OT: This Time of Year

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barnhardt9999

Registered:1351699779
Posts: 183

Posted 1402786394	Reply with quote #1

Can't beat it. Got my first real tomatoes (not cherry) yesterday, first blueberries today and there's enough blackberries my kids let me have some. Everyday brings a new bounty. Just wishing I was in Dennis' boat eating brebas. So what are yall enjoying for the first time since last year? __________________ 8a

Centurion

Registered:1293429646
Posts: 810

Posted 1402787199	Reply with quote #2

Ya, I hear ya. I've had brebas off one of my trees, picking blackberries, squash and cutting swiss chard. I got a late start on tomatoes this year...so they're probably another 5 weeks off. We've had several 100+ days here in Northern Arizona already, and bracing for some more. I just love walking our garden with the two cats and checking it all out in the mornings. __________________ Dave Verde Valley, AZ Zone 8

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1402796550	Reply with quote #3

Up until today, just lettuce. But today I got an early taste as a few blueberries ripened, yum! And I had my first Swiss Chard of the year. Blackberries are forming, and small tomatoes, but here in DE 4th of July is about right for the first tomatoes. __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

Gina

Registered:1330452963
Posts: 2,260

Posted 1402812152	Reply with quote #4

Went to a U-Pick apricot orchard today. Earlier than usual, but they are yummy! __________________ WillsC's new fig forum: http://www.Ourfigs.com (and blueberries)

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1402834225	Reply with quote #5

This time of year mostly anticipation for me here in PA. I'm just watching everything grow. Black Raspberries should be ready any day. Blueberries are swelling nicely, another week or two I think. Peaches are still a month off. Tomatoes are coming along nicely, though I may have been heavy on the nitrogen fertilizer...maybe some cherry types soon. Zucchini is growing like a weed with lots of flowers, probably some small guys soon. I did get some broccoli earlier in the week, that's about the only early crop I bother with. But the icing on the cake is I think I see my first homegrown fig developing! Pinching really does work!

Ruuting

Registered:1359310699
Posts: 613

Posted 1402841162	Reply with quote #6

Strawberries! I'm picking about a pound a day from our little patch. The chipmunks aren't getting any this year! In a couple of weeks the blueberries will start ripening. Edit: photo added. Attached Images image.jpg (155.63 KB, 10 views) __________________ Rui Southeast CT, zone 6B

Gina

Registered:1330452963
Posts: 2,260

Posted 1402850586	Reply with quote #7

Quote: Originally Posted by Ruuting Strawberries! I'm picking about a pound a day from our little patch. The chipmunks aren't getting any this year! A friend is having trouble with that this year. How are you preventing them from getting to the strawberries? __________________ WillsC's new fig forum: http://www.Ourfigs.com (and blueberries)

Ruuting

Registered:1359310699
Posts: 613

Posted 1402892449	Reply with quote #8

Gina, I dug a trench 16" deep and stood 4"x8"x16" cement blocks into it, making an almost 16" deep foundation with them. I then made a 2 by 4 base, using pressure treated lumber, directly on top of the blocks. The wood doesn't rot as quickly, because it's up ever so slightly off the ground. The netting I used in previous years got chewed through by those little beasts, but the thicker stuff really holds up. Your friend might want to use chicken wire all around the base, and drape regular bird netting over the top, to prevent the aerial attacks. I didn't cement the blocks into place. I back filled the trench with small rocks and soil, and watered it really well, basically packing the soil into something impenetrable. It was a lot of work, but I hate that these freeloaders are all over the place, taking two bites out of everything they see, and setting up a permanent summer home. I gave them their own patch, about 10'x20', away from my patch, but they don't understand the concept. The cement blocks are cheap, about $1.30 a piece. I may do a vertical strawberry setup next year though, I still get a lot of damage from slugs. Almost half of the fruit gets damaged, and I don't go where the escargot! There are some videos on youtube with ideas for vertical strawberry growing. __________________ Rui Southeast CT, zone 6B

Quackmaster

Registered:1370361410
Posts: 769

Posted 1402919247	Reply with quote #9

Wild black berries end down here in april. I can fill up a 5 gal bucket in just a couple hours right behind my house. Some of the peach trees are ripening and Santa Rosa plums. I haven't had any figs yet but my guess would be that they are not too far off, I noticed that some of the rdb ' s are starting to get a little darkness to them. I'm really looking forward to them. __________________ Ryan Zone 9a SeLa, wish list:

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1402944364	Reply with quote #10

I went on vacation for a week with a bed full of strawberrys just starting to ripen. When I got back I see someone had quite the strawberry party, or food fight, not sure which. I'll get a few but not much, they are June bearers and most are gone or destroyed. Coulda been birds, tree rats, coons, or maybe a combination of them all. On a side note, my strawberrys are in a raised bed I made from cedar fence posts. I have heard slugs don't like copper, I bought enough bare copper wire to put up a tiny barrier elevated about 1/8'' off the wood to turn the slugs away from the berry patch. I was hoping to test the theory, now I guess I'll have to wait until next year. Anyone ever heard of this or done something similar? __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

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