Spring Gardens

[PinkGirl]

We've had a cool, rainy Spring and everything is
late. The lilac trees are still in bloom and should be finished by now.

[harrie]

Nice StephN!
Also, like your selection of cookn music BBB...Marley and Santana!!
I have been talking, talking, talking about starting a veg garden. Have never gardened in my life but really want to give it a try.

But...we are going to bbq tonight and speaking of veggies I do have a good suggestion for the bbq: You cut up and toss with EVOO and whatever seasonings you like: onions, zuchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatos, peppers, and then I put them in this bbq pan and throw it over the fire. Turns out GREAT!! Kinda like a shishkabob without the stick!

Harriecanarie

[Bill]

Wow, Steph, that is a beautiful rose and some deliscious-looking strawberries. You definitely have a green thumb. Thanks for sharing!

[PinkGirl]

Hey Bill

I was meaning to ask you about the cookin music.
Why do you listen to Canadian music when you make
soup or stew? Just wonderin, eh?

[ElaineM]

Hi,
I started a garden about a month ago, but I can't figure out what my arugula plant wants. Does arugula like full sun, partial sun, a cool place or a hot place? How much water does it want?
I have a little struggling basil, arugula, some radishes, a tiny cherry tomato plant, some rosemary, some chives, some green onions, one garlic and a couple leeks. I also have an aloe plant and a Christmas cactus. We use aloe for minor skin burns in our part of the world. Some Asians here take it in warm water it minor constipation or stomach aliments. I haven't tried that though.
I have a funny story about leeks. I planted the bottoms of some leeks I got a the supermarket in some potting soil in a plastic container and they started growing. My Canadian aunt who is really into gardening said it couldn't be done and I wasn't doing it properly, but the leeks have been growing pretty fast. I need to take some photos to send to her. Smile.
Is there anything else I can plant in plastic pots in a hot, kind of humid sunny climate?

[Bill]

Elaine, carrots, Oregano, swiss chard, and spinach does well in pots also. Pinkie, here in Va, I like to cook soups and stews when it's cold and miserable outside, and there's frost on the windows, so I guess without realizing it, I just gravitated toward earthy, folksy, Canadian-type tunes. Harriecanarie, you really should start a garden. Just start with a few plants and pots/plots and work your way up if you feel like it. Most people go crazy early in the spring and work themselves have to death and then by mid-summer, they're sick of it and wind up with too many plants and a lousy-looking garden. Just go out tomorrow and get some 5-10 gallon pots and some potting soil and a pack or 2 of seeds and do it. Don't even think about, just do it.

[harrie]

It that IT???? I just need the 5 - 10 gal pots, soil and seeds? Wow, if it is THAT easy, I will do just that! Will go out next weekend and get started!

[Bill]

It is that easy, Harrie, just go do it. You don't need to plant a hundred acres and slave in the hot sun all day, just a bucket or two of greens, and when they come in, just go out on the porch and snip a few here and there with a pair of scissors and throw it in your salad. Actually, Harrie, my "people" are steering me to Alaska real soon, but after that I'm free for a month or so. I've got a real sweet sea kayak, and some close buds in San Diego, so after my Alaska trip, I could throw some rich VA soil and a few pots and seeds aboard and just paddle it all out to you, if that would help. Just let me know, Bill

[harrie]

BBB, so you get to go to both Alaska and then San Diego? Awesome!
Hawaii (and CA) both have some very strict ag restrictions. One day.....a few yrs ago, we have this lichee tree growing in our yard (also grow Mountain Apple, pineapples, oranges, tangeringes, lemons, limes, pamalo,) I did not plant these and I don't do a thing to the trees other then pick the fruit when I feel like it, so I was not kidding when I said I have never grown anything dispite the fact that we have all this growing in our yard. ANYWAYS...to get on with my story, we had a bumper crop of lichee so I wanted to send a small sample to my aunt in Calif. So I picked this small tiny branch with maybe 3 -4 lichee on it so she could sample it and after I mailed it out, I got this notice from the ag inspector at the PO that said they confiscated the fruit (was smelled out by their dog) and were fining me $100.00 for trying to mail it out to CA without having it agriculturally inspected!
What do you think of THAT!!??

