Garden is starting to provide

[barney]

I've been busy this spring, putting most of my free time, and evenings after work into the garden. That makes for some long days, but the rewards have started coming in, and should provide a bounty for many months to come.
This is my sweetcorn patch, the variety that is in full tasle is a bicolor called, "Temptation". I've grown it for several years, it eats good and will come up in December.......from under 4 inches of concrete, in other words, its dependable. The later panting to the left is "Montauk", this makes the third year I have grown it, and the only way I can describe it is, after 43 years of eating corn, and 20 years of trying many different varieties.........this is the best eating experience,to date.......period!

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden011.jpg
To the far left, on plastic mulch and drip irrigation, is a section of, zucchini "Cash Flow", summer squash "prelude", they are VERY productive varieties. I'm starting to get sick of squash and zuccini! Then some okra, hot banana and sweet banana, then some egg plant. Then 2 rows of stringless beans, "Roma 2" and "Jade", both are good early season beans. Then the cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. The cabbage variety is, "Morris" I have grown it for years, its hard to beat for flavor, tenderness and holding ability. The cauliflower variety is "Snow crown" a decent variety, but it has to be tied, I like the self wrapping varieties, like "Fremont". The broccoli, is three different varieties, I dug out of the freezer, a couple were in there for 10 years, and germination was great. To the far right, is 3 rows of bell peppers. The varieties are, "Aristotle X3R", hard to beat for big thick walled green to red bells, very productive and LARGE. and "Lafayette" a large yellow bell. my first year growing this variety.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden012.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden014.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden015.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden016.jpg
Next is the tomatoes, I am growing 4 varieties this year, 2 hybrids and 2 heirlooms. The hybrids are "Fabulous", a nice red productive tomato, that I have grown as a main crop "money tomato" since 1999. And "Pink Girl", a nice older pink variety, we use this one for canning......its beautiful, and tasty in a jar. The 2 heirloom varietys are " Old German", which is a bicolor tomato, yellow with red streaks in the blossom end, it will truely get as big as a pie plate! And, an old heirloom I have saved seed from for many years, "Brandywine", Its the tomato that has a flavor so delectable and complex that it can't be described in words.........for absolute, mouth watering flavor, its #1 in my book........... and my book has a lot of pages!
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden017.jpg

[carpenterguy]

dang barney thats one heck of a garden!!

[Matt722mx]

great looking garden

[barney]

This is a row of "Pink Girl" tomatoes, those are 7' steel post, and in a few weeks they will be to the top.......and headed back to the ground! And a row of "Ballard beans", the beans are just starting to bloom. I think this is best white pole bean in the world, I have actually had customers, come back and thank me for giving them the chance to "experience" this bean.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden018.jpg
This is a short row of potatoes on plastic mulch with drip irrigation, it is an experiment to see how much more productive a potato is, when proper moisture and nutrient levels are met. They are 26 seed pieces in that row(about the same amount of potatoes, a family of 4 would eat at dinner) I think, there will be over 50 lb's of spuds under that plastic, when I pull it this fall. I measured the width of the row this morning, at its widest point, it was 6' 5" wide. And a row of beets, almost ready to pickle, ain't nothing like pickled beets and pinto beans.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden019.jpg
Heres my early, and main potato patch, there are three varieties in there. "Kennebec" "Pontiac" and "Yukon Gold" I like all three, and each has its place in the kitchen. There is still plenty more, and I will post more later.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden010.jpg

[KYBOY]

Nice looking garden barney..Wind blowed over all my corn yesterday. Just glad it didnt have ears on it yet. Most of it should stand back up....Im getting ready to pick my first ripe 'mater tomorrow:D Cant wait. Think Ive forgotten what a real 'mater taste like...

[killinmammals]

Barney you have one heck of a garden!!:eek: I'm just dreamin of having one near that great once I get a yard!

[westkybanded]

You are a glutton for punishment my friend.... Wow...

[Al]

Wind blowed over all my corn yesterday. Just glad it didnt have ears on it yet.
Same here.

