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2024 Spring Garden Thread
Posted on 1/9/24 at 7:04 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 7:04 am
Welcome to the 2024 Spring Garden Thread.
Here are some useful resource links:
Gardening info/learning:
Home Gardening Certificate Course
LSU AgCenter Main Page
LSU AgCenter Vegetable Planting Guide
Davesgarden.com
Seedsavers Exchange learning page
Epic gardening raised bed plans
• The LSU AgCenter website and planting guide will have almost all the information you need for growing just about anything in Louisiana.
• Davesgarden.com is really useful for their watchdog section which gathers ratings on different seed companies and nurseries.
• The Seedsavers learning page is a very easy to use website that is great for beginners.
Seed/plant websites:
Harris Seeds
Park Seed
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com)
Reimer seeds
Gurney’s
Migardener.com
Dixondale Farms
Willhite Seed
Most of these are very reputable sites for ordering seeds. Reimer is the only one I’ve ever had problems with. However, they have an extremely large selection, so they may be worth the gamble for some harder to find varieties. I’ve also ordered seeds from various sellers on amazon with no problems.
Here are some useful links to learn about different products for disease and pests:
Organic disease and pest management:
Neem Oil
Liquid Copper
Pyrethrin
Spinosad
Bacillus Thuringiensis
Hydrogen Peroxide / Hydrogen Peroxide mixing chart for garden use
Non-organic disease and pest management:
Fungicides:
Daconil
Mancozeb
Insecticides:
Bonide Eight (permethrin)
Sevin dust
Liquid Sevin (Zeta-Cypermethrin)
If there are any other products or links that you'd recommend, please let me know and I'll add them.
Average first and last frost date lookup
Farmers Almanac first and last frost date.
LSU Ag articles for common spring plants:
Tomatoes
I find this to be a little too soon based on past experience. My transplants typically would become overgrown before plant out. I aim for 6 weeks.
Peppers
Eggplant
Cucumbers
LSU Ag Spring Harvest Guide
Here are some useful resource links:
Gardening info/learning:
Home Gardening Certificate Course
LSU AgCenter Main Page
LSU AgCenter Vegetable Planting Guide
Davesgarden.com
Seedsavers Exchange learning page
Epic gardening raised bed plans
• The LSU AgCenter website and planting guide will have almost all the information you need for growing just about anything in Louisiana.
• Davesgarden.com is really useful for their watchdog section which gathers ratings on different seed companies and nurseries.
• The Seedsavers learning page is a very easy to use website that is great for beginners.
Seed/plant websites:
Harris Seeds
Park Seed
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com)
Reimer seeds
Gurney’s
Migardener.com
Dixondale Farms
Willhite Seed
Most of these are very reputable sites for ordering seeds. Reimer is the only one I’ve ever had problems with. However, they have an extremely large selection, so they may be worth the gamble for some harder to find varieties. I’ve also ordered seeds from various sellers on amazon with no problems.
Here are some useful links to learn about different products for disease and pests:
Organic disease and pest management:
Neem Oil
Liquid Copper
Pyrethrin
Spinosad
Bacillus Thuringiensis
Hydrogen Peroxide / Hydrogen Peroxide mixing chart for garden use
Non-organic disease and pest management:
Fungicides:
Daconil
Mancozeb
Insecticides:
Bonide Eight (permethrin)
Sevin dust
Liquid Sevin (Zeta-Cypermethrin)
If there are any other products or links that you'd recommend, please let me know and I'll add them.
Average first and last frost date lookup
Farmers Almanac first and last frost date.
LSU Ag articles for common spring plants:
Tomatoes
quote:
Seeds should also be started 8-10 weeks prior to planting in the ground in the spring
I find this to be a little too soon based on past experience. My transplants typically would become overgrown before plant out. I aim for 6 weeks.
Peppers
quote:
Plant seed 8-10 weeks prior to the spring planting date
Eggplant
quote:
Start seeds 8 to 10 weeks before the desired time of transplanting.
