Rewarding experiments?

where I want to · #1 05/07/10, 10:40 PM

Another thread got me thinking about things I've tried that surprised me in a good way.
One of the things I found by accident was I could grow the same tomato plants for years in the green house only wacking it back when it threatened to climb out the roof.
My favorite tomato is Principe d'Borghese- at the time I was living in a cool marine climate where getting tomatoes to ripen at all was a challenge. So in the greenhouse they went- then I missed cleaning out in the fall and found them producing all year long. Eventually I moved after 5 years and sadly left behind the luxury of a greenhouse. But I still remember going into the greenhouse and crawling around through the plants to get all the tomatoes, picking them over my head.

Your good surpises?

ronbre · #2 05/08/10, 09:57 AM

my greenhouse isn't heated but sure wish it was..maybe next year..ours gets to -15

AnnieinBC · #3 05/08/10, 12:11 PM

I try an "experiment" every year, it is so much fun! I try things I have never done before. One year it was growing buckwheat, which is now one of the regular ways I enrich my soil, using it as a green manure.

Last year I tried growing beans to dry for winter use....it worked well, altho the threshing part took some time, lol.

This year my experiment is to try to grow grain Amaranth for my hens....we'll see how that one works out!

ronbre · #4 05/09/10, 07:40 AM

Wayside gardens has a Washington Orange tree that is hardy to zone 5..i was thinking of planting that in my greenhouse this year..after i finally get it moved to the new location..who wouldn't love fresh oranges in Michigan

CherieOH · #5 05/09/10, 09:59 AM

You can learn a lot from books and talking with the pros, but nothing compares to experience and just plain dumb luck.

I don't have a greenhouse, though I wish I did, but I do get volunteer tomato plants around the edges of my compost pile each spring. Funny, I was just mentioning this in another thread. Last year, I caged in the compost pile with some leftover wire fencing and allowed the volunteer tomatoes that sprouted outside it to remain there rather than transplant them to the garden. I just tied the plants to the cage as they grew. Well those were some of the best tomatoes we've ever had. While everyone else was losing their tomatoes to the blight, ours around the compost pile were thriving. They were huge and very productive. I think the nutrients from the compost pile must have fed them. The plants did a good job of hiding the ugly compost pile too. I did leave access to the compost pile on the north (shady) side. I plan to do that again this year. Best of all, they are FREE!

where I want to · #6 05/09/10, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherieOH

Well those were some of the best tomatoes we've ever had. While everyone else was losing their tomatoes to the blight, ours around the compost pile were thriving. They were huge and very productive. I think the nutrients from the compost pile must have fed them. The plants did a good job of hiding the ugly compost pile too. I did leave access to the compost pile on the north (shady) side. I plan to do that again this year. Best of all, they are FREE!

And a great way to make the pile look better. I did that with squash once and got huge runs of plants that were free to sprawl where they wanted. But I think the tomatoes are better.

And I want to check out that orange, although I can hardly ever order anything from Wayside as so much is barred from shipment to California.

ronbre · #7 05/09/10, 04:37 PM

our neighbors were contributing to our compost pile last year and i wasn't sure what all they were throwing in there ..i just said no meat or grease.

well in the spring i got a couple of baby rhubarb plants, a bunch of potatoes and last year picked a few winter squash from their throw outs..

one year we had a lot of horse manure in our compost pile..and the following spring we found morels growing all over and around it..that was super cool..and then after i spread it and some wood chips on the garden and paths..i had morels that were the size of my fist all over that garden..got bushels of them buggers..but that is where my son's house is now..to recreate that would be super

frankva · #8 05/10/10, 04:38 AM

Cucumber in a south facing picture window. Good learning experience.

Worked well.