Where is everybody? How did everyone fare with the storm?

Barb - how is your wrist doing now that therapy and all is over?

I miss seeing everyone's posts.

Ginny-Florida

Ginny,
Here I am and what storm? By the way, enjoyed your pictures.
I am starting the process of planting and transplanting things into the garden. Planted a few short rows of Jade II Bush beans this weekend. Transplanted 2 Tomatillos into grow bags and hope to start transplanting Broccoli into a raised bed this week. Many of my tomato plants are also ready for transplant. Just have to find the time.
Larry

I only had rain and it was not even that bad. That was a relief.

I have not been posting much because I have been so busy. I have planted 25 SWCs at the demonstration garden, 6 at my daughter's house and 12 at my house this past week. I still have to plant 5 at the extension office and 3 at a friend's herb farm. I have 12 more tomatoes to plant and my cucumbers that I started in soil blocks will be ready to plant in SWCs this week. I also planted my Kentucky Wonder bean today. And my 60 Datil plants are ready for me to start seed saving.

The Brandywine Dark cherry is going to be one of the first to produce. That plant is so vigorous. It is already blooming and has a very impressive root system. I can't wait to try it.

Hi Larry,

How do you use the tomatillos? I have never tried cooking with them yet... lol. Not sure why as I pretty much like everything.

Good luck with the transplanting and such. Can't wait to see which tomato plants do well for you and which ones you really like.

Ginny-Florida

[QUOTE=kayrobbins;502295]I only had rain and it was not even that bad. That was a relief.

I have not been posting much because I have been so busy. I have planted 25 SWCs at the demonstration garden, 6 at my daughter's house and 12 at my house this past week. I still have to plant 5 at the extension office and 3 at a friend's herb farm. I have 12 more tomatoes to plant and my cucumbers that I started in soil blocks will be ready to plant in SWCs this week. I also planted my Kentucky Wonder bean today. And my 60 Datil plants are ready for me to start seed saving.

The Brandywine Dark cherry is going to be one of the first to produce. That plant is so vigorous. It is already blooming and has a very impressive root system. I can't wait to try it.[/QUOTE]

Kay - Yowza! That is a lot of SWC's at a lot of places. Do you manage all of those also? This is the busy time of year with everyone working on Fall crops.

Happy Gardening to everyone!!

Ginny-Florida

And there is that name again. Brandywine Dark Cherry
I'd sure like have a couple of those seeds, but for my spring garden, not the fall.
Larry

[QUOTE=Fiishergurl;502296]Hi Larry,

How do you use the tomatillos? I have never tried cooking with them yet... lol. Not sure why as I pretty much like everything.

Good luck with the transplanting and such. Can't wait to see which tomato plants do well for you and which ones you really like.

Ginny-Florida[/QUOTE]
I have not grow Tomatillos before. I have the purple ones. They have been growing in 5" pots like bad weeds. I read, if you leave on the plant long enough and they turn purple that they are quite sweet and tangy. I hope to try them fresh and cook with them also. If they work out I may try one of the green varieties in the spring.
Thanks to you, I have many tomato varieties to grow this fall. I am anxious to see which ones work for me.
Thanks, Larry

Hi Ginny,

I really liked your kitchen herb plants- you really have a green hand. My wrist is mostly better; range of motion is great - I still can't put much weight on it but every week has improvement.

Just sowing tomato seeds; nothing to look at.

Larry - is it time to grow broccoli? I was thinking of sowing seeds yesterday b/c it rained all day and couldn't get out, but then thought it was too hot. Last year I didn't start them until November; and then it was so hot by April that I didn't get much of a crop.

Also, if you want BCD, I have tons -PM me your address and I will mail them. - I sowed 4 just to make sure the germination rate was good for the MMMM swap and I have 4 healthy seedlings. It probably did the best of any of my seeds in the window while we were gone for a week.

Speaking of leaving plants while away - the Dwarfs as a whole do great unattended inside. All of my dwarfs (small transplants now look pretty good).

Also, I planted BCP (Pink) had seeds from the same vendor but never got around to growing them. When I left I had zero germination, brought some to NC with me - still no germination. Sowed some last week when we returned and yesterday just to make sure sowed about 6 more. I finally saw one peeking through so hopefully will get some plants.

[IMG]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/31/4a2c5362c4d941ab8f297da78cf6872f.jpg[/IMG]

Here's my herb garden (that had separate pots in the window) transplanted into one pot and placed outside of the hotel near the patio area. I stopped by the front desk and asked them if they thought it would get stolen. They said, why don't you put a note on it saying please don't take this. I asked - Will that help? And a guy walking through the lobby who heard our conversation said - No it won't help. And I asked why not? He said, because I'm going to take it.... pot and all... lol.

