissus from my mom’s garden. They are my favorite flowers.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Apr 14, 2018 12:09:45 GMT -6
TTMA chipmunks and squirrels. Does anything really work? The marigold border is just coming in so that's not working yet (assuming it will help). Those jerks have already uprooted my cucumber and ate one of my kale.
I was thinking of trying the predator pee? Any luck with that?
What about shiny things?
I really want to put an owl box in the woods behind the house but that would probably take time and I don't want to keep re-planting in the meantime.
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Post by Dramaphile on Apr 16, 2018 10:04:01 GMT -6
TTMA chipmunks and squirrels. Does anything really work? The marigold border is just coming in so that's not working yet (assuming it will help). Those jerks have already uprooted my cucumber and ate one of my kale. I was thinking of trying the predator pee? Any luck with that? What about shiny things? I really want to put an owl box in the woods behind the house but that would probably take time and I don't want to keep re-planting in the meantime. Reflective/mirror tape works for birds, not sure if squirrels get spooked by it the same way, but it's worth a try I suppose.
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Post by Dramaphile on Apr 16, 2018 10:07:25 GMT -6
My seeds arrived yesterday from Baker Creek! Hoping for a few nice evenings this week when I can get my beds weeded and turned and start planting. I got three kinds of carrots, beets, zucchini, peas, bush beans, an interesting looking heirloom tomato variety and tuscan kale. Going to pick up some tomato and pepper seedlings from the nursery since I didn't have time to start seeds indoors, and onion starters.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 13:21:11 GMT -6
My aunt dropped off 5 tomato plants that are already huge. I'm so tempted to put them in the ground this week.
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mb3
Sapphire
Posts: 4,500 Likes: 20,802
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Post by mb3 on Apr 16, 2018 21:23:56 GMT -6
My hostas are coming up in the side garden. And so is the goutweed I spent last summer digging out 😝
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 21:57:59 GMT -6
My hostas are coming up in the side garden. And so is the goutweed I spent last summer digging out 😝 They’re probably just resprouts. Get at it while it’s small!
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mb3
Sapphire
Posts: 4,500 Likes: 20,802
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Post by mb3 on Apr 17, 2018 6:36:37 GMT -6
My hostas are coming up in the side garden. And so is the goutweed I spent last summer digging out 😝 They’re probably just resprouts. Get at it while it’s small! I have a plan! Thankfully I’m not the only person who has battled goutweed so there is a wealth of ideas about how to do it. I’m digging these suckers out if my knee will let me. Otherwise zero qualms about breaking out the roundup.
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 17, 2018 14:44:02 GMT -6
TTMA chipmunks and squirrels. Does anything really work? The marigold border is just coming in so that's not working yet (assuming it will help). Those jerks have already uprooted my cucumber and ate one of my kale. I was thinking of trying the predator pee? Any luck with that? What about shiny things? I really want to put an owl box in the woods behind the house but that would probably take time and I don't want to keep re-planting in the meantime. cayenne pepper
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Lakes
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Posts: 3,594 Likes: 13,281
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Post by Lakes on Apr 21, 2018 8:25:49 GMT -6
The tomatoes that ds started from seed were planted outside today. It’s a smidge early but they needed to go in the ground, hopefully they’ll do well. Only one was lost to toddler roughness.
Mh and I are trying to get the raised beds and herb garden prepped this weekend. My giant rosemary did not survive the winter so I’m a bit sad about that. It’s not really suppose to survive in my area but it made it through the last two winters.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2018 21:22:14 GMT -6
I put my first tomatoes in today too. I’ve been listening to the Modern Homesteader podcast lately and making grand plans. I love spring.
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Post by Dramaphile on Apr 23, 2018 7:51:03 GMT -6
Over the weekend we did a ton of yard cleanup and I weeded out my raised beds (need to actually cover them at the end of this year!) and mixed in compost and got one of them planted with garden peas, green beans, sugar snap peas, 3 kinds of carrots and two kinds of onions. The other bed will have tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, kale and beets- hoping the weather holds on Tuesday and I can get that one turned and planted.
Is it too late to start some tomatoes from seeds? I'm going to do mostly seedlings for my tomatoes, peppers, and cukes because I was late in getting seeds ordered, but I have a packet of heirloom tomato seeds I want to start if I still can. Also, is it crazy to try to start them in the ground? I might do some in cups and some in the ground just to try it out, since I have a whole packet and really only need one plant.
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 23, 2018 20:44:18 GMT -6
I bought worms! I had been considering vermicomposting for a while, but never actually ordered the worms. I went to a nursery this week and they had them at the front cash register so I figured it was fate and grabbed box. My boys are thrilled about their new pets!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 22:14:08 GMT -6
Over the weekend we did a ton of yard cleanup and I weeded out my raised beds (need to actually cover them at the end of this year!) and mixed in compost and got one of them planted with garden peas, green beans, sugar snap peas, 3 kinds of carrots and two kinds of onions. The other bed will have tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, kale and beets- hoping the weather holds on Tuesday and I can get that one turned and planted. Is it too late to start some tomatoes from seeds? I'm going to do mostly seedlings for my tomatoes, peppers, and cukes because I was late in getting seeds ordered, but I have a packet of heirloom tomato seeds I want to start if I still can. Also, is it crazy to try to start them in the ground? I might do some in cups and some in the ground just to try it out, since I have a whole packet and really only need one plant. I’d say go ahead and start them in pots now. Why not? You could always give any extras away, too. Good way to make friends. 😊 I wouldn’t sow them in the ground. They’ll develop a weak root system at best and not be very sturdy or productive plants.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 22:16:20 GMT -6
Today I planted more lettuces between my tomatoes. I figure I’ll be able to harvest them before the tomato plants are too crazy bushy.
My soup beans have come up and look great.
I also planted pole beans along the west side of the strawberry bed. I’m hoping they’ll shade the bed a little when it gets really hot later this summer.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 22:18:15 GMT -6
I bought worms! I had been considering vermicomposting for a while, but never actually ordered the worms. I went to a nursery this week and they had them at the front cash register so I figured it was fate and grabbed box. My boys are thrilled about their new pets! Yay! At my last employer we had a worm bin in the basement. I helped take care of them for awhile and it was really easy. Sifting out the castings was quite a project, but worthwhile.
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Post by mommabakes on Apr 24, 2018 4:51:47 GMT -6
Finally was able to get outside! I got my garden beds cleaned up and the soil turned. Planted snap peas and lettuces. I had transplanted my strawberries in the fall and they look a bit rough. I'm hoping they bounce back. My rhubarb and gooseberry plants look great, and so do all of our fruit trees. Hoping for a productive year
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Post by Dramaphile on Apr 24, 2018 6:38:27 GMT -6
Another question: on a whim, I purchased some strawberry starters, any tips on planting them? They're the June variety, if that means anything, and unfortunately the package has no info on when/where to plant them.
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melohdy
Platinum
Posts: 2,376 Likes: 13,188
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Post by melohdy on Apr 24, 2018 15:03:44 GMT -6
Our snow peas are going wild! They started to latch onto the onions that are next to them; so we need to get a trellis for them to climb. I think we're going to put in some more lettuce in one of the rows where the starts died off because we got heavy rains after transplanting.
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