Anyone Getting Their Gardens Ready?

Re-Posted The Reports of it's demise were premature :)

Fish Water
On May 2nd, 2008 JohnFromChicago says:
I have two big tiger oscars and a plecostumus in a 110 tank. I I feed them live food about once a week. I clean the tank once a month by siphoning 10 gallons off the bottom of the tank. This is the best water you could possibly use on your garden. If you garden, I would strongly recommend getting a fish tank.

I've only got a small space, so I'm doing a few jalapenos, radishes, onions, and a tomato.

http://www.youtube.com/pr...
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You are sooooo.....
On May 2nd, 2008 kat says:
correct!
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"I have once heard that the ability to resist temptation is the truest measure of a mans character."

Dustin Hoffman to Steve McQueen
"Papillion"
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Okay..This is off topic in a way..
On May 2nd, 2008 kat says:
But it may help some people..

I own a pet store and my friend Rob was getting his home in the country broken into everytime he went to work in New Orleans...Meth heads more than likely...What ever they couldn't steal, they would trash and he has been trying to store food and start gardens..They poisoned his dogs...and he really didn't know what to do since he was temporarily laid off and couldn't afford to move anywhere...

Twice his food storage area was found and destroyed out of maliciousness even though it was hidden.

So in talking one day I decided to help him out ...I sold him 30 tarantulas and had him put them with his stored food to free roam...

His house was broken into...ONCE...and nothing was touched...a few months later and not one incident...Guess they work..

He also told me today that he has had not one pest or insect problem since introducing them..

Maybe instead of guns and dogs we could just use these little critters!

"I have once heard that the ability to resist temptation is the truest measure of a mans character."

Dustin Hoffman to Steve McQueen
"Papillion"
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How much..
On May 2nd, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. are tarantulas going for these days?

*hugs@kat*

A Big Tarantula hug right back!
On May 2nd, 2008 kat says:
I gave them to him at cost...Really? Are you interested? I'm your girl ! I'll even throw in a couple of scorpions.for fun!
_____________________________

"I have once heard that the ability to resist temptation is the truest measure of a mans character."

Dustin Hoffman to Steve McQueen
"Papillion"
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Can I..
On May 3rd, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. feed the scorpions to the tarantula? =)

Kat, so do they roam free
On May 2nd, 2008 akak says:
Kat, so do they roam free through the WHOLE HOUSE?! I'm not one of those fraidy-scared-of-miniscule-spiders people, but I don't think even I would want one or several of those things crawling on me in bed!
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You're a chicken...
On May 2nd, 2008 kat says:
He said he let a few free roam his living room and kitchen area so whoever broke in would be confronted by them...It worked...

I'm thinking about getting them and maybe some good ball pythons to guard my secret room off the garage...They pretty much take care of themselves..

No mice...No insects...No problems.
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"I have once heard that the ability to resist temptation is the truest measure of a mans character."

Dustin Hoffman to Steve McQueen
"Papillion"
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Hmmmm...... well, I might
On May 2nd, 2008 akak says:
Hmmmm...... well, I might have to pass on the idea, although I don't think they would thrive up here anyway.

Not really chicken ---- mice and shrews are a common annoyance in most homes here in Alaska, but they don't scare me. Sometimes I even try to step on them, if I can catch them out in the open. Now and then I borrow my neighbor's cat for the purpose: let her stay here for a couple of days, and she cleans them out really nice.

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Okay you're not really a chicken..
On May 2nd, 2008 kat says:
I take it back..And cats ARE wonderful creatures..But if you ever need a snake...Just let me know!! Burmese, Ball, Boas...You name it...I'm your girl.

I would love for someone to break into my food supply just to see their face when I put these guys up in there.
_________________________

"I have once heard that the ability to resist temptation is the truest measure of a mans character."

Dustin Hoffman to Steve McQueen
"Papillion"

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Got
On May 2nd, 2008 gavination says:
Got my tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower in yesterday. got all my plants for .33 a piece!!!

Plants not seeds?
On May 2nd, 2008 martfuncher says:
Where did you get a deal like that? =)
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We are having a two day blizzard
On May 2nd, 2008 hopefulfilled says:
and supposed to go down to 18 degrees tonite. All the quilts I covered my flowering peach, apricot and pear trees with are gone from the hurricane like winds, and some of our metal roof, and our 1500 gallon fire water tank. hmmm, anyone have some country land for sale in New Mexico???
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Why..
On May 2nd, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. New Mexico? Dry, sandy, water shortages, etc.

