re: 2023 Spring Garden Thread

I am going to give a concerted effort in the fight against vine borers this year as yellow squash is by far my favorite vegetable. I have tried most of the suggested items in the past. I may combine them ALL this season!

So I moved and have significantly less space.

That said I'll be doing a couple of the following:

Tomatoes:

San Marzano
Striped German
Big Beef Plus
Super Sweet 100

Peppers:

Carmen
Hungarian Hot Wax
Banana Pepper
Fresno

Cucumber:

H19 Little Leaf. Allegedly these take less space.

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Cucumbers: Sumter

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I ordered some of these seeds. I normally grow either just Poinsett 76 or just Dasher II. This year I’m growing Poinsett 76, Tendergreen Burpless, and Sumter. I got the one familiar one. But I’m on a “try new things” kick for this year.

Grow your squash and zucchini in hay bales. The borer can’t survive in it. Takes about 3 weeks to condition the bale, but it’s worth it. This will be my fourth Spring with them and it has been an amazing experience.

How do you keep the hay bales from being a hot bed of new seeds for weeds in your garden?

Question for those that use grow lights: is a 2 ft tall frame/stand tall enough to accommodate most all veggies I’d grow? I assume tomatoes would be the only ones that would get super tall. I just want to grow them to transplant stage—2 months maybe. Would a 4 ft one be better?

My deal has 25 inches between table top and next level. My lights are on little pulleys so I can raise and lower. I have not had any issues.

Started peppers this evening.

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Question for those that use grow lights: is a 2 ft tall frame/stand tall enough to accommodate most all veggies I’d grow? I assume tomatoes would be the only ones that would get super tall. I just want to grow them to transplant stage—2 months maybe. Would a 4 ft one be better?

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I use a tool rack in my storage shed in my garage. The shelf that my plants usually go on is probably spaced 1 1/2ft apart. I don't have issues until a few weeks before the tomatoes go in the ground. They usually start touching the light around then and get some crispy ends. If I were to move the shelf a few notches down they would be ok but that shelf holds 2 racks together. I've never had any issues with any other plants.

I would think 2 ft is ok. Worst case scenario, and depending on how big the frame is, you could always just use some shims or bricks to temp raise your frame to buy you a couple of weeks if they start getting too close to the light. Heck, by that time you may find that you need to start transitioning them into the sun anyway.

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One last question for grow light users: does the plug-in or cord ever get hot while in use? I live in an older house (2 prong outlets throughout) and I’m a bit tentative about leaving something plugged in for so long. Don’t wanna burn the house down for some tomatoes & peppers. The led lights themselves stay cool but I’m reading some reviews of various ones and some say the plug-in adapter (or whatever they’re called) can get hot.

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I've had an adapter on one of those real cheap LED lights get warm but nothing too crazy. A lot of those are actually USB now so you could always use a higher quality adapter to plug in if you are concerned. I switched to a fluorescent light a few years back and it works great. I put it on a smart plug and let it run 12 + hrs. They make the same thing but LED as well.

so yall are seeding plants right now? peppers and tomatoes?

well 10/4 ill get mine in tonight. as im going to the hospital Wednesday for kid 3.

Im planting tomatos, peppers, cucumbers, squash, bristle sprouts, carrots, beans, and peas. Should i seed the cucumbers, squash and bristle sprouts? i know the others should be direct sowed.