The infamous SNE lawn thread

[larvay]

I have this type of weed/bush that grows on the edges of the woodsy parts of my property. Very nasty stuff. Grows in some cases 6 feet high, thich stalks, very very thorny. Will try to make headway onto my lawn horizontally under the surface. Sprouts up in reddish looking plant, turns green as it matures.

Someone once told me it is wild raspberry, and in some cases that seems true. Are there 2 plants like this?

Sure sounds like black raspberry (as opposed to blackberry). The stuff grows grows all over the Northeast (I would have thought everyone knew what it was).

I'm not sure what you can do about it, but you can sure eat the berries when they are ripe (dark blue/black, easily plucked), if you can get to them before animals do.

I know from fishing expeditions that a decision to bushwack through some of it can be to embark on an unfortunate adventure.

[CoastalWx]

Those long vines are normal. That's what they use to anchor themselves as they grow in the vertical. See how they're wrapping around those rods? I have to get those myself. My cukes are growing out now.

[snowNH]

Those long vines are normal. That's what they use to anchor themselves as they grow in the vertical. See how they're wrapping around those rods? I have to get those myself. My cukes are growing out now.

Thanks... How long til cukes start to grow? I must be close with mine. I am getting kind of nervous about all of those plants in that planter box I made. I hope they start growing up that trellis instead of out over the box towards the pavement. I might have to do a lot of tying tomorrow after work.

Actually, I might pull out that large brown trellis and buy more of those rods.. The vines can easily wrap around those green rods

[CoastalWx]

Thanks... How long til cukes start to grow? I must be close with mine. I am getting kind of nervous about all of those plants in that planter box I made. I hope they start growing up that trellis instead of out over the box towards the pavement. I might have to do a lot of tying tomorrow after work.

My cuke plants look like yours. I never grew them before, so I don't know how much longer it will take until the fruit come.

My plants are spilling over as well, so I have to tie them too. My tomatoes are going nuts. I'll probably see some fruit soon I hope.

[snowNH]

My cuke plants look like yours. I never grew them before, so I don't know how much longer it will take until the fruit come.

My plants are spilling over as well, so I have to tie them too. My tomatoes are going nuts. I'll probably see some fruit soon I hope.

Yea.. I might buy a ton of those green rods and just stick them in the large planter box. Also, I might buy some fish wire then make my own trellis. Not sure yet.

My zucchinis are absolutely exploding right now.

[eekuasepinniW]

Thanks... How long til cukes start to grow? I must be close with mine.

They don't even have flowers yet, so you've quite a while before anything interesting starts to develop.

[snowNH]

They don't even have flowers yet, so you've quite a while before anything interesting starts to develop.

how long does it take after they develop flowers usually?

[eekuasepinniW]

how long does it take after they develop flowers usually?

I've never actually paid that much attention to them... I'd guess 3 weeks.

Maybe someone else has better info on this.

[snowNH]

Question about strawberry plants. I am growing everbearing plants. First year growing. Am I supposed to cut the first set of flowers off? if so, how and where do you cut them?

Also, I have a couple of runners I just found over the weekend.. Should I buy more pots and plant those?

[monadnocks]

Looking at last year's garden data: by July 11, I'd been having a two weeks of cherry tomatoes from a Matt's Wild Cherry plant, yellow summer squash were about 3"-4", pattypan squash were developing and the cucumbers were finally flowering. Last year I planted lemon cucumbers and they in a middling sunny spot.

Cucumber and squash vines can get to some serious size. I know some of mine last year were easily 8-14 feet long. As far as the trellising question goes, remember that you're going to want some sort of grid or other (soft tie, perhaps) support for the veggies when they start growing unless you're planning on picking them all at fairly small size. Gardenweb.com frequently has people on their garden boards who think about gardening with the same energy that people use on weather here.

-monadnocks

[nzucker]

Those long vines are normal. That's what they use to anchor themselves as they grow in the vertical. See how they're wrapping around those rods? I have to get those myself. My cukes are growing out now.

