How Does Your Garden Grow 2022

Herbs are doing great, carnivores are all transplanted, thinned, with one tray already sold.  Waiting for mid may to plant the peppers / tomatoes / basil.  Enjoying a beautiful warm day today (froze last night, might snow this weekend, 70's today)

Pot plants are developing in the closet. I planted three weeks ago, and they're looking good. This year, I'm growing some feminized Chemdawg #4, Blue Dream, Tahoe Kush, and Blueberry Kush, and a couple of bag seeds (a bomb Ghost OG and some Mazar from Big Steve's Grizzly Peak).

I planted a rosemary bush last fall that I wasn't sure if it would overwinter at my elevation, but it's doing fine. Everything else is bloomers in containers this year. What I've learned in the last couple of years is that growing peppers apparently isn't my thing, and when you buy a cherry tomato plant, you'll get tomatoes, but the variety is up for grabs. So instead I'll have a couple of kinds of sunflowers, some cosmos, petunias, and African daisies, and scads of marigolds. Oh, and I'm also trying to establish some golden poppies, but I haven't had much luck with those either in the last few years.

Off to a slow start this year, but so far got cauliflower, collards, lettuce, walking onions, and peas in the ground.   Garlic, parsley, and a single kale plant overwintered fine too.   Birds munched on the peas, so had to put some netting up and they are starting to come back.

I like zone 6b for gardening. Finally got 3 small raised beds made and filled with waste weed soil. 4 southern high bush blueberry shrubs that I'm happy to report are budding out fully, 4 southern variety blackberry plants, snap peas and poppies are popping up and waiting for the last light frost on Saturday to plant the strawberries,  pickling cukes and a couple of maters. Morning glory seeds get planted next month.

Got some tomato seeds germinating. That's about it for now. 

alex spent all morning rototilling his first big space ~ his happy place (: (: (:

we have garlic heartily growing so far

asparagus going in soon

sunchokes in

SOOOOOO EXCITING TO BE HOME

We downsized our garden space 2 summers ago. Last year I planted a few strawberry plants and I let them take over. They all survived the winter. We have picked a few already. There are probably close to 100 berries growing right now. The chipmunks keep taking a few green ones, but this year we have enough to share. This is my first time with strawberries. I am not sure if they produce all season long or not. I guess I should look it up.  

Finished most of the planting yesterday. Still have a couple plants I have not found yet.  A few things waiting for a little warmer weather.

Got my 4th raised bed built this last fall. Shorter (height) and longer than the others and along the fence for a trellis.

Garlic was planted 12/30 and is 3 feet tall already.

Just harvested  a pile of carrots cause I needed the space for new plants.

Pics soon.

The only thing I planted this spring is lettuce. I'm happy, it made it through the gigantic hail recently - I love lettuce.

Mark, maybe toothbrushes mid-summer this year.

Judit, I just looked and did not find the photos of the toothbrush garden. When was the last one?

The garlic I planted 12/30 are doing well.   The fake spring brought them up way too soon.

Peppers, basil, and spinach.

Tomatoes, Zucchini, Butternut squash, beets, bushbeans, and cucs.

The latest raised bed,I just built this winter.  Pole beans, Blueberries(pots),grapes, cantaloupe, wasabi arugula(pot), olive trees(pots), artichoke(pot) dill(pot).

Most of those pots will move when I figure out where to put them.

It's a very experimental season here.  Attempting to grow potatoes and horseradish in pots.

>>>Attempting to grow potatoes and horseradish in pots.

We have done horseradish in pots like that, but for potatoes, I have used large garbage bins which allow you to grow layers of tubers.   Plant the seed potatoes in about a foot of soil at the bottom of the bin and when the greens start sprouting, add some more soil, wait until the greens appear again, and repeat until you have filled the bin.   It's fun to dump the bin out onto a tarp at the end of the season and collect the potatoes.  

Called "hilling", right?   That's why the soil level is so low in the pots to start.

>>>>Pineapple Ground Cherries.

