What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[Astronuc]

We are headed for a few nights of below freezing. My peach tree already has fruit and my early blueberries are blooming. For the blueberries, which would provide the best protection, a plastic garbage can or a sheet?

Probably both a clear plastic sheet to trap sun by day and garbage can.

If you really get serious, cover bushes with plastic and place 100W light bulb under the plastic to keep the air warm. I used to put a light bulb in the engine compartment of my car when the overnight temperatures were -20°F (-29°C). It worked.

We had a few snow flurries today.

 

[larkspur]

Thanks. I doubt I'll do the light bulb but plastic sheeting is doable

 

[Evo]

We're having temperatures down to 19F this week. I have an acre of land and too much to protect. This is going to be sad.

 

[turbo]

Here is what my back deck looked like at 8:30 yesterday morning. Later in the day, the snow slid off the metal roof leaving a long pile of heavy compressed wet snow about 4' deep. Because of this one storm, this is now the 9th snowiest April on record, and we have most all the month left to go.http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6462/deck650iy4.jpg

 

[Evo]

YIKES!

Did you lose power? I read that over 180,000 people lost power in that storm.

 

[turbo]

For some reason, we did NOT lose power this time, except for brief glitches when there were ground faults that did not exceed three failures (that would trip the safeties and require an inspection and a manual reset by a lineman). There are still lots of people without power up here and the power company expects the outages to continue through tonight and into tomorrow at the earliest in some areas. That snow was very heavy and wet, and I am quite a lame puppy today. Oh, well. Hopefully our next storm will be a little lighter. We are supposed to get sporadic snow showers through most of next week, then rain late in the week, so I'm going to have to break out the shovel and move some of that mountain of snow in front of the house, so there won't be saturated show piled up against the walls. We've never experienced any seepage, but I don't want to tempt fate. Break out the Doan's back pills!

 

[larkspur]

Here is what my back deck looked like at 8:30 yesterday morning. Later in the day, the snow slid off the metal roof leaving a long pile of heavy compressed wet snow about 4' deep. Because of this one storm, this is now the 9th snowiest April on record, and we have most all the month left to go.


http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6462/deck650iy4.jpg

Wow! Four feet of snow! That is more than we'll get in a century! The heavy wet snow is so beautiful even if it is a pain in the back to clear.

 

[turbo]

Well, the four feet is what the pile was (very heavy, compacted, and wet) when the roof shed its load onto the deck. I estimate that we got between 20-22" of wet heavy stuff on horizontal surfaces. There is a good solid 18" on horizontal surfaces in this image and the snow continued (heavy at times) for another 3-3.5 hours. If you look at the the log wall by the grill and even the edge of the railing bench, you'll see big fat wet flakes were still coming steadily.

On a personal note: I just got a new camera today to replace my crappy little point-and-shoot (that I used to take this picture yesterday). I hope to start giving you a run for your money in the photo contest threads!

 

[larkspur]

On a personal note: I just got a new camera today to replace my crappy little point-and-shoot (that I used to take this picture yesterday). I hope to start giving you a run for your money in the photo contest threads!

Bring it on!
A great book to read is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I have learned so much from it. A tripod is an absolute must have and use it often for tack sharp images.

 

[turbo]

Bring it on!
A great book to read is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I have learned so much from it. A tripod is an absolute must have and use it often for tack sharp images.

Here is the very first image that I captured with my new Canon 30D through a 100-400mm L IS USM at full zoom. The junco was all fluffed up and comfortable in one of my apple trees, so I didn't approach him, but shot him at full zoom from quite a distance. This crop contains less than 20% of the full frame. I hope to learn to do better.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1654/junco001lo1.jpg

 

[larkspur]

Here is the very first image that I captured with my new Canon 30D through a 100-400mm L IS USM at full zoom. The junco was all fluffed up and comfortable in one of my apple trees, so I didn't approach him, but shot him at full zoom from quite a distance. This crop contains less than 20% of the full frame. I hope to learn to do better.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1654/junco001lo1.jpg

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Great Shot!

 

[larkspur]

Here is[edit]my[/edit] best bird photo:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/447747973_afb40679fd.jpg

 

[turbo]

Thanks, larkspur. As you can see from the little blurry/washed out spots, there were foreground branches, but I was able to get rid of them by exploiting the depth of field.

OK, now for the truth: I hoped that the DOF would allow me to show the bird well, but this was my very first image with the camera, and I didn't have a clue if that would happen or not. I got lucky! I need to learn how to use this camera, and it's as complicated as a 747. I am an old dedicated manual-camera guy who used to carry a stable of OM-1's loaded with a variety of prime lenses. The learning curve is going to be steep.

 

[turbo]

Here is best bird photo:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/447747973_afb40679fd.jpg

EEEK! Green peeps? I hated the originals! Do these taste like Mexican mixed drinks?