The winds took your water tower down? Sounds apocalyptic...=|
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I was raised in New England
On May 2nd, 2008 hopefulfilled says:
but I found out that I am solar powered, (not just for electric power),and I need the sun for my body to have energy, and I abhor humidity. I lived in Virginia for a while, and I hated the summers, because of that. Well, the tower was empty, but it still takes 4 guys to move it. It is for summer water for fires, in case. Our cistern is buried, so that is safe.
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Hehe...
On May 2nd, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. you would hate Missippi where I'm at. It's the Kingdom of Humidity. =P

I hate it too, but the plants (and bugs) seem to love it...
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Today..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. I tilled up some spots to do the "three sisters" thing. Corn stalks with bean vines and squash plants all in one. =)

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The "three sisters" thing
On May 2nd, 2008 john2k says:
The "three sisters" thing sounds interesting. I might have to give that a try!

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Potato growing bags
On May 1st, 2008 Retrocon says:
I found some at Gardener's Supply Company online. I might give those a crack, useable at least twice. I want to grow some spuds. They also have nifty growing ladder things I might get to support the eggplant and bell peppers.

The Retrocon
Hope for America, Ron Paul for President in 2008!

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Yah..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. I've researched as many tomato growing structures as I could find and I like the tomato ladders from Gardener's Supply also. Although, this year I made trellises out of bamboo from my bamboo forest. My bamboo trellises work good but take some work to construct.

I ordered tomato mulch sheets from Gardener's Supply and they got me my order promptly, in about 3 days, and they have good customer reviews...
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That stinks!
On May 1st, 2008 Retrocon says:
I was planning on planting radishes. The seeds are new, so fingers are crossed.

Do any of you soak seeds before planting?

The Retrocon
Hope for America, Ron Paul for President in 2008!
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Most seeds....
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. that require germinating you put on/in a damp(but not wet) paper towel or sprouting material(from gardening store) for a couple of days to activate germination.

Radishes generally don't need germinating. Just chunk them in the dirt. ;)

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Herbs!
On May 1st, 2008 Retrocon says:
Put seeds for chives, cilantro, sage, and oregano in pots, transplanted chamomile, fennel, rosemary, basil, and parsley. The brussel sprouts , eggplant, bell pepper, and jersey wakefield cabbages seem to be doing well in the square foot garden. We'll see. I have tomato vines coming, and more herbs. If the herbs I have don't sprout and grow from seed, I guess I will have to try again. I have to plant carrots, lettuces, etc etc from seed in another week or so, once I'm sure of the warmer weather. I hope I get some yield from this, it is always nervewracking undertaking something like this for the first time with no practical hands on experience or mentors nearby. Hehehe.

How is everyone else doing? I wish I had the money to get my fruit tree experiments going. Still have yet to get the lumber for the rain barrels. At least I have three days off in a row, I will take care of some business! :)

The Retrocon
Hope for America, Ron Paul for President in 2008!

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I put..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. homegrown oregano, chives and sage in my last batch of spaghetti and it was primo deelish. A whole different world than the stuff from jars/cans... =)

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So far, so good
On May 1st, 2008 Kay says:
I'm getting lots of lettuce, potatoes have sprouted nicely, tomatoes, summer squash and peppers are growing as are the peas. Some of my radishes haven't developed but the seed was pretty old so maybe that's the reason.
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Radishes...
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. usually do better as a winter crop.

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Here in Virginia
On May 1st, 2008 Kay says:
we usually plant them in early spring. My white radishes, which were new seeds, are doing fine. I'm going to test the soil to make sure I have all the nutrients I need.

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There are..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. "spring radish" varieties but they are not as common as the typical radish.

Most radishes like 60 degree weather and cold snaps will improve their flavor. Most radishes grown in warm weather will be bitter.

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Half of my graden is gone
On May 1st, 2008 DaisyFL says:
Stupid Mexican Iguanas ate my sunflower, sweet potato, pumpkin transplants and somebody trampled my purple carrots and baby lettuce. If they go after my watermelons I'm gonna scream!
P.S. Does anyone know if it's too late to plant watermelon in zone 10?

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Hmm..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. are the iguanas wild? In Florida? Or are they pets?

Maybe a fence is in order. Shouldn't need a very high fence to keep the iguanas out... ;)

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Pests
On May 1st, 2008 DaisyFL says:
They were people's pets but they would let them go, now there are tens of thousands of them in FL.
Won't work. They climb, dig, and swim. sigh.

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Also this..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
This website has a recipe for a garlic spray that you spray the plants with once a week that is supposed to work:
http://www.animalrightsfl...

