advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

On 20 May 2003 21:25:01 -0700, (simy1)
wrote:



I don't believe so. Time of day makes more of a difference with transplants, which
are best planted in the evening or on a very cloudy day so that they have a chance
to 'settle in' without having to deal with the stress of bright sunlight.

do you organize your day in the garden so transplants are always the
last thing before dinner? It has become second nature to me.

I don't - but I temporarily cover them with chicken wire,
with a white plastic garbage bag over the chicken wire
(neither is touching the plants). This shades them from the
hot sun and protects them from the wind as well.

I leave the cover on all day if I've transplanted in the
morning, maybe two days if it's really hot and sunny.

Pat

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

simy1 said:

(Pat Kiewicz) wrote in message


Time of day makes more of a difference with transplants, which
are best planted in the evening or on a very cloudy day so that they have a
chance to 'settle in' without having to deal with the stress of bright sunlight.

do you organize your day in the garden so transplants are always the
last thing before dinner? It has become second nature to me.

More like I bolt out the door immediately after dinner. (We usually eat fairly
early, by my friends' standards.)
--
Pat in Plymouth MI

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

Lee Hall said:


So, you think my 22 tomato plants are a bit much for the wife and me?

Not if you are planning to dry them, can them, freeze them or donate
bushels of tomatoes to the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

On Wed, 21 May 2003 07:07:12 -0400, Pat Meadows
wrote:

I don't - but I temporarily cover them with chicken wire,
with a white plastic garbage bag over the chicken wire
(neither is touching the plants). This shades them from the
hot sun and protects them from the wind as well.

I leave the cover on all day if I've transplanted in the
morning, maybe two days if it's really hot and sunny.

Do you have any garden pics posted, Pat? It sounds as if you could
create a great garden history/methods site. With 20/20 hindsite, it
would have been instructive and interesting to see a pic of the frozen
greens and how they recovered (thank goodness).

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

On Sun, 25 May 2003 12:55:19 GMT,
(Frogleg) wrote:



Do you have any garden pics posted, Pat? It sounds as if you could
create a great garden history/methods site. With 20/20 hindsite, it
would have been instructive and interesting to see a pic of the frozen
greens and how they recovered (thank goodness).

Yes, it would have been nice. But I didn't. :( We have a
digital camera, so I've no excuse.

I will try. I've been wanting to take photos as we went
along. I'm keeping good garden records, and photos would be
a great supplement to it.

[Something of a digression...and something of a whine]
Both DH and I have some fairly serious medical problems -
involving pain in both cases. What we've done in the garden
so far this year has cost us both a lot of pain, and taken a
lot of our (limited) available energy.

I try very hard to maintain a cheerful attitude, and there's
no particular point in complaining in public either, but
there it is.

We don't (can't) do what healthy people do. So it's a major
struggle. If we had more money, we could hire much of the
hard work done. If we were healthier, we'd be working and
have more money but then we wouldn't need to hire the work
done, but we are unable to work therefore don't have money
and can't hire the work done either. It's a vicious circle.

Anyway, I've barely been able to plant the things,
photographing them afterwards has not been possible.
[End Digression]

Because we're doing a lot of one-time-only jobs this year,
this year is particularly difficult - supports for vertical
vining crops, the tires for tire-gardening (they need to be
brought home and cut and filled with soil), constructing a
cold-frame and hoophouse, etc. Next year will be easy by
comparison.

But I will try VERY HARD to take photos, I really do want
them also. And if I take them, they'll be put on the web.

Pat

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

On 22 May 2003 16:29:52 -0700, (Lee Hall) wrote:

(Frogleg) wrote

This is 2nd-year advice. :-) The first year is when you discover some
of the limits of space, labor, and appetite. I always wonder about
Q's asking "how much to plant for a family of 4?" Depends on how much
they like tomatoes or zucchini with every meal, if there's an on-site
person willing to can/preserve the overage, and whether the dog likes
lima beans.

So, you think my 22 tomato plants are a bit much for the wife and me?

I haven't the slightest idea. :-) 22 plants, if all are successful,
seems more like a small business than a salad for 2. However, if you
want to sample several varieties, put up a roadside stand, supply a
farmers' market, have the will to can/dry/preserve, or help out a food
bank, I'd say 22 plants were just about right.

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

On Sun, 25 May 2003 09:29:15 -0400, Pat Meadows
wrote:

On Sun, 25 May 2003 12:55:19 GMT,
(Frogleg) wrote:



Do you have any garden pics posted, Pat? It sounds as if you could
create a great garden history/methods site. With 20/20 hindsite, it
would have been instructive and interesting to see a pic of the frozen
greens and how they recovered (thank goodness).

Yes, it would have been nice. But I didn't. :( We have a
digital camera, so I've no excuse.

I will try. I've been wanting to take photos as we went
along. I'm keeping good garden records, and photos would be
a great supplement to it.

[Something of a digression...and something of a whine]
Both DH and I have some fairly serious medical problems -
involving pain in both cases. What we've done in the garden
so far this year has cost us both a lot of pain, and taken a
lot of our (limited) available energy.

I try very hard to maintain a cheerful attitude, and there's
no particular point in complaining in public either, but
there it is.

We don't (can't) do what healthy people do. So it's a major
struggle. If we had more money, we could hire much of the
hard work done. If we were healthier, we'd be working and
have more money but then we wouldn't need to hire the work
done, but we are unable to work therefore don't have money
and can't hire the work done either. It's a vicious circle.

Anyway, I've barely been able to plant the things,
photographing them afterwards has not been possible.
[End Digression]

Because we're doing a lot of one-time-only jobs this year,
this year is particularly difficult - supports for vertical
vining crops, the tires for tire-gardening (they need to be
brought home and cut and filled with soil), constructing a
cold-frame and hoophouse, etc. Next year will be easy by
comparison.

But I will try VERY HARD to take photos, I really do want
them also. And if I take them, they'll be put on the web.

I assume your address is a spamblock. I can be reached at
frogleg-atsign-hotmail-dot-com. I'd love to help you put pictures on
the web. And remind you to take that camera out occasionally. :-)

I'm sure you must have developed some methods to deal with the heavy
chores. We could do a web page on helpful techniques. Or how to barter
spinach for digging and beans for fencing.

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

On Sun, 25 May 2003 22:07:38 GMT,
(Frogleg) wrote:


But I will try VERY HARD to take photos, I really do want
them also. And if I take them, they'll be put on the web.

I assume your address is a spamblock. I can be reached at
frogleg-atsign-hotmail-dot-com. I'd love to help you put pictures on
the web. And remind you to take that camera out occasionally. :-)

No, my address is legitimate. Thanks, though. I know how
to put the pics on the web - we have a website actually, as
part of a part-time business of DHs and because we sell a
few things online (books, music CDs).


I'm sure you must have developed some methods to deal with the heavy
chores. We could do a web page on helpful techniques. Or how to barter
spinach for digging and beans for fencing.

Maybe later when I have more time.

We've not successfully bartered anything yet. :( We give
veggies to our good neighbors, and they return the favor in
various ways, but it's not as formal as barter - more like
an exchange of gifts. :)

Pat

advice needed for a beginner gardener
 

In article ,
Pat Meadows wrote:

We've not successfully bartered anything yet. :( We give
veggies to our good neighbors, and they return the favor in
various ways, but it's not as formal as barter - more like
an exchange of gifts. :)

People don't know that you need help! If anyone you know has ever
admired your crop or your garden, they might be interested in helping
you because they could enjoy your company, learn something, etc. There
is nothing like sharing work in a garden to build community.