RQ Trietsch 14 Apr 2013

Yes Martha it is a very big garden. If it weren't for the neighbors trees, it would be even larger. That picture only shows 5 of the 10 rows. They vary from 2' to 3' wide and are approximately 30' long. Yes we, actually Kara, does all the canning. From the beans to the tomato's which we make sauces to can. We also freeze the corn. And of course we donate a little of the surplus to neighbors and friends. Use to do Okra but got tired of fight the aphids and ants. We're considering trying them in 5 gallon buckets on the other side of the property by the shop. And now for the surprising part??? I don't have or use a rototiller. Never think of buying one until garden time, then the money just is never available. One of these years. Sure would make life easier.

RQ Trietsch 15 Apr 2013

Just property fence Thom. Haven't had a gopher problem in probably 10+ years. We have "gopher purge", also called gopher spurge planted around the perimeter. Grows like a weed, but is easy to maintain. Its roots systems have little balls that look like pearl onions that the gophers eat...and die!! Great stuff. The only real problem is our #2 (cat) and normally we put up barricades until the plants are established to keep the dogs from running through them. And yes Martha, Kara does a majority of canning with the beans and the sauces we make with the tomato's.

Thom Roslan 16 Apr 2013

That's "great" news about the gophers.......Where do U get that plant seed ? Sounds like you and your lady have it together ! Would you call yourself's "Prepper's" ?

RQ Trietsch 16 Apr 2013

We stumbled upon a gopher purge(?) plant years ago at the nursery. But if you can anyone who has some, the offshoots transplants great. Never heard of "preppers"? Seems I've always been around gardens all my life, but this one is my own. The joys of growing up semi rural. Use to have a lot of chickens, ducks, geese and a couple of horses once upon a time. Coyotes, and or bobcat took eventually took care of that flock. My horse, died. The wife and daughter eventually moved, so sold their horses. So now it's just cats and dogs and the garden. And of course the neighbors:)) gophers.

Thom Roslan 17 Apr 2013

Well, R.Q. Prepper's are people who are preparing for a catastrophe and are growing their own, canning, stocking up for IF a problem does happen......they'll be ready.

If you give me you home email I'll send you a link about some wonderful soil additive that is 100% natural, but gets rid of 90% of the insects that plague gardens, it's based on "DIATOMACEOUS" DIRT ! A compound very hard to find, but absorbs the liquid in insects by some sort of honey-comb effect in each granual. Hope you take me up on it !

RQ Trietsch 17 Apr 2013

Gladly Thom. I surprised you say "DIATOMACEOUS" DIRT is hard to find tho. I use to use it all the time in my pool filter years ago.

Anyway, my addy is the same as [email protected]. As far as being Preppers, not really, it's all about $$ even tho the "experts", I suspect Gov't, says it cost more, but at least I know my garden produce isn't filled with GMO's or all those other "make it pretty" chemicals. Not to mention the other great benefit, our produce actually have flavor. Here's a shot from 04 or 05, hopefully this year will be as good.

Thom Roslan 18 Apr 2013

That's a "great" garden R.Q. Corn, squash, radishes? What else? I'm sending you that article on Diatomaceous Dirt......guess you use it already on your garden.....huh ?

Best of Luck this year........

RQ Trietsch 18 Apr 2013

No Thom. Never heard of anyone mentioning or using it before. We do constant battle with ants and they are really hard to control without using poisons in the garden. Surprisingly, we have never planted radishes. Don't know why. Thought about beets, but neither one of us are to keen on them. If my sisters lived closer I would give them a go. We do love or beans tho, but they sure take their toll on the soil. Looking forward to that article and hoping the pool supply places still carry it.

RQ Trietsch 21 Apr 2013

Kara finally got to plant her greenhouse grown from seeds planted yesterday. Definitely summertime type of weather yesterday. Right at 90. A little cooler today and by midweek we're suppose to be back to normal?? high 70's

RQ Trietsch 23 Apr 2013

Use to have a garden keeper to thwart off birds in the garden, Mario. But over the years, he kind of deteriorated. So here's a W.I.P. for the Mario redux. Also, just for fun at the moment, this is what greets you when you open my shop door. Can image if this happened at night. When the door opens, my security detector turn on the lights.

RQ Trietsch 29 Apr 2013

We decided to rename "Mario" the redux, to just plain old Bob. Finally got a face on him. Need to do a little more work on the hands, but at the moment, he's enjoying the summer type weather in the garden.

Martha Miller 29 Apr 2013

He looks ok to me RQ...........I finally have flowers coming up getting ready to bloom. of course i'm a week or two behind everyone. My first tulip is about to come out. a very pretty bright pink.

RQ Trietsch 30 Apr 2013

Tulips are something I tried years ago with no luck. Perhaps now that I use a little more patience and read a little more, I might have better luck. But with the borderline desert climate, they really aren't to conducive to the area. I keep changing "Bob's" look everyday. Changing hats and going from sun glasses to regular glasses. Not to mention his head can swivel around. Next is to find some matching string so I can lift an arm every now and now like he's waving :))

Martha Miller 02 May 2013

hesoming right along RQ, I hope that is soda .....you don't want him drinking any hard stuff on the job..........LOL

RQ Trietsch 03 May 2013

"Godd ol boy" drinking water ? LOL But it's just about the same, except from down stream.

RQ Trietsch 06 May 2013

With the way the U.S. politics have been evolving (badly IMO), this is my interpretation of Cinco de Mayo

I did have a miraclewhip container also in one of the poises for extra thought, but decided not to post that one

RQ Trietsch 07 May 2013

Here in not so sunny So Cal, been a light rain all day, but decided to go out and play in it anyway. Omitting onions, here's our first harvest of the year. Now, what to do with them all.

Martha Miller 08 May 2013

It Looks like you have a little job to do. Lol Boy that was fast. You were just telling us what you were planting ......and here you are harvesting already. WOW. It's raining here in New York Today. The air is quite cool. I will enjoy whatever we get, All seasons are needed for servival...........don't work top hard RQ. Have a good day.............................Hugsssssss

RQ Trietsch 09 May 2013

Actually Martha, those were planted before I started renovating the garden. It was one of the few spots left in the garden from last year that I was gambling on that might have good soil. Apparently it was. Those carrots were in a "small" single row. less than two feet long. Still have about 1/2 the row left plus one more. Ayyyyye, what's up Doc :))

Our summer weather gave way to springtime again last week. 30 degrees cooler and rain off and on most of the week. I guess you must have a very short vegetable garden season back there, unless you do it in a green house.

Martha Miller 09 May 2013

It took some getting used to up here in the FingerLakes area, We are From the southern tip of New York. Down by the city. Down there It is a long growing season. late April up til frost in late Nov. Up here it is another story. You can put root veggies in late april,You can't set any starter plants in until after Memorial day. Even then, you pray for no more snow.

If my boys ever get my little plot dug up i'm hoping to put in a small garden..Lettuce,Tomatoes.Cukes,Perhaps a squash and onions.