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Check this out...
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
This website claims:

"Please note that many of our Florida customers with Iguana problems are having great success with CoyotePee."
http://www.predatorpee.co...

I thought fox/coyote pee as a critter repellent was kind of silly at first but I've seen two different gardening shows on television that claims it works. It's a powder in a can that you sprinkle around your garden and/or yard perimeter. You probably need to resprinkle if it rains.

I was totally unaware of the iguana problem in Florida. Learn something new everyday... (=

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Apparently wolf pee works too
On May 1st, 2008 akak says:
I had a pet wolf until last fall, and curiously I (well, my garden) was NEVER bothered by hares or moose, unlike others in my area. But he died in October, and I fear it will be open season on my garden this year.

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A full-blooded wolf...
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. as a pet? =P

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Yes, Mart --- Dudley the
On May 1st, 2008 akak says:
Yes, Mart --- Dudley the wolf. I called him a "wolf hybrid" in public, but it was pretty obvious what he was. He was actually quite a good pet overall, at least as good as any average dog, although he did have his quirks and wolfy goofiness to deal with. I didn't take him out in public too much, though, as I obviously did not want to get into any legal hassles, and he drew too much attention when I did. But I'd take him hiking and camping all the time --- he really got excited when he saw me take out his backpack!

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Was he raised..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. in captivity?

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Yes, my wolf was always
On May 1st, 2008 akak says:
Yes, my wolf was always domesticated --- born and raised in captivity. I actually "inherited" him from a friend, who brought him up from Colorado, and who obtained him (quasi-legally) from a breeder in that state. Admittedly, he was the runt of his litter, and so on the small side for a male (about 80 pounds), although his frame was not much smaller than average, and with all the thick fur (especially his winter coat), he looked a lot bulkier than he really was.

I would attach a photo of him here, but I don't know how to do that.

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breakthematrix.com...
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
... allows you to upload pics.

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Just
On May 1st, 2008 gavination says:
Just got my backyard tilled up yesterday. Puttin in tomato plants today. Its my first garden since i was a kid. Never thought it would be so fun and exciting.

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Good exercise too..
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. and I have a theory that working the dirt and pulling all the various kinds of weeds gets chemicals and nutrients in your body that we need to be healthy...

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38 degrees here-
On April 30th, 2008 CarrotTop says:
that's including wind chill. Needless to say, I'm not out getting my dirt composted.

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Dang...
On April 30th, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. my tomato plants are nearly 2.5 ft high. Had to build bamboo trellises for them today. Pepper plants are two feet high. Bean plants almost a foot high.

I hate the two months of 100 degree weather down here but I guess it's worth it for the extended gardening. ;)

Hope you guys get a blast of warm air soon...

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Thanks for the sympathy!
On May 1st, 2008 CarrotTop says:
My tomato plants are about 18 inches high under the greenhouse light in the spare bedroom. I may have to buy bamboo sticks to tie the plants to until I can get them outside. My sugar snap peas are in the same plight: standing stiffly upright, their confused tendrils grasping at the air. I'm afraid they will fall over from lack of support before it warms up outdoors.

Stupid global warming.

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Tomato plants ?mine are 3 inches in greenhouse.
On April 30th, 2008 hopefulfilled says:
Yeah us too, we are getting a 2 day blizzard . I just covered my apricot , peach and pear trees with quilts because they started flowering. :(
Hmmmm... depressing. Anyone got land for sale in New Mexico????

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Our cherry trees'
On May 1st, 2008 CarrotTop says:
blossoms might be starting to open up. Every day I beg them to please, please, please not be foolish. These trees are way too big for quilts, unfortunately, since we have nighttime temps of 32 degrees forecast!

At least my daffodils and purple ornamental cabbages are liking the cold air. This combo garden is the only color in the whole neighborhood.

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Poor fruit trees...
On May 1st, 2008 martfuncher says:
=*(

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I'm in Upstate N.Y.- Last
On April 30th, 2008 almfree says:
I'm in Upstate N.Y.- Last Sunday I tilled 6 gardens for neighbors and family using a 3pt hitch 50" tiller. One garden was a 'first timer', two gardens were the same size as last years garden, and the other three gardens were DOUBLED in size from what they had last year. So- 50% recognized they wanted (needed?) a larger yield.

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Are...
On April 30th, 2008 martfuncher says:
.. ya'll each growing different stuff so you can share? Like a mini-co-op?

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Hey Mart,I sent you a
On April 30th, 2008 howard722 says:
Hey Mart,

I sent you a message yesterday, did you get it?