cukes & squash

Picked my first cucumbers this week - and our first squash and zuchinni. Nothing like really fresh veggies.

Reply to
Srgnt Billko
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You musta got your cucumbers in late. I've already picked 4 gallon baggies full. =P Picked about 30 ears of Kandy Corn yesterday, too. =) Oh, and I don't do squash. =)

Just funnin' with ya, Sarge. I totally agree, there's nothing like *REALLY* fresh veggies! Enjoy, man! =)

Reply to
Eggs Zachtly

I believe every word I read on the internet !! I first read that as you don't do "squat". I thought you meant no fertilizer.

Reply to
Srgnt Billko

Heh. Actually, that's pretty close. Last spring I put in raised beds. The mix I put in them was:

50% river-bottom top soil, screened through a 3/8" screen 25% compost, also through a 3/8" screen 25% composted manure, through a 1/2" screen

On tomato and pepper transplants, I added 1T of a slow-release (Osmocote) fertilizer. Other than that, I added absolutely no fertilizer, throughout the entire growing season, just to see what would happen. I had bumper crops of everything.

This season, I again only added 1T of Osmocote to the transplants, and everything has got hit twice with a water-soluable (MG) fertilizer. With the exception of whiteflies [1] attacking the cuke vines and bean foilage, I've had few problems. I've again had bumper crops on everything except tomatoes. I'm now checking corn carefully, daily, and trying to beat the worm (so far I'm winning, I lose maybe 1/2" of an ear, here and there).

I'm not sure about the tomatoes, but I think the weather has played a big part, and they don't seem to be getting as much sun. There'll be plenty for the table, for sure, but not many jars of Romas will be put up. I'll move them to a different bed, next season, and will ammend the soil. After two growing seasons, the nutrients should pretty much be spent. I consider my "experiments" with the garden to be quite a success.

I'm growing peanuts for the first time, and the plants appear quite healthy, and have been flowering profusely. What a fascinating plant! I'm curiously watching them with anticipation. We'll see. =)

Most of the white and yellow onions have been softball size, and the reds have been burger-bun size. Can't ask for better than that!

[1] Probably escapees from my greenhouse, which sits next to the beds. They absolutely decimated the foilage on my tropical hibiscus over the winter, but it flowered all winter long. It recovered (not fully, the leaves aren't quite the color I'd like, and definately not the size they should be), but it's still blooming, and trying like hell to come back. I used a systemic insecticide in the GH all winter, but towards the end, it wasn't working nearly as well. I'm quite sure they were becoming immune. I'd rather not use sprays in the GH, though. Insecticidal soap has been slowly bringing them under control so far this summer.
Reply to
Eggs Zachtly

Nice to hear things are doin good. My lady manages most of the garden and she likes commercial fertilizer. But, like you, I depend mostly on compost and manure. I missed the elephant and tiger poop from Cole Bros. circus this year. When I got around to going after it they had already packed up and left. Someone told me years ago that stuff would keep the deer away but I have not found that to be true.

Reply to
Srgnt Billko
[...]

If deer are a problem, you might wanna try this:

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works. We found it last year at work, and skeptically tried it. Beds that used to be decimated by deer went untouched the entire season. It's not cheap, but it was the most impressive repellant I've seen, that didn't have gunpowder and a primer. ;)

They haven't been a problem at home. Rabbits have been my nuisance. Liquid Fence keeps them at bay, here.

G/L man, and enjoy those veggies.

Reply to
Eggs Zachtly

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