What I learned this year

HCWithAltitude · June 28, 2015

What I learned so far this year (2015):

- don't be lulled into complacency by nice weather before Mother's Day. I have known this one for years, but the 4" of snow on Mother's Day was...annoying to say the least.

- experimentation is good.

- all the plants I grew from seed are much bigger and hardier now than the few I bought from the organic garden shop, even if those seedling were bigger than mine to begin with.

- the tomatoes & peppers are +much+ happier in self-watering containers on the deck. My vaguely controlled experiment of planting the same varieties grown side-by-side from seed has already born fruit. My container tomatoes are 12-18" taller than the ones in the ground at my community garden plot, and all of them have many flowers & green tomatoes. The ones at the plot are just coming into flower.

- Neem Oil is my friend.

- don't plant watermelons & cantaloupe before June 15, no matter how nice it is during the day. Need to start them under the lights later than I did this year.

- must try a new variety of cauliflower next year - the seedlings I started this year are still kinda wimpy compared to their broccoli cousins, who are like 5 times the size already.

- next year plant the carrots & radishes in the raised bed.

- Worth knows everything about irrigation.

- it's a good thing I didn't put in that irrigation this year, as I'm totally changing up my plot plan for next year. All tomatoes & peppers in containers on the deck, plot will have more beans, squash, cantaloup, watermelon, pumpkins, and one raised bed will be for strawberries.

- I can plant 3x as many peas much closer together next year. Don't believe the package directions.

- consider a sunshade for the peas.

- the thing where you're 'just going to go out for 15 mins to water'? Ha! Not a chance.

- wear the highest SPF sunscreen. We live much closer to the sun. See above.

- the gloves can only protect your hands from the 140 degree water if you WEAR them. Oh wait, wrong hobby. The gloves will only protect your hands at the garden if you WEAR them.

- if I find a variety I like, buy more seeds right away before they can be discontinued. Going to end up paying a pretty penny those now-hard-to-find seeds, aren't you?

- late night heirloom seed shopping can be dangerous, but is way cheaper than any other kind of late night shopping. $5/pack is nothing.

- the self-watering container experiment was successful. They survived the winter outside just fine. Not bad for $6.25 each and a little work. Playing with power tools is always fun.

- no one at the community garden cares that my gardening hat isn't fashionable.

- you people here at Tomatoville are a bad BAD influence on me. My spreadsheet for next year’s plan already has 21 tomato varieties on it. Not to mention heirloom melons and and and...

What have you learned this year?

June 28, 2015	#1
HCWithAltitude Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 78	What I learned this year What I learned so far this year (2015): - don't be lulled into complacency by nice weather before Mother's Day. I have known this one for years, but the 4" of snow on Mother's Day was...annoying to say the least. - experimentation is good. - all the plants I grew from seed are much bigger and hardier now than the few I bought from the organic garden shop, even if those seedling were bigger than mine to begin with. - the tomatoes & peppers are +much+ happier in self-watering containers on the deck. My vaguely controlled experiment of planting the same varieties grown side-by-side from seed has already born fruit. My container tomatoes are 12-18" taller than the ones in the ground at my community garden plot, and all of them have many flowers & green tomatoes. The ones at the plot are just coming into flower. - Neem Oil is my friend. - don't plant watermelons & cantaloupe before June 15, no matter how nice it is during the day. Need to start them under the lights later than I did this year. - must try a new variety of cauliflower next year - the seedlings I started this year are still kinda wimpy compared to their broccoli cousins, who are like 5 times the size already. - next year plant the carrots & radishes in the raised bed. - Worth knows everything about irrigation. - it's a good thing I didn't put in that irrigation this year, as I'm totally changing up my plot plan for next year. All tomatoes & peppers in containers on the deck, plot will have more beans, squash, cantaloup, watermelon, pumpkins, and one raised bed will be for strawberries. - I can plant 3x as many peas much closer together next year. Don't believe the package directions. - consider a sunshade for the peas. - the thing where you're 'just going to go out for 15 mins to water'? Ha! Not a chance. - wear the highest SPF sunscreen. We live much closer to the sun. See above. - the gloves can only protect your hands from the 140 degree water if you WEAR them. Oh wait, wrong hobby. The gloves will only protect your hands at the garden if you WEAR them. - if I find a variety I like, buy more seeds right away before they can be discontinued. Going to end up paying a pretty penny those now-hard-to-find seeds, aren't you? - late night heirloom seed shopping can be dangerous, but is way cheaper than any other kind of late night shopping. $5/pack is nothing. - the self-watering container experiment was successful. They survived the winter outside just fine. Not bad for $6.25 each and a little work. Playing with power tools is always fun. - no one at the community garden cares that my gardening hat isn't fashionable. - you people here at Tomatoville are a bad BAD influence on me. My spreadsheet for next year’s plan already has 21 tomato varieties on it. Not to mention heirloom melons and and and... What have you learned this year?