Search results

A great way to keep raccoons out of corn and some other places they love to go is to plant cucumbers or other Curcubits that have those tiny little hairs all over the leaves and stems. Raccoons really don't enjoy stepping on them and we've had pretty good success in using them around our corn...

Morning glories will grow almost anywhere, with almost no soil at all, in between concrete cracks. :lol: careful Another note, Ipomoea tricolor which is marketed as "Heavenly Blue" or other blue names can be poisonous to chickens, among other animals and children. Mostly just the seeds and...

I think this would make them sprout. This will work essentially for doing that. You may have some weaker seedlings but overall should be ok. Hope they breed true for you, I'd hate for you to get something you're not bargaining for from a hybrid seed. Carlos

In general it usually is safe to start seeds about 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost. This varies from zone to zone so look yours up. I agree with lesa, direct sow your peas and lettuce soon, as soon as you can work the soil. To get them going well you may want to cover the seeds with...

There's a story about enzymes, seed casings and drying periods I could tell here but I won't. Instead, what I will say is this: Yes, especially for tomatoes, I would recommend a good drying after one processes the seeds (through fermentation) to reduce the likelihood of disease. At minimum...

Yeah I would agree with both comments about pruning and sunlight. If you know how your neighbor grows them then this should give you some good indication of what might be going wrong. Also another big issue is air circulation, this can cause major problems for grape vines. Curiosity only...

Cedar isn't readily available around here and I really like the look of redwood, which is more readily available in these parts. Redwood is very rot-resistant and lasts for years. It's good to let the wood age for a couple of weeks in the yard. The gentleman at the lumber yard recommended that...

Marigolds, although pretty *easy* to grow, have been really strange regarding germination in my garden. They germinate when they feel, this can be 3 days or 3 weeks. I just throw some seeds down where I eventually want them and then they'll sprout when they're good and ready. We use a good mix...

Gonzo & The Peeps- I agree with everything everyone mentioned. Every crop, every time will have some challenges and lots of great experiences for you as a gardener. I would also recommend the beans (which can be planted amongst the corn), radish and peas as good starter crops. If you decide to...

I really don't grow many hybrids and definitely do not save from the ones I do grow. I meant the mixed results I've had were from just not controlling the pollination and the environment and receiving some variations afterwards. May be my compulsiveness as a scientist or perhaps some cross...

My first reaction is that there may be a lot of manure there but... If you are able to get some perlite and mix in that would be ideal. My recommendation is 1 part garden soil (well screened), 2 parts perlite and 2 parts peat moss and then mix in some manure (well screened) afterwards 1/2 to...

My chickens stay away from the Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis and my California Bay Laurel Umbellularia californica. Besides for being in perfect growing conditions and also being in California I would recommend U. californica it may be more readily available down South where you are and tastes...

Truly I've had mixed results from seed saving and over the past few years have moved into a more sterile process for doing so to ensure no cross pollination. However, it is very possible to selectively breed characteristics into or out of tomatoes. There are many resources out there about...

Many may disagree but I don't risk cross-pollination although many believe that tomatoes are low risk. There are 2 ways that we save seeds from these varieties and both require not much work or involvement. 1. Select the about to open flowers on the plant at 2 different positions and cover...

I particularly love Yellow Pear and Marglobe, two of my favorite varieties that always produce well and early and often. Generally speaking, I found pruning advantageous in a few situations, although I don't make it a habit since there is so much involved in other aspects of the garden: 1...

It's very encouraging that you're deciding to this great venture. I agree with the pieces of caution voiced by many. I want to echo especially what Pat and Ridgerunner are both saying in regards to how much can you handle (even with helpers) and how much prep work can you put into the project...

Lilac Clover Hibiscus (which also make a great tea) Chrysanthemums Lavender Calendula Squash/Pumpkin Uh, I'm sure there are others. Carlos

Correct, typically most hybrid sweet corn like Serendipity will not hold true to the parent plant. Like vfem said, if you want to save seed from corn varieties find an open-pollinated variety that works for you. Carlos

Genius! Wow, going to try this tonight! Thanks for sharing!

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing. Carlos