Barn, how do you control the weeds?
I thought it was too hot for broccoli and cauliflower now?

[muzzy125acc]

Nice looking garden:D

[killinmammals]

I bet he talks to him plants at night when he can't sleep:D:eek:

[ril7572]

I must say, That is one impressive garden.

[Valley Station]

Looks like garden is really doing good.
When the price of food goes up this winter, not going to have much impact on your budget.

[Killroy]

Wow. That is a really good looking garden. Lots of hard work to keep one like that weed free and looking neat.

[deadaim]

WOW alot of hard work there..............it will pay off. Nice garden

[KYHUNTER14]

How do you keep deer out of your garden? It looks great by the way.

[barney]

Same here.

Barn, how do you control the weeds?
I thought it was too hot for broccoli and cauliflower now?
First line of defence in most plantings, is a set of rear mounted cultivators on the tractor. Second is a Troybilt rear tine tiller, and then for the final stage,....... GOOD weeding hoes.........not the "garden hoes" they sell at most stores. The only thing they are fit for is mixing mortar, or concrete! I mostly use a "collinear hoe", it was designed by Eliot Coleman, many years ago. The hoe being collinear, the small thin blade is inline with the handle, alowing the user to stand upright in comfort. And if there is such a thing........actually makes hoeing ..........enjoyable? The one in the pic is around 20 years old. I bought it new from Johnny's Selected Seeds, and it has been a lifesaver, many times. I also take some old, worn out "goose neck" hoes, I find at flea markets, and cut the blade partially off, and rivet a shaped handsaw blade section to them.......this makes a great hoe!
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden029.jpg
Broccoli and cauliflower can be grown all summer, but........It performs better in cooler weather. When I done this for a living, the cole crops ALWAYS, went into the ground, last week of March or the first week of April. I am over run with broccoli and cauliflower right now, once you see a head developing, the next day its ready to harvest, due to the warmer weather. It has helped having 3 different maturities in the broccoli varieties. Yesterday, I sowed seeds for my fall cabbage crop, it should be ready for harvest around the middle of November. And will keep throughout the winter, and into the spring, if kept in a cool place. Also have some fall broccoli, will sow seed in the next couple of weeks.

[philipfleek]

Best looking garden since my grandpa's. nice job!!! did you put out onions?

[drakeshooter]

Barney, it looks like you let your tomato plants sucker out as they please. I was always taught to keep the suckers pulled and let two main stalks turn to four or five at most and keep the growth vertical. How do you do it?

[barney]

How do you keep deer out of your garden? It looks great by the way. One of the only ways I have found, without investing in a high fence, is my dogs I've got one tied by each garden that has important things in it, like tomatoes, beans or sweet potatoes. I also have clover and other plantings closer to the woods, and it helps "some" to keep them from my garden. I still lose a few plants every now and then...........sometimes I lose a LOT!

[Redlined]

Good night, I've heard of a green thumb, you must have green hands!:D You may have already mentioned it, but how many acres do you have in garden plants? I feel strange talking acreage about gardens:D. You're dead right about the hoes too, I broke my good one and about gave up till I found one at a flea market. They don't make the good ones anymore......

[barney]

Barney, it looks like you let your tomato plants sucker out as they please. I was always taught to keep the suckers pulled and let two main stalks turn to four or five at most and keep the growth vertical. How do you do it?
Actually I do sucker them, but I do it the modern way now on most varieties, especially the determinate varieties. When the plant starts to bloom, I leave the first sucker below the bloom,(I call this the "fork"sucker) and break out everything below. This is done once, around the time of the first tying. When I used to grow Indeterminate tomatoes on a single stake, I pruned to, 2 stalks, or leaders. The method I use now is a lot less time intensive, and produces huge crops, I have learned over the years, that plentiful WATER, and nutrients at the proper time,is the most important thing in growing tomatoes.

