Are You Growing Any for the 1st Time Ever? - Page 2

salix · March 11, 2008

Hi Jennifer - Yes, indeed, the seeds are from Salt Spring Island. Am not really expecting to BE self sufficient (at least this year), am just "trialling" them to see how/if/well they all grow. Actually thought about the amaranth, but figured I had enough new stuff for one year. Baby steps. And my DH (a total non-gardener, but who is ever willing to push the wheelbarrow) is going to be totally scandalized when I ask for some help in threshing the grains...

cdntomato · March 11, 2008

Good luck, S. I know what Dan has so I'll definitely be interested in hearing how things do for you. My seed sources are quite different as are the varieties.

Cheers,
Jennifer

jenn_sc · March 12, 2008

New to me this year:

Pumpkins...seeds saved from the jack'o'lantern last fall.

Watermelon and cataloupes.

Gherkins (for pickles).

Gourds and wildflowers...actually I grew gourds last year-by accident. Some compost in my tomato planting holes turning into birdhouse gourd vines! This year I'm doing it on purpose.

Jennifer

RosaDawn · March 16, 2008

new for me this year will be cilantro,snow peas and chantenay carrots.I also want to try the podding radish if I can remember to order it soon.

Granny · March 17, 2008

I am trying brussels sprouts for the first time ever. We don't eat them either. My ex-husband loves the nasty little things (boy do they produce a stench when you cook them.) BUT - the kiddo loved the green beans we grew last year so much (and green beans had never once crossed her lips) and they were so much better than what you get at the store, we thought it might be worth putting a couple of brussel sprout plants up in the garden as an experiment.

jwr6404 · March 17, 2008

Will be growing the Uminami Cucumber as this years curiosity plant. This Cucumber needs to be trellised as it alledgegly gets 2-3 ft in length and 3-5 inches in diameter. Have tohave something to talk about as the walking community strolls by my yard and garden.

Miss_Mudcat · March 20, 2008

I'm also growing sweets for the first time this year. Looking so forward to it, but a little intimidated too.

I will be growing Chinese cabbage for the first time this year, too.

And, of the 46 varieties of tomatoes this year, 10 are new!

Right now, I just wish the sun would shine more and the clouds would rain less.

Lisa

Ruth_10 · March 22, 2008

Last year the first-time-ever crop was Guatemalan Blue squash, Mezzo Nano Brussels Sprouts. This year it's a couple of Asian greens: Green Lance and Win-Win bok choy. I'll also be growing Eden's Gem melon for the first time. Aji Colorado, Aji Amarillo, and Trinidad Perfume chiles are new as well, as is Sahuaro, which is an anaheim type pepper. And purely for the heck of it, Egyptian Green cotton.

P.S. I love Brussels Sprouts. But even in Michigan we planted them mid-summer for a fall/winter crop. They are sooo much better after a frost or two. I have dug them out of snow drifts--planted a "flag" so I could find them without too much trouble

.

cottonpicker · March 20, 2008

I grow something new-to-me every year. This year it's Chartwell romaine lettuce, 3 new-to-me Italian greens & 8 new-to-me OP tomato varieties. Can't wait to get started.....
LarryD

annecros · March 23, 2008

Our first intentional melon patch (in the past we have had our compost pile spontaneously produce some lovely melons) and this fall shell type garden peas. The peas are going to be interesting.

Oh, and I stuck some sprouted white potatoes from the grocery store into an old recycle bin we had in the garage and dumped some recycled potting soil, some extra compost, and a handful of Garden Tone in there and put it out back in a sunny spot. Shocked me with a great response - I expected it to be a disaster. Will hillup the first time next weekend, and I only planted them six inches deep, so I can hillup about two feet around the plants as they grow.

Tormato · March 24, 2008

Ruth,

What are your thoughts on Guatemalan Blue?

Mine have been killed by vine borers, the past two years. This year it goes under a floating row cover.

Gary

Ruth_10 · March 29, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

Ruth,

What are your thoughts on Guatemalan Blue?

Mine have been killed by vine borers, the past two years. This year it goes under a floating row cover.

Gary

Gary,
My plants lived just long enough to produce a few squash and then went down to vine borers. I have to say I found them rather bland compared to a butternut or buttercup squash. They kept well, though. Two lasted until the end of February out in the garage.

I hope your floating row cover works for you (keep us posted). Vine borers are a real problem in my garden and produce one heartbreak after another.

