Sure!  Vidya and I are thinking of expanding our patch and gardening works.  We would like to take a shot at them.

 

Let us know.

Pradeep

childers_l <childers_l@...> wrote:

I know the MUD has the final rule on who rents lots, but, I'm giving
up 2 of my lots this year.  If you know of anyone wanting two lots
together, let me know.  They are lots 14 & 15.  I started cleaning
out one of them yesterday, but still have my compost pile in it, and
don't want to give that up until it's got more time to do its thing. 
And, the other plot has tomatoes and peppers in it yet and I won't
clean that out until they freeze. 

From what I've been told when I've gone into the MUD office, the lots
go so fast and it's usually shear luck if you happen to be there at
the right time as far as the new ones they opened up.  For that
reason (and because these are two right next to each other), wanting
to tell this group that if you know of anyone, maybe we can set up
something where we both meet at the MUD office at the same time to
basically switch names on them for now, then they can pay the rent
for them come December when the MUD collects that. 

They've been clean lots, no grass and have had lots of compost added
in prior years.  One gets too much shade in the corner to grow much
of anything right there, hence the addition of the compost pile in
that corner.  But, the rest of the area gets a good amount of sun.  I
hate to give them up, but I've got too many things going on right now
so going to just stick with fewer plots this coming year.  I feel
certain I'm going to kick myself come January when I've got cabin
fever and am dreaming up various plans and of sunny days ahead, but,
come March when they need so much work, I'll get over that and just
work with the remaining plots I've got on the other end.  ;) 

Now, on the other hand, if anyone hears of plots opening up near the
end (where they opened a few new ones this year), please pass that
info along to me.  I've got plots down there and would like one more
close to that area as it's just easier to work with them all in the
same area.  That's all for now.

Laurie



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Pradeep Jana
512.832.6022 (R)

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I know the MUD has the final rule on who rents lots, but, I'm giving
up 2 of my lots this year.  If you know of anyone wanting two lots
together, let me know.  They are lots 14 & 15.  I started cleaning
out one of them yesterday, but still have my compost pile in it, and
don't want to give that up until it's got more time to do its thing.
And, the other plot has tomatoes and peppers in it yet and I won't
clean that out until they freeze.

From what I've been told when I've gone into the MUD office, the lots
go so fast and it's usually shear luck if you happen to be there at
the right time as far as the new ones they opened up.  For that
reason (and because these are two right next to each other), wanting
to tell this group that if you know of anyone, maybe we can set up
something where we both meet at the MUD office at the same time to
basically switch names on them for now, then they can pay the rent
for them come December when the MUD collects that.

They've been clean lots, no grass and have had lots of compost added
in prior years.  One gets too much shade in the corner to grow much
of anything right there, hence the addition of the compost pile in
that corner.  But, the rest of the area gets a good amount of sun.  I
hate to give them up, but I've got too many things going on right now
so going to just stick with fewer plots this coming year.  I feel
certain I'm going to kick myself come January when I've got cabin
fever and am dreaming up various plans and of sunny days ahead, but,
come March when they need so much work, I'll get over that and just
work with the remaining plots I've got on the other end.  ;)

Now, on the other hand, if anyone hears of plots opening up near the
end (where they opened a few new ones this year), please pass that
info along to me.  I've got plots down there and would like one more
close to that area as it's just easier to work with them all in the
same area.  That's all for now.

Laurie

Good morning everyone-

Please accept my apology for seemingly dropping off the list.  My workload just jumped through the roof and I don't imagine I'll be seeing daylight till the end of the year.  I want to especially express an apology and thanks to Pradeep for his offer of "gift of the soil" squash!  I was really looking forward to trying some of those, but as fate would have it...I missed my opportunity!  Better luck next time...

With this being said, I stopped by the garden and notice my sprinkler system had a "breakdown" so to speak.  My backflow preventer seemed to have had a manufacturing defect as it split in the middle of its main body and whenever the water was turned on, it sprayed or leaked profusely...aaaargh!  Someone evidently noticed and turned the water off so for the past six weeks or so what was left of my garden has not been watered...the best laid plans and all that rot eh?  I have repaired the drip system and plugged the circuits I removed and it should be up and running again.  I was surprised to discover I actually had some carrots, a couple edible melons and three beautiful Cherokee Purple tomatoes!!! 