We had a bumper crop of those last year.   Great tasting, but they tend to drop to the ground at the base of the plant (hence the name) and kind of a pain to go around picking them up.

Bump for spring grows.

Did you plant ice?

I'm harvesting wind today

>>>Did you plant ice

I have lived in western Oregon for 22 years and was surprised when I first heard of the mid-May last frost warning.  Blew it off and was fine for years and years getting plants into the ground as early as March with no problem.   But this year, we had the latest snowfall on record in mid-April and it destroyed all the chile plants I had just put into pots.  It's been cold and rainy every since and been scared to put anything else in the ground. 

Ken, have you ever logged soil temperature?  That should help -- plant when minimum soil temp is consistently 55 F over several days.

After losing a bunch of seedlings one year, I started waiting until mid-June -- and doing that prevented the seedlings from experiencing stunted growth, which is caused by the cold soil temp.

The conventional wisdom where I live, which is at an elevation of about a mile, is don't put your tomatoes outside until after Mother's Day, but that doesn't always work. The forecast for the next 3-4 days is daytime highs in the low-50s and overnight lows right around freezing. We don't usually get frost here because of extremely low humidity, so hopefully things will hang in the there the next few nights.

Frost warnings for here tonight also. Warming back up by the end of the week.

I don't plant anything until Memorial Day. It's not worth the risk.

In Portland it's still in the 40s at night. 

Just received the Portland Nursery newsletter... and thought some might like to see these soil and air temperature recommendations for planting starts. 

Sold 2 trays of carnivores today, woot!  Started doing trades with the rest, already picked up some basil, cilantro, peppers and toms, so off to a great start. 

After tonight, the low temps should be hovering around 50, so that should be good for the warm weather plants.  Hopefully we'll get hi's in the 70's, slowly recover from this years slow start in western OR/WA. 

In the Corvallis area, planting usually starts when the "snow if off Mary's Peak", which might not be for a few more weeks, so fingers crossed for a little warmth.

It's been a little wet for many things, and cool, too. This coming week looks like it'll be warmer and drier. A quick shift toward summer.

Put bok choy starts in the ground yesterday but still too cool and wet for warm weather plants.  The peas, cauliflower, and collards are ok, but not thriving.  Only the lettuce and garlic is where it should be this time of year.

Nice, Raz.

How Does Your Garden Grow 2022?

Terrible. Too much rain, not enough sun.

At least it's good for the environment in general.

Strange year so far. That early summer at the beginning of the year and then back into winter.  My timing was off and I planted too early this yr and it was later than I have planted in last several yrs.  Tomatoes and potatoes are kicking ass. Did not seem to be effected. At least not as much as the peppers.   Some of them are about the same size as when planted. I have bought more pepper cuttings and have done two subsequent plantings.  Most all seem to be growing now. Garlic is 2/3 harvested.  I have over 20 pepper varieties this yr.  I counted roughly 120 plants growing either from seedlings or seeds, and that did not count the garlic.

All the underground is in for this half of the yard and most of the drip is in place.

These photos were taken last week.

^ nice pics! 

Looks like we may get a day or 2 of May weather for a welcome change this week, so far the moody basil is becoming a bit happier.  And the portable potted pepper patch is jonesing for a little sun, but is growing.  Since nothings rotting, I'm declaring it excellent rooting weather!  If and when we get a warm spell, all this should explode! 

Is so much love seeing everyone's growth!

 I may have to send some pictures to Mike because Alex's garden here is growing even beyond his dreams. The pumpkins are ahead of pace as well as most other things. I cannot wait for corn and we have had a few cherry tomatoes so far.. He likes the gold ones I think they are called sunburst

 We also got a lot of nice garlic too so far and I am talking to text this so take it for however it comes out. Lol it lol I will definitely try to take pictures because the garden is pretty gorgeous and it's definitely the best feature of the home, being here for just about 4 months

Let me also give a shout out to the oldest of old school's owner's deadicated mama.. I was at her and Kenny's house after the last show. They live on a corner where folks stop just to gawk at the beauty of everything she has created over 8 years. She is the most creative and motivated persons I have ever met and the zone is better for having had her Here

 We also have zoner babies born 6 months apart so that is the coolest thing of all

almost a month to the day later, basil's much happier,  and i've got 35 types of peppers!