OmahaJB · March 30, 2008

2008 will be my first outdoor garden since my family had a garden when I was a kid. I have grown tomatoes & peppers indoors these past couple of years with a 'little' success. But I know growing outdoors will be a whole different ballgame. Greater risks with weather, diseases, and animals, but also a much greater potential for reward in terms of what may be produced.

Besides tomatoes, sweet & hot peppers, I'll be giving the following a try:

Beans - Boston Favorite, Charlevoix Red Kidney, and Tiger's Eye are the ones I have seeds for. Will try at least one of those.

Corn - If the packet of seeds that I bought 3 years ago are still good, I'll grow a few of those.

Garlic - Planted last fall. Will check on them soon. They're planted at my mother's house and I haven't been over there to check on them recently. Am curious to see if anything popped through the soil. I've had them covered with a few inches of leaves all winter.

Melons - Will probably try both Ali Baba & Orangeglo. I also have seeds for Collective Farm Woman, Kansas & Thayer I may try if I can find room.

Potatoes - For some reason I have a real fascination with growing potatoes so will give it a go. Carola, German Butterball, and La Ratte are the varieties I put an order in for yesterday from Ronnigers. Now I'll have to wait and see if I actually receive them. I've had trouble with Milk Ranch two years in a row, and I believe Ronnigers owns them. Something like that. They are associated somehow. I plan on growing these in 10-gallon grow bags.

Rhubarb - We always had rhubarb when I was young. My mother asked that I grow some of that so will try to find a place that sells that this spring.

I've grown basil before but it will be my first year growing Cinnamon Basil. I'm looking forward to it.

May also try a couple of sunflowers, space permitting.

Lots of work, I mean fun, ahead these next few months!

Jeff

jwr6404 · March 25, 2008

Michele
I don't know what type of Heading Collard they are. I got them from a lady in South Carolina. She said they had been in her Husband's family over 100 years. I'll have a few seeds left. They could be a different variety than yours. If interested PM me and the're yours

Tomaat · March 25, 2008

I am trying lots of new things this year (they are no means new, but new for me), they are: Purple Tomatillo, Elephant garlic, couple of tomatoes, more squash(odessa, lebanese bush marrow, ponca butternut, kabocha, bush buttercup, redondo tronco verde, crook neck, straight neck,lemon squash and thelma sander),melon,water melon radish... and romanesco broccoli. I didn't plan to add that much new types but got carried away while ordering

.

March 11, 2008	#2
cdntomato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 554	Good luck, S. I know what Dan has so I'll definitely be interested in hearing how things do for you. My seed sources are quite different as are the varieties. Cheers, Jennifer __________________ There is no sincerer love than the love of food. -George Bernard Shaw

March 17, 2008	#6
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	Will be growing the Uminami Cucumber as this years curiosity plant. This Cucumber needs to be trellised as it alledgegly gets 2-3 ft in length and 3-5 inches in diameter. Have tohave something to talk about as the walking community strolls by my yard and garden. __________________ Jim

March 20, 2008	#7
Miss_Mudcat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 366	I'm also growing sweets for the first time this year. Looking so forward to it, but a little intimidated too. I will be growing Chinese cabbage for the first time this year, too. And, of the 46 varieties of tomatoes this year, 10 are new! Right now, I just wish the sun would shine more and the clouds would rain less. Lisa __________________ Farmers don't wear watches; they work until the job is done!

March 22, 2008	#8
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	Last year the first-time-ever crop was Guatemalan Blue squash, Mezzo Nano Brussels Sprouts. This year it's a couple of Asian greens: Green Lance and Win-Win bok choy. I'll also be growing Eden's Gem melon for the first time. Aji Colorado, Aji Amarillo, and Trinidad Perfume chiles are new as well, as is Sahuaro, which is an anaheim type pepper. And purely for the heck of it, Egyptian Green cotton. P.S. I love Brussels Sprouts. But even in Michigan we planted them mid-summer for a fall/winter crop. They are sooo much better after a frost or two. I have dug them out of snow drifts--planted a "flag" so I could find them without too much trouble. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

March 20, 2008	#9
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	I grow something new-to-me every year. This year it's Chartwell romaine lettuce, 3 new-to-me Italian greens & 8 new-to-me OP tomato varieties. Can't wait to get started..... LarryD __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

March 11, 2008	#1
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Hi Jennifer - Yes, indeed, the seeds are from Salt Spring Island. Am not really expecting to BE self sufficient (at least this year), am just "trialling" them to see how/if/well they all grow. Actually thought about the amaranth, but figured I had enough new stuff for one year. Baby steps. And my DH (a total non-gardener, but who is ever willing to push the wheelbarrow) is going to be totally scandalized when I ask for some help in threshing the grains...