As I have a bit of "slave labor" now that my brother is living with me, he and I are going to begin next weekend to rip out the old plantings, add some much needed amendments and then begin the fall planting.  Technically speaking, I'll be about three weeks late beginning this, but better late than never.  I don't know how many of you took a look at the Travis County planting calendar (see the links section of our group), but late July and all of August are prime planting time for the Fall garden.  You must be careful that your seedlings are well watered and that you've added a good amount of compost...and in the case of tomato seedlings added an afternoon sun shelter. 

I have an order of garlic coming in late August and I have several kinds of broccoli, brussel sprouts, various greens and many other things I'm going to plant.  I'm hoping for great success at my first fall gardening attempt here in Texas.  It's a short season in comparison to spring, but from what I've read its a very productive season as there are much fewer pests.  Also, anything in the cabbage family will overwinter here so for all of you, like me, who made a vain attempt at brussel sprouts in the spring, now is the time to give it another try.

On a related, but not vegetable topic, I'm curious if any of you have experience with Canna lilies?  August is also the time to plant these for next spring and I'm curious if any of you have any special techniques or recommendations for soil preparation, mulching, winter watering, etc.?  I'm thinking of making a bulk purchase of rhizomes, but am a little uncertain on care methods.

Well, I think that's enough hot air for a Monday morning...talk to y'all soon!

Ray Cone

As far as I'm concerned, there wouldn't be much more to it.  Put up a
few signs about a week in advance, and then everybody shows up.  Very
simple.

Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, Pradeep Jana <pradeepjana@y...> wrote:
> That would be a great idea!  How do we go about it?  Just set aside
a Sunday evening perhaps for about an hour?
>
> Pradeep Jana
>
>
> spotsmom6368 <spotsmom@k...> wrote:
> I was reading the latest edition of the MUD newsletter last week,
> and noticed that they're having a get together for everybody to
meet
> their neighbors.  Do you think we could do something like that at
> the garden?  Meet all our fellow gardeners?  Would we have to have
> MUD approval?  Would they let us put up signs?  We could just have
> something simple--cookies and tea and lemonade--but it would be a
> good chance to meet everybody.  I know most of the people who
garden
> around me, but I don't think I know the majority of the gardeners
> over all.
>
> Let me know what you think.
>
> Rhonda
>
>
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Service.
>
>
>
> Pradeep Jana
> 512.832.6022 (R)
>
> ---------------------------------
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> SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!

I was reading the latest edition of the MUD newsletter last week,
and noticed that they're having a get together for everybody to meet
their neighbors.  Do you think we could do something like that at
the garden?  Meet all our fellow gardeners?  Would we have to have
MUD approval?  Would they let us put up signs?  We could just have
something simple--cookies and tea and lemonade--but it would be a
good chance to meet everybody.  I know most of the people who garden
around me, but I don't think I know the majority of the gardeners
over all.

Let me know what you think.

Rhonda

Happy Independence Day to all of you.  The bottom of my tomato plants
look dead and brown, but I'm still getting growth on the top and some
tomatoes.  Is everyone else's doing the same?  From what I have seen,
they are.  I guess this wasn't a good year for non-diseased tomatoes.

I've started tilling where my onions were, and I think I'm going to
put down some black plastic to try to kill weeds.  I'll leave it
there until I'm ready to plant lettuce in the fall.  Sounds like as
good an idea as any to me.  No weeds really sounds good.

Any news from any other plots?

Rhonda

Vidya and Pradeep, I am so sorry to hear about your squash.  I fear
that is the absolute worst part about community gardens.  Some folks
take the word "community" a little far.  I suspect I have been
liberated of a few tomatoes myself, but that doesn't have nearly the
impact as your squash.  I am truly sorry to hear about it.

