How is your garden doing so far?

[vfem]

I personally have not seen any issues with mosquitos in them... but like a bird bath, you need to change and move the water. I found this idea in a book about native bird and butterfly gardens. It suggests even using a birdbath with the rock.... generally that is what butterflies and dragonflies want... something wet and rocky to land on so they can drink without drowning. Just be careful to take care of the water and not let old water sit or weeks without changing it.

 

[vfem]

Hey guys! Great pics! Looks like everyone is off to a good start. We've still been having rain so I haven't done much in the way of gardening. I have been spending some time out on the lake fishing a bit though. Catfish are really biting. I think we're about done with the rain. The sun is actually trying to make an appearance today! I have so much catching up to do after a week of rain I don't know where to start. Anyway, keep up the good work guys and wish me luck out in the rain forest that used to be my yard!

Yeah, my husband has been mumbling to himself that he's been so busy he hasn't had time to go fish out in the yard. I told him the catfish are probably going nuts with all this rain and it makes him want to fish more. I'm sure I'll lose him for a few hours tonight if the rain holds off.... he loves going out catfishing around midnight!

 

[DawnSuiter]

Mine are doing great!
We started eating strawberries 4 days ago when we planted the sweet potatoes and noticed a few RED berries! They are VERY VERY YUMMY and I'm tickled to know there are no artifical chemicals to be found on them so I eat right off the plant! First time for me!!!!

Cherry tomatoes were added yesterday.. a $10 big gallon pot is what I bought since I was at lowes and they looked so yummy!!! DD loves them!

Almost everything has sprouted, I think I lost my carrots but have new seeds sprouted to replace them, I bought rabanos (radishes) and will be planting them soon. Our first rows of corn may be sprouting too!!

Here's pics from the garden.. a few days old though:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bodyflight.net/FoodGardens

The pickles & potatoes are three times the size they were just a few days ago.. my fake topsey turvey bags are doing great too. I'm having GOOD success this year so far.

Ants could be a problem though soon... not sure but they really are everywhere around here... they are always a problem I never know how to deal with.

 

[jlmann]

Hattie- Muddy? Catfish don't taste muddy. No bones either. I am deadly with a filet knife. I guess they're like a lot of things in that you have to know the proper way to cook them. I always soak mine in saltwater and lemon juice over night and this seems to get rid of any "off" flavors. I cut the filets in to "nuggets" and deep fry them I use a beer batter and they are wonderful. Baked catfish would be absurd! I only eat catfish every once in a while so my ticker doesn't give out on me though.

vfem- Tell your husband I caught 3 catfish over 10 lbs. yesterday plus a bunch of smaller ones. Fish fry this weekend. The wife will probably make me eat salad for a month after , but hey it's a southern thing.

You guys have a good day - I'm headed back to the jungle.

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

Hattie- Muddy? Catfish don't taste muddy. No bones either.

Hmm... this must be a European thing. My parents (German) never ate catfish when I was growing up because "they are bottom-feeders and taste muddy."
Since I've lived in South Carolina for the past 9 1/2 years, I've come to love a good, fried catfish. I'm not sure what my parents were talking about - I doubt they ever tasted catfish, just made the assumption that bottom-feeders = bad tasting.
I love cultural differences. So interesting.

 

[jlmann]

OK here's an update on my stuff. I get started on fishing and ........

So anyway, I should have broccoli in a few days

My lettuce is doing pretty good

Has anyone else ever planted Thomas Laxton peas? Hattie may know as I think they are a British variety. (like a lot of other peas) This is my second year planting them and they do well here. They are vigorous climbers to about 4 ft. and heavy bearers. They're almost 18 inches now.

That's cabbage,brussel sprouts and rutabagas to the right of the netting for the peas. Everything looks a little wilted from the sun today since it's been cloudy for a week solid. Between last Saturday and yesterday evening we got 6 inches of rain. JEEZ! I need to get out and hoe a little soon as it dries out a little more but I'm done for today. Excuse the weeds and tall grass , I'll get to it eventually.

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

Wow, looks great!
I think I might have to look into broccoli and different cabbages and lettuce and all that. Oh, I just need more room!

 

[jlmann]

G.veggies - In SC you may be able to overlap your crops because the broccoli, cabbage and lettuces are all cool season stuff and most require a short to medium length growing season. You could maybe plant some cabbage in late winter and when it is done plant warm weather stuff. You should probably ask around locally because you guys generally get a lot less winter than we do and there are probably a lot of different options available. A greenhouse, feed store or your local ag extension offices are some places I'd start. If you can find some local info it is possible that you may be able to have veggies growing almost year round.

 

[PennyG]

That does look great!!

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

G.veggies - In SC you may be able to overlap your crops because the broccoli, cabbage and lettuces are all cool season stuff and most require a short to medium length growing season. You could maybe plant some cabbage in late winter and when it is done plant warm weather stuff. You should probably ask around locally because you guys generally get a lot less winter than we do and there are probably a lot of different options available. A greenhouse, feed store or your local ag extension offices are some places I'd start. If you can find some local info it is possible that you may be able to have veggies growing almost year round.

I have a friend who is into the veggie garden thing - unfortunately she has a green thumb for indoor plants, but a black one for outdoor plants. :/
I do remember her talking about broccoli in the winter, and I remember thinking, "really? NOW?" I will have to look into it for sure. I was planning on planting some cool weather stuff after the summer crop is done.

This gardening thing is turning into somewhat of an obsession for sure! :tools