et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Jul 22, 2014 7:46:17 GMT -5
My best friend who recently passed away also taught me about some gardening. When we worked the garden together it was not only relaxing but a great time for conversation. With gardening there are also humorous moments. For a moment I thought this was now a past event lost. Through a conversation in the Spring my deceased friend’s widow wanted to keep the gardening going as a legacy to her late husband and asked for my help. I agreed and a garden plan was formulated. It was originally planned to plant 40-tomato plants and she wanted to get the young plants. Okay I did not argue the point of who should provide the plants of choice. Now come planting day lo and behold there were 80-tomato plants to plant. Okay I had to ask the widow why the change in plans. All I got was a big smile and I could only respond with some laughter. This was also a bit of a haunting moment as my deceased friend pulled this stunt a few times on me but not to this extent. Anyway it’s been a garden learning experience as well because my deceased friend would do most of the garden care while I was on the road working at different job locations. First off I learned that the choice of tomato was of an indeterminate variety, continuous growing, that required a lot of attention to suckering, pruning and tying stems for supporting the upcoming fruit. Of course early blight appeared that again required learning to deal with. Overall the garden with numerous vegetables other than just tomatoes is and has been really producing an exceptional crop. There is going to be a whack of tomatoes this year and I’m waiting to hear the widow say “what am I going to do with all these tomatoes?” Then it’s my turn to get in the last chuckle when I remind her of our original agreement of 40-plants. You don’t think I would pass up just such an opportunity, would you? Keep in mind these are low acid hybrid tomatoes that don’t lend themselves to canning. Anyway I am including a recent picture of the garden that is only ½-size of what it used to be when my friend was alive.  Ed |
|
|
|
Post by krwada on Jul 22, 2014 10:04:29 GMT -5
Wow! That is some garden! It is even larger than the one my parents had when I lived out on the farm!
|
|
|
|
Post by hacker54 on Jul 22, 2014 10:17:12 GMT -5
I have done some gardening off and on over the years. I had helped with the truck patch at my late father-in-law's. My neighbor has a garden that I help with and get to plant some items at times. I think people should learn how to grow their own as one never knows when hard times hit.
|
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Jul 22, 2014 11:19:49 GMT -5
Krwada Actually that is not the full garden with a nice amount of raspberry bushes behind me from where I took the picture. What might be of interest is the gray building in front of the garden. It’s what I call a Barnage (huge garage 32’x60’). The red building recessed further back is part of the home. That tree you also see near the home is a magnolia and when it blossoms in the spring is a sight to behold but also a messy cleanup afterwards. Enjoyed many a cup of coffee under the magnolia when it was in bloom. Hacker54 I agree others should learn some gardening. Even if times are not hard you can’t beat the taste of something off the vine when it reaches its peak ripening time. Soon I won’t even look at a store bought tomato until late October. On the right side are rows of beans with ½ being planted 2-1/2 weeks later for a continuing feed for a while. Excess that is not given away is blanched and frozen for a later date. Cucumbers are just starting and have had a few young ones. Zucchini and squash are just starting to appear but need maturing time. At my friend’s wake family and friends mentioned how they enjoyed my deceased friend’s fresh garden goodies he shared and were also saddened that this would now end. I guess the widow has a little surprise in store for them and they will experience the legacy that has been kept alive a little longer yet.  Ed |
|
jbnut
Member
Posts: 169 
Location: Warren, Pennsylvania
|
Post by jbnut on Jul 22, 2014 16:33:19 GMT -5
Ed,
That's a great looking garden I'm sure you friend would be proud of you. I can only see one thing that is missing. 
John |
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Jul 22, 2014 18:54:35 GMT -5
Ed,
That's a great looking garden I'm sure you friend would be proud of you. I can only see one thing that is missing.
John Jbnut Okay you got my interest hook, line and sinker as to what’s missing? The only thing I can possible think that is missing in such a picture is a scarecrow that in this case is not needed. Guess I fulfill that role when I’m there.  Some wildlife does scurry around there like seeing a few little bunnies hoping around but they haven’t touched anything yet. Birds like to dust themselves of mites in the sandy soil or robins come in numbers when I use the mini roto-tiller in larger areas for weed control. Mourning doves search for small peebles to grind their food. Even watched a borrowing wasp dig a hole in the ground one morning probably to deposit an egg and some paralyzed insects. Yep there’s life in the garden. Ed |
|
jbnut
Member
Posts: 169
Location: Warren, Pennsylvania
|
Post by jbnut on Jul 22, 2014 19:15:37 GMT -5
Ed you touched on it.