Ray, I certainly appreciate you taking my offer in the spirit it was
intended.  I certainly did not want the "fruits" of your labor.  I
just know how hard you work on your gardens, and was worried you had
been called away from Austin unexpectedly and couldn't attend to
them.  And it just breaks my heart to see vegetables ripe on the
vine and not know if they will be picked or will rot.  I should have
known you had things well in hand.

I don't know a good solution to our "liberated vegetables" problem.
I don't mean to sound cynical, but I think it's just human nature
coming to the fore.  There seem to be a few people who mess up the
experience for everyone.  I love to stroll the paths of the garden
and look at all the hard work everyone has put in.  But I try to do
as my mother taught me when I was young anytime we went into any
store:  "You can look, but don't touch."  Maybe we should have
a "Meanest Mama" contest and have the winner record that message and
replay it over and over again in the garden.

Think that would work?

I don't mean to make light of the problem--I just don't have any
good answers.

Happy gardening to all,
Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, Pradeep Jana <pradeepjana@y...> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> We were devastated when we discovered this morning somebody had
made away with all our very well grown "Opo squash" vegetables from
our patch over the last day or two.  These were at least 3-4 lbs
each and at least 5 of them; they had maybe 1-8 days more to grow
and we left them on the plants thinking we will pluck a couple of
them today (saturday) and the rest during the course of the week.
This morning our good neighbor Tony mentioned that some other patch
gardners came there on Thursday evening (after we had returned from
the garden) and decided to pick some off, saying leaving there would
only let them grow too much!
>
> Come on guys, everybody indeed works hard to keep their patches
nice and healthy; certainly we don't mind giving and sharing our
vegetables with other interested fellow gardners.  But this
arbitrary decisions of overgrowth and cleaning up the plants/patches
for others (without their consent) is not exactly the best or right
thing to do.  Just because we haven't seen each other in the garden
does not mean we do not visit/work in our area.
>
> Please be considerate.
>
> Vidya and Pradeep Jana
>
>
>
> Pradeep Jana
> 512.832.6022 (R)
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!

Thanks to the recent rains, my tomatoes are really starting to come
on strong.  In my "special" plot, with all the gifts of Mother
Nature, I noticed just this evening that some pepper plants have come
up without any assistance from me.  I don't know what kind of peppers
they might be, but my guess is jalapenos.  Well, they should be good
with my free tomatoes.  Some woman with a child was at the garden
tonight, getting their plot ready to plant things, and she said she'd
take some of the basil that has inundated my plot.  I will be glad to
let someone else have it.  I have about 2 gallons of basil leaves in
the refrigerator here at home that I'm trying to convince myself
needs to be made into pesto.  Thankfully, I guess, there's always
somebody willing to take free stuff.  Too bad nobody ever offers to
pull weeds.  Oh well.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Rhonda

• Chicory
• Sweet Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Okra
• Black-eye Peas
• Pepper Plants
• New Zealand Spinach
• Sweet Potatoes

From 6/15-6/30, the list gets slightly longer:

• Chard
• Chicory
• Sweet Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Okra
• Black-eyed Peas
• Pepper Plants
• Salsify
• New Zealand Spinach
• Summer Squash (think crookneck, zucchini, scallop)
• Winter Squash (think hubbard, acron, spaghetti)
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tomato Plants...that's right, plant 'em now for fall tomatoes!

I would also add Malabar Spinach to this list along with Amaranth.  I'm going to try some spaghetti squash and some tomato varieties that I didn't plant for the spring ("green zebra", "striped cavern", "lemon drop", and a special one from Pennsylvania called "potato top").  The potato top variety is an heirloom that an old timer in the Pittsburgh area would advertise in the paper each year.  He would send you free seeds if you would promise to collect and dry seeds from the plants at the end of the season and mail back to him.  A newspaper friend of his is now keeping this tradition alive...some friends of mine read about this and got me the seeds knowing what a gardening nut I am.  I hope they produce so I can contribute to the maintenance program.

BTW...looks like both of you (Pradeep and Rhonda) have "Gifts of the Soil".  I have some of those from my overwhelming okra planting last year.  In effect, I planted seed for my own weeds by letting the okra pods dry and burst...at least these "weeds" produce something edible!

