Hi Tina,

What about the summer? While I'm not big on noodle beans I was excited to try some zipper cream peas since I love green field peas, but after TS Debbie even in my raised buckets they look trashed, only time will tell....

Tom

The eastern veggie bed is empty...and I played with the idea of putting some field peas, mustard, amaranth, or something exotic in, but it's so dang hot! I don't think I've ever tried a zipper cream pea. Think I should stick some in and see what happens?

I'm new enough that most everything about growing here is new. Silvia has been generous enough to gift me a number of new things to try. Currently, my sweets from the party are growing into the neighbors yard and through the garden fence, and Tom's tomatoes are starting to produce. The cool weather after the last storm enabled the other tomatoes to set a small crop, so they are still growing, but I'm getting antsy to put seeds in little pots for the fall. I have 3 artichoke revving up, but my out on a limb one is celery. I've never even tried to grow that before.

Larry

Hi All

I am glad to know that the sweets are doing good at your gardens. After the party, I planted more sweets different varieties that a veggie expert recommended, one is Mahon's and the other is Okinawan all purple.

For the fall, I have a lot of surprises and all my seeds are bought already, first time trying a lot of new things...I will update when they are growing.:)

Larry, I start the small seedlings in cups that I put in plastic bins. They get started in one of the bathrooms window and after that they go outside in the porch.
Did you see my celery that was in a green bucket by the blackberries? it is very easy to grow just like parsley, likes cooler weather.

Silvia

I tried to sprout purple sweets and yams from the flea market last year but they rotted. Since I got these sprouts from you, Sylvia, three swaps back...I haven't had to replant! I've definately had to reign in my temptation to plant everything at least once since then and focus on what I love to eat. I just don't have the time and space. What I want to try next is rutabega. I love it! If you know of one that grows well here I am all ears.

Larry, you can start sweet pepper seeds now, they need double the time of tomato seed for set, usually 12 weeks vs. 6 weeks for the tomatoes.... I'm running late, I usually start my pepper seed 6/1 for a 9/1 set but I didn't start them until this past rainy weekend. I'll be starting my first batch of tomato seed 7/14 for a 9/1 set and the second batch 7/28 just in case of a September hurricane.

Tom

Tina, one of my neighbors likes rutabaga and he planted them last season, he already pull them out because of the heat. It grows the same time like a turnip when is cold, winter for us. You can try to get seeds and plant them or get ahead of the season and plant seedlings that are available at the big box stores because it takes longer than a turnip to bulb up. If my neighbors that are first time gardeners can grow them, anyone can.:)
I am also planting things that I love but first time planting them in this garden. I tried so many vegetables and fruits in my travels that sometimes I forget...

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: rutabaga

I'm so glad to see this post. I was going to ask everyone what their most productive fall crops were, and when they started them from seed. Thanks for the info Tom, was wondering what kind of tomatoes you're going to start in July?

Another question, which veggies are good for succession planting? I have a lot of space & want to get good large yields for my family, looking for the best varieties of veggies and still working on my planting calendar. Thanks so much!

Derek

I usually get my 'exotic' herb seeds from Richter's in Canada. They have an extensive on-line catalog, www.richters.com and have great customer service. If you can't find it locally, try Richter's.
Cora

Thanks for the great tip!

I ordered from Richter's:

1 pkt S2050 Cumin Seeds 1.85/pkt 1.85
1 pkt S1016 Ajowan Seeds 3.15/pkt 3.15
1 pkt S1210-001 Ashwagandha SowNatural(tm)Seeds 3.15/pkt 3.15
1 pkt S1140 Anise Seeds 1.85/pkt 1.85
1 ea S7515 Tea Time Tea Herb Garden Seed Collec 7.00/ea 7.00

SPG, send me an email and we'll talk offline.

Tom

Been waiting on this, I'm so excited, just recently planted mustards, turnips, collards, got some broccoli, green cauliflower, Swiss chard, carrots,various lettuce,asparagus beans, and they all were up and doing fine. The storm came and my entire garden was underwater for bout 7 hours, after the water receded everything appears to be fine. Should I be worried about what could have been in the water or do you think it's fine? Would like to try a few of those seeds if you still have some to spare!

My fall garden will be rather limited since the little one will be here then, but I'm planning on some old favorites - yard long beans and zucchini - and I am going to try the broccoli seeds I got from Tom too.

As for the summer garden, the amaranth I got at Lori's swap is huge now, all the tomato plants are doing well as is the eggplant, and I still have my banana peppers and everglades tomatoes from the spring. My son will be trying his pumpkins again this year, starting them in a couple of weeks under a shade he and his dad are working on. Oh, and I have some Malabar spinach and Okinawan spinach going as well.

