2022 Gardening Thread

[Geezy Rider]

I really enjoyed last year’s gardening thread and since I’ve got a question about this year’s spring garden I thought I’d get a new thread started.

I just ordered my seeds for this spring. I’m going with mostly heritage plants this year.
For those who start their seeds indoors and then transplant when the weather warms up , when do you start your seeds and what do you grow them in?

[eradicator]

Originally Posted by Geezy Rider

I really enjoyed last year’s gardening thread and since I’ve got a question about this year’s spring garden I thought I’d get a new thread started.

I just ordered my seeds for this spring. I’m going with mostly heritage plants this year.
For those who start their seeds indoors and then transplant when the weather warms up , when do you start your seeds and what do you grow them in?

Most of our seeds are started. My brother has a greenhouse and starts most in there. He's doing a second round of tomatoes this weekend. I start a few in my house. I typically just use 4" pots with potting soil or a seed starting mix. I set them in a sunny window once sprouted. If you have more space, you can make as an elaborate set up as you want. Trays on shelves with grow lights above them work really well. I like starting mine in 4" pots just so I can transplant directly to garden. My brother does more bulk so they are in 1-2" trays/pots starting out and then transfer to larger pots as they grow.

Garlic is coming along nicely, onions are going in this weekend. The freeze a while back finished off my brocoli and lettuce. I was fortunate enough to get several heads of brocoli before the big freeze.

[Pedernal]

In for the info…

[eradicator]

Six weeks before final frost date in your area is the general rule of thumb to follow for tomatoes and a lot of veggies. Peppers take a little longer to sprout typically

[Man]

Im putting onion and garlic in the ground this weekend. Was going to start tomatoes but saw my local Lowes has the ones I like out front already. As much as I like starting my own tomatoes they just make it so dang convenient to just purchase at time of planting. So instead I am starting some bok choy and other harder to find veggies by seed this weekend.

[Mitchell8]

I’m going to get some mushroom compost tomorrow actually. Building raised beds instead of tilling this year.

[SaltwaterSlick]

I had 5 loads of top soil delivered about a month ago and it set in to raining out on the prairie the next day!! Haven't been able to get the tractor in the garden spot to spread it! I sure hope I don't have another wash-out again this year... We had a beautiful garden going last year when all the rains started... Had pumps pumping water out of the garden but lost everything to too much water... Zero production!! This is my last attempt. If I can't get the ground raised a bit, we will go to all raised beds in the future!! Been 3 years since we had a real producing garden!!

[Man]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

I had 5 loads of top soil delivered about a month ago and it set in to raining out on the prairie the next day!! Haven't been able to get the tractor in the garden spot to spread it! I sure hope I don't have another wash-out again this year... We had a beautiful garden going last year when all the rains started... Had pumps pumping water out of the garden but lost everything to too much water... Zero production!! This is my last attempt. If I can't get the ground raised a bit, we will go to all raised beds in the future!! Been 3 years since we had a real producing garden!!

Dang that sucks to hear SS. I'm not going to throw out any suggestion because I'm sure I ain't gonna say anything that you haven't already thought about. Good luck this year!

[huntandfishguy6]

How do you guys deal with gumbo soil ? I built two raised beds last year at my house. I enjoyed raising vegetables in them. So i decided this year to make a real garden, at my daughter's house. When i tried to till it up, it is gumbo soil, it didn't till worth a darn. So how do i fix it ?

[Bigfootwolff]

Originally Posted by huntandfishguy6

How do you guys deal with gumbo soil ? I built two raised beds last year at my house. I enjoyed raising vegetables in them. So i decided this year to make a real garden, at my daughter's house. When i tried to till it up, it is gumbo soil, it didn't till worth a darn. So how do i fix it ?

You need to loosen up that soil. I would add some sand and organic materials like mulch leaves, compost, etc. Then mix the said and organic material with the gumbo soil, preferably with a tiller. I would continue to add organic material annually, and till into the soil. Should keep the soil loose for you.

[Speck]

Starting seeds today. First time.

[Texas Grown]

I just might clean out the grow buckets this year. And put some seeds in them.


No tell-n yet. But will probably add some marigold seeds I collected from my plants a few years ago. Marigolds have a natural anti-moskitoe repellent in them. I could go pick Okra in shorts and a t-shirt and not get bit, till I stepped outside the zone. They also help repel other insects. But draw pollinators.


I've still got a freezer full of cayenne from 5 years ago . So, prob won't be growing any of those. I need to dry them out and grind them up.

[deerslay3r]

I have a pretty small raised garden bed. Last year was the first year to plant. Lime said before, too much water and had some pretty hard winds do a number on the plants. I am looking for a guide/rule of thumb for planting jalapeños, squash, onion/shallots and tomatoes. The tomato plants will be the starter ones from Lowes likely, about a foot and will be in their own pots.

