Wyzyrd 417 Report post Posted September 5, 2018 NOT a political post. This has just been my worst growing season ever, and I'm 65. Odd weather has kicked my butt this year. Here in Va, it was too cold and wet to plant until almost June. We have alternated record high rainfall and record high temperatures. My tiny semi hydroponic herb and tomato garden did just ok. The raised beds at a local assisted living facility we support were a disaster. Baked desert one day, swamp the next. If I was a pioneer in the area in the past, I would be thinking up recipes for cooking my shoes this winter. Anybody have a good growing season this year? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthomasdigital 1,072 Report post Posted September 7, 2018 You can say that again, can anyone tell me why my zucchini plants produced nothing but male flowers, I got like 4 zucchini's this year, so disappointing. Tomatoes, grapes, and apple tress got beat down during a massive hell storm we had (not to mention how odd such a storm in New Mexico is) had some nice roof damage too. The apricots got frozen on the tree due to the oddest flash freeze I've ever seen. So yes crappy in New Mexico too. Things like tomatoes are bouncing back so hope to get some to harvest soon, but we will be getting into cold weather soon out here in the High Desert so we will not have long. On a side note went to visit some friends in Minnesota over the summer and their huge garden was going crazy, they where giving bucket loads of food away, and their pickles where out of this world good! Us not even enough to can anything. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wyzyrd 417 Report post Posted September 7, 2018 The cucumbers at the facility did ok, basil did pretty well after a battle with Japanese beetles, squash and zucchini were coming along until human footprints stomped hell outta the plants. Guess someone hates squash. Sunflowers and marigolds and zinnias were about all that did well, in the flower section. At home, the freebie Hungarian wax peppers, cayenne and cherry tomatoes are going nuts after a hot weather lull.Most herbs are just ok, Cuban oregano not bad, not great, but you need <40 F Temps or a flamethrower to kill that stuff. Still a crappy year, in general 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zackmars 565 Report post Posted September 7, 2018 Didn't do a garden, but do have chickens. No eggs. None. Zip, zilch, zero. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthomasdigital 1,072 Report post Posted September 7, 2018 Farm fresh eggs are the best sorry for the bad luck @zackmars 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wyzyrd 417 Report post Posted September 13, 2018 It's a bit strange, but the past week of slightly lower temps, constant overcast skies and a lot of light rain, ahead of the incoming hurricane, is making the tomatoes and peppers go absolutely nuts with vine growth and flowering. Nope, nope, not a strange growing season at all...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary_Gough 1,241 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 Garden was under water just after the tomatoes went out. Gave up for the year and just working up the weeds for next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daimond25 10 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) Above house inside greenhouse House in geodesic dome greenhouse Edited September 20, 2018 by Daimond25 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wyzyrd 417 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 The house inside a greenhouse is probably a good idea for mostly cold climates. Here in virginia, usa, the interior of an older lexan glazed greenhouse that my company uses stays above 50f all winter, but even with ventilation and shade cloth, stays above 90f, and frequently above 100f, for 6 to 8 months a year. It would take a lot of careful engineering to make it liveable in summer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas 956 Report post Posted September 30, 2018 On 9/7/2018 at 10:09 PM, zackmars said: Didn't do a garden, but do have chickens. No eggs. None. Zip, zilch, zero. Why does that happen? I have been interested to have chickens for a while now, I sorta assumed hens laid eggs consistently? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zackmars 565 Report post Posted October 1, 2018 15 hours ago, Thomas said: Why does that happen? I have been interested to have chickens for a while now, I sorta assumed hens laid eggs consistently? Funny, one chicken (not sure which) has graced us with eggs. Small, but they're eggs. Weather, temp, etc all can determine if a hen will lay. Once they start, they tend to keep going (for a while), but it took ours a long time to start, even then, i think only one hen is laying 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthomasdigital 1,072 Report post Posted October 1, 2018 We harvested the last of the zucchini yesterday, it was sad just 2 and we only got about 8 the whole growing season, I figure we have about 3 weeks before we have the first freeze so not sure but it will be soon I start getting all my green tomatoes off the vine. It was not a very productive year at the garden for sure. Better luck next year I hope. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas 956 Report post Posted October 10, 2018 Interesting. Our garden has 5 lemon trees, we are thinking of adding berries and small fruit trees too but my worry here in Portugal is the water- how do you guys deal with it? Complex reservoir systems? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthomasdigital 1,072 Report post Posted October 10, 2018 I pay through the nose for water here in New Mexico, I've been thinking about a water cistern system, at least during the monsoon season I'd not have to pay so much for water. I got the gutters all ready so I could funnel the water to underground storage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthomasdigital 1,072 Report post Posted October 10, 2018 Had a growth spurt on the pepper plants and even managed some tomatoes, but all is over it's suppose to hit 32 in the next couple of days at least I got one more zucchini too. I'll be roasting those chiles and making some mini rellenos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wyzyrd 417 Report post Posted October 10, 2018 No idea if it would work where you are in Portugal, but there is an old system in use in the Azores, and,I think Sicily that could help, I don't know. From flawed memory, rather than raised beds, a series of round holes, about 10 ft in diameter, a few feet deep, surrounded by dry-laid fieldstone walls. The soil in the holes is built up with compost, etc. The rock walls funnel limited rain down, and limit wind-caused loss of transpired water vapor. Basically, a bunch of small garden microclimate areas. No clue if it would work where you are. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zackmars 565 Report post Posted October 13, 2018 Apparently a jalapeno plant has decided to appear out of nowhere 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthomasdigital 1,072 Report post Posted October 18, 2018 @zackmars those need to be stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and deep fried......yum! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zackmars 565 Report post Posted October 18, 2018 7 hours ago, dthomasdigital said: @zackmars those need to be stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and deep fried......yum! I prefer to just cut them up and fry them, nice and hot, though these are noticeably less hot than years past 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rspreps 167 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I’ve been awol for awhile...made the move to the country side from Toronto this past spring. I’m now a little over an 1hr NW of the city (unfortunately still commuting there for work). Almost 3 acres but about 2 serviceable (1 acre is pretty much a hill). Hoping to get raised beds somewhat together before winter sets in but if not that will be first project in the Spring. I’m thinking about some chickens. Zackmars (et all) ~ I’d like to hear more about your setup? How many? How long have you had them? Worth it, etc? Thanks! RS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rspreps 167 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 Also ordered 3 apple, 2 pear, 3 black walnut and a beech nut tree. Suppose to get them this week if our mail strike doesn’t delay it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