Anyways, I leave in a week (hubby will be here 6 more weeks) and I can't take it on a plane. But it made me feel good to have the plants in the window and to transplant them... even if they do end up disappearing. Stay tuned.

Ginny in Florida.

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;502314]Hi Ginny,

I really liked your kitchen herb plants- you really have a green hand. My wrist is mostly better; range of motion is great - I still can't put much weight on it but every week has improvement.

Just sowing tomato seeds; nothing to look at.

Larry - is it time to grow broccoli? I was thinking of sowing seeds yesterday b/c it rained all day and couldn't get out, but then thought it was too hot. Last year I didn't start them until November; and then it was so hot by April that I didn't get much of a crop.

Also, if you want BCD, I have tons -PM me your address and I will mail them. - I sowed 4 just to make sure the germination rate was good for the MMMM swap and I have 4 healthy seedlings. It probably did the best of any of my seeds in the window while we were gone for a week.

Speaking of leaving plants while away - the Dwarfs as a whole do great unattended inside. All of my dwarfs (small transplants now look pretty good).

Also, I planted BCP (Pink) had seeds from the same vendor but never got around to growing them. When I left I had zero germination, brought some to NC with me - still no germination. Sowed some last week when we returned and yesterday just to make sure sowed about 6 more. I finally saw one peeking through so hopefully will get some plants.[/QUOTE]

Barb,

So good to hear your wrist is improving. That's great news... :-)

Keep us posted on how the Brandywine Cherry Pink taste compared to the Brandywine Cherry Dark. I left the Brandywind Cherry Dark plant that I planted in the summer at my mom's and it was terribly neglected but the last time I was there it had three tomatoes starting to blush. I should have picked them and taken them with me... lol But I didn't. Will start some next week with my fall crop.

Ginny in Florida

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;502314]Hi Ginny,

I really liked your kitchen herb plants- you really have a green hand. My wrist is mostly better; range of motion is great - I still can't put much weight on it but every week has improvement.

Just sowing tomato seeds; nothing to look at.

Larry - is it time to grow broccoli? I was thinking of sowing seeds yesterday b/c it rained all day and couldn't get out, but then thought it was too hot. Last year I didn't start them until November; and then it was so hot by April that I didn't get much of a crop.

Also, if you want BCD, I have tons -PM me your address and I will mail them. - I sowed 4 just to make sure the germination rate was good for the MMMM swap and I have 4 healthy seedlings. It probably did the best of any of my seeds in the window while we were gone for a week.

Speaking of leaving plants while away - the Dwarfs as a whole do great unattended inside. All of my dwarfs (small transplants now look pretty good).

Also, I planted BCP (Pink) had seeds from the same vendor but never got around to growing them. When I left I had zero germination, brought some to NC with me - still no germination. Sowed some last week when we returned and yesterday just to make sure sowed about 6 more. I finally saw one peeking through so hopefully will get some plants.[/QUOTE]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes now would be a good time to start Broccoli seeds. I use Premium Crop F1 seeds, which produce a nice head of broccoli and holds well in the garden. They appear to have no side shouts which is fine with me. When I harvest I like to have new transplants ready to go in. I've been able to squeeze 3 crops in the last few years.
Premium Crop is advertised as 58 days until maturity. I find that they are longer in my first crop, when it is hotter and shorter than 58 days in the middle crop when it is substantially cooler.
My first crop usually goes in early September, my second in December and my 3rd goes in in March. I harvest my last Broccoli in early June.
Thanks so much for the seed offer. BDC sounds like it is so tasty.
Larry

Larry - where do you get the Premium Crop F1 seeds?

(I've only used Packman - lots of side shoots - I've grown 2 years now; first year same plants had broccoli until June (I shaded though). Last year it was hotter, didn't shade. I grow in the ground (sand). I've experimented with Root Pouches, Raised Beds, and ground and ground always did best.

Says 54 days, but it seems MUCH longer.

Ginny I only have to take care of the 25 at the demonstration garden and my 24 after everything is planted. Some of the last 12 are going into root pouches. I just have not decided which ones.

I decided to not grow broccoli this year. I love it but it takes up so much room for the yield. I will be starting kale and collards soon. I grew two varieties of collards last year that I love. North Carolina Yellow has smaller leaves and is so tender. Alabama Blue has a striking color and when planted with the yellow one makes a pretty bed. I don't like the traditional Georgia collards. They get too large and tough.