Rhonda...I pulled my first potato plant this week.  Wow...quite a lot of potatoes and I can imagine how many more "large" ones I'd have if I had "dirted" them properly.  This is my first time with potatoes and I must say pulling your own potatoes out of the ground is a very cool experience!  I can't wait to try my "peruvian purples" and "cranberry" varieties.

Anyhoo...my weeds are finally winning the yearly battle.  I kept up on them for sometime and now with the warmer weather they're impossible to stifle.  I need to start tilling again for fall plantings so that should cure some of my weedy/grassy issues.

Talk to y'all soon...

Ray

Pradeep Jana <pradeepjana@...> wrote:

We had a good supply of zuchinis and they tasted great!  It looks like the plants are almost dying.... is it already the end of the season for them?  We are a little slow / low on tomatoes though.  On a positive note, those squash plants that grew wild all over our patch has produced some veggies and look like they can be picked in a few days.  They had germinated from previous years without our planting and I had called it "Gift of the Soil", not knowing what variety they were!

 

Pradeep

spotsmom6368 <spotsmom@...> wrote:

Those are good looking veggies.  I've started picking tomatoes, and
even a few cucumbers.  I think I'm about ready to dig up my
potatoes, too.  They're starting to get in the way of
those "volunteer" tomatoes.

Keep up the good-looking work!

Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
>
> Oops...the link broke when I pasted it.  Here's my main photos
> page...just select the "sample"
> folder:  "http://photos.yahoo.com/mydogcisco"
>
>
> --- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone-
> >
> > I just posted some pics of a few of the veggies I picked
> yesterday. 
> > I was a little late in picking my beans so I ended up with a
> plastic
> > grocery back packed with snap beans...and I still have more to
> pick! 
> > I was wondering if my beans were ever going to kick it up into
> > high "bean growing" gear...
> >
> > Here's a link to the photos:
> >
> >
>
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mydogcisco/lst?.dir=/June_8_2003_Sample_Ve
g
> > gies&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
> >
> > Cheers!
> >
> > Ray



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Those are good looking veggies.  I've started picking tomatoes, and
even a few cucumbers.  I think I'm about ready to dig up my
potatoes, too.  They're starting to get in the way of
those "volunteer" tomatoes.

Keep up the good-looking work!

Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
>
> Oops...the link broke when I pasted it.  Here's my main photos
> page...just select the "sample"
> folder:  "http://photos.yahoo.com/mydogcisco"
>
>
> --- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone-
> >
> > I just posted some pics of a few of the veggies I picked
> yesterday. 
> > I was a little late in picking my beans so I ended up with a
> plastic
> > grocery back packed with snap beans...and I still have more to
> pick! 
> > I was wondering if my beans were ever going to kick it up into
> > high "bean growing" gear...
> >
> > Here's a link to the photos:
> >
> >
>
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mydogcisco/lst?.dir=/June_8_2003_Sample_Ve
g
> > gies&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
> >
> > Cheers!
> >
> > Ray



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Those are good looking veggies.  I've started picking tomatoes, and
even a few cucumbers.  I think I'm about ready to dig up my
potatoes, too.  They're starting to get in the way of
those "volunteer" tomatoes.

Keep up the good-looking work!

Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
>
> Oops...the link broke when I pasted it.  Here's my main photos
> page...just select the "sample"
> folder:  "http://photos.yahoo.com/mydogcisco"
>
>
> --- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone-
> >
> > I just posted some pics of a few of the veggies I picked
> yesterday.
> > I was a little late in picking my beans so I ended up with a
> plastic
> > grocery back packed with snap beans...and I still have more to
> pick!
> > I was wondering if my beans were ever going to kick it up into
> > high "bean growing" gear...
> >
> > Here's a link to the photos:
> >
> >
>
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mydogcisco/lst?.dir=/June_8_2003_Sample_Ve
g
> > gies&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
> >
> > Cheers!
> >
> > Ray

Oops...the link broke when I pasted it.  Here's my main photos
page...just select the "sample"
folder:  "http://photos.yahoo.com/mydogcisco"


