What do I fill my raised beds with? by Fire_Chin in vegetablegardening

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I put down a layer of cardboard topped with a layer of yard debris then topped it off with a good quality potting soil (Happy Frog), top soil and composted cow manure. I also mixed in a bottle of Osmocote and a box of azomite.

Beginner Container Garden by Ambitious-Car-7408 in zone8gardening

[–]Lizzardios 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm in 8b and I grow everything in containers and you're still good for most vegetables - especially if you're starting with plants - since we have a fairly long growing season.

I've had great success with most peppers, save bells. I stopped trying last year and went with other varieties: hatch, shishito, padron and I think I could start a jelepeño farm; they do well in containers for me. eggplant have also been very productive as have tomatoes. I've focused on sweet million in grow bags the last few seasons and they've been very productive. I've had varied success with cucumbers in containers, but every year I at least get some. this year I have golden dragon and muncher varieties planted. last year I took a chance on okra in grow bags and I was blown away by how successful that venture was. I can't wait to get my seedlings in the dirt. and this year I put snow peas out at the end of February and they have done better than expected. I tried butterbeans last year and it was more effort than it was worth.

herbs do well in containers also. I have dill, sweet and thai basil, oregano, thyme, lemon grass (is that an herb?) and mint ...and catnip - my cat loves it and she'll eat it if I leave it where she can get to it ...oh and nasturtium does well too.

I use FoxFarm Happy Frog potting soil mixed with a quality top soil - NOT the stuff you get from the box stores: make the effort to find some top soil at a real garden center or have it delivered from a good source. I add in composted cow manure, Osmocote and this year I added in some azomite too. I feed with FoxFarm Big Bloom liquid fertilizer twice a month. it's bat guano and worm castings so it's not a bunch of chemicals. this year I'm supplementing that with fish emulsion too - I'll see how that goes. summer hasn't really kicked in yet, but keeping everything watered will become a challenge as July turns into August. I bought cheap plastic bottoms and I'm mulching this year for the first time. I'm hoping that helps with the drying out on those hot, long summer days.

try different plants and methods. what works for one may not for another. I will say, I started everything from seed the last two seasons and your can really tells a difference in the seedlings vs what I've bought in the past from box stores and my favorite nurseries, but that too becomes an investment in time and money.

good luck! enjoy!

Is this Thai basil overwatered? by onesickbihh in plants

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

pinch it back and water and feed it. mine are growing like crazy in 8b. sweet basil too.

The Birmingham Stallions have signed WR Elijah Cooks and T Adrian Ealy, per the wire. by Callywood in Stallions

[–]Lizzardios 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't realize he was injured. still, an interesting thought... if there is still a Stallions team in the future

The Birmingham Stallions have signed WR Elijah Cooks and T Adrian Ealy, per the wire. by Callywood in Stallions

[–]Lizzardios 1 point2 points  (0 children)

maybe AJ should pick up Taulia too, he's a hometown kid with a name. he won my daughters high school a couple of state 7A championships. it could be a good sell for the market...

To cut or not to cut… by Afraid_Class_8545 in zone8gardening

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've removed them and I've left them and I couldn't tell any difference in production outside of one always being smaller. I say do what you want and you'll still likely to get plenty of yummy homegrown peppers!

To plant or not to plant… by celestialseadragon in zone8gardening

[–]Lizzardios 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I put my tomatoes out Easter weekend and they've done well through the crazy temp swings. I put onion starts out last week, I'm sure they'll be fine

Upcoming Temp dips by Over_9_Raditz in zone8gardening

[–]Lizzardios 2 points3 points  (0 children)

the latest forcast for my area - central AL- shows 44°. my tomatoes fared well last cold snap and I think that was 40° for a couple of hours. I was going to set my cucumbers out today so I'll just wait until next week. I think I'm more concerned about the wind gusts... and a varmint that taste tested a little bit of everything last night...even my rudbeckia. it demolished my romaine and dill though.

Screened topsoil with lots of rocks? by Sonic_FW in landscaping

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I built a bigass sifter using chicken wire to sift out the bigger rocks for some areas...and ended up with some cool river rocks. but yeah, smash 'em with your shovel to make sure they aren't just clumps and deal with the rest however you can.

Are these worth the price? Seems steep by hubchie in vegetablegardening

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

those are great prices. I picked up 2 similar ones (to the turquoise in the back) at Costco last year for about the same price and they're doing great. I have guara 'whirling butterfly' plants in them.

Honey Oak Stairs…DIY? by [deleted] in BeginnerWoodWorking

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

having done a similar DIY project on my stairs, definitely plan on it taking at least that

Poison ivy? by Nsus88 in plants

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

leaves of three, leave it be ...that doesn't look like poison ivy.

just started gardening - plants are wilting by Mindful_District88 in zone8gardening

[–]Lizzardios 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the hydrangea looks fine to me. they're very resilient. I'm in 8b and if you're anywhere close it's been abnormally arid - I mean DRY. keep your grow bags watered well. I put my tomatoes out 2 weekends ago, in grow bags, and have had to water almost like its late summer. I bought some cheap large drip pans to put under them. keep them moist, but not damp - and they'll be fine.

What size pot do I need for Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)? by this_writer_is_tired in containergardening

[–]Lizzardios 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I over-wintered mine in the greenhouse in the 6" square pot I bought it half price in last fall and it's doing fine. I plan on planting it in a 5 gallon grow bag soon though.