[Al]

Also have some fall broccoli, will sow seed in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for your response.
So your going to sow your seed directly in the ground, not in little starting pots and transplant them?
Ive got one of those earthway row seeders, it has a plate for broccoli seed, I might try a couple of rows for a fall crop.
Do you sell vegs at a farmers market?

[barney]

Good night, I've heard of a green thumb, you must have green hands!:D You may have already mentioned it, but how many acres do you have in garden plants? I feel strange talking acreage about gardens:D. You're dead right about the hoes too, I broke my good one and about gave up till I found one at a flea market. They don't make the good ones anymore......
I would say, I have 2 acres or so in food plants........maybe a little more. Your right, they don't make the good hoes anymore......in the USA anyway. The only new garden tools worth having, come from Europe now.

[Redlined]

Actually I do sucker them, but I do it the modern way now on most varieties, especially the determinate varieties. When the plant starts to bloom, I leave the first sucker below the bloom,(I call this the "fork"sucker) and break out everything below. This is done once, around the time of the first tying. When I used to grow Indeterminate tomatoes on a single stake, I pruned to, 2 stalks, or leaders. The method I use now is a lot less time intensive, and produces huge crops, I have learned over the years, that plentiful WATER, and nutrients at the proper time,is the most important thing in growing tomatoes.

Please, expand on this. I've suckered plenty of tobacco, never a tomato. What does this do exactly? Will this make for more tomatoes/better plants? I'd love to know as I just transplanted twenty more late ones this afternoon.

[barney]

Thanks for your response.
So your going to sow your seed directly in the ground, not in little starting pots and transplant them?
Ive got one of those earthway row seeders, it has a plate for broccoli seed, I might try a couple of rows for a fall crop.
Do you sell vegs at a farmers market?
I sow my cabbage seed in "tobacco plug trays", a 200 cell tray works best for me. they are easier to care for this way. I never have to worry about watering them, in the hot weather ahead, and they will be ready to transplant in 6 weeks or so.

I used to sell at the farmers market, from start till finish. But I quit a few years ago. I have friends who sell there, and they have taken my excess, for the last couple of years, clearing my garden, and giving me a little hunting $$$$, for the fall.:D

[CUZZIN]

Very nice garden,it shows you put a lot of work and pride into it!

[barney]

Please, expand on this. I've suckered plenty of tobacco, never a tomato. What does this do exactly? Will this make for more tomatoes/better plants? I'd love to know as I just transplanted twenty more late ones this afternoon.
Pruning a tomato plant promotes earliness, more vigor and larger tastier fruit. If you don't know what type of plants you have, this is the way to sucker or prune your plants. this is the method I use most often now, and can be used for indeterminate or determinate types.http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1060/

Another thing I do is, remove misshapened fruit, as soon as I find them. It lets the plant put that energy into a perfect fruit.

[barney]

All of the apple trees are loaded this year, a good thing too...the late freeze last year left me with only a few apples, and a hand full of pears. We are going to make a bunch of apple sauce this year, can't hardly swallow gingerbread, without it smothered in my favorite apple sauce. and this apple right here can't be beat for sauce, don't know the variety.....but its a dandy! Got the original tree, years ago from Maloneys, dept. store, I love this apple, and its early too, will be ripe in just a couple of weeks, and makes a creamy, non grainy, sweet-tart sauce........my favorite apple for sauce! When I found out how good they were, I made a few more by grafting, so now I have 4 of them. I just call the tree, my Red Striped June Apple. They will get the size of a baseball. The brown, branch tips are from the cicada damage, a few weeks ago.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden020.jpg
Also have several "Lodi" June apples, will get the size of a baseball, or larger, in a good season they make a good sauce or fried apples too.They are ripening right now, already had some........fried!:D
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden022.jpg
This apple is an old one.........known as a "Sheep Nosed" apple. I got a tender sprout from an old tree in the woods, where an old home stead once was, the house was long gone.....and the old tree was very worn, but I now have a young tree that bears VERY HEAVY crops every year. Makes some of the best dried apples, a person could make.......Nuth'in like stack cakes, for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden021.jpg