Mine are a bit behind, planted from seed around 5/1, don't have the curly vines really. The leaves grew tremendously during the heat wave, but they got off to a slower start in a small container crowded with four plants, so it'll be another couple of weeks before they flower. I think another shot of 80s and 90s will cause the plant to flower and begin setting fruit rapidly, as the leaves have doubled in size in the last 10 days and look very vigorous. I have the pot with two cucumber plants set right against the outside of the garden fence, so I'm going to use that as a trellis to allow them to climb when they develop the feelers. I hope it is strong enough, hope to support them with some stakes as well when the time comes.

My plants are spilling over as well, so I have to tie them too. My tomatoes are going nuts. I'll probably see some fruit soon I hope.

When did you plant your tomatoes?

I planted most of my hybrid, store-bought tomatoes between 4/20 and 4/30, and almost all the plants have at least a few fruit. The grape tomato is leading the bunch with around a dozen fruits; the Early Girls and Beefsteaks have 2-3 fruits each, but much larger of course. This is a great start, very early for them to have fruit approaching full size. Considering the dozens of flowers on the vines, there look to be many more coming.

The heirloom tomatoes I grew from seed, Moonglow and Dr. Wyche's Yellow, are not yet mature enough to fruit but have fast-growing, healthy leaves...should start flowering in a couple weeks. I can afford to wait for the tastier heirlooms since the fast-growing hybrids, especially the Early Girls, are so vigorous this year. The Lemon Boys, a delicious globe-shaped yellow tomato that is a hybrid variety from Home Depot, are a bit slower but still well ahead of the homegrown heirlooms, setting their first fruits in the last 2-3 days.

[Baroclinic Zone]

I've been able to pick off a couple of peas thus far to eat.

Tomatoes coming along nicely. A couple fruits have shown up. Lots of flowers.

Lawn on the other hand is stressed. This rain and cool weather has helped immensely. Sucks when the only watering I can rely on is from the sky.

[S&P]

Try removing the suckers (new growth between main stalk and leave branch) when they first appear to promote fruit generation

Tomatoes... When will veggies come?

[snowNH]

Thanks guys.. just pulled off some strawberry flowers this morning.. my plants are everbearing so I will continue to do so until early July.. it sucks but have to do it..

As for trellis.. I am going to home depot today to buy a fence trellis to put on the side of my large planter box

[free_man]

fricken birds ate most of our blueberries :/ I forgot to cover them.

[snowNH]

fricken birds ate most of our blueberries :/ I forgot to cover them.

That sucks.. I've had a problem with chipmunks eating my.strawberry leaves.. I elevated them and it seems to work

[CoastalWx]

Mine are a bit behind, planted from seed around 5/1, don't have the curly vines really. The leaves grew tremendously during the heat wave, but they got off to a slower start in a small container crowded with four plants, so it'll be another couple of weeks before they flower. I think another shot of 80s and 90s will cause the plant to flower and begin setting fruit rapidly, as the leaves have doubled in size in the last 10 days and look very vigorous. I have the pot with two cucumber plants set right against the outside of the garden fence, so I'm going to use that as a trellis to allow them to climb when they develop the feelers. I hope it is strong enough, hope to support them with some stakes as well when the time comes.

When did you plant your tomatoes?

I planted most of my hybrid, store-bought tomatoes between 4/20 and 4/30, and almost all the plants have at least a few fruit. The grape tomato is leading the bunch with around a dozen fruits; the Early Girls and Beefsteaks have 2-3 fruits each, but much larger of course. This is a great start, very early for them to have fruit approaching full size. Considering the dozens of flowers on the vines, there look to be many more coming.

The heirloom tomatoes I grew from seed, Moonglow and Dr. Wyche's Yellow, are not yet mature enough to fruit but have fast-growing, healthy leaves...should start flowering in a couple weeks. I can afford to wait for the tastier heirlooms since the fast-growing hybrids, especially the Early Girls, are so vigorous this year. The Lemon Boys, a delicious globe-shaped yellow tomato that is a hybrid variety from Home Depot, are a bit slower but still well ahead of the homegrown heirlooms, setting their first fruits in the last 2-3 days.

