Massive failure this year
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
2 years ago
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
2 years agoRelated Discussions
First year failure stories please!
Comments (22)My first year of gardening was in my mid teens (I was given a fairly sheltered life and still prefer it). I had made two 2Âx4Â raised beds 12" high, filled them with topsoil harvested from an out of the way location (on the property) and a few bags of store-bought manure. My parentÂs place happened to be where a full grown bodybuilder would be lucky to get the tip of a shovel 3" into undisturbed ground , so the filling of the beds was an ordeal. I planted each of the beds with 3 rows of red bush beans (I donÂt know why anymore, I was just a kid). I watered and waited, watered again the next day, and again the next. Then at one strange moment the next day I looked upon my creation and just happened to notice the five 18" tall tomato plants growing in each of the beds! You might think that at this point I was very excited about having plants in the garden, or that one of my parents was being nice, making sure that their child had a successful first garden - I tell you now that this was NOT the case! First, I was 15ish - not 5ish! - I knew there were differences between plants and had a bit of a grasp on the concept of time. There is no second point, but what I tell you now is that I had awoken a sleeping gardener who had coveted my land and claimed it as her own (sure she is my Ma and technically maybe it could have possibly been her own, but anyway). I listened to her excuses and cleverly concealed my rage eventually salvaging a bit of a "crop" from my remaining shaded/stunted red beans. Long story short - The next year I grew a 98 lb. pumpkin(who knows why? I was just a kid) - I was aiming for a 100+ but oh well ( IÂm still waiting for the "Pacific Giant" pumpkin) Oh, and I also had probably about 10 Roma tomato plants... :) Many years have passed... I have a garden at my own place now but continue to garden with Ma in the same spot (that has expanded quite a bit). It has been rewarding beyond words (even though the scars from that first year have left me a bitter, bitter husk of a person.) Pep talk time: Get back out there and garden! The fall crops of many vegetables are said to be better than the spring crop - especially root crops. The link below seems to be a good one for your state - it is from an interesting college called Purdue (where it seems that they are famous for making train parts in addition to gardening calendars). Check out Table 2. Too bad that you donÂt have a piece of ground that you could garden regularly for a while - IMO the ground improves quite a bit during the first few years. Maybe you could make raised beds and take the soil with you ? - I read somewhere that this was a French tradition. Best of luck to you! Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/Pubs/ho/HO_186.pdf...See MoreSharing my winter sowing successes and failures this year
Comments (18)Maryjo, My peony poppies really didnt look like much (leaves not very tall) so I figured it'd be a while. My pansies and violas have been starting to flower this past week...what else? Not much else wintersown (yet), and I know many wont flower this year, but as long as they thrive and grow :) My WS tomatoes took forever and were tiny. I started some indoors that THRIVED, esp'lly when I transferred them to grow bags. I have never been really good at starting seeds, but this year I started a few types of seeds (and not all at once) under my kitchen cabinet lights! :) The thing with the 2 liter bottles is they will dry out faster than larger containers, but just as long as you realize that, and keep up with them in the spring, they are a good starting container. I didnt have problems with bunnies...and I KNOW we have at least 2 in the yard/back woods as I've seen them For some reason they have not bothered my seedlings; but someone said if they are big enough they shouldnt be interested. What about putting bird netting on/around them? I did that when my seedlings were very small in containers but they weren't ready to plant out, as I have a squirrel who is always looking for food! Obnoxiously so. He comes onto my screened porch thru the doggie door!...See MoreCertainteed Shingle Failure at downspot on roof less than 4 years old?
Comments (46)6-20-2016 UPDATE After having some local help regarding the issues from a Master CertainTeed contractor, and being very patient, as the process has taken a while, I received an email stating that CertainTeed will be issuing me a settlement...don't know any more facts beyond that, but I should be receiving paperwork in 3-5 days......See MoreAfter last year's failures... what to do?
Comments (6)Check for local plant sales that are held by local gardeners/farmers. My local cooperative extension holds one every year. Then usually there are festivals in neighboring towns. The only problem is that they can be far and few between. The bonus is that you usually get more of a variety to choose from and the varieties usually do well in your area....See Moresandyslopes z6 n. UT
2 years agopopmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
2 years agoL Clark (zone 4 WY)
2 years agopopmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
2 years agoL Clark (zone 4 WY)
2 years ago
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)Original Author