[Bill]

I'm sorry, Harrie, that sounds messed up. I'm not sure what a lichee plant is, but next time you want to send some to your aunt, take a few snips, wrap them in a moist paper towel, and then put that in a zip-lock bag. Then, tape the zip-lock bag to the left side of your face with gauze and medical tape. From your computer, print out a card which you carry with you that says, "I am an experimental TMJ patient. I cannot speak", and then just fly the Lichee to your aunt in CA. You won't have any trouble, but if you do, just flash the card. Trust me, it will work.

[Becky]

All greens like sunny coolness. Usually in NJ (where we have the 4 distinct seasons) greens are planted in early April and are done now (although I still have some Swiss chard but that goes during the long weekend and I will plant some pole beans then).

Can't give any advice on root vegetables because I have never done them, ever - except for carrots.

This year the flowers are great. In my veggie garden I did mesclun greens, spinach, romaine and Swiss chard (all done but the chard. I have about 7 heads of romaine left in the frig). I will start pole beans in a couple of days. I have 13 tomato plants (different kinds) and 12 pepper plants (all different), acorn squash, cucumbers, thyme, oregano, basil and parsley.

I love this time of year even though its been really hot early.

[ElaineM]

Thanks for the tips. I will move the greens, to a sunny, but cooler location.
My friend who lives on Oahu gave me some lychee. Sweet with lots of juice!! Yum. Yum. I heard they are healthy too. Sorry to hear about your experience with the ag folks Marrianne. Those people should let small amounts of fresh goodies meant for personal consumption go through. I guess they want to segregate pests. You should be able to grow a few veggies in your yard in Hilo Marriane.

[harrie]

Elaine...Thanks for the correction...it is lychee, not lichee!
The fruit industry is so huge in CA, that they don't want to take any risks. Hmmm.....what about the fruit from other states on the mainland or Mexico, yea???

Becky and Elaine, are you growing your in pots or in the ground?

Where we live use to be a sugar plantation area, so in contrast to most places on the Big Island that is mostly lava with minimal dirt, our property is fortunate to have lots of dirt.

Maryanne

[ElaineM]

Hi,
Marrianne, you should be able to grow things if you live near sugar cane lands and your place has alot of dirt.
I have had fresh veggies from the Big Island which were delicious.
I went to the Star Market Garden Shop and bought a few of the biggest plastic pots I could find. Then I got some organic potting soil and a couple packages of seeds. I also bought a couple plants already started for $1.29 each. My friend who has one of those rented city garden plots near the Ala Wai Canal gave me a couple other things to plant. I have my plants in the big pots in front of my living room window, but I think I will move the arugula to a sunny, but cooler location. I am anxious to get more, but I want to wait and see how successful I am first. I will go to City Mill or Home Depot to see what they have next. Good luck. Let us know how your garden is coming along.

[harrie]

Thanks Elaine and Bill,
Am very anxious to give my hand at growing veggies. I think I will be super excited when I see my very first crop of whatever I decide to grow. I plan to go out maybe on 4th of July and get started!!!!
Thanks for your help. Oh...do I need to get fertilizer?
Maryanne

[StephN]

Yes, get some organic compost to mix in with the garden dirt and some bone meal or something as a growth booster.

Get plants that are not TOO small as these need a lot of tending to get going.

I think they also have Miracle Grow for vegetable gardens and that way you can really impress your neighbors!

My Dahlia area in my back garden is starting to look like something now, but it will be a while before I get flowers in late summer. I planted a little "patch" of tubor varieties and put a brick border around it.

[karen z]

o.k., Harrie,
I will get started this week too. So far, I have only purchased a few organic herb plants at Whole Foods and they are hanging out in my kitchen. I will now get more serious about growing things, with all of this inspiration (including Steph's beautiful pictures).
karen

[harrie]

Yes, Sheila, PinkGirl and Steph all posted some great pics!! So Let's GO Karen!! Maybe someday everyone can see my cute little fresh cherry tomatoes!!!

[karen z]

o.k., Harrie,
I am in- I start this Friday too!!
And a trip to Hawaii to view crops sounds good to us all!
karen

[swimangel72]

So Harrie - HERE's where you got your start on the cherry tomato plants! Lol! Good luck everyone with your plants. As to shipping fruit to the mainland, well, I like Bill's idea about taping a baggy to your cheek to get through inspection - only knowing my luck, I'd be stopped anyway and turned back without a signed form from my doctor proving I had TMJ. "Murphy's Law" seems to dominate my life these days!