When should I plant?
How much water?

I have compost ready to mix in, already tilled up the soil from last year's garden.

I am in the Burnet area, so typically not a ton of rainfall with last year being the exception.

[Geezy Rider]

So it looks like I’ll be a little late but I’ll get my seeds started as soon as they arrive. This will be my first time raising my tomatoes, onions and peppers from seed but I’m looking forward to it.
I’ll be doing all raised beds. I’ve been getting a bunch of free water troughs from people I’ve helped out.

[ram04]

Originally Posted by deerslay3r

I have a pretty small raised garden bed. Last year was the first year to plant. Lime said before, too much water and had some pretty hard winds do a number on the plants. I am looking for a guide/rule of thumb for planting jalapeños, squash, onion/shallots and tomatoes. The tomato plants will be the starter ones from Lowes likely, about a foot and will be in their own pots.

When should I plant?
How much water?

I have compost ready to mix in, already tilled up the soil from last year's garden.

I am in the Burnet area, so typically not a ton of rainfall with last year being the exception.

Water tomatoes a lot if you have a raised bed at least once a day. My raised beds seem to dry up pretty quick so I’m steady watering them, and I hit my jalapeño plants while I’m out there. I sprinkle 13-13-13 every couple weeks or so.

[hopedale]

Where do you all order seeds and planter onions from?

I'm wanting to plant some green onions.

[SaltwaterSlick]

www.hosstools.com

[Geezy Rider]

This where I ordered mine from.
https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables

[Geezy Rider]

My seeds came in and I’ve got tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs seeds started.



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[Kingfisher789]

I think with this good deep rain right now you might cheat and put some seed in the ground and hop it don’t freeze in 30 days

[SaltwaterSlick]

Well Geoff, my bride and I sat down and took a big leap of faith last night and ordered seeds and other equipment from Hoss Tools expecting that we are eventually going to get to plant... She also picked up 10 pounds of seed taters at the feed store on Saturday... Now all we gotta do is catch a break from the rain... But then it's been steady raining here at the house since about 10:30 AM this morning... Nothing heavy, just what would be a perfect rain falling slowly with little wind... IF WE NEEDED IT!!

Seeds are supposed to be here by week's end. will get them planted hopefully this weekend in the starter trays and get them watered and under the grow lights! Got our fingers crossed and all Prayed up on the matter... We'll see!!
Good luck everyone!

[webstertroy]

This year I am wanting to start a large Garden 100x100 here at the house... Pasture has had horses goats and chickens till about 2 months ago. I Plan to till next week. I HAVENT ever started from seeds but usually just plants. any tips?

[3ChordTruth]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

In for the info…

X2, always learn things worth knowing from these posts.

[Speck]

Instead of tilling this year, I am laying paper and cardboard and putting mushroom compost on top. Dressing with mulch for the paths.

Tilled last year for our first time garden and lost the battle with pasture seeds. Tilling just keeps bringing new seeds to the surface.

Have tomatoes and peppers started in the garage under lights. Picked up seed potatoes today for playing mid-late Feb.

[Geezy Rider]

Originally Posted by Kingfisher789

I think with this good deep rain right now you might cheat and put some seed in the ground and hop it don’t freeze in 30 days

Glad to hear someone is getting some rain, we’ve been dry for quite a while now. Our next chance of precipitation will be Wednesday and Thursday and it’s liable to be frozen. Here in north Texas we are a long way from getting past our last frost.
Supposed to get down around 13° on Wednesday.

[Geezy Rider]

Originally Posted by webstertroy

This year I am wanting to start a large Garden 100x100 here at the house... Pasture has had horses goats and chickens till about 2 months ago. I Plan to till next week. I HAVENT ever started from seeds but usually just plants. any tips?

This is my first year starting seeds so I’m right there with you. I wanted to raise mostly heirloom vegetables this year and I don’t know of anyone that sells them already started so I though it would be fun to try.
As far as tips go, I’m just watching a lot of YouTube videos.

[Big_gun]

Originally Posted by webstertroy

This year I am wanting to start a large Garden 100x100 here at the house... Pasture has had horses goats and chickens till about 2 months ago. I Plan to till next week. I HAVENT ever started from seeds but usually just plants. any tips?

Did that and fought weeds for 2 years... placed leaves in rows last year and was better. but I hate weeding... might try paper or the like this go around

[SaltwaterSlick]

The very best thing you can do to organically control weeds is to amend your soil ever how you need to to create a proper growing place for the plants you want to grow, then completely cover it with silage tarps in the off-season... This will not only prevent weeds from sprouting/growing, but will kill many of the seeds AND will prevent any seeds from being added to the "seed bank" Uncover it, till (if that's what you do), and plant... leaf and/or oak natural mulch the isles if you want, then at the end of the season, remove all the plants from the plot (to remove any potential diseases that may have been introduced and eggs/larval stages of insects that may over-winter in the plot. Till it and cover it again... doing this for 2 or 3 years will yield a plot that is almost weed-free!