 

[larkspur]

EEEK! Green peeps? I hated the originals! Do these taste like Mexican mixed drinks?

Ha! I don't eat those things. But they are fun to photograph!

 

[Astronuc]

Here is the very first image that I captured with my new Canon 30D through a 100-400mm L IS USM at full zoom. The junco was all fluffed up and comfortable in one of my apple trees, so I didn't approach him, but shot him at full zoom from quite a distance. This crop contains less than 20% of the full frame. I hope to learn to do better.

That is a great shot Turbo!

I agree with you on the digital cameras. I miss my old F-1 (from 1973) with it's various lenses. My favorite was a 35-230 (IIRC, it's been so long) Zoom.

I use a Kodak DX6490, but I want to get a digital SLR with interchangable lenses. I much prefer manual control on shutter speed and aperture (f/stop). And I absolutely detest Auto-focus

 

[turbo]

That is a great shot Turbo!

I agree with you on the digital cameras. I miss my old F-1 (from 1973) with it's various lenses. My favorite was a 35-230 (IIRC, it's been so long) Zoom.

I use a Kodak DX6490, but I want to get a digital SLR with interchangable lenses. I much prefer manual control on shutter speed and aperture (f/stop). And I absolutely detest Auto-focus

Thanks. The junco's beak is just a little blurred (they are twitchy little guys!) but otherwise the shot turned out OK.

This camera allows you to set everything manually, if you want. I'll have to learn to trust or distrust the automatic stuff based on the outcomes of the shots. This is all new ground for me. I have a digital point-and-shoot Olympus C-3040 that does OK with the AF but you have to watch the exposure control and adjust accordingly. The auto-focus on this camera is OK, because it allows you to manually override the AF just by manually twisting the focus ring on the lens. The AF can get you close to good focus very quickly, so that may be something I'll rely on once I get used to used to it.

 

[Astronuc]

Thanks. The junco's beak is just a little blurred (they are twitchy little guys!) but otherwise the shot turned out OK.

This camera allows you to set everything manually, if you want. I'll have to learn to trust or distrust the automatic stuff based on the outcomes of the shots. This is all new ground for me. I have a digital point-and-shoot Olympus C-3040 that does OK with the AF but you have to watch the exposure control and adjust accordingly. The auto-focus on this camera is OK, because it allows you to manually override the AF just by manually twisting the focus ring on the lens. The AF can get you close to good focus very quickly, so that may be something I'll rely on once I get used to used to it.

I have too many instances of the AF focusing on a feature near the object of which I'm photographing and the object is then blurred or slightly out of focus. This is especially the case when I am trying to do closeups.

I also find high mag nearly useless, depending on the quality of light. Low light makes AF and high mag difficult. Perhaps I need to use a tripod, which can be rather limiting when one wants to take a picture of bird or insect which is usually intermittently moving.

 

[turbo]

I have too many instances of the AF focusing on a feature near the object of which I'm photographing and the object is then blurred or slightly out of focus. This is especially the case when I am trying to do closeups.

That situation is very common if you are shooting wide-open to isolate the subject by minimizing the depth of field.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Back to poisoning the environment and water supply: I still had some ground to cover and yesterday was perfect - well over 70 degrees, no rain, a little wind in the late afternoon that died down in the early evening - so I grabbed my gear and went for it. There was a 30% chance of light showers early this morning, but with sticker added to the mix, that should be fine; it can take some rain and still be effective. And I was so happy to actually get this all done on time this year. It really sets the tone for the entire summer. But this morning I awoke at 5AM to the sound of pouring rain! I have no idea if it will hold now. I did go heavy on the sticker so I can only wait and see.

 

[Evo]

Everything is dead! We've had a week now of nighttime temperatures in the teens and this morning leaving for work was like driving through a Tim Burton movie.

The leaves on my beautiful pear tree have all shriveled and turned black, as has the peach tree.

All of the trees and bushes have shriveled up and turned black, I'm waiting to see how much permanent damage there will be, what was a gorgeous spring landscape a week ago is black and limp now, all color is gone. I've never seen anything like this. My roses are destroyed, even my stella d'ora lillies have turned to mush.

Now they're predicting snow next week.

 

[Astronuc]

Everything is dead! We've had a week now of nighttime temperatures in the teens and this morning leaving for work was like driving through a Tim Burton movie.

The leaves on my beautiful pear tree have all shriveled and turned black, as has the peach tree.

All of the trees and bushes have shriveled up and turned black, I'm waiting to see how much permanent damage there will be, what was a gorgeous spring landscape a week ago is black and limp now, all color is gone. I've never seen anything like this. My roses are destroyed, even my stella d'ora lillies have turned to mush.

