How is your garden growing?

[artdecogirl]

How is your garden growing this year? I know we have many gardeners on ps and after seeing Packrats thread on her gorgeous yard I want to see more!!!! So share with us, what are you growing and how is it doing? Pics please

 

[lliang_chi]

I'm a super modest "gardner," nothing like what some of these PS'ers can bang out. I'll go in and get some pics today if the weather cooperates. It looked gorgeous 3-4 wks ago when the peonies and irises were still blooming. Now we're waiting for the lilies to come up to take their place. The climbing roses are in full bloom now though.

But veggie-wise, I have two red bells, two short cayennes, 3 cucumbers, 4 sugar snap peas, 1 roma-style, 1 heirloom, and 2 grape tomaotes plants. Other spots in the garden we've got tons of raspberries n their way in and grapes! I would've had a thai eggplant but unfortunately, I lost that one.

On my balcony, I have window boxes with annuals (petunias), and herbs: basil, parsley, french taragon, mint, thyme, chives, and lavender.

 

[blacksand]

My garden is dying! My window boxes are doing okay with basil, thyme, rosemary and cilantro, but my lettuce in the garden never came up this year, and my bell peppers are dying off one by one. It's been rainy and cold and then alternately sunny and in the 90s, and I think my plants are just confused this year. I didn't plant any flowers this year, but I'd like to put in some roses. Maybe next year.

 

[artdecogirl]

lliang_chi, That does not sound modest at all! Are your grapes table grapes ? Looking forward to pics.

Blacksand, Sorry about your garden, we have had some of that, lots of cool days and rain but only a few warm days, my garden loves it and thinks it is a english garden, confused also but enjoying it

Here are some pics of mine, I took pics when I did the thread but the sun was too strong I think and every thing looked washed out so I will do more in morning light, these are a few that are good.



This is the pink peonies that just are finishing, we had tons of rain that beat them down so they did not last long but are one of my favorite flowers, I wish they were not so short lived, they have a bright purple/blue salvia in front of them. The next two pics are some iris that are also just finishing a lovely lavander blue and a purple and yellow.

 

[Skippy123]

Your garden is beautiful Artdecogirl

 

[lliang_chi]

Artdeco, GORGEOUS peonies!!! Ours has some mildew/fungus on the leaves, so they look kinda crappy. I read I need to wait till end of summer, chop it all down and burn it to keep it from reinfecting for next year.

I still haven't gotten any pictures, but the plants look great. The Asiatic lilies are just coming in too. I'm going to take my camera on the AM dog walk with me tomorrow and take pics.

And the grapes I think are Concord grapes. VERY tasty, but some of the neighbors don't like ti because they have seeds. I just eat the seeds. I dunno if that makes me weird...

~LC

 

[artdecogirl]

Thank you Skippy and lliang_chi, You gals are so sweet!!! My peonies get that every year on the leaves but always after they bloom I never knew that was how you take care of it, I thought it was just what they did I will have to try that to save my foilage next year. lliang_chi, I am jealous of your grapes! I have planted some but they are only 1-2 feet tall and I think here they take years to mature. Enjoy them seeds and all!

 

[monarch64]

Beautiful pics of plants here! My, what green thumbs someone has!

No gardens here, per se, but we just bought our first house (built in 2000) and someone landscaped the hell out of it. We've been working on removing some shrubbery that was planted waaaaaaayyyy too close to the house, trimming everything else back so that things can actually grow the direction they're intended to, and that is the extent of our gardening this year. Next year I expect to plant a few annuals, put in 2-3 raised beds for herbs and veggies, and hopefully transplant some heirloom perennials from my parents' home.

Good luck with the rest of the season, gardeners!

 

[Gailey]

Artdeco, GORGEOUS peonies!!! Ours has some mildew/fungus on the leaves, so they look kinda crappy. I read I need to wait till end of summer, chop it all down and burn it to keep it from reinfecting for next year.

I still haven't gotten any pictures, but the plants look great. The Asiatic lilies are just coming in too. I'm going to take my camera on the AM dog walk with me tomorrow and take pics.

And the grapes I think are Concord grapes. VERY tasty, but some of the neighbors don't like ti because they have seeds. I just eat the seeds. I dunno if that makes me weird...