March 12, 2008	#3
jenn_sc SPLATT™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 502	New to me this year: Pumpkins...seeds saved from the jack'o'lantern last fall. Watermelon and cataloupes. Gherkins (for pickles). Gourds and wildflowers...actually I grew gourds last year-by accident. Some compost in my tomato planting holes turning into birdhouse gourd vines! This year I'm doing it on purpose. Jennifer

March 16, 2008	#4
RosaDawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 70	new for me this year will be cilantro,snow peas and chantenay carrots.I also want to try the podding radish if I can remember to order it soon.

March 17, 2008	#5
Granny Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 507	I am trying brussels sprouts for the first time ever. We don't eat them either. My ex-husband loves the nasty little things (boy do they produce a stench when you cook them.) BUT - the kiddo loved the green beans we grew last year so much (and green beans had never once crossed her lips) and they were so much better than what you get at the store, we thought it might be worth putting a couple of brussel sprout plants up in the garden as an experiment.

March 23, 2008	#10
annecros Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Park, FL Posts: 219	Our first intentional melon patch (in the past we have had our compost pile spontaneously produce some lovely melons) and this fall shell type garden peas. The peas are going to be interesting. Oh, and I stuck some sprouted white potatoes from the grocery store into an old recycle bin we had in the garage and dumped some recycled potting soil, some extra compost, and a handful of Garden Tone in there and put it out back in a sunny spot. Shocked me with a great response - I expected it to be a disaster. Will hillup the first time next weekend, and I only planted them six inches deep, so I can hillup about two feet around the plants as they grow.

March 24, 2008	#11
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,959	Ruth, What are your thoughts on Guatemalan Blue? Mine have been killed by vine borers, the past two years. This year it goes under a floating row cover. Gary

March 30, 2008	#13
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	Are you growing any for the 1st time ever? 2008 will be my first outdoor garden since my family had a garden when I was a kid. I have grown tomatoes & peppers indoors these past couple of years with a 'little' success. But I know growing outdoors will be a whole different ballgame. Greater risks with weather, diseases, and animals, but also a much greater potential for reward in terms of what may be produced. Besides tomatoes, sweet & hot peppers, I'll be giving the following a try: Beans - Boston Favorite, Charlevoix Red Kidney, and Tiger's Eye are the ones I have seeds for. Will try at least one of those. Corn - If the packet of seeds that I bought 3 years ago are still good, I'll grow a few of those. Garlic - Planted last fall. Will check on them soon. They're planted at my mother's house and I haven't been over there to check on them recently. Am curious to see if anything popped through the soil. I've had them covered with a few inches of leaves all winter. Melons - Will probably try both Ali Baba & Orangeglo. I also have seeds for Collective Farm Woman, Kansas & Thayer I may try if I can find room. Potatoes - For some reason I have a real fascination with growing potatoes so will give it a go. Carola, German Butterball, and La Ratte are the varieties I put an order in for yesterday from Ronnigers. Now I'll have to wait and see if I actually receive them. I've had trouble with Milk Ranch two years in a row, and I believe Ronnigers owns them. Something like that. They are associated somehow. I plan on growing these in 10-gallon grow bags. Rhubarb - We always had rhubarb when I was young. My mother asked that I grow some of that so will try to find a place that sells that this spring. I've grown basil before but it will be my first year growing Cinnamon Basil. I'm looking forward to it. May also try a couple of sunflowers, space permitting. Lots of work, I mean fun, ahead these next few months! Jeff

March 25, 2008	#14
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	Michele I don't know what type of Heading Collard they are. I got them from a lady in South Carolina. She said they had been in her Husband's family over 100 years. I'll have a few seeds left. They could be a different variety than yours. If interested PM me and the're yours __________________ Jim

March 25, 2008	#15
Tomaat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 154	I am trying lots of new things this year (they are no means new, but new for me), they are: Purple Tomatillo, Elephant garlic, couple of tomatoes, more squash(odessa, lebanese bush marrow, ponca butternut, kabocha, bush buttercup, redondo tronco verde, crook neck, straight neck,lemon squash and thelma sander),melon,water melon radish... and romanesco broccoli. I didn't plan to add that much new types but got carried away while ordering.