What (Else) Will You Grow in 2010? - Page 3

ruet · December 19, 2009

Borage! Here in Spain it is treated like another cool season leafy vegetable. Once the heat hits it bolts, so the best leaf crop is sown in August to reap in fall.

I'm more interested in Borage for the flowers than for the leaves, and more to attract bees/beneficial predators than as edible flowers. They're definitely going in a salad and/or cake at least once though...

Aside from Borage and Tomatoes, a mix of pollen/nectar producers to attract and retain some of the neighborhood's beneficials:

Cornflower "Bluet Bleu"
Sunflower "Lemon Queen"
Sweet Alyssum
Cosmos "Sensation Purity"

I'd like to plant peas and leafy greens, but I just don't have the space...

b54red · December 20, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdbva

I haven't been able to make seeds come up. Maybe I have bad seeds.

Christine

I always plant a lot of seed in order to get a good stand in each little container (I use the bottom of egg cartons to start cilantro, 3 or more seeds in each cup). Sometimes most of them come up and other times hardly any come up. They are really slow to germinate. If temps are low it can take nearly a month. That is why I plant so many; because by the time you find out how many are sprouting it is too late to plant another batch.

b54red · December 20, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntsman

What does 'go to seed' mean, b4?

I'm referring to when cilantro makes flowers and its leaves change and are not very good for eating.

Barbee · December 20, 2009

I'm growing a few giant pumpkins this year! Well, I'm going to attempt to grow some

huntsman · December 20, 2009

Ah - thank you!

So flowers are not a good thing to see on herbs. Nice to know...

My attempts for this season:

Peppers
Lettuce
Snap Peas
Basil
Potatoes
Onions
Garlic

Only the pepper and lettuce are planted thus far, but I'm an optimist...!

Later: Oh, and basil, too!

cdbva · December 20, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbee

I'm growing a few giant pumpkins this year! Well, I'm going to attempt to grow some

Oh, wow. Maybe you could do a progress thread. I'd be really interested to hear how things go through the season.

Christine

cdbva · December 20, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntsman

So flowers are not a good thing to see on herbs. Nice to know...

I don't know if it's true for all of them. But cilantro and parsley, definitely. And basil. As soon as basil puts out what looks like a potential flower, it needs to be pinched off. And when you do that, it makes the plant nice and bushy. Even so, I had a hard time doing that in the beginning. Killing flowers seemed so mean! And so unnatural -- which just goes to show that "natural" is not always the answer.

Christine

huntsman · December 20, 2009

HA! I know what you mean Christine!

My daughter still refuses to 'hurt them flowers', and she's 15!

Wind Dancer · December 21, 2009

[quote=Mojo;149189]It is de rigeur for me to grow eggplant and cucumbers. The squash may prove problematic, for two reasons. First, depending on the number of tomatoes i put in, there may be space issues. Second, the borers finally found my bed last year and I am told that once they find it, they come back every year if there's squash, so I may take the year off from that.

You might try Butternut squash. It is the primary winter squash gown in Virginia and Carolina because it is resistant to borers, and the darned things thrive in this area.

December 20, 2009	#34
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	I'm growing a few giant pumpkins this year! Well, I'm going to attempt to grow some __________________ *Barbee*

December 20, 2009	#35
huntsman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa - GrowZone 9 Posts: 595	Ah - thank you! So flowers are not a good thing to see on herbs. Nice to know... My attempts for this season: Peppers Lettuce Snap Peas Basil Potatoes Onions Garlic Only the pepper and lettuce are planted thus far, but I'm an optimist...! Later: Oh, and basil, too! Last edited by huntsman; December 21, 2009 at 01:36 PM.

December 19, 2009	#31
ruet Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 42	Borage! Here in Spain it is treated like another cool season leafy vegetable. Once the heat hits it bolts, so the best leaf crop is sown in August to reap in fall. I'm more interested in Borage for the flowers than for the leaves, and more to attract bees/beneficial predators than as edible flowers. They're definitely going in a salad and/or cake at least once though... Aside from Borage and Tomatoes, a mix of pollen/nectar producers to attract and retain some of the neighborhood's beneficials: Cornflower "Bluet Bleu" Sunflower "Lemon Queen" Sweet Alyssum Cosmos "Sensation Purity" I'd like to plant peas and leafy greens, but I just don't have the space...

December 21, 2009	#39
Wind Dancer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ashe County NC Posts: 6	[quote=Mojo;149189]It is de rigeur for me to grow eggplant and cucumbers. The squash may prove problematic, for two reasons. First, depending on the number of tomatoes i put in, there may be space issues. Second, the borers finally found my bed last year and I am told that once they find it, they come back every year if there's squash, so I may take the year off from that. You might try Butternut squash. It is the primary winter squash gown in Virginia and Carolina because it is resistant to borers, and the darned things thrive in this area.