--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone-
>
> I just posted some pics of a few of the veggies I picked
yesterday.
> I was a little late in picking my beans so I ended up with a
plastic
> grocery back packed with snap beans...and I still have more to
pick!
> I was wondering if my beans were ever going to kick it up into
> high "bean growing" gear...
>
> Here's a link to the photos:
>
>
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mydogcisco/lst?.dir=/June_8_2003_Sample_Veg
> gies&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
>
> Cheers!
>
> Ray

Hello everyone-

I just posted some pics of a few of the veggies I picked yesterday.
I was a little late in picking my beans so I ended up with a plastic
grocery back packed with snap beans...and I still have more to pick!
I was wondering if my beans were ever going to kick it up into
high "bean growing" gear...

Here's a link to the photos:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mydogcisco/lst?.dir=/June_8_2003_Sample_Veg
gies&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/

Cheers!

Ray

I'm glad you're getting adventurous with your veggies.  I'm just
boring, and plant the same things--things my family and I like.  You
know, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, etc.  My parents and I
tried onions and potatoes up at their garden in the Hill Country
last year, but didn't have the greatest results (they have lots of
black clay, and trying to get that to loosen up is quite a
challenge), so I tried them here this year.  They seem to be doing
much better.  I haven't pulled any onions yet, but they're starting
to almost resemble what you might get at the grocery store.  I
consider that a success.

The potatoes seem to be doing okay--I only planted two varieties,
one red and one white--but like you, Ray, I didn't keep them covered
well enough.  Some old gardener that my dad knows said the trick is
that when they're about 4 inches high, completely cover them again
with soil, and do that several times over the season.  Maybe I'll
have enough energy to try that next year.  If I decide to do that,
I'll certainly have to plant fewer seed potatoes.  I'm not
completely filling 200 square feet four or five times.  I've dug up
a few of the potatoes, and some are decent sized, but I'm waiting a
little longer before I dig them all.  From what I understand, the
plants will fall over when they're truly ready to be dug.  I might
get impatient and start digging before then.  They're starting to
interfere with my "free" tomatoes, at least in one plot.

I had romaine, iceberg, leaf lettuces, and mesclun for a good
portion of the winter.  My parents and my brothers and sisters and
husband and I all enjoyed that.  The iceberg was probably the most
different from what we get in the stores.  It was a pretty green,
and the outer leaves were so wonderful on a sandwich.  I had a
little broccoli, and it was really good, but I didn't replant it so
we didn't really have it that long.  Same with carrots.  I had a
little spinach, too, but pulled that out around the end of April
because it was already starting to get too hot.  I'll probably plant
all those things again come fall.  Like I said, boring veggies, but
the kinds we like.  My parents, husband, and some of my siblings
will eat other veggies, but I'm growing them, so they'll gladly take
what they can get.

We're off on vacation for a week starting Monday, and my sister's
agreed to water, so we'll talk to you in about a week or so.