[KYBOY]

Good hoes are not bought new anymore. All mine are old,real old. Handed down thru the family. Blacksmith made. Honestly, youll think Im joking but the two I have can be sharpened to a shaving edge. I dont think my father in law believed me until I raked a big patch of hair off my arm with one.:D

[MsgMills]

Barney, you have a wonderful looking garden, looks like you got your hands full....Glad you can experience the taste of food grown on your own land.:)

[barney]

Barney, you have a wonderful looking garden, looks like you got your hands full....Glad you can experience the taste of food grown on your own land.:)
Thanks, it is an experience and a pleasure, and with the strong possibility of a dem. in the White House..........maybe a necessity!:)

[Al]

I sow my cabbage seed in "tobacco plug trays", a 200 cell tray works best for me. they are easier to care for this way. I never have to worry about watering them, in the hot weather ahead, and they will be ready to transplant in 6 weeks or so.

I used to sell at the farmers market, from start till finish. But I quit a few years ago. I have friends who sell there, and they have taken my excess, for the last couple of years, clearing my garden, and giving me a little hunting $$$$, for the fall.:D
Barn, What about your fall broccoli do you seed that in trays or directly in the ground?
Today Walmart announced that they are going to start buying as much of their produce locally as they can. They said the average produce is transported 1,500 miles before it hits the stores.
May be an oportunity for some local farms.

[KYBOY]

We'er selling at the farmers market this year. We have already contacted several of the local grocery stores and they are lined up to buy certain items from us. Fuel costs is killing them in delievery fees I guess.

[huntindawoods]

Very impressive garden, a lot of hard work I know but the taste of the home grown food will be delicious. Most of all, you may be a step ahead of a lot of people with the way the U.S. Goverment say we are heading for a possible depression. With all that garden food all you will need is some milk, flour, and corn meal and you got it made.

[barney]

Just thought I would update with a few pics taken today. Things a really starting to get buisy around here.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/Copyofgarden2002.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/Copyofgarden2003.jpg
The Pink Girls finally went over the top of those steel post, they were over 6 feet tall when I measured this morning.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/Copyofgarden2004.jpg
And they are starting to get ripe too.......told my wife to get the jars ready!
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden2013.jpg
My sons "tommy toes" variety, Sweet 100.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden2005.jpg

[barney]

My "Ballard Beans" are starting to crank out beans too.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden2007.jpg
The peppers are plump'n up too.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/Copyofgarden2009.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/Copyofgarden2008.jpg
The melons are lookin alright too.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden2010.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff95/barney097/garden2011.jpg

[DBELL]

Man that is one great looking garden!

[Rabbit Runner]

How did your potatoes do? Irrigated vs. non irrigated

[CUZZIN]

WOW Wish I was your neibor I would come over and help you do some picking:D

[Redlined]

Barney, I hope you realize every time I see pics of your garden it makes me want to go plow mine under:D...................

I've never seen anything like it, rock on...........

[barney]

Man that is one great looking garden!
Thanks!!!!

[barney]

How did your potatoes do? Irrigated vs. non irrigated
They haven't been harvested yet, I generally wait till mid/late September after the temps. cool a bit. I will post the results in pounds, of the 26 hills of irrigated potatoes in this thread when I dig........they are pushing and stretching the plastic as they mature.:)

[barney]

WOW Wish I was your neibor I would come over and help you do some picking:D
As a matter of fact........I seem to have awful friendly neighbors this time of year............I have had some do a little pickin, when I wasn't around!:eek:

[barney]

barney, i hope you realize every time i see pics of your garden it makes me want to go plow mine under:d...................

I've never seen anything like it, rock on...........
lol.........:D

[georgeky]

Barney, that is one of the finest gardens I have seen in quite while. I had one almost that good in 2004, but seems I have been on a downhill slide lately. I did have some 10 pound cabbages this year, but they will get bigger than that. Keep up the good work!