Gardening Thread

[Ivy Lucille]

Originally Posted by MyLadies

They say it's still too soon for me to plant here. I did put out some Brussel Sprout plants, they like cooler weather. I'm itchin' to plant my tomatoes. Its still near if not freezing at night here.

On a positive note, spring bulbs are popping up. Crocus, Tulips...

OH! And whats cool ... I planted some Pansies in the fall called "Glacier Pansy".... they were covered with 4 feet of snow for like 3 months .. and guess what? 3 or 4 of em are still alive and blooming!!

Here's the Crocus. (tulips aren't open yet).

Your crocus' are beautiful!

My hubby does our veggie garden and i do flowers. I have Monarda started inside and I want to get som Guara among other flowers.

[hviola]

Originally Posted by roxies_mom

Love this thread! I was going to go out today and get my little box ready. It's too small so Dh is going to make a bigger one this weekend. Trying to decide what things are safe to plant right now. Luckily my sister is the green thumb in the family. She has her own compost and was here last weekend and made me one too. She's very green as well. Recycles everything, cans and the list goes on. Not sure how the 2 of us can be so different and yet so much alike!! She doesn't even use her garbage disposal, instead she keeps a container next to the sink and puts banana peels, eggs shells, coffee grounds etc. in it and then dumps it in her compost. We should all be more like that to save our poor earth. I have to admit it's catchy because I want to be more like that now. Any suggestions on what's safe to plant right now? Should I put the seed right into the dirt or should I buy plants that are already started?

Heres a little gardening guide for central Illinois. There is a section with suggested planting dates for each type of veggie/herb.
Vegetable Gardening Directory - Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension

[RowdysMom]

I had problems with roly polys nibbling on my strawberries, kinda like the ants eating the berries. The solution is diatamacious earth. It is organic and non toxic and you sprinkle it on the ground around the berries and it will keep the ants/and other critters away. I also have to protect my berries from birds, so I keep a plastic netting over them so the birds can't get the berries.

Liquid seaweed applied once a week will help strawberries bloom - all fruit/vegetables too. So you'll have more blooms and more fruit/vegetables!

[wemple2]

Great thread...I'm thinking about trying some container gardening this year. Usually all I have is hybrid tea roses, which have strated sprouting, yea! I'm going to the garden center tomorrow and see what I like...and maybe I'll just plant some seeds as well. Who knows, what I'll come home with.

[roxies_mom]

Originally Posted by hviola

Heres a little gardening guide for central Illinois. There is a section with suggested planting dates for each type of veggie/herb.
Vegetable Gardening Directory - Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension

Thank you so much for the link it's quite helpful! DH and I went last night and bought a couple of tomatoe plants and seed packets. I got some sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, lettuce, zucchini, and a few others. I'm in a pretty protected area so should be ok to go ahead and put it in. That's my project today!! Wish me luck with the green thumb. I'm good at putting it in it's keeping up with it when it gets hot, humid and buggy out!

[MyLadies]

I want to post a pic of what I call my MIRACLE PANSIES. The ones on the left in this pic lived under 97 INCHES of snow for two or three months over winter. I planted them around October (late) last year. They are called "Glacier Pansies". I guess so!! Cuz they lived under a Glacier for months. I planted them all around but I guess the ones on the right died because that is where I had the walk path dug thru the snow and would sprinkle "de-icer" there.

Posting 2 pics. One that shows Winter (that is my husband all bundled up and the pansy bed is near there), and the other pic I took TODAY!!

But I am so please the ones on the left lived!!! Glacier Pansies! A true miracle.

So whomever calls anyone a Pansy and thinks that means wimpy (thats an old-fashioned term) think again. Pansies are one tough flower!