Quarantine Vegetable Gardens

[BetteDavisEyes]

I plant geraniums as a trap crop for the Japanese beetle so that they don't destroy my grapes and roses. They eat the geraniums and die within 12 hours: How to Kill Japanese Beetles on Geraniums

But last year we did have way more beetles than usual. I resorted to getting some of those bag traps for the yard. They seemed to work: https://www.amazon.com/Spectracide-Japanese-Beetle-Trap2-1-Count/dp/B008JDRV98?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

This year I planted extra geraniums.

I can see why you have "gardener" in your screen name I had no idea that geraniums could be planted to "trap" Japanese beetles. I only know that the little buggers eat the leaves of my beautiful geraniums That said, last summer wasn't so bad with beetles, but I had other issues with the geraniums: For the past two summers, the geraniums have become woody and pretty much stopped blooming in mid-August rather than 3-4 weeks later when they get tossed along with other annuals. I suspect this is climate-related since I've gotten my geraniums annually from the same nursery, planted and tended them the same way for 40+ years. I haven't made up my mind entirely yet, but I'm thinking about planting something other than geraniums on the deck/patio this season. It's generally safe to plant annuals after May 20 in Michigan, so I'll have to make up my mind before our trek to Bordine's in the middle of the week for planting over the holiday weekend.

 

[acutename]

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I knew of the possibility, but hadn't read anything from you in a bit. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Very sad.

As for gardening, try something simple and easy to grow maybe at first. I'm sure you'll do fine. Tomatoes and peppers are my choice for now, as well as lots of herbs and types of mint. Good luck to you.

best tomatoes I ever had I planted '"late" ...May 30th...but it was steadily hot by then... not the weather we have lately which is 80F one day and 38F two days later. with the later planting, the tomatoes just seemed to grow 24/7. I did suddenly also get a homongous tomato horn worm that year - thought squirrels were eating the plants (?) and then I found it munching away.

 

[acutename]

Thanks for responses re: indoor herb gardening. I'm aware of the drainage issue, but there are many examples of herbs growing in jars, so it must have some success. Many of the planting vessels featured in these articles don't appear to have drainage holes with saucers.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/best-herbs-to-grow-indoors/

15 Indoor Herb Garden Ideas 2020 - Kitchen Herb Planters We Love​

Leifheit canning jars (I have 12, two sizes) are not the same shape as typical Mason jars. They are wider, not as tall, and have a wide mouth. I've used them to store homemade dips, salad dressing, marinades, pesto, chutney, chicken liver pate, hummus, and I'm preserving Meyer lemons now that should be ready in a few weeks. Leifheit jars are actually pretty enough for serving. Leifheit Jars - Healthy Canning

When DH and I go to Bordine's (local nursery), I will look at their vast selection of pots and see if something catches my eye. If not, I will give the Leifheit jars a chance this season with basil, rosemary, and thyme. Our kitchen dining island gets adequate sunlight; hopefully the herbs will thrive in that location. If it doesn't work, it won't be a major loss since I already have the jars.

I am a mediocre gardener, but if you get a basil plant growing well, it will grow indoors for years in a sunny window. I had one for about 12 yrs until it dried out during a long trip. It was in a draining pot that was about 8-10" across and I had to trim it back frequently.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I am a mediocre gardener, but if you get a basil plant growing well, it will grow indoors for years in a sunny window. I had one for about 12 yrs until it dried out during a long trip. It was in a draining pot that was about 8-10" across and I had to trim it back frequently.

I love basil and use it more than any other herb. I usually buy a large plant in late summer and try to keep it growing for a couple of months, alternating outdoors and indoors depending on the weather. I've never tried just keeping it indoors but will attempt it this season. Thanks for the tip

 

[zecats]

I can see why you have "gardener" in your screen name I had no idea that geraniums could be planted to "trap" Japanese beetles. I only know that the little buggers eat the leaves of my beautiful geraniums That said, last summer wasn't so bad with beetles, but I had other issues with the geraniums: For the past two summers, the geraniums have become woody and pretty much stopped blooming in mid-August rather than 3-4 weeks later when they get tossed along with other annuals. I suspect this is climate-related since I've gotten my geraniums annually from the same nursery, planted and tended them the same way for 40+ years. I haven't made up my mind entirely yet, but I'm thinking about planting something other than geraniums on the deck/patio this season. It's generally safe to plant annuals after May 20 in Michigan, so I'll have to make up my mind before our trek to Bordine's in the middle of the week for planting over the holiday weekend.