~LC

Not sure I've ever seen Mildew on a peony before. Can you post a picture of it LC? If it is in fact powdery mildew, spraying the leaves with a mixture of milk and water will help, about 1-10 (one part milk, 10 parts water).

 

[Gailey]

My garden is dying! My window boxes are doing okay with basil, thyme, rosemary and cilantro, but my lettuce in the garden never came up this year, and my bell peppers are dying off one by one. It's been rainy and cold and then alternately sunny and in the 90s, and I think my plants are just confused this year. I didn't plant any flowers this year, but I'd like to put in some roses. Maybe next year.

I'm hearing lots of good things about "Knockout" Roses. I believe Miss Packy (Packrat) has planted them along with a few others.

 

[Gailey]

lliang_chi, That does not sound modest at all! Are your grapes table grapes ? Looking forward to pics.

Blacksand, Sorry about your garden, we have had some of that, lots of cool days and rain but only a few warm days, my garden loves it and thinks it is a english garden, confused also but enjoying it

Here are some pics of mine, I took pics when I did the thread but the sun was too strong I think and every thing looked washed out so I will do more in morning light, these are a few that are good.



This is the pink peonies that just are finishing, we had tons of rain that beat them down so they did not last long but are one of my favorite flowers, I wish they were not so short lived, they have a bright purple/blue salvia in front of them. The next two pics are some iris that are also just finishing a lovely lavander blue and a purple and yellow.

I was pleased to see a large peony in my new garden. I thought it might be Duchess De Nemours, which is what I had left behind in Calgary, but when it finally opened, I fancy there was just the slightest shade of blush to it. Much, much paler than yours and almost white. I don't have any pictures, because no sooner had it come out, then a storm hit it and I lost 90% of the blooms.

 

[Gailey]

Artdeco, GORGEOUS peonies!!! Ours has some mildew/fungus on the leaves, so they look kinda crappy. I read I need to wait till end of summer, chop it all down and burn it to keep it from reinfecting for next year.

I still haven't gotten any pictures, but the plants look great. The Asiatic lilies are just coming in too. I'm going to take my camera on the AM dog walk with me tomorrow and take pics.

And the grapes I think are Concord grapes. VERY tasty, but some of the neighbors don't like ti because they have seeds. I just eat the seeds. I dunno if that makes me weird...

~LC

I can say with 99% conviction that this approach to curing powdery mildew will not work.

What will work is spraying with Funginex. If you don't want to use a chemical, then try using Neem Oil or a milk solution. But carefully cut off and bag any affected leaves and dispose of them in the garbage before you start a spraying campaign. Prevention is better than cure. When you cut the plant back at the end of the season, coat the whole area with a hefty sprinkling of cornmeal (not corn gluten). Do this again next spring as the new shoots emerge. These organic approaches will need to be reapplied. Neem OIl/Milk spray at least once a week. The cornmeal, will need to be applied at least twice, at the begining and end of the season. More if you can work it in.

When watering, don't water the leaves, water the ground beneath the leaves. If rain hits the peony, then re-apply the control spray that you choose.

There is also a lot of anecdotal evidence that spraying with compost tea is very effective against Powdery Mildew. This is a bit of a minefield, but if anyone is interested in that approach, I'll happily talk you through the principals.

 

[Gailey]

Moving to Ontario and into a house (as opposed to a condo) has turned me into a lawn snob. Ontario has a complete pesticide ban, so I am hand weeding it, and it takes hours! I'm also obsessed with mowing stripes. I think I get this from my son who for years turned out the most magnificent lawns when he worked as a landscaper.

Ultimately, I think the lawns will have to go because I have next to no garden beds, which to professional gardener (currently on sabbatical), is likely to cause severe mental instability. But for this year, I'll just concentrate on maintaining what I have. And what I do have is a lawn infested with white grubs and leather jackets. There is also a huge Norway maple that shades out a huge part of the lawn. So getting the grass to grow has been no small challenge. Still the tree is being pruned tomorrow morning, and the nematodes are in the fridge, so maybe there's hope!

I did manage to rally and put some containers together at the begining of June. I also have hostas the size of dinner plates.

I will post a few pictures (for the benefit of those who don't socially network with me), but first I have to resize/name them. Such a pain!

