North Texans are you planting out this weekend? - Page 10

April 13, 2015

I've never had the soil tested in my raised beds. I could have it tested this year and it would be totally different next year due to the amount of organics I till into the beds every year. I keep my beds totally covered in pine bark nuggets and shredded pine bark which I till into the soil about every second year. With the additional compost I use, I believe my soil chemistry changes almost daily. A lot of the nutrients are simply leeched out the bottom of my beds every time it rains changing the chemistry.

I use a lot of Ironite in my garden to keep the mineral content up and keep the plants looking dark green instead of yellow.

Ted

Worth1 · April 13, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedln

I've never had the soil tested in my raised beds. I could have it tested this year and it would be totally different next year due to the amount of organics I till into the beds every year. I keep my beds totally covered in pine bark nuggets and shredded pine bark which I till into the soil about every second year. With the additional compost I use, I believe my soil chemistry changes almost daily. A lot of the nutrients are simply leeched out the bottom of my beds every time it rains changing the chemistry.

I use a lot of Ironite in my garden to keep the mineral content up and keep the plants looking dark green instead of yellow.

Ted

Speaking of Ironite I need to go buy a bag.

Worth

decherdt · April 22, 2015

Any one else get any of that 60 mph wind on Sat? This fallen tree and the broken one we had to drop next to it clobbered this end of the hearts row. The CP heart may not recover, but the Anna Russian might come out OK

April 22, 2015

We got the wind, but nothing is down and nothing is broken. I was concerned because we have some really large oak trees around the house and the soil is saturated with moisture. It doesn't usually take much wind to blow a big, heavy oak tree over when it is sitting in wet soil.

Ted

Vespertino · April 22, 2015

We got 70 MPH here, luckily my tomatoes made it. So sorry to see what happened with your yard Decherdt, I hope your tomatoes recover!

creister · April 22, 2015

Main storm here dipped south, so we avoided the hail and wind but didn't get much rain either. Another big complex is moving southeast out of the panhandle near Paducah and Matador. Tennis ball sized hail reported. Current path looks like it's going to Stephenville.

OzoneNY · April 25, 2015

I got some wind, but not anything that bad. Anyone got any fruit set yet? I have plenty of blossoms and lots of foliage but no fruit yet

April 25, 2015

I have a lot of fruit set. The largest is about 1 1/2" on my KBX plants. Quite a few small tomatoes on my cherry plants. The KBX plants are producing very large blossoms, but they are not mega blooms. If bloom size indicates ripe fruit size, I will have a lot of those one slice of tomato on a BLT sandwich type tomatoes this year. My salivary glands are going nuts just thinking about it. KBX tomatoes are so good, I can eat them like an apple with a little salt.

Ted

decherdt · April 25, 2015

Every vine except my Italian variety "Mediterranean" has set. There is still 6-7 weeks or more to set any kind of tom, and I have heard of romas setting all Summer long in N Texas.

Worth1 · April 25, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by decherdt

Every vine except my Italian variety "Mediterranean" has set. There is still 6-7 weeks or more to set any kind of tom, and I have heard of romas setting all Summer long in N Texas.

I hope that happens a little with my San Marzano.

Worth

charley · April 25, 2015

goose creek

OzoneNY · April 27, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by decherdt

Every vine except my Italian variety "Mediterranean" has set. There is still 6-7 weeks or more to set any kind of tom, and I have heard of romas setting all Summer long in N Texas.

This may be why I dont have any yet. I have 3 San Marzano types and Costoluto Genovese. (plus one cherry plant)

No fruit on any of them yet, but I have a good number of blossoms so I hope to get a few before the weather turns to broil.

Dewayne mater · April 27, 2015

I think all 21 plants have fruit set, Yea! But, in spite of the lady bugs I put out, I've noticed a problem that I'm going to have to deal with by spraying. Thrips! I noticed some flowers that didn't look right and became suspicious. With a close look, it became apparent that the tiny evil life forms have invaded, and quite early by my memory of when they usually show up. As they are the most effective vector for TSVW, I feel they have to be dealt with ASAP. I'm going to probably go big and use neem and spinosad to see if I can eliminate them. At least spinosad has a short time when it is harmful.

