New Stuff To Try for 2020

[GoDawgs]

Yesterday I got the seed orders sent in so now we'll see whose seeds get here first. It's an annual guessing game just like whose catalog will get here first. This is just a list of the new things I'm trying in addition to stuff on the regular grow list. New onions to add in the fall. Bell peppers that are supposed to do well here where the heat usually precludes growing bells. More flowers this year to entice pollinators and butterflies. I really enjoyed photographing and ID'ing butterflies this year and watching the populations change over the seasons. And what's spring without a few new toys to play with.

Asparagus, Conover's Colossal (seed; plants will be planted out around the property)

Bean, Yard Long (hoping this green one does better than the Red Noodle variety)

Broccoli, Umpqua (still trying to find a good OP broccoli. This one was recommended to me by a few folks here)

Cabbage, Savoy Perfection (been wanting to try a savoy type for a good while)

Coneflower, Purple

Jerusalem Artichoke

Monarda, Lemon Mint (bee balm for pollinators and tea)

Okra, Cajun Jewel (I want to see if this dwarf is similar to the old 'Cajun Delight' which could be started indoors from seed without seedlings getting leggy and useless like regular okras)

Onion, Texas 1015Y Supersweet (hoping this sweet onion does better for me than the Yellow Granex)

Onion, White Creole (supposed to be great for the South)

Pea, Colossus 80 (field pea, very disease resistant and a few extension services said it's also nematode resistant. Will use it in a bed to hopefully starve any nematodes there)

Pepper, Carolina Wonder (supposedly a bell for the South)

Pepper, Charleston Belle (supposedly a bell for the South)

Radish D'Avignon (like French Breakfast only longer)

Roselle, St. Kitts & Nevis (will trial this new one next to the Thai Red I grew this year)

Rudbeckia, Indian Summer

Sunflower, Beach

Sunflower, Sunspot

Tom. Grafting Rootstock RST-04-105 (A new project, thanks to Bill! Supposedly nematode resistant and super disease resistant, wilt included. These will be planted directly into the garden soil, not into containers.)

Zuccheta Rampicante (another toy)

Now it's time to add these to the grow list. Then it will be time to assign start dates to everything and figure out what beds everything will go into. I already know what beds will have which plant families so that's a good start on the process. Good grief... will everything fit? "Make it so, Number One!"

Let Spring begin!

[biscuitridge]

Always good to have a purple cone flower around ,the root is echinacea, it absolutely awesome for curing colds,sore throats ,strep throat etc. Fresh root works better than anything else that I've found, tremendous natural antibiotic.

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

Yesterday I got the seed orders sent in so now we'll see whose seeds get here first. It's an annual guessing game just like whose catalog will get here first. This is just a list of the new things I'm trying in addition to stuff on the regular grow list. New onions to add in the fall. Bell peppers that are supposed to do well here where the heat usually precludes growing bells. More flowers this year to entice pollinators and butterflies. I really enjoyed photographing and ID'ing butterflies this year and watching the populations change over the seasons. And what's spring without a few new toys to play with.

Asparagus, Conover's Colossal (seed; plants will be planted out around the property)

Bean, Yard Long (hoping this green one does better than the Red Noodle variety)

Broccoli, Umpqua (still trying to find a good OP broccoli. This one was recommended to me by a few folks here)

Cabbage, Savoy Perfection (been wanting to try a savoy type for a good while)

Coneflower, Purple

Jerusalem Artichoke

Monarda, Lemon Mint (bee balm for pollinators and tea)

Okra, Cajun Jewel (I want to see if this dwarf is similar to the old 'Cajun Delight' which could be started indoors from seed without seedlings getting leggy and useless like regular okras)

Onion, Texas 1015Y Supersweet (hoping this sweet onion does better for me than the Yellow Granex)

Onion, White Creole (supposed to be great for the South)

Pea, Colossus 80 (field pea, very disease resistant and a few extension services said it's also nematode resistant. Will use it in a bed to hopefully starve any nematodes there)

Pepper, Carolina Wonder (supposedly a bell for the South)

Pepper, Charleston Belle (supposedly a bell for the South)

Radish D'Avignon (like French Breakfast only longer)

Roselle, St. Kitts & Nevis (will trial this new one next to the Thai Red I grew this year)

Rudbeckia, Indian Summer

Sunflower, Beach

Sunflower, Sunspot

Tom. Grafting Rootstock RST-04-105 (A new project, thanks to Bill! Supposedly nematode resistant and super disease resistant, wilt included. These will be planted directly into the garden soil, not into containers.)

