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Home Garden 2024 / 2025

No new pics to share but I'm happy to report that the Santa Rosa plums were AMAZING this year. I ended up dehydrated tons of them because we had so many. My cucumbers suck this year and I don't know why. Could be the new location. I had to move everything into a gated enclosure because, husky. She is a one dog demolition crew. Plants, shoes, hats, my lawn, orchids (WTF?).
 
Bubba_s said:
No new pics to share but I'm happy to report that the Santa Rosa plums were AMAZING this year. I ended up dehydrated tons of them because we had so many. My cucumbers suck this year and I don't know why. Could be the new location. I had to move everything into a gated enclosure because, husky. She is a one dog demolition crew. Plants, shoes, hats, my lawn, orchids (WTF?).
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My cucumbers are also being little bitches! What's up with that?

Look how cute my lil' eggplant are. :love
 

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Here's a shot from today. 6 raised beds and a 70' x 25' garden along the green fence.
That big bushy thing in the center of the picture is a monster sun flower. It's over 7' tall already.
14' x 8' x 8.5' green house alongside the garage.
We growin' stuff!
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Luv the guy wires on the telephone pole holding up the sunflower.
 
bikewanker said:
Luv the guy wires on the telephone pole holding up the sunflower.
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It looks like that, but the pole wires are in the alley, behind the fence. Nothing is holding the sunflower up besides perserverance.
 
I'm the exact opposite but thanks for the reminder that I need to start putting in flowers. I used to plant sunflowers until I realized they're basically rat food.
 
Bubba_s said:
I'm the exact opposite but thanks for the reminder that I need to start putting in flowers. I used to plant sunflowers until I realized they're basically rat food.
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+1 to native wildflowers. They love crap soil. They don’t need watering after germination. They re-seed themselves. They support native bees (we could talk about the harm European Honey bees do to natural habitats) and they are cheap and easy.


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Cat’s grave/pollinator garden. Zucchini! Ear of corn! I am so excited about it. Eggplant coming along nicely. And some mature strawberries my son gave me that I put into a smart pot. Those should yield me fruit next spring. His strawberries are gangsters.
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Great post Mike!!

I'm happy to report that my eldest has a thriving garden at his home. He's actually doing better than me this year. I'm having trouble, while he has resurrected his grandmother's old plot spectacularly. Jalapeno, rocoto, and sweet peppers, cukes (lemon, pickling, and one other kind), tomatoes, tons of strawberries, and more. I've got to step up my game!!
 
While I agree with the above being a little weird, I admit I like our small (20x20') lawn in the back yard. My kids played so much on it. I put up badminton and we played that a lot. And now my dogs mostly use it to hang out on it and take dumps (in different areas of course). Gotta keep it short or the nuggies get lost in the brush. The husky is ruining it somewhat but I am hanging onto it for now.
 
Bubba_s said:
While I agree with the above being a little weird, I admit I like our small (20x20') lawn in the back yard. My kids played so much on it. I put up badminton and we played that a lot. And now my dogs mostly use it to hang out on it and take dumps (in different areas of course). Gotta keep it short or the nuggies get lost in the brush. The husky is ruining it somewhat but I am hanging onto it for now.
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I live on a postage stamp. The OCD in me really appreciates the comfort and security that's implied by a perfectly manicured lawn. I even struggle to leave my wildflowers "messy" so they will reseed. I get it. They are super fun to play on too. I had a side yard as a kid and we murdered ALL the grass playing on it. That said, there is still an absurdity about it all that tickles me. Especially if a homeowner is doing the yardwork themselves. Maintaining something like this is madness. I'm not trying to throw too much shade at every lawn. They have a place. But ya know in America, enough is never enough and I like to giggle at lawn Nazi's.

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Maybe a Mod can just change the title of this thread to The Home Garden Thread?
 
I seeded some thin leafed milkweed today. The package said it was the correct variety for Monarchs to eat and lay eggs on and it’s native to California

Asclepias Fascicaris is the species :nerd

Pics if/when it comes up. I would be stoked to have it get well established and devoured by monarchs.
 
Planting indoors or just sowed outdoors? Seeds need cold stratification before they will germinate. If outdoors they probably won't germinate until Spring.
Indoors you can put them in the frig in a sealed plastic bag on a damp (not wet) paper towel for about 30-40 days then transfer to potting cups. Frost will kill young seedlings, probably don't have that issue in Santa Cruz though.
I've got a patch that I should seed later this Fall. Good luck.
 
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