Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
I’m looking at growing so fruit trees in pots. The critters by me cause me a lot of trouble. I’m going to try to grow them in a column and fence them off in homemade cedar boxes I make.
2026 gardening thread, whatcha got going on in the yard this year? Even house plants are ok.
- Thread starter Saltwater60
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GTN
.308 Win
24 tomatoes were sowed yesterday.
I started watching On The Grow YT videos on Kratky method of hydroponics growing. So I’m playing around with that in the basement
I started watching On The Grow YT videos on Kratky method of hydroponics growing. So I’m playing around with that in the basement
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
I have the light about getting into that as well. I have not yet but I may try it this winter time permitting. I still have frozen tomatoes, peppers, berries, and squash so I’m not sure I need to.
Keep us updated on your progress.
GTN
.308 Win
Hydroponic area. Some are growing for microgreens and others full size plants. There is green onion, pak choi, salad mix, parsley and hidden is nasturtium. 2nd photo is in my kitchen for cooking. Sweet pea, sunflower, salad mix,china radish, pak choi 
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
Looks good!!
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
Mine are moving along nicely. Almost all my peppers have second set of leaves and some are starting to push their third set. Time to start fertilizing a little more.
my image says it’s too large and won’t upload.
my image says it’s too large and won’t upload.
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
I got some free fence rails today to build my garden cage and structure this spring. I got it for free!! It should be enough for my project but I have to measure the rails.
GTN
.308 Win
Well I did a little something today
My seed starting and new hydroponics area has been kind of a mess of a setup. It took up a lot of space and didn’t function very well. So I decided to change it up. I still need a couple more lights then it will be done. For now
My seed starting and new hydroponics area has been kind of a mess of a setup. It took up a lot of space and didn’t function very well. So I decided to change it up. I still need a couple more lights then it will be done. For now
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Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
That’s awesome. I love the use of the gutters there. That’s so simple and easy to do. How often do you have to top it off?
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livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
Folks I have a friend helping me plant fruit trees. Planting about 20 Peach,cherries, apple, apricot and plums . I am over 70 years old. Many of these trees will take 5 years or more to fruit. Reason why I plant so many is I expect some die off and time is not on on side anymore... 
I chose disease resistant trees . My father planted a few apple trees years ago and he complained about the cost of spraying .. Cheaper to buy a bushel of apples he would say and be done with it. Perhaps these varieties will solve this problem. Last summer I bought a quart of apricots for like 5 bucks. ... pretty expensive . Now I get to fight the mice ,rabbits and deer ...
I chose disease resistant trees . My father planted a few apple trees years ago and he complained about the cost of spraying .. Cheaper to buy a bushel of apples he would say and be done with it. Perhaps these varieties will solve this problem. Last summer I bought a quart of apricots for like 5 bucks. ... pretty expensive . Now I get to fight the mice ,rabbits and deer ...
Robin
.577 Tyrannosaur.
There is something to be said for a country that has old men planting trees whose shade they will never enjoy.
I still plant trees every year.
Robin
I still plant trees every year.
Robin
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
I have had two apples trees and I never had to spray them once. If you do just use some neem oil.Folks I have a friend helping me plant fruit trees. Planting about 20 Peach,cherries, apple, apricot and plums . I am over 70 years old. Many of these trees will take 5 years or more to fruit. Reason why I plant so many is I expect some die off and time is not on on side anymore...
I chose disease resistant trees . My father planted a few apple trees years ago and he complained about the cost of spraying .. Cheaper to buy a bushel of apples he would say and be done with it. Perhaps these varieties will solve this problem. Last summer I bought a quart of apricots for like 5 bucks. ... pretty expensive . Now I get to fight the mice ,rabbits and deer ...
As for the tree selection that’s a good variety but I hope your by a large body of water. Peaches, cherries, and apricots are all subject to having their blooms get frosted out before they get pollinated. Good luck with those but the apples should do well.
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
I may purchase a dwarf Cara Cara orange tree. They are beautiful trees with nice pink fleshed fruit. I have been able to turn my tangerine tree around and it now has about 50 blooms on it and new growth. I’m excited.
JRtraderny
.308 Win
This year we're going to try our hands at grapes, elderberries and blueberries . The daughter also has her pepper plants started.
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
Blueberries need very acidic soil. I’d adjust the pH before planting them. It’s not easy to do and I have to add tons of sulfur to my soil for them. I mix in peat moss and pea gravel into my topsoil for blueberries.
JRtraderny
.308 Win
Actually we already have blueberries we're going to add to them.
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
Things are growing well for me or as expected. Peppers are getting larger faster. I turned my heat mat up 3-4 degrees and the difference is amazing.
GTN
.308 Win
Do you still have heat mats under your pepper trays? I thought that was just for germination time.
GTN
.308 Win
Every couple days it needs a little bit added. As they get bigger than they use a little more.
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
Yes I do. I have them under them u til I acclimate them to the outdoors. It will make them grow faster. Mine are about 4-5” tall and getting their second set of really leaves right now.
It seems the internet says you’re correct and you should remove the heat mats once the second set of leaves come on. However I have mine in my basement and it’s rather cool. I don’t see my seedlings getting leggy or have soil born fungus or whatever. I have fans on so the seedlings themselves don’t get warm but only the soil around the roots. I do have issues with my soil drying out but I always attribute that to the fans and peat pots. Lots of evaporation occurring there. I wonder if I should turn them off and see what happens or take a few and remove them from the heat mats and see what happens. I do feel like I should have some better growth at times. My plants don’t look stressed outside of some yellowing here and there before I start to fertilize. Once I fertilize the green right back up and are fine.
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Robin
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Judging by the weather forecast, snow peas and ice berg lettuce are on the menu for planting. Brrrrrr!
Robin
Robin
JRtraderny
.308 Win
As cold as it is could probably plant garlic yet and it would be ok.
Robin
.577 Tyrannosaur.
My wife plants all but one varieties of garlic in the late fall, one she plants in late winter or early spring, whenever the ground is soft enough to plant.
Robin
Robin
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
You can plant it now and it will be ready in the fall. Most just plant it in late fall for something to do and harvest in July.
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
That’s great. They will fill in quickly. Just watch so the top doesn’t dry out faster than the bottom. If you have issues with that work in some coco choir to hold more water.
Did you do June bearing or ever bearing variety? Also watch for birds and when the berries are on the plants you might have to net them. There are some good freezer jam recipes out there if you get too many of them.
I have June and overbearing.
We mixed in 4 different types of plants.
I put up a 2 foot fence after the pictures were taken and I just ordered a top net.
GTN
.308 Win
I have on order 20 bare root ever bearing plants coming soon for a vertical planter I made.
I have another patch of them at ground level but the dam chipmunks take 1 bite out of every berry so I never get any
I have another patch of them at ground level but the dam chipmunks take 1 bite out of every berry so I never get any
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
Smart move on all fronts.