Weeds. 
That's a great looking garden you've been doing a lot of work there.
Weeds are the thing that I'm best at growing. That & rabbits. |
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Jul 22, 2014 21:38:12 GMT -5
Jbnut You got me on that one and thanks for the compliment on the garden’s cleanliness. Yeah I try to keep weed infestation under control for the soil to feed the crops and not the weeds. The worst weed offender here is Purslane also known as pigweed. Did a little research on this weed to see if better control can be added because it multiplies and grows so fast. Well the info I found was that this weed is high in Omega-3, minerals and vitamins and more people are now consuming it. Go figure. If it had any more nutritional value it would give ginseng a run for healthy properties. Whether pigweed is good or not I still just want my regular garden crop that I enjoy. Soon the tomatoes will start ripening and I can enjoy toast or fresh homemade bread with my tomatoes and numerous add on. My weakness is that I tend to pig out for a few days when I start enjoying my reward for my efforts. Guilt from additional weight gain comes later. One thing at a time. Ed |
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Jul 31, 2014 6:04:47 GMT -5
The dam is getting ready to overflow in a few weeks time as tomatoes are now starting into their ripening cycle. With the bumper crop this year the weight of the tomatoes are forcing the plants to sag downward and in some cases are bending the stakes. Thought I would add another picture of garden progression.  Ed |
|
|
|
Post by hacker54 on Jul 31, 2014 8:07:27 GMT -5
Ed,
Those tomatoes are indeed starting to look nice just starting to get ripe. BTW what for variety are those? They look nice and big like the Beef Steak variety.
|
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Jul 31, 2014 17:29:50 GMT -5
Hacker54
As I didn’t supply the young plants I’m not 100% sure of the variety.
I do know they are an indeterminate hybrid with medium acid content so they aren’t good for canning. The one quality I enjoy is that even though if they are not allowed to reach that full deep red color they still have that ripe taste.
The reason you can see so many tomatoes is that any leaves with blight have been cut off. Today a second application of antifungal spray was applied to protect the remaining leaves. This has to be now done every 2-weeks to protect the plants in hot and humid weather where blight thrives.
Gardening is fun but tomato plants still require attention throughout the growing season.
A little TLC goes a long way for a nice crop.
Ed
|
|
loafer
Member
No Loafing around
Posts: 52
|
Post by loafer on Oct 26, 2014 15:09:29 GMT -5
Yes I love gardening also I find it relaxing.My wife & I can our fruits of labor.We also raise meat Rabbits, chicken's for eggs & meat, Turkeys, every other year we raise 2 pigs, Besides the wild game on my hunts.I am not a big fan of buying junk from stores so we try our best to raise our own
|
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Nov 10, 2014 9:22:38 GMT -5
Loafer
Been away for a bit so sorry I didn’t respond sooner.
I agree that naturally raised food is by far the best.
Even scratch home cooked meals IMO are the best.
The garden was such a success this year that plans for next year are already in place.
The soil has already been treated with lime to reduce its acidity level to reduce blight infestation. Discarded soil from a mushroom farm is being accumulated for nutrient replacement. Supposedly this discarded soil is supposed to be better than compost according to another person who has used it. Lots to learn.
My special interest is building and using a trellis for cucumbers. This is something new I look forward to trying.
Also additional vegetables are going to be included for next year’s crop.
I too find gardening relaxing and enjoy the rewards at harvest time.
Ed
|
|
loafer
Member
No Loafing around
Posts: 52
|
Post by loafer on Nov 11, 2014 9:20:12 GMT -5
Ed,
I have had the interest in building a trellis for cucumbers also, I did not get one built last season.I doubt I will get done next season. My wife & I Purchased 20 acres over the summer.I have a lot to do this winter to prepare the property for a new home.
Happy Gardening
Dan
|
|
et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
|
Post by et1 on Nov 11, 2014 13:40:07 GMT -5
Loafer
Know what it’s like when other priorities take precedence over what you really want to do.
Best wishes on the construction of your new home.
Catch you in the garden at a later date.
Ed
|
|
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
