j flynn

Hi, the lessons learned- don't wait until you have enough time/supplies to do a garden project. If I had just done as much to enrich the beds as I acquired the seaweed/mulch/compost at least some would be in better shape. As for the seed starting mix, at first I thought I was doing something wrong ,then that the seeds were too old. The last thing I suspected was contamination- it was an organic mix after all so don't doubt your own experience. And parsnips left to seed will pop up everywhere.    You can rent mason bees?  

Hi, I am calling this year the never before year- to start I was laid up from oct to april so nothing was done to get the garden ready for the next year. No cover crops, no seaweed and mulch/compost on the beds. Then I made the mistake of trusting a organic seed starting mix that turned out to be contaminated with a herbicide and if any seeds came up they did not do well- stunted and just sat there in the ground not growing or dying. Then the chipmunks dug up the potatoes and either ate them or took them below ground where they started to grow and came up in the tunnel entrances. And the rabbits did in the sunchokes and milkweed. Also the chipmunks are eating alot of the tomatoes even before they are ripe. On the good side I have a few goji berries or a 2 yr old plant and the parsnips and arugula that self seeded make the garden look productive. Looking forward to next year!

Hi, Has anyone tried burpee's organic seed starting mix? I bought 4 bags this year for the first time. Expected good results from an organic mix- has coconut coir and composted chicken manure and feather meal,perlite and plant food. Alot  of the seeds did not come up -even very fresh good ones. I hardened off the ones I did get and planted them outside. The tomatoes are finally growing well ( I plant them deeper for better roots) but most of the rest are stunted . I had zinnias and calendulas that I put in various places around the yard- none have grown much while the few self sown calendulas are doing ok. I looked on line but could not find any info about this mix except sales pitches. I still have plenty of the mix left, not sure what to do with it. I usually make my own but could not this year.

Hi, jigsaw puzzles were a great sanity saver while I was in rehab after an accident. I would do them in the common room and others would come in and some would help, so the puzzles let to some socialization- good for all of us. Rehab is very isolating.

Hi, just finished "The Light Eaters" by Zoe  Schlanger. Its about all the new research into plants.  One of the most interesting questions raised is can plants see? Not just follow the sun but see details. There is a plant in south America that can mimic any plant it grows near, they took it into the lab and placed it next to a plastic plant and it mimicked it. So how did the plant know- there was no air or soil borne chemicals , no swamping of dna . Many other curious qurstions. Highly recommended.

Hi, I also use NorthSpore for my first try at wine caps. I had 2 small raised beds with good soil . I added some compost and then the spawn, covered with chopped straw and watered well. I did not have many other plants in each bed, so tried to keep them moist. I only got a handful of wine caps a couple of weeks ago. I plan to add small wood chips and compost this fall. I hope to have more later this fall and next year. I am also trying some shitake logs- they take more time. So yes growing mushrooms teach patience.

Hi, just an update. The 30% vinegar did the job. Took a few days and some scraping but I saved the canning jar. Used straight vinegar and let it sit. Thanks

Hi, thanks for the ideas- I do have some garden vinegar- its 30% instead of the 5% cooking vinegar is.  I will try that, so far no amount of scrubbing/soaking has worked. I wish I had remembered making crystals with the kids years ago, then used a jar I didn't care about. Lesson learned.

Hi, I dissolved some borax in a canning jar to use in the wash, did not use all of , so the borax made crystals formed on the bottom of the jar. If I had only used an old mayo jar I would just throw it out, but I hate to lose a good wide mouth canning jar. I tried hot water, vingar, and baking soda- each separately  - so far nothing has worked. Any chemists out there know  what else I can try?

Hi, I would like to try gooseberries, but most plant catalogs say they won't ship to mass because of a fungus that can be transfered to white pines. Others say that the problem is not an issue here. Does anyone grow gooseberries in massachusetts , have you had any problems with fungus and where did you get your gooseberries. I am fond of tart berries and have many areas where they would grow- also lots of mature white pines and don't want to risk the trees .