http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk (rec.gardens.edible) To discuss edible gardening. Edible will in this context will relate to vegetables, fruits, nuts,and herbs. Both organic and chemical methods are discussed. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:20:29 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/images/002/misc/rss.jpg http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188281&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:51:30 GMT , villon wrote: > Yep- > just got the 1st seed catalog...]]> In article
>,
villon > wrote:

> Yep-
> just got the 1st seed catalog for 2010 - Pinetree Garden Seeds.
> I had some good luck with some of their seeds last year, and I like
> the fact that many of their seed packets are smaller (and cheaper!)
> than other mail-order firms. And it's printed on cheaper paper.
> Chas

My first seed catalog also of the year also.
Same one also - "2010 Pine Tree Garden Seeds"

It seems just too early to get the catalogs.
How much time does it take to check seed samples for viability?

Spring is coming soon -- NOT!

Enjoy Life ... Dan

--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.
]]> Edible Gardening Dan L. http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188281 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188248&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:43:14 GMT Every year we seem to have volunteer potato plants which have grown
from potatoes we've missed when digging the previous year's crop.
These volunteers always seem to produce a large healthy crop of
tubers.
Because of this, we've been meaning for several years to try some fall
planted potatoes and finally, this year, we managed to plant several
different varieties in about 50 feet of row. It'll be interesting to
see how well they perform.

Ross.
Southern Ontario, Canada.
AgCanada Zone 5b
43º 17' 26.75" North
80º 13' 29.46" West
]]> Edible Gardening rossr35253@forteinc.com http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188248 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188227&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:45:52 GMT I had my first garden potatoes this year. It was just a test plot of 5'
x 4'. For an investment of two seed potatoes, I got two colanders of
potatoes back. The soil is heavy clay, so I lightened it with sand, and
compost, plus the normal soil amendments. Additionally, it is where I
now dump our coffee grounds (including filters). The area gets less sun
than the rest of my garden area but I 'm pleased with this first effort.
The potatoes (German Butterball) were in all sizes. The smallest
potatoes went into a stew, minutes after harvesting.

I'd appreciate suggestions on other potatoe varieties, not that I'm
unhappy with the Butterballs, but I'm curious as to what other people
like and why.
--
³When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.²
-Archbishop Helder Camara

http://tinyurl.com/o63ruj
http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm
]]> Edible Gardening Wildbilly http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188227 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188226&goto=newpost Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:02:24 GMT This question is applicable to a lot more than edible crops, but I'd
like to understand better about potting soil, whether for starting
plants or for container gardening. I've been using the cheap Lowes
potting soil for a few years. It looks to be largely organic stuff.
That is, it isn't just garden "dirt". OK, so that sounds right. Nice
consistency coming out of the bag. But I notice that this stuff
basically turns into mud after a while. That is, after a long and very
hot summer, when stuff is getting watered every other day to keep it
alive, you dig out a plant, and find that the plant has been trying to
grow in highly compacted and hugely soggy soil. This in a pot with
excellent drainage. Just to get the soil out of the pot, you can't do
it with fingers. You need a trowel to excavate it.

Now, this doesn't seem like the kind of stuff plants would like to be
growing in. I should have realized this was happening, because during
the summer, when I watered, it would sometime pool up in the top of
the pots, and take an hour to drain!! The way I was taught, soil
should absorb water, but be permeable enough to let it soak through.

I found a number of fat worms in it, so it can't be that bad, but ...

OK, my bad, using cheap potting soil. Butt head against wall, etc.

But I still have a few bags of it, and it seems to me that with
appropriate amendments, this stuff could still work. What should I
use? Coarse sand? Perlite? Vermiculite? Compost? Peat moss? Now, if
I'm going to add organic material to it, I'd like it to be stuff that
didn't eventually turn into the organic paste I seem to have ended up
with.
]]> Edible Gardening Dwight Lassiter http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188226 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188225&goto=newpost Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:20:45 GMT I bought a persimmon tree years ago as an ornamental, (I'm in BC,
Canada, near the 49th paralel, so its fruit would not ripen here).

The tree produces a heavy crop each year, but my "persimmons" don't
look much like the ones I occasionally see in stores. Here is a link
to a high-res photo: http://www.oldstox.com/images/persimmons.jpg

The fruit are pear-shaped, heavy and firm, and have a downy fuzz over
a yellow skin. Are they indeed a variety of persimmon? Thanks for any
help.