Happy gardening,
Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
>
> > The whole community garden looks so green.
>
> Yeah...at least until this 98-103 degree weather hit!  ;-)
>
> I even picked my first red tomato yesterday, and had it with
dinner
> last night.  What a treat!!  It's not even June yet.  I had to
call
> my mom to tell her.  She was jealous, but looking forward to
getting
> some, too.  That particular tomato came from one of my "volunteer"
> tomato plants---ones that came up from last year's forgotten
produce
> from my plot predecessor.  I'd complained and complained about
those
> volunteers, but since it gave me a red tomato in May, I will
probably
> quit complaining.  I have dug up 64 tomato plants that came up
> without me planting anything, and there's still plenty more in
there.
> >
> > Hope everyone else is having similar luck with early produce.
>
> Welllll...my tomatoes are rather a mixed bag this year.  I didn't
get
> the convenience of volunteer plants unfortunately.  I bought 'em
> all...the first half from www.seedsavers.org and the remainder
from
> either Lowe's or the Natural Gardener in South Austin.  I don't
> remember which particular varieties I bought from each local
> supplier, but some of them are not exactly what their labeled
> indicated!  At least the cherries and porter pride varieties
are "as
> described" and doing quite well in terms of green tomato
production
> so far.  However; I have a Roma tomato that is doing great, but I
> didn't pick that variety...and there are two others that I haven't
> been able to identify yet, but they are rather disappointing in
their
> production of maybe two or three fruit per plant...oh well, that's
> what I get for not growing my own seedlings I suppose.
>
> Besides...who can complain about a tomato that you grow
> yourself...regardless of origin!
>
> This, much like last year, is another learning experience in terms
of
> how I planted some known vegetables and the outcome of varieties
I've
> never grown before.  My biggest experiment and the theme for my
2003
> garden is potatoes...  I have seven varieties growing and I've
> learned that more spacing and "dirting" is required for more
robust
> plants and potatoes that don't "green up" because they poke
through
> the soil's surface.  The funniest aspect of my experiment was that
> for six of the seven varieties, I bought certified organic seed
> potatoes.  For the most part, these are doing okay.  The
> sixth "variety" was a bunch of Yukon Gold's from HEB I had at home
> that were old and seriously "budding" in my pantry so I decided to
> give 'em a whirl in the garden.  These guys have produced a nice
> supply of medium sized potatoes and they were the biggest,
healthiest
> plants of the lot!!!  Funny how these things work out...
>
> My other variety experiments include:
>
> 1.  Eight Ball Squash - pretty good producer so far
> 2.  Italia Strigata Squash
> 3.  Gold rush zucchini (...nothing produced so far!)
> 4.  Sunburst (scallop) - just starting to get a few of these
> 5.  Vietnamese Amaranth - just planted seedlings...the jury is
still
> out on this one
> 6.  Malabar Spinach (Green & Red) - these are just coming up
> 7.  Spinach (American) - this was a HUGE success before it got too
hot
> 8.  Ideal Market - pole bean that seemed to have bean rust in the
> seed, hardly any beans from this one
> 9.  Purple podded pole - the vines are healthy enough, rather
limited
> bean production
> 10. Various heirloom leaf lettuce varieties...very slow, but doing
> great
> 11. Various radish varieties...the summer varieties did okay for
the
> most part, the winter varieties got attacked by these orange and
> black beetles before they got any size to them...I'm pulling
> the "victims" and will give them another shot in the fall.
> 12. Onions...the secret here I've learned is patience.  If you
don't
> give them at least 10 weeks, the bulbs do not size up as you might
> like...the ones I left in the ground are now nice sized and very
tasty
> 13. Brussel Sprouts...the orange and black beetles hopefully
enjoyed
> them because I didn't get any before they were destroyed!  I will
try
> again in the fall...
> 14. Broccoli - I did get some heads, but once the beetles hit the
> plants just lost their vigor, then the weather heated up and they
> just started flowering almost immediately after growing a new
head.
> This is another veggie that's traditionally grown in the fall so...
>
> I don't know if any of you are interested in Asian vegetable
> varieties, but I've purchased quite a few seeds from
> http://www.evergreenseeds.com/evergreenseeds/vegetableseeds.html
> which I am going to plant in August.  I love grilled baby bok
choy!
> I'm also going to give Mizuna a try once the summer heat slows
down a
> bit.  Sounds like an interesting green.
>
> What else?  Well...I've read about training melons onto trellises
and
> thought...hmmm, I really don't have room for melons, but I do have
> some "vertical growing space" I could take advantage of so I'll
have
> to share how the experiment went at the end of the season.  Right
now
> the plants are just babies and I'm tying 'em up to the trellis to
see
> if I can "train 'em"!  LOL...this outta' be humorous if nothing
else.
>
> Anyway...I've rambled waaaaaay too much.  I'd love to hear about
> anyone else's experiments or preliminary plans for a fall
garden...or
> how big their tomatoes are!  Talk to y'all in a few...
>
> Ray

> The whole community garden looks so green.