Cucumbers
quote:
Gardeners in North Louisiana can plant cucumber seed or transplant from April to mid-May. A fall crop can be planted in early August. South Louisiana gardeners can plant seed from mid-March to mid-May. A fall crop is planted in late August in the south.
LSU Ag Spring Harvest Guide
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 4:13 pm
22
Posted on 1/9/24 at 8:43 am to PillageUrVillage
I just ordered my first ever seed starter kit. Going to see if I can cut down on how many plants I buy from Home Depot. I still have two poblanos that survived my Fall experimentation, and I am going to treat them like house plants for the next few weeks.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 8:51 am to PillageUrVillage
In!
Just placed an order from Baker Creek. I need more seeds like I need a hole in my head but here we are. My sister also bought me 4 or 5 new varieties from Baker Creek for Christmas along with a seed organizer.
I had pretty good luck with a couple of different types of melons planted mid summer last year. Other than the dogs swiping them they were pretty prolific and easy to grow.
Going to plant fewer tomatoes this year and more squash. Last spring I planted 16 tomato plants. Only about 10 made it through the late freeze and it was still overwhelming.
As far as peppers go I think I'll plant Jimmy Nardello, Corbaci, and Big Jims. Once I figure up varieties and draw out everything I'll post that. I have about 25 or 30 tomato varieties to choose from. I think I'm going to start a lot more than I need and give the extras away.
I might make another 4x8 bed. I'm running out of room in the backyard, though.
Just placed an order from Baker Creek. I need more seeds like I need a hole in my head but here we are. My sister also bought me 4 or 5 new varieties from Baker Creek for Christmas along with a seed organizer.
I had pretty good luck with a couple of different types of melons planted mid summer last year. Other than the dogs swiping them they were pretty prolific and easy to grow.
Going to plant fewer tomatoes this year and more squash. Last spring I planted 16 tomato plants. Only about 10 made it through the late freeze and it was still overwhelming.
As far as peppers go I think I'll plant Jimmy Nardello, Corbaci, and Big Jims. Once I figure up varieties and draw out everything I'll post that. I have about 25 or 30 tomato varieties to choose from. I think I'm going to start a lot more than I need and give the extras away.
I might make another 4x8 bed. I'm running out of room in the backyard, though.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 9:32 am to PillageUrVillage
Here we go! I'm fully healed from the broken foot and ready to get after it.
I sent in soil samples last week. I have all my seeds, and I'll plant the peppers this weekend.
I sent in soil samples last week. I have all my seeds, and I'll plant the peppers this weekend.
quote:I agree here. Six weeks is plenty of time for tomatoes. I'll start mine in mid-February and target transplanting in late March.
I find this to be a little too soon based on past experience. My transplants typically would become overgrown before plant out. I aim for 6 weeks.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 9:33 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 9:32 am to AlxTgr
I haven't planned out my spread yet, but will be continuing the pattern I started last year of "less is more". Instead of planting three rows of eggplant and peppers in one of my 4x8 beds, I planted one row in the middle, half peppers and half eggplant, then planted two rows of snap beans on each side of it. That one row produced more than the three rows I planted the year before. They just kept on giving all summer.
Plan:
Late Winter / Early Spring:
Beets
Potatoes
Peas
Carrots
Spinach
Garlic
Spring:
Tomatoes - San Mar / Roma, Brandywine, LA Red, SS 100, Two Tasty, Midnight Snack
Eggplant
Peppers - Marconi, Aristotle
Onions
Squash - Zucchini, Tromboncino, Butternut
Snap Beans - Contender
Sweet Potatoes - going to try some Okinawa purple this year
Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Chamomile, Borage, Bee Balm, Lemon Grass, etc..
Cantaloupe - Aphrodite
Going to try to get lucky and get some more Camarosa strawberry plants. Those produced in abundance compared to the Florida Brilliance I had and tasted amazing. I've been trying to get some Camino Real's but have been unsuccessful for the past year. LSU Ag Center had Chandler this fall.
