Anyone growing a garden this season?

[dksart]

Since I was stopping at a local nursery for some eggplant seedlings, I decided to see if I could find "just one more" unusual herb for my already semi-packed herb garden. I wound up leaving with the two kinds of eggplants I came for, creole tomatoes, a bay laurel tree, and nine new herb varieties!

I could not resist! All of them are so beautiful like the red rubin and the two different purple ruffles basil, the delicate cream striped leaves of the pesto basil, the petite spicy globe basil, the unknown lime green and purple speckled big leaf variety and the spicy Thai basils. I also got gold variegated and purple variegated sages.

I have to dig another herb garden, maybe this one will be exclusive to basils. I already had cinnamon, lemon, Genovese, lettuce leaf, and a different variety of globe basils to add to the new ones.

Oh, well. I suppose my back's gonna hurt this week again!

[sdes]

Once again I am just reeking with envy.... It will be another two weeks before I dare put things out in my garden area... and the number of things you grow.... AMAZING!!!!!.... This high dessert climate is just not all that conducive to gardening... It is my guess that you don't even have to water that much. Is that true?.... Here, I have to go out at least twice a day to keep things from getting parched, but it is worth all the effort when all the results finally get to the table... Hope your back stays strong and well....

[dksart]

Oh, no. I have to water every day, unless it rains. It gets quite hot and the soil usually becomes parched by 8 am when I water and weed. If the forecast is for rain, it will not rain until I give up all hope and get the hose out.

Day before yesterday I accidentally left the hose on for hours in the veggie garden and waterlogged everything! I hope they recover.

[dksart]

Well, some rabbits or vols got into my garden and ate a bunch of delicious tender baby plants. I am going to try to salvage some that look half alive today.

Anyone has tips for keeping various varmints and assorted critters out of your veggie garden?

[sdes]

Sorry to hear about that.... I truly sympathize...... I've been pretty successful with using dried hot peppers... I try to find them in bulk... First put a cup or two in a food processor and give them a good whirl... then let them rest for at least a half an hour, it is important to let the fine dust settle.. After watering and when there is NO wind put on some tight fitting sun glasses or swimming goggles and lightly dust all your veggies and herbs.... The pepper will stick pretty well to what ever you put it on and when the little critters sneak in to your garden they get smarted with heat... If you do this for a week or two it is usually enough to detour them for the season... They seem to have a good memory for the burning sensation in their mouth, nostrils and eyes... It may seem mean but it does not have a lasting effect on them other than to stay away from your garden.

[dksart]

Wow! Thanks so much for the tip. I never thought of that, but it makes so much sense.

I'll try it tomorrow, if the rest of my plants make it through tonight.....we are under a tornado watch, severe thunderstorm warning and flash flood warning with golf ball sized hail. Insane!

[sdes]

I hope that you woke today safe and sound with sunny skies and your garden in good shape... Glad to have been of some help and I hope the work for you... Stay well and safe and dry

[dksart]

Originally Posted by sdes

I hope that you woke today safe and sound with sunny skies and your garden in good shape... Glad to have been of some help and I hope the work for you... Stay well and safe and dry

Aww, thanks a bunch! We are fine, no tornadoes, just about 6" of rain in less than an hour. Plus we got another big downpour this morning. A lot of my smaller plants didn't fair so well.

I came home from picking our daughter up from school to find the evil plant eater, it is little grey Peter Rabbit. He was in the garden buffet line and disappeared through the fence about two seconds after the dogs came out.

[dksart]

OK, here goes. My first attempt at posting pictures. If this works, I'll start a new thread for my herb garden (which looks a hell of a lot better than my rabbit ravaged veggie garden.)

These are some of my okra, which I think the rabbits just don't like, the last remaining squash plant with blossoms, and tiny cherry tomatoes.

[boulder alley]

It's great to see your garden photos. Yea, let's see the herbs too.

Cindy