For more on this go here: https://hosstools.com/?s=Silage+Tarp...t_type=product


Here's a great video that is worth the watch showing how to use the tarps to control weeds, moisture and enhance your soil.

THE EASY WAY TO GET YOUR GARDEN READY FOR SPRING! - YouTube

[Mr. Public]

Just bought a variety of beautiful heirloom tomatoes from HEB today and it got me itching to get some seeds and get started for this spring!

[tps7742]

I finally tilled all my gardening spots yesterday. Hopefully this cold weather will take care of the large section of ground I didn’t have covered.

[Uncle Saggy]

Originally Posted by Geezy Rider

This where I ordered mine from.
https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables

Been using them for years, they are awesome

And the catalog is pretty cool too


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[PLBowhunter]

Originally Posted by Geezy Rider

I really enjoyed last year’s gardening thread and since I’ve got a question about this year’s spring garden I thought I’d get a new thread started.

I just ordered my seeds for this spring. I’m going with mostly heritage plants this year.
For those who start their seeds indoors and then transplant when the weather warms up , when do you start your seeds and what do you grow them in?

This weather has all me messed up. I came from a northern climate (Canada) and always started tobacco, hemp, tomatoes, and other things that I felt like needed a head start in February. Seems like Texas this year and last will be the same! I had cucumbers and squash planted in the ground in November and the freeze came in December and killed everything. I still had loofah and tomatoes blooming.

Here is a secret: get yourself some sand from the beach or some other place and wash it well. Use that as a seedling starter. It is easier to remove seedlings and cutting from sand than it is from soil. Plus you don't need to "waste" good soil.

I have started my beans, beans and soybeans last week. They are growing.

Radishes were planted from sprouted seeds last week as well.


I buy seeds at Dollar Tree and Dollar General. I do not need as many and they are cheaper and have some cool varieties.

Another place is in California and they have free Heirloom seeds for less fortunate, or if you donate they send you more and what you actually want.

[CamoQuest]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

I had 5 loads of top soil delivered about a month ago and it set in to raining out on the prairie the next day!! Haven't been able to get the tractor in the garden spot to spread it! I sure hope I don't have another wash-out again this year... We had a beautiful garden going last year when all the rains started... Had pumps pumping water out of the garden but lost everything to too much water... Zero production!! This is my last attempt. If I can't get the ground raised a bit, we will go to all raised beds in the future!! Been 3 years since we had a real producing garden!!

This is what we are facing, too. We moved the majority of our big garden to a different location and brought in more soil. Hoping the slight slope will help if it floods, but I’m really leaning toward raised beds for next year.

[PLBowhunter]

Originally Posted by CamoQuest

This is what we are facing, too. We moved the majority of our big garden to a different location and brought in more soil. Hoping the slight slope will help if it floods, but I’m really leaning toward raised beds for next year.

You can try doing it the German way. Pile a bunch of wood scraps and other scraps, animal waste manure and old hay, and then put soil on top. The wood will rot away and mix with everything and you'll have soil.

[Man]

Originally Posted by PLBowhunter

This weather has all me messed up. I came from a northern climate (Canada) and always started tobacco, hemp, tomatoes, and other things that I felt like needed a head start in February.

Curious of what you did with hemp that warranted growing? (I assume you are not talking about actual marijuana)

[JFFB]

Ready to get me some seed potatoes to plant end of this month.

[PLBowhunter]

Originally Posted by Man

Curious of what you did with hemp that warranted growing? (I assume you are not talking about actual marijuana)

Feed for chickens, fiber for building materials (hempcrete) made hemp milk and stuff like that.

I did grow cannabis for CBD. It is legal to grow in Canada for recreational purposes.

[tps7742]

Good luck on your gardening spotMr Charlie. I started out with raised beds after retiring (still have them) and I like the concept. Especially being able to control the weeds etc. Since expanding I have started gardening across the pasture of an old home place garden. It’s good soil and will grow some stuff. It’s a fresh venison gardening spot as the old saying goes. I still haven’t purchased the bedder yet that you have shown here before but it’s on the radar screen.

[scotty]

I have onions and garlic growing now. Tomato and pepper seeds were started a few weeks ago.
I need to replace a couple of boards in my raised beds this spring and add in compost.
I'll put everything else in around the middle of March depending on the weather.

[SaltwaterSlick]

2+ inches of MORE rain last night... I ain't even started yet, and I fell like it's time to throw in the towel and just go to the big Farmer's Market over of Shepherd Dr. in Houston and buy what we need to pack the freezer and can... Guarantee you it'd be cheaper!!