Zinnias are easy peasy and beautiful annuals. They bloom all summer as well. Also vice - they start out small and spread through the summer. Pretty pink, purple and almost white colors to choose from. I plant them among my pansies so when the weather hot weather arrives, which pansies do not do well in, there is still something blooming.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

I can’t remember if mirrors attract or discourage garden predators. In any event, your flip flops did a great job on the potatoes. I’m truly amazed, never having tried to raise potatoes. I had a few sweet potatoes go to pot, so to speak, so I’m going to pull them out of the fridge tomorrow and try to get them to grow. It sounds like you just cut up the potatoes into a few chunks, making sure there were eyes in each piece. Threw them into a pot, and as they greened up, you kept mounding soil around them. That’s it? Sounds too easy. Any other advice?
Oh, yes. Lol. The flip flops. There were a few pairs at CVS before the pandemic hit. By the time I went to get a pair, sold out. Really cute.
But I’ll be right back bc I’m going to check on mirrors and gardens. If needed as a deterrent, I had thoughts of several pieces of mirror, with a small drilled hole in each piece, strung together like a wind chime. Or a string of lights. One main line, with the pieces hanging down on separate threads across the entire length of the main string.

EDITED: Really, after doing some research, I remembered tin pie pans, strips of aluminum foil. Fake owl, plastic snakes, all seem like a waste of time and money. My favorite was the use of a disco ball.
But fool proof? The New Jersey gardener who’s husband put together a pen for guinea fowl. Chicken wire all around, including the ground. Pallets. And pots. It’s a major commitment but pays huge rewards, I bet.
We live two houses away from a nature area, so for us I’m thinking I’ll have to break down and build one. Or a series of little huts. Adding as the garden expands. The irrigation is in place bc of the lawn that used to be there, I’ll have to lengthen the sprinkler heads.

I haven’t thought about deterrents - possibly the cats and the frogs are enough!
As for the potatoes, when they were sprouting I put the whole potato into the pot. Every time leaves appeared, I covered them with more compost until the container was completely full. I also threw some potato fertiliser on top of the compost (got a big box for £1!). Then just sat back and waited.
I hadn’t thought of growing sweet potatoes - thank you for that suggestion. I have one in the fridge that I can sprout and plant.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

Your potatoes look buttery and yummy

They were seriously so, so good. Had half for lunch yesterday, with some grilled mushrooms and scrambled tofu.
Today, I am steaming the rest and mixing them up with a little cashew cheese. Yum!

 

[zecats]

Zinnias are easy peasy and beautiful annuals. They bloom all summer as well. Also vice - they start out small and spread through the summer. Pretty pink, purple and almost white colors to choose from. I plant them among my pansies so when the weather hot weather arrives, which pansies do not do well in, there is still something blooming.

Meant to say Vica. I probably did say vica and lovely autocorrect changed it to vice. I know no flowers with the name of vice, nor do I think growing flowers or veggies is a vice.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

In other gardening news, the year before last I bought a composting bin and have been adding clippings etc. ever since. Occasionally, I’d fork it through and wonder why I was doing this when I could easily buy another bag of compost. This morning, I found out why. It’s taken forever, but I now have a bin full of rich, almost black, loamy compost that smells faintly of lavender. I’ve used some of it today to plant out some of the tomatoes.

ETA gardening this morning was not a relaxing experience. The boys discovered the frogs and I had to march them indoors before they could start their Nature Experiments. Luckily, no froggies were harmed...

 

[Gardener1850]

I haven’t thought about deterrents - possibly the cats and the frogs are enough!
As for the potatoes, when they were sprouting I put the whole potato into the pot. Every time leaves appeared, I covered them with more compost until the container was completely full. I also threw some potato fertiliser on top of the compost (got a big box for £1!). Then just sat back and waited.
I hadn’t thought of growing sweet potatoes - thank you for that suggestion. I have one in the fridge that I can sprout and plant.

I bought sweet potato seed starts at the garden store this year, but they haven't put out any leaves yet. My red potatoes and russets are growing like weeds. It's my first time doing any type of potatoes. I read that sweet potatoes need warmer temps to grow. I'm hoping they will grow soon, as our weather is warming up now. But if the garden store ones don't grow soon, I'm also thinking of getting some from the grocery store to sprout.

How are you sprouting yours? This garden guy that I've been following on you tube did it 2 different ways as an experiment and then showed his results in a 2nd video. The method where he puts it half buried in a bin of dirt did the best. I had only ever seen the cup of water method before. I thought it was so interesting there was another way to do it.

