How about a gardening thread?

	Quote:	meloncollie
	...the tomatoes are one of the few things growing well this year. ...Peppers are always difficult here - not sure why I keep trying. So far no rot, but no sign of fruit either.

we also have very nice looking tomato plants this year. As suggested, I have my tomatoes under the roof. So although we have a garden, we didn't plant them outside, but have planted them in large pots. I didn't want to buy "tomato house" either, because it looks quite ugly (personal opinion though ), so I decided to have them in pots on a terrace as this is the only way I can protect them from rain.

regarding peppers - they are outside in a vegetable garden and are doing great. Fruits are already about 5cm long, and I have many of them. Beginners luck, I guess - or maybe I am so successful because I use square foot gardening methods? who knows

[sups]

@ meloncolie,
it is a pity that your fruits are not doing well. the main thing is that do well and keep living to produce next year.are you fertilizing the trees? or have you tried anti fungal sprays?
all the best.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	sups
	@ meloncolie, it is a pity that your fruits are not doing well. the main thing is that do well and keep living to produce next year.are you fertilizing the trees? or have you tried anti fungal sprays? all the best.

I've sprayed them with a general fungicide as suggested by the garden center to prevent other forms of disease, but apparently there is nothing allowed in Switzerland that combats Schrotschusskrankheit. All one can do is gather the fallen leaves and fruit to avoid infecting other trees, and cut back affected branches. A warm winter means the fungus doesn't die - if that happens the tree has to be cut down.

I still have some of last year's jam fortunately - but I fear my jam making days are over.

	Quote:	ulaula
	we also have very nice looking tomato plants this year. As suggested, I have my tomatoes under the roof. So although we have a garden, we didn't plant them outside, but have planted them in large pots. I didn't want to buy "tomato house" either, because it looks quite ugly (personal opinion though ), so I decided to have them in pots on a terrace as this is the only way I can protect them from rain. regarding peppers - they are outside in a vegetable garden and are doing great. Fruits are already about 5cm long, and I have many of them. Beginners luck, I guess - or maybe I am so successful because I use square foot gardening methods? who knows

You are right about the Tomatenhüsli lack of esthetics. Doesn't matter much if one has a hobby farm, the Hüsli can always be tucked in a corner. But in the average Swiss garden they are a bit of an eyesore. One can do a lovely tomato garden in pots on a terrace or patio, though - a good mix of esthetics and function. I saw some hanging tomato plants in the garden center - have you ever tried those? Would make an interesting change from geranium window boxes.

I really like your square foot method - next garden will be starting from scratch, so I'm very tempted to try this. Will be reading your posts with great interest as the season progresses...

(It will be weird to be gardening where drought, not drowning, is the main concern. )

[lmerkel]

Both tomatoes and peppers are in container planters on the patio under eaves. We are south so we get the sun (when it comes out now), but a lot of wind. Tomatoes have a purplish/rust color on bottom leaves then turn yellow and blooms rot. Thinking mosaic or another virus. Peppers have some blooms but very small plants yet. About 8 inches high. If it calls for bad weather I put them a lea, close to the house out of the wind. First time with both.

But have to say, my lettuce took off and doing well, lavender and thyme I planted all good. Dwarf citrus holding up, rosemary ok.

For the basil, I bought one crowded plant and split it between 2 containers. Didn't mean to experiment but I guess I did. Same plant - One pot was plastic and the other terra cotta. The plastic pot had legume soil, the terra cotta soil was general. The terra cotta is taking off and really green. The plastic is doing well but pale in comparison. I don't know if it is the pot or the soil. I heard terra cotta is good for basil because of more drainage. But I will keep up the experiment.

[MacGregor's Daughter]

OK so I bought this little rosebush in May and it was doing fine, blooming and blossoming, now the sturm has ruffled it quite a bit and today I went looking for new buds and what do I see? Lice! What can I do other than go to the garden store and buy a chemical bomb?

Most likely green fly. If you are not squeamish and don't want to use chemical, just gently squish them with your fingers. Or make a spray with soapy dishwashing liquid and spray.

The garden is a riot of colour now. I was given several species of irises a couple of years back, and they are wonderful now. I never knew they smelt so wonderful! My two very large flowered poppies are glorious too, one bright red and one pink with purple centre. Wow! But my favourite right now are the thalictrum - I have 4 clumps dotted around. Leaves are like aqualegia (columbines) with clumps of tight little purple balls which open to fluffy soft pink flowers - a bit like mimosa (but pink!) one of Beth Chatto's favourites too. If anybody would like a small root when they have stopped flowering, I'd be happy to send.
Same for seeds of the dark purple almost black alpine aqualegia. A true 'curates' garden for an old Vicarage.

[MacGregor's Daughter]

	Quote:
	Most likely green fly. If you are not squeamish and don't want to use chemical, just gently squish them with your fingers. Or make a spray with soapy dishwashing liquid and spray.