 

[Gailey]

Moving to Ontario and into a house (as opposed to a condo) has turned me into a lawn snob. Ontario has a complete pesticide ban, so I am hand weeding it, and it takes hours! I'm also obsessed with mowing stripes. I think I get this from my son who for years turned out the most magnificent lawns when he worked as a landscaper.

Ultimately, I think the lawns will have to go because I have next to no garden beds, which to professional gardener (currently on sabbatical), is likely to cause severe mental instability. But for this year, I'll just concentrate on maintaining what I have. And what I do have is a lawn infested with white grubs and leather jackets. There is also a huge Norway maple that shades out a huge part of the lawn. So getting the grass to grow has been no small challenge. Still the tree is being pruned tomorrow morning, and the nematodes are in the fridge, so maybe there's hope!

I did manage to rally and put some containers together at the begining of June. I also have hostas the size of dinner plates.

I will post a few pictures (for the benefit of those who don't socially network with me), but first I have to resize/name them. Such a pain!

 

[Gailey]

I'm a super modest "gardner," nothing like what some of these PS'ers can bang out. I'll go in and get some pics today if the weather cooperates. It looked gorgeous 3-4 wks ago when the peonies and irises were still blooming. Now we're waiting for the lilies to come up to take their place. The climbing roses are in full bloom now though.

But veggie-wise, I have two red bells, two short cayennes, 3 cucumbers, 4 sugar snap peas, 1 roma-style, 1 heirloom, and 2 grape tomaotes plants. Other spots in the garden we've got tons of raspberries n their way in and grapes! I would've had a thai eggplant but unfortunately, I lost that one.

On my balcony, I have window boxes with annuals (petunias), and herbs: basil, parsley, french taragon, mint, thyme, chives, and lavender.

Please post pictures! Especially of the climbing roses. I love anything that climbs, especially roses. The past 14 years (until January) I lived in a zone where climbing roses just did not grow. I've seen one or two magnificent specimens since I moved, so in the next couple of years, I will be adding climbing roses back in again. My favourite, "Albertine", is not strictly a climber, but a rambler. I think it was the first plant I bought for the very first house I owned. It is beset with all the usual rose problems such as black spot and mildew, but I don't care, those peachy pink blooms are just so spectacular. Here's a link to what it looks like: http://www.google.ca/search?q=albertine+rose&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&rlz=1I7DACA_en&prmd=ivnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XWceTuDoA8ucgQe5_tSUAw&ved=0CBkQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=685

 

[packrat]

My garden is dying! My window boxes are doing okay with basil, thyme, rosemary and cilantro, but my lettuce in the garden never came up this year, and my bell peppers are dying off one by one. It's been rainy and cold and then alternately sunny and in the 90s, and I think my plants are just confused this year. I didn't plant any flowers this year, but I'd like to put in some roses. Maybe next year.

I'm hearing lots of good things about "Knockout" Roses. I believe Miss Packy (Packrat) has planted them along with a few others.

YES KNOCKOUTS!! They are amazing!! Great scent and they are sooo incredibly gorgeous, totally easy to take care of. We planted 7 new red ones a month ago, little bitty twigs and they're SO much bigger now, one is even blooming..speaking of which, I need to take a picture of it b/c it is stunning..

Gailey, did you see my new 2011 pictures? I put them in Hangout and then in FB PS and also my regular FB page. We're taking your advice on moving the daylilies from the front of the bathtub..it's going to be all knockouts there..oh the plans the plans I say!

 

[platinumrock]

I love all the the garden photos! This is my third year at gardening, and I'm stil a novice at it. It also doesn't help that I live in Florida, where it's very sandy and buggy. I try to keep my plants as low-maintenance as possible so they won't die on me.

 

[platinumrock]

lliang_chi, That does not sound modest at all! Are your grapes table grapes ? Looking forward to pics.

Blacksand, Sorry about your garden, we have had some of that, lots of cool days and rain but only a few warm days, my garden loves it and thinks it is a english garden, confused also but enjoying it

Here are some pics of mine, I took pics when I did the thread but the sun was too strong I think and every thing looked washed out so I will do more in morning light, these are a few that are good.



This is the pink peonies that just are finishing, we had tons of rain that beat them down so they did not last long but are one of my favorite flowers, I wish they were not so short lived, they have a bright purple/blue salvia in front of them. The next two pics are some iris that are also just finishing a lovely lavander blue and a purple and yellow.

