Comments for Karl's Garden Blog

Comment on Home Sweet Home by karlkatzke

karlkatzke — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:40:06 +0000

I have gotten further along, but I’m still indoors. :( There’s always more pictures on my Flickr page at http://flickr.com/photos/karlkatzke — as you can see, I’ve got a bit of work to do on the inside of the house. Thankfully, the living room is the next-to-last project I have to do on the inside — unfortunately, the living room and master bed/bath are the most difficult of the projects I have to do before it’s down to the fun trim work.

After I’m done with the inside, I have two “must-do” drainage projects on the outside before I get the fun of putting a garden in. This year will be spent getting the house habitable, next year I’ll get to put a garden in.

The problem with hydroponics over an outdoor garden is the expense, in my case. I’m dirt poor, not hydroponics poor.

Comment on Home Sweet Home by Remote Gardener

Remote Gardener — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:39:57 +0000

You and me both have a lot of work to do. I hope that you have gotten further along. Have you ever considered a greenhouse and hydroponics? It sure is a lot less work and you grow for long seasons.

Comment on Got dogs? Beware of Bark Mulch’s Bite by Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:31:25 +0000

We got a truck load of mulch on Friday and my husband and daughter spread it together. My daughter has had hives since Friday night. She has terrible allergies – never thought about the mulch breaking her out. Not sure what kinds of trees are in this mulch – got it from a local mulch yard…
Thanks for the info – too late for this year, but maybe we’ll try cypress…
Stephanie

Comment on Unhappy Tomato Seedlings by jenks

jenks — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:57:44 +0000

I was just wondering what ever became of your plants last year with TPLD? Did they survive, or produce. I have about 40 plants, all with purple leaf. dont know if I should scrap the project and buy new.

Comment on News Flash by home wall art

home wall art — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:47:00 +0000

I remember the topsy turvy planted on our garden when i was five.It’s fun to see it hanging and i’m planning to set up a new topsy turvy on my garden.

Comment on News Flash by garcialove10

garcialove10 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:06:29 +0000

Topsy turvy tomatoes is made to plant tomatoes more easy.Also,the nutrients and water you will put directly go to the hanging tomato plant so this is more good.

Comment on Droughts: Posting, Rain by David in Kansas

David in Kansas — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:32:25 +0000

It seems your garden went pretty much the way mine did. I too was assaulted by mites big time. My cucumbers in a tub did not do well at all. In fact, the only cucumbers I’ve eaten so far came from a lone volunteer cucumber plant that grew on the ground. I ended up trimming all my tomato plants to one vine and I am just now beginning to get the next volley of tomatoes. The volunteer cherry tomatoes –about 10 plants have provided a steady supply of delicious, large cherry tomatoes. Again, the plants on the ground have out produced the ones that I put in 5 gallon buckets. The temperatures around here finally went south of 90 but I expect them to rise again soon. My total success story lies with the peppers. I have so many I eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
And what is it about pepper plants that caterpillars love. I did not have that problem this year but I have in the past. They love Cayenne peppers as much as I do!
How did you do with the hanging tomatoes? Only one of the three upsy turvy tomatos is producing fruit regularly, the other two just grew leaves. I may try them again next year, or I may not.

Comment on Droughts: Posting, Rain by karlkatzke

karlkatzke — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:30:38 +0000

Genevive: Yes, they are! But shh– don’t tell my female relatives that I’m growing their christmas presents. Even though I have no problems with it, one or two of them might!

Luffas are just summer squash gourds — in the same family as zucchini. When dried, their insides form the exfoliating “sponges” that you know and love. If you can grow zucchini, you can grow Luffa gourds… and I think that my raised bed was getting too much water for squash of any type. I was watering heavily in order to keep the cucumbers and tomatoes alive. I lost both my zucchini plants, and the luffa weren’t doing well until I stopped watering in frustration.

With most of August still to go, we’re only 10 days from breaking the record for the most days at 100 degrees or higher in one year! That record was set in 1998. August is traditionally the hottest month in our part of Texas.

Comment on Droughts: Posting, Rain by Genevieve

Genevieve — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:20:25 +0000

Ooooh, are the luffas the same thing we ladies use to exfoliate? I’m mad jealous if you can grow them there.

Sheesh. I’ll stay near the coast, though, if luffa growing requires 85 degrees on a cool day. Man oh man. Give me Humboldt weather any day!!

Comment on Munch, Munch, Munch… by Kim

Kim — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:03:07 +0000

Ack nasty things. I’m fighting squash and cucumber bugs right now. (sigh) Its a bad year for them here.