Good luck fellas
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 11:38 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 9:58 am to Loup
quote:
Just placed an order from Baker Creek.
I placed an order from Harrisseeds about a week and a half ago and it still hasn’t shipped. I’m about to contact them to see if I can get an update. The only thing that I need asap is the pepper seeds. I have a couple that I’ll probably start this weekend (jalapeño and shishito). Hopefully I get the rest soon.
ETA: Here’s my garden plan for this spring. Always subject to change, of course.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 10:02 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:27 am to PillageUrVillage
Instagram
Just an idea for your raised beds that might give you a little more room for your tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.
Just an idea for your raised beds that might give you a little more room for your tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:34 am to PillageUrVillage
I've never had much luck with bell peppers. Over many years, I've done everything the LSU Ag site recommends (with the possible exception of pinpoint pH control.) I keep the aphids away with soap and neem.
The plants and fruit usually look great, but I always get a rubbery texture that isn't very appealing.
My tomatoes, jalapenos, and eggplant grow great in the same dirt.
Anyone had and/or solved this issue?
The plants and fruit usually look great, but I always get a rubbery texture that isn't very appealing.
My tomatoes, jalapenos, and eggplant grow great in the same dirt.
Anyone had and/or solved this issue?
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:36 am to holdem Tiger
quote:
Anyone had and/or solved this issue?
Yes, I started substituting bell peppers with other sweet pepper varieties. My favorites from last year are Jimmy Nardello and Corbaci. Both heavy producers.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:50 am to holdem Tiger
quote:
Anyone had and/or solved this issue?
I've had decent success with the California Wonder variety. Earlier fruit sets will normally get some good size to them and thick flesh. Subsequent sets tend to get smaller as the heat and bug pressure gets greater. Even with fertilization.
Like Loup, I'll just be substituting them with Marconis. I've had good luck with them. And they're sweeter and tastier anyways.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:31 am to TimeOutdoors
I’m planning on doing that between my three 8x24 beds. I already have the wire cut just haven’t gotten there to install yet
should make harvesting easier also
should make harvesting easier also
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:54 am to PillageUrVillage
Nice
Posted on 1/9/24 at 12:44 pm to KTShoe
Anyone planting cucumbers in a raised bed or have little space. Check out Park Seed's spacemaster cucumber. Vines only grow 3 feet , so no need to trellis. Good for pickling or eating in salads. I have been growing them for years and then ever disappoint.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 2:48 pm to Loup
quote:
Jimmy Nardello
I’ll give these a shot, thanks
Posted on 1/9/24 at 3:42 pm to holdem Tiger
quote:
I've never had much luck with bell peppers.
I had a great crop of Parks whopper bells last year. They quit producing when it got hot and started back around September.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 3:50 pm to PillageUrVillage
Pillage i would suggest adding Dixondale farms for onions and Wilhite seed to your list.
Wilhite has a great variety of field peas and beans nobody else carries, especially top pick varieties.
Wilhite has a great variety of field peas and beans nobody else carries, especially top pick varieties.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 4:13 pm to rooster108bm
quote:
Pillage i would suggest adding Dixondale farms for onions and Wilhite seed to your list.
Done
ETA: Got an email from Harris seeds about 20 minutes ago that my order has shipped. Looks like I don't need to email them after all.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 1/9/24 at 9:43 pm to PillageUrVillage
I’m in. I need to get off my arse and build my garden beds. Between deer season and training a new puppy I’ve given zero thought to it. Going to start my pepper seeds this week.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 7:48 am to PillageUrVillage
Gonna try from seeds again this year, last year was a wash, ended up just buying some transplants. Just picked up a soil test from LSU Ag in Covington, will probably get a sample this evening.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 12:27 pm to PillageUrVillage
I just bought seed potatoes and cut them to harden off on Saturday. I was going to plant them today. Should I hold off on planting until after the polar vortex? I was worried about not getting them in the ground because I cut them and I’m also worried about putting them in the ground because of the cold. Any suggestions?
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