Zuccheta Rampicante (another toy)

Now it's time to add these to the grow list. Then it will be time to assign start dates to everything and figure out what beds everything will go into. I already know what beds will have which plant families so that's a good start on the process. Good grief... will everything fit? "Make it so, Number One!"

Let Spring begin!

Asparagus - the best drainage areas are recommended, for a plant that can last a couple of decades.


Bean, Yard Long - Orient Wonder is claimed to be one of the best for various conditions. I have several varieties that do better, for me. Also, I have a 50 DTM "stickless wonder" bush type. I get two crops a year from each plant, up north. I wonder if you could get three?


Radish - If you really want to play, I have seed of Madras and Rattail from a side-by-side planting in 2019, which means that many seeds may be crossed. These varieties are meant to be used as edible podded radishes.


The best of luck, and weather, in 2020.

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by Tormato

Asparagus - the best drainage areas are recommended, for a plant that can last a couple of decades.

The current asparagus bed is 18x18 and is 13 years old. It was originally Jersey King and Jersey Knight but has become mixed over time as skips developed and were replaced with others. However the bed wasn't originally planted in an ideal spot as there's a big pecan tree nearby outside the garden and I'm pretty sure roots have invaded. Production has become less and less over the past three years.

I'm just going to play with planting small patches of this Conover's Colossal in lots of places outside the garden..

Originally Posted by Tormato

Bean, Yard Long - Orient Wonder is claimed to be one of the best for various conditions. I have several varieties that do better, for me. Also, I have a 50 DTM "stickless wonder" bush type. I get two crops a year from each plant, up north. I wonder if you could get three?

I've grown Red Noodle on and off over the years and while some years are good, others aren't. My dog sure liked them but after he passed a few years ago, I quit growing them. The green Yard Long just happened to be in one of the catalogs I ordered from so I got it on a whim. I *almost* got that huge Snake Bean from Baker Creek! But all heavy duty trellises ares spoken for this spring. Maybe it'll be a toy for '21.

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

The current asparagus bed is 18x18 and is 13 years old. It was originally Jersey King and Jersey Knight but has become mixed over time as skips developed and were replaced with others. However the bed wasn't originally planted in an ideal spot as there's a big pecan tree nearby outside the garden and I'm pretty sure roots have invaded. Production has become less and less over the past three years.

I'm just going to play with planting small patches of this Conover's Colossal in lots of places outside the garden..



I've grown Red Noodle on and off over the years and while some years are good, others aren't. My dog sure liked them but after he passed a few years ago, I quit growing them. The green Yard Long just happened to be in one of the catalogs I ordered from so I got it on a whim. I *almost* got that huge Snake Bean from Baker Creek! But all heavy duty trellises ares spoken for this spring. Maybe it'll be a toy for '21.

The "stickless wonder" type bush long beans are self supporting (of each other). Baker Creek's Thai Soldier was a mess for me. If you're familiar with (common bean) half-runners that don't twine, that's what I got with Thai Soldier. Short but uncontrollable 4 foot vines, that grew where they wanted to grow, straight out in every direction. Then, after the weight of the growing pods, the vines collapsed to the ground, leaving the pods to mostly rot while sitting on damp soil.

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by Tormato

The "stickless wonder" type bush long beans are self supporting (of each other). Baker Creek's Thai Soldier was a mess for me. If you're familiar with (common bean) half-runners that don't twine, that's what I got with Thai Soldier. Short but uncontrollable 4 foot vines, that grew where they wanted to grow, straight out in every direction. Then, after the weight of the growing pods, the vines collapsed to the ground, leaving the pods to mostly rot while sitting on damp soil.

I've never tried half runners just because of that sprawling. I need pole beans to be vertical and bush beans behaving in their beds. Vines sprawling between beds would be a mess. Every time I've tried anything that was supposed to be "self-supporting" when other varieties need support, it's resulted in a mess. Some sugar snap peas and some green peas come to mind....

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

I've never tried half runners just because of that sprawling. I need pole beans to be vertical and bush beans behaving in their beds. Vines sprawling between beds would be a mess. Every time I've tried anything that was supposed to be "self-supporting" when other varieties need support, it's resulted in a mess. Some sugar snap peas and some green peas come to mind....