[Man]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

2+ inches of MORE rain last night... I ain't even started yet, and I fell like it's time to throw in the towel and just go to the big Farmer's Market over of Shepherd Dr. in Houston and buy what we need to pack the freezer and can... Guarantee you it'd be cheaper!!

Where did you find a big one at on Shephard? I saw a sign for one between Shepard/Ella....but it was just a couple tents when we drove by.

[Geezy Rider]

Originally Posted by Uncle Saggy

Been using them for years, they are awesome

And the catalog is pretty cool too


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That’s good to know Curt. This is my first year ordering from them. Tremendous variety.

Originally Posted by PLBowhunter

This weather has all me messed up. I came from a northern climate (Canada) and always started tobacco, hemp, tomatoes, and other things that I felt like needed a head start in February. Seems like Texas this year and last will be the same! I had cucumbers and squash planted in the ground in November and the freeze came in December and killed everything. I still had loofah and tomatoes blooming.

Here is a secret: get yourself some sand from the beach or some other place and wash it well. Use that as a seedling starter. It is easier to remove seedlings and cutting from sand than it is from soil. Plus you don't need to "waste" good soil.

I have started my beans, beans and soybeans last week. They are growing.

Radishes were planted from sprouted seeds last week as well.


I buy seeds at Dollar Tree and Dollar General. I do not need as many and they are cheaper and have some cool varieties.

Another place is in California and they have free Heirloom seeds for less fortunate, or if you donate they send you more and what you actually want.

Good tip on the sand. I always have a pile of sand on hand to use in my horse pens. Thanks.

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

2+ inches of MORE rain last night... I ain't even started yet, and I fell like it's time to throw in the towel and just go to the big Farmer's Market over of Shepherd Dr. in Houston and buy what we need to pack the freezer and can... Guarantee you it'd be cheaper!!

Yeah but you know it wouldn’t be as good Charlie.

[bollomb]

Originally Posted by Man

Where did you find a big one at on Shephard? I saw a sign for one between Shepard/Ella....but it was just a couple tents when we drove by.

There is a pretty big one off Airline around 610 area

[TexasLongball]

Got my seeds started 2 weeks ago. This is my first attempt. I hope they don’t keep this rate of growth! They’ll outgrow the space I have for them before I can get them in the ground. Tapatalk won’t let me post pics for some reason.


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[TexasLongball]

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[SaltwaterSlick]

Turn your lights off and just let them grow from natural ambient light. If you have heat mats or heated room, turn that off or down enough to slow them but not enough to let 'em freeze these next few days... If your seeds grow TOO fast like that, depending on what they are, they will bolt on you and won't produce anything... That's like going to seed rather than growing up first before setting blooms/fruit...

[TexasLongball]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

Turn your lights off and just let them grow from natural ambient light. If you have heat mats or heated room, turn that off or down enough to slow them but not enough to let 'em freeze these next few days... If your seeds grow TOO fast like that, depending on what they are, they will bolt on you and won't produce anything... That's like going to seed rather than growing up first before setting blooms/fruit...

Good to know. One tray has several types of tomatoes and tomatillos and the other has several kinds of peppers.

[Aggiechick]

Any suggestions on an elevated bed?

My garden was flooded out last year and the only area I can put the garden gets tins of runoff and even if I put in a raised bed I am worried that tbe soil will stay too wet (joys of coastal living).

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[Geezy Rider]

Eight days after planting my seeds, the first one has popped up.
Black Brandywine Tomato.



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[texansfan]

I planted onions and garlic bulbs in the ground the week after Thanksgiving
By Christmas the green onions were seven inches tall

Mid January I had a sweet potato that sprouted so I chunked each piece with an eye and planted them
I also cooked something that weekend where I needed onions so I kept the tops and bottoms of the onions and planted them too

I planted about sixty strawberry plants October 2020
I got them mail order from some famous place
They do a large market share of strawberries
Anyhow those plants threw off TONS of berries last year
They even survived the freeze
But I didn't water them over the summer and I think I lost all but maybe three plants

I need to weed and prep the garden to see exactly what I have left

Blueberry bushes didn't produce any, I mean ZERO, blueberries last year but the two years before that they had berries so I guess the big freeze killed the harvest

I used some red and yellow bell peppers from HEB few weeks ago and decided to just throw the seeds in some solo cups of soil
I got 100% germination so now I have a dozen bell pepper plants started

Going to do the same with these tomatoes I bought last night
A Roma and beefsteak

Found some pumpkin seeds in my kids room from a couple seasons ago we bought from willhite. They still have the pink stuff on them so we'll give them a go.

But still need to order purple Hull peas and yellow meat watermelon seeds.

Let's see how things go