Nope. Nothing like that, just an average two story with a little bit of charm only because it's oldish.

Hey, does anyone use hay or straw for mulch? If so, do you have a particular place you go to purchase it? Does Adams carry it?

Just want to say hello, my first time on this forum. I just started a vegetable garden in Ulster County. We just built a raised bed garden, 18x20. Still working on the irrigation and fencing but am excited to grow vegetables again. Been a while. Have been enjoying reading all you Hudson Valley gardeners. Thank you for posting.

Welcome, tana! Glad you are able to garden again. Please send some pics of your garden when it is ready.

Do you know what you're going to be growing?

Thanks Chris, will do pix when the fencing is done. Planning on the usual suspects when it comes to veggies. Heirloom and cherry tomatoes, cukes, sweet frying peppers, zukes, summer squash, green beans, going to try haricot verde beans, celery, yukon golds, collards, kale, brussel sprouts for my husband, broccoli, cantaloupe, would like to plant some onion sets, various herbs, and I think that's it. Have just started putting in the greens so far. Hoping to get most things in this weekend. My husband is working on a drip system to keep everything watered on a timer. Just feels so good to get my hands back in the dirt.

A great variety there! Looking forward to seeing your setup.

I wish this forum was more active. Unfortunately, not many post in here. There's a thread called Seed Starting Time IV that a bunch of us gardeners post updates in. It's in the Alliums forum, but we usually don't discuss alliums - mostly every other vegetable lol. You can check that out, visit the Vegetable Gardening or Growing Tomatoes forums, which have a lot more traffic. A ton of great people with great advice in there.

Best of luck!

Thanks Chris. I'll stay in touch here and check out those other forums as well. I hope to have most veggies planted by the end of this weekend, if possible. I know it's a little early but I have row covers ready in case of a dip in temperatures. It was such a warm winter but it's been a cool spring thus far.

Yeah our springs are too unpredictable here. I typically play it safe and wait until Memorial Day weekend to put out my tomatoes and such. If you have the means to keep them warm, though, plant away.

I don't know if you have your plants yet, but the Putnam County Cooperative Extension has it's Master Gardeners Plant Sale on Saturday, from 8:30am - 12:30pm. Actually, I should post that in this forum. It's located in Brewster. Not sure how much of a trek that is for you, but it's a great place to get your vegetable and flower seedlings. They sell varieties that places like Home Depot and Lowes wouldn't carry. Plus they are healthier plants.

Hi all,

I was unable to log in for eons, but I'm here. That crazy wind took down a tree acoss the street- and it landed partly in my yard. ssoooo I have lots of woodchips - which I desperately needed. I just finished building my 6th garden bed. Need 3 more. trying to grow the world this year - #overAmbitios!

how areyou folks?

Hey Chrissy! Glad you're back and that the tree did no damage.

Wow - that sounds great. You'll have to share some pictures soon.

Same old same old here. Anxiously waiting for the temps to warm up, so I can get my tomatoes and peppers outside. This week may be the week to harden off. Looks like 70's this weekend, and then the temps rise even more next week.

What a windy and cold day it was yesterday. Had to put the rowcovers back on my nightshades last night as it was predicted to hit 36 by me and I'm in a low, cold spot. Thankfully, all seedlings survived. Veggies almost entirely planted, including 18 tomato plants. Forgot to get in onion sets this weekend and haven't planted green beans yet. Everything else in. Just praying for weather to warm up.

Your prayers should be answered this weekend. 70's predicted, starting this Friday. Temps gradually climb after that.

18 tomato plants?! I'm jealous. Do you have doubles of each variety or all different? I'm going to use this week to harden off the tomatoes and peppers, then plant them out on Saturday.

Still have my babies in the basement. Got a late start but I think they'll be big enough to put out Memorial Weekend.

Tomato, basil, eggplant, peppers

I have virtually no sunlight in the house, and don't have the best grow lights arranged, so I'd put my seedlings out very early. I have half a dozen Brandywines, and four each of a beefsteak, a cherry, and San Marzano. Even my neighbors raised their eyebrows that I'd put my tomatoes in this early. This is a good week to be hardening off Chris, and even next Saturday is still running early. After a warm winter it sure does seem like a chilly spring.