When the bush long beans are at their peak, I go down the rows and help them a little by draping them over each other. A very good solution for bush beans would be to run T stakes with cordage running off the ends of the Ts to the other Ts, for a double row of support, one long string on each side of the plants down the row.

[koigardener]

Asparagus - the best drainage areas are recommended, for a plant that can last a couple of decades.

I wonder if that was why old time farmers planted it on the side of their irrigation ditches here...

[eyegrotom]

Hi. GoDawgs that is a good list. Can you tell me/us where you ordered the Sunflower seeds from. Thanks. Mike

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by eyegrotom

Hi. GoDawgs that is a good list. Can you tell me/us where you ordered the Sunflower seeds from. Thanks. Mike

Those were ordered from Southern Exposure:

https://www.southernexposure.com/sea...ch%20Sunflower

https://www.southernexposure.com/sea...ot%20Sunflower

My sister Pickles is the sunflower grower and has been growing real tall ones like the Russian and Gigantus. This year she decided to shorten up the selections a bit.

[roper2008]

For a bell I’m trying Bullnose. It is a variety Webcajon grew. I figure if it grows good in Louisiana, it should grow good here.
I do grow California Wonder in Earthboxes, and it does pretty good. Not huge, but decent sized bells.

[Gardadore]

GoDawgs have you grown Jerusalem Artichoke before? If not be sure to put them in a spot where you don’t mind them spreading and becoming permanent. Once they take we find it impossible to remove them completely if one desired to. I personally find them to be invasive as they have spread underground and are taking over sections of my perennial beds even despite attempts to remove the new ones each year. They are gorgeous when they bloom their masses of yellow small sunflower like flowers but plan on having them forever! Years ago a neighbor dug “all” of hers out so she thought! It has become a joke between us as her “removed” bed has again become a huge mass of flowers each year!

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by Gardadore

GoDawgs have you grown Jerusalem Artichoke before? If not be sure to put them in a spot where you don’t mind them spreading and becoming permanent. Once they take we find it impossible to remove them completely if one desired to.

No, I have not grown them before but have read all kinds of stories about their "persistence". I do want them permanently and am going to put them in a raised bed. Do you think they'll spread out under the side boards? If so, do you think burying some metal sheeting along the bed edges help prevent that? Kind of like what one does to prevent critters from digging under fences.

I guess I can deal with some spreading if I can keep it down to a dull roar!

Funny about your neighbor's artichokes!

[Jeannine Anne]

Oh yes invasive is an under estimate, they fight and fight for years to take over. I would never grow them agin..nevr!!

Originally Posted by Gardadore

GoDawgs have you grown Jerusalem Artichoke before? If not be sure to put them in a spot where you don’t mind them spreading and becoming permanent. Once they take we find it impossible to remove them completely if one desired to. I personally find them to be invasive as they have spread underground and are taking over sections of my perennial beds even despite attempts to remove the new ones each year. They are gorgeous when they bloom their masses of yellow small sunflower like flowers but plan on having them forever! Years ago a neighbor dug “all” of hers out so she thought! It has become a joke between us as her “removed” bed has again become a huge mass of flowers each year!

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by Gardadore

GoDawgs have you grown Jerusalem Artichoke before? If not be sure to put them in a spot where you don’t mind them spreading and becoming permanent. Once they take we find it impossible to remove them completely if one desired to. I personally find them to be invasive as they have spread underground and are taking over sections of my perennial beds even despite attempts to remove the new ones each year. They are gorgeous when they bloom their masses of yellow small sunflower like flowers but plan on having them forever! Years ago a neighbor dug “all” of hers out so she thought! It has become a joke between us as her “removed” bed has again become a huge mass of flowers each year!

I dug out an area adjacent to an existing growing area, filled it with the used potting mix from last year's 15 gallon tomato buckets and some new to finish.



Hopefully this will keep them in check. If not, oh well...

There were seven very nice tubers in that 1 lb that I ordered and although they were kept in the refrigerator for three weeks in the box they came in, they were still perfect. So we'll see what happens!

The rest of that mess to the left of the 'choke bed will be tilled up for eight okra plants later. And maybe a trellis of pole beans if I can squeeze it in.