Global Warming? My A$$ Its Cold Outside

What a great day. Went out for a boat ride this morning and then got in 18 holes with afew friends. It actually got hot playing golf and I think its suppose to be warmer tomorrow.

"If I wanted America to fail" - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CZ-4gnNz0vc)

On another note, does anyone here garden?

As my mom like to reminds me i am following Mrs. Obama's initiative and made two 8x3 raised garden beds to grow some vegetables this year. I have a whole bunch of plants going and plan to plant them in about 2 weeks (i know a little late). Any tips?

The Associated Press: April nor'easter dumps rain, snow on East Coast (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guDY7pTOqj7Iq0ZjKCnumsxSWhiA?docId=cda5fa530 efc439596e3a3134847574d)

On another note, does anyone here garden?

As my mom like to reminds me i am following Mrs. Obama's initiative and made two 8x3 raised garden beds to grow some vegetables this year. I have a whole bunch of plants going and plan to plant them in about 2 weeks (i know a little late). Any tips?

Know thine insects and vermin.

I hate this thread so much.

Then why do you look at it?

On another note, does anyone here garden?

As my mom like to reminds me i am following Mrs. Obama's initiative and made two 8x3 raised garden beds to grow some vegetables this year. I have a whole bunch of plants going and plan to plant them in about 2 weeks (i know a little late). Any tips?
What did you plant?
Careful how much water they get......6 hours plus sun a day for most species....Over 80 degrees makes some things get a little....hinky....look at them often for signs of stress....bugs etc.
Tell me what u planted and I can help more
I have Toms, Peps, Corn, Okra, Pineapple, Bananas, Onions, Eggplant in the ground right now.

The Associated Press: April nor'easter dumps rain, snow on East Coast (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guDY7pTOqj7Iq0ZjKCnumsxSWhiA?docId=cda5fa530 efc439596e3a3134847574d)

And Dick Clark is dead. Time to stockpile the guns and rations.

What did you plant?
Careful how much water they get......6 hours plus sun a day for most species....Over 80 degrees makes some things get a little....hinky....look at them often for signs of stress....bugs etc.
Tell me what u planted and I can help more
I have Toms, Peps, Corn, Okra, Pineapple, Bananas, Onions, Eggplant in the ground right now.


In the beds I plan on putting in these:

Cucumber
Zucchini/squash – I like zucchini a lot so I have maybe 4 or 5 different types
Carrots
Green Bell Peppers
Cantaloupe
Parsley
Chives (is this a running plant? Should I keep it in a separate container?)
Radish (same thing as the chives?)

In separate pots:

Horse radish (ive been told this can take over your garden and to keep it separate)
Tomatoes (I might put a plant or 2 in the beds also)

I also have a topsy turvy strawberry plant that will be hanging.

Plus a couple raspberry bushes and I wouldn’t mind getting a grape bush or 2, but only if I have time to build trellis’s that can be tied in nicely.

I also have these but will probably give them away unless I can find a spot to put them that doesn’t make my yard look like shit:

Water melon
Orange Water Melon (taste exactly like regular water melon but is orange instead of red…. I had it for the first time last year and thought it was crazy)
Pumpkins

^for the regular water melon and pumpkins I got the biggest varieties they had…., obviously.

I probably have a couple other things I cant think of; however, somehow i i meesed up and didnt get any jalapenos, habaneros or chillie peppers. Around 50+ plants total.

So I have two beds that are 8 by 3 and 16.5 inches tall. Plus a few pots and one hanging plant (just typing this makes me want to get a second hanging plant for symmetry). The area gets good sun, at least 6 hours of direct light (too much?) I plan on building a trellis/lattice type screen to add slight shade and to make it look nicer. Probably wont do that for a month or 2.

Also I want to plant some things that will naturally keep pests away. Any good ideas? Someone told me Marigold flowers will keep things away. Ive heard citrus plants/herbs repeal some pests too. I surrounded the 2 beds with mulch to make it look nice and I am going to put a few bags of cedar mulch on top, as ive been told cedar is good for keeping pests away (beds are just pressure treated 2x6’s).

All that said im not a hippie or anything and would love to spray the entire yard with ddt if I could, so if you have any recommendations on chemical pest controls please advise. Probably gonna get a fake owl for bird control and perhaps a “sprinkler scare crow” too for dogs and deer.

Im also thinking about a rain barrel. If anyone has a rain barrel, a great idea a co worker told me about is to tie your ac condenser water pump into it, which will give you up to a few gallons a day when its real hot. Also if you compost or have good soil you can get special bags to put the dirt in and then suspend them to soak in the water barrel, making super nutrient rich water for your plants.