]]> Edible Gardening brafield http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188225 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188189&goto=newpost Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:53:15 GMT http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Crops-and-Foods-On-the- Market/Corn or http://tinyurl.com/y9xbfsx http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/...-Foods-On-the-
Market/Corn

or

http://tinyurl.com/y9xbfsx
]]> Edible Gardening phorbin http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188189 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188180&goto=newpost Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:12:09 GMT Came across this, and other links on the page, and found them very well produced. Old news really, more detailed and more info, for video production. Link to... Came across this, and other links on the page, and found them very
well produced. Old news really, more detailed and more info, for
video production. Link to dangers of aspartame use and other goodies.

http://personalgrowthcourses.net/vid...cally_modified

Thought you and Billy and a few others might find these educational
and.....other things.

For those who don't, ya' might want to start researching and thinking
about seedsaving.

Charlie
]]> Edible Gardening http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188180 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188158&goto=newpost Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:48 GMT "Least we forget"

Il Silenzio

http://tinyurl.com/yee2w7e

http://video.google.com/videosearch?...d=0CBoQqwQwAw#


]]> Edible Gardening gunner http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188158 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188150&goto=newpost Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:12:23 GMT Hey, everybody, long time no write...

I've got some chives that seem to be blossoming. It is a sort of
spherical thingy on the tip, with a bundle of purple bumps. It
is only happening on a few of them.

Can anyone advise about how to get through the cycle to have some
viable seeds?

BTW, it is late springtime in this hemisphere, and the chives
were planted maybe two or three months ago. So they may be
reacting to the weather. I haven't cut/eaten any of them,
because of wanting them to get better established.

Thanks...


--
Get Credit Where Credit Is Due
http://www.cardreport.com/
Credit Tools, Reference, and Forum
]]> Edible Gardening http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188150 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188128&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:44:12 GMT
Anybody have a line on a U.S.A. seed potato vendor who has stock
for autumn delivery? An online vendor would be frosting on the cake.
Even if I'm too late for this year, I'd like a reference to contact for
next year. December is traditional potato planting time in this part of
Florida; unfortunately, seedsmen in northern climes all seem to think
theirs is the only climate ;-) and are all sold out long before I'm
ready. In fairness, I do know that seed growers must operate within the
climate in which they're located.
In past years, I've planted "grocery store" potatoes with good
results, despite the advice of experts. I find that potatoes from
so-called "health" food stores are more likely to sprout profusely
because they've not been treated. In future, though, I'd like to be able
to plant known varieties instead of, "those nice little red potatoes I
got at '"Murphy's'".
--
TIA,
the Balvenieman
Running on single malt in U.S.A.
Peninsular Florida,
USDA zone 9b
]]> Edible Gardening Derald http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188128 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188108&goto=newpost Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:27:31 GMT Due to a severe bad back during the summer and early autumn I have TODAY harvested all of my potatoes and it was not a very pretty sight. I may have enough... Due to a severe bad back during the summer and early autumn I have TODAY harvested all of my potatoes and it was not a very pretty sight. I may have enough potatoes for one meal for one person. Every single tuber was full of holes and eaten away inside leaving just the skin. Inside the tubers I found short 1.5 - 2cm black slugs and also two different coloured worms. Any suggestions as to the best way to dispose of these infected tubers would be appreciated, I don't want to put them on the compost nor do I want to leave them on the ground. ]]> Edible Gardening spes123 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188108 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188066&goto=newpost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:26:04 GMT Can anybody tell me how garden lime is sold in france. I've looked in 'SuperU' and garden centres but I can't find Chaux anywhere. ]]> Edible Gardening Mr McGregor http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188066 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188043&goto=newpost Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:12:16 GMT I saw this site and I like it so much, I'd like to see it to learn a
lot of things
http://zzrz.com/english.htm
]]> Edible Gardening savy http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188043 http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=187933&goto=newpost Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:55:44 GMT I have a small quantity of Ukrainian garlic which has produced "seed heads" (small miniature cloves) about 1/4" in diameter. If I planted these would they produced proper garlic next year or am I wasting my time. ]]> Edible Gardening geowicz http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=187933