Tinae, would you let us know how the Anise does? I planted some a number of years ago and the results were pathetic. cora

oh no...hmmm. I didn't get hyssop which is really different according to the latin name. I'll let you know Cora.

Sylvie, thanks for the rutabega info. It also emphasises cool weather...which I dont get much of. I probably will only try a few plants to see.

Sylvia -

THe okinowa purple is grown in Hawaii so I know it will grow here... but it's not a 'bush type' I don't think. Good luck! Then again... you've got a bit more space there. I can't wait to see what you do with them. They look normal until you cut into them. pefectly purple on the inside. Should see them mashed. :-D My fav! Violet taters.

Anyone up for splitting an order of garlic? I don't have much space and couldn't plant a half pound much less a poung of garlic. LOL. Not to mention I want to try 2 varieties. Only problem is getting a place that will ship before September or that will ship bulbets that already have 8wks chill time on them.

Barbie~

Thanks for mentioning Richter's, Cora. Wow, they have just about everything, don't they?

SLIMGOODY you don't have an email address on your page. Can you email me from my page and let me know what you want and where to send?

Thanks!

Tina

I got an anise plant that I got it in the Biosphere, I think there are few kinds... I also grew in the spring another anise from seed and treated like an annual. I had it in morning sun and afternoon shade on the side where all the herbs are.

Anise today

Hi Barbie

Yes I know that Okinawa is grown in Hawaii, when I was there I had some very good ones! Now I usually get it in the Asian store by my house. And no, is not a bush. I am growing them by the greenhouse, I had last summer another ones Colorette that I got it at Echo and is not bush either, all of those slips I gave it to Rick since he has a lot of space.:) Next spring, I will have slips of the Okinawa and Mahon for those interested...

They are growing fine by the sugar cane

And I am also going to harvest soon the tree tomato aka tamarillo that can be used as a fruit or veggie.

If you don't find anyone near you that want to split garlic, I will split with you. Let me know...

Silvia

I am intrigued by the tamarillo. Always have been. Hope they turn red for you soon! Maybe one day I'll finally get to taste a fresh one. ;-)

I'll let you know about the garlic - will have to order soon because they are selling out some places already!

Barbie

Barbie, I love tamarillo! I have 2 kinds, the red one and the yellow. For some reason the yellow one does better in my climate. Sometimes they sell it at Whole Foods but the quality is not the same as a fresh one. It can be used as a vegetable side dish, fresh of course, made into smoothies, candied, and I can also make a hot sauce with it! Have you tried quince paste? the tamarillo one is better.

And today's harvest: Brogdon avocados, last cherry tomatoes, Violet multicolor butterbeans, and figs, since I made a lot of jams already, I am going to candy them and put them in the dehydrator. I made an appetizer platter for a party on the weekend using fresh figs and fig jam to put on top of cheese, all I could hear was that it was amazing!

Silvia

I do love figs and avocodos... You are tempting me. Some day out of all my trees I'm sure one of them will give me a fruit. LOL. Your butterbeans look good too. I think next year I'll try them instead of the bush limas. Not that I have much verticle space, but better to have it used wisely. :-D

Silvia your harvests never fail to amaze!

Barbie~

where do you buy your seeds?
just wonder if you have fav vendor
making a list to plant this fall
thank for you time
DENNIS

I like Bakers Creek (rareseeds.com) and Renees Garden (Reneesgarden.com) though I often have to order from other sources as well ans no one vendor has everything I want. There are also the standards, Park Seeds, Burpee, ferry-morse.com, gurneys, etc. Love the internet, if one place doesn't have something, another place does.

At Sylvia's party I got an herb plant. It is doing great. It tastes like fennel or anise. I know it is not fennel by the looks, but not sure what it is. Sweet plants not doing so good. Rabbits or something have been eating off the tops as quick as they grow.

Hi Deb

Sorry about your sweets. I would put an insect barrier cloth to cover them up, that lets the sun and water come through and hopefully whatever is eating them cannot get to them. They are very hardy and will grow even some leaves are missing, we still have a lot of warm days for them to recover.
The herb that you got sounds like a good thing. Carmen and Rick grow a lot of medicinal plants...

Silvia

This year has been so weird for gardening, not only does the anna apple have seeds, but cucumber seeds I planted in late winter are coming up now! Three of them! I guess I have time to let them attempt to survive before fall planting. Maybe a row cover would help them live? Actually I need row cover material and I need black plastic mulch if anyone knows where to order it for a good price. I am preparing my new herb garden. Sunday night and this morning I dug up a 12x12 area by hand as the tiller cuts up the grass roots and plants grass everywhere. I am beat. I'm getting a load of waste granite from my local granite store to use in a pathway. It will be great when done by gee it's a hot time of year for this! I'll post some photos when complete.