Hey Benzie.........Updated with pics for you.

kel12 · Hey Benzie.........Updated with pics for you.

I got a new tip about growing bell peppers from my MIL. Thought I'd share with you.

Mine always grow up tall and hers are bushy. She told me she snips the top few leaves off and it bushes out. You get TONS more peppers that way. So prune the thing!

benz girl

I love getting tips for my garden. Thanks. This year was my first to really do one. Next years is going to be twice the size. I'm asking everyone i know about gardens and i'm sure i'm driving them crazy.

I had a problem with my tomatoes this year. Maybe you know what to do. They all were green for so long. Then they all started cracking half the way down the tomato before they turned red. I couldn't use any of them. My Roma tomatoes were great. I'm thinking of maybe doing all Roma next year. I know a lady who only plants Romas. She said they make a better sauce because it turns out thicker. I'm not sure what to do about those yet. I love slicing them with dinner but i need the bigger ones. Maybe i will try one more year and see how it goes??? Any ideas?

Any hints you have please let me know.

kel12

I noticed that my tomatoes (even the cherry tomatoes) did that when it rained.

Otherwise though, I haven't had that issue. I'd try again next year. Some years things do well and some years they don't.

benz girl

OK. I'll give them another try next year.

How long does it take for the basil to start getting roots? I haven't noticed anything yet but it has only been maybe a week. It is just floating in my dish. I figured when it gets bigger i would start putting it in bigger containers. For now it is in one of my big casserole bowls.

kel12

You need to have it in a vase where the plant stays dry and only the cut ends are in the water.

Mine took a couple weeks to get roots. But the tops didn't start growing for about a month (when they had lots of roots). Now it's growing great, and I can start picking it.

benz girl

Well then i did it wrong. I picked off some leaves and have them floating in water. Maybe i will try to buy another plant from some place and start over. I'm learning but i guess i'm learning slow.

kel12

If you know someone that has basil plants, just take 4 or 5 clippings off the top of the plants. (like 4 inches or so)

I have some, but you'd have to come get it. I guess you could try it with basil from the grocery store. Not sure if it will work though.

benz girl

I know a girl who sells plants for $5. My DS came home one day and saw it and asked if we were having pesto for dinner. My DH walked in and asked who bought the flower. Can you tell which one helps me in the garden? haha. If you have some time could you take a pic of what yours looks like so i know better what i'm doing next time?

kel12

Okay, here you go. I took some pictures of my garden too while I was at it.

The basil. (just cut off the top of the plant in several places)

Part of my garden. Carrots, lettuce and spinach in the box in the front. I had to replant some of my lettuce. It bolted since we have been having warm weather. Strawberries and green beans in the background.

My lettuce. It's bigger than it looks in the picture.

Broccoli.

Raspberries.

Snap peas.

benz girl

Thank you so much. Now i know what i'm doing with the basil. I never used it before and after having it in my garden i just have to have it. I used it so much and i miss it now.

I love the garden pics. I saw the snap peas. You gave me an idea now. I think i will be doing those next year too. I can't believe we have snow here on our ground and you have lettuce bolting from the heat. It looks like you have red leaf but what was the other lettuce? The green one. I really wish i could have a garden year round.

kel12

I have red leaf, green leaf, romaine and black seeded simpson.(the one that bolted)

kel12

Oh,and my DH is going to build me a new box (we have gophers) so I can plant asparagus this winter. It produces for 20-30 years.

Also if you look in the picture with the boxes, you can see the potatoes I missed coming up in the carrots.

kel12

If you're going to plant snap peas, put them in in the spring, after the last frost. They are easy to grow and so yummy. Just give them something to climb on.

benz girl

Are the things that look like dried sticks the potatoes?

Do you have to replant asparagus or will it keep coming back for 20 years without you having to replant it?

I'm learning so much from you. Thanks for all the info.

kel12

In the front bed you will see 2 stakes, the potato plants are next to those. The small fern looking plants are carrots (3 rows) and the 2 larger plants in the same area are the potato plants. They will get much larger.

The asparagus is like a tuber. So you put it in a trench and as they grow, you fill it in until you get to the ground level. Do not harvest the first year, let the plants get strong. You can get them from nurseries, bare root. They keep producing, you don't have to replant them. I don't know their tolerance for cold or if they go dormant, so you might have to check that.

benz girl

Another stupid question. The gray hose that you have running between boxes. Is that some kind of watering system?

You are getting me so ready for my garden next year. I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!

kel12

Yes, that's the watering system. We are very dry here (still no rain and 65 degree weather) so we need to water the garden most of the year. It's all set up automatically so I don't have to worry about it. I just change the length of time it waters.