Yeah I feel like this is going to be another mild summer. Last summer we hardly got any severe weather and I believe one of our hottest temps was recorded in May.

Very nice! Which variety of cherry?

I'm hoping to harden off my seedlings starting next week, the nights are looking milder.

My grow rack is Macgyver'd together. It's a metal shelving unit hung with some fluorescent shop lights all plugged into a timer. All cheap big box store items.

Did anyone ever locate hay or straw?? I need some.

hay too, or just straw? I don't get straw from Adams b/c it's so expensive. but I'm willing to bit e the bullet on hay b/c I don't feel like driving to Maybrook where I normally get it.

Believe it's just straw at HD

Hi! I'm a gardener in mid Hudson Valley & basically use deer-resistant plants to save money/time & heart ache!

Hey there!

Sounds like a solid plan. What do you grow?

Here's some examples of what I grow. https://www.pinterest.com/hvgardensus/deer-resistant-plants-shrubs-for-the-hudson-valley/

I've also found that growing herbs amongst my flowers deters the deer. I grow summer savory, oregano, chives & garlic chives. Also mint in large tubs. Do you grow any plants that deer don't eat?

Hi Chrissy Chris(6a NY) - Boices Farm on Kings Highway (near Kingston) sell hay bales. They have a really nice farm stand with flowers too. They're on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BoicesFarm/?fref=ts&em=1

I had recently heard that mint deters deer, but had no idea. I definitely do get deer, but maybe this is why I never have any problems....

:-)

I am able to see some of your pinterest photos, but not all without logging in. I'll have to try to remember my login info. Good to know!

Nice crop of mint! I've heard its one of the plants deer like the least

Keeps the deer away, but the leafhoppers LOVE it :-/

But if I had to choose between the 2, I'll take the leafhoppers :-)

I haven't noticed leaf hoppers on my mint (on other flowering plants tho). Yes leaf hoppers don't eat as much as deer!

Beautiful photos, Hudson. Kalmia latifolia is one I see in the woods around here but wish I had it on my property. Maybe someday. I've always been under the impression anything fragrant, like herbs, keeps the deer away. I have a four foot fence around my property from when I had my dog, and my new vegetable garden is in raised beds with a fence being built around it as well. The deer have started to figure out that my dog's not around anymore but they still don't bother jumping the fence except for the bad winter two winters ago when I think they were starving. So fencing has worked well for me, although the black bears seem to climb right over it without a problem. First summer with a vegetable garden and bears. I'm hoping they're not interested.

Hi tana10115 I'm interested to hear how your vegetable garden/ black bear situation works out. Hopefully they find plenty of food elsewhere!

Chris, I lost the thread with Peter and LoneJack. Help!

Thanks very much. Very quiet over there! I have been stuck at work literally until 1am all this week. I have not been in my garden since Sunday. These hours are killing me and I miss my yard. Thank God for automatic watering. How are you doing? How's your yard?

Sheesh! Those are some crazy hours. Hopefully you'll get a chance to enjoy the weekend.

All is well here. Tomatoes are doing quite well in the grow bags I have them in. Unfortunately I'm spraying aphids off of them everyday. Main garden is doing pretty well too. Zucchini, cucumbers, squash and beans are starting to come a long.

How's your garden doing?

Just cleaned up most of the garden today. building a couple 6*6 beds for garlic and flowers.

Just hopping on to say hi! We moved to NW Yonkers, right on the river, in August 2016 so this is my first growing season as a Hudson Valley resident. I'm also a first time gardener, having lived in NYC with no outdoor space until now. Looking forward to learning from you folks!

Welcome! Very exciting time of the year coming up!

Are you growing in an existing space or starting new?

Also, I'll recommend visiting this thread: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/4485121/gardenweb-chat-march-2017 A lot of experienced gardeners have been commenting in here. We are on the cusp of being able to start some seeds indoors(eggplants, peppers, tomatoes). You can learn a great deal in here.