Beautiful flowers!! I wish my garden was this green and healthy. lol

 

[lliang_chi]

Platinum, what kind of tomato cage/gate/contraption did you make for your tomato collection? I've got some tomato plants that are getting too big for the round metal cages.

Thanks,
LC

 

[soocool]

It has gotten rather hot here in the NE US in the past few weeks. The spring was cold and rainy and hence I did not have a good crop of strawberries. But I did manage to get at least 30 pints of blueberries which the bulk I have frozen and will enjoy for the next 12 months. Had a great crop of squash and am waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.

As to my flowers, my snapdragons are flourishing but my gazania's have been consumed by the rabbits. Even the deer have eaten my hostas, but left my carnations and ice plants.

 

[platinumrock]

Platinum, what kind of tomato cage/gate/contraption did you make for your tomato collection? I've got some tomato plants that are getting too big for the round metal cages.

Thanks,
LC

I tried the traditional wire cages last year but they were outgrown within a few months. And they were kind of flimsy. So I decided to nail wooden stakes on the raised bed and covered it with plastic vegetable nets to form a teepee. That way the tomatoes are supported and they still have room to branch out. And even if they get too long, I just tie them back to the stakes or the net. It's been working well so far, especially with the heavy Goliath and Beefsteak tomatoes.

Here's a pic from last month. Hope this helps!

 

[platinumrock]

It has gotten rather hot here in the NE US in the past few weeks. The spring was cold and rainy and hence I did not have a good crop of strawberries. But I did manage to get at least 30 pints of blueberries which the bulk I have frozen and will enjoy for the next 12 months. Had a great crop of squash and am waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.

As to my flowers, my snapdragons are flourishing but my gazania's have been consumed by the rabbits. Even the deer have eaten my hostas, but left my carnations and ice plants.

Wow, 30 pints of blueberries! That's awesome. Blueberries are expensive here, and they're kind of small.

 

[soocool]

It has gotten rather hot here in the NE US in the past few weeks. The spring was cold and rainy and hence I did not have a good crop of strawberries. But I did manage to get at least 30 pints of blueberries which the bulk I have frozen and will enjoy for the next 12 months. Had a great crop of squash and am waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.

As to my flowers, my snapdragons are flourishing but my gazania's have been consumed by the rabbits. Even the deer have eaten my hostas, but left my carnations and ice plants.

Wow, 30 pints of blueberries! That's awesome. Blueberries are expensive here, and they're kind of small.

We have always put netting around the blueberry plants and yet the birds always found their way in and ate a majority of the berries (some times they got tangled in the netting after biting through it). This year we found a denser netting that was tough for a bird to chew through and it worked. I probably still have a few more pints I could pick, but I took the netting off and am letting the birds feast on the rest.

 

[platinumrock]

It has gotten rather hot here in the NE US in the past few weeks. The spring was cold and rainy and hence I did not have a good crop of strawberries. But I did manage to get at least 30 pints of blueberries which the bulk I have frozen and will enjoy for the next 12 months. Had a great crop of squash and am waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.

As to my flowers, my snapdragons are flourishing but my gazania's have been consumed by the rabbits. Even the deer have eaten my hostas, but left my carnations and ice plants.

Wow, 30 pints of blueberries! That's awesome. Blueberries are expensive here, and they're kind of small.

We have always put netting around the blueberry plants and yet the birds always found their way in and ate a majority of the berries (some times they got tangled in the netting after biting through it). This year we found a denser netting that was tough for a bird to chew through and it worked. I probably still have a few more pints I could pick, but I took the netting off and am letting the birds feast on the rest.

Lucky birds! You know, I actually love having birds in the garden. They don't touch my tomatoes. The problem I have is with the pesky squirrels. They have been raiding the bird feeders and digging up the soil around the plants. It's really irritating. I bought this feeder with a squirrel guard and it has worked so far. Unfortunately the cardinals can't get to the seeds. Ugh.

 

[artdecogirl]

Thank you Platinumrock, I am jealous of your tea rose! I think you are underestimating your skills , Your flowers are absolutely gorgeous!

 

[artdecogirl]

It has gotten rather hot here in the NE US in the past few weeks. The spring was cold and rainy and hence I did not have a good crop of strawberries. But I did manage to get at least 30 pints of blueberries which the bulk I have frozen and will enjoy for the next 12 months. Had a great crop of squash and am waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.

