[Tobus]

After experiencing exceptional drought the last two years in my area of Texas, we're finally back in the El Nino weather pattern which is bringing us a lot of rain. So far this winter, we've had higher than normal rain. Even to the point of flooding.

So I'm thinking it is going to be a nice green wet spring, with possibly a good summer to follow. I didn't plant a garden last year because I couldn't spare the water (and I'm glad I didn't, since even without it, I had to lower my well pump just to supply the house). This year, with aquifer levels back up and my rainwater harvesting system, I should be good to go.

Usually our last frost here is around the first of April. Seedlings are usually started 6-8 weeks ahead of that, in indoor starter cups. So if I'm going to get a start on a garden, I need to get moving. I started composting horse manure in early January, and it should be ready in plenty of time for April planting.

In the meantime, I'm planning my crops. I'm going to keep it simple this year. I always grow hot peppers which mainly go unused (given away). I'm not doing that again, as it's a waste of my space and effort. I've tried growing peas in the past, which was also a waste of space because the yield was small compared to the area of my limited raised-bed garden it used. Same story with corn. Too much space for the yield it gave me.

So I'm planning on using heirloom seeds from past years, as well as buying some new seeds for some other crops. I'll do a variety of tomatoes, which seem to do very well in composted horse manure. Plus some standard bell peppers. One bed will be reserved for yellow crookneck squash. And then I'm going to experiment with growing watermelons since it promises to be a nice wet year. I'm planning on buying seeds for a watermelon variety that claims to produce melons up to 200 lbs, and this variety reportedly does very well in hot summer weather. I just want to see if I can get 'em anywhere near that size. I'm not a huge watermelon fan, but my horses LOVE it. It makes a nice horse treat and it's fun to see 'em slobber all over the place when they eat watermelons.

Are you doing garden pre-planning yet? If so, what are you planting this year?

[Oroboros]

I started another thread about my plans to build a big planter on my balcony. After the replies there, rosemary is a definite. I want to know if y'all think tomatoes will work there too. We use tomatoes probably more than any other veggie, so I'd like to try it if possible.

[Tobus]

Yes, tomatoes are a great balcony crop. Your thread was about herbs or I would have mentioned that.

I've heard really good reviews of the types that grow upside down (like the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter). Those are tailored toward balconies. A local friend of mine tried them and said the output was phenomenal.

Just make sure that they get enough sun. And keep the birds out of them if you can.

[Tobus]

Oh, and by the way, if you guys happen to order anything from Burpee, you can get $5 off any order over $30 by entering the code BX53 at checkout.

[zen]

I've decided that this spring I am devoting a couple of acres to food crops. I'm definitely doing potatoes since those require virtually no care. I'm probably going to put in an orchard of some type. I was thinking about figs and pomegranates.... maybe a dozen trees. I'm also interested in grapes and strawberries. I'm still working out the details. Ideally I'd like to put in stuff that if left unattended will spread and reseed readily. This may prove useful in a few years if shtf.

[Nidrah]

We've already starting filling the garden with dirt (something we missed doing before planting season last year, so we missed our garden last year). I'll be doing mostly herbs with a few tomato plants and maybe some other small fruit plants. Our garden is going to be full sun mostly and it can get awfully hot here in the summer, so I'm just going to take it slow and see how things will take it this first year.

The bed is 12'x8', raised 16". I'm going to do it old world style and just throw some seeds here, some there. Here's my planned list:

basil (2 types; lemon and greek), rosemary, dill, catnip, curly leaf parsley, chives, saffron, garlic, mint (but it will be on the border outside the raised part), oregano, tomatoes, strawberries, green bell peppers, and lemongrass.

Seeds will go in planters in mid March.

[freeBatjko]

i agree with those vine tomatoes, they kept ranking along my walls on the balcony and with lots of sun they got extremely sweet and juicy. we had to get a lot of tomato-based recipes that year.

i'd love to try home-made bell peppers though. now that i have at least a garden, i may try a couple.

[eurycea12]

Nidrah -
Saffron? It is not just any crocus that produces it.

[zen]

One thing that I've been dying to try growing is Wasabi.

Typically the wasabi that you get in Asian restaurants is actually just chinese mustard with horseradish. REAL wasabi is a bit difficult to grow, hard to find and is REALLY expensive to buy.

I think with a little planning I could grow it in Texas. Hell - I might even be able to become the "main" supplier if the crop is big enough. Usually only really high end restaurants use the "real stuff".

This post has been edited by zen: 10 February 2010 - 04:07 PM

[Tobus]

What is it? A bush? A tree? A small herb?

I know what wasabi tastes like, but I have no clue about the plant itself.

