Seed planting time

Gophers and hard freeze did a job destroying my rock garden. So . . . got to work on killing the buggers and planting more cold-hardy succulents.
 

Sorry Ina. I've only seen Malabar spinach in catalogs. There are so many kinds of "greens" we can only grow a few of them per year.

I planted a short row of Romaine lettuce and radishes yesterday. Hope to plant some beets and carrots today.
 
rkunsaw, Have you any knowledge of Malabar spinach. I've grown it in a regular veggie garden, but not in containers or partial shade. Although I've read that it will grow under adverse conditions.
I think that is what is also called climbing spinach. I found some at the feed store and planted it, but I didn't get much of a harvest, might just have been a bad year for it.
As far as using it like spinach, it was fine, and I liked the idea of having it climb and be a pretty vine as well as an edible plant.
If I find the seeds again, i will definitly try growing it, and if it would grow in a hanging basket, I think it would be great to have some hanging right in the kitchen.

I have been reading that you can also eat the leaves from green beans, either in salads or cooked; so I am going to try that this year. If I carefully harvest a few leaves from each plant, they should still grow and produce green beans. Squash leaves can also be eaten, as well as carrot tops, beet greens, and several other veggies that we usually do not grow for the greens.
Even grape and strawberry leaves are edible. last year, I also harvested clover leaves and put some of those in my stirfry, and in green smoothies.
 

HFL, I do think we are talking about the same plant, Malabar is a vining spinach, and I use to grow it on the chain link fence. I like the idea of planting the spinach in hanging baskets.
The clover leaves you speak of, is that any particular type, or is it just any kind that you find?
 
Dawned me that with some nice rain headed our way in a couple of days that getting some sunflower seeds planted would be a good idea. Done and done. Now, to see . . .
 
Ina I had both red and purple blossomed clover growing in the meadow. I used the leaves and the blossoms both in my green smoothies but I didn't like them just raw in salads. They were also fine in soup and stir fry veggies.
We also had wild ramps which are similar to onion or garlic and I used those in soups and salads.
 
We've been getting loads of seed catalogs in the mail, which is a good reminder to get started.

I started some sweet potato sprouts two weeks ago ( way too early I know but the sweet potatoes were sprouting)

Yesterday I started some Tabasco and Red Marconi pepper seeds. I need to get some Jalapeno seeds soon soI can get them started.

Anyone else start seeds yet?

Oh man, that must be wonderful being able to have a garden like that! You are planting some excellent things too!! I heard the spicy vegies are way good for me so now I am trying to get more in my diet,

wowee wow!! c446351_m.jpg
 
I have potatoes, onions, carrots, and beets planted in the main garden. Also a short row of Romaine lettuce and radishes in one of the raised beds. The asparagus has been weeded. I'm ready for things to start growing.
 
LOL! I can remember what that is like, waiting, waiting, waiting for that first itti, bitti, sprout comin up through the dirt!! So neat:) May you have a bountiful harvest!!
 
I miss having a garden. Had one for years up north. Don't think my back could take the bending over now.

During WW2, I can remember having a Victory garden as food was top priority to our troops and the gov't urged everyone to plant their own veggies. And, as a young feller I use to sell Pages seeds to earn gifts.
 
PVC planter frame

I have been working out in the yard since we are having a little warmer weather this week. I brought some of the plants from the trailer where we moved from, and have been getting things transplanted here. I hope to get some small tilling done, and spring seeds planted throughout this week, as weather permits.
I can't do much of the tilling, digging, and planting anymore, so I plant as much as I can in containers, which is easier for me.

I found this idea for a trellis for growing cucumbers and tomatoes, and probably would do for beans, or about any climbing or vining plant.
They make quonset hut style (big hoops) greenhouses by using PVC and hooping it over rebar that has been pounded into the ground; so I am thinking that by covering the quonset hoop with chicken wire, or similar lightweight netting, I can easily make a similar vine trellis to this one.
 
Once it's finally legal to grow freely, I will be outstanding in my field . . .

37af7e36654b7fafc89c669ece6251cf_big.jpg
 
New front porch and trellis.

We have been working in the yard with the warmer weather now. The house sat empty for the last 2 years, so there was a LOT of old leaves and pine needles in the yard to be cleaned up, but we are making headway, and i also planted some flowers and climbing peas along the fence line, as well as some lettuce.
I don't do a regular garden area, just plant where I can mix flowers and veggies, along the fences, or grow things in pots.
Mr. HFL just built a ramp (which is much easier for me than the steps), and added on some lattice. he is going to make me a planter at the bottom , and then I can grow tomatoes and Morning Glories along the front of it.
 
I have used the hanging basket planters, Pappy. I like growing things like cucumbers in them, but also tried the ones for upside down tomatoes, and didn't care for that. I had to hang it so high so that it had room to grow, and then it was hard for me to water it, and i would just splash water all over trying to get some in the little top hole.
Tried one of the long ones with strawberries, too, but it was way too heavy when it was wet enough, and the roots were so short that the strawberries dried up too fast. It might work with cucumbers though, and I like the idea of the hanging basket plants, keeps them up off of the ground.

I just found this idea for short rooted plants (maybe lettuce or spinach?) and it looks like it would not be too hard to build, and easy to use and take care of the plants, too.
 
Gardening hint for Phil. While many of us invest in backyard gardens to supply much of the food we eat, in your case, to insure you have an adequate supply of

food, I suggest you invest in a pizzeria.
 
Hi Vixenator. I brought the gardening thread up for you. There doesn't seem to be much interest on here so I quit posting about my garden.

Tell us about your garden. I'm interested.
 
My green thumb seems to have turned brown this year rkunsaw. You seem to have a lot of success with your gardening.
Down here in Houston the only things going strong for me right now are cucumber plants and assorted tomato plants. I'm just happy for that. It's getting hot now, so I plan to wait until October/November to plant more vegetables. And berry plants... love the strawberry and blueberry plants.
I like those planters too HFL.
 


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