As to my flowers, my snapdragons are flourishing but my gazania's have been consumed by the rabbits. Even the deer have eaten my hostas, but left my carnations and ice plants.

Nummy fresh blueberries... Thats awesome. I feel your pain about the deer, they do love a nice hosta salad don't they! My neighbor has what I think are called garlic chives? planted with her hostas and the deer don't touch hers when mine are down to nubbins.

 

[artdecogirl]

Moving to Ontario and into a house (as opposed to a condo) has turned me into a lawn snob. Ontario has a complete pesticide ban, so I am hand weeding it, and it takes hours! I'm also obsessed with mowing stripes. I think I get this from my son who for years turned out the most magnificent lawns when he worked as a landscaper.

Ultimately, I think the lawns will have to go because I have next to no garden beds, which to professional gardener (currently on sabbatical), is likely to cause severe mental instability. But for this year, I'll just concentrate on maintaining what I have. And what I do have is a lawn infested with white grubs and leather jackets. There is also a huge Norway maple that shades out a huge part of the lawn. So getting the grass to grow has been no small challenge. Still the tree is being pruned tomorrow morning, and the nematodes are in the fridge, so maybe there's hope!

I did manage to rally and put some containers together at the begining of June. I also have hostas the size of dinner plates.

I will post a few pictures (for the benefit of those who don't socially network with me), but first I have to resize/name them. Such a pain!

So good to see you Gailey! (and your words of gardening wisdom ) What, No flower beds???? you will have to rectify that situation soon! The what ever that I get on my peonies is a black spot thing, I am not sure about the powdery mildew, is that the same stuff phlox get? pics of your pots please!!!

 

[platinumrock]

Thank you Platinumrock, I am jealous of your tea rose! I think you are underestimating your skills , Your flowers are absolutely gorgeous!

Awww, thank you Artdecogirl! I do learn more every year. I was actually surprised that I got blooms out of my bare root roses this year. I planted them in April and they already had shoots when I bought them from Sam's Club. Beginner's luck I guess.

Do you have more pics of your garden? I'd love to see more.

 

[platinumrock]

I just thought I'd share this. This is my first time with beefsteak tomato, and I'm i love!!

It gets so huge, and it's so meaty and juicy. I hated eating raw tomatoes before but I became a convert when I started growing my own. The flavor is just amazing, and it's so juicy! The grocery stores do not do any justice to these tasty things.

 

[Loves Vintage]

artdecogirl, I love your peonies!! And, those are amazing irises!! I had iris failure this year, which I will write more about below. I'd love it if you'd post more photos of your gardens. I recall you had amazing photos last year!

lliang_chi, Have you harvested any veggies yet? You should post some photos!!! Those grapes sound delish!

Gailey, Come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We miss you!!! Please do post those pics if you have time. Once I get back to some weeding and tidying up, I'm going to post before/before/after photos of my pull out from last year. It is a definite work-in-progress with some failures and unknowns, but also pleasant successes like the bee balm, which I am in love with!

PlatinumRock, Gorgeous tomatoes!! You are lucky to have the Florida sun shining above all of your flowers and tomatoes! I'm in CT and even our "early blooming" tomato variety hasn't ripened yet! And, yes, homegrown tomatoes are the BEST!! You must have a lot by now?

packrat, You should post some photos here too! Your backyard is stunning!

soocool, Blueberries sound wonderful! I'm jealous! Your squash is in already? Is it zucchini? We've had only a handful thus far. We do not have tons of sunlight so that could explain the difference.

*************

As I referenced above, last year, I did a big pull out of pachysandra, which continues to plague me and some other overgrown bushes. I planted siberian iris last year (which were transplanted from another garden, not mine), and the leaves came up, but no flowers! I have to research why, but maybe you all have some ideas? I also planted some peony (I think, need to look that up) which did not flower. Is this the one that you have to plant a certain number of inches below the surface or they won't flower. Aside from that, my day lilies bloomed for like half a second and then were gone! Could it be insufficient sunlight?

The GOOD NEWS is that my bee balm came up, and it's amazing AND it brought hummingbirds to my front yard!!!!! We added a hummingbird feeder to keep them happy. Not sure if that's the right thing to do . . . adding the feeder. I'd love to hear what others do in that regard.

I'll post a photo next!