Yeah...at least until this 98-103 degree weather hit!  ;-)

I even picked my first red tomato yesterday, and had it with dinner
last night.  What a treat!!  It's not even June yet.  I had to call
my mom to tell her.  She was jealous, but looking forward to getting
some, too.  That particular tomato came from one of my "volunteer"
tomato plants---ones that came up from last year's forgotten produce
from my plot predecessor.  I'd complained and complained about those
volunteers, but since it gave me a red tomato in May, I will probably
quit complaining.  I have dug up 64 tomato plants that came up
without me planting anything, and there's still plenty more in there.
>
> Hope everyone else is having similar luck with early produce.

Welllll...my tomatoes are rather a mixed bag this year.  I didn't get
the convenience of volunteer plants unfortunately.  I bought 'em
all...the first half from www.seedsavers.org and the remainder from
either Lowe's or the Natural Gardener in South Austin.  I don't
remember which particular varieties I bought from each local
supplier, but some of them are not exactly what their labeled
indicated!  At least the cherries and porter pride varieties are "as
described" and doing quite well in terms of green tomato production
so far.  However; I have a Roma tomato that is doing great, but I
didn't pick that variety...and there are two others that I haven't
been able to identify yet, but they are rather disappointing in their
production of maybe two or three fruit per plant...oh well, that's
what I get for not growing my own seedlings I suppose.

Besides...who can complain about a tomato that you grow
yourself...regardless of origin!

This, much like last year, is another learning experience in terms of
how I planted some known vegetables and the outcome of varieties I've
never grown before.  My biggest experiment and the theme for my 2003
garden is potatoes...  I have seven varieties growing and I've
learned that more spacing and "dirting" is required for more robust
plants and potatoes that don't "green up" because they poke through
the soil's surface.  The funniest aspect of my experiment was that
for six of the seven varieties, I bought certified organic seed
potatoes.  For the most part, these are doing okay.  The
sixth "variety" was a bunch of Yukon Gold's from HEB I had at home
that were old and seriously "budding" in my pantry so I decided to
give 'em a whirl in the garden.  These guys have produced a nice
supply of medium sized potatoes and they were the biggest, healthiest
plants of the lot!!!  Funny how these things work out...

My other variety experiments include:

1.  Eight Ball Squash - pretty good producer so far
2.  Italia Strigata Squash
3.  Gold rush zucchini (...nothing produced so far!)
4.  Sunburst (scallop) - just starting to get a few of these
5.  Vietnamese Amaranth - just planted seedlings...the jury is still
out on this one
6.  Malabar Spinach (Green & Red) - these are just coming up
7.  Spinach (American) - this was a HUGE success before it got too hot
8.  Ideal Market - pole bean that seemed to have bean rust in the
seed, hardly any beans from this one
9.  Purple podded pole - the vines are healthy enough, rather limited
bean production
10. Various heirloom leaf lettuce varieties...very slow, but doing
great
11. Various radish varieties...the summer varieties did okay for the
most part, the winter varieties got attacked by these orange and
black beetles before they got any size to them...I'm pulling
the "victims" and will give them another shot in the fall.
12. Onions...the secret here I've learned is patience.  If you don't
give them at least 10 weeks, the bulbs do not size up as you might
like...the ones I left in the ground are now nice sized and very tasty
13. Brussel Sprouts...the orange and black beetles hopefully enjoyed
them because I didn't get any before they were destroyed!  I will try
again in the fall...
14. Broccoli - I did get some heads, but once the beetles hit the
plants just lost their vigor, then the weather heated up and they
just started flowering almost immediately after growing a new head.
This is another veggie that's traditionally grown in the fall so...

I don't know if any of you are interested in Asian vegetable
varieties, but I've purchased quite a few seeds from
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/evergreenseeds/vegetableseeds.html
which I am going to plant in August.  I love grilled baby bok choy!
I'm also going to give Mizuna a try once the summer heat slows down a
bit.  Sounds like an interesting green.

What else?  Well...I've read about training melons onto trellises and
thought...hmmm, I really don't have room for melons, but I do have
some "vertical growing space" I could take advantage of so I'll have
to share how the experiment went at the end of the season.  Right now
the plants are just babies and I'm tying 'em up to the trellis to see
if I can "train 'em"!  LOL...this outta' be humorous if nothing else.

Anyway...I've rambled waaaaaay too much.  I'd love to hear about
anyone else's experiments or preliminary plans for a fall garden...or
how big their tomatoes are!  Talk to y'all in a few...