I grow carnivorous plants on my window sills, and trade / sell them.  This year I sold about $250 worth, did about a dozen trades, and took advantage of every freebie or sale on the local garden pages on FB.  I was after peppers, and got a plethora of types. All are in pots in the driveway, since don't really have a garden space.  I use them in all kinds of meals (as do the neighbors I also grow for).  Then I dry the rest, can use all year long.  Use to grow a bunch of tomatoes, but too much work for what you get with my situation.  (if I had more space, would make salsa, marinara, etc). Many peppers will get powdered to be used as spice for my meals.  Some i'll keep whole, and rehydrate for making sauces (simple mole, or just blend and add to make old school chili, someone posted a Chili Colorado dish that involves that here years ago).  

Aji - Peruvian Hot Pepper ( if orange = mango, yellow pineapple) x1
Ajvarski x 2                                                 
Anaheim x 4
Ancho x 4
Bell Green x 2
Bell Purple x1
Bell Red x 2
Big Jim x 2
Big Red x3
Buena Mulata x 2 
California Wonderful x 7
Carmen x 2
Cornito Giallo x 2
Cozumel x 1
Cubanelle x 2
Giant Marconi x 4
Golden Bell x 3
Gypsy Queen x 2
Holy Moly x 2
Jalapeno x 6
Karma  x 28
Keystone x 4
King Arthur x 2
Mocha Swirl x2
Orange Sun x 3
Padron x 1 
Paprika x 12
Peace Bell x 3
Pepperoncini (Greek Gold) x 3
Pointy Kaibi  X 1 
Purple Beauty x 2
Santa Fe x2
Shishito x1
Sweet Banana x2
Super Serrano x 2
Thai (hot) x2

Only have 11 of those varieties of peppers growing this yr. But I have another 15 or so varieties not listed.

Try fermenting a bunch of those peppers.  Powders flakes and fermented peppers all last a really long time.  And most are delicious.  I could not find any Cozumel  this yr but grew one last yr and loved it. Great for fermenting or pickling.

I grew a brown chocolate german hot pepper 2 years ago, and they were soooo tasty, but the mice got into them while I was trying to dry them, which wasn't easy, toooo sweet, formed more a syrup than a dried pepper, and the mice went nuts on them, only pepper i've ever seen them touch, well, devour!  Couldn't find any the last 2 years on the trade circuit.

Blueberries, grapes, cantaloupe, potatoes, artichoke, and a bunch of struggling peppers. Rodents eat the bottom leaves.

A few colored flowers to attract pollinators, but mostly peppers.  Already harvested some padrones(so yummy olive oil and salt in a skillet), anaheims(stuffed with cheese mix) and sweet bananas(for pickling). Waiting on most varieties to ripen.

Tomatoes are blowing up. All still very green.  mostly what you see from this angle is one plant. Sweet sun gold cherries.(My staple . I grow one each yr. Dog loves them too. )  Three much smaller plants behind that are large slicing tomatoes of 3 diferent varieties. And a couple cucumbers on a trellis in back.

Garlic has been harvested(some already fermenting).   Planted corn and zucchini. And have since transplanted a couple peppers in the middle there. Photos are 3 days old.

Todays Anaheim harvest.

Mark, this might be a toothbrush garden you saw. (truth: this is years ago, but I just found this pic and Mark D has been asking if I'm growing toothbrushes this year. I haven't planted them yet.)

This is the toothbrush depiction of Greg and my wedding, we created it the afternoon of the wedding, 6/97.

Lookin like those are ready for harvest, Judit.

I guess that beats a Dental Floss farm, lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUgC0myuSSc

...