[QUOTE=kayrobbins;502438]Ginny I only have to take care of the 25 at the demonstration garden and my 24 after everything is planted. Some of the last 12 are going into root pouches. I just have not decided which ones.

I decided to not grow broccoli this year. I love it but it takes up so much room for the yield. I will be starting kale and collards soon. I grew two varieties of collards last year that I love. North Carolina Yellow has smaller leaves and is so tender. Alabama Blue has a striking color and when planted with the yellow one makes a pretty bed. I don't like the traditional Georgia collards. They get too large and tough.[/QUOTE]

Always learn something new here. Those collards sound like good ones to try. I'm going to look them up.

Ginny

Did you all like the Ambrosia Red or Ambrosia Gold better?

Ginny

Ginny, I got the seeds from Southern Exposure Seeds. They are sold out of the Alabama Blue for 2015. They are now calling the NC Yellow Yellow Cabbage collards. They had a collard tasting event and it was the winner. I have always heard of tomato tasting but never collards.

I really liked Ambrosia Red. It was productive and had good flavor. The Ambrosia Yellow I got was a big disappointment. It was not yellow at all. I am still looking for my forever yellow cherry. I do not love Sungold like most do. I have grown Sweetgold, Egg Yolk, Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry and Dr Carolyn. This year I am trying Sugar drop to see if it is the yellow cherry that becomes a must have in my garden.

I have 6 tomatoes out in SWCs, and another 5 in the ground. Also a pepper plant and 8 cucumbers. I put everything out very early in the hopes of getting a jump on the season and also because I am now on vacation and didn't want to wait until I get back. I'm holding off on fertilizer probably for another week to make sure they don't get ahead of themselves. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we'll have tomatoes for Thanksgiving. Worst case scenario, if they can't take the heat of the next few weeks, I can always replant with store-bought transplants. Very excited, though about some new varieties including Big Beef, Sean's Yellow Dwarf, Bundaberg Rumball and Cosmonaut Volkov. Tried to limit it to shorter season varieties.

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;502384]Larry - where do you get the Premium Crop F1 seeds?

(I've only used Packman - lots of side shoots - I've grown 2 years now; first year same plants had broccoli until June (I shaded though). Last year it was hotter, didn't shade. I grow in the ground (sand). I've experimented with Root Pouches, Raised Beds, and ground and ground always did best.

Says 54 days, but it seems MUCH longer.[/QUOTE]

I purchased seeds for Premium Crop Broccoli twice and both times from Henry Fields.

I tried growing Belster in the sand but didn't have any luck. Then I grew Packman in a raised bed filled with straight compost and had good production. Then a couple of years ago I switched to Premium Crop. With Premium Crop I got significantly larger heads and they held better in the garden. I find Premium Crop to also be visually more attractive with a nice blue green color. With Packman determining when they were ready to pick was much more difficult for me. Those tiny green beads would quickly pop yellow and diminish the taste significantly. Of course that can also happen with Premium Crop but I get a bit more time to make my decision to harvest.
Larry

[QUOTE=elight;502508]I have 6 tomatoes out in SWCs, and another 5 in the ground. Also a pepper plant and 8 cucumbers. I put everything out very early in the hopes of getting a jump on the season and also because I am now on vacation and didn't want to wait until I get back. I'm holding off on fertilizer probably for another week to make sure they don't get ahead of themselves. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we'll have tomatoes for Thanksgiving. Worst case scenario, if they can't take the heat of the next few weeks, I can always replant with store-bought transplants. Very excited, though about some new varieties including Big Beef, Sean's Yellow Dwarf, Bundaberg Rumball and Cosmonaut Volkov. Tried to limit it to shorter season varieties.[/QUOTE]

I also grow tomatoes in Orlando. Of the varieties you are growing, the only one I have grown is Big Beef (BB). I grew 2 BB plants in the fall of 2014. One of them did better that the other and produced quite a few large tomatoes. I transplanted it in early September and the vine was dead due to Early Blight in early January. I am trying many different varieties now but I will probably return to growing BB sometime in the future. God Willing
Larry

Thanks Larry - I checked HenryFields and they are out of stock.

I did find it at an online store called Seed Kingdom. I checked DavesGarden for reviews and it isn't even listed. Not a huge purchase but still.

I even checked on eBay and found it - 30 seeds * 2 (whatever this means - why not just put 60 seeds; do they really count???). Person has tons of + feedback.

Other than that, I couldn't find it anywhere.

You are so right about Packman flowering; when they happens, it happens fast - I just let it for the bees.