Ray

The whole community garden looks so green.  I even picked my first red tomato
yesterday, and had it with dinner last night.  What a treat!!  It's not even
June yet.  I had to call my mom to tell her.  She was jealous, but looking
forward to getting some, too.  That particular tomato came from one of my
"volunteer" tomato plants---ones that came up from last year's forgotten produce
from my plot predecessor.  I'd complained and complained about those volunteers,
but since it gave me a red tomato in May, I will probably quit complaining.  I
have dug up 64 tomato plants that came up without me planting anything, and
there's still plenty more in there.

Hope everyone else is having similar luck with early produce.

Rhonda

Hello!
Vidya and I are happy to join the group. I see Ray and Spotsmom are
the 2 other people here at this time. As suggested I think it may be
good to post something beside the gate, but on the inside only.
Also, forming an official group so as to get recognized at the MUD is
also a good idea. We sure can learn a lot from each other. Maybe we
should somehow hook ourselves to a website of our own so we can have
a better exposure (but then again, it comes with a view open to the
whole world too!).
Pradeep



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Hello!
Vidya and I are happy to join the group.  I see Ray and Spotsmom are
the 2 other people here at this time.  As suggested I think it may be
good to post something beside the gate, but on the inside only.
Also, forming an official group so as to get recognized at the MUD is
also a good idea.  We sure can learn a lot from each other.  Maybe we
should somehow hook ourselves to a website of our own so we can have
a better exposure (but then again, it comes with a view open to the
whole world too!).
Pradeep

I had wondered who the third member was.  I think I'll print out a
few pages and post them near the inside of the gates to the garden.
I don't use the shed often, so wouldn't have known about this group
if I hadn't seen you the other morning.

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, RC <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
> Great ideas...I'll see what I can arrange with the MUC office and
let you know.  Becoming a sanctioned group requires a membership of
five or more so we only need three more to get this proverbial ball
rolling (my Mom joined, but she lives in Mesa, AZ).
>
> spotsmom6368 <spotsmom@k...> wrote:I like your idea of becoming a
sanctioned group in Wells Branch. I
> think that would only benefit our cause---whatever that may be. I
> was looking at the MUD website, and noticed they also provide
> free "classified" ads. Should we put one up there about this group?
> And do you think the MUD would agree to mention the group in
> information block it has about the garden under "adult interests?"
>
> As far as I know, all of these things are free. That's the perfect
> price for me.
>
> Rhonda
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> wbcg-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

I like your idea of becoming a sanctioned group in Wells Branch.  I
think that would only benefit our cause---whatever that may be.  I
was looking at the MUD website, and noticed they also provide
free "classified" ads.  Should we put one up there about this group?
And do you think the MUD would agree to mention the group in
information block it has about the garden under "adult interests?"

As far as I know, all of these things are free.  That's the perfect
price for me.

Rhonda

--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" wrote:
>
> Hello-
>
> I thought a Yahoo group with info on our garden and related topics
> would be a great first step towards building a stronger sense of
> community at our garden. Please let me know what you think and
send
> any suggestions you might have...but don't get too creative! ;-)
>
> Catch you at the garden...
>
> Ray


I think this is a good idea. Hopefully we can discuss problems we
might be having, or even better, luck we might be having, at the
garden.

Rhonda


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--- In wbcg@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Cone" <mydogcisco@y...> wrote:
>
> Hello-
>
> I thought a Yahoo group with info on our garden and related topics
> would be a great first step towards building a stronger sense of
> community at our garden.  Please let me know what you think and
send
> any suggestions you might have...but don't get too creative!  ;-)
>
> Catch you at the garden...
>
> Ray


I think this is a good idea.  Hopefully we can discuss problems we
might be having, or even better, luck we might be having, at the
garden.

Rhonda

Hello-

I thought a Yahoo group with info on our garden and related topics
would be a great first step towards building a stronger sense of
community at our garden.  Please let me know what you think and send
any suggestions you might have...but don't get too creative!  ;-)

Catch you at the garden...

Ray