For you gardeners.

[simtech]

Snow is on the ground but warm weather is coming. Anybody get a head start on growing?

We started 1000 mater plants in late November, transferred them the the greenhouse at the end of December and will be picking them the end of March. But our season ends when garden maters come in.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

I haven't even decided what to plant this year. I need to make that decision this weekend. Tomatoes and peppers (but which type) are a must. Not sure what else.
I like the idea of being to make salsa and bruchetta using only the garden. Basil, onions.
Not sure what else.

We are a small scale operation though

 

[simtech]

We make lots of salsa at the end of the year and spaghetti sauce. For garden tomatoes my favorites are brandy wine pink and celebrity. Okra is super easy if you like them. My wife does but I dont! I hate picking them too, get all itchy.

 

[Stewartb]

Wife is a certified Master Gardener. She only grows things to eat. We do a 500 sq ft plot at the cabin for cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc and at home I built her 6 raised beds with split-faced landscape blocks on a paver platform for salad veggies, zucchini, onions, broccoli, and peppers. Those beds use timed drip irrigation and are good producers. Add a conestoga style cover and we have greenhouses, which is important in the early part of the season. We did hydroponics and airponics to grow indoor tomatoes for many years but we stopped and gave the systems to the school district. Growing our own is something we've always done.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Oh and weed. Lots of weed.

 

[simtech]

Wife is a certified Master Gardener. She only grows things to eat. We do a 500 sq ft plot at the cabin for cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc and at home I built her 6 raised beds with split-faced landscape blocks on a paver platform for salad veggies, zucchini, onions, broccoli, and peppers. Those beds use timed drip irrigation and are good producers. Add a conestoga style cover and we have greenhouses, which is important in the early part of the season. We did hydroponics and airponics to grow indoor tomatoes for many years but we stopped and gave the systems to the school district. Growing our own is something we've always done.

That's cool! Never tried the air grow system but I bet that is great for the kids to learn. We have a 6000sqft greenhouse and it's all automated from fertilizer injection to heat, to exhaust fans. It's alot of work, more than we thought but people go crazy for tomatoes for in March and April! We thought about growing other stuff but the tomatoes take a lot of time as it is. Between it and our real jobs im fighting for flying time. My wife actually got her start loving greenhouses up in Fairbanks when we lived there..short and fast seasons. We actually have the local master Gardner chapter coming over for a tour next month. Should be fun!

 

[simtech]

Oh and weed. Lots of weed.

I keep telling my wife if mississippi legalizes it, we have to switch the greenhouse over..she says not a chance but that's where the real money would be

Here is the plants..hopefully the ipad won't invert the picture! Ugh I hate that.

 

[N801BH]

]I keep telling my wife if mississippi legalizes it, we have to switch the greenhouse over..she says not a chance but that's where the real money would be[/B]

Here is the plants..hopefully the ipad won't invert the picture! Ugh I hate that.

With a set up like you have... Growing wacky weed would make you a millionaire in one season......

 

[JOhnH]

Just out of curiosity, why did you give up the hydro-aero ponics? Any reason that your other operation took all your time?

I ask because my wife wants to buy a $1,000 aeroponics garden.

Wife is a certified Master Gardener. She only grows things to eat. We do a 500 sq ft plot at the cabin for cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc and at home I built her 6 raised beds with split-faced landscape blocks on a paver platform for salad veggies, zucchini, onions, broccoli, and peppers. Those beds use timed drip irrigation and are good producers. Add a conestoga style cover and we have greenhouses, which is important in the early part of the season. We did hydroponics and airponics to grow indoor tomatoes for many years but we stopped and gave the systems to the school district. Growing our own is something we've always done.

 

[Stewartb]

The system requires attention. We had tomatoes and cucumbers growing pretty much all the time. When the tomatoes get 4-5' tall they drink a lot of water. Somebody's got to attend to replenishing the tank and balancing the nutrients. We travel a lot and it became impossible to manage. It's a great hobby and we enjoyed it. Very productive, too.