Not often you actually get to witness people brushing up on their gardening skills.

Colorful crew there, judit. The bride wore white?

In real life the bride wore black, Mike, but the toothbrush wedding took on a life of its own. I think the officiant actually did wear purple.

It was a little close to Zappa when my dentist retired to move to Montana. It was for the fishing, not farming, though.

I provide insects with liquids and nutrition. I'm a gardener.

And those insects then feed my plants, bwa ha ha ha 

Every yr a new problem. This yr, mice are eating everything as it ripens.   I finally had enough. Bought old fashioned traps and have got 13 so so far. But still getting everything eaten before I can get to it. Put a net over and around the peppers, but to no avail. Thought it might have been birds also, but apparently not.

The mice must not have taste buds. They completely devoured the cayenne peppers as well as habeneras, gypsys, fresnos, jalapenos, and serranos. All just as they begin to ripen. I have eaten just one fully ripened cherry tomato all summer. Been harvesting peppers before they ripen so that it is not a complete loss this year. And getting zucchinis now from the seeds I planted late. Corn is growing great but I am worried about pollination. I think the wind blew all the pollen elsewhere.

> Bought old fashioned traps and have got 13 so so far.

Got you beat, Mark. I've killed 17 ground squirrels so far this year.

Which of the potato farmers on this thread provided the potato that Ken smuggled to Norway, huh??? ;)

I don't have my own garden this season but have been enjoying all of your photos. 

Last week, I discovered a beautiful new large-format art magazine about flowers and growing flowers (a passion that I want to get back to some day, and maybe even earn $$ from it!).  It's called Blumenhaus -- produced in Germany and printed in Spain.  https://blumenhaus-magazine.com/

Started reading it last night, and connected to the passage below... thought Zoner gardeners might enjoy it, too.
 

(from a story about English gardens)

 Gardening for the Soul

Getting beneath the fingernails of how England gardens, the way we foster boundless enthusiasm for our outdoor spaces, very often begins by being guided by a loved one with green fingers.  The act of gardening is intrinsically an act of kindness; a path of nurturing a fellow human being as much as it is to nurture the very soil from which so much colour, joy and nourishment feeds the soul. 

The simple act of weeding, mowing and digging is a chore that quickly becomes the route to so much enjoyment.  Flowers are cut for the house, vegetables are picked from the earth, and fruit is plucked from the tree. Bird feeders are habitually replenished, the gardener constantly noting the wildlife that we share our gardens with; robins perched atop any available hand tool driven into the earth. 

Blueberries, grapes, cantaloupe, potatoes, artichoke, and a bunch of struggling peppers<<<

nice actually fantastic thx mark.

Grapes are doing well. Not sure on potatoes. Had to delete the cantaloupe. One blueberry doing better than the other.

Tomatoes.  Putting enough hurt on the meeses to actually get a couple ripe ones.

Peppers same as tomatoes. Might actually get to harvest some ripe serranos, habeneros, pablonos, ghosts and have some new anaheims that I hope make it.

Corn is growing well but I am concerned about pollination.  New zucchinis from seed are finally producing great.

Nice photos Mark!  Blueberries like acid soil and wet roots -- blueberries are a good commercial crop in the NW, planted in sunny fields, but when I go pick they are typically planted in wells or trenches to hold more water around their roots for longer.. not the most articulate wording.. if the leaves look a little yellow, some fertilizer for acid-loving plants (not people! ;)  will help. 

^ nice

Been harvesting bell peppers all week, and the others are catching up fast!  

those purple peppers are my surprise fav so far this year, sweet with some heat right now, will get hotter, love them in marinates!

https://www.pepperscale.com/buena-mulata-pepper/?fbclid=IwAR02PPxvsQsmJD...

^^^ beautiful! never seen a purple pepper before!  more heat next week in Oregon, good for the peppers.

The only purple peppers I've grown were nowhere as beautiful a color as those and were bitter until grilled, when they became palatable.