Video where he starts them:

The results video:

 

[oviedo]

i'm so thrilled with my little veggies - i used egg cartons (paper ones) and then the zucchini I put in 1/2 plastic milk bottle with the top cut out - they were not doing well in the egg cartons - I put them in an old fridge drawer (don't want to buy a fancy container until I see if they actually blossom) in dirt yesterday (I have had very little success with actually growing things in the ground here) the yellow squash is slower but I think the egg carton is just too shallow - it's supposed to rain all week so moved everything under the lanai roof. so far, arugula, spinach, lettuce and green beans all sprouting from seeds. it's so cute -

 

[zecats]

Same - I do mostly container gardening even though I have a lot of yard space. With that space comes a lot of hungry critters. I had tulips planted and blooming just recently and something ate the bulbs right out from under them. I thought my grandson stepped on them since they all fell over, but alas...he was falsely accused. Maybe the moles, possibly the squirrels, probably the groundhogs.

 

[Gardener1850]

Same - I do mostly container gardening even though I have a lot of yard space. With that space comes a lot of hungry critters. I had tulips planted and blooming just recently and something ate the bulbs right out from under them. I thought my grandson stepped on them since they all fell over, but alas...he was falsely accused. Maybe the moles, possibly the squirrels, probably the groundhogs.

LOL, about falsely accusing your grandson. I've done that too (not accusing a grandson specifically, but same idea ). I tried planting day lilies one year and either deer or rabbits chewed them right to the ground. One day there were flowers starting to form and the next day there were just tiny stems left, cut off near the ground. I thought a person came and cut my flowers with scissors at first, but with some researching I narrowed it down to either deer or rabbits. I want to plant some hostas eventually but supposedly the deer like to eat those too. This year I put most of my landscaping plant budget into vegetable and fruit plants instead. I only planted flowers that will either benefit my food-producing plants in some way or can be eaten. So far the deer and rabbits have not found my raised garden beds, but we have plans to build a fence around the garden soon to make sure the critters stay out this year. I have many things in containers too. Strangely, I have not seen many deer this year at all. We normally have quite a few does with new baby deer wander through our yard in the spring but I haven't seen any this year yet. I hope the deer haven't been poached out of season. I love to watch the deer and other wildlife, even if I don't want to share my garden with them this year.

 

[LadyL]

Look! My first harvest of the year. I know it’s not much, but not bad from one supermarket potato planted late last year.
View attachment 246979

that is awesome!!
they look yummy!

 

[LadyL]

I can’t remember if mirrors attract or discourage garden predators. In any event, your flip flops did a great job on the potatoes. I’m truly amazed, never having tried to raise potatoes. I had a few sweet potatoes go to pot, so to speak, so I’m going to pull them out of the fridge tomorrow and try to get them to grow. It sounds like you just cut up the potatoes into a few chunks, making sure there

I haven’t thought about deterrents - possibly the cats and the frogs are enough!
As for the potatoes, when they were sprouting I put the whole potato into the pot. Every time leaves appeared, I covered them with more compost until the container was completely full. I also threw some potato fertiliser on top of the compost (got a big box for £1!). Then just sat back and waited.
I hadn’t thought of growing sweet potatoes - thank you for that suggestion. I have one in the fridge that I can sprout and plant.

[bbm]

I thought sweet potatoes were not supposed to be stored in the fridge.

 

[LadyL]

They were seriously so, so good. Had half for lunch yesterday, with some grilled mushrooms and scrambled tofu.
Today, I am steaming the rest and mixing them up with a little cashew cheese. Yum!

right up my alley

 

[CeeCeeCat]

right up my alley

I thought it might be - scrambled tofu for the win!
As for the storage of sweet potatoes, I’ve always thrown root veggies into the bottom drawer of the fridge - so should they be left out at room temperature?

 

[Jax49]

I thought it might be - scrambled tofu for the win!
As for the storage of sweet potatoes, I’ve always thrown root veggies into the bottom drawer of the fridge - so should they be left out at room temperature?

Yes, potatoes and sweet potatoes should be stored at room temp. Along with bananas, tomatoes, onions & bread. moo

Yes, potatoes are supposed to be kept in a cool, dark place, so the fridge should be ideal, right? Wrong. The refrigerator is actually too cold. Low temperatures wreak havoc on potatoes’ natural starches, affecting both their texture and flavor. Instead, store them in a paper bag.

18 Foods That Don't Need the Fridge

 

[CeeCeeCat]

Yes, potatoes and sweet potatoes should be stored at room temp. Along with bananas, tomatoes, onions & bread. moo



18 Foods That Don't Need the Fridge

Today I learned! I knew about tomatoes, bananas and bread but have always kept ‘taters and onions in the fridge...
Thank you for the link.

 

[Jax49]

Today I learned! I knew about tomatoes, bananas and bread but have always kept ‘taters and onions in the fridge...
Thank you for the link.

I think it makes a big difference with potatoes; changes the texture and not in a good way. But, some of the things on that list go in my fridge. Apples and jams/jellies for sure. And I like my melons chilled.