re: 2022 Spring Garden Thread

I've been steady picking squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. I started picking big tomatoes this week. I've gotten 2 pink Berkeley tie dyes and two new big dwarfs. I've been picking cherries for awhile but I should start getting the flood of ripe tomatoes here soon.

My big tomato plants are definitely not going to yield as much as usual because of the heat. They are still flowering though so I'm hoping that with the somewhat cooler night temps forecasted for early next week, they'll set some fruit. Can't complain though. Last year they all got rocked because of all of the rain and disease. This year I haven't had to use much disease or pest preventative at all.

I've got some peppers that are starting to turn as well so I should be picking those next week.

quote:

---

My eggplants are starting to come in strong as well.

---

What kind of eggplant is that? I planted some white eggplant this time, first time I've ever done the white. Wondering if anyone has ever grown it before

I need some advice re: Fall planting. I’m wanting to plant broccoli/cauliflower/cabbage/Brussels sprouts. The last two spring plantings for broccoli seedlings bolted (planted late March). Is bolting more related to just the heat OR is it because of a fluctuation in temperature? Three years ago, I planted some broc plants I got from Tractor Supply (maybe 2 month old plants) that were planted in early April and they did fine.

I’m in east cent Alabama so I use the AU Extension planting guide and it says to plant broccoli, etc in early to mid-August. It stays pretty hot here through the end of Sept then cools some in Oct. Wouldn’t early-mid Aug be too hot? Trying to figure out the best time to start seed & transplant my seedlings.

I’d think they would be less prone to bolting in the heat early since they are so young.

You can always plant at different times if you are unsure. Start when the guilde tells you but plant 1/4 of what you want then follow up each week or 2 weeks with another 1/4 planting. See which planting time does best, take notes, and go with that going forward.

quote:

---

I need some advice re: Fall planting. I’m wanting to plant broccoli/cauliflower/cabbage/Brussels sprouts. The last two spring plantings for broccoli seedlings bolted (planted late March). Is bolting more related to just the heat OR is it because of a fluctuation in temperature? Three years ago, I planted some broc plants I got from Tractor Supply (maybe 2 month old plants) that were planted in early April and they did fine.

I’m in east cent Alabama so I use the AU Extension planting guide and it says to plant broccoli, etc in early to mid-August. It stays pretty hot here through the end of Sept then cools some in Oct. Wouldn’t early-mid Aug be too hot? Trying to figure out the best time to start seed & transplant my seedlings.

---

I live about 30 miles north of Baton Rouge and have successfuly planted broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage seed in the early to mid-August time frame numerous times for transplanting.

Once the transplants take after they're planted, they usually initially grow slowly as a result of transplant shock and hot temperatures of the end of summer, but into the cooler nights of September they'll begin growing faster and should do very well.

Planting broccoli for a fall garden usually results in a much better yield than plantings for a spring garden.

What I like most about fall plantings is the side shoots that broccoli plants make after the central head is cut from the plant.

The harvesting of side shoots can result in a higher yield per plant than the harvest of the central head; and with a bit of luck the yields from side shoots can continue for many weeks.

quote:

---

Planted all on Good Friday

---

Do not disturb the soil on Good Friday.

quote:

---

Once the transplants take after they're planted, they usually initially grow slowly as a result of transplant shock and hot temperatures of the end of summer, but into the cooler nights of September they'll begin growing faster and should do very well.

---

Good deal, thanks. I haven't had an opportunity to grow fall crops b/c my spring ones are usually still producing. I made sure I have extra planting space this year.

Made the kids get off of their tablets and come help me in the garden this afternoon. It’s been really dry the last couple of weeks and we have some rain headed our way. So any tomato that is even slightly in the breaker stage got picked.



We had a pretty good haul.


Cut open a couple of the Cherokee Purples and they’re delicious.


And I’m excited that I have some cantaloupe growing! The plants are looking great and growing well.

Heck yeah, man!

quote:

---

These MFers are so fun to watch.

---

I still love to go out in the morning with a cup of coffee and just sit and watch them go in and out for a while.

quote:

---

The frames had some comb leftover and I was debating whether to leave it on or not and decided to not scrape it off and let them use the comb. An hour later I walk out and they’ve already throwing out that old comb. Looks like they decided to do their own thing

---

Giving them some already drawn comb saves them a lot of work. So that was a good call. But yeah, they will clean it up and shape it to their needs.

quote:

---

I didn’t see my queen but it was my first time so I’ll check back again next weekend. The boys are real interested in them. I can tell this will be a fun hobby for all of us.

---

As long as you see eggs and larva don’t worry. They can be tough to spot sometimes. And then when you see her she stands out like a sore thumb. Makes you think “how in the heck did I miss her?”

You can buy a queen marking kit on Amazon for pretty cheap. That will really help you spot her after she’s been marked. I’d definitely recommend having a helping hand in order to do that. When you find her, you’ll want somebody to hold the frame while you coax her into the tube. If you want to follow the international queen colors you could do that, but I just have green. I’m not a commercial operation, so I wasn’t too concerned with that. But the color code goes like this:

Years Ending in #1 & #6: White
Years Ending in #2 & #7: Yellow
Years Ending in #3 & #8: Red
Years Ending in #4 & #9: Green
Years Ending in #5 & #0: Blue

This year would be yellow. In the future I may actually mark according to the international colors.

Have fun and keep us updated!

Anyone got a good recipe for pickling banana peppers?