Check your flowers closely folks.

Dewayne Mater

April 27, 2015

I Need to buy some rubber waders so I can check my garden. The good thing about growing in raised beds is the fact that the beds drain pretty quickly and the tomato plants don't get root rot.

Ted

OzoneNY · April 27, 2015

My soil test just came back. No surprise the amended Texas clay beds are slightly alkaline at 7.5

Do I need to lower it or just leave it? If I should lower it, what do you recommend? Any helpful response is appreciated

April 25, 2015	#144
decherdt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 329	Every vine except my Italian variety "Mediterranean" has set. There is still 6-7 weeks or more to set any kind of tom, and I have heard of romas setting all Summer long in N Texas. __________________ 500 sq ft of raised rows zone 8a

April 13, 2015	#136
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I've never had the soil tested in my raised beds. I could have it tested this year and it would be totally different next year due to the amount of organics I till into the beds every year. I keep my beds totally covered in pine bark nuggets and shredded pine bark which I till into the soil about every second year. With the additional compost I use, I believe my soil chemistry changes almost daily. A lot of the nutrients are simply leeched out the bottom of my beds every time it rains changing the chemistry. I use a lot of Ironite in my garden to keep the mineral content up and keep the plants looking dark green instead of yellow. Ted

April 22, 2015	#139
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	We got the wind, but nothing is down and nothing is broken. I was concerned because we have some really large oak trees around the house and the soil is saturated with moisture. It doesn't usually take much wind to blow a big, heavy oak tree over when it is sitting in wet soil. Ted

April 22, 2015	#140
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	We got 70 MPH here, luckily my tomatoes made it. So sorry to see what happened with your yard Decherdt, I hope your tomatoes recover!

April 22, 2015	#141
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Main storm here dipped south, so we avoided the hail and wind but didn't get much rain either. Another big complex is moving southeast out of the panhandle near Paducah and Matador. Tennis ball sized hail reported. Current path looks like it's going to Stephenville.

April 25, 2015	#142
OzoneNY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Frisco Texas Posts: 390	I got some wind, but not anything that bad. Anyone got any fruit set yet? I have plenty of blossoms and lots of foliage but no fruit yet

April 25, 2015	#143
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I have a lot of fruit set. The largest is about 1 1/2" on my KBX plants. Quite a few small tomatoes on my cherry plants. The KBX plants are producing very large blossoms, but they are not mega blooms. If bloom size indicates ripe fruit size, I will have a lot of those one slice of tomato on a BLT sandwich type tomatoes this year. My salivary glands are going nuts just thinking about it. KBX tomatoes are so good, I can eat them like an apple with a little salt. Ted

April 27, 2015	#148
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	I think all 21 plants have fruit set, Yea! But, in spite of the lady bugs I put out, I've noticed a problem that I'm going to have to deal with by spraying. Thrips! I noticed some flowers that didn't look right and became suspicious. With a close look, it became apparent that the tiny evil life forms have invaded, and quite early by my memory of when they usually show up. As they are the most effective vector for TSVW, I feel they have to be dealt with ASAP. I'm going to probably go big and use neem and spinosad to see if I can eliminate them. At least spinosad has a short time when it is harmful. Check your flowers closely folks. Dewayne Mater

April 27, 2015	#149
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I Need to buy some rubber waders so I can check my garden. The good thing about growing in raised beds is the fact that the beds drain pretty quickly and the tomato plants don't get root rot. Ted

April 27, 2015	#150
OzoneNY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Frisco Texas Posts: 390	My soil test just came back. No surprise the amended Texas clay beds are slightly alkaline at 7.5 Do I need to lower it or just leave it? If I should lower it, what do you recommend? Any helpful response is appreciated