I saw a program on PBS showing that the majority of blueberries being sold in Europe, especially Germany, are grown in the high desert of Peru. They're grown in bags in soil brought in from elsewhere as the native soil has very little organic matter or nutrients. The irrigation is from snow melt but as the farms are expanding they're planning to build dams... more jobs, with changes to the ecosystem. The berries are treated with fungicides before shipping and other chemicals as they're growing. The guy in charge said that if they didn't grow well organically they had not compunctions about chemical applications of fertilizers and other things. Also, they're breeding and planting for Europe which means big firm blue berries that will withstand 3 weeks of shipping. It's all unnatural.

I grew purple bells too, as of now, don't like them...  needs more time perhaps.  But the Buena Mulata purple peppers are tasty purple (before turning several colors, ending a very hot, but sweet, red)

MarkD, here you go. Just planted, it'll be nice when they've matured.

All is right in the world now, Judit.

Noodler, those purple look like some sort of Cayenne?

In the other photo,  poblano, anaheim, gypsy, and a bell?

Thanks for the tip LLollo.

Judit, that is so interesting about growing blueberries in Peru. 

I'm guessing the purpose of those farms is to meet demand for blueberries in Europe during the part of the year when they are not in season locally in Germany and elsewhere. 

High carbon footprint blueberries -- wonder what they charge per pint?

The expectation that one should be able to buy fresh tomatoes, strawberries and blueberries in January is not good for the planet due to the transportation impacts.

I remember hearing stories in Spain, as that's where the Dutch, who have led the industry on indoor growing, were setting up huge growing facilities in southern Spain, in an area not as popular with tourists (Murcia province). 

> The expectation that one should be able to buy fresh tomatoes, strawberries and blueberries in January is not good for the planet due to the transportation impacts.

Don't forget year-round asparagus and tulips. Those are a couple of my high-impact pet peeves, carbon footprint-style.

It's a small world after all, my ass. If that were true, we wouldn't consume so much.

I just did a couple of Google searches about Peru and Blueberries ~ they're not just going to Europe, they're going to the U.S. and others.

Fall Creek Nursery, a local nursery here with international dealings and a great horticultural reputation (or at least did), seems to have expanded to Peru and other places (Spain included) https://www.fallcreeknursery.com/careers/our-locations

Got the first batch chopped and hung yesterday.

Nice everyone.  Was an "annus horribilis" here.  I can be impatient and throw caution to the wind when it comes to early spring planting.  Sadly, the long cold spring (and April snow) stunted my chile plants and they never recovered even after we moved into a long hot summer (and unseasonably hot fall),

Still managed to harvest some pods:

Tomatoes ripening like crazy now. The cool weather(finally) has them turning.

Still producing peppers. Habeneros and ghosts are just about done. One fresno and one jalapena still going. Many serranos left.

Need to get going on my winter planting.

Nice little medley there Ken. Looks like Poblanos, Anaheim, Habeneros(red and orange), Bananas, Cayenne, serrano, padrone?, off white just called chillis?

Anybody know why my tomatoes do this before they ripen?

Fluctuations in the amount of water they receive.

https://www.thespruce.com/why-do-tomatoes-split-2540002

Yes, rain causes my tomatoes to split, they just soak up too much. If I see rain coming I go pick anything that is not dead green then let them ripen inside. I've had times when it rained and I lost probably 75% due to split. Sometimes it looks like a stretch mark that then explodes in you hand when touched.

Sorry for the visual . .

Thanks.  So if it happens all summer, I am probably watering too much? I have an auto drip system. I will tone it down this yr.

Pause. Read Mike's link.

Uh now I am confused again. 

My take away from the article: If you have your drip irrigation on pretty constantly you may be overwatering and causing splitting. Only turn it on when the soil is dry an inch down. Also, do what you can to avoid mass fluctuations in water saturation.

For instance, let's say it's been a few days and you're due for a watering today. However, there's supposed to be a soaking rain tomorrow. Personally, I wouldn't water because it'll be over saturated with the rain.