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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I don't have the garden ready for transplants, but it should be prepared in time for what I started today to go in and produce a crop. Today I started Dukat dill, parsley (it's soaking, but I consider that a start  ), Early Girl tomatoes, Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, Relleno peppers, and California Wonder bell peppers.
Feels good to be planting seeds again! 
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Do you have your irrigation system done now, Tom? Or is that for the flower gardens, not the vegetable garden?
I have three types of dill started (thank you Tom for Dukat seeds), tarragon, and chamomile for my herb beds. Over the winter I propagated lots of perennials and started quite a few from seed.
I have in my little mitts (who am I kidding...big callused mitts) a list of seeds I am going to order tonight or tomorrow of: Lincoln leeks, super cayenne II chili peppers, pesco jalapeno peppers, brown mustard seeds, gigante d'Italia Parsley, catnip (tea for me, narcotics for my cats...can I say that on CN?), early French red shallots, Early Italian purple garlic.
I won't start the rest of the vegetables until next month in the greenhouses.
What I'm really excited about is plans for beautifying this yard of ours....just fixed up the inside this past year. Now I can work on the outside. Small yard, so lots of vertical plans! 
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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No, the system isn't in yet, but it will be several weeks before the tomaotoes are ready to go out, and longer still for the peppers. The herbs can go into pots for a long time before transplanting is critical - so long as I don't actually overshoot the season.
I basically have one garden for both veggies/herbs and flowers, so its one system for all.
Let me know what sort of germination response you get with the dill. I just planted some myself from the same batch.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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The dill is already starting to swell. Shouldn't be long now if they are willing to germinate. I'm about ready to bump up the other seedlings. Will have to order in more bales of promix though.
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Something of everything is up, now, including the peppers.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Great! More seeds came in the other day, so I'll be starting them soon. I've decided to wait a few more weeks before transplanting so we don't have to fire up another greenhouse so soon. I'm getting so excited for spring. 
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I'm also being buried alive in the annual seed catalog avalanche. This always cracks me up, because I'm already gardening (most years) before most folks see the catalogs, let alone order their seeds!
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Tom, when would you start a garlic crop in Zone 5?
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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My first seed catalogue came in this week!  Although, shipping is expensive, and my landlady usually goes to a local seed-swap and gardeners' meet in March. The peppers were the only early-starters I was thinking of doing, and I think now they're a bit too ambitious for this year, so I probably won't do any mail order.
My current plan involves spaghetti squash and/or eggplant. I'm looking at some of the smaller non-bitter eggplants like Lavender Touch.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
Tom, when would you start a garlic crop in Zone 5?
Not sure. Early spring? This might contain the answer (the Arizona counterpart has saved my donkey metaphor any number of times):
Ohio Extension
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Thanks. It says early spring (March and April). That's what I thought. The seed company that I ordered them said they would send them to me in September as it would be best for my zone area. What?!  I wonder if they are going to send me finished off garlic. Guess I'll be giving them a call in the morning to see what the deal is. 
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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That's nuts! Plant them in the fall, and more than likely when they come up in the spring they'll bolt. At least, that's what I would expect. Let me know what their rationale is. I'm understandably curious.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Well I've called the seed company and spoke to a woman. She said that was when they normally ship garlic. I asked her why.
She hesitated a moment and said again that garlic gets sent out in Sept. I told her I lived in zone 5, garlic gets planted in spring, and again asked her why.
By this time she was flustered and told me she'd have the seed guy call me when he comes in (told me he was due in any minute) because she really didn't know. It's been half an hour, still no call back.
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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So she just works there, and not because of a background in horticulture.
I wonder if you'll ever hear back?
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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No, they didn't call back so I rang them again. I spoke to a different woman this time and she seemed a little bit more knowledgable.
Evidently it is suggested to plant garlic (both softnecks and hardnecks) 4 weeks prior to the first fall frost, later if I were to live in a more temperate zone. This doesn't coincide with the Ohio Extension office report.
She said there are other varieties that you should plant in the spring but they aren't satisfied with those varieties to offer them.
I've not grown garlic myself before, but didn't want to wait until Fall to plant them. So cancelled the garlic order for now.
What zone was Illinois, Tom? Did you grow garlic back then? We have an extenion office just down the street from me. I'll ask the guy there, he's always been really helpful.
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Zone 5, I think. We followed the Extension advice we received like it was wisdom received from on high. When it failed, it was because the weather took an unseasonable turn.
I'm going from 25+ year old memories, but we planted garlic as early in spring as possible. I don't recall planting anything in the onion family in the fall, ever. Always seemed to have plenty of garlic to harvest in early autumn. I remember this part pretty clearly because, in my younger days, I despised the smell of garlic, and did not look forward to that harvest.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Thanks, Tom. I called the extension office here and he said that most people go ahead and plant them in the fall around here to get an early start in the spring. I told him what the Ohio website said, but he said I could plant in the spring and it should do just fine, just a little later start. He recommends planting in September.
He said there shouldn't be much problems with bolting either.
Well at the end of the day, then, I guess it doesn't matter much when I plant them. I used to use his advice alot when I used to farm, he's been around for ages.
Have you ever started garlic from store garlic? If I were to plant that in the fall or put it in the freezer or fridge, I wonder if it would come up. Assuming then that it needs so many weeks of cold temps to kick start it in the spring?
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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So you can have it both ways!
I've started garlic from stuff in the store, but not after it had been refrigerated. (Freezing would kill it - and believe it or not, if it's in the soil over the winter, it won't actually freeze.) The varieties you find in catalogs are better producers IMO.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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I was taught that as long as the roots are in moist soil when it freezes that the temp will not go below 32F. But if the soil is dry, then it can freeze. So that part isn't true?
I don't know what i was thinking when I mentioned putting garlic in the freezer. Sometimes words blurt out before I actually think about what I'm saying. Stupid idea...ignore me. 
With Easter lilies, tulips, and most perennials, etc., they have to go through a cold treatment in order to bloom. Easter Lilies for example has to have an accumulative cold and moist treatment of around 6 weeks. I assumed garlic was the same way. But I guess garlic doesn't have to bloom for me to harvest?
Thanks for all your help on this, Tom. Maybe what I'll do is if I can't easily get garlic for spring planting, I'll try some of the store garlic and order some from a vendor for fall. As an afterthought today, I asked my 89 year old grandmother how she used to grow it. She said she always planted it in the spring but it never did very well.
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
|
desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Hmmm, it's beginning to sound as if fall planting has some merit. By the way, we plant ours in October, but then, we don't have much in the way of winter.
I'm not at all sure about the dry soil/wet soil freezing stuff. I know that things we overwintered in Illinois were covered deeply with fallen leaves because we couldn't always count on enough snow to provide necessary insulation. One of my favorite chores in the fall was putting the chicken wire around the roses and heaping it full of leaves. I just liked the way the old leaves smelled.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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