That's heart breaking.

Our plants have wilted a little, but so far, I don't think we've lost anything.

Now they're predicting snow next week.

Hmmm. I think our weather has been more typical. The middle of the country seems to be getting the worst of this cold snap.

 

[turbo]

I'm sorry to hear about that Evo. I planted lots of fruit trees last spring and I would be pretty depressed if they had budded and bloomed and then got frozen. Trees can be pretty resilient, though, and hopefully yours will survive this.

 

[wolram]

If the uk suffers temperatures in 100s (as predicted) water supplies
will quickly dry up, and we will have wide spread hosepipe bans, so
maybe we should be looking for plants that grow in arid conditions,
so if i want fruit and veg what are some options?

 

[turbo]

If you Google on "drought resistant" combined with "fruit" and/or "vegetables" you will get more suggestions than you can wade through. The trouble is that English weather may not be kind to drought-tolerant trees, and you may have trouble with fungus, rot, etc.

If you like chili peppers, you're in luck. They are very tolerant of hot dry weather and can produce well in soil that is not highly nitrogenated.

 

[Evo]

If the uk suffers temperatures in 100s (as predicted) water supplies
will quickly dry up, and we will have wide spread hosepipe bans, so
maybe we should be looking for plants that grow in arid conditions,
so if i want fruit and veg what are some options?

Prickly pears (cactus) they are delicious.

 

[wolram]

Prickly pears (cactus) they are delicious.

So far i have found Tepary beans (whatever they are) and Mortgage lifter tomatoes, i guess with chili pepper Turbo suggested and your prickly pear i would not starve.

 

[Astronuc]

It's finally more like spring and garden preparation has begun.

In one week, we have gone from record floods to dry and windy weather, so dry in fact that there are now fire warnings! Parts of the basement floor are still damp, which indicates that the water table is close to the level of the basement floor. This past week, homes which have never had flooding in their basements were flooded.

 

[Zenparticle]

Astronuc- you seem like a good man, I have enjoyed and whole heartedly agreed with most of the things you have posted- kinda reminds me of my hippie dad~!

I love to garden- it feels good to get your hands dirty and kinda give back to the earth

 

[Astronuc]

I've been gardening since I could walk.

My father was a minister, and ministers didn't (maybe still don't) make much money, so we had to grow much of our food. We had a produce garden and raised chickens for eggs and meat, until we moved from the country into a suburban area. Then we just has a small garden.

 

[larkspur]

I am happy to announce that my bluberries survived!
My peaches did not

 

[turbo]

Good about the blueberries! They are loaded with antioxidants and are so good for you. I'm sorry about the peaches. I have planted peach and apricot trees on my front lawn (it will be an orchard, eventually) along with cherry trees, apples, plum, pear, etc. There are a few seed-and-berry bearing ornamentals out near the road, too, for the sake of the birds. I'll share with the birds, but I hope that the fruit trees bear heavily enough that we can share with them and still get a reasonable crop.

 

[larkspur]

Good about the blueberries! They are loaded with antioxidants and are so good for you. I'm sorry about the peaches. I have planted peach and apricot trees on my front lawn (it will be an orchard, eventually) along with cherry trees, apples, plum, pear, etc. There are a few seed-and-berry bearing ornamentals out near the road, too, for the sake of the birds. I'll share with the birds, but I hope that the fruit trees bear heavily enough that we can share with them and still get a reasonable crop.

Nothing like going out in your own yard an eating fruit right off the tree. MMMmmm!

 

[Evo]

My blackberry, raspberry and blueberry bushes were eaten by the JAWS OF DEATH. She also killed my grapevines.

My plum, cherry and apple trees were killed by deer.

My strawberries were all dug up by the JAWS OF DEATH.

The only thing that seems to be thriving is the silver nightshade. The animals avoid it.

Now I'm wondering if my mulberry tree is dead. They're messy, but I used to love to eat mulberries when I was little.

 

[turbo]

Nothing like going out in your own yard an eating fruit right off the tree. MMMmmm!

Yeah, even in an annual garden, there is nothing like walking out back with a salt-shaker and downing a tomato still warm from the sun, or maybe a cucumber. I love summer. Winter and spring are a food wasteland in which we are faced with the produce choices between bad and really bad. This year, we plan to can and freeze a LOT more to stay out of that dilemma. It's easy to devote too much space to fresh greens, etc, when they cannot be enjoyed later. It's smarter to devote more space to buttercup squash that keeps for many months and cucumbers that can be made into pickles, and tomatoes and peppers that can be canned for use all year 'round. Carrots are another good-storing favorite, and beets and turnips are, too. It's crazy to spend any space growing corn and peas, when we can buy them locally, and green beans are marginal compared to some of the storage vegetables, though we'll always raise some.