I planted mine right in the beginning of May (First weekend). A little early, but I can get away with that in the city.

[snowNH]

I'm thinking about building a 5 Foot high fence around my large planter box in the photos posted earlier.. do you think that I's a good idea or.will it hamper leaf growth?

I would fence around the side with zukes and cukes then leave one side open

[MaineJayhawk]

That sucks.. I've had a problem with chipmunks eating my.strawberry leaves.. I elevated them and it seems to work

Kevin doesn't elevate his chipmunks .. he drowns them. Seems to work pretty well according to him.

[Snow Bow]

Kevin doesn't elevate his chipmunks .. he drowns them. Seems to work pretty well according to him.

Yes he does. And it works mighty well. Three in my bucket since I followed his instructions. Can't have them thinking my lawn is their home now can I?

Thanks by the way kev.

[Damage In Tolland]

Yes he does. And it works mighty well. Three in my bucket since I followed his instructions. Can't have them thinking my lawn is their home now can I?

Thanks by the way kev.

LOL..see how quick and easy it is..Once you get past the scratching and clawing in the buckets..it's fine

[snowNH]

Trellis is complete!!!

[snowNH]

Another..My zucchini stalks are ginormous

[snowNH]

my transplanted cukes are doing great..

[snowNH]

First strawberry runner.. Thinking about replanting it in the pot next to it.

[nzucker]

Nice pictures, SnowNH, although those watermelons are going to run out of room fast. Are you training them straight up the trellis, outside the box, or what? Here are a few photos from today:

Beefsteak tomatoes:

First eggplant emerging from withered flower:

Black Beauty eggplant with its flowers:

White Wonder cauliflower, planted 4/9:

Cucumbers with zucchini bin behind:

Pineapple sage:

Marina de Chioggia heirloom squash, with basil and oregano:

Sweet corn:

Green beans flanked by Cheyenne Bush squash:

More tomatoes:

Hydrangea, not for dinner:

[snowNH]

Can you train watermelons up? I've never done them before.

Its either that or build another small planter box to give them some room on the left side.

I had no clue cucumber and zuke leaves would be that big

[nzucker]

Can you train watermelons up? I've never done them before.

Its either that or build another small planter box to give them some room on the left side.

I had no clue cucumber and zuke leaves would be that big

I answered in the PM....I think it's best to just let them sprawl along the lawn. Why do you need to build another box?

[snowNH]

I answered in the PM....I think it's best to just let them sprawl along the lawn. Why do you need to build another box?

I'd build another box with soil to let them sprawl out on

[nzucker]

I'd build another box with soil to let them sprawl out on

You may just want to let them run along the patio or lawn...they're not like strawberries that are going to create new plants as they spread, and they get so huge that they'll quickly overwhelm the boxes. Watermelons are really huge....I have never grown melons before, and I know people who are experienced gardeners who have had lots of trouble with them. I wouldn't be discouraged if they don't work out perfectly, as they are notoriously tough to grow, although I have a plant myself this year as well as a few Amish melons and am hoping for the best.

Here is a good website about growing them:

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-watermelons.html

Melons ARE one of the most difficult crops to raise, especially in a northern climate as they like heat. Given that you live in NNE, I would recommend placing black plastic under the main vine...it will cause the soil to warm much faster and keep out weeds, which are really bad for the melons as they do not have deep roots that will ignore competing weeds, unlike hardier crops such as tomatoes. When I worked at an agricultural center here, the source for the acclaimed Blue Hill restaurant, we had black plastic under all the melons, and we were still having big problems with them in the Summer of 2009 which was infamously cold. You also want to hit them with a ton of manure early on, and then go back with a high phosphorous fertilizer. Melons don't like much water, so take it easy on the hose. Hot and a bit dry is best.