I think I'm gonna make "raised beds" in my garden. Kinda. I'm going make borders out of 2x4s or 2x6's (whatever I have around), to divide my "garden" from my "lawn". To give my boyfriend a clear border for the weedwacker and lawnmower. To contain the fluffed up soil and plants, and to give...
I'm doing...
Borage all over
Nasturtiums for the cukes, zuchs, and melons (and would have been the broccoli and cauliflower also, but I got a late start and won't do those til fall now).
marigolds all over
garlic chives all over (but not the peas)
carrots with Tomatoes
Basil with tomatoes
Dill...
http://eugenebackyardfarmer.com/. Looks like they're getting chicks starting in February. They've got a calendar with anticipated breed arrival dates.
Maybe J Co Feeds (Beltline and 99-ish) will have 'em....
Diess Feed and Seed at W11th/Crow Road...?
I received my order from Sample Seeds. Huge envelope stuffed to bursting with little envelopes! Yikes! What was I thinking! Savory? I ordered Savory? And thank you, darlin', for noticing the lack of greens in my order and comping me a packet of Chard seeds. :)
I received it about 10 days...
One of my favorite series is the "Outlander" books, by Diana Gabaldon. It's an epic romance that starts in Scotland, and eventually (3rd book) gets to the US, and (4th - 6th books) explores carving a homestead out of the mountains. The farming/homesteading isn't really a focus, but does...
Hey Steve... what thermometer do you use? I have a friend with a bbq/meat thermometer that sounds an alarm inside at a given temp on the grill outside, and I liked that idea but wasn't certain if I could find a similar item (or if a meat thermometer would work in a greenhouse).
After...
Well, I got the vinyl from JoAnn Fabrics during lunch today. 3.5 yards should cover the shelf unit, and the $7.99/yard was cheaper than I'd seen it elsewhere. Got up to the register and asked if there were any circular specials this week for which I was eligible, and the guy gave me 50% off...
I've got a 18"x36"x54" plastic shelving unit from Home Depot. It's got "perforated" (grid) shelves, so I can hang my lights off them.
I'm thinking of getting a couple yards of 20ga double-polished clear vinyl, and cutting/folding/duct-taping it together to form a cover for the shelves, to...
Don't forget your "control" specimens, with same potting soil and NO fertilizer at all. :)
Good luck!
ETA: I think I recall doing similar experiments with beans, or sunflowers. Here's a similar example that's not exactly the same, so you can work with the format and produce your specific...
I just ordered from Sample Seeds on Wednesday, based on the recommendations here. I don't know how much I ordered... at only $1 - $1.75 a pack, I tossed them in the "cart" rather willy-nilly. :) My total came up to about $40 also.
I'm really looking forward to getting everything in, but...
Here in New Orleans many people keep citrus trees. I can see 3 or 4 from my back porch, and plan on talking to the owners once the fruit (grapefruit and oranges) ripens up. Often you can find citrus overhanging fences along the sidewalk.
Loquats and bananas can be found the same way. If...
I love radishes sliced thin in salads, and sliced thicker with softened butter and salt (is weird, but it works).
Apparently you can also roast them. I'm intrigued, and will be trying this out very soon. :)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/dining/12appe.html
Mmmm... hummus. ;)
I've seen Passion Flower Vines all over New Orleans (and elsewhere), but have *never* noticed fruit. I've gotten marketing emails from various gardening supply places that assure me I can have fruit from a Passion Flower Vine.
Do any of y'all get fruit from your Passion...
Thanks much... LSU Ag Center was missing this info (or I didn't look hard enough to find it -- it's been known to happen).
Guess I'll take sub-samples from various areas in my garden (but not near the compost, as I bet it'd throw the curve) and mix 'em up, then pack 'em in a ziplock bag. :)
Not to hijack, but...
For a small garden plot (say, 20x50), how many soil samples are recommended? One? One from the general beds, and one from under the compost pile?
My Okra flowers are never open in the afternoon (5:30) when I get home and water the garden. I think they're open around noonish.
Even tho they're a veggie, does that count?