Worth's 2017 Accidental Garden.

[AlittleSalt]

At 87 degrees - the okra must have jumped out of the ground.

I just went out and checked the soil temperature out in the main garden. It is 9 degrees warmer than the raised bed, That explains why the seeds came up a lot faster in the main garden. I did see two in the raised bed that are just breaking the soil today.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Salt I just got your thermometer in the PM.
The soil temperature is 87 degrees 3 inches down.

Worth

When air temp is 87 ( like ours today) an the sun is beating on the soil, I think the soil temp at 3" dept will be 87F too. Unless it is heavily mulched or shaded.
Anyway, with all that heat my okra are taking it on the chin and brushing it off. And still cot leaves.

Notes: 4-15-17
1) I checked my soil temp this morning. It was about 65F.
2) Okras are showing true leaves. Does it mean that the root system is established ? Exciting !
3) Cukes have big true leaves . Ready to vine soon.

[Worth1]

When I planted the Okra in one bed I removed the drip system so I could hoe it up without chopping the drip lines.
While I had it off today I scrounged around the place and got all of the parts I needed.
What I did was install the union I had bought some time ago for the project.
Then a short nipple then a 3/4X3/4X1/2 threaded tee I had on hand.
Out of it I installed a globe valve with a male hose bib on it I had on hand.
Then another nipple and a cap on top.
This allows me to have a faucet out in my garden without waking all the way to the house.
All I have to do to turn it on is to use my remote control to turn station 2 on.
It will also turn on the drip in that bed but that is no big deal.
Later I will remove the cap and reinstall the drip lines that are mounted on a header.
It really is nice to have all of these parts around so I dont have to go anywhere to get stuff.
Every darn one of the watermelon seeds sprouted and I cant find my snail bait.
I have no idea what I did with it.
Still looking.
Worth

[dmforcier]

Beavis and Butthead just won't go away.

[Worth1]

I worked with the idiot on the left, yes I did.

Worth

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

[never mind]

Well that made my post worthless.

Worth

[dmforcier]

Okay okay. I put it back.

I think I ran into Beavis once in a bar. He followed me home and stole my car stereo.

[Gardeneer]

Where is Worth ?
Neglecting his own thread !
Just kidding.

[roper2008]

I'm just going to buy the Clemson Spineless okra plants locally. It's the only variety
they sell here. Next year I may buy seeds for Cowhorn, it's a variety I've always
wanted to try.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by roper2008

I'm just going to buy the Clemson Spineless okra plants locally. It's the only variety
they sell here. Next year I may buy seeds for Cowhorn, it's a variety I've always
wanted to try.

Yeah. CS seems to be the most popular okra variety sold by the nurseries, as seed and plant.
I have grown it in the past. Actually it has been the only one that I have grown before.
As I recall, it was productive but it got tough and chewy if you waited just a bit too long to harvest. At the harvest time you have to check the plant daily and pick at slightly smaller size , to assure that it has not gotten woody.

PS: You can still plant your own from seed, directly in the garden. They are fast growing. Mine have just the first pair of true leaves.

[dmforcier]

roper, Cowhorn is a common Bonnie Plants variety. You can pick up a plant at Lowes or HD.

Frankly, there's not much special about Cowhorn, except that the pods are pretty cool.

[AlittleSalt]

Okra seed plant-out dates for zones 7B and 8A Texas is April 5 - June 1. But ground temperature is more important. Okra is like other seeds - they need certain soil temperatures. They like a consistent soil temperature between 70 and 85 degrees, but can germinate in lesser soil temperatures very slowly. I have never tried germinating okra seeds in soil above 90 degrees.

There are so many factors in growing any plant. If it stays too wet, too hot, too cold, too dry, not enough nutrients, etc. If it is 87 degrees one day and 40 degrees the next - it is not going to effect ground temperature at 4" that much - if at all. But a lot of seeds depend on the soil temperatures at ground level to 3/4" deep. Could you imagine starting tomato seeds at 87 degrees one day and 40 the next? But then nature steps in and grows volunteers when everything you've learned is tossed out the window.

Worth, this thread you made - "Worth's 2017 Accidental Garden". The things I have posted are not about your garden as much as they should be. I think of volunteers as the first step in going back to nature. That is what I see as an accidental garden.

[Gardeneer]

Talking about volunteers, Robert ?

I emptied my small compost hole, next to it , to let age more and have room for new scraps.
Surprise ! I have potato, tomato, melon and onion growing in it. I am only interested in the potatoes. I have no reason to grow store tomatoes.

[Worth1]

I'm here and the okra is growing.
It has rained on me two days in a row on the way home and I cant get out to do anything.

Salt and the rest post what you want, I dont care.
You can talk about the moon and the stars for all I care.

I just hope the snails dont eat everything up.
Never in my life have I ever lived in a place with so many snails and slugs.
I still haven't found my snail killer.

Worth

[matereater]

"I still haven't found my snail killer"

Worth, you know the only way you're going to find it is if you go buy more, isnt that the way it always works !?!