2021 garden thread

[Ontario Chick]

Sure it is, it's bred in the bone

how would I explain otherwise, that although I grew up in a very large city downtown Europe, the pull of the land seems to be always there.....
so either genetic or acquired insanity

[Ontario Chick]

Yet again Thank you @TomK
after giving up on parsnips for the last few years, I though after reading your comprehensive instructions, I would give it one last shot.
Yesterday we had a lovely meal of grilled parsnips, beauties to behold...'

[Killerbunny]

Might tempt me to try them next year.

[labradors]

OC I'm jealous of your lovely parsnips! I bought seeds this year and never got around to sowing them. Maybe next year, if they last that long.......

[TomK]

OC I'm jealous of your lovely parsnips! I bought seeds this year and never got around to sowing them. Maybe next year, if they last that long.......

Linda...parsnip viability drops drastically after the first year ..you will do better with fresh seeds from this year's crop...

[labradors]

Thanks Tom. I'll get a fresh pack then.

Linda

[Happy]

I am considering giving up on cucs, squash, melons, zucchini. At least for a year or two to see if I can get rid of the dreaded cucumber beetles. The amount of work required to stay on top of them is just not worth the yield. I picked beetles every morning and evening. I had yellow containers out to trap them (which did help but not enough) Anybody found that this has worked?

[Ontario Chick]

I have 4 garden beds and do a 4 year rotation, Garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers, and one bed of root veg and lettuce.
Haven't had a problem with either tomatoes or cucumber beetles, but since squash is too flagrant to fit my garden I have been planting them randomly far away from veg garden,
Not sure if that is what keeps my cucumbers safe, but may be worth a try ?

[labradors]

I felt the same way as you Happy. It was so wonderful to grow three Green Fingers cuke plants and have enough cukes every day for us and the chickens, then those damned cuke beetles found them and I'd only get a small harvest before the plants were done. They didn't even succumb to wilt, but the cuke beetles ate the flower buds!!! The following year I grew them under Reemay, but it was too much of a pain to undo and re-do that every time I wanted to check on them, so I ignored the plants.

I stumbled on a variety that is resistant to cucumber beetles and I grew three of them this season. They did very well, but aren't as nice as Green Fingers, although the chickens didn't complain. It's called Eureka Hybrid, and is available from William Dam Seed.

I grew Sweet Jenny melon with no problems except that it was rather late to set fruit, by which time we were eating apples instead of melons, but the chickens enjoy them.

Linda

[lolotsung]

my nephews Carolina Reapers