UGH - Was biting the bullet and ordering from Seed Kingdom -got up to the CC info and noticed the site was not secure. Closed session.

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;502672]Thanks Larry - I checked HenryFields and they are out of stock.

I did find it at an online store called Seed Kingdom. I checked DavesGarden for reviews and it isn't even listed. Not a huge purchase but still.

I even checked on eBay and found it - 30 seeds * 2 (whatever this means - why not just put 60 seeds; do they really count???). Person has tons of + feedback.

Other than that, I couldn't find it anywhere.

You are so right about Packman flowering; when they happens, it happens fast - I just let it for the bees.[/QUOTE]

Reimer Seeds indicates that they have Premium Crop (PCB) in stock. I have ordered from them in past but not for PCB. From my research in the past it appears PCB is used a lot by a bit larger growers, such as those selling at Farmer's Markets. I've even seen where they transplant 3 or 4 plants bunched together in order to restrict head size. Seems buyers often want smaller heads which more closely match their meal size requirements.
Here is an interesting link about spacing broccoli.
[url]http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1384481/broccoli-spacing-18-inches-or-12-inches[/url]
I've spaced PCB as close as 10" rows and 10" apart in rows and although crowded it worked fine.
Often when planting in a raised bed, the dimensions of the raised bed significantly influence plant spacing. This year I will space plants 5" from boards in 11" rows and 11" apart.

I just thought. I have PCB seeds left over. PM me and I will send you some.

Good Luck, Larry

Does EB usually have a sale in September?

Ginny

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=Fiishergurl;503171]Does EB usually have a sale in September?

Ginny

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
It's usually in December or late November, for Christmas, but new owners this year, so who knows?

[QUOTE=ginger2778;503176]It's usually in December or late November, for Christmas, but new owners this year, so who knows?[/QUOTE]

The original owners would have random 1 day promotions here and there. No earthbox sales/free shipping since the new owners took over.

Ginny - the best deal is to buy 3 EB kits for $89.85 from EB (shipping is $18.95 if you can't wait until December - if they have the promotion). You get to pick your color.

I have mostly green, 5 or 6 terracotta and 3 white. The white stays cool in the sun, green is by far the hottest. If I were buying anymore I would get only white.

All the newer colors Cobalt, EggPlant, Chocolate are really dark.

[URL]http://earthbox.com/earthbox-systems/the-original-earthbox-gardening-system/earthbox-container-gardening-system-white.html[/URL]

Some of mine I bought the full system b/c I wanted the casters, so I got the fertilizer/dolomite too. The recharge kits are a rip off - nothing great about their fertilizer either. I usually just did caster add-ons later on.

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;503199]The original owners would have random 1 day promotions here and there. No earthbox sales/free shipping since the new owners took over.

Ginny - the best deal is to buy 3 EB kits for $89.85 from EB (shipping is $18.95 if you can't wait until December - if they have the promotion). You get to pick your color.

I have mostly green, 5 or 6 terracotta and 3 white. The white stays cool in the sun, green is by far the hottest. If I were buying anymore I would get only white.

All the newer colors Cobalt, EggPlant, Chocolate are really dark.

[URL]http://earthbox.com/earthbox-systems/the-original-earthbox-gardening-system/earthbox-container-gardening-system-white.html[/URL]

Some of mine I bought the full system b/c I wanted the casters, so I got the fertilizer/dolomite too. The recharge kits are a rip off - nothing great about their fertilizer either. I usually just did caster add-ons later on.[/QUOTE]
Barb is absolutely 100% correct about the best value, the best color, and getting your own fertilizers and dolomite lime vs their replant kits.
I wish their was a way to get more of their mulch covers for a better value. People have come up with other ways to do it, but they are more labor. Those mulch covers are a rip off!

Marsha - they are $1.49 each at EB if you buy 50 - which would work OK for you. They should be about $.50 each; but the problem is that the shipping is $18.95 which is the same as shipping 3 EB. Those covers are really light.

The covers at Amazon are approx. $12-13 for 2 - which is just insane - might as well get the fertilizer/dolomite for an extra $1.

When I first got my EB, I bought a lot of the replenishing kits, so I still have extra covers.

Do you cut and then plant, or plant and then cut? I cut first, so mine starts off pretty bad with duct tape over it. I put fairly large plants in the EB.

To save $, I doubled up on used ones which worked out OK. What worked even better is one used one, and then the thicker plastic from perlite (could be potting mix, etc) for the top layer and I just clamped them down with plastic spring clamps.