Well, I'm not squeamish, but still... But the dishsoap I will definitely try. I believe I discovered them early because I could only see them on two leaves, and yes, they are green.
Where are ladybugs when you need them? For the last two years they have given me the creeps parading our bedroom by the dozens and now that you could use them there is none to be seen.... bl** f** foreign auslander ladybugs, the moment you offer them a job they're gone...

[lmerkel]

Identified the problem with the tomatoes and peppers - phosphorus deficiency. I think I planted them too early (second week of May). I bought 3 new tomato plants over the weekend to compensate - but still trying to keep the old guys alive as they have some fruit.

Looks like the case is severe. Has anyone had this before? I used the soil for tomatoes and peppers but found out if the nights are too cold they won't uptake the phosphorus. Thinking of maybe adding phosphorus to the soil. Any idea where I can find it or what it is called here? I could do blood or bone meal also I think....

Or should I just ditch the plants altogether and start over?

Thanks!

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	MacGregor's Daughter
	OK so I bought this little rosebush in May and it was doing fine, blooming and blossoming, now the sturm has ruffled it quite a bit and today I went looking for new buds and what do I see? Lice! What can I do other than go to the garden store and buy a chemical bomb?

Attract Blue tits to your garden.

We have about forty rose bushes and they have been largely aphid free this year but the blue tits have been busy!

[MacGregor's Daughter]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Attract Blue tits to your garden. We have about forty rose bushes and they have been largely aphid free this year but the blue tits have been busy!

Good tip, just how do I do that? Put out birdseed?

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	MacGregor's Daughter
	Good tip, just how do I do that? Put out birdseed?

We put out a bird feeder for the winter and that seemed to attract them initially and now they seem to appear when there's something to eat - especially aphids.

[smoky]

SWEET POTATOES! Does anyone here know why no-one grows them in CH? I have found them occassionally in Migros - very expensive. Is there something about them that they will not grow here in summer? I`ve tried rooting the ones I bought but they refuse to budge, just rot.

Any other Sweet potatoe fans here?

Are Mung Beans allowed in the garden? They sprout in dishes, any harm in planting a few to harvest the beans...?

[MacGregor's Daughter]

So I went to spray the rosebush and what do I see? A little red fella with black spots munching happily - must be the Swiss variety, not the Asian LOL so problem solved.

Sweet potatoes: Yes incredibly expensive and I love them so much. Maybe they need a different climate/soil?

And tolmatoes: I bought two plants (cherry tomatoes) real cheap at LIDL some time ago, they are in pots under the roof and doing fine.

now I have white hairy guys in the roses!

[sups]

smoky:
I love sweet potatoes too. sweet potatoes need at least 8 months of growing for an harvest. they basically need hot climates. so if you intend growing them you should actually start indoors as early as winter so that they get at least a long growing summer. .
if you are trying chitting store bought ones they might rot instead since most of them are treated against sprouting.

[JanerMacP]

After coming back from 3+ weeks holiday my garden needs a good weeding, especially in the walking areas between rows.

Once I weed I want to put something down to keep them from coming back, my friends in the US are using straw. I don't know where to get straw here, but I have bark mulch - will that work? Or will it be too think to till into the soil when it's time to clean out the garden in the fall?

Thanks!

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	After coming back from 3+ weeks holiday my garden needs a good weeding, especially in the walking areas between rows. Once I weed I want to put something down to keep them from coming back, my friends in the US are using straw. I don't know where to get straw here, but I have bark mulch - will that work? Or will it be too think to till into the soil when it's time to clean out the garden in the fall? Thanks!

Don't use straw if you have neighbours downwind and no way of containing the straw in your own garden.

I wasn't too impressed to have cleaned and weeded out garden once and the next day the lawn was covered with bits of straw from the neighbour's garden.

[JanerMacP]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Don't use straw if you have neighbours downwind and no way of containing the straw in your own garden. I wasn't too impressed to have cleaned and weeded out garden once and the next day the lawn was covered with bits of straw from the neighbour's garden.

Our yard is totally fenced in and it would take a hurricane to get it to the neighbors yard. That said, I don't know if I want a bunch of straw all over my yard!

So would you suggest the mulch? Or something else?

Thanks for the feedback!

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	Our yard is totally fenced in and it would take a hurricane to get it to the neighbors yard. That said, I don't know if I want a bunch of straw all over my yard! So would you suggest the mulch? Or something else? Thanks for the feedback!

I have used bark - it does keep the weeds down but you need quite a thick layer.

The thinner stuff breaks down better over time.

Now I'm trying to avoid using it as the gaps between the plants are much smaller as the plants have spread out and I got fed up with buying more bark each year.

[JanerMacP]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	I have used bark - it does keep the weeds down but you need quite a thick layer. The thinner stuff breaks down better over time. Now I'm trying to avoid using it as the gaps between the plants are much smaller as the plants have spread out and I got fed up with buying more bark each year.

Have you tried black plastic between rows? I still have a bag of bark from last year, but I'd need at least 2 more and that stuff isn't cheap!