[Food] Production – Gardening, General pt 2

[softhands]

This isn't so much related to gardening as just growing in general...


Ive collected some tree seeds from my area and have stored them in the freezer. I heard this is how you fake winter for them...

Could I start trying to grow them(I think its either pine/spruce seeds, came from a cone and then some cedar).

Will they just die seeing as they will be indoors until late april?

Has anyone tried this before?

Doesn't seem to be alot on google as far as the timing goes... Even if they grew to fast I could just keep them potted until its time to plant and the bigger they are the more likly they would survive right?

[Ludi]

I've had success starting tree seeds when growth begins outdoors - that is, when I see new leaves coming out on trees and shrubs. Putting your potted seeds outside will enable them to come up at the right time. Otherwise, you'll have to move the seedlings in and out every day to make sure they don't freeze at night and make sure they get enough sunlight. Most tree seedlings like partial to full sun, so the light inside most houses isn't enough for them.

I've had best success with native trees by keeping them in a pot for at least two years before planting out, potting up as needed. The baby trees have been 3 -4 feet tall at planting. They'll need to be irrigated regularly throughout their first year in the ground and possibly their second year if you have a drought.

Natives that I have planted too small and neglected just plain died.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

[roadrunner]

PeakOiler, those are some nice looking broccoli plants. I put in around 40 last year and plan to do more this year. It is the plant that keeps giving. They sprouted all summer long into the fall and then I let them flower and the bees went wild for about 3 weeks. Which one did you plant? Blue Comet?

[PeakOiler]

PeakOiler, those are some nice looking broccoli plants. I put in around 40 last year and plan to do more this year. It is the plant that keeps giving. They sprouted all summer long into the fall and then I let them flower and the bees went wild for about 3 weeks. Which one did you plant? Blue Comet?

Thanks roadrunner.

The $1.07 package of broccoli seeds at bought at the local grocery says "Green Goliath", aka "Goliat verde."

Do you mean that one can harvest the broccoli crown and the plant will grow another? Is that right? That would be cool!

I guess I should read some more!

[Ludi]

Do you mean that one can harvest the broccoli crown and the plant will grow another? Is that right? That would be cool!

Yes! Some varieties produce more side shoots, so you get prolonged harvests.

Green Goliath is a main head type which also produces side shoots. Just be sure to cut the main head off close to the top of the stem (right under the head), keeping as many leaves on the plant as possible to feed the side shoots.


I have not had any success with broccoli myself (soil not fertile enough when I tried last), so I'm interested to see how you do with this variety.


http://growingtaste.com/vegetables/broccoli.shtml

[PeakOiler]

Yes! Some varieties produce more side shoots, so you get prolonged harvests.

Green Goliath is a main head type which also produces side shoots. Just be sure to cut the main head off close to the top of the stem (right under the head), keeping as many leaves on the plant as possible to feed the side shoots.


I have not had any success with broccoli myself (soil not fertile enough when I tried last), so I'm interested to see how you do with this variety.


http://growingtaste.com/vegetables/broccoli.shtml

Thanks for the link, Ludi. Read and bookmarked it.

[DoubleD]

Nice broccoli plants peakOiler! They are my favorite vegetable and always get a big section of garden bed devoted to them. I like to grow "Umpqua" which is a nice open pollinated variety that produces a great central head - and then folllows up with an abundance of side shoots for an extended period of time. Usually put 16 plants in during spring and another 16 during the mid summer for the fall crop.

[PeakOiler]

Nice broccoli plants peakOiler! They are my favorite vegetable and always get a big section of garden bed devoted to them. I like to grow "Umpqua" which is a nice open pollinated variety that produces a great central head - and then folllows up with an abundance of side shoots for an extended period of time. Usually put 16 plants in during spring and another 16 during the mid summer for the fall crop.

Thanks DoubleD. Broccoli is one of my favorites too.

I think when I transplanted the sprouts from the planter box to the garden I didn't space them far enough apart. I thought more would die, but apparently not. At about what height will the main head start to form? I guess I'll find out soon enough...
It's difficult to tell from the picture, but all those plants are in about a 28" x 24" rectangle. Do you think it's too late to separate them further?

I may just plant some more seed since the package states that in the southern US, one can plant seed through early spring.

[DoubleD]

I plant my brocolli so they are spaced 12 inches apart from each other and they grow beautifully - creating a living mulch with their leaves as the plants mature. Your plants appear to be sized up pretty well and should soon be producing heads, but the maturity of the plant is only one determinant. The amount of sun strength, day length, adequacy of available nutrients - all will have some influence on when a plant will succeed in producing a harvestable crop. Something I have also found to help with boosting production is to side dress my plants with about a tablespoon of all purpose organic fertilizer per plant shortly before I expect them to start producing. This extra shot of of nutrition seems to boost and extend the production.

As to moving them, I definitely would not. You would likely experience significant (if not fatal) transplant shock for plants as mature as these are.

[Ludi]

I have a question: Is pure worm compost too rich to use as a starting medium for seeds? Should I mix it with soil?

[rattleshirt]

Ludi-
Yes mix it with soil. If the nitrogen is to high the seeds will get their rootlets burnt off. They more frail than the adult plants and need much less nitrogen at first. Of course if you let them go to long then they will starve.

[Ludi]

Thank you! Is 50/50 by volume a good mix, or what would you recommend?

[RedStateGreen]

PeakOiler, those are some nice looking broccoli plants. I put in around 40 last year and plan to do more this year. It is the plant that keeps giving. They sprouted all summer long into the fall and then I let them flower and the bees went wild for about 3 weeks. Which one did you plant? Blue Comet?

Thanks roadrunner.

The $1.07 package of broccoli seeds at bought at the local grocery says "Green Goliath", aka "Goliat verde."

Do you mean that one can harvest the broccoli crown and the plant will grow another? Is that right? That would be cool!

I guess I should read some more!

Yep, and the leaves are good too, taste just like broccoli.

[wisconsin_cur]

I have a question: Is pure worm compost too rich to use as a starting medium for seeds? Should I mix it with soil?

I don't know but I use 75+% rabbit manure and it works fine.

[Ludi]

I don't know but I use 75+% rabbit manure and it works fine.

Thanks!

[PeakOiler]

Yep, and the leaves are good too, taste just like broccoli.

I did know that, RSG! Thanks. I have bought "fresh" at the store... (I just don't know what chemicals were used to grow it!)

I planted about another two dozen broccoli seed in a dozen small re-used planting-cups last weekend, so this round of sprouts should be easier to transplant over a larger area.

[careinke]

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this or not. Mods please feel free to move it.

Anyway, there is a push to have Obama tear up the South lawn of the White house and put in an organic garden. People are making nominations for the "Farmer in Chief." What a great bully pulpit that would be for sustainable farming.

Carrie Ann Little from Washington would be my choice, but I'm biased. Maybe we should nominate some one from Peakoil.com?

Anyway here is the link

Farmer in Chief

Cliff (Start a rEVOLution, grow a garden)

[PeakOiler]

Pineapple update:

That's a yardstick lying across the clay pot. The leaf diameter is over a meter. All five pineapple plants are ok so far.



I'm thinking of buying another fresh pineapple at the store. Guess I'll plant that crown too.

[Ludi]

Wow! Looking good, PeakOiler!

[rattleshirt]

Ludi- Sorry, i hadn't looked at the the thread for a while. 50/50 is fine. richer to 75% shouldn't hurt either. I use kind of weak starter and then put the seedlings into richer mix later. Somewhat similar to Jeavons but less complicated because I use soil blocks.