My husband is going to hike the GA section of the AT in October and bought 2 ply WHITE 30 gallon bags - smaller and lighter than my soil solarizing bags. I will measure tomorrow, and let you know it they fit an EB top and if so, that would be a cheap alternative.

Do you use the white side or black? I use the white side up. If you use the black side, you could get at least 2 covers from 1 bag - that would be about $.25 plus whatever you will use to attach it.

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Ginny - excited you are getting the EB bug.

I also have been watching and watching for them to go on sale :(

I have not seed any sales since they were acquired by a new company

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;503262]Marsha - they are $1.49 each at EB if you buy 50 - which would work OK for you. They should be about $.50 each; but the problem is that the shipping is $18.95 which is the same as shipping 3 EB. Those covers are really light.

The covers at Amazon are approx. $12-13 for 2 - which is just insane - might as well get the fertilizer/dolomite for an extra $1.

When I first got my EB, I bought a lot of the replenishing kits, so I still have extra covers.

Do you cut and then plant, or plant and then cut? I cut first, so mine starts off pretty bad with duct tape over it. I put fairly large plants in the EB.

To save $, I doubled up on used ones which worked out OK. What worked even better is one used one, and then the thicker plastic from perlite (could be potting mix, etc) for the top layer and I just clamped them down with plastic spring clamps.

My husband is going to hike the GA section of the AT in October and bought 2 ply WHITE 30 gallon bags - smaller and lighter than my soil solarizing bags. I will measure tomorrow, and let you know it they fit an EB top and if so, that would be a cheap alternative.

Do you use the white side or black? I use the white side up. If you use the black side, you could get at least 2 covers from 1 bag - that would be about $.25 plus whatever you will use to attach it.

----
Ginny - excited you are getting the EB bug.[/QUOTE]
Barb- last year I bought about 140 for about Less than a dollar each from them, you need to call them to get the OK for that.
I place the shower cap first, white side out, then cut it and plant.
I still think they shouldnt cost even that much.
I'll be interested to see if your husband's bags will fit. Do you have a link for plastic spring clips?

[QUOTE=Imthechuck;503331]I also have been watching and watching for them to go on sale :(

I have not seed any sales since they were acquired by a new company[/QUOTE]
Even the old company only put them on sale once per year, at least for the last 4 years I have been watching. The sale was usually just buy $65 worth and get free shipping, which is pretty good.

OK - I checked the bag and it fits great. It's a compactor bag from HD. 18 gallon (not 30) - 30 bags per carton.

It is approximately 33" not counting the flap. 2.5 Mil (the husky is 3 Mil but feels much thicker). EB is advertised as 29" - Width is no problem at all.
I would keep the bag folded so approx. 5 Mil. so $.33 each. I think they could be reused.

Here is the link: [URL]http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-18-Gal-Compactor-White-Trash-Bags-30-Count-HDX-959933/203473002[/URL]


I wonder if Duct taping would work to keep it in place. That would be the cheapest option.

Here are the clamps (multiple sets) that we bought at least 3 years ago. We bought them when we put in the raised bed and use them to hold down shade cloth. I ended up buying snap clamps for esthetics. And later bought a custom made 12x12 shade cloth held down with bungee cords.

The plastic pieces on the ends break off almost immediately but the spring still works. Mine are outside all the time. I use them now for putting up shade cloth for my seedlings. So I am always putting up/taking down the shade cloth. When not it use, I leave them attached to the PVC pipe so they are always in the element.

The really big ones are useless to me b/c they are so hard to open - need 2 hands. I use the 2 mid size ones a lot for the shading and even holding some of the solarize bags on the EB. The tiny ones I use to hold the drip tubing.

[URL]http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-Spring-Clamp-Set-22-Piece-TGS0073F/203404716[/URL]

One thing nice about buying them at HD, is you can see what you are getting. They came in a mesh type bag.

----
On one of my EB being solarized, I didn't have casters - just mover's dolly so it took much more room in the bag and couldn't tie if off - I ended up closing the open side with duct tape so I can give you an idea about how the duct tape works - hopefully not too sticky when I take it off.
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RE: Solarizing - my original clear bag started disintegrating on top. It was out there for > 3 months - took it off - kind of a petroleum smell though.

The Husky bags are holding up great. One had a split on top (I don't know why), but I had taken it off and laid it on top with the plastic clamps.

What are you using to hold down your solarizing bags on the EB? That would be what you want to do for the new 'shower cap'.

---
I wrote my planting incorrectly - I plant first then put the cap on. So I have to cut the shower cap first; it's not too hard to gage the cuts when I have an empty EB next to it. I know the directions are to cut and then plant, but my plants are too big for those little holes.