You are so lucky being on the river have you been to the Hudson river museum, bet it is in walking distance from you Welcome I grew up in area now live a little north Alex

This summer I will be growing what I can in some raised beds that we inherited, plus containers. I planted garlic in one of them last fall, along with some tulips/crocuses, and once I get the others weeded I'm hoping to grow leeks, peppers, maybe tomatoes. I'll also be trying to tame a jungle of overgrown landscaping and plant some new shrubs, etc., to make the place my own! Part of this project includes removing a large privet hedge to make room for a large raised bed. There isn't much flat/sunny space for growing vegetables on the property - this hedge occupies basically the only good area I have, so it must go!

Hi Alex, yes, we are in walking distance of the Hudson River museum, but haven't had a chance to visit yet! We have been up to Untermyer Park and Lenoir Nature Preserve several times, though, and we regularly walk up to Hastings on the Aqueduct trail. It's such a lovely area, we are thrilled to be here!

That sounds great! Seems like you've got a pretty good idea about what to do!

Is your garlic sprouting? A bunch of mine have broke through the mulch with this warm weather. Now this arctic blast is coming. Expecting single digit temps tomorrow night :-/ Do you plan to grow tomatoes and peppers from seed or buy seedlings?

Chris

Yes, my garlic bed started sprouting a couple of weeks ago - so exciting! I am a little worried about the arctic blast tonight but I don't think it is going to be quite as bad where I am - I think they're calling for lows around 20. I messed up and ordered a shipment of bare-root fruit plants (two cherry trees, elderberry and raspberry) earlier than I should have, though, and they arrived yesterday instead of next weekend as I was planning, just in time for this frigid weather. I've got them in my root cellar right now, but I think I'll start the berries in pots this weekend and then transplant once it warms up just a bit. The cherries I'm hoping to put in the ground on Sunday.

Garlic is very hardy, but with temps up by me getting so low and the wind chill....I don't want to risk it. I'll give them some cover before tomorrow night.

Where did you order your seedlings from? I ordered some raspberry, blueberry and strawberry plants from Nourse Farms, but they won't ship until a month from today. Same with some onion seedlings I ordered from Dixondale.

Chris

The bare root fruits were all from Stark Bros. They estimated shipping next week on their website, so I was surprised that they came yesterday. Hopefully it won't cause any problems, but I think they guarantee their plants for a year so I should be able to get replacements if necessary.

Have not been to Untermyer Park in years . They have stolen a lot of sponsors from Wave Hill, have you been there yet also on river in Riverdale. The was a large painting of Mrs Untermyer hanging in Hudson River Museum.

Haven't been to Wave Hill, although it looks like I take the train right past it every day! We'll have to check it out. Untermyer is really lovely, both the formal garden areas and the wilder bits.

Ugh, I wasn't able to plant my bare root fruits last week due to the Arctic chill, and now we're supposed to be getting snow Friday and more cold temps this weekend. I potted everything - think they'll be okay outside in pots or should I bring them in overnight? I wish our weather would just make up its mind!

My goodness Jack, that's some very serious weather you are having. I did not know you were in the tornado belt. I hope your property and family are all alright.

Never heard of Untermyer gardens. Just looked them up and they are gorgeous! Thank you for the tip, I will make a point of visiting them this summer. I'm less than two hours from there.

Has anyone here ever grown the large variety of San Marzano tomatoes? I am wondering if they are truly like heirloom San Marzano's. I'm planning on growing more of those this season. Sad to say I am not planting from seed this year. I have to create a set up with more light and ventilation than what I had last year which killed all my poor leggy tomato seedlings.

Tana it looks like you may have mixed threads haha. Jack is in the GardenWeb Chat.

Ya know I didn't grow San Marzano last year, I grew Roma. I think I will try San Marzano again this year though. From what I keep hearing, the best sauce comes from a combination of paste and other tomatoes.

@biondanonima, I don't have a lot of experience with bare root fruits, but I would keep them out of the frigid temps if you can. I think the big thing with bare root too is to not let them dry out. What is it again? Will it fit in the fridge?

Well, they're not bare anymore - I put them in pots last weekend because I didn't want to leave them bare for too long. However, some of the pots aren't very big - the cherry trees are in 3 gal pots, but the blueberries and raspberries are in much smaller (temporary) containers - maybe 2 quarts. I just worry about those freezing solid. The small ones are easy enough to move, so perhaps I'll bring those in and leave the bigger ones out.