The 2021 Gardening Thread

[posiepurrs]

We have a Siberian Elm in my backyard that split during an ice storm a few years ago. Couldn't afford to get it removed until I talked to a former employee. He also worked for a tree company during college. He offered to take it down for $20 an hour - which is a bargain. He came by yesterday to do it. It is a bigger job than I thought. The tree has to much rot for him to climb to remove the top so I am going to have to find a lift to rent. Not an easy thing to do I am finding out. He did what he could with a ladder but the tree is over 2 stories tall. It was really good to see him again - haven't seen him for about 5 years (since he left the company we both worked for). He also gave me some advice on pruning my apple tree since he worked as an orchard manager after he left the store.

 

[WillowMarie]

First few cherry tomatoes are ready!! And more plus big tomatoes should be ready soon.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

I think I'll be picking corn this afternoon! Some isn't ready but most looks good to me. I need to go through all the beans again too.

I definitley overdid it with the beans this year. I will focus on succession planting next time. But I do think I need to reevaluate how much I put in. I'm a bit burnt out with garden work at the moment.

 

[posiepurrs]

I must have thought there would be a hot pepper shortage! I have jalapenos, serranos and cayennes coming out of my ears!!! My bell peppers are doing quite well too. Tomatoes are WAY behind - guess due to all the rain and cool temperatures we had last month. There were only 10 days that we didn't get rain. Cucumbers are bombing. Beans (pole beans) are just staring to bloom. I am going to plant bush beans again next year. the pole beans were an experiment and so far not a good one. Looks like I may get a couple of pumpkins and possibly a little corn, Onions are about ready to harvest and store. I do have one tiny little watermelon the last time I checked (a couple of days ago) if it makes it. What ahs gone absolutely nuts are the potted herbs I placed around in the garden. The lemon balm needs to be repotted again into a 10" pot. All of the herbs will come inside and go under grow lights for the winter to see if I can keep them alive. The dill I planted in the ground sputtered out before doing more than sprouting. On the whole if I am honest, I think things would have done MUCH better if I had the time to putter around out there like I used to. I used to spend 12 hours a day out in the garden - vegetable and flower.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

I took these about a week ago. I have harvested my corn and its MUCH better than last year. Beans are still producing too but I’m behind on harvesting. Sorry for any rotation issues…

 

[rubysmama]

I took these about a week ago. I have harvested my corn and its MUCH better than last year. Beans are still producing too but I’m behind on harvesting. Sorry for any rotation issues…

Corn looks delicious.
And sunflowers are beautiful.

But what is the 4th pic? Even rotating it, I can't quite tell. Green Beans?

 

[WillowMarie]

But what is the 4th pic? Even rotating it, I can't quite tell. Green Beans?

Talking about the praying mantis?

 

[MoochNNoodles]

rubysmama Yes a praying mantis! I took this at the same time.

 

[rubysmama]

Talking about the praying mantis?

rubysmama Yes a praying mantis! I took this at the same time.
View attachment 391273

I've never seen one before, so no wonder I couldn't identify it. Really blends in, too, doesn't it.

 

[di and bob]

They are WONDERFUL predators for your garden. They eat a lot of bad bugs. I have some transplanted here from my old place, their egg cocoons look like a big crispy tan ribbed blob attached firmly to a plant or hard surface. They are a little unnerving though, they swivel their heads and watch you very intently. I have them get HUGE, at least 4-5 inches long.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

They do get big and can bite! They nest in my yard every year. They usually live in my petunias out front (where this was taken) but I also have them in my gardens and on the sunflowers this year. They are welcome to come get rid of those nasty bugs! I wish they would take out stinkbugs. They keep infeting my tomatoes every year. I have a friend who lives in Philly and they were looking for them because they have had an awful spotted lantern fly invasion there.

We had a nest on a tree branch one year and DH and I were so nervous about what it was. It was creepy looking!

 

[posiepurrs]

I had two as pets when I was a kid. They lived on our screened porch- at least until my grandmother came to visit and used insect spray on them!I was so MAD at her!!

 

[NY cat man]

While out watering and deadheading this morning, I encountered this:

The things look like aliens from another planet, don't they?

 

[MoochNNoodles]

They do have creepy heads!

I wonder if they turn brown with age or the season? Ours aren't brown yet but I do see the larger ones brown in the fall.

 

[NY cat man]

They do have creepy heads!

I wonder if they turn brown with age or the season? Ours aren't brown yet but I do see the larger ones brown in the fall.

Apparently, once they become adults praying mantises don't change color like a chameleon can; however, there is a variant called the dead-leaf praying mantis that is brown as an adult.

 

[NY cat man]

Some catching up:
Our gladiolus have bloomed for the first time since we planted them several years ago, in 3 different colors.

And the phlox did well, and are now getting a second bloom.

The Widow's Tears are doing really well, but may require thinning.

And the other new daylily, Hello Screamer, did well also

 

[MoochNNoodles]

I love the bring pink in those gladiolus!! My grandma loved those and grew a few in her yard so they always remind me of her.

 

[posiepurrs]

Finally getting around to making and canning the salsa I have been trying to get done today. Doing the prep work in steps because I can't get it done in one fell swoop. Hubby is back in the hospital again so I am spending quite a bit of time there. Garden is about finished - tomatoes are succumbing to blight and weeds. Squash borers have taken out my cucumbers and are working on the pumpkins. Not sure my melons will ripen before frost because they are so tiny. I do have some fall stuff to plant but first I have to make cages for it to keep the rabbits from eating it all. They got through my screening I put up earlier in the season.

 

[rubysmama]

I didn't get around to planting any vegetables this year, however, a few weeks ago my neighbour was thinning out their tomatoes, and gave me a couple plants.

One with regular sized tomatoes.

And one with the teeny tomatoes.

 

[WillowMarie]

So in an effort to prevent the squirrels from getting excited about my tomatoes, I have been pulling them earlier. My research said when they start to turn orange it is safe to pull and let them ripen inside. I tasted some for the first time, but they feel a bit gummy, if that makes sense. Is that a sign I pulled too early? What stage do you all pull your tomatoes at?