Shit, I just remembered: I've been wanting to grow a Bhut Jolokia plant. I'll need to order some seeds. Even though I said I wanted to stay away from hot peppers this year, I absolutely HAVE to grow this one.

[zen]

Wikipedia link to info on wasabi.

[eurycea12]

Tobus, on 10 February 2010 - 05:21 PM, said:

What is it? A bush? A tree? A small herb?

I know what wasabi tastes like, but I have no clue about the plant itself.

Shit, I just remembered: I've been wanting to grow a Bhut Jolokia plant. I'll need to order some seeds. Even though I said I wanted to stay away from hot peppers this year, I absolutely HAVE to grow this one.

It is a rhizome, similiar to horseradish. There sre two varieties, one grows along cool, clear streams. The other is field grown.
http://www.freshwasabi.com/

and

http://www.wasabia.com/

These should have all the info you need.
It seems everyone is out of rhizomes. I'm not sure why. Wasabi is on my list to try, but not until our staples are established.

(edited for spelling)

This post has been edited by eurycea12: 10 February 2010 - 05:59 PM

[zen]

The main reason I want to try to grow it is because real wasabi is fairly rare and expensive. Usually what you get in a restaurant is a mixture of chinese mustard and horseradish. Being able to supply restaurants with real wasabi would be a nice business and improve the taste of the food.

[Nidrah]

eurycea12, on 10 February 2010 - 11:37 AM, said:

Nidrah -
Saffron? It is not just any crocus that produces it.

Link

My mother-in-law got us some just before Christmas. They've been in the fridge, winterizing. They're growing roots like mad. We're following the directions. I'm probably going to do these in a large pot and keep them in the garden, but I want to be able to move them if necessary. This is my experimental plant for the season.

But yes, real saffron crocus bulbs.

Quote

typically the wasabi that you get in Asian restaurants is actually just chinese mustard with horseradish.

Wow. I've never seen that. Here in Texas, I've never seen horseradish in wasabi. I've always gotten the real deal here. Especially at the sushi shop next to Rice in Houston. OMFG their sushi was awesome!!

[zen]

Nidrah, on 10 February 2010 - 09:17 PM, said:

Wow. I've never seen that. Here in Texas, I've never seen horseradish in wasabi. I've always gotten the real deal here. Especially at the sushi shop next to Rice in Houston. OMFG their sushi was awesome!!

I've NEVER seen real wasabi in a restaurant. It's always been the green mustard/horseradish paste. Real wasabi is expensive. You're lucky if you found restaurants that use the real stuff. Typically restaurants will add some vinegar to give the fake stuff some real "bite". It's "pretty close" to the real thing but there is a definite difference.

[Bezukhov]

The biggest thing on my mind in regard to my garden is that this may be the last year that I have one. I belong to a community garden and rumor has it the people who own the land are finally getting serious about building on it.

[Smart E. Nuff]

Sad to hear. Has there been any movement in that regard? Any news?

Spring appeared today. Although probably short lived up here, I got to looking at my garden area. I had planned to enlarge it after last years first try at a vegetable garden. I have so many projects going, I doubt it will be any bigger this year. But oh well, at least I have something.

[Bezukhov]

Smart E. Nuff, on 14 April 2010 - 08:13 PM, said:

Sad to hear. Has there been any movement in that regard? Any news?

Spring appeared today. Although probably short lived up here, I got to looking at my garden area. I had planned to enlarge it after last years first try at a vegetable garden. I have so many projects going, I doubt it will be any bigger this year. But oh well, at least I have something.

We are going to have a more permanent home next year. We're grateful that we were allowed to cultivate this piece of land for the last 6 years. I liked it because it is directly across the street from my house. The new venue is several blocks away but thats a small price to pay for a city boy to play Farmer Brown.

PS Sorry it took so long to reply. Springtime is the busy season for me.

This post has been edited by Bezukhov: 19 April 2010 - 11:02 PM

[underrealm]

Anyone have any advice on hydroponic gardens that don't necessitate a lot of electricity? Any ideas on vegetables that might be able to photosynthesize with minimal light? I have about 2100 sq feet in my basement that is not being used, and was thinking that an indoor garden would be the bee's knees. But I don't want to dive into something and end up with a $500 electric bill from excessive light use. Trying to be efficient here!

[zen]

Use 8' fluorescents and make sure to keep the lights within 2 - 3" of the canopy. Don't waste your time with shorter fluorescents except as supplemental or "side lighting". Longer tubes put out higher lumens. The T5's will put out more than the standard.

They'll be way cheaper to run 24 hours per day than your fridge.

The only other low cost option (with a high upfront price) are LED grow lights.