In the beds I plan on putting in these:

Cucumber
Zucchini/squash – I like zucchini a lot so I have maybe 4 or 5 different types
Carrots
Green Bell Peppers
Cantaloupe
Parsley
Chives (is this a running plant? Should I keep it in a separate container?)
Radish (same thing as the chives?)
As long as you plant after the "frost threat", should be ok on all. Cucs, Zuccs, Peps, and Cant are spring/summer stuff so good on that. No, Radish is like a.....mini bitter Cabbage and Chive is a spice (gets chopped up like an Onion top). Carrot is more of a Cold weather veg...but check it out. Might be ok
I usually have to "Manually Pollinate" my Zuccs...I know what your thinking....out in the garden smoking a cig in the afterglow......Farming is sooooo creepy
Check out the link and you'll get it
How to Hand Pollinate Zucchini | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_2317601_hand-pollinate-zucchini.html)
In separate pots:

Horse radish (ive been told this can take over your garden and to keep it separate)
Tomatoes (I might put a plant or 2 in the beds also) Toms are easy to deal with. 5 gallon pots, ok...7 gal better. Also good in ground. I stick all over the place to see where they like best. Don't hesitate to split up your stuff as if something goes wrong over here, maybe the other location of the same thing will be good....experiment!
Don't spend a lot on your gardening stuff. Check Craigs list and such for Nursery's going out and you can buy pots and things....Dirt Cheap (sorry)

I also have a topsy turvy strawberry plant that will be hanging.

Plus a couple raspberry bushes and I wouldn’t mind getting a grape bush or 2, but only if I have time to build trellis’s that can be tied in nicely.

I also have these but will probably give them away unless I can find a spot to put them that doesn’t make my yard look like shit:
Not really sure on the berries except DON'T grow strawberrys from seed...Took FOREVER to get big enough to put on fruit.
BTW, I grow seeds for everything...no plants ...cheap....and I start them inside under lights to get a jump on the weather.
I can provide some good seed resource if interested.

Water melon
Orange Water Melon (taste exactly like regular water melon but is orange instead of red…. I had it for the first time last year and thought it was crazy)
Pumpkins
Watermelon/Pumps need plenty of room to "Vine" so make sure you plan enough room for all your things to have. You'll figure out what you liked and what you did not

^for the regular water melon and pumpkins I got the biggest varieties they had…., obviously.

I probably have a couple other things I cant think of; however, somehow i i meesed up and didnt get any jalapenos, habaneros or chillie peppers. Around 50+ plants total. THAT is a S..load of hot peps which are proliferate producers. Figure out what you are going to do with a dozen peps a day during growing season
I am trying several different species of medium hot peps right now as well.
So I have two beds that are 8 by 3 and 16.5 inches tall. Plus a few pots and one hanging plant (just typing this makes me want to get a second hanging plant for symmetry). The area gets good sun, at least 6 hours of direct light (too much?) I will plan on building a trellis/lattice type screen to add slight shade and to make it look nicer. Probably wont do that for a month or 2.
You can look online for sustainable living, gardening, etc and go absolutely off the deep end planning....REplanning garden dimensions, layout, etc. Try some things and don't get to locked in on any one thing yet. What you think you will like and what works will change often. Flexibility is best. My best common denominator (and raised beds are great for many reasons) is 18-24" wide and as long as you want them 12' deep...deeper is better if you can. That way you can put anything in them and sometimes two or three rows depending on species
BTW, Cuccs love to climb as well. Fruit will be better off the ground...may have to support a little depending on size.

Also I want to plant some things that will naturally keep pests away. Any good ideas? Someone told me Marigold flowers will keep things away. Ive heard citrus plants/herbs repeal some pests too. I surrounded the 2 beds with mulch to make it look nice and I am going to put a few bags of cedar mulch on top, as ive been told cedar is good for keeping pests away (beds are just pressure treated 2x6’s).

All that said im not a hippie or anything and would love to spray the entire yard with ddt if I could, so if you have any recommendations on chemical pest controls please advise. Probably gonna get a fake owl for bird control and perhaps a “sprinkler scare crow” too for dogs and deer.
There are many natural deterrents for pests. I can't keep them straight but I can tell you snails don't like mulch and THAT is good. The only other thing I really have problems with are Corn worms, Tomato Horn worms, snails, stink bugs. For these I hand pick AND KILL THERE ASSES. If they get to many I GAS there ass!. I'm not a drum circle kind of guy eithe...BUT I do go way easy on the Chemicals.
For Squirrels, Deer, Coons, birds etc. I ffed the squirrels and birds and water them because I think they are after the moisture in the Toms. Additionally I use the Contech ScareCrow...they work

Amazon.com: Contech CRO101 Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Contech-CRO101-Scarecrow-Activated-Sprinkler/dp/B000071NUS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335312123&sr=8-1)

Im also thinking about a rain barrel. If anyone has a rain barrel, a great idea a co worker told me about is to tie your ac condenser water pump into it, which will give you up to a few gallons a day when its real hot. Also if you compost or have good soil you can get special bags to put the dirt in and then suspend them to soak in the water barrel, making super nutrient rich water for your plants.
I also go mainly Heirloom (seed) species instead of hybrids as I just....like the results better and I can save seeds for next year from this years crop. Can't with Hybrids
If you need it I will get some chemical names for you for killing pests. Also I use Roundup for lots a weed control duty. Drives the Organic crowd crazy but does a nice job. "BackPack" pump up sprayer is AWESOME!

LOts of good info for planting here:
Fruits & Vegetables - Home - Virginia Cooperative Extension (http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/category/fruits-